SELF WORTH

Two important management lessons I learnt from a 500 Naira note.

1. It happened some time ago but . I was in an audience listening to a motivational speaker. The speaker got out his wallet & pulled out a 500 Naira note. Holding it up, he asked, "Who wants this 500 naira note?"
Lots of hands went up. Including mine. A slow chorus began to build as people began to shout "Me!" "Me!" I began to wonder who the lucky one would be who the speaker would choose. And I also secretly wondered (and I am sure others did too ) why he would simply give away 500 naira. Even as the shouts of "I want it" grew louder, I noticed a young woman running down the aisle. She ran up onto the stage, went up to the speaker, and grabbed the five 500 naira note from his hand. "Well done, young lady," said the speaker into the microphone. The speaker simply say "Most of us just sit and wait for good things to happen. That's of no use. You've got to make things happen. Make a move" 'Simply thinking about doing something is of no use and not gud enough'. Our lives are like that. We all see opportunities around us. We all want the good things. But the problem is we don't take action. We all want the 500 naira notes on offer. But we don't make the move. We look at it longingly. Get up, and do something about it. Don't worry about what other people might think take action.

2. Later, the speaker got another 500 naira note and held it up for all to see, I thought I knew what's up. But he just asked a simple question. "How much is this worth?" "Five Hundred naira!" the crowd yelled in unison. "Right," said the speaker. He then took the note and crumpled it into a ball and asked "How much is it worth now?" "Five Hundred naira!" screamed the audience. He then threw the note on the ground, stamped all over it and picked up the note and asked one more time: "And how much is it worth now?" "Five Hundred naira!" was the response. "I want you to remember this," said the speaker. "Just because someone crumples it, or stamps on it, the value of the note does not diminish. We should all be like the 500 naira note. In our lives, there will be times when we feel crushed, stamped over, beaten. But never let your self-worth diminish. Just because someone chooses to crush you, that doesn't change your worth one bit!
Don't allow your self-worth to diminish because someone says something nasty or does something dirty to you."
Never let your self-worth diminish.

Initiatives and Strategies to reduce cost n increase value deliverables in Procurement and SCM

Move Supplies Faster
If you can find ways to expedite shipments from suppliers, you can order closer to the time you need the supplies. Ordering far in advance can incur warehouse costs, because you have to store them so that they'll be available, and products are more likely to get lost or damaged. In addition, examine whether you can shorten the time it takes you to transport supplies from where you receive them to where you need them. Transportation from the supplier and within your company can add days or weeks to your supply chain and increase costs

Improve Space Utilization
It costs you money to keep supplies and inventory in a warehouse. If you conduct an analysis of how well you are using your storage space, you may find that you are paying for too much space. You may also be wasting money paying personnel to search for stored items. A more efficient storage strategy could reduce the amount of space you use and the amount of time it takes to find and pull items. This could result in reduced rent and payroll costs.

Use Multiple Suppliers
If you only use one supplier, you are eliminating competition for your orders. Find several suppliers who can compete on price, and use several of them at all times so you can avoid costly delays in receiving products. If one supplier is out, another may have the items. Using multiple suppliers protects you from spending money for less-than-satisfactory service.

Collaborate, Don't Compete — A true value-oriented supply chain consists of an extensive network of integrated suppliers, suppliers' suppliers, internal supply chain participants and customers, all working together to maximize the value of the supply chain. When you develop relationships with suppliers, it is the mirror image of setting up customer relationships. Just as you want your customers to succeed, you should want your suppliers to succeed, too. Each participant's success and increased value has a positive impact on your supply chain performance as well as your bottom line.

Just as you want your business processes and people to be aligned in terms of goals and strategies and operations, your supply chain partners should be aligned to collaborate and develop ideas for mutual competitive advantage. Suppliers can often be the best source for new ideas on technology, process streamlining, inventory reduction and product design improvements. But making this work requires different methods of developing incentives and monitoring performance for partners. Fortunately, there are approaches to joint risk/reward sharing available that can be incorporated into supplier agreements.

Focus on total cost of ownership (TCO), not price.One benefit of strategic sourcing is that it shifts the focus from looking only at the purchase price to understanding the total cost of owning or consuming a product or service. For significant spend areas, procurement teams at best-in-class companies are abandoning the outmoded practice of receiving multiple bids and selecting a supplier simply on price. Instead, they consider many other factors that affect the total cost of ownership. This makes good sense when you consider that acquisition costs account for only 25 to 40 percent of the total cost for most products and services. The balance (and majority) of the total comprises operating, training, maintenance, warehousing, environmental, quality, and transportation costs as well as the cost to salvage the product's value later on. Identifying the total cost of ownership requires looking at the entire process of procuring and consuming the product or service, something that can only happen with cooperation and input from both the buyer and the seller. Best-in-class organizations do not stop there, however. They also ask suppliers and internal stakeholders the following important question: "How can we work together to reduce the total cost of ownership?"

Establishing a "total cost of ownership" mindset is a goal that the supply management organization needs to embrace and perpetuate throughout the entire enterprise. It will not be easy, however, to convince your company's executive leadership to truly prioritize value over price. Since the global financial collapse in 2009, most chief executives have focused on cost reductions, which they expect will translate to reduced prices.

Put contracts under the supply chain function

Purchasing and procurement teams often negotiate significant potential savings during the sourcing process but never fully realize those savings. The reasons for this vary, but they often include a failure to communicate contract terms to the affected organizations and a failure to monitor contract compliance.

All too often, in fact, the executed contract is filed away in some drawer and forgotten. This is no exaggeration; several years ago, the research firm Aberdeen Group asked supply managers the following question in a survey: "How do you manage your company's contracts?" Their answers were startling. Two thirds of the respondents stated, "We can't even find the contracts, much less manage them."

More companies are moving responsibility for contract management to the supply chain organization rather than leaving it in purchasing, legal, finance, or operations. One benefit of this shift is that it ensures the contracts are collected and maintained in a central repository. The migration of the contract management function to the supply chain organization also allows the supply chain leader to more effectively leverage the company's spend, particularly in the area of services, where there is a great opportunity for cost reduction and risk mitigation.

Optimize company-owned inventory 

The global economic downturn means that more chief financial officers have put inventory on their radar screens, and their financial teams are constantly looking for new ways to improve the bottom line and reduce working capital. Supply chain organizations should therefore constantly review their inventory quantities and strive to keep them at an optimal level.

It's no surprise that best-in-class companies are paying attention to inventory at the highest levels. The "real" cost of holding inventory often is higher than the generally assumed 20 to 25 percent. In fact, recent research reveals that inventory holding costs could represent up to 60 percent of the cost of an item that is held in inventory for 12 months. Those findings included the holding cost of insurance, taxes, obsolescence, and warehousing. Poor planning and forecasting are direct causes of inventories that are out of balance with a business's needs. Accordingly, best-in-class companies also are placing more emphasis on demand planning and forecasting as an additional means of ensuring optimal inventory levels.

What’s the difference between warehouse and distribution center?

A lot of logistics professionals use the terms warehouse and distribution center interchangeably. Some of them even say that there is effectively no difference between warehouse and distribution center. So, is there any difference between warehouse and distribution center? Let me tell you upfront that they are as different as a modern 21st century supply chain is from a traditional supply chain.

The simple rule in traditional supply chains was to store “maximum possible quantity of every product, everywhere, every time”. This rule had to be followed because of lack of information flow and planning mechanisms in the supply chain. This gave birth to the warehouses which were used for stockpiling inventory and inventory would be shipped out months after it arrived in the warehouse.

Supply chains have evolved and are much different from what they used to be say 2-3 decades back. Modern supply chains equipped with better information & intelligence are able to predict product demand well in advance, plan accordingly and deliver the items close to when they are needed. The new supply chain rule is to have “the required quantity of the right product in the right place at the right time”.

But what’s exactly the difference between warehouse and distribution center?

The traditional warehouses are not completely fit to cater to this new supply chain rule and this led to the evolution of static warehouses into distribution centers. Now that you know the context, let me tell you the exact difference between a warehouse and a distribution center:

A warehouse is used for storing products while a distribution center, apart from storing products offers value-added services like product mixing, order fulfillment, cross docking, packaging etc.
A distribution center stores products for relatively lesser periods compared to a warehouse. So, basically the flow velocity through the distribution center is much greater than the flow velocity through a warehouse.
A distribution center is customer-centric and is the bridge between a supplier and its customers. While the role of a warehouse is to store products efficiently, the role of distribution centers is to efficiently meet customer requirements.
Typically retail and warehouse orders are shipped from a distribution center and not a warehouse. Basically a warehouse generally doesn’t serve external customers while a distribution center does.
The operations at a distribution center is much more complex than that at a warehouse. As a result, the distribution centers are equipped with latest technology for order processing, warehouse management, transportation management etc.
You now know the stark difference between a warehouse and a distribution center and how the evolution happened over time. Does this mean that warehouses no longer exist or they don’t serve any purpose? You will be mistaken if you believe that. Warehouses still exist and serve a purpose. A good example would be how inventory is pre-built months in advance to meet the high seasonal demand and is stored in typical warehouses before being sent to a distribution center for customer service. However, the importance of warehouses in supply chain has gone down and the distribution centers have now emerged as the nerve centers of the modern supply chains.

The seven core behaviors of people who positively impact the world

1. They dedicate themselves to what gives their life meaning and purpose.
Thousands of people today don’t believe in meaning and purpose as something to discover or pursue in life. And others believe in a life purpose but won’t take the risk to identify or honor it. 

2. They commit to continually bettering themselves.
People who impact the world for the better know that they are not perfect. They understand how their knowledge isn’t “complete” — there are always gaps, biases, limitations and prejudices, and new places to go with their expertise.

3. They engage with people in open, mutually-beneficial ways.
Those with huge positive influence understand the power of relationships, connection, and engaging with the world openly. They’re not afraid to get “out there” — connecting with others, sharing their knowledge and talents, offering their authentic and often contrarian viewpoints and opinions. They’ve pushed beyond any introversion, shyness or reluctance to be who they are, and have learned how to relate well with others and build mutually-supportive relationships that catapult both parties to a higher level. 

4. They invest time and energy not in what is, but what can be.
When they see something that agitates and disturbs them, they strive to know more, get to the root of the issue, research and understand the contributing factors, and arrive at new solutions. They observe gaps and mistakes in common thinking and behavior, and trust themselves in their belief that it’s time to push the boundaries of what’s accepted. They want to affect change because they believe change will bring a better way to live.

5. They spread what they know
Those who make a true positive difference can’t help but share and teach what they’ve learned. They don’t see their knowledge as just some commodity to sell, as a meal ticket or a money maker — they see it as information that has to be shared with the world for its betterment. They believe their ideas and innovations are of use and value to others, and can’t help but share those openly, and teach others what they’ve learned. They live the universal principle — “the more you give, the more you get.”

6. They uplift and Empower others
people who positively impact the world not only obtain amazing results in their work, but their process of obtaining these results — how they operate in life — is also inspiring and uplifting. They are happy to help and support others, and have an overflow of positive energy that enriches the lives of everyone they work with and connect with. These positive influencers want others to grow.

7.They use their Power and Influence very well
Positive influencers use their power well and wisely. They understand the widespread influence they have, the power they have to build up and elevate, or tear down. Those who impact the world for the better are careful and judicious with their words, actions and behaviors. They operate with heart, and care deeply about their leadership and communication process and style, and the influence they have.

Look around you and you’ll see three kinds of people – those who hate their work, and complain bitterly, those who just tolerate their work and see it as a paycheck and aren’t looking for more (or feel they can’t have more), and finally, those who love their work, and relish it. 

None of them are wrong - There are enough challenges in every human life. Not everyone can have the world, the world, the substance, the circumstance, the age to phase, the phase to courage. Life itself is a great effort.But still the third category that is a small subset of all professionals globally, but this group stands out because these are, most often, the people who change the world for the better  - We don't need to reach there but we need to drive our life towards that as long we can.

SINGLES SEMINAR

*Presentation 1 – Spiritual investment for your future*
The future is for those that prepare for it.
You need to look at investment
Success is impacting your world with the investment of your personality
1.Spiritual investment
2.Physical investment
The spiritual aspect
1.Your focus should be on Jesus.
1 Cor 3v10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

Christ has to be your foundation.

Heb 12v1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus has to be the centre of all your relationships

2.The word of God has to be your foundation
Acts 20v32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

You cannot live your life according to the wisdom of men. It has to be based on the word.
In the word of God  is where you have the plans of God revealed to you.

3.Prayer.
No relationship works without prayer.
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Prayer brings a divine connectivity in your relationships.

4.Have Godly icons
The people you follow must be from the kingdom of God
Phil 3v17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

In your dealings with the world, never forget who you are
Any relationship not supported by the word of God is not of God.

Work on your character. What you are is what you attract.

*Presentation 2 HIV and AIDS*

HIV is Human Immunodeficiency virus
It causes the condition called AIDS which makes someone vulnerable to opportunistic infections due to a broken immune system
Zimbabwe has a very high prevalence of HIV and AIDS
It is transmitted mostly through sexual interaction.
Its wise to get tested before getting married.
If you are found positive, it does not mean you are going to die. You carry God inside you. You can deal with it.
Its very important that you disclose to the person who you are going to marry your status.
Its illegal in Zimbabwe to not disclose your status to your partner.
Deliberately infecting someone with the virus can give you a jail term of up to 10 years.
If you test positive, its important to start on treatment (ARVs) before you go to the healing school
The best method of preventing HIV is abstinence.
Sex is for the institution of marriage
When you are taking care of a loved one with HIV, make sure you do not have contact with their body fluids. Wear gloves and other forms of protection when required. Contact your local clinic for assistance.

*Presentation 3 Courtship*

After salvation, the most important choice you make is who to marry
For 2 people to live together in harmony, there must be an agreement spiritually, mentally and physically
No sex before marriage.
You are not marrying for sex, because you are old, you want money, you got pregnant or just because you love the idea of marriage
Marriage is Gods idea so it will not fail
It is God not Adam who said Adam needed a help meet.
The purpose of marriage is to be joined with someone of the opposite gender who will help you fulfil Gods purpose for your life.. That’s the primary purpose
Secondary reasons are, Having Godly seeds and companionship.

Courtship is a relationship with a goal to lead to marriage.
The church must be involved from the beginning.
Life is spiritual
The church expects to be involved right from the start.
Before you even introduce that person to your parents, the church must know.
In your courtship, ensure that that person is in Christ and serves in the house of God
If you are not serving in the house of God. You are not ready.
Ensure that the church is aware of your wedding arrangements, proposed dates etc
You cannot give instructions to the church, follow the right procedures.
Do the word, walk in the word and this life of glory is yours

*Presenation 4 Question and answer segment*

Q. What does a brother do when after he notices a mighty woman and he discovers that she is in a relationship with a non ministry member.
A If you are led by the spirit. In prayer God will reveal Ms Right for you and that person will wait for you. She will not get into an unequally yoked relationship. Do not rush.
God will lead you besides the still waters. Those are not still waters.

Q. Is it true that in our ministry, the qualification to marry is to be a tither, buy 1000 rhapsodies, join a cell group and serve in a ministry department

A.Would you like to marry a robber. A non tither is a professional thief. If you want to live a broke life, marry a non tither.
200 is the minimum number of rhapsodies you are supposed to buy for your wedding day. It is encouraged that all your guests must receive a copy. It is a means of saving souls in your family. Do not see this as an expense. Its about souls
You must be serving in a ministry department. That proves responsibility. It starts in church
You must be a partner because partnership proves sonship. Marry a son of Pastor Chris
You must be in a cell. Anyone who is not in a cell is not a member of Christ Embassy.

Q. I met someone online. Should I date him
A.NO, go to your pastor whenever you find someone you like. Do not hide this from your Pastor.

Q. Is it possible to see the person I am to marry in my dream and what am I to do
A.Go to your pastor. Some dreams come because that boy/ girl has been in your subconscience.

Q. If a girl elopes to me what should I do.
A.Marry her. That normally happens because she is pregnant.

Q. Whats the right age to be married
A.There is no rights age. You get married when you are spiritually, mentally and emotionally stable

Q. Will she submit because she is younger
A.Not necessarily. Age does not matter. Its important that a lady marries someone who she reverences.

Q. Does God allow a single to marry a divorcee whose ex is still alive
A.As long as its legal it is allowed. God hates divorce, do not cause divorce.

Q. What do you do when you get pressure from your family to get married.
Patiently hear your parents side, treat them with love and pray about it.

Q  Can I marry from another ministry
A.Sharp doctrinal differences can destroy a marriage. At the end the couple would have to choose one church. Deal wisely

Q. Are secret relationships allowed
A.NO. Whoever wants a secret relationship is not serious with you. Sisters be guided by your Pastors whenever you get approached.

Q It seems there are no single men in our ministry. What should I do.
A.Sister look around. Release the right sound code (confession)

Q. Is it good conduct to visit each other at home during courtship
A. Yes and NO. Avoid late nights and compromising lone times. Be transparent. No romantic interaction. Don’t play husband and wife before getting married.

Q. Is it wrong for a man to have two wives even if the first wife has agreed
A. It is wrong. God said he will give you a help meet. Not help meets. Marrigae is Gods idea not mans idea

Q. How can I choose the right mate
A. Your pastor will help you choose. Trust your Pastor.
Points to note. – wrong foundations
1.One Party is Too Busy to be Involved in Church
2.No Financial Commitment to the Gospel
3.One Party is Not Submitted to the Authority of His/Her Church
4.One Party is Always Demanding for Money or Other Resources

*PASTOR RUTH*

The word of God has all the answers you need today
The word works.
Your part is to receive. The grace is available here
You are a blessing to ministry and we love you

Isa 40v31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

It matters who you hang out with.
Any relationship that takes you away from God is not from God.
Which company do you keep
Which counsel do you take

Friendship is about peer pressure. If you still young, you are easily influenced by friends.
You are the light of the world
You take the world to your friends and influence them
Prov 27v17 7 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
You sharpen your friends with the word of God.
Be the one to sharpen your friends
Let your conversations be filled with virtue. When you visit people minister grace unto them.
Its not stupid to speak the word of God with the girl you love.
Be guided by the Holy Spirit. Let him take over your conversation.

There is no curse that can cause you to not get married.
Num 23v23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!

You are marriageable, You are a child of God and you can get married

If you family forces you to go for a ritual, remember,
Mark 16v18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover
If you eat any deadly thing, it shall not hurt you.

Who do you get your counsel from.
Get your counsel from an spiritual person.
Don’t be desperate to get married. You will get married to the wrong person.
Be guided by the word of God.
Don’t be like Sarah who could not wait and decided to help God perform a miracle by bringing in Hagar to give birth to Ishmael.
Wait upon God, in your case, he will show up

Your character.
Are you marriageable. Do you not chase potential partners away from you by the way you conduct yourself.
Ruth 3 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?
2And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshing floor.

That’s right spiritual counsel from Naomi to Ruth
I will direct you to you Boaz or Ruth. She will be in a place of prayer.
The threshing floor is a place of prayer.
Men looks at the outside, God looks at the inside. Trust you Pastor.

Ruth 3v3 Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

Are you marriageable.
1.Wash yourself. Do not smell bad, be presentable.
2.Be anointed. Dress up in the spirit
3.Don’t make yourself known unto the man until he marries you

All sisters should remember Ruth 3v3
A woman should seek a man who fears the Lord
You will tell by his language and by how he treats other people

A woman should seek a man who is not afraid to love
A lot of young men today are afraid to commit. We need men who are not afraid to love
A man who is not afraid will say, I want to go and meet your Pastor.

A woman needs a man who can admit his faults and admit when he has hurt you.
A marriage is a union of two forgivers
Don’t marry someone who cannot forgive e.g someone who cant forgive his mother

A woman should seek a man who can control his passions
A man must control his desire for the opposite gender.
Don’t turn a blind eye to this sign

A woman should seek a man who honors his parents
If you want to see how a young man will treat you, see how he treats his mother.

A woman should seek a man who is in the process of becoming a leader who knows how to serve
If a young man does not know how to serve others, his ability to start a family is questionable.

Prov 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

A man must have wisdom to see the qualities in Ruth 3v3.
Is she anointed, presentable, listens to instructions.

A man should seek a woman whose hope is in the word of the Lord,
Is she focused on the word of God.

A man should seek for a woman who honors her own parents
The girl must be able to tell you that my mother says I must not go out and follows that instruction.
If she has a hard time honouring her parents, she will have a hard time honouring you.

A man should seek for a woman who forgives him when he fails her.

A man should seek a woman who wants to be a wife and a mother.
Her career should not be her number one priority.

A man should marry a woman who knows how to dress.
Her character should be displayed on the inside and not the outside.

A man should seek a woman who knows how to follow the man not the man.
She must understand that she is the vice president not the president.
The husband is the head.

A man cannot marry another man. That’s horrible.
Go to your Pastor if you see that spirit coming upon you. If you see those feelings coming upon you

You may be in a situation right now where you are thinking, will I ever get married
Psa 37v23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
God will lead you. Do not go back to the systems of the world. Keep your mind stayed on him.
The word works. Put your trust in God

Whatever mistake you have done in life, don’t let it hold you back.
God has forgiven you

*You are going to get married* ❤

Here are some professional development tips for college students

1. Understand And Admit Your Weaknesses

The only way to develop both personally and professionally as a college student is to first understand what needs to be developed in the first place. Self-reflection is so crucial in all of our lives, but especially during your college years.

Taking ownership of what you don’t do well and trying to improve is just as important, if not more important than understanding what you are good at. College is the time to improve and grow and that will only happen if you have goals set on what skills you want to enhance. If you have never completed a transferable skills survey before, I encourage you to give it a shot, as this can really show you where you need more development.

2. Research, Read, Be Aware

All of us have had people we have looked up to in our lives. For those of us who have been in the workforce for a good while, we probably have had mentors and leaders that we have looked up to along the way. One way you can take ownership of your own development is to emulate the people that you look up to.

By being aware of your surroundings and understanding what exactly has drawn you to certain people, you can understand what skills you need to be able to showcase to someday be in that position of leadership. This only happens through reading, researching, and being intentional with your learning. Having outstanding job specific skills are important, but you need to have the intangible qualities that employers are looking for to ultimately reach your career goals. To grow in your development, you must first identify the skills you actually want to develop.

3. Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone

As a college student, I knew that I was a terrible public speaker and not very good in large social situations, as I would get extremely nervous. In my second year, I forced myself out of my comfort zone and attended a Boost seminar at Mandel training center. At this seminar, there were over 100 students and it was an extremely packed room. While I accomplished something just by going, I didn’t actually do anything. That’s right; I simply walked around and didn’t talk to anybody.

Many of us are afraid to stray from what is comfortable to us, but you only get better with practice and experience. I challenge my students to try something new that gets you out of your comfort zone at least once a month. Obviously, the key to that is you have to actual take action and not just walk around!

By getting out of your comfort zone, you can learn a lot about yourself and develop interests that you never thought were possible. Who would have thought that 2 years after I walked around doing nothing, I would be teaching students in high schools mentoring them. Own your insecurities.

4. Diversify Your Experiences

There is no better way to take advantage of your own development than by diversifying your experiences while in school. Think about it. The more involved you are and the more experiences you have, the better your chances of finding out what your true passion is.

For example, I work with organizations that aim to build student talents and we started a trust which deal with young and disabled children ton of student, many of them end up changing their major because they love what they do within their student job. I implore all students to diversify your experiences by getting involved in student organizations, volunteering, and being employed while a student.  At the very least, a diversified resume with a lot of experiences looks pretty good to an employer!

5. Stop Waiting For Things To Happen, Make Them Happen

We have students all the time who come to our meetings  and want help finding a student job. The first question I ask them is where they want to work. I ask this specifically because if they want to work in the Library, why are they coming and talking to us? Go talk to somebody at the Library!

There is a reason most jobs in this country are filled without advertising, and that is because they don’t need to advertise. If you want to develop yourself, get the career you want, and meet the people that you want to meet, then go do it! Take charge and make things happen for yourself by being PROACTIVE. If you are an employer, what skills does it show you when someone proactively comes to you looking to learn more? Plus, as a student, you are in a learning phase and can play the student card, which will probably get you in the door easier than someone older.

6.Take control of your own fate and make things happen.

So many things that happen in your career and life are going to be out of your control. Take that control back and take ownership of your own development. Learn from every experience that you have good or bad. You never know, one day all the failures that you learned from when you were a college student could lead you to the career you never knew you always wanted. Be a lifelong learner and you never know what you could be doing next.

Understanding Education

Education is one of the misguided concepts especially on the African continent. Going through junior school,  high school, getting good grades and finally making it into college then graduating with a degree has been the definition of education in Africa for the past centuries  yet that's only a means to education not education. Africa's education system at its best has produced administrators yet true education ends in the deployment of oneself. Education result in depolying oneself as a result of well developed gifts, talents and abilities.

What it is not: It's not going to junior school, high school and getting good grades. It is not going college to get a qualification and ultimately get a job. Education is not a bait that one uses to get a pay check at the end of the month. Education is bigger than that.

What it is: Education in its truest sense is broadening ones mind to see beyond the horizon. It is to draw out the potentialities within an individual and further develop the potential till the potentials are serving humanity. It is not a certificate, though it can be symbolized by a certificate. Education equips one with skills to solve problems, to analyze information and come up with strategies. It is measurable and quantifiable: education is value that someone is willing to pay for.

Education is the ability to deploy oneself based on ones gifting, talent, skills and abilities so as to provide service to humanity and it earns you commercial value.

Many mistake literacy for education. Education: results  in a mind that has been transformed by the information it has received resulting in a changing attitude and ultimately a better character.

Literacy is the ability to receive, store and reproduce information without the information effecting changes to the receiver. Which makes the statement "knowledge is power" to be partially true but I will say "knowledge acted upon is power"

Give your mind to a tutor: develop your mind, gifts,  talents and abilities. Education is a personal responsibility, the best an educator can do is to guide you as you educate (teacher) yourself. Also know that the school is not there to educate you but to create and maintain an environment for you to educate yourself. 

In summary education is:

1. The development of your reasoning faculties, to stretch and to train your mind to think.

2. To teach you about problem solving.

3. To familiarize yourself with the world and the industries thereof.

4. The development of your gifts and abilities.

5. It is for molding your character.

To be continued..