op·por·tu·ni·ty (¼p”…r-t›“n¹-t¶, -ty›“-) n., pl. op·por·tu·ni·ties. 1.a. A favorable or advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances. b. A favorable or suitable occasion or time.
I wish I could tell you this looking into your eyes
But again I dont want to
I wish I could absolutely express myself
But again its not necessary
I smell the hurt
I smell the pain
I smell the withdrawal
That's why I know its not necessary
Its about you
Its about him
Its about your union
Its about your thing
I don't feel it
I don't fancy it
I'm not a fan
I don't mean to judge
Its just an opinion
Not much of an opinion
Its just an impression
I see him everyday
Yet I dont see him everyday
I see him through your eyes
His person, so vivid when I look into yours
The union
You dont have to
Its not needed
I dont believe in the foundational complexities
I dont believe in that traditional take-off
I believe in simplicities
I believe in flow....flow...natural flow
U call it flow...slow mo...step at a time
But I know flows....I recognise flows
This is no flow...u need to take it slow
I didnt have to say this
U dont have to listen
I didnt have to say this
I hope it doesnt spoil us
22.12.09
What ure reading is an excerpt from the concluding chapter the about-to-be-released book of Jaye Aderounmu, titled
2 AM ( A MIND AMOMGST MANY) "real life experiences in tales"
It is a contributing chapter from urs truly...
--------------------------
BECAUSE I WROTE A BOOK AT 21
by Tolulope Akanni
--------------------------
This chapter will change your life if you choose to read with relevance, it would remould your existence because this is success being discussed in its raw form. If only you will believe me and put to practice the combinations discussed in this chapter, you will never let go off this book for the remaining days of your life.
Because I wrote a book
I was made to learn that your first book is an introduction to the second
And to learn that the greatest challenge I'm gonna face is the challenge of practicing the principles I teach.
Because I wrote a book
I was offered a seat amongst kings and princes and I could humbly say "yet not I"
Because I wrote a book
God's promises for my life bore flesh
Because I wrote a book..
...at 21 and published it on the eve of my graduation from the university, people started believing the principles I taught because I was a living proof.
Because I wrote a book
I came to realise that success is cheap and that is why I write this hour - to let you know that success is cheap and say it with confidence knowing that I am a success and that if only you do the same things myself and some many other successful people all over the world did, you too can be a success.
Are you faced with challenges?
Smile and appreciate the heavens because in every dark cloud is a silver lining and all you need is a little patience before you get full grasp of why you had to face that negative circumstance.
You need to live with that mentality that you can always bring something outing of nothing.
Each one of life's moment carry the same amount of relevance and importance...there are no special moment, if one moment is special, then every other moment is special. If one moment is ordinary, then every other moment is ordinary.
After success became my friend, I screamed and yelled at success saying "Success, how come you never told me you were this cheap to get!!"
Because success came to cheap.
Of the many combinations I have put together to unlock the door of success and pave in deep into its inner chambers as though it were my birthplace, I want to be generous enough to leave you with just two combinations that have opened these doors to me; it has exposed me to a world of unlimited possibilities.
1. The combination of the Mind
2. The combination of the Hand
The combination of the Mind is one I got from the Scriptures and I got it fresh from the wisest man that ever lived on..........
<<<<<<<<<<<<
..don't mess with these two combinations, don't see it as just another motivational talk!
The fact that you could read this book up to its last chapter means your combination of the hand must have been fired up, don't make a mess of it by not using the combination of your hand.
I'm only 21 and my hands have touched things because I consistently put these principles to work, don't delay the application of these combinations, use it now and start making exploits time waits for no man.
What you just read is the introduction to the first chapter of my next book.
Be inspired!
Tolu Fiz Akanee
|Thought|Written|Spoken|
***********************U'l
I'm still basking in the euphoria of the John C. Maxwell experience, u know the answer
he gave to my question still baffles me each time it comes to mind.
I asked him "what challenge did you go through after writing your first book?"
And in reply he said "The challenge I had after writing my first book was the same
challenge I had before I wrote my first book - the challenge of practising the principle I
teach in my book"
I look at the mistakes of yesterday and I'm happy I made them because I believe that if
I can actually look at a particular action and genuinely admit to myself that it was a
mistake, then it is a pointer to the fact that I can tell myself the truth
This is more like a contination to the piece I wrote on "what last"
before u ask what next, do ask urself that question..."what last?"
why did I experience the things I experienced, what can I bring out of it.
In asking myself that question I said to myself "I might not be a first class degree
holder, but I must live life as a first class graduate"
That's deep even though it makes sense on the surface as well
So every morning I wake up and I ask myself, how can I be the best at what I am
doing? How can I be the best?
The race has started already, my mates are already doing things and I'm not even sure
if we are still mates! It is a terrible thing to be left out, so I have to stay on top of my game!
I discoverd only some days back that I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing! No, I'm not
I had 1,000 books to sell...now I have 600 books to sell and there's no strategy on ground on how to sell it!
Did I say strategy? I'm never short of strategies! I meant to say action
I need to do something!
Imagine, my strategies are as simple as
I approach 4 churches..
1. House on the rock
2. Daystar christain centre
3. RCCG City of David
4. Fountain of life
Let me paint the RCCG City of David scenario to u
I walk in to see one of the pastors and I tell him how much God has been blessing me..graduation from Covenant University..a book.. a book launch..a John C. Maxwell feature.....all at age 21 and I'm moved to share my story with his church particularly the youth and that I need just 5mins to talk about my book or if they want to give me an entire youth seminar, I'm down. I just need to tell my story..that's all.
Books will be on the stands after the service.
It is that simple..
Now, uve heard me talk about my book before...do you think I will go to a church on the island with about 1,000 worshippers out of which 500 of the 1,000 regular wealthy worshippers are superwealthy folks and I won't sent sell 200copies of the book?
Do u honestly feel there's a possibility of failure?
If I sell at #1,500 I will be smiling home with 300k
So ask me why I am not doing any of these things..
No cloth to wear?
No perfume to wear?
No books to sell?
No car to convey me to the venue?
No english to speak?
No demeanor to charm?
I don't see any of these things as a problem..so what's up with me???
I can't tell!!!
I need to do something with my life a.s.a.p.
U know, I need people around me....I think! But I shouldn't consider that as an excuse..I'm responsible for my own life!
I have the target of selling 1,000 copies in 40days and even though Aug12 sounds far, it's here already!
I'm not gonna leave my books on the stands of book stores to seat among the crowd, no I won't do that....who knows Tolu Akanni?
It's a first book so I have to hustle on my own!
I need friends to start doing things jare
The launch of A-Z Life lessons has come and gone
John C. Maxwell has come and gone
Creativity fair has come and gone..
wonderful past week!
Now, what next?
Who are we seeing on TV this week?
I'm angry at CU mass comm peeps o...it just occurred to me recently that we keep seeing the same newscasters we've been seeing since primary school days on TV...where are all of those peeps that were dreaming to be newscasters too? Don't they have their degrees now? so where are they? They are waiting to gain experience abi? so they wait another 15yrs b4 they start living the dream...forget jor!
I still have this pending idea I have to implement soonest.
Empowerment seminar!
That thing is free money and what keeps amazing me is that it as fresh and ever-producing like the oil wells on Nigeria.
Any random dude will just wake up and design fliers, tell us Fela Durotoye will be there, Leke Alder is coming, Ibukun Awosika on board, Niyi Adesanya has also confirmed his presence....and all of thoe things they say
Then we all bring out 1k, 2k, 3k....and we all rush down only to hear some random folks teaching principles they dont live!
Now, forget the fact that there's money in it...empowerment seminars, conferences....all those things....they are things I should be doing, they are things CU students should be organising because it comes cheap for us. We have the teaching materials already, we are already used to the rationale behind seminars...we know how it is done, so why are we not doing it?
I grow greeeeeeeeeeeen with envy each time I remember the faces behind Atrium consult - the organisation that brought John C. Maxwell down to Nigeria.
Leadership conference - #25,000 per head
Dinner with John C. Maxwell - #1,000,000 per table (table of 10) i.e. #100,000 per head.
U know what? If all John C. Maxwell requested as pay for him to come down to Nigeria was #5million, all the organisers need to make the event successful is to source #5million.
After paying John C. Maxwell and are sure of his coming, they budget another #1million for publicity - they storm TV stations...fliers, banners, radio jingles and all.
Next they approach Federal Palace hotel and tell them they need one of their halls for a seminar since they are expecting International Leadership speaker and author - John C. Maxwell and that they will lodge him in their hotel for 3 nights and there will be a dinner in their restaurant as well. They secure all of these things without paying Federal Palace Hotel a dime - all Federal Palace will them is 4 d dinner...it will be say #30,000/head and that's all. No charges for the seminar nor the lodging.
Atrium goes back to the drawing board...they sum up d #6million spent so far look at how best they can make maximum profit, consider the class of attendees they are looking at and they say fine...
#25,000/person for the seminar
#100,000/person for the dinner
Tell me if they will smile to the bank or not?
But it doesnt stop there for Atrium Consult...they have made a name.
I mean, THEY BROUGHT JOHN C. MAXWELL DOWN TO NIGERIA WITHOUT ANY SUPPORT!
At this junction, let me tell it plainly now...if I'm not a self-made millionaire by the end of a year from now, please dont ever read me again!!
I'm serious...don't read anything I write again.
In conclusion.
1. Success is cheap
2. Success is only for the brave
3. I'm dying to know ur reaction to all of these...leave a comment
Rejoice with me, I'm through with my final exams!
No matter how hard you try, you cannot please everyone, you just have to let go and let be. Not everyone will understand the reasons why you do the things you do in the immediate, but with time the big picture will be visible for all to see.
That's one fact, I'm slowly coming to terms with as I recall one or two memories. But I'm holding on to the words of my mentor who while responding to the issue on how he gets people driving over long distances to attend his church "The church is not far, not when value is being added" and I will love to paraphrase that as it relates to friendship as "The bond is never broken when value is being added"
The works of my hand and heart will bring back even those I have genuinely hurt.
One part of friendship that hurts the most is when you realise that you don't actually talk to the people you talk to, as in you talk everyday yet you don't talk. Surface talk is crap!
I just have to live the rest of my days ensuring that I'm not making that mistake and that the people I'm in communication with are drawing something from me, I have to give more, I have to love more, I have to digest more - as in learn - so I won't run dry feeding others.
Well, that's a lifestyle already I just need to be more self conscious.
I've been meeting lots of people lately, and I'm enjoying every bit, people business is great fun.
I'm thinking of buying a domain name and turning this blog into a website, I plan to kick of publicity on my book pretty soon ahead of the July9 launch. Progress is being made on securing a venue, I just confirmed Terrakulture to be free for that date...that's looking cool already. As well I'm beginning to think twice about selling 300copies in CU alone and all of that..I just hope these random thoughts take better form in the coming days.
U know that phenomena that says when u wanna do something bigger than u n u lack d required inner drive, tryna remind urself of little, little things u have achieved in times past n u'll draw strength - that inner drive - from there.
I've been trying out new stuffs lately, I've been trying out the unusual just to help myself gather momentum for the days ahead n I wanna advise u do same.
This phenomena is not unrelated to faith, infact it's just another dimension to faith. "If God healed her n his word has already said that He changeth not, then my miracle is on the way"
Looking at business in the same vein, the mere fact that u could raise #5,000 when u had a little project to handle gives u the confidence to approach #25,000.....#100,000.....and on to millions in the nearest future.
The mere fact that I could write a Facebook note gave me the confidence to start a blog, to get published in magazines n that same confidence leads me to embark on a publishing a book.
Atimes when I experience writer's block, I find myself going thru comments ppl drop on things I've written in past times just to build my confidence that I can write something impressive.
Leadership also follows that trend in a way, u evolve as a captain over ur class, on to being prefect of ur school, u carry that on to attain being an association president in ur university, on n on like that the trend continues.
Little droplets!!
I've had to quote this postulate from my mentor, Dr. David Oyedepo over n over again; it says "U don't grow big to manage well, u manage well to grow big"
If I keep talking, I'll find myself repeating some old topics of discuss, and I don't want to do that. Hp u get my drift somehow.
I warned u not to use ur head
It was as simple as following ur heart
U didn't listen
U didn't trust me
U saw all of the good
And u walked away like it was cheap
My good is not cheap
I am not cheap
U chose to be calculated
And d calculations cancelled d faith in me
I knew it didn't make sense for u
But I wanted u to do it for me
I knew it had to be for me
Before it could be for us
U asked questions
And I said "Just believe"
Just believe
So I could wake up each day happy
Just believe
So we could wake up each day grateful
Just believe
And u'l be d only one in d world that believes in me!
Just believe
And that believe will make me love u endlessly
Hi guys!
I'v decided to get back in full swing with my blogging experience. I feel so great about this, today makes it 97days to my convocation ceremony...cant wait to earn my B.Eng degree!!
So the concept of the new blog is to share the daily experiences of my last days as an undergrad. I named it "Lobby experience"the concept being that I see my convocation ceremony as a flight, n these 100days r the moments I'm spending at the lobby while waitin 2 catch my flight. I hope to hv u guys follow me. I'l stil blog here from time to time tho.
Btw, I'm making good progress on my book. Work is at graphics stage...drop ur email add if u wanna c a couple of pages from the first draft.
Click here to catch a glimpse of my new world
I lost my mojo to write in these past few weeks
Being so blank
Being blank is not even the issue sef
I've not just been pouring out jare
Cos I've def had 1,2 tins runnin thru my mind
I need a new story
I need something fresh
I need a new experience
I need a new state of heart
I need to explore a new realm
Being building on a relationship these past weeks
But, that task takes too much patience jare
Cant believe I'v been calm to a reasonable extent
People change rite?
A-Z making reasonable progress
Very reasonable, my time lines are stil in check
Yossie, if u see dis. knw therz trouble 4 u
Friends
People
I've not been meeting people in recent times o
Its one of the new experiences I wanna explore
CPC entertainment ish is rly a golden platform
For me to build on my network
Friends in d grad class, fine!
But no jare
I want younger frnds
Plenty tins
On my mind
In my head
Hope I have more to talk about in the coming days...
This past week has bin crazy men; its bin work, work, work, n work.
Preparing for a wedding ceremony is no joke..no joke 4 d couple, no joke 2 their parents, no joke 2 family, wellwishers....its jst stress, stress, stress, n stress!!
But overall, I'm grateful to God for the success of it all
Oshe Baba!!!
So I'm done with my exams now n thank God I can think again, I can write again n I can voice out my feelings.
I'm losing my respect 4 schooling too fast. It doesn't just make sense especially when ure at this end of d world. Schooling in a 3rd world nation is crap...pls don't let it happen to ur kids!!
Sooooo february has a whole lot of sturvs in stock for me, project work, broda's wedding, A-Z manuscripts, An Evening with the Poet, a romantic deal to close, one or two potential employers to meet, books I wanna read n a whole lot of other sturvs... I can only hope for God's grace to make reasonable progress.
Speaking about "An evening with the Poet", dats d next big deal m builidng on. It's a poetry show I wanna host in school, not something big, but some extraordinary. I just wanna have a gathering of poets displaying poetic eloquence; so I just wanna use this opportunity to call for your support, I need u guys to help make this tin work, n u can do that by sending in ur poems; they will credited to ur name n I sure will send video clips to u....cos rly I don't know wher I can get better poets other than on blogspot. So if ure willing to help, u can send me an email: tolulopeakanni@yahoo.com
Thanks to u all for ur anticipated support!
Bro's weeding 11th n 13th. If ure gonna b in gidi dat period...holla I'll get d venue details across to u.
Nyz, I just ended my long wknd @ hm n m back to sch nw.....time to conclude work on my manuscripts.
Wish y'al a splendid February!!!!!!!!!!
The inspiration to write this piece came as a result of series of accusation as to me being Proud, so this is a big opportunity for me to work toward correcting this misconception.
I am someone that gets influenced so easily and if you've ever taken time to study my living pattern, you would agree with me on this one. But just as it is common to most of our weakness, I've been able to tame this one.
How do I cope?
Prov 4:23 is my #1 drug, I've been using it over the years to help keep my life in shape.
How does it work?
"Guard thy heart with all due diligence for out of it are the issues of life. Prov 4: 23 {NKJV)
If I must guard my heart:
1. I must watch the company I keep.
2. I must switch to high level confidence and believe-in-self when peer pressure comes knocking.
3. I must watch the kind of materials I expose myself to: Music, Videos, Books.
The #1 reason I listed above has put me in a whole lot of trouble and I must sincerely admit that even though I'm mostly not happy with the trouble that comes with it, there are times I enjoy it! **laughs**
I watch the company I keep because what I do per time is a function of what my company expects from me. I know what effects short talks, long discussions, and all sorts of interactions have on me so I cannot afford to be in certain circles per time.
My inner circle friends will bear me witness to the fact that I always complain when we have to walk down somewhere together and some people join us midway. Occassionaly, I enjoy having another party around, but most times when these people come in in the middle of a conversation and they start puttin up views, I'm always like "what r we doing talking to people we do not share common values with?"
Why do I reason like this?
In the year 2006, I was priviledged to listen to both the MD of Access Bank, Mr Aig Imokhuede and Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, and they talked about the personal core value system and they inspired me to create four for myself and one of the values they mentioned "Pride-in-command" is what I refined for myself as "Class"
In 2007, I started feeding on Donald Trump's materials and that guy did a lot to my Ego!!
And the deal is, these days I never do something eccentric except I commit my ego to it.
Ever find yourself in my shoes?
A man that myself and a couple of colleagues had d priviledge to interview last summer with a group of colleagues said something I may never forget in a long time. He said "Every principled person will always be perceived as being wicked"
A random quote I stumbled on reads "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"
In conlusion, we all have one or two things people around us have issues with and you'll always know when you are indeed misbehaving, but there's this right feeling you have deep within when you know you are doing that thing for a greater good.
Friends,
Have principles
Cherish your values
Live by them!
This is rather strange, I woke up at my regular 5a.m study hour and 4 real I knew I wasnt going to read, I remember I had planned to wait on God today n I stil have a lot of study time planned out 4 d remaining hours of the day, so I free acada n I decided to spend some time with God.
I went into my audio archives to dig out a couple of audio messages I'd not listened to for me to sync to my iPod n listen to 1 of em just to keep my spirit man energised for the day, so I picked one of Pastor Poju's message buh I switched the moment I stumbled on one old worship album.... my spirit was rly lifted n I was caught up in dat realm of worship n on n on lik dat.. then Zzzzz......
Hw on earth did I sleep off??? sleepin at 12:30am is really no xcuse, this sleep off during worship used to be one wicked habit back then o..
Nyz, ther was sumtin unusual in dis sleep. I just found myself in my mentor, Leke Alder's office. It looked like I had been seated in his office for a while, then this young guy came in (I was also young guy too sha) n he had a quite a lot to discuss n it so happened that myself n Mr Alder began to dole out encouraging words to dis guy n I was freaking intelligent in my discourse.... as in it was serious o.. then Mr Alder spoke some words that recounting some of those lines as I wake up now actually makes it look lik that young man in that office was me!
In that same dream, there was this other striking scene.... sum random guy that was in d rest room as I walkd in just started picking on me like he had known me 4rm d day I was born, n his blabs was all pointing to how the FEAR FACTOR can ruin me.. one of his lines was "...young men like u will neva go far because ure to scared to bring out that inner u..."
I woke up wishing that this visit left me wit a verse of the scripture, cos 4 reals, I hardly remember my dreams now n its jst strange sha.. more lik I timed out of consciousness for an appointment with d subconscious.
So this one has changed the course of my thinking for the entire day, I need to take out time to carry out a 'Fear factor analysis' on my existence.
I'm all out to stategically fight my fear n empower my guts, what r u fighting??
So lik I've not been doing any serious writing this year,
Exam seasons could be killin.. loads of zero-value-adding information 2 cram in my head.
No serious social activity, cos society says its irresponsible to have fun when ur exams r goin on.
Thank God 4 online buddies that help me make up 4 those fun outdoor evenings, by making themselves available 4 quality indoor chat.
Thanks Miss Mac, Yosola, Bukola...alwys ther 4 me.
So I'v been chattin all afternoon wit one of my most respected uncles.. jst last nite I was talkin 2 my aunty dat didnt hv my time n I was just mission al of my CU uncles n aunties that used 2 b ther 4 me. Now they'v graduated n I'm nw an uncle, buh I stil miss bein "Uncled" jare
So me n my ex-CU uncle were rubbing minds n I'm telling u dat great minds cant stop thinkin alike!
One unique thing about these my uncles is that they r alwys workin on sumtin new per time, and I guess thats one of the major reasons y I love them so much.
And like I'v promised myself, I want my 2010 to be saturated with "results" I want to be achievin something per time, big or small.
It keeps me going!
So now I really have to step out now to go watch naija!
Lemme quickly use this opportunity to appreciate Myne Whitman, shez been a real "blogspot mummy" I alwys appreciate reading her comments!
Contributors
- Tolulope Akanni
- Tolulope Akanni is a writer and entrepreneur. After bagging a degree in Engineering, he had his big break shortly by self-publishing his first book, A-Z Life Lessons at the age of 21. The book uses poems, pictures and stories to express the thoughts of the Nigerian youth burning with a passion to create value. He is presently in Paris, France for a professional training and is also working with a team led by Onyeka Nwelue organising the Literacy Africa International Charity Concert and the editorial team of In-correct Magazine. Tolu Akanni is a visionary and dynamic youth with a rare and unique passion sent on a mission to bring out the best in people to the end of seeing men live up to their full capacity.