dIsRuPtIoN

                                                                                               

From the ways we live, express love, spend time; to the way we work, shop and even commute - the normal ways have hardly made sense or at best we have had to re-validate our sanity at every expression that has a semblance of what used to be normal.

I had to live with knowing it meant love, to strictly avoid my 1-year old daughter’s outburst of love upon my entering the house after a long day of needing daddy’s hug – It became normal to not hug her until I have had a wash and now safe for her, for her own protection.

Did you ever imagine that spending time in fellowship with other saints, lifting up holy hands and professing your love and devotion to your savior at the capacity of your vocal or emotional cords would be luxury?

For most, when you hear the word dIsRuPtIoN, [yes, It is typed that way intentionally] it means being thrown into confusion, disorder, chaos, loss … [fill in the gap] and for others it is simply ‘a break or interruption in the normal course or continuation of some activity, process, pattern etc’. Simply? Yes, I did not embrace the use of ‘simply’ with the ‘chaos’ we had been schooled to associate dIsRuPtIoN with until several modules and a few thousand dollars later – thanks to Cambridge Judge Business School!

You see dIsRuPtIoN means advancement for everyone on the divide that is in the direction of the wave it brings. To the person feeling the wind of dIsRuPtIoN, It simply blows where it wishes, affording such only the sound of its movement while mystifying where it has come from or is headed.

This wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going…permit me to transport you to the other divide by completing this statement “so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit…” John 3: 8 (Amplified)

The Holy Spirit leading you EVERY STEP of the way is how you can simply understand dIsRuPtIoN as the advancement, thriving, living at the core of His purpose for you. The focus here has to be about consistency in alignment, It is the only way as we hardly have another as Christians. I will let you figure what ‘consistency in alignment’ translate to for you – It is a personal journey!

That this new year 2021 and beyond is everything I have confessed, prayed, ‘faithed’ etc is solely linked to how much I let the ‘Spirit Lead Me’ …I leave you with the song I have had on repeat for most of the year.

Light & Love,
Your Irrevocable GraceJunkie

 

WHO IS THIS?

21.When they approached Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples [ahead], ² saying to them,“Go into the village opposite you, and at once you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, you should say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and without delay the owner will send them [with you].” 4 This happened so that what was spoken by the prophet would be fulfilled, saying:

⁵ 
“Tell the daughter of Zion (the people of Jerusalem),
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Gentle and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
MATTHEW 21 : 1- 5 (AMP)

What is it that you have with your name on? That job? Wife? Child? Husband? Sibling? Money? Intellect? Strength? Beauty? Body? Position? Right? Will? Disposition? Attitude? Social Media page? Free Time? What or where is that point where you exercise that bit of authority – your authority? What is that thing that you POSSES? There was that divine call to the ones who had the donkey, the colt - in their name.

That divine call to let go of it. For what? To be ridden. For the Lord’s use!

Broken away from the hustle and bustle of our grind and the ‘importantness’ of live as usual. How intentionally are you WILLING AND ABLE TO give it ALL UP for the Lord’s use? Are you able to deny yourself and actively ensure that on all fronts EVERY item with your ‘mark’ on it whole and summarily reflects the glory of God, to his purpose?

For it beats my imagination – for what part of a King speaks of being lowly? Where else does royalty and lowliness meet? That as the minimum, wouldn’t a horse have been more suiting for a King? My imagination beaten – alas it had to be a donkey…a lowly beast of burden.

Was it the first? Did we not also receive the King in a manger and not a palace?

A donkey that had not been used was considered holy. One consecrated to the use of the noble. Set apart intentionally for divine purposes. The preparation of the vehicle (the donkey) and its path with the very essence of what they clothed, adorned and protected their bodies with; I find symbolic. Symbolic of the fact that they stripped themselves of all they were, for the purpose of the Triumphant.

And when he entered the city (Jerusalem) the city literally trembled and they asked one question –

WHO IS THIS?

May I also ask you ONE QUESTION? Are you giving up that thing you posses (in humility) to the end that everyone who comes in contact with you get to ask – WHO IS THIS? What is the source of the Triumphant life that you live?

Happy Palm Sunday!

What is your Windshield Conviction?

I had an interesting conversation with an Uber driver recently and while I was genuinely interested in his story, he triggered a different pattern of thoughts in my subconscious – unlocking a series of questions. Will you ride with us for a minute?

Me: So why do you have 2 Canadian flags on your windshield? Not Nigerian flags? Or that of any other country?

Uber Driver: My brother, I am tired of this country and I want to leave. I bought 2 and put 1 up there but my son put up the other one. That country is just the best place to live in, the environment is so…, the people are so…, work there is so… etc

Me: How do you know all of these? Have you been there before? I know of many opportunities back here in Nigeria. For example, I once met an Uber driver who has bought a fleet of cars from the business.

Uber Driver: I have a friend who lives there. Just after 5 years he started sending money, cars and other items to his family back here. I have another friend who just got a Federal Government job here too but he got it by divine intervention – everyone else had to know someone. When I try to save to buy my own car, something just takes the money up. I am tired of having to know someone to make it – I am leaving for Canada, soon.

Me: So what have you done about this? Do you know the process? Cost? Have you started working on this?

Uber Driver: It is capital I need now o! It is very expensive. I know I have to do one test…ermmm ILTS…

Me: You mean IELTS – Test of English? So do you at least have an idea what it will cost? Have you found out about the process? or other requirements?

Uber Driver: I haven’t o but I will travel soon.

Your guess is as good as mine.

This man has 2 flags stationed on his dashboard (owning his view daily) because he is convinced about a better life he hopes for, solely based on stories he got from a friend who claims to have experienced a better life while being in that environment.

He rarely has other validations besides his ‘current state’ of finding things 'hard'. Yet he hardly has information on how to go about his lofty dreams but he affirms that he would achieve this dream soon.

So I asked myself…(and you should too)

What lofty dreams do I hold so dear that I have coloured the space of my everyday view with? What are the basis of these dreams? Have I validated the authenticity of this basis? Have I taken steps to find out what it requires to birth reality of these dreams - If I have duly validated them? Or am I clutching unto this dream with the thread of ‘hear-say’? 

You may say you do not have a dream per say but what subconscious desires have you acquired from another person’s experience without adequately validating if these should be yours too?  

Will you take a minute to clean, re-access or have a WINDSHIELD CONVICTION? 

Or are you contented with obstructing your current journey with an unfounded, shallow rooted dream? Will you be intentional or let everything else control your plans?

WHAT ARE YOUR WINDSHIELD CONVICTIONS? WHAT IS YOUR JOURNEY ABOUT? It indeed is a good time to check through and be realigned as the new year beckons.

Will you share other questions that this conversation sparked up in your mind?

 #Goals #PersonalDevelopment #Inspiration #StoryTelling #Future #GettingThingsDone #Strategy #IntentionalLiving

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Privileged to have worked across the high-capital construction, fast-paced e-commerce & the precision-driven outsourcing industries; 'Kayode KOLADE is a Business Strategist and Project Manager with experience in People, Process & Operations Optimization, a Soft Skills Trainer and Mentor with a creed to continuous improvement. A Fellow of both The Institute of Leadership & Management and The Learning & Performance Institute.

YOUR HEALTH IS A CURRENCY

Incessant visits to the doctors for those lower back pains, increased risks of heart diseases, diabetes, obesity or just general musculoskeletal pains are far from the kinds of expressions you would want to live out after contributing your quota to making corporations great while building yourself an amazing career and retirement haven. Indeed, it is all worth it to ensure that beyond fulfillment and passion, you make enough money to fund your dreams, raise and support family and live life to the fullest.

Yet my question is - Should this be at the detriment of your health?

How long would you live life to the fullest for if your health is a battle zone?

I am privileged to have parents who have invested an upwards of 20 years of their work-life working for present day top-tier banks and besides the fact that I have learnt that my kids deserve a balance of both currencies (the me and money), I have also learnt that these interesting careers - and the sedentary lifestyles they lavish us with, can have long-term effects on our health - now and in the future.

I try to own my current health status and that of my future by doing the following

1. Taking short 5-minute walks after every 2-hours of sitting (you should try walking to that colleague’s desk instead of using the phone or email). Set reminders to help you do this amidst your busy schedule. I actually walk around within my office when I have to make calls as well.
2. Taking lunch breaks. You need to build the habit of taking lunch breaks even if you are not eating, which should not even be the case. It helps a lot to get some time away from the work-screen-stare and possibly watch a video, play some music or speak to someone, talk to family over the phone etc.
3. Ensuring that I sit upright and constantly snap myself out of slouching.
4. Dimming the brightness of my laptop screen. Our eyes suffer from the prolonged flooding of bright light as I feel this while I try to shut my eyes from time to time while working.
5. Placing my laptop (keyboard) inwards on the desk to allow me at least rest my wrists on a platform – laptop or desk. This takes out the pressure of suspending my palms and hands.
6. I start out my day with a to-do list and nest my email reply times amidst my schedule to ensure that I maximize my work-time and avoid extensive unproductive hours.

Kindly add your tips in the comment section

You should do some research, yet for starters - May I quote some part of a doctor friend’s recent article on the effects of prolonged sitting?
Dr Chris wrote

“During protracted sitting, large muscles in the lower limbs are inactive and this reduces metabolism. Also, there is a decline in muscular utilization of blood glucose in the body. As a result, the excess body glucose is converted to fats which deposit in the blood vessels. The accumulation of fat in the blood causes a plethora of health risks if left unchecked”

It is also very crucial (that for those of us who are privileged to have some decision making responsibilities that influence the productivity of our teams) to ensure that we keenly focus on ergonomics while designing or improving the work spaces for our teams constantly. Remember, you are as strong as not just your team but your team’s weakest link.
People say time is money. My teams must be tired of hearing me say this…

What you give your employer is your time. The time within which you use effort (skills, abilities, energy etc) to convert tasks into the deliverables that feed the bottom-line. Without good health, you would not have the time nor sanity to deliver the effort. This is besides the pains and travails that accompany ill health. Your time contains everything it carries – skills, ideas, solutions, good health etc. The money you earn is your time in your hands, your good health afforded you that time.

Are you intentional on how you spend the time (money) you can never recover?

YOUR HEALTH IS A CURRENCY. HOW DO YOU INVEST IT?

PS. I look forward to learn some of the ways you create a balance in your health as well. Kindly share in the comments section.
#Management #Future #HumanResources #Careers #HealthCare #Investing 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Privileged to have worked across the high-capital construction, fast-paced e-commerce & the precision-driven outsourcing industries; 'Kayode KOLADE is a Business Strategist and Project Manager with experience in People, Process & Operations Optimization, a Soft Skills Trainer and Mentor with a creed to continuous improvement. A Fellow of both The Institute of Leadership & Management and The Learning & Performance Institute. 

Have you checked YOU?

I have had the rare privilege to support a lot of people in their quest to unlock the next level in their career – whether in finding a job, switching between jobs or career paths, or simply around unlocking their X-factor (as my friend and sister Dupe tagged the last #CareerBrainStormingSession).

On the heels of this, the shocking & limiting perspectives we tackled (with the help of these amazing speakers - Tunde, Seyi, Adebola and Dinma ) on Saturday at the CBS 3.0 and the several people who reach out to me daily, I thought to share this – The most basic and important ingredient you need to unlock ‘YOU’ is WHAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE ACCESS TO !!! And I have heard a lot of people echo back – ‘Oh, I don’t even have a job?’ , ‘My current job has nothing to offer’, ‘I do not have any skills’, I do not even know where to start from’ among several other lines.

You need to step back and think through these –

1.What about your person, past and current tasks can be of value to other people, a prospective employer or the world around you?

I have been both angry and amazed at a lot of people after spending time with them asking the right questions around what they do and how they have expressed these. For example I interacted with someone who had his role abbreviated into 3 letters on his CV and LinkedIn profile, 3 letters that I could not make sense of. 3 letters behind which he buried away the amazing things and results he brings to his employer daily. Employers look out for value. Abbreviations hardly convey this. What are the key results you are recording? Communicate these with the use of metrics - for example, 'I developed a customer management tool that cut down the waiting time per customer by about 50%'

Once discovered, then ask…

2. Are you properly articulating this – in your daily encounters, your CV, your LinkedIn profile etc? What exactly are you doing with the minimum of 4 hours daily (5pm – 9pm) left after you contribute to your current employer?

Why get off the bed shortly before the time you are required to be at work when you can gain an extra hour to add an extra skill to yourself? You invest not just your working hours to your employer but the other hours it takes to prepare to get to work (including your commuting hours), yet you expect to grow at the pace your current company grows at?

You seek a job yet you spend less than 1 hour a day actively working around this forgetting that your only job at that moment should be preparing and seeking for a job? Consistently researching companies, identifying requisite skills and adding them to yourself and ensuring you follow closely the people who currently do the jobs you aspire to be in.

One of the speakers at the CBS mentioned that s/he was recently seeking for someone with a required set of skills who s/he was going to pay $1000 DAILY to engage. YES, there are jobs out there irrespective of where you are. The question is - Do you have or are you building the requisite skills?

Preparation meets opportunity. There are people out there who you can have assist you in getting there (around articulating your details etc) but the question is,

Are you showing enough grit? 

#CareerDevelopment #HumanResources #JobInterviews #PeopleManagement #PersonalDevelopment

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Privileged to have worked across the high-capital construction, fast-paced e-commerce & the precision-driven outsourcing industries; 'Kayode KOLADE is a Business Strategist and Project Manager with experience in People, Process & Operations Optimization, a Soft Skills Trainer and Mentor with a creed to continuous improvement. A Fellow of both The Institute of Leadership & Management and The Learning & Performance Institute. 

PUZZLING OR SCALING?

CAVEAT – THE PURPOSE OF THIS POST IS NOT TO SOLVE THE PUZZLE.

I found this puzzle earlier today, shortly after I shared with my contacts via WhatsApp status with the tag ‘Where are the smart people on my contacts list?’ . I got over a hundred feedback within 2 hours. A few of the answers I got were 28, 50, 14, 11, 35, 10, 70, 12… etc from this same image. Feel free, take your shot and drop your answer as a comment below.

THIS POST IS ABOUT THE SEVERAL LESSONS THE FEEDBACK STIRRED UP.

A lot of people reacted too quickly. Some people reacted with such speed depicting that they were trying to validate their smartness. Most people were very pressured by the caption, hence lost the attention needed to pick the details. A few people just wanted to give it a shot. I know a few people who were trying to get my puzzle right ‘this time’. There were few people who waited and then coasted on the answers others gave. Several people rapidly changed their answers, they kept seeing some new information after their last reaction. Very few people took their time, reflected on what the puzzle was anchored on and then responded accurately.

I insisted on a show of workings and eventually asked for lessons learnt.

THIS POST IS ABOUT THE LESSONS LEARNT and a few were…

1.      Be aware of subtle pressure points that take your eyes off the goal

2.      Attention to details and how you interpret them matter a lot

3.      You will have better outcomes if you respond rather than react

4.      Own your mistakes and grow on them quickly

5.      Have the basic skills (in this case knowledge of mathematics) you require

6.      A successful attempt is still an attempt. Make an attempt, it is the only way to know if you will succeed.

Are you still trying to solve the puzzle? Feel free to share your answer.

What lessons did you glean from this?

#RandomMusings #PeopleDevelopment #Success #Training