Sijo01: I don't know what went wrong; i don't enjoy my job anymore. Waking up every morning with the thought of going to the office gives me migraine, i am always reluctant in discharging my duties (though i do it but not as fast as before), not willing to help my colleagues anymore, cant even stand/tolerate their attitudes.

The only option on my mind now is to resign my appointment, but the fear of going back to the labour market is the beginning of wisdom.

Please, has anybody been on my shoe before? How did you overcome the situation?

Fellow employee, your advise/counsel will be highly appreciated.

Please, be free to put any question across.
Thanks.

Hi. I was in your shoes a few years ago. I HATED my job. Sad part was that it was ONE that people were willing to die for! It was with one of the "Big 4" accounting firms. I woke up one morning and decided it was time for me to resign. People thought they were following me from the village. Well. i resigned and took time to discover myself. I worked pro bono with a small firm focused on human capital development. I read books on self-discovery, financial freedom, wealth creation, multiple streams of income etc I changed my network of friends because you can never rise above the power of your network. i basically re-invented myself

Today, i have a job that i enjoy doing (i could do for free) and pays me quite well , i have multiple streams of income and i'm basically living the life that was a mirage a few years ago. My questions are:
1) Where do you see yourself 5 years from today?
2) Are you willing to pay the price to get there?

Part of paying the price may be staying with your job while you develop other competencies OR stepping out and conquering your FEAR of the unknown.
Either way, AS you lay your bed........ so shall you lie on it.

You can send me a PM if there's a need to discuss personally. Otherwise, here is fine as well.

Financial independence is really not about assets. Its more about cashflow (passive income). Let me explain

An asset is anything that generates passive income for you. So if you buy a piece of land and its value has risen overtime to N160m (ie $1m approx), that does not necessarily make it an asset, neither does it make you financially independent. Why? Cos your income from that piece of land is ZERO! Even though the resale value is $1m, it STILL doesn't generate any passive income until you SELL it. All you have is a psychological valuation of that land at a given point in time.

Let's compare that to someone who owns a transport business (with about 8 buses). This business is being run by a manager who makes a weekly deposit of N200k ($1,250) in his account. Total estimated value of the business is about N15m but he receives a weekly passive income of $1,250 more than the guy with an "asset" of $1m but receives zilch!

The scenario above shows the importance of financial intelligence.

Anyone can be financially independent. The challenge is understanding what independence is.
Financial independence = Passive income > living expenses

Passive income is income you earn without you putting in active work. (e.g. using the basic form of rent) The landlord gets paid rent by his tenants every (week, month or year) without him actively working. The same can be said for people who live off dividends, directors' bonuses etc.

Living expenses is how much you spend to take care of yourself and your dependents. (e.g. accommodation, feeding, entertainment, vacations etc).

These indicators are relative and basically depend on the tastes/lifestyles of the individual and not necessarily linked to self-employment or being an employee. There are employees who earn next to nothing as salaries but enjoy enough passive income (from their various investments) to fund their lifestyles. These are the ones that usually work for fulfillment and not necessarily salaries. The same can also be said for some self-employed people.

All in all, financial independence is more a function of financial intelligence than form of employment(whether self or for others).

Was in Franklin for a little while... Nashville is not so popular with Naija peeps o.
Just look for one redeemed church, i think there's one (or a few) in Antioch .... you'll definitely see ya "Naija peeps"

Have fun!

dayokanu:

My Chairman, I am happy for you o.

How have you been

Great oh! And you?
Bros... go and marry oh

My first year was great. Actually my marriage has been great.
Whenever i log on to NL and read through some of these stories, i clasp my hands, look towards heaven and thank God for my wife. Then i look at her brown eyes, i smile and i tell her "Thank you for being you".
We really don't have friends, so we hang out together most times. We rarely visit others, don't have visitors (and we don't care). We are in our own world, i guess and it works for us . In our first year, we lost our daughter, we grieved together, prayed together and healed together. God has really been good.

I just thought to share.

Nice thread Ajanlekoko

I guess i'll use your format to post my travel experience.
Most of my flight experience has been with Air France(its either Air france or KLM from Port Harcourt). I've also been on Emirates, Jetblue, Aero, Air Nigeria and Arik. When i fly to asia/middle east, its gotta be Emirates oh, everywhere else.. then i go with Air France. My experience with Air France has been so-so, maybe cos i usually fly economy (at least until i can "sustainably" upgrade to 1st/business class ). IMO there's really not much of a difference between premium economy and economy (at least not enough to justify the difference in price )

Worst Airline experience
It has got to be one of the local flights from Lagos (Air Nigeria i think). Flight was delayed form morning to like 9pm or so. i was so frustrated because i had an important meeting the next day. I eventually got to PH like past 10 - 11pm... how i got home is another story entirely

Best Airline experience
It was an Emirates flight from Bangkok to Dubai. That was my first experience on the Airbus A380. I was awe-struck with the leg-space, mahogany window trimmings, in-flight entertainment, meal etc

BTW why is it that Nigerian air hostesses don't smile or laugh? Even when you try to share a joke , they look at you like "What's funny?"

Interesting travel experience
About road trips, i remember once i wanted to go from Port Harcourt to Ondo State to attend my grandmother's funeral. I went with my wife (my gf then). I didn't want to drive so we hired a cab to take us to and fro. On our way (close to Ondo state), the vehicle had an irreparable fault and we had to hitch-hike, Ol' boy, the bus we eventually boarded had passengers that looked like ritualists , I just dey speak in tongues till we got to our stop. We had to go to Lag and then fly to PH after the funeral.

@ justwise

We all got our visas. Thanks for your help.

justwise:

Ok, but if he is not on leave then it will be a hard one.

Thanks for your help. We'll work towards that.

justwise:

General visitor/family visitor seems more appropriate, how old is your sibling? Yes its possible that some will be issued a visa and some refused.

He's 28 and just started working (like 3 months ago) with a nice company (a global brand).

@ Justwise

Great work here. Just a quick one though.
I recently completed my postgraduate degree (online) and will be going to the UK for my graduation.
Would love for my mom and siblings(2) to attend but i'm a little confused about which of the forms we should complete. General visitor or Academic visitor?

Secondly, we all have travel history except one of my siblings (brand new passport) ~ is there any possibility of them issuing visas to some and rejecting any? What advice would you give?

Cheers.

ThiefOfHearts:

^Hopefully your fellow males will do the same

thanks for replying.

You are welcome.

OP

You must have worked so hard to make it work. It must be really disheartening to see a marriage you desperately fought for fizzle out 'just like that'.
I'll advise that you find some peace within because you need to heal. Look for activities (spiritual/social) that give you joy. If you can afford it, travel somewhere serene for some deep reflection. Think about the kind of future you'll love to have cos the past is gone and there's nothing you can do about it. All you have is today. Let today be the beginning of a great life ahead.

Always be there for your son and never speak evil about his mother. Don't play the blame game (that's for immature minds). You must understand that everyone is entitled to his/her choices. In this case, she has made her choice, and you have made yours. Just keep walking.

Love her. Protect her. Provide for her. Be faithful to her. Trust her. Support her.

Our marriage has been splendid! All glory to God for getting married to a good woman ! Been married for some years now, gone through normal ups/downs, but I've stuck to the pieces of advice above. Hope they work for you.

aniffy4eva:

The link is http://www.heute.at/epaper/epa7446,1036

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on Pages 10 - 11

sweet9ja:

Bulls$$t, this is just another lie by some despirate fool(s).
I've just visited the homepage of Heute.at and perform a search with minister's name and no match was made.
Please, NLer do some research before posting comments, we know Nigerian politicians are corrupt, but it's equally bad to wrongly accuse anyone.

The link is http://www.heute.at/epaper/epa7446,1036

The illusion of freedom.

Freedom from lack/want/poverty.
Freedom from idleness.
Freedom from "bad publicity"
Freedom from whatever fears they have.

The 3 plagues of the Nigerian mind -

1) Excessive supernaturalism.
2) Undue Anachronism.
3) Unnecessary Authoritarianism.

Excessive supernaturalism - excessive belief in the doctrine of supernatural  or divine agency as manifested in the world, in human events, religious revelation, etc. (even when application of the human mind would solve the problem)  

Undue Anachronism - a person, a custom or an idea that seems old-fashioned and doesn't belong to the present. We just can't seem to get rid of old ideas  

Unnecessary Authoritarianism - favoring complete obedience or subjection to authority  as opposed to individual freedom. We would rather be told what to do and be accepted by the fold than try to express our individuality (and be different ).

By the time you add all these together, you wont wonder why Nigeria is where she is.

@ garyarnold, wordtalk, enigma, nuclearboy, zikkyy, Pastor Kun, debosky, nlmediator etc (please dont be offended if i didnt mention your name, its a pretty long list)

I just want to say a BIG thank you to you all for your insightful comments, I have closely followed your arguments, analysis, conclusions etc and to be honest, i have been fed spiritually (you have no idea), as they have forced me to STUDY the word in-depth on this issue of tithing, offerings, giving etc and arrive at my personal conclusion (i'll keep that to myself)

God bless you all,

@ Eziachi
Thank you sir for great responses, I particularly found the one below very funny,


Quote
10. He created the highest number of billionaires in his native Katsina after Abacha made him the chairman of PTF.

I know when someone is running out of idea or points. This is one of those thing we blab out after, on our 4th bottles of Big stout and Isiewu. I think we should leave that for ladies at Jankara market.

There hasn't been electricity for donkey years, but because you have 24 hours power supply on the eve of the presidential elections - you call this a good omen for the next 4 years, I am not a political buff but it doesn't make a whole lotta sense,
SMH @ the way we think,

My friends,

Rape is a terrible crime against women. Some are lured. Some are drugged. Some are forced. It is more painful when it is done repeatedly. The stories of sex slaves the Congo and Liberia make us ask "Are these men or animals?". OBJ wrote a book the "Animal called Man". Some are so wasted that they wake up in the morning they bath, eat and get raped, the afternoon the show continues. Some even lost count of the men who used them. Some got used to the life and were never the same. Some died and others have completely lost their minds. It more terrible when the woman is so brainwashed into thinking that rape is the only way to have sex.
A true story is told of a woman at mental home who believed that her husband must beat her black and blue before they can have sex.

This is the Nigerian story. Some leaders lured us. Some drugged us. Some forced us. They do it again and again. GEJ is luring us with TV ADs which cost millions of Naira. Nollywood big stars endorse him. These politicians not only know what to do to get girls into beds in cozy hotels in Abuja but they know how to lure a nation into its grave. They give N200 to a person worth at least N200,000 to secure his vote and they pocket the change. We were so drugged that our President was so sick last year and the whole country was kept in bondage. We seemed to forget that the US President gets treated in US. The Saudi leader gets treated in his country. We woke up and took to the streets. We took the rapists by the throat. But the man we fought for was not the victim but was also part of the plan. They use religion and ethnicity to divide us - yet nobody talks about Fashola's religion.

Then comes Buhari - he had never had sex with her. He could not think of hurting her after Shagari left her wasted and in debt. His crime was that he was not romantic and 'tough'. IBB comes along with his gap-tooth smiles and she falls for him. I don't think any leader wasted her like IBB. He had his way because he constantly drugged her with his 'maradona' charisma. 1993 ended that romance because she refused to take all tablets but one - the interim government.

Now she has 4 major suitors - and she is confused. Her clothes are bloodied from the atrocities of the previous governments. GEJ wants her because they have actually dated for about 11 months. Yet he wants to please everybody. He says he would bring people whom bombed to justice yet no one is prison. His children were not bombed those attacks nor was his property affected. People say he is sincere but it is certain his friends and supporters want what is between her thighs. Does he truly love her? Would he place her above personal interest? I doubt it very much.

This bible verse aptly describes the Nigerian nation. "Don't be surprised if the poor of your country are abused, and injustice takes the place of justice. After all, the lower officials must do what the higher ones order them to do." (Ecclesiastes 5:8 CEV).

Ribadu is a young guy. Actually they are almost age mates. She just a month older. He has shown some resolve in times past but his inexperience and alliance with certain people may reduce her chances of reaching her potential. The motives of this man called Tinubu are highly questionable.

Shekaru is an orator and intelligent just like IBB. Does he have the moral courage to do the right thing. Does he have another agenda? Nigeria needs someone she can trust not someone she can admire. Many a lady have made this mistake over and over again.

Then comes Buhari. She says ALL men are the same. They just want my honeypot. They could take it by force or by 'fake'. Buhari would Islamize me - yet his driver and cook are Christians. He is not romantic or charismatic. But he does not want to hurt her. He also wants to ensure she is confident and knowledgeable - bold to confront any rapist and demand her rights. Like Fashola he wants to raise the standards of governance.

But she lies confused in a pool of her blood. Too dizzy to think straight. Too drunk to stand what is rightfully hers. Too scared to make a choice. Raise up O mighty One. You have to choose between a 4-year mistake and 4-year miracle. Buhari is not perfect but he wants to show you some love. He needs you to help him help you.

The General weeps because you are already carried away with TV Ads and a N1000 note. The General weeps because you think the enemy is your friend and your friend is your enemy. The General weeps because you are about be subject to a 4-year experiment- you may not come out the lab alive. The General weeps because this maybe your last chance to erase your past. The General weeps because the vultures are hovering over you. The General weeps because your potential is greater than your past. The General weeps because he has put together a team of Nigerian specialists would energize her and make her reach her goals.

Wipe your tears, General. We will go to the polling booth on Saturday 16th. It may be far but we will travel there. It may be long but we will wait. We will do our best and leave the rest to God. We will buy our future with our votes but we will never allow our votes to be bought. We persuade men to open their eyes. We will see a new Nigeria. A New Hope. A New Beginning. God bless Nigeria!

Been into network marketing for about 4 years running. I made my first million through it , and i've made many more since, I do it part-time tho'

Just like every other industry, this one has its own peculiarities, but i'll suggest that anyone interested in building entrepreneurial skills should give it a shot. Apart from generating extra income, it's also a great avenue for personal development in areas like communication, leadership, negotiation, listening skills etc.

Sky Blue:

The saddest part is that Nigerian's have (yet again as has been the case for a long time) allowed themselves to be divided into sections, forgetting that this is not about winning some trivially petty online 'arguement' or being "right" on nairaland, but about the future of a country, our country. Nothing inherently wrong with being a Jonathan supporter, but when one keeps hearing 'you can shout all you want cos he would win anyway' as a retort to genuine questions asked about Jonathan, you begin to wonder whether this people actually stop to think if Jonathan winning would actually be a good thing for Nigeria, or is it all about winning and nothing more?

Great perspective,
Just spoke my mind.

Jacquard is different from satin,

BB All the way!

2buff:

^^ would you marry a woman that was a decade older than you?  

Why not?
Not all men are hung up on age,

@ OP
Well, i don't think the kind of "serious" guys you want would post comments here, (at least not openly, )
To identify some of them, you can read through various NL sections, and if anyone catches your fancy, view his profile and read through his previous comments etc, that should give you an insight into his mind. If you are still interested, just send him an email.

, and about your age, you are only as old as you think you are,  

Its funny how time flies,
I almost skipped this post, but you guys are so hilarious,

My first visa interview was at the BHC on 18 March 2003, i was an undergraduate then, and meen, suffer wan kill me dat time, (late father, mom was a tailor, poor background etc), truth be told, omo, i wanted to "run away"

The oyibo just looked at my face and said, "sorry, i wont be granting you a visa", i didn't even hear anything she said afterwards, my life came crashing around me (or so i thought)

Fast forward to 2011, i have been around the world (US, Europe, Asia etc). i even sponsor my siblings and mother abroad,

I guess what i'm just trying to say is this: Even if you are refused a visa today, don't worry, God has BIGGER and BETTER plans ahead for you!!!
Deuces,

Currently watching a documentary on Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, and i wonder,
Can we ever have a Madiba in Nigeria?

Your thoughts,

@ cecegorz/ ajanlekoko

Nice contributions.

My opinion is simply that the change we seek has already begun.
You can only start change from where you are and not where you want to be.

How do you measure change? I gave simple indicators , Oshodi, seat belts, traffic rules (even in other parts of the country and not just Lagos) etc Another indicator is "bank MDs being arrested and convicted for financial fraud"

Of course i agree that political power is very important, (i already stated that in my previous post, ) and i believe professionals are not limited to the corporate sector only, because in my books a professional is someone who is engaged in a job and conforms to the standards of skill, competence, or character normally expected of a properly qualified and experienced person in that work environment, which also includes the public sector.

I agree that the advocacy for change had been existent before the birth of the social media, i just wanted to highlight the LEVERAGE that the internet provides in terms of global reach and cost effectiveness. In times past, the advocates were renowned and well-known, nowadays, unknown people are blogging about it globally and you never know who's being inspired to be a part of the change.

Some professionals return for N100m per annum, true, (altho most of them are on NL ) but u need to look beyond that. For those who are successful and actually get such jobs in Nigeria, it will have a multiplier effect on their dependants, people and things they'll spend money on i.e. their consumption, savings and investments, which would have a positive effect on the local economy, and not just their pockets. (ECO 101)

And about the influx of professionals starting from the children of the current elite, we seem to be ignoring the timeline effect as i referred to a possible trend in the next decade (i.e. 10 years), May i recommend that you read Malcolm Gladwell's "tipping point"? Its a great book that'll shed more light on how change works.

About an awakening on the political front, you'll be surprised that its actually happening. I guess the indicator for this would be the kind of people that run for political offices in 2011.

Please permit me to beam the spotlight on Nigeria.

Although this may sound a little "hard-to-believe", but i think change is gradually happening in Nigeria. Probably not at the speed i'd like for it to happen. However, certain indicators are pointing in the right direction:-

1. Nigerians desire change and the "fire" is also catching on this generation, through leverage on social media and the internet. We have different groups advocating for change, better nigeria, zero corruption etc.
2. I anticipate that there will be a high influx of skilled graduates in diaspora, in the near future,(it's already happening now tho') cos one way or the other, everyone is beginning to believe in Nigeria's future. We must understand that this group of people are likely to form part of the elite of this country in the next decade.
3. If democracy continues, violence in Niger-Delta & religious riots cease in Nigeria, more multinationals will likely invest as more opportunities are being made available.
4. If Oshodi (in Lagos) can change to what it is today, if motorists can use their seat-belts and stop when traffic lights are RED (not 100% yet tho') while driving in Nigeria, who says Nigeria's issues (and Africa at large) can't be solved? Change can have a "snowball" effect. All it takes is for someone to start and for others to study and replicate in their fields.

cecegorz:

Anyways, i think our professionals attitude are no less selfish than that of our politicians. Every body is just in for the moneeeeeeeeeeeeeeey!
Africans as a people generally are yet to think beyond parochial interests

Not everyone is in for the money, It is human nature to think of selfish interests, but a system is supposed to coordinate these individual activities in such a way that would create value for the populace.