INTERNATIONAL STUPIDITY:Social networking site abuse [Part Two]

International stupidity is a display of folly, crudeness and infantile behaviors in one way or the other on a larger spectrum, in which people are disappointed concerning the ways in which the behavior is being exhibited. This can be easily observed on social networking sites like Face book. There are people who don’t care to say anything or post anything on a website, no matter how unreasonable it may be. Most common example is the display of pictures of nudity, ridiculous actions, rude comments, racist comments, rude statements and so on. Other examples can be found in several other areas in the way some people appear as a group, in the way they pose in their pictures, in how they talk about what they don’t know, write or blog about topics, discuss about certain issues, subjects or something which  they don’t fully understand .

Although, I am not a human behavior expert, I have observed that it does not require more than a level of common sense to weigh whatever you are sending out to the public before doing so. Stupidity springing from boredom, idleness, laziness, and so on; these in turn spread in time through idle moments into Social networking sites and blogs all over the internet. It later transform into abuse. The abuse could come in various forms. An abuse could go beyond a mere abuse of privilege, abuse of access, an abuse of people, abuse of human rights and son on. The display of stupidity in general can go to a larger scale from mind level into an international scale. All in the name of doing something “weird”; some people have become internationally stupid. They do some things ignorantly which they may never have realized that may be stupid in form. Pictures, comments, articles could be posted on the internet which could infringe on the rights of others. When they should actually be what will add values, teach morals and entertain other people irrespective of the distance or region they are on the planet earth. When stupidity moves to an international level it is catastrophic in that the whole world now seems to know how much of wisdom the fellow needs to live through life. Most comments and posted videos are bizarre such that you tend to laugh uncontrollably at times when you read from people you feel should know better.

So here is the point,if you don’t want to be an international fool who uncovers his her nakedness in the public to the disgrace of his person; i will advise you ask God for wisdom to live life. You can live a life of impact through addition of value to others rather than being an internationally stupid person. Pray for grace to relate with other people wherever they are irrespective of race, distance, affinity or closeness of ties. The writer of the book of James in the scripture says “if any man lacks wisdom let him ask from the Lord who gives liberally without denying or withdrawing his gifts.

Social networking site abuse…[Can this be a joke?]

Let me tell you a joke. There is nothing people cannot do to get money in this life. Since, the advent of social networking sites, a lot of sad, lonely and depressed people are finding solace. There is a place [website] to while away time. But is time supposed to be wasted? There are various forms of abuse of time and chance. Some abuses are in guise of pasting indecent pictures, videos, articles, links and more. The abuse is becoming more and more rampant by the day. One of these abuses is in guise of people wanting to create a group or the other for the purpose of just starting one.

Recently, some folks were planning to start a forum on a social networking site like “Facebook”. They thought of what they could call their new group. When they could not arrive at a reasonable conclusion, since it was a purposeless group they resulted to call it anything. At their wits end, they had a funny idea. It was with an ulterior motive of raising funds for personal purpose. So they created their social networking site group. It was such that were on “Facebook”. This group was named: “More money”. Their new group is for those who need some money. I couldn’t stop laughing when I heard their story. “Hurry! Join this new group on “Facebook” for those who want some more money?”

Alas! That is ridiculous! Who doesn’t want money for Christ sake?! And the funniest aspect of it was that if you are interested, all you need do is just click on join this group icon. And then you are a member and you can share the money also. But then, you must invite more people to that group. And then the money will not go round the group members any more since a lot of people are involved. In order to solve the problem; everyone who joined had to pay for membership and registration identity .And then, some money was raised again. And the Admin of the group got “richer”! They duped poor people!

Actually, this sound too exaggerated to be true. The fact is that some groups are not necessary at all on social networking sites. There are some irrelevant causes whose activities don’t transcend the internet. So why waste precious time on such? Here is the moral lesson: Don’t just join groups without participating in it. It’s a waste of time and an abuse of Social networking sites. Don’t start a fabricated fund raising group. You will soon be caught up with! And don’t give your money to causes you are not sure, which you have not thoroughly investigated

THE GREAT GAMEPLAN OF GREATNESS

In asking who is the next icon of change? The answer can be found in the words of a great woman: “One can never consent to creep, when one feels an impulse to soar!” - Helen Keller

Everyone must aspire to be the next icon of change. Live beyond the trend. Maximize change. Amidst pressure of various kinds of daily lives; it could become challenging. Amidst numerous challenges, we want the edge…topping the career ladder, getting mortgage, changing homes as we change diapers, settling down, raising kids among several. Generally, our priorities differ. Considering what we face daily, amidst normalcy of daily routines, in the race for survival, there is that dilemma to be successful achievers. We want to be better, to be more. With every desire comes the will to win, to get financial secure, to become richer. And lurking secretly is the ambition to be known and famous. We want to matter in our generation. Beyond the routine of feeding our hungry stomachs; and more; becoming significant and getting better is another goal for so many. Therefore when faced with the daily decadence that looms at us; we ask how we will be able to reconcile them all. Nevertheless, we choose our path in it all. Our life moves in the direction of our heart. We chose to die or thrive in it all.

It’s a new move in the New Year and the slogan says: The change we want. If you are asking how far can you go in life? You are asking for a change. It is no longer how far you can go. It is why not go there? If you have been thinking of becoming significant; what will you allow to stop you from reaching those places this year? Haul all the fight against mediocrity! Aspire and desire the peak! Be the best you can! And if you are ready for the top; then the top is calling for you. Self-ask: how can I get there? Yes! The top is good but what is my strategy? What is my plan? How much can I give for it? What will it cost or take me? What am I giving up? Where do I love to be? And when will I like to be there? What am I giving up for it? What new move am I making daily? That is pushing me upwards? What deliberate steps? What drastic measures are my making? Somehow you must understand that you need people to get there. And that means not just ordinary people. You need to meet or make extraordinary people to reach the height you see. How do I mean? Read on.

There is a strategy to bonding with greatness. You deliberately meet people of timber and caliber, you are loved, and you are invited into their fraternity. Oh! It’s not that simple. I know. On the other hand, you can make ordinary everyday people into the ladder you climb through your influence. You can make something out of them if you are ready to give them all the resources for development, confidence they need. There is a law called the law of influence. It is an art of winning. This taught how to persuade people. There is a place for staying in, staying put and staying there throughout the process of their learning. Involvement cannot be separated from requirement for part of what qualifies you to lead. There must be a role play, a contribution, a support or more; for you to be respected and permitted to lead. There must be some inputs, some values, something you’ve given or you are giving, or you have given in time past for us to believe you are qualified to really lead. And we believe that you have to give such support, concern; tangible or intangible things all the way through leadership era and beyond. Sacrifice and leadership goes and in hand. Authority actually means responsibility according to God’s word.

Somehow, there are people who know how to relate well with other people in such a way that, through their relational skills, leadership skills; some people just like them, opportunities arise for them and through that they are able to leverage to the actual top. We must learn from such people. When you intentionally cultivate a habit of networking with people; following up with newly met guests, you are becoming a “human octopus”…someone who is able to strategically draw a team, a following, an association or a community of people. You are like a positive and healthy ganglion, spreading your self upwards. You have wings to fly to the top. Your influence is extending and it can get you somewhere. It is by being able to influence people, businesses and more. By being able to develop community of people that can surround a noble cause. That is when a society is said to have been taken. It is the responsibilities of leaders to take over communities, societies and nations for a positive reason and motive. It is not for mere men. Today, as policies, laws are changing and bills are being passed daily at each nation’s senates. We are either losing territories or gaining them.

Due to the fact that it is costly to raise a people through influence route and the processes described above; the tendency to cling to power is more rampant in today’s leaders who want authority without responsibility. In capturing a society, you cannot use force, brute methods. You will become an oppressor, a tyrant and that way, you are not really fulfilling purpose. You can never change a society by showing that society the dysfunctional it possesses. You can only change the society through models. Showing the model of what the society ought to be. The principle is still the same. In order to conquer a people; you must capture the commerce, reshape the people’s philosophies, affect their education , change their orientation, change their laws, their way of thinking, indoctrinate them in a new paradigm, lead them out into a desired culture and do everything to change their lifestyle. That is why there is a measure of assertiveness to this thing. For a people to change, it will require influence. And if the change agent is not celebrated and accepted, it will be oppressive. Sometimes, tactical compulsions or imposition may be required in the process of changing leadership. That was the way changing of kings and governors of old was done. It might be barbarous but it was result oriented. Since, it seems to me that there is no point where there will be no more war in the world. As in those days, so it is in our days. How do we then capture societies in our day without learning from history? In taking over a society; we need right strategies. Model Leaders must be detailed, thorough and result oriented. To achieve that, they need to be tutored in decision making, policy implementation and plan evaluation. They must master the art and science of team management and more. We need to measure our progress per time, per value added to the system. We must measure civilization by what we have been able to add to people’s lives beyond the city terrains. We must adopt policies that will advance our nations at grass root level upwards. The essence of our leaders’ attempting second term in office must be to benefit the society. Their coalition into new political parties must never be for recycling dysfunctional leaders. True leaders will respond more to issues in a timely manner so that things will change.

Descent culture, right values don’t just jump on people. These things don’t start overnight. It evolves in process. It takes a period of time for culture to be. It takes a true leadership and a willing followership. Our traditional clothes, music, and dressings are not all what it means to appreciate our culture. Neither is clinging to heritage and freedom which some people fought for, and for which they even laid down their lives. There must be a kind of spirit. A kind of attitude; and it has to spring from a core, not just a superficial “thing”. When people see that, they know it, they can identify who we are by mere seeing these things. In the way we live, in how we view issues and respond. And it says a whole lot about us.

Innovative marketing

Shopping could be time consuming, I was at the mall once, where an attendant at a fabric store, smiled at me as I entered. I frowned in return. She sobered out of disappointment. She had expected me to smile back. She was being “herself”, a sales person. I was being myself, a typical cranky customer. May be she has invited some customers and retained them by smiling. It was good enough charm that won some; but not enough on me.  Stressed, angry due to the fact that I didn’t want to be at the mall, save for necessity. I was frustrated about the long search through various shelves, corner, color, and departments of the mall. Some items could come with specificities that demand walking stores, checking shelves, asking attendants. When I glanced back to steal a look on that sales lady who I frowned at, her glow was gone! It may be terrible of me. But the fact that she lost her glow was actually a proof of her hollowness and insufficiency. To force employees to smile by the reason of job description is not an innovative marketing. It only creates more gaps for them to overcome in marketing process. If it was not in her personality to smile, what happened unveiled it. It proved customer service skills as something that may be almost impossible to feign. Whether or not, she was appreciated, the smile was expected to be on. If it was not in core value, any charm put on to win people over will fail.  Some customers know this that it can work if it is genuine. It will only last if it is intrinsic. As leopards never changes skin as in chameleon. Appearing in environmental color is untrue which reveal instability, falsity and self doubts in actual sense.

Therefore, it’s not that some of us don’t know what it entails to market or sell. What frustrate us mostly is paying that very price for innovative marketing- the expensive price of authenticity. The challenge may not be in our weak networks or failure of multilevel marketing; rather it may be in the futuristic advantages of our product or call it our product edge and our being genuine. Once we can figure that out; we already have what it entails to sell successfully. We can hang on; hang in there till we meet customers who prefer seeing the future value of product, value for money and quality in whatever they purchase. For most of us, innovative marketing is like innovation hunt. It’s a feat, some fight we don’t understand, unable to identify. It’s like a marketer aiming at target. He searches for the elusive. He chases the unstable and invisible customers. But they are just hard to pin down. It seems they don’t really need what the marketer has to offer or they don’t want to have any encounter with him. If he must market successfully, then he must be able to visualize the resourcefulness, of both now and the future of his product. That product worth may persuade customers successfully. Many times, it is uncertain that the customer will be willing to buy. Knowing ahead may bring some anxiety but it also brings the chance for rehearsing some persuading techniques. Consequently there may be a convincing result.

In order to hit on trade target at any point; whoever salespeople are selling to; they should made to see the relationship as something that transcend sales process. oftentimes these customers want to be seen as humans, as brother and a sister who should not be defrauded. So to sell to a blood tie people, is to be considerate. Since, they have fears, reservations; there are specific requirements, impending wants, and relevant needs on the line in different categories that must customer must address in their individual lives; which does not give room for time wastage or trial and error in their transactions. They don’t want to part with their money and later regret. They wanted good advice on the state of products. That is why sales must be done intelligently out of thorough preparation. From an understanding of customers’ model and profiles. In order to beat through fogs of resistance then, a marketer must bond with customers firstly by understanding, them and explaining the features of the product how they have future value and could meet relevant needs. Understanding customers, product’s outstanding qualities, marketer’s persuasive strength, authenticity and negotiation skills are quality factors required for innovative marketing.

It’s not a case of showing product price tags; flashing those discounts as “on sales”. It’s not about flexibility in how customers are allowed to pay for product through several credit cards, debit cards, or cash. The problem is, with what to pay as the medium of transaction? The exchange is unaffordable? Most customers want more than rebates; they want some extra value from every business transactions. Inadequate money restricts customers’ purchasing power. And a mere smile is not the answer. A sales person’s pleasant attitude may count but there is more to business transactions than all that. Little wonder most people give up on marketing; because they found out early that the stake is not just too high to attain innovative marketing and achieve marketing edge but it tends to soar higher.

Individual process for innovation actualization

There is an individual course work and progression towards innovation realization. We all have a responsibility in this journey. We need to ask if all around us; we are supporting innovation and innovators. If we embrace noble dreams, visions, and ideas of others irrespective of their brand names.We will be objectively do that.

Needless to add; if we must operate intelligently towards innovation actualization; we must not allow any idea to die in our hand, or in the file somewhere in our desks. Don’t forget that there is power in one man’s decision. And any innovative opportunity buried away in your drawer either consciously or unconsciously is a fight against innovation actualization. The odd may be insignificant today but it poses a very great evil at the next innovation world we are approaching very shortly.

There is an unconscious realization  that innovation decay and idea rut are unrealistic. The quickest way to end  the next age  impending development and advancement is to oppose innovation today. The fact remains that certain innovation in the next age will come with their pedestal firmly braced upon the previous generation and works. They will look like a “new” brand from the old.

Therefore, do not permit any brilliant idea expiration in your hands. Don’t sanction evil reports and then allow good suggestions get ignored in a meeting. Don’t oppose any noble idea or any opportunity for growth just because of ego. Do not attack the reputations of others in order to become popular; do not stop people’s dreams by your own influence. This is the gradual road there- our daily routines, our smallest decisions, our policies and the personal decisions we make.

As much as you can; try to bond with people; bond with change agents, create a community, start a positive epidemics of change, encourage change agents out there. Above all, if you cannot beat them, do not join them. Don’t give up, let up or shut up! Never allow mediocrity reign, do not celebrate corruption, or worship people because of money.

Repositioning for love sake…

So many people value relationships as if it’s everything life entails. When it comes to marital relationship some people ask if it is truly possible to get what you really want in a relationship. And I daresay yes and No! You get what you are prepared for, and what you never imagined you will! Nevertheless, you will need a marital relationship somewhere down the road. There is one common thing I have heard people who are searching for suitors were told to do. I tell them to do the same thing; however I always advice further by telling them to actually describe their kind of person but not just for the sake of putting it down in black and white on paper as if engraved stones. I advice that, they should not be rigid concerning the details on such paper…I tell them to paint their ideal suitor’s attributes clearly on paper but never describe and expect a perfect figure. The reason for that is that I have found out that just like me; many people may be confused at first about finding their mates. While I was still single; I did not know what I wanted in a relationship. I was confused at first. I was just wishing for the best in my entire search. I was just hoping it turns out well. However, I determined to “prepare” myself to hook the best possible mate that may fit my lifestyle irrespective of who she turns out to be. However, my guess was not enough…I missed it more than once before I got delivered from day dreaming the most ideal experience. You may want to ask that why must we paint the ideal suitors clearly firstly? It’s that our desires might be clarified. So that what is in our mind can be revealed to us [ourselves]. This is so that we can know what we may likely get. Moreover, in order to avoid getting something contrary to the expected desire. When we write down the description of who we want; we give a command, an instruction to our hearts. We instruct our own mind and spirit to chase the exact picture that is put down. Our subconscious goes to work of itself and their ultimate search is our respective mates!

The truth is this. By describing who we want to marry on paper. We have actually described our own self or/and who we want to become, who we may become later. This description will help us get to an understanding of ourselves better. What is lacking in us that we are trying to fill up. And sometimes, they are actually what others are also looking out for in us. We would have shot ourselves in the foot if we will only expect it from others and not prepare to give it to them. It is not just in knowing what fits us but who we should desire to fit in with? This will really help us to make necessary changes that will suit our suitors. Once they have appeared. The ideal person described on a paper is who you need to strive to become. This is likely who you may never meet especially if you are looking out for it in others rather than look inwards to change into that person yourself. Becoming the person who you want to marry is changing your attitude. If all you do is to write it down for your subconscious without striving at changing into the person on your own. You will record that information and get frustrated waiting while for the person to show up. Why? Because you will be judgmental and critic of all that show up at your love-door. You will find fault in almost everyone that you meet immediately. It may even get worst that you may think that your kind of person does not exist or they are never around you. You will go out everyday thinking it is impossible to meet that person.

However, if you work on yourself with that information and begin your love search process patiently but actively; you will find that person you dream of marrying. After meeting people who have tried to describe their kind of suitor-to-be but who are not seeing any result at all. I ask them that how much time are they giving to networking, meeting new people, volunteering, serving others, joining causes, going out. In what ways are they socializing? We must realize that it matters how we socialize, where exactly do we socialize and when? How do I mean? If after you have sincerely answered the following questions and still not seeing any result yet; then you would have to check how much, how hard and how long do you pray for who you want to marry? Do you think that with the way you are presently living your life; you can really meet someone of such description and caliber? A quote says: “If a man cannot change a situation; the best thing is to change his own self.” Considering where you go daily; do you think people of such description are found there? Why do you go there, who do you spend most of your time with? Does it correlate with who and what you have on paper? Can the person you describe on paper come over to meet you there at the place you spend most of your time? If no is your answer? Then it is time to change your life! Change your lifestyle, habit, hobbies, et.al. If your answer is no; then its time to relocate to a place where you can meet that person or you deliberately go out to visit such places where you can meet him/her. Change can be difficult but if you are so sure concerning the picture of your desired mate. You are on the route there once you change where you spend most of your time and with who you spend most of your quality time. It is time for repositioning. This is what the law of repositioning is all about. Do you really know what you want? To know who and what you want; you need to really know who you are before you can know who will blend with you…Do you really know how to get who you want? How can I get what I want? How to get what you want? You may need to upgrade your life, change yourself, and become self aware, attractive, friendly. Everyone needs a friend; you need to be warm and pleasant person. Be someone who is more interested in other people than in himself or herself. You need to make yourself into one whom everybody wants to be around. Become vast, be advanced, wise and someone everybody wants to recommend for others to meet, and hang around with. Be generous, kind and caring. Don’t ask too much from people but always look out for ways to give to them. Put on smile more often. Become genuinely concerned about how it’s going with other people. Be concerned about opposite sex. Some people avoid relating with opposite sex yet they want to marry…Contrary to the common saying that the quickest way to an uncommon man’s heart is through his belly; it is through his dreams and visions. He is more drawn towards a lady who can support and help to further his cause, ideas and ideals. Not just his belly!

You may want to ask that how can I go for what I want? Maximize opportunity of every meeting with people. If you have found him or her; try to become friends. Then, always try to part with good feeling, leave a positive impression. This does not have to be forcefully made but consciously done; till it becomes second nature. You can learn this by practice. In the process of going for what they want some people pretend when in actual fact they are interested in a person. They say no when they mean to say yes. Be true to yourself. Some people ask their friends whether or not to marry a person they love in their heart. You need to ask God only and not your friend. Your friend may be jealous and therefore advise you wrongly.

You may want to ask: where can I find what I want. I daresay don’t go to mosque if you want to marry a pastor. Don’t go to a strip bar, if you want a religious mate. Don’t go to studio if you are not trying to date an artiste. Visit a gym, register there; if you want a physically built lover. Be the change you want to see.

You may want to ask that how will I know that I have gotten what I want?A Chinese quote says that “when we get near home, it will appear.” By the time you get there, you will know that you are there; you will be fulfilled and happy, you may not have all the money in the world, but you will have peace. Does that mean that you will not feel like seeking someone else? Does that put an end to all desire? No! But you will choose not to seek further; in order to protect what and who you already got. You will direct your desire at your lover forever by choosing to consciously date him/her forever…You may say that: but I don’t want to make a mistake of dating a wrong person. This is a common saying amongst singles; people don’t want to make any mistake, the only way we learn to make a good decision is through our bad decisions. The lessons from the bad decisions we have made; are sometimes the guide into good decisions. But you cannot become un-married once you are married. So what you can do in order not to make a costly mistake is to pray. You can’t keep your life on the hold, you have to act and make one decision. Prayerfully put your best into it and see how it goes. When you are in a wrong relationship you will know, then you will leave, but that should not be an excuse for not going into one…How to attract what you want is by becoming a broad minded. Make yourself into what and who you want to marry. Work on your own self as if a raw material. Read books, listen to self help, personal development audio CDs, tapes, read the scripture to sharpen up your spirit more. Work on your personality. Dress well neat. Dress attractive and modestly. People will see you physically first before they appreciate what is inside of you. If you don’t talk, I may not know what is inside you; but I can conclude about who you are through the way I see you dressed. Absorb what you’ve got. Become an absorbent of love. This is by not letting go of your relationship. Don’t allow any little fox to spoil your vine. Tend it consciously look after your relationship. Look out more and more for his or her interest .its usually harder to sustain heights, relationship, fortune because we tend to relax and become numb to the things we did to get there.

However, when we become inconsiderate of the feelings of the people we claim to truly love. When we neglect those who have actually done so much for us; then relationship breaks, many things are lost, of all those things; the irredeemable lost of all is the time invested. this is why we must watch our relationship closely for moulds, when it start getting moldy, it means we are not taking note, we are not taking care of important areas; it should be noted that relationships don’t break in one day; it happens gradually. Retaining what you have gotten is important. It’s usually a challenge for most people to retain what belongs to them [or what should have belonged to them] Attitude is one of the how to retain what you have gotten. Prayer is another. Don’t let your emotion get the best of you. Don’t give a foothold to the devil; communicate! Communicate! And communicate! Learn it; be a good listener; be a giver; the process will continue almost all over again as if you are just trying to woo the person all over again; you need to remake the bed of love, its like baking a cake; you will have to mix all the ingredients all over as you did while trying to win his heart; express yourself to him/her let the person feel loved and important. Don’t delay any compliment till another day say it now; give it now! Don’t postpone that visit, gift, give it now. Learn to say sorry when you are wrong; many relationships have broken up just because of that three letter word. Apologies don’t make you cheap or weak; it means you are strong enough to be soft. Pride makes people avoid apologies; it makes us loose much more in the end. Don’t let your ego get in the way.