“When you attain success in life, consciously create time to inspire others.”
“When you attain success in life, consciously create time to inspire others.” hashtag#PheekWords Many times, the connotation of success is relative, and different from person to person. To one, success is financial freedom and career attainment. To another, success is time and freedom to do whatever they please with it. To yet another, success could mean being a great parent and raising wholesome kids. Different people with different interpretations, depending on what is most important to them in life. However, the end of all success – whatever it is for you – is to deliberately use the story of your journey to that “peak” and the embedded lessons therein to inspire and cultivate other people’s success. It is laying the paths of others coming after you with clues that guide them and maximize their chances for attainment. Richard mofe Damijo, RMD as he is fondly called is a definition of success by all standards who has used his gifts to influence and inspire others.As a young boy in the 90s, RMD was my screen hero and he was already a household name with his controversial character of Segun Kadiri alongside the delectable Ego Boyo in the popular TV series Checkmate produced by the late Amaka Igwe. Over the decades, RMD has evolved from an actor, writer, producer to a lawyer, and a Commissioner in Delta State. But all through his illustrious career RMD has dedicated support to younger artistes. Despite his clout and achievements in life, it is not uncommon to find him on stage with upcoming artistes and comedians, all in a bid to support and inspire them. On a faithful sunny Saturday morning last year August, I met RMD at the DFW airport in Dallas, Texas. We struck up a conversation, and he shared that he had flown into Dallas specifically to support a young artiste’s show. His humility left a lasting impression on me. We exchanged contact information and promised to stay in touch. Sometime in March this year, I got a text “Taopheek hi. It’s RMD. I’m stateside just wanted to hola. I remembered that I said I would say hi if I’m stateside.” This is RMD for you. We connected again and it was as if I have known him all my life. Success does not change people, it actually reveals who you truly are. If you are blessed to successfully at anything, be kind and secure. Empowering other people will not diminish your success; instead, it will multiply your influence, and as you may know, influence is wealth. So, never hoard your experiences and expertise; find people who desire your kind of success and inspire them. Congratulations RMD for your AMVCA Industry Merit Award, well deserved! Africa’s Denzel Washington. TAB Pic: Left RMD with a copy of my book, UNLOCK. Right RMD at AMVCA. hashtag#UNLOCK hashtag#RMD hashtag#WednesdayWisdom hashtag#Success
Feedback is Essential for Growth
Feedback is Essential for Growth! Growing up, I had my own insecurities and chief amongst them is interacting with people, I disliked anything that made me stand in front of people to talk. So, I took to arts (loved music, rap music, R&B and of course Fuji). Machines and gadgets were my own form of escapism. Anything but people, I’m fine (LOL) but my outward appearance says something different. Yes, that’s my facade, the front. We all have one. 24 years ago when I started my career as a Telecoms Engineer, all I wanted to do was to solve network problems, deliver projects with less interaction with people. But little did I know that God had a different plan for me. The type that would take me out of my comfort zones, one that would make me do exactly opposite of what I like. From Telecoms Engineering, I evolved into IT, Project Management, ended up in Management & Tech Consulting, transforming organisations and developing people. All through this transition, one thing became clear to me; “that the success I desire is on the other side of my comfort zone”. Managing stakeholders and relating well with people is key to success. So, everytime I show up to speak at conferences, facilitate executive sessions, or appear on TV for interviews and it seems natural, it is not, I’m actually facing my demons, turning my weakness into a strength. Growth comes with pain, far far away from comfort zones. Examine your Johari Window, there are four quadrants: 1. What you know and everyone knows (obvious to everyone)2. What only you know and others don’t know (your facade, secret place)3. What you don’t know but only other know and can see (you need feedback here to get better)4. What you don’t know and others don’t know (this is where you need to UNLOCK, self discovery) Recently, when the Norwegian Embassy invited me to share insights with them on “Organizational Culture: Giving and Receiving Feedbacks” I simply deployed the Johari Window tool and the Winning Life model in my book – UNLOCK as part of the very interactive session to help the participants. Thanks to Ota Akhigbe for the referral. TAB hashtag#TABDiary hashtag#Transformation hashtag#iCentra hashtag#UNLOCK
Excellence is an attractive and enticing force. It makes you likeable and respectable.
#Excellence Excellence is an attractive and enticing force. It makes you likeable and respectable. People are, by default, drawn to excellence wherever and whenever we see it. We love to associate with excellence, and excellent people – all of us. Be excellent in everything, from how you dress to how you speak, comport yourself, deliver on tasks, provide solutions, etc. People are watching you – consciously or unconsciously – and are rating you for when opportunities show up. Your degree of commitment to excellence will determine whether they invite you to be part of new opportunities or ignore you. “Struggle not for positions, but strive for excellence; because in the end excellence will position you.” Seek excellence, and it will bring you into many positions – not otherwise. TAB Circa: Presidential Initiative on CNG Co-creation Session on NGVMS facilitated by iCentra. hashtag#Transformation hashtag#UNLOCK
In 2019, Goodluck Enimakpokpo,PhD,MBA,MSc,PMP,CEng a professional colleague visited iCentra’s Abuja office #GE
In 2019, Goodluck Enimakpokpo,PhD,MBA,MSc,PMP,CEng a professional colleague who became a good friend, visited iCentra’s Abuja office with his colleague from hashtag#GE.As I welcomed them into my office, the colleague noticed the portraits of distinguished African business leaders on my wall and inquired about them. Goodluck, in a light-hearted manner, asked if it was because Herbert, her brother wasn’t featured. She followed up by asking, “Where is your family picture?” I pointed it out on my shelf. She then advised that regardless of whether I had Herbert among the business icons I admire, I should never overlook what matters most: family. After all, family is everything. That interaction with Ms. Joyce Shyngle-Wigwe JSD, B.Sc. Herbert’s elder sister, offered me a glimpse into her appreciation for family and, by extension, the hashtag#Wigwe family’s values. Thus, when Herbert tragically passed away with his wife and son, I deeply understood the message Ms. Wigwe imparted during our serendipitous meeting. Although I never had the privilege of meeting Herbert Wigwe, C.F.R , the late founder of Access Bank Plc and Wigwe University, his persona and legacy cast a long shadow in death. The numerous tributes that poured in posthumously bore witness to his character and his commitment to making a positive impact on society.In a world where self-interest often prevails and humanity towards one another is rare, Herbert devoted his life and resources to serving and loving others. Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Therefore, each day as I enter my office, I am reminded by the image and words of the late Herbert O. Wigwe to ‘honor the gift of life by living with purpose, kindness, and gratitude—and to make every moment count.’” At the end of the day “No one will be remembered for their wealth, but rather for the impact they made in the lives of others.” – hashtag#PheekWords TAB hashtag#TABDairy hashtag#HOW hashtag#Wigwe hashtag#iCentra hashtag#UNLOCK hashtag#LeadPreneur
As a leader, you are as effective as the team you lead.
As a leader, you are as effective as the team you lead. Find great talents, give them room to thrive and don’t be afraid to hire people that are smarter than you. Always remember that you are an aggregator not a competitor. At iCentra, I’m lucky to be surrounded by very smart people who deliver value excellently. TAB hashtag#TGIF hashtag#iCentra hashtag#LeadPreneur hashtag#UNLOCK
You Don’t Have an Organization Until
You Don’t Have an Organization Until…. “It takes one man to dream and start something, but it takes several men to turn the dream into reality. Sell your dream.” – TAB (UNLOCK Book) One of the most important jobs of a leader is to articulate the organization’s vision, mission, and values to his/her team. Many CEOs focus their energies on selling their products and services to their customers and forget the internal customer/stakeholder, the co-value creator, the Team. You don’t have an organization until your team buys into your vision and direction. Over the last two years, I have spent more time in the US, trying to understand and develop our business iCentra in North America. Back home in Nigeria, the team has continued to serve our numerous clients and stakeholders, delivering projects and closing new deals. This is usually not the case in many businesses, especially in Africa. Some fellow entrepreneurs have asked me how I managed to achieve this, and the answer is simple, people and systems. I spend more time seeking out “Good” people, selling the vision to them, and once I get their buy-in, together as a team we continuously build systems and structures that make it possible for them to deliver value to clients whether I am in or out of the country. As human beings, we are wired to transact. We all sell something every day, consciously or unconsciously. A job seeker sells himself to the hiring organization, while a businessman sells his products or services to potential customers. Employees and teams sell their idea proposals to management, and organizations market their vision to their employees. Likewise, men sell their life’s vision to their prospective spouses. It’s a merry-go-round. One way or another, we are all selling something. The idea of selling is to get a person or group of people to take a necessary action that is favourable to you in exchange for your value. So, to get your dreams off the ground and running to actualization, you must identify relevant stakeholders and effectively sell your idea to them. Once they buy into it and commit, you have a Dream Team. Start running. You may go faster alone, but you go farther with a dedicated team! Be Terrific! TAB hashtag#BusinessMonday hashtag#iCentra hashtag#LeadPreneur hashtag#UNLOCK
Empowering other people will not diminish your success; instead, it will multiply your influence, and as you may know, influence is wealth
Empowering other people will not diminish your success; instead, it will multiply your influence, and as you may know, influence is wealth. So, never hoard your experiences and expertise; find people who desire your kind of success and inspire them. TAB hashtag#WednesdayWisdom hashtag#UNLOCK
