MM - My Friend, My Brother, My Inspiration

I am truly inspired by my friend’s life. He had the world at his feet, fell down flat on his face, but picked himself up and is soaring higher than ever. This is my friend’s story; and for the purpose of this piece, I’ll call him MM.

MM and I were mates in secondary school. After we left school, we attended different higher institutions and engaged in different activities. We didn’t get in touch again until 2006 during one of my old students’ association meetings; and MM had become a big boy in every sense of the word. He was working with a consulting firm and was jetting all over the world at an unimaginable rate. Of course, I felt intimidated the first time we met but he quickly proved to be someone who never allows success to get into his head.

MM is a really cool dude. He believes very much in the old students’ association and we became quite close - closer than we were in secondary school. His wedding was classy enough, and although I couldn’t attend, the feedback I got was not disappointing at all.

In 2010, MM decided to go into private business and resigned his appointment. Alas, the business failed and my friend became heavily indebted. The next 3 years were the toughest of his life – no job, no money and mounting family responsibilities. Through all these, his wife stood faithfully beside him – and MM really appreciated it.

Things got so bad that he turned his car to a taxi. Here is a guy who always bought brand new cars, so you can imagine the humiliation. But then, he accepted his fate and never stopped hoping. One day, things got to a head and my dear MM wept. He lifted his son to the heavens and told God to turn things around because of the boy – and yes, God did just that.

First, he got a project management job with a telecommunication company, from where he moved to the apex bank in Nigeria. MM was promoted early this year and his new status entitles him to a brand new LR4 as status car! Right now, MM is living the life again, but in a much better way. Also, he now invests heavily in the taxi business as it has become a familiar terrain to him.

MM has further proved that nobody has an excuse to remain on the ground when they fall. As long as you have what it takes to succeed in life, failure will always be a temporary setback and not permanent disability.

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The Power of the Social Media - My Experience

Chika and I started as friends but have become siblings. She is a very wonderful lady with a gracious heart. She’s also troublesome and knows how to 'worry' me whenever the need arises.

Chika and I met  at a time I hated the Blackberry phone with a passion. In my opinion, the cake business was doing well and my colleagues formed a large base of my customers; so there was no need to go ‘pingocrazy’. In her usual manner, Chika didn’t push as we both communicated via Yahoo Messenger. Infact, chatting on Y! Messenger was fun and I wasn’t ready to go outside my comfort zone. I was also a big fan of Nokia phones and it was either Nokia or nothing - until Slot did ‘strong thing’ to me. Well, that’s a gist for another day.

After Slot messed me up a few times, I reluctantly decided to try a Blackberry phone, especially as I just got a new one as a gift. It was the entry of Blackberry phone into my social life that took my business to a whole new level. My business witnessed an unprecedented growth, and I saw a totally different Nigerian consumer.

In less than one month, I learnt that Nigerians are ever ready to trust a business person who is passionate about his/her business, irrespective of physical contact or not. Today, clients who barely know what I look like pay into my account before their cakes are delivered. Facebook and twitter became my sales outlets and my dear Blackberry phone and iPad became my office. These days,whenever I want to change my phone, I simply say that I want renovate my office. Lol.

What we do on the social media has a direct impact on our definition of success. I’ve heard people say that they prefer to live a fake life on the social media in order to confuse people, but I always laugh at them. I think such people are only using the social media to express what they would have been if people weren’t watching them. If you write bad English on social media platforms, it’s most likely that your English is poor. For me, human personality cannot be faked.

Loving the social media is one thing, but having a reason to be there is another. If your purpose of being on the social media isn’t productive, then you need to re-evaluate your purpose. I spend a lot of time on my phone because that’s how I market my brand and get deals in return.  What’s the point of having 500k followers on twitter if such follwership doesn’t make a positive and meaningful impact in your life?

By now, we all know how powerful the social media tools have become. But then, have we harnessed this power for our positive use? After burning several data bundle plans on twitter, facebook, instagram, youtube,google+ and the less popular ones, can we really boast of reaping more than we have sown?

For me, every kilobyte used has been more than justified, and I’m really grateful to the social media platforms for taking my business to the next level. Now,my customer service skill is superb, customer feedback rate is impressive,my integrity has been enhanced in a most amazing manner and I have also established wonderful relationships with people.

Anybody can be on the social media platforms but it takes an extra effort and wisdom to make your presence felt in positive ways,while enhancing your life has well.

And to Chika, thanks a lot. I still remember what I said when you asked me to join twitter. Lol. 

Wow!!!!! My Blog is Back

This is a wonderful birthday gift to me from Google!!!!!!! My page had issues late last year and I had to abandon it after several failed attempts.

I just decided to try it today and it worked!!!!! Kai!!!!! I must stand up for testimony in church on Sunday.

Details of the thanskgiving service will be announced later. Please watch this page.

Let the blogging resume!

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