Not Suffering False Attractions

»»» You have just started working in your current organization. While applying for the job, you had indicated that you have made enough career changes and now want to settle down. At the interview, you went to great lengths to establish why this was the job and the kind of organization that you were really looking for.

You got the job. Three months into it a headhunter calls you. There is a new multinational in town and they are looking for someone with the same profile as yours. The job pays 50 percent more than what you currently make and according to the man at the other end of the line, it has great professional challenge.

That night you have trouble falling asleep. A lady named temptation visits you.

She whispers into your ear all the things wrong with your current assignment. She reminds you of noncooperation by your new colleagues. She eggs you on by reminding you that you have suggested pathbreaking ideas in short time you have been there, but no one really listens to you in this new organization. She brings up the fact that you felt shafted when, after joining, you found out that some of your colleagues were earning more than you for doing the same job. Why then do you feel this false sense of virtue- as if you owe the organization something for hiring you?

It is not the false virtue, but the false attraction of which one must beware.

The fact of the matter is that you have not paid back your organization for taking a risk in hiring you just three months ago. The fact is that you did not anticipate the amount of effort you would need to make before being accepted by peers and subordinates. The fact is that, to the headhunter, you are just another head to hunt, to make his cut and bonus.

Flirting with false attractions makes us lose affection for what is on hand. If you do not have a serious need for the offered job or assignment, do the professional thing and resist the temptress.«««

Culled from "The Professional," by Subroto Bagchi...Chapter 18.

Okay is 25 percent

While recommending a friend for a job once, I was asked how he is... "He is okay," I responded. It was more like an automated response, which was not intended to undermine the skill-set he was bringing to the team.

"He is okay?" the director asked. She was clearly annoyed. "I don't want someone who is okay," she said, emphatically. I was confuse.

She went on to explain why "okay" is never good enough. "Okay is 25%" It is like saying something is just there. It is never a good term to use when describing someone's ability. Especially if it is something or someone of distinct value. It is unacceptable. Okay is offensive. Unprofessional... It is a very weak term. Okay is not good enough.

I thought deeply about her words and consciously tried to explain how my friend was really more than an okay person. Till date I'm still thinking about the kind woman's views even though this event took place some six years ago.

The core lesson I took from that experience is to think deeply about every question before responding. No matter how casual the setting is or how simple the question is in itself. I mean, so often we use vague words like "okay" "nice" "awesome" "fine" etc. to describe people, experience and things without even noticing that these blanket terms have become meaningless... I know, I probably typed up or said one of those words in response earlier today. Automated responses and our minds... :-/ We'll get better sha...

YOUTH BULGE: RIDE THE TIDE (via @LeapAfrica)

The youth bulge has become a major concern across the world with youth population rising significantly in several countries. Statistics reveal that approximately half of the population of African countries is made up of youth. With a youth population of 43.9%¹, Nigeria has the 17^th highest youth population out of 229 countries in the world. These figures pose interesting discussions for world leaders and international communities on how the energy, creativity and vitality of this huge human resource can be channeled to strengthen economies and positively transform their countries. As observed in Africa, youth have increased participation in national issues and are adding values to lives through social development projects. Likewise in Nigeria, there are determined young people leading change efforts and positively transforming and improving the lives of people in their communities despite its daunting challenges.

Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa a nonprofit organization that is committed to developing dynamic, innovative and principled African leaders, launched the Annual Nigerian Youth Leadership Awards in 2004.  The Annual Awards is LEAP's attempt to reward the commitment and passion of these innovative and dynamic young people and also inspire other youth to aspire and serve as change agents in their local communities.

Since inception, the Awards has celebrated and supported 65 young innovative Nigerians aged 18-30 years who are improving the livelihood of several ordinary citizens through community development initiatives.

At the 9^th Annual Nigerian Youth Leadership Awards, LEAP will recognize efforts of the beneficiaries of its Leadership, Ethics and Civics (LEC) Programme. The LEC programme has equipped 14, 000 students in select public schools in five states with the skills and tools that they require to cope with life challenges and serve as change agents in their local communities. Community development projects are diverse and relevant to the socio-economic needs of a particular local government or their immediate environment.

From providing safe portable water serving many neighborhoods to creating awareness and working to achieve some of the United Nations millennium development goals, the students utilize their newly acquired knowledge and skills from the LEC Programme. In 2012, 50 social change projects were implemented by the LEC students in Anambra, Lagos and Ogun States benefitting thousands of individuals.

This year, LEAP will celebrate outstanding secondary schools and social change projects in Anambra, Lagos, Ogun States and Annual Awards recipient.

The 9th Annual Awards will be more than an event to celebrate the youth, it will feature LEAP's impact through its work in Nigeria and Africa. In May 2012, LEAP marked a decade of its leadership development and would specially celebrate its 10^th Anniversary at this event.

Details of the events are as follows:

Theme:  Youth Bulge: Ride the Tide.

Date:      Thursday the 15^th of November, 2012

Venue:   The Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos

Time:  4pm prompt

The Awards is funded by several indigenous organizations and typically attracts a thousand guests from public, private and development sectors. An Award winning Nigerian recording artiste will be performing at the event.

Note: This is a Press Release issued by LEAP Africa

In Nigeria, Fighting Corruption Should Start with Self!

Will Nigeria ever win the fight against corruption? Most times when the issue of corruption in Nigeria is raised, we are quick to point fingers at our government leaders. "If only our leaders are not so corrupt…," is a common statement most of us make. The underdeveloped state in the country is blamed on the corrupt politicians- from the federal government to the local government chairman. As a result, the fight against corruption is fashioned as us against them (politicians). They were once us.

When President Goodluck Jonathan, during his 52nd independence anniversary speech, said, "In its latest report, Transparency International (TI) noted that Nigeria is the second most improved country in the effort to curb corruption," he was criticized by a lot of activists and groups. This statement was described as false. Nigeria still holds an embarrassing "prominent" 143th position out of the 183 countries in Transparency International's 2011 Corruption Perception Index. The recent dust trailing the leaked report by Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the former head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has left some shocked at the audacity of corruption flowing in the oil and gas sector. Perhaps this will re-establish the fact that where wiping out corruption from Nigeria is concern, we are still far behind. This is no child's play.

However, the fight against corruption is not a fight to be left to President Goodluck alone. If we are serious about winning the war and liberating our country and resources from the shackles of fraud and greed in all sectors then we must all stand up to the responsibility and start fighting corruption from the very level that we are. I know, this sounds like a broken record. But the reality is that nothing will change if we do not change anything.

For example, if you drive through the red light and you are stopped by a traffic warden who gives you the option of tipping him or paying xxx amount as a fine for breaking traffic law, instead of bending to the temptation of giving that bribe, why not take the high road? Do things right by paying the fine? It is by refusing to pay bribe that we are able to reduce the gluttony among some public officials. We can apply this common culture at other levels.

In the fight against corruption, we are not as powerless as we think. A lot of innovative tools have been launched to empower individuals take initiative and expose all forms of corruption around them. The advent of technology makes the efforts even sexier.

The Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, speaking through his Chief of Staff, Dr Jimmy Imo once stated that "the battle against corruption has become so sophisticated with the advent of modern technology …" How are we as Nigerians taking initiative to leverage on this tool?

The recent launch of AntiCorruption Internet Database (ACID), a multifunctional web repository for all corruption related issues in Nigeria is a first step to ensuring that we are able to rate ourselves as well as our leaders on corruption related issues. How does the website work? The portal http://www.antigraft.org has different strategic tools that everyone can use to report corruption or feel the pulse of corruption in the country. Below are some of the tools you and I can use:
 

ACID Wiki: A source of information concerning definitions, laws, treaties and strategies concerning corruption.

Asset Declaration: A list of Nigerian politicians and government officials that have declared their assets. The "Report Asset tool" helps user report known asset of political actors and also upload supporting documents.

Bribe Reports: A tool to report corruption cases either from public or government agencies.  Also allows for user to upload supporting documents. (Multi-media and textual).

Budget: Monitor Public Projects yourself
View and share Budgetary Infographics
Download budget resources such as actual budget documents and budget monitoring toolkits

WANGONeT's Corruption Calculator: An application which computes the opportunity cost of acts of corruption. It provides contextual comparisons into the actual cost of stolen and misappropriated funds.

Corruption Profile: A list of individuals who have been involved in corruption allegations, cases, and convictions.

National Applaud Ranking: Applauding outstanding individuals who work hard despite the temptation of corruption. Users can nominate and vote for ANY individual they believe is worthy of applaud.
 

If we, if we all take responsibility and become our own corruption watch by reporting cases from grassroots like our lives depend on it, then maybe, just maybe, corruption will indeed become history, its culture wiped out from every sector in Nigeria.

Nigeria is beautiful... sometimes, we forget :-/

Nigeria is a beautiful country with beautiful people. Okay the electricity here is still epileptic. But, looking beyond all the harsh surface, here is a taste of what you'll see ( see pictures below).

I won't tell you what brought me to Abuja o... I promised not to moan or complain about it :-) But it all worked out and God has been gracious!

A big thank you to Chinwe (and her vivacious friends), Victor and everyone who made the picnic at Usuma Dam something to remember!

When next you ever visit Abuja and need a hot spot to hangout on a weekend, your first stop should definitely be to Usuma dam! And yeah, climb those hills baby! Until then, enjoy the experience, in pictures:

Apply for Youth LEAD 2012

Do you know a young high school grad between the ages of 15 and 22? Are they resident in Calabar or it's environs? Kindly share this info with them.

RYPE Initiative in partnership with American Corner Calabar and supported by Global Changemakers –British Council- is organizing the 2nd edition of Youth-LEAD from November 19 to 23, 2012.

Its going to be one week of:

• Learning
• Engagement
• Empowerment

You don't want to miss out!

Apply now at: www.rypeinitiative.org/apply

Deadline for application is November 9, 2012.

Please help spread the word!

Portrait of an extraordinary man [Nelson Mandela]

Nelson Mandela, Portrait of an extraordinary man by Richard Stengel. I have been reading this book. Actually just a few pages away from the last chapter.
I like the book. It basically shares insight into Mandela's extraordinary life. The author is not pretentious in his narration. He did not make Mandela appear like some saint. But his strengths and weaknesses were portrayed in the same tone.
What I do not get though is how some traits that are usually frowned upon in a "normal" society sound acceptable and extraordinarily "sexy" because it is Mandela exhibiting those traits.
Well, I guess that story is for Stengel to tell. Our role is to read and be inspired to be more and do more! I totally enjoyed this book. If you haven't read it, now you know- it is worth the read!