Pocket of Thoughts™ by Saint Akanji

Loyalty is a " conditional " allegiance to something or someone — Anonymous Don't get it twisted. S alutation is not love. According to a certain arbiter, disenchantment is a feeling of disappointment about someone or something you previously respected or admired; disillusionment. The opposite of this is enchantment which according to Guy Kawasaki (former Apple Chief Evangelist) is the Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions. But, how does this relate to anything? The inspiration for this piece came on the heels of a major encounter I had with an earlier entity I had raved about but a recent shabby treatment left me utterly disenchanted. I have taken the liberty of not recounting this experience here but the whole experience left me wondering how easy it is for love to turn sour. I hope that the reader of this piece will pick one or two lessons on how to manage and resolve conflicts that arise in day-to-day stakeholder engagement. Human desires are simply...

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein       There was never a country. The story of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) will be incomplete without talking about the civil war that took place not very long after Nigeria gained independence on the 1st October, 1960 as a sovereign nation from the erstwhile British colonial masters. It is understood that the incursion of the military into the murky waters of the Nigerian politics was a no-brainer. The cup of the ruling elite politicians was full. Corruption was the only parameter thing growing faster than greed. In some certain quarters, the first military coup that took place in Nigeria was received amidst great jubilation. It was an intervention much desired. There is no doubt that the Nigerian populace had grown discontent and that coup of January 15, 1966 championed by a named army officer of complic...

        So, its cliché that our nation is sick. You can imagine what that makes us. The wall of peace has been ruptured. Innocent blood is being wasted. Cynics and naysayers have never had a better day. We have become an international news item for the wrong reasons. Bet you don't even know that some are profiting from our misery? No! I won't go there. There will be no room for such rhetoric. Not today! They say it takes a nation of fools to be governed by idiots. We have all failed as a people.       The problem with us is simple. We are our own biggest enemy. Yes! That's right. I read in Late. Obafemi Awolowo's Words of Wisdom (a publication of his speeches) where he called the attention of the leaders of that day to this now sinister implosion. There is enough blame to go round but that's not the point. We were always a time bomb. Still on us, don't you marvel at our wanton negligence and ignorance as a people? ...

                                        I had a conversation with my mentor over the weekend. It was a brilliant session to say the least. The highpoint for me was when he looked me straight in the eyes and said these words "Nev er burn your bridge(s)". He encouraged me to do all that is within me to make sure I don't inordinately severe my relationship with people and that includes those who are behind me in the career ladder. Life is a marathon and not a 100 meter dash.   Three things will determine one's career pedestal and progress in life generally:   1. Build trust. 2. Stay humble. 3. Grow healthy relationships.   As to every rule in life, there are exceptions. There could be instances where you have to as a matter of destiny walk away from people and/or events. Even at that, close the door gently....

            " Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less" ―  C.S Lewis         Conversations with the GREATs One of my favorite thought leaders who also happens to be an author is Jim Collins . He is not only successful at what he does but he is one whose depth of thought provokes the human spirit to be better. He coined the term  BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOAL (BHAG) to which I'm quite addicted to and his works on corporate America and the stories of the great enterprises continue to inspire many leaders and managers. Jim; interestingly was mentored by Peter Drucker (the management guru).  According to Jim, Humility is the hallmark and the highest skill shared by "level five" leaders. I know for sure that  Tom Peters (another thought leader I respect and whose insights I relish) does not agree totally with this pro...

                                                        When a lie is repeated enough, it becomes the truth.        Vanity The best of us has failed. To overcome our human frailties, we must live a disciplined life; rule of the spirit. To master life, we must recognise our fickleness, subscribe to a higher order of living where love (the choice of treating others like we would desire to be treated) is the essential purpose of man. The life of man will fade away. His breath will cease from him. Though he seeks to immortalize himself, nothing lasts forever. All of these will pass away.       The Truth. The Beauty. The Good A nation is first a spiritual entity. The Spiritual is that indefatigable dimension to life that is least unders...