What If?

This is just a brief post to cause us to THINK. Yeah, I know; most of my posts causes people to think but this one's sort of different. It'a a rhetorical question sort of post. But you can choose to provide answers anyways.

So, I'm currently in the office where I run a 9-5 job, I'm creating graphic designs and marketing content for the company, listening to Travis Greene bless and empower my spirit woman with his gospel melodies and then a thought struck me like lightening. I had to pause my roving mind to ask myself; Glory, what if you were deaf? Would you be able to listen and appreciate the gifted voice of Travis Green? What if the only way you can hear is by reading lips? What if you can't see? Would you be able to see the smile lighting up your face as you appreciate the lyrics of his songs?

You see, I couldn't answer my questions. I still can't. I'm overwhelmed with so much gratitude for completeness. You see, I have someone really close to me who's deaf and dumb and growing up in the same family, sharing the same blood running through our veins, sharing the same surname, sharing the same parents and siblings, I found it difficult to understand why my sister couldn't hear the things I heard or appreciate the noisy environment we grew up in. I found it difficult to understand why she could only sign to me in quince English and not pidgin as we enjoy using for communication among ourselves as kids. Even when I finally learnt sign language so I could communicate with her freely, attend her Jehovah's witness meetings with her just so I could understand the peculiarities of her world, I still found it sometimes frustrating that she couldn't give the level of enthusiasm and excitement I would give to an experience or situation. And when she got really mad at me or any of my siblings, I got angry and felt she had no right to get too pissed but she could be pissed just a lil bit.

Ah! Those years, my naive little mind lacked understanding and even though we were best of friends, I still didn't understand why she was deaf and we weren't. I'm not deaf and dumb now. I don't pray to be but today, for the first time, I'm picturing myself in that situation, having that sort of struggle, that sort of life, that sort of foreverness to deal with and I just keep asking myself,;

 Glory, what if?

My sister is married with kids, she's alive and well. Yes! She has a life of her own and I'm thankful for that.

I just want us to take this few minutes to ask ourselves these questions, ponder on them and use well what we've been given freely.

1. What if we couldn't speak
2. What if we couldn't hear
3. What if we couldn't feel
4. What if we couldn't breathe
5. What if we couldn't walk
6. What if we couldn't touch
7. What if we couldn't see
8. What if we couldn't eat or drink
9. What if we weren't male or female
10. What if we were animals
11. What if we were plants
12. What if we were objects
13. What if we didn't exist at all
14. What if we had no love
15. What if we had no family
16. What if we had no friends
17. What if we had no kids
18. What if we had no hope
19. What if we have no future
20. What if we had nothing at all?

WHAT IF?

Use rightly what you've been given freely

Cheers!

(Sorry, it turned out to be a bit lengthy. I write too much)

ON THE NEED TO CHILL

If you belong to the category of people that wake up 4/5 am (or don't even sleep at all), rush out of the house by 6 am to beat the early morning traffic that naturally comes with every work day of the week (especially in our crazy Lagos), work your ass off at work till 9 pm, have to meet up with crazy deadlines, queries and clap backs, then you certainly NEED to CHILL.

To chill means to relax and relaxation is a state of mind. Once the mind attains that level, the body follows suit. Most of the time, the pressure to deliver, meet deadlines with the bosses or clients and also meet up to life's expectations could throw our minds into a galaxy of complications. However, the ability to restore decorum begins with us. 

Over time, I've come to understand that most people are so stiff necked and uptight about the idea of chilling. They feel like they're cheating themselves or probably the people and the needs in their life if they take a moment to breathe. Come on! Life's too unpredictable to not want to live it to the fullest. So, here are some tips on how to chill.

• Make up your mind to want to relax.   

For some, this is a great battle. They're always the ones to complain about pressure, tiredness, fatigue, and then boredom. Say no to these harbingers of headache and get out of your head.

• Try not to pick your house as the only place to want to relax 

Yes, I said so. The reason is, your house is your comfort zone which will only end up reminding you of the numerous tasks you have to accomplish the next minute. Fact is, you could draw some inspiration simply from  stepping out of your comfort zone and your mind will thank you for the brief moment of liberation. 

• Mingle while you're out there. 

This one's for those of you who would go out to cool spots to chill and then start acting like you're in an oven. Oh please! Loosen up! Breathe! Don't give people the impression that you're a no-go area. You want to meet people, share ideas, thoughts on various issues and also network. That way, you might get more ideas and options on how to go about that tough project you've been working on, tips on how to impress that horrible boss as well as hit your targets.

• Smile, laugh.

This is the part where you've got to smile and have fun. Laugh out all the pent up toxins plaguing your mind and exhale. Get rid of all the negative vibes you've accumulated during the day and over the week. 

• Take Selfies! 

Now, a lot of weird people have argued that taking selfies are mainly for self validation and for people with low self esteems. Really? Hmm... I think I'll have to do a separate post about selfies. Anyways, take a selfie or more with your new found click. This is basically to remind you of how happy you looked while relaxing and having meaningful conversations with good people. It would spur you to wanna chill more.

After all of these, go home HAPPY and RELAXED. I bet you, you'll be looking refreshed the next time you step into your work place.

And hey! it's the weekend. Cheers to the weekend!

Question of the day; HOW DO YOU CHILL? Comment below and feel free to add selfies too.

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MY EXPERIENCE AT THE "IE ALUMNI SERIES": IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING & MAINTAINING A CRITICAL NETWORK

Glory Elijah (Blogger, YouTuber at Frankly Speaking with Glory)

I never took LinkedIn serious until I started my YouTube channel in April this year. The main reason for me was to have enough social media platforms to share my content. It wasn't really an option for me to expand my network there, even if that was what the platform was created for in the first place. I felt I had people in my network already; people turned friends whom I could call at anytime and share my ideas with. However, most of the people/turned friends in my imaginary network didn't see it that way.

Fast forward to last week, I received an invitation from Onyekachi Eke, the International Business Development Director (West Africa) for IE School of Business.

Somehow, I wasn't so sure about the invitation cos, we both weren't connected on LinkedIn and I didn't know if the event was free or required some sort of monetary registration as is common today. So, I registered and afterwards, contacted the school on Facebook for confirmation that the event was free. It was free (not like I love free things o!)

Anyways, the event was great. It was a small gathering of just about 30 professionals from diverse fields. There was provision for a colorful display of brochures for the various courses that the IE Business School offered as well as a souvenir bag that contained a travel diary, a pen and two more books about IE and Madrid. "How sweet!" 

I met amazing people such as Chimezie Onwuama, a former gym and fitness instructor turned CEO of Milton & Cross Professional Services Group. His company offers legal services as well as business and real estate advisory. 

I also met Debbie Keller - Taiwo; a banker whose secret passion is writing. We hit it off immediately we met. She's fascinating!

There was also Emeka Egbuka, a Network engineer with Cubex Technologies, Abraham Ojes, a Digital Marketing Consultant and Wale, a Tv Programmes Producer.

I loved the setting of it all but the peak of my evening was the moment Daniella Jarikre started her lecture on the "Importance of Building & Maintaining a Critical Network".

Daniella Jarikre (Head, Channels & eSolutions - Commercial Banking, for  ECOBANK Nigeria)

My humble self and Daniella Jarikre

Daniella gave me an entirely new perspective to the meaning of networking and networks. She proved that having a successful career in the banking industry for over 20 years as well as being a writer and a teacher didn't just take a lot of brain capacity for numbers and letters. Personality and the ability to BUILD and NURTURE relationships in life are major keys to being successful and relevant in the society.

Things I learnt from her on the basis of networking in summary;

•  Always smile (my trade mark)
• Dare to connect ( discard your shyness or your "too tush to talk" attitude and connect)
• Don't hijack the conversation (allow room for others to express themselves too)
• Be versatile (don't be too rigid in your thoughts)
• Stay connected (you never know when you'll need someone)
• Don't burn bridges (never completely cut off people. You never know...)
• Never delete phone numbers (you just might never be able to get them back)
• Never despise the days of little beginnings (the struggling entrepreneur today might be the next president of your country tomorrow)
• Invest in people's emotional banks (It secures your spot in their hearts cos humans are more of emotional creatures than logical creatures)
• Learn to perceive opportunities from every situation
• Learn to NETWORK WITH PEOPLE AND NOT THEIR POSITIONS! (positions change, people remain)
• The quality of your network outweighs the quantity (it's not about numbers people!)
• Build TRUST (Don't be a chameleon)
• Offer something substantial not just self importance (don't be a leech, contribute)
• Be a Cat and not a butterfly (be focused and patient with your networks instead of fluttering about for other networks when you feel your initial networks aren't productive)

The fact is, if you're able to do all of these and more, you and your business will be rightly positioned in the society as you'll be the first to hear of opportunities, offers and more. 

She further explained that, it's good to build networks around your field but it's best if your network includes more people outside your field. This works in your favor as you won't lack in having a little of everything that the world revolves around.

More profitable on the business of networking are;

• More referrals
• Increased business
• Guidance
• Support
• Advice 

*Sighs*

Such wealth of knowledge in just 2 hours! (God bless IE Business School and Daniella)

Daniella's lecture not only broadened my mind; it also made me understand the reason some people you try to connect with are butterflies. They lack the capacity to build and nurture. They strive to be connected to the position you hold and not you as a person. They do not appreciate your days of little beginnings thus, always "forming" too busy or too "tush" to be in your network. However, never burn any bridges or delete any numbers for the reasons you know already. Stay connected no matter what. As for me, I've always been a  cat so, I intend staying that way. Lol

I'll urge you to do same as well.

Cheers!