Categories
Growth Strategy Thought

Getting the Best Out of the New Year

We have flipped the calendar to another year, how might we get the best out of this year? I’ll share seven approaches for getting the best out of the year, together.

Choose a theme
Your theme is like your minimum viable resolution for that year. I know some have seen new year resolutions as a glorified ‘To Do’ list that is set aside by the second week in February. In place of a list of things you wish to do, choose a singular theme for the year.

My theme for 2016 was growth. That of 2017 is exponential growth. Don’t crucify me; I have an insatiable thirst for growth. I may choose other themes for other years, but this is more important to me.

What’s your theme for this year?

Plan for the Upcoming Year
It might sound ‘somehow’, but one of the best approaches for getting the best out of this year is to plan towards the next. If you’ve written some things you plan to accomplish next year, what must you do this year to make things easier and more productive?

Invest in relationships
This is as important as every other thing. Relationship is key. Build a community of people you want to learn from, share with, ideate and grow together. Invest in your relationship with them. Don’t withdraw from the relationship account when you haven’t saved in it.

Get an accountability partner
This just flows from the previous. Get a person or group of people to serve as your accountability partner(s).

Seek opportunities
Look for happiness and opportunities in each day. When you find them, harness them. Spread the love among those within your growth circle.

Build, break and build again (fast)
Don’t be afraid to try out new things. Build things that matter. If (or when) things break, learn from it and build again. Explore as much as you can.

Improve your capacity to out-learn your previous self
Build skills. In this and future century, leadership, creativity, intuition, empathy, and social / cultural intelligence are important skills that must be built and harnessed.

Start today. Each day in this year is an empty page. What will you write in it? Let’s write a best seller.

Categories
Leadership Strategy Thought

Your Leadership Brand

Sometimes ago, I was approached to speak with a group of young entrepreneurs during one of their online masterclass sessions. I decided to discuss ‘leadership brand’.

One of the key reasons I accepted to do this is the belief that businesses have a role in influencing change within communities. When individuals are clear about how they want to be remembered, conscious efforts will be made to create real time value for all.

Enjoy excerpts of the conversation below.

___
Good evening,
What a lovely evening this will be. We are going to share knowledge on building your leadership brand, solve some of the challenges you may have in that regard, and answer your questions.

I am Damola Morenikeji.

For several years, I have committed myself to creating value by inspiring excellence in leadership and governance through education and human capital development.

Let’s get started.

Earlier today, I requested you think about your expectations of this session. What are they?
My expectation is how to make use of leadership brand in building a better business that create value, solves problems and promotes happiness.

I need us to reflect on this. On seeing the brand logo, what’s the first feeling of thing that comes to mind?

We can make this interactive.
Let’s think about this?

I have seen people tell me they want to buy gala (while pointing to Bigi or other brands of sausages).

I had seen people tell me to buy ‘another type of Omo’ while referring to other detergents.

What makes these brands different? Why do they stick? Why do they lead?

And what can we do about that?
True! While most of these brands may be long standing and recognized, emerging businesses always have advantages being underdogs in fields operated by giants.
True!

From our conversations, we all agree that people feel comfortable with these brands not just because they’ve existed for long, but because they’ve portrayed their brands as secure, trusted and produce REMARKABLE VALUE!
Whenever we see cows, we don’t get fascinated, because we see them almost everywhere.

But a Purple Cow will always call our attention. So, how do you use this in establishing your leadership, and projecting your brand?

First, Start with an IDEA.

I’ve been told that ideas rule the world. I actually think that ideas that are well thought out, and implemented actually rule the world. Ideas are capital.

One thing I like about ideas is that they are mystical creatures that need a bodily host to function. Fortunately, the human body and mind are valuable incubators. On ideas, Leke is quick to remind you that ideas tend to appeal to two or more people at the same time. Once they take control of you, it colonies you and drives you to sleeplessness until you effectively birth it, nurture it and make it stand.

Diligently, these ideas show gratitude by rewarding you with wealth, fame, and other things that diligence attracts.
Don’t rush out when you have an idea. Meditate on the idea. Develop conviction. Seek help when needed.

Ask yourself critical questions, ranging from the ease of use, who your potential customers are, the positives and negatives associated with your idea, among others.

Think about the packaging of your idea.

More importantly, ask yourself if you will buy your own idea (product or service)?

Will you buy your own product or service?

Once that is set, work on the four pillars of your / the business.

The business model
The business vision
The business mission
And the business values.

All these are critical in personal and business leadership.
So, let’s start with your vision.

Shall we?

Write your VISION

Craft your vision statement [both for yourself and your business].

When you craft a business statement, you unconsciously tell the world that you are serious about what you do and you are going somewhere.

It shows that you are not in this for a short while. Little wonder the ancient prophet, author and adventurer, Habakkuk, was instructed to “Write down the vision. Make it plain. That he may run that reads it”. Vision statements are propellants of achievements. They must be expressed in simple languages. We must set out basic steps to achieve your vision and attach a timetable.

These steps are referred to as the Business Objectives.

Put the timetable where you can see it everyday, and work on it.

While you read this chat, can you think about your business vision?

Can you write it plainly?

Your vision statement answers the question ‘what do you want to become?’.

Your mission statement, however gives a proposition of what you have for your customers.

To excel in life and business, your business must be people-oriented. It has to be customer-focused.

Once those are cast in stone (or on paper – or typed :)), work on your value proposition. Your value proposition explains what you do. It backs up your mission. You can’t channel your accomplishments into a purpose, without a mission.

Let’s get that, from inception.
So, what exactly does your business do?
Let me make this simple.

A simple mode is this: I help [a] with [b] so that they can achieve [c].

Where [a] is your unique audience, [b] is your solution, and [c] is the outcome.
I believe we are on the same page?

As an example, my value proposition for this training is to provide young entrepreneurs with leadership and branding knowledge, so that they can project their brands, make their customers happy and create more wealth.

Remember that your business is hinged on four pillars: your business model, business vision, business mission and business values.

These four pillars should guide your value proposition and help your brand stand out.

Work on each.
Your path to thought leadership in your area of business requires you have and diligently build a platform.

Develop your CREATIVE LEADERSHIP.

Your creative abilities are enormous. As young entrepreneurs, your creative leadership speaks much of your leadership brand.

We were taught to believe most things around us from childhood before we learnt how to question them.

See your business beyond buying and selling stuffs; rather, see your business as an idea.

This idea is what sticks to the mind of your customers after a contact with you.

For example, most of us stick to some brands because of the idea of satisfaction we derive; the happiness we have from our interaction with their products.

The same can be replicable for your leadership brand.

While I plan to conclude this session, it’s important to note this: please GET DIGITIZED.

That word may not be used in the English dictionary, but I hope you know what I meant.
Get DIGITIZED. Get online. Embrace the use of digital technology to aid productivity.

What do I see when I do a Google search of your name or your business name?
Take some seconds away from this chat and do a search of your name on Google.

Can you proudly share the screenshot?

[You can, if you are proud of what you see.]

You need to curate both your home-base and your embassies.

Your embassies are your social media accounts. They are your representatives in ‘foreign’ lands.
Do you know how funny people might take your brand, when you say you are into clothing and all we see when we check your social media timelines are news of something entirely different?

For those with a good online presence, create a different brand for your business.
There is the possibility that your business will grow to a stage where you will have to hand it over to someone else to run.

Start planning for that, from now.
You CANNOT AFFORD to run a ONE-MAN business.

As starters, we can. However, let’s start planning towards expanding your businesses.

Start a blog, or website.

In this age, it is important for all serious businesses to have an online presence. It is your ‘defacto’ home-base.

Once you have a platform, create credible contents.

Contents can range from blog posts, images, videos. They reflect what your businesses stands for.

Don’t just SELL your products via your platforms. Rather, enlighten people on the essence of embracing what you do.

People seek enlightenment. Provide it and you become valuable.
There are two types of content. Contents that get you attraction and contents that get you sales.

The key thing in being an authority of repute is to share these types of content.

You can make it 80% attraction and 20% of sales.
And finally, be true to what you do. Be a reflection of the value your business offers.
Establishing your leadership brand requires time. It requires credibility and integrity.

I know you can. Let’s get to work!

I’m here to answer possible questions. Let’s get practical.

As we go to bed, let’s take down these challenges.

1. Write down your brand statement. Make it clear. You may get in touch if you need help with that.

2. Work on your brand. Get online. Work hard in creating quality contents. Practice. Practice. Practice.

3. Share your testimonies.

Good night.

Categories
Growth Thought

Of Harvard, Life and Mathematics

Previous years had availed me opportunities that were invested in meeting, learning (with) and growing with several people – young and old, great and greater. Apart from people, a conscious commitment to personal growth and knowledge have witnessed my learning from erudite scholars and institutions from across the world. One of such is my participation in the inaugural offering of JusticeX from Harvard University in April 2013. The course, led by Prof. Michael Sandel, enhanced my view of critical decision making as we explored through critical thinking what is right, and sought moral and political decisions.

Prior and after the encounter with Michael Sandel, I continue to make critical and simple decisions everyday – just like you. These decisions had, and will often dictate the quality of results we record. As we progress with life, you and I will continually have to make decisions – ranging from what we say, whom we hang out with, which problem we create/solve, to what type of life we decide to live. Funny enough, indecision is also a decision.

Sometime last year, I got the book ‘Better than Harvard’ by Steve Araba. I had met Steve on a number of occasions, gradually learnt from him and entrusted our time with each other.

My first meeting with Steve was at a Future Leaders Summit organized in one of the leading federal universities in the South Western part of Nigeria, where he was guest speaker. I was introduced to him by a friend I prefer to call Salt. It was a brief and pleasant meet up. Later in the year, we met again; this time, it was at the World Economic Forum on Africa. Steve, who was busy at the ‘background’ working towards the success of the Economic forum, came to pick me up after one of the sessions, we had another round of great honest conversations on several things (including nation building, youth development etcetera) and thereafter continued our conversation on phone and site. He is one young (though very much older than I) Nigerian I respect, for his commitment to chastity, truth and freedom.

With several truths outlined in the book ‘Better than Harvard’, I couldn’t but notice the creative use of mathematical terms and their redefinition. I wouldn’t review the book – at least, not yet. You can get a copy here. However, it is pleasant to note that just like Steve, we may also decide to change our definition of terminologies life lob towards us.

As young people and patriotic citizens, there remains the dire need to live right and contribute consciously to the development of our society and country. We need to make more commitment to the development of discipline and character.

We need to improve the scale for measuring the quality of our lives, personal growth and societal development. As Steve noted, mensuration goes beyond being a branch of geometry that deals with the measurement of length, area, or volume of shapes. It is a position or perspective through which you interpret and understand what or how you see, hear, feel and think about everything that happens to and for you in life.

A calculus of our relationships is important, as we forge alliances, make friends and build networks. Calculus in this context is the critical analysis of relationships in your life that either differentiate or integrate you, essentially indicating the life you could or will have, depending on the people variables you make available to influence you.

This is another year for young people (and every citizen) to model integrity, live intentionally and grow exponentially. Vote at the polls, make our voices heard, speak words and take actions, respecting the dignity of human. Take personal education beyond schooling and invest in holding ourselves and our leaders accountable for words, thoughts and actions.

Everyday in this newly flipped calendar will require timely decisions; let’s make them wisely, seeking depth rather than mere heights. Our life and that of others count on those decisions. Thank you for your ‘commitment’ in previous years; let us do more, henceforward.
Damola Morenikeji
Categories
Education Leadership Thought

Of Productivity and Growth; lessons from the Productivity Award

My phone rang. I had just received a call from the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta who also is the President, Association of African Universities. He sounded delighted to have spoken with me, and eager to see me. The phone welcomed several other calls, most from within the university intimating a pleasant urgency and some intuitive actions.
That morning, I was concluding plans to help facilitate a two-day training with some young professionals before returning to my ‘location’ for the community-based farming program. ‘Multitaskingly’, we were hosting an #OpenEd twitter discussion in commemoration of the 2014 Day of the African Child, with a focus on education of the African Child, the abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok, Borno state, demanding that strategies be renewed to #BringBackOurGirls and make schools, across Nigeria, safe for learning. Meeting the Vice Chancellor, he broke the news; I had been painstakingly selected for the Vice Chancellor’s Productivity Award by the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence in Agriculture – the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, as part of activities for the 21st and 22nd Convocation ceremonies. Values and benchmarks for the nomination, recommendation and selection were service to the university, courage, excellence, dedication, truthfulness, new initiatives, innovation, punctuality, selfless services and academic contribution. It was indeed honour and grace!
Damola Morenikeji and Professor Bamidele Oyewole; President, Association of African Universities
On the D-day, I joined other eminently distinguished personalities at the University’s Heroes Day of Recognition and Excellence. I was elated as some academics and prodigies were called to step forward for honour as their citations gave convincing glimpses of their outstandingly remarkable contributions to humanity. I was fortunate to be one. That evening, I returned home more humbled with honour and thanksgiving – as the youngest awardee and only undergraduate among the honoured prodigies –, with a plaque which I must admit sparkles amidst other plaques on my shelve and an adjoining cash of a tenth of a million naira which was duly invested into getting more resources that will aid the growth of other young people and mine – especially as the non-profit organization I founded, All for Development Foundation hosted the Youth Roundtable on Education and Democratic Governance seven days after the Heroes day. The day and activities surrounding it taught and reminded of some lessons. In it, I learnt, unlearnt and re-learnt. Some of the lessons include:
Consistency Pays!
Among several other lessons, the award attested and still attests to a long term belief that consistency pays. It reminds that even when what you do is seemingly invincible to everyone, keep doing it. Keep keeping on. When faced with challenges and you don’t know what to do, just keep breathing, keep believing, don’t let go, don’t give in. The towel is always there, we may decide to throw it in or use it to clean our sweats and proceed more intelligently and passionately, after deep reflective thoughts. It may be surprising to note that most of the projects I and our organization have embarked on for the last five years (since year 2009) are self-financed. However, two major things that kept us going were the strong conviction that what we did/do made/makes a difference and the people we are focused on are capable of making positive differences. The same principle may apply to whatever you are into, either as an academic or social entrepreneur, a musician or comedian, an artist or skills professional. Be consistent in what you do. You may learn from another long-term mission of mine, which is the conscious commitment to the consistent creation of value. Wherever you are, be there indeed!
Damola Morenikeji recieving the Productivity Award
Uphold Integrity
Integrity is more than just an attribute we mention when describing the type of leaders we want – within the students’ union, university senate, local, state and federal government and the entire society – Integrity is a key value which other values of accountability, empathy inter alia is dependent. Integrity is the reflection of morality of character in any and every situation. I once learnt from a wise man that integrity commits itself to character over personal gains, to people over things, to principles over conscience and to long-term view over immediate gratification.
Give recognition and show appreciation
Appreciation and genuine recognition matters. That, as I heard and later read is one of the reasons for the rebirth of the award; ‘the University believes that there is always a reward for outstanding performance and such reward will serve to encourage others to emulate those who have previously been recognized’. Taking it beyond official recognition, we can admit, after a deep reflective thought that others have contributed to our current success. The time to show appreciation is ripe. Appreciation begets more. As you walk through the crowd, walk slowly,recognize people’s efforts. Smile, shake hands, listen and truly appreciate the contributions of others on your growth. No man is self made. Everyone is a product of interactions with divinity and others. Robert McNamara, a former President of the World Bank, once said ‘Brains are like hearts – they go where they are appreciated’. Imagine a community where everyone is appreciated, celebrated – not just tolerated – for who they really are. The existence of this community – even within our immediate environment – is achievable.
Build quality networks and bridges
The Heroes day provided another platform to meet, interact and build bridges with others. Have you ever heard that our network is a determinant of our net worth? If we are assessed in terms of social capital – and not financial riches – how wealthy will you be? Everyday presents opportunities to build quality networks with people. Build an effective relationship with God, yourself and others. Don’t call God your father and live like an orphan. Though we may not be influential enough to choose our family – parents and siblings – however, we have the ability to choose our friends. Another wise man once challenged people to evaluate those they spend/invest their time with and decipher those that add more value to them and those that diminish their self esteem. This is not only applicable in business relationships, but also in platonic and other relationships. Decide who your friends are. Don’t be parasitic; invest positively in them too.
Discern the call and step up to the challenge

I would have made a very big mistake if I had taken the recognition and award as an unending call for celebration. Of course, it was, but also more than just a cherished recognition, it is also a call. It is a call to service; a call to stand tall in the face of adversity. For all young people reading this,

it is a call to dream more, think more, grow more and do much more. Don’t emulate the past, be the future. It is a call to build more capacity and positively influence the world within and around us. It is a call to pursue excellence through diligence; to work towards greatness, not just success. It is a call to ask ourselves pertinent questions and give honest answers. The choice is ours to heed this call.

Regardless of anything, be thankful for everything.
This is self explanatory; worry about nothing, be thankful for everything. I have never – and with grace, will never – fall prey of believing that a certain thing is not enough to be thankful for. As I mentioned earlier, appreciation is key. Permit me to set this balls rolling; I appreciate everyone that have been instrumental to my growth, everyone that I have been a blessing to, everyone that heeded to an advise I gave and got positive results. I am also appreciative of you for reading this thus far! Do the same. Love indeed!
Conclusively, productivity may not be a function of acceptance. Continue doing what is right. As young people, we have several responsibilities and rights, the future of our nation – soon – lies on our shoulders. We have to be committed to act as if our every of our action becomes a universal principle, living in respect to our values. The productivity award is a reminder to all young people that we can achieve what has been set out to achieve. Work in accordance to God’s plans for you, act diligently, seek knowledge of who you are and who you can become. In addendum to all we had discussed earlier, I urge you to treat each day with utmost commitment and sincerity. Commit yourself to honesty, reliability, and always remember this: for excellence and growth, do what you have to do, in order to do what you want to do.
I believe in you!
Categories
Growth Leadership Strategy Thought

Building Productive Habits as an Entrepreneur

Productivity is key as a leader and entrepreneur. I consciously remind myself that it is not just enough to get busy, but to get busy fulfilling purpose – being productive. 
Thoughts on my most productive habit as a social entrepreneur was published, along with that of other ‘successful’ entrepreneurs on IdeaMensch, under the fifth habit in the ‘35 Habits That Successful Entrepreneurs UseTo Get Shit Done.
I agree that to be excellent as an entrepreneur, you need to prioritize your daily activities, make a to-do / not-to-do list, get up early,  read, learn and grow, find your most productive time and focus. The quality of your thought is an important factor is making positive and effective impact on yourself and your environment.
As I shared ‘weaving thoughts, contrasting it with resources at hand, and continually envisioning the effect of its realization though may be tasking, but is much fun’.
Read and learn (and digest) the 35 Habits That Successful Entrepreneurs Use To Get Shit Done’ (http://ideamensch.com/35-productive-habits/).
I’ll implore you read, digest and share this post with others within your network. It is worth the time!
Stay productive!
 
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