Heart warming: Flavour opens school for the blind in Liberia

A popular singer, Chinedu Okoli popularly known as Flavour, seem to have had his heart touched the very first time he saw and heard a visually-impaired boy named Semah G. Weifur, from Liberia sing his song.

Without wasting time, Flavour visited the boy's mother in Liberia and established acquaintance with the family. In no time Flavour adopted the boy who had a lot of talents and had become a father to the boy since then.
This he did without sparing anything: financial, time and emotional energy.

Hence it was not a surprise when it was gathered recently that he built a school for the blind in Liberia in honour of Semah and many others like him.

Below is a photo he shared as he hugged his son in the midst of other visually-impaired children who are set to attend the school.

He has also released an album with his son, Semah which is titled 'Divine' and several videos have been released as well to support the project.

Fans have widely appreciated him for this kind gesture and believed that his goodness will be rewarded by God.

Federer survives a scare at Miami Open

The three-time Miami Open champion (2005, 2006 and 2017), Roger Federer survived a big upset in his opening match against Radu Albot at the Miami Open on Saturday March 23rd.

He rallied from a set down (first set) and nearly a break down in the second set but managed to break Albot in the last set to win 6-3, making the game 4-6, 7-6, 6-3.

The Moldovan, Albot, who got his first ATP title just a few weeks ago in Delray Beach, came into Miami on a ranking of No. 46. He came in full swing against Federer (World No.5), breaking him in the first game.

After the game which lasted for two hours and eight minutes, Federer had this to say, “I was very much tested by Albot. It wasn’t easy”. “He got off to a good start and I struggled early on with decision-making and just getting used to the stadium, I guess, and the conditions, but it was the same for him, really, so no excuse there. But it was just difficult”.

“I felt the first couple of sets there were like seven important shots or points to be played, and they all seemed to go his way, and I felt like that’s why he was in the lead, really, until 6-4 4 all. He’s had a good last few weeks and you could feel it. He has a great attitude and knows what he wants to do out there. It felt like he was the guy with the clear plan, and I didn’t have it. I also started forgetting things my coach told me. It got really complicated in my head. But I played some good tennis at the end.”

Federer believes that a long match at the new Miami Open courts will help him in future games: “Today’s match really helped because I spent a lot of time on the court and got used to the conditions. I don’t think it’s necessarily slow, I think the ball travels through the air slower and the kicker doesn’t kick as much as it did in Indian Wells. These sudden changes are already tricky for every player, but especially for those who really got used to the conditions in Indian Wells the last few weeks.”

Federer will meet Filip Krajinovic in the next match.

Alex Unusual rejects Range Rover birthday gift

2018 BBNaija 3rd runner up winner and celebrity, Alex Asogwa, popularly known as Alex Unusual has explained why she rejected a car gift from an admirer for her birthday.

She revealed that she rejected the gift because she would not want her love and attention to be wooed with material gifts. She added that rejecting the gift does not make her proud in any way but she does not want her love to be bought.

She however received a number material and cash gifts, one of which was a Toyota car gift from her fans.

In an interview on her birthday, she had this to say, "I rejected the first car I received on my birthday. 

For me, it was not just about the gift but where it was coming from. 
The second car given to me was from love. Responsible fans put their money together to get me the car, while the former was from someone who liked me. It is okay to like me but I didn’t feel it was right to collect a car from an admirer. 

He can decide to collect the car from me anytime he felt like. If I collected the car and I told him I didn’t want a relationship later, what would happen? 
"The man felt I was too proud when I rejected the car gift. But I am not a proud lady. I know many girls will take the vehicle; it was a 2018 Range Rover (for crying out loud). 

But I am Alex Unusual; I am not the type who can be wooed with material things.” “I have rejected money and material things many times. 
The car gift was just one of them. “This year’s birthday celebration was amazing and I am happy I am growing. 
All my birthdays are always filled with so much love but a night before my birthday, I cried a lot. I had a quarrel with my mother, manager, camera guy and stylist.” 

WE'RE SLAVES TO DREAMS!

In whatever form it comes we do realize that when we say that we have a dream we are arguably not making sense. You do not have control or power over dreams in whatever way.
They are beyond you, looking at them from pure spiritual cum philosophical realms. It is so because in what ever form they come, dreams are involuntary in one form and equally destined in the other and either or both control us. We don't have them.

No, instead they have and posses us or bulldoze their way through us. Those realms are independent of man but need the human form to expresses the purpose of their Creator.

Whether viewed from ecclesiastical angle no one goes to bed and decides the type of dream he'd have. You just lie down and the mortal body becomes a vehicle.
The inexplicable activity in the brain when we sleep and a combination of the mystical and divine play their games in us. It is through the body that sleeping gives dreams a meaning in work environment, so to speak. Such a condition shape out dream in form and without sleep we can't dream.

Dreams are our masters in our sleep mode and we are just absolutely slaves to that which we are not in control of. To some it comes early, in others it comes late.
But dreams 'sleep' and actually wake up from sleep itself. Sounds rhetorical and complicated, doesn't it? Dreams sleep as they please and man does not have the trigger to wake them up until they decide to wake up all by themselves.
When we say or claim that we woke up the dream in us, it's a lie. We are not equipped to do that. When dreams come up by themselves we often lay claims on the trigger.
This may be a bit difficult to explain. But remembering Albert Einstein in one of his classic expressions, he said that if you can't explain something to someone, then you yourself don't understand it.
So let's make an attempt here to understand my drift, using that school girl 'Success' from Delta State as an illustration.

Success

A girl whose name was asleep but the dream in her spoke and we all witnessed her mouth forming words and acting them out.
We all thought she was the one speaking, not realising that something beyond her age and size was actually the power speaking. Her dream talked and has instantly placed her involuntarily beyond her stead.

Or how could she stubbornly say and I paraphrase "that the cane will flog, flog and flog her until it gets tired… and that she would soon leave their 'pako' school"
Going back to our insights, first does dream sleep? That I know is the question on someone else's lips reading this right now. Did 'Success' dream or woke her dream up? No she did not! But there was a dream in her that was in control of her person!

It found the right environment and opportunity and hit the right cord by speaking in the manner (it) she did.
While we consider that scenario another person reading this may ask, is it not only a person or a living being who sleeps that can talk about dreaming?

And if dream is something that has residence in our subconsciousness can such involuntary feeling wake up? Well, as we know there are people who don't even have the physical ability to dream but they sleep all the same. Their dream is in permanent state of coma!
So our discussion is not located in the mind or reasoning, or what happens in your brain when we are asleep and the brain is awake. It is not even in our ability to calculate where it resides. Sometimes it's in our fists, legs or association.

The "dreams" that we convert into action are called by various names and expressed likewise. Some call them plans or ideas. Others call them thoughts, imaginations, conception, hopes, foresights and stuff in those manner.
Most times we set out to achieve them by engaging oneself in purpose and drive. Sometimes they come through. Other times they feeble or fail woefully. And recently we saw some politicians in those moulds.

But the type of dream this article is talking about are extraneous to our desires and are incontrollable. They have minds of their own and are in our stars controlled by destiny and manifest in unusual ways. Another thing and that is perhaps its overbearing character is that they are original and never ever pretentious.

Such was what we saw in that little girl from Warri, Success, whose dream spoke in colloquial or pidgin English, when she said she'd prefer to be flogged thoroughly and be left to stay in school instead.

Hers was the type of dream that takes flogging as a balanced died to grow and manifest. We all know that flogging would ordinarily scare other children of her age away from school, but not to the little Miss Success. There is in her name, a Success that is in her dream that found clear expression in that little body!


Courtesy: Pat Uchendu

ONE TRAGEDY TOO MANY

The news of a collapsed building this morning in Lagos Island killing and trapping alive scores of school children is anything but shocking. As at the time of writing unconfirmed reports are putting the number at about 100 pupils. My prayer is that God should mercifully not allow those estimates to stand. May they be a lot lower.

Little innocent children and certainly their teachers! What a sad day, especially as the nation is recovering from an estimated number of about 58 persons killed around the country from the most senseless election this country has ever had.

Rescue operation
The issues of collapsed buildings have been reported variously around the country but in a large part Lagos has had more than a fair share. The reasons are not just structural but negligence and callousness on the part of some quacks that call themselves engineers.

The word or appellation “engineer” has been terribly abused in this country. From your regular car mechanic to every Tom, Dick and Harry on sites, for some of us who seek our daily bread on sites, everyone calls himself engineer.

It is obvious that such arrogation of claiming what they are not has manifested in the situation we are witnessing on this Black Wednesday. However, investigation and official report would confirm that this collapse has nothing to do with the structural integrity of that building.

I remember sometime in 2001 or thereabout on CNN, when the issue of the structural strength of the World Trade Center building was on the boil, after a bomb scare and the company that designed the building was interviewed.

About the structural strength of the building they clearly said that it was so structured to withstand the impact of a Boeing 747 in flight. That’s how it should be, except that Osama Bin Ladin and his fellows had another plan where they took some freshly fueled and loaded aircrafts and turned them into bombs. Those structural engineers didn’t imagine that!

But countries think ahead and engineering is certainly about finding solutions to solve a problem.

In fairness to Lagos State I remember the very serious attention and policies His Excellency Babatunde Fashola gave to the issue of collapsed/collapsing buildings during his time as Governor and I equally remember that COREN as the regulation engineering council in Nigeria took the gauntlet in concert with Fashola Government after series of buildings went down in Lagos.

Scene of the collapsed building
A rescue team search for more victims from the scene of a building, which collapsed at Itafaji on the Lagos Island. Kayode Oladapo (Premium Times)
What has happened today joggles my mind yet again to reflect on what would be of Lagos should we witness average earth tremor. The imagination is frightening when you go round Lagos and witness the number of houses that are poorly built, especially those of old.

I witnessed one story building that was pulled down on Bode Thomas Street, Surulere and to the chagrin of everybody the iron used for the decker was simply mesh, no single pillar reinforcement throughout the run on the floor.

May God help us in this country!

Courtesy: Pat Uchendu

Plane forced to turn back after mother forgets her newborn at airport

A bizarre incident happened recently at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport after a Saudi mother ‘forgot’ her newborn baby at the airport and boarded the Saudi Arabian Airlines flight.

According to reports, Flight SV832 from Jeddah to Kuala Lumpur was turned back after the woman informed the cabin crew that she had forgotten her baby at the waiting hall of the departure terminal of the Airport.

Her sudden realization forced the pilot to turn the plane around back to King Abdulaziz International Airport.

The ATC operators were taken by surprise after the pilot informed them about the incident. Executives spent several minutes trying to figure out the protocol to be observed during such incidents.

In a video making the rounds on social media, the pilot can be heard making the request, “This flight is requesting to come back…a passenger forgot her baby in the waiting area”
“Ok, head back to the gate. This is totally a new one for us!” says an ATC operator.

The woman was happy after being reunited with her baby.

Sexual abuse scandal: R Kelly’s girlfriends defend him

Being a star/celebrity and in the limelight has its advantages and disadvantages but the for the music star R. Kelly, it seems the disadvantages has become more than the advantages in recent times.

Popular American singer R Kelly, has been facing a heavy storm over the past couple of weeks. Sexual abuse allegations have been levelled against the R & B star and it appears to be a trying time for him in his musical career.

Amid the allegations he is currently facing, one is that he was picked up by the authorities over unpaid child support for his three kids with ex-wife, Andrea Kelly.

However, in a new interview video that recently surfaced online, it may seem the case against the celebrity star might be taking a new course.

His two girlfriends. Azriel Clary and Jocelyn Savage, whose parents had accused Kelly of sexually abusing them, were interviewed by popular broadcaster Gayle King on CBS News.

The two girls made the revelation that their parents had lied and that they were only filing accusations against the singer because of money.

One of the girls had particularly mentioned that when she met the singer, he had no idea about her real age because her parents had forced her to lie to him that she was 18.

157 persons confirmed dead in an Ethiopian Airline crash (Photos)

An Ethiopian Aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max-8 crashed this morning at about 08:44 local time, six minutes after take-off killing everyone on board the plane.

The airline said 149 passengers and eight crew members were on flight ET302 from the Ethiopian capital to Nairobi in Kenya.

According to reports from eye witnesses, there a loud bang and huge fire as the plane crashed, making it difficult for anybody to get close to it.

The cause of the disaster is not yet clear. However, the pilot had reported difficulties and had asked to return to Addis Ababa, the airline said.

"At this stage, we cannot rule out anything," Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam told reporters at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.


"We cannot also attribute the cause to anything because we will have to comply with the international regulation to wait for the investigation."

Mr Gebremariam told the news conference that passengers from more than 30 countries were on board the flight.

He said they included 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, nine Ethiopians, eight Italians, eight Chinese, eight Americans, seven Britons, seven French citizens, six Egyptians, five Dutch citizens, four Indians and four people from Slovakia.

Slovak MP Anton Hrnko later confirmed via Facebook that his wife and two children were on the plane.

Three Austrians, three Swedes, three Russians, two Moroccans, two Spaniards, two Poles and two Israelis were also on the flight.

A Nigerian is also said to be on the flight.

Recovery operations were under way near the crash site around the town of Bishoftu, which is 60km (37 miles) south-east of the capital.

The plane was delivered to Ethiopian Airlines on 15 November last year, records show.

So sad.

Source: BBC

I’ll take over Nigeria if any politician violates the rule of law - Majek Fashek

One of our legendary musician, Majek Fashek in a video he posted on his social media page said that God has revealed to him some things about Nigeria.
Responding to a questions about what message he has for Nigeria, he stated that it was only the Holy Spirit that can save this country.
He said that he flew back from the US because God directed him to come and warn Nigerians not to embark on war during the elections period.

The reggae star speaking further in his video revealed that if any politician try to violate the rule of law, he (Majek) would take over the country.

He said:" I general Majek Fashek, the president of prisoners of conscience Will take over Nigeria if any violation of the rule of Law from the politicians. My people cannot be deceived, No More killings .........I have made My manger Uzo the chief of staff. Nigeria must be Freeeeee Jah Rastafarai ......No war."

According to him, God already knew how the whole scenario was going to play out.

He also charged Christians to work towards nation building and striving to make the kingdom of God.

Attitude Defined

Attitudes are the established ways of responding to people and situations that we have learned, based on the beliefs, values and assumptions we hold. Attitudes become manifest through your behaviour.

Attitude Drives Behaviour
Your body language is a result of your mental attitude. By choosing your attitude you get in that mood and send out a message that everyone understands, consciously or unconsciously.

Almost always, you have a choice as to what attitude to adopt. There is nothing in any normal work situation that dictates you must react one way or another. If you feel angry about something that happens, for instance, that's how you choose to feel. Nothing in the event itself makes it absolutely necessary for you to feel that way. It is your choice. And since you do have a choice, most of the time you'll be better off if you choose to react in a positive rather than a negative way.

The Power of Positive Attitude
It is not what happens to you that counts; It is how you react to what happens to you, especially when you have unexpected problems of any kind. Learn and master powerful strategies you can use to keep yourself thinking and acting positively and creatively.

Positive Attitude Means Longer Life
If you want to live a longer, healthier life then you need to develop and maintain a positive attitude.  It's now a fact thanks to a study from the two American Universities.

5 Researchers followed and studied 1500 people for 7-years. All 1500 were in good health when the study started. Researchers followed how they aged by measuring such things as weight loss, walking speed, exhaustion and the strength of their grip.

What exactly did they discover? They found that people who maintained a positive attitude were significantly less likely to show signs of aging. They were less likely to become frail and were more likely to be stronger and healthier than those that had a negative attitude. If you have a doom and gloom attitude you're actually killing yourself and at the very least – your negative attitude is just making you weaker.

Researchers found that positive thinking and attitude improved a person’s health because it made it more likely that they would succeed in life. So not only will a positive attitude help you be healthy and live longer – it also increases the likelihood that you will succeed.

Lead researcher Dr. Glenn Ostir explained it this way: "I believe that there is a connection between mind and body – and that our thoughts and attitudes/emotions affect physical functioning, and over-all health, whether through direct mechanisms, such as immune function, or indirect mechanisms, such as social support networks."

So if you want to live long and be successful, maintain a positive attitude.

Unlock Your Creativity

JUST SOME SALIENT POINTS ABOUT CREATIVITY

Creativity is not about inventing something totally new, it is about making new connections. You don't have to be a special kind of person to be creative – everyone can do it. It's not about who you are, it's about what you do. You just need to start looking for multiple solutions rather than settling for just one and give yourself permission to be playful and inquisitive, flexible and versatile.

Entrepreneurial Creativity

How to Generate Great Ideas

Over the years of teaching his ideas generation courses, Barrie Hawkins has met thousands of would-be entrepreneurs. Some people were not very good at producing ideas and others were quite good at generating ideas. Some people were very good at it. And a few people had a terrific ability to generate ideas. What makes the difference? Why is it that once we have learnt the techniques and practiced them some of us are so much better at generating ideas?

The difference between more and less creative people is their attitude towards the problems they face and how they view them.

The Law of Forced Efficiency

This law says that, "There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing."

The key question you should ask is "What is the most valuable use of my time, right now?" This is the question that dominates time management. This is the key to overcoming procrastination and becoming a highly productive person.

Think about it...
What is that idea that you have which you need to develop? Why not put it into work, someone might need it.

What do you have passion for? Don't let it die, unlock and put it to good use today.

Thank you.

PDP goes to court, asks INEC to surrender election materials for inspection

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday filed a motion to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to surrender all the materials that were used for the February 23 presidential election for inspection.

According to the Nigerian Pilot, The motion ex-parte was lodged before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal yesterday.

The Tribunal will conduct its proceedings at the Court of Appeal Headquarters in Abuja.

They equally prayed the tribunal to compel the electoral body to allow their agents to scan and make photocopies of vital documents used in the conduct of the election, for the purpose of establishing alleged irregularities.

The motion ex-parte was supported with a 12 paragraph affidavit that was deposed to by one Col. Austin Akobundu, rtd, the Director of Contact and Mobilization of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Council.

Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the motion which has INEC, President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC, as 1st to 3rd Respondents.

Atiku who came second behind President Buhari of the APC, had earlier vowed to challenge the outcome of the presidential election in court, alleging that it was full of irregularities.

He maintained that results collated by agents at various polling units across the federation, was at variance with what was eventually declared by INEC, in favour of President Buhari.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had on Monday indicated that it would approach the court on Tuesday, March 5, to challenge the outcome of the February 23 presidential election and reclaim its mandate which, it said, was stolen by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Buhari polled 15,191,847 votes ahead of Atiku’s 11,262,978. Consequently, Mahmood Yakubu, chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared Buhari winner of the election.

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the PDP, rejected the outcome of the election and pledged to challenge it in court.

Source: Nigerian Pilot

The Wheel of Personal Success

The Power of Positive Beliefs

What you create through your thoughts is a belief system, and that belief system is ultimately what determines whether you live a successful life. The key to changing your belief system is changing your thoughts.

Orison Swett Marden wrote in How to Get What You Want, "Stop thinking trouble if you want to attract its opposite; stop thinking poverty if you wish to attract plenty.  Refuse to have anything to do with the things you fear, the things you do not want." Instead you must think rightly about those things you want to attract.
Mark Shearon once posed a very enlightening question to a telephone audience, "Are you thinking about what you're thinking about?" Read that sentence again and read it carefully. It's not a play on words.

Marden goes on to write this passage about how much our thoughts influence the outcome of our life: "How often do we hear it said of some man, "Everything he undertakes succeeds," or "Everything he touches turns to gold?"
Why? Because the man is constantly picturing to himself the success of his undertakings and he is backing up his vision by his efforts.
By clinging to his vision, by vigorous resolution and persistent, determined endeavor, he is continually making himself a powerful magnet to draw his own to him.
Consciously or unconsciously, he is using the divine intelligence or force by the use of which every human being may mold himself and his environment according to the pattern in his mind."

The Greatest Risk in life is not taking it. (Part 2)

In continuation of our earlier discussion in the previous post about life being a set of calculated risks, there are 14 RISKS we need to take if we want to succeed. They are:

1. RISK TAKING THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED.
The road less traveled is a scary road to take. It hasn’t been worn in by previous footsteps, so getting lost is a cinch. The brush has never been trimmed or tended to, so you’re likely to get caught on a branch and stuck in places for a while.

The roads less traveled haven’t yet been mapped out and, therefore, the only thing you really have to go on in hopes of reaching your destination is your intelligence, your logic, perseverance, and a bit of luck.

However, the road less traveled has much richer plunders. You risk never getting there, but once you do, it’s well worth your trouble.

Why not try one today?

2. RISK GETTING TURNED DOWN.
That girl at the bar, any girl at the bar, might turn you down. The same goes for whenever you are asking anything of anyone. More often than not, we get turned down not because of us, but because of the individual that is rejecting our request.

It doesn’t matter whether you are trying to get someone’s number or asking them to pass you a napkin – you’ll always meet that jerk who will refuse to even pay you any attention.
Because we hate being rejected – our damn egos at it again – we often fail to even ask.

If you don’t ask then you won’t be answered. If you don’t ask then you’re basically still getting answered no, but you yourself are moving any chance of receiving a yes.

Ask today!

3. RISK NOT GETTING THE JOB.
We won’t always be the best qualified. We won’t always be the smartest, brightest or best fit for the job. There will also be times when we are best suited for the position and we still get turned down.

That’s simply the way life is, but you still need to put yourself on the line and risk being turned down for your dream position.

Often times, people get hired simply because they seem hungry and it looks like they’ll get along very well with the rest of the team. Experience isn’t always the determining factor. Risking not getting the job is the same as actually risking landing it.

4. RISK FAILING.
Failing is both the worst and best thing that can happen to you. When you don’t fail, you succeed. When you do fail, you succeed at figuring out another way of doing it or not doing it – it just doesn’t feel quite as good.

We too often allow our emotions to get in the way of logic. If you don’t risk failing, then you can’t succeed. Success requires risking failure – that is true 100 percent of the time.

5. RISK PUTTING IT ALL ON THE LINE.
If we do things right, there will be a time in our lives that we will have to decide whether or not we want to put it all on the line and roll the dice. My suggestion is to do so and to do so earlier on in life.

The later you risk losing everything, the more difficult it will be to bounce back. The biggest rewards often require the largest risks. Just be smart about it and make sure you know exactly what you are risking and exactly what you would be getting as a reward.

6. RISK MISSING OUT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING GREATER.
We don’t want to miss out on parties, get-togethers, chill sessions, festivals, concerts, nights out on the town.

We’re afraid that staying in and getting some rest will make us miss out on something huge – life changing.
Think about this: You’ve been making sure that you haven’t missed out on anything for years, how many of those experiences actually made a positive change in your life?

7. RISK THAT PERSON NOT SAYING “I LOVE YOU TOO.”
No one wants to be the first one to say “I love you.” I get it – not hearing “I love you” back can suck. But imagine how great it will feel if that person does love you back.

He or she is most likely worrying about the same thing waiting for you to make a move. And if that person doesn’t love you back, then at least you know where things really stand and can disillusion yourself.

8. RISK MAKING A MISTAKE.
Mistakes need to be made if you want to succeed in life – it’s how we learn. If you’re not making mistakes then you’re not trying enough things.
In other words, you’re not living enough. Risk making those mistakes because they are the things that make our lives interesting enough to read about.

9. RISK LOSING FRIENDSHIPS.
Friendships can be great, but they can also be very restrictive and a distraction. Following our dreams usually involves quite a bit of solitude.
Friendships can make it very difficult to take the time that you need to get the work done that needs to get done. In my opinion, true friends should support you and your dreams no matter what.

They should understand that you may have to distance yourself a bit more and then work together to keep the friendship alive – even if you don’t see each other half as much.

10. RISK NOT BEING GOOD ENOUGH.
There’s always a chance that you won’t be good enough. But again, isn’t that something that you’d like to know? The fact is that you’re either good enough or not good enough. Often, when we think we are good enough, we actually aren’t.

This is important information to have because it informs you how much more work you need to put in before you can succeed. But you will never know if you’re good enough if you don’t risk not being good enough.

11. RISK LAUNCHING TOO EARLY.
We too often wait until we perfect our product – regardless of whether it’s a physical device or service or our very selves – before we put it on the market. The truth is that no one comes out with the perfect product or service the first time around.

In fact, the perfect anything depends on the feedback that you receive from others. This feedback only comes after several iterations of testing. If you wait too long to launch then you are missing out on critical learning.

12. RISK PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE AND BEING JUDGED.
We hate being judged regardless of the fact that we do it all the time and that we are being judged all the time.
Everyone always judges – it’s what we humans do. Put yourself out there and be judged. Since you’re not selling yourself to everyone – most people won’t be a significant part of your life – most of their opinions don’t really matter anyway.

13. RISK ADMITTING THAT YOU DON’T KNOW.
Not knowing is not something to be embarrassed about. There is a very fine line between knowing and not knowing. For example, one second I will know absolutely nothing about a topic and then two minutes later, after someone explains something to me, I instantly know something new.

It’s crazy. And it only took a few minutes and not seconds. Knowledge is the easiest thing to accumulate, but only if you ask questions and risk admitting your lack of knowledge.

14. RISK OPENING UP AND BEING VULNERABLE.
When it comes to relationships, opening up and revealing your full, true self is necessary. It’s a requirement of love I’m afraid. If you don’t open yourself up and make yourself vulnerable then your partner will never see the real you and therefore will never be able to love you for the real you.

You have to risk it all to have it all. You have to risk giving yourself fully to the person whom you love if you want to experience the deepest level of love possible.

Courtesy: Paul Hudson

Kylie Jenner Becomes The Youngest Self-Made Billionaire Ever

Kylie Jenner, 21 has been named the World's youngest Billionaire according to Forbes. 

For the past three years, her Kylie Cosmetics which she started in 2015, had only sold its makeup online and briefly in pop up shops. But after signing an exclusive distribution deal with Ulta, the beauty retailer, Kylie Cosmetics was rolling its $29 lip kits—a matte liquid lipstick and matching lip liner—into Ulta’s 1,000-plus stores.

Then Jenner showed up to the Richmond Avenue Ulta in Houston to greet customers, sign autographs on lip kits and, of course, pose for selfies with her fans. 

Over the next six weeks, Kylie Cosmetics sold $54.5 million worth of products in Ulta, according to estimates from Oppenheimer. “I popped up at a few stores, I did my usual social media—I did what I usually do, and it just worked,” she says.

Fueled in part by the Ulta expansion, Kylie Cosmetics’ revenue climbed 9% last year to an estimated $360 million. With that kind of growth, and even using a conservative multiple from the booming makeup industry, Forbes estimates Jenner’s company is worth at least $900 million.
She owns all of it.

Add in the cash Jenner has already pulled from the profitable business, and the 21-year-old is now a billionaire, with an estimated fortune of $1 billion. She’s the youngest-ever self-made billionaire, reaching a ten-figure fortune at a younger age than even Mark Zuckerberg (who was 23 when he hit that mark).

“I didn’t expect anything. I did not foresee the future,” says Jenner, who is the youngest billionaire in the world. “But [the recognition] feels really good. That’s a nice pat on the back.”
“It’s the power of social media,” Jenner says. “I had such a strong reach before I was able to start anything.”

Ulta and Jenner are a sensible pairing. With Ulta’s mix of pricier prestige brands, like MAC Cosmetics, and cheaper selections, such as Nyx Professional Makeup, it has a larger footprint than that of its closest competitor, the more expensive Sephora. 

Analysts say Kylie Cosmetics is drawing younger customers through Ulta’s doors—teens who might not have a credit card to shop online. Plus, selling in physical stores gives Jenner a chance to reach “people that would never buy my products online,” she says. The ones who want to “see, touch and feel before they buy.”

Indeed, Kylie Cosmetics has seen its growth slow rapidly lately. It went from essentially zero to $307 million in sales within a year of launching but managed only single-digit growth in 2017 and 2018, Forbes estimates. That’s despite adding 30 new products in 2017, including concealer and makeup brushes, and many more color combinations in 2018.

It’s not the first time Ulta’s breadth has helped propel a makeup entrepreneur. IT Cosmetics, co-founded in 2010 by Jamie Kern Lima, entered Ulta in 2012 and promptly grew to sales of $117 million by 2014. In August 2016, L’Oréal paid $1.2 billion in cash for it.

Would Jenner ever follow a similar route? She firmly dismisses the idea of a sale, but her mother is interested. “It’s always something that we’re willing to explore,” Kris told Forbes last year.

For now, Jenner is focused on expanding her product range to include a setting powder, and bringing eye shadows, powders and bronzers to Ulta. “I see Kylie Cosmetics going very far,” Jenner says. “I work really hard.”

Whatever happens next, one thing is certain. Jenner will share it all on social media, much to the delight of her tens of millions of fans.

She is, after all, the first selfie-made billionaire.

Source: Forbes

The Greatest Risk in life is not taking it. (Part 1)

Life is nothing more than a series of calculated risk. Everything you do in life has some measure of risk involved – walking, eating, working, studying etc., and you can never have a 100% certainty about anything.
There is a chance of completely failing in whatever we do. Whether you agree or not, either you know it or you don’t, but we risk everything, every day of our lives.

There is a chance that we might choke while eating or drinking ordinary water, there is also a chance that strolling outside can kill us.
There is a chance that as we embark on that journey, we may not get to our destination, that we may not see our loved ones we had promised to see again.
There is also a chance that tomorrow with all our plans and aspirations may not come, a chance that things we had planned to do and achieve may not happen. 

So, you see that this life is all about risks – you win some and lose others, you take some and leave/avoid others.

The totality of your life depends on the decisions and choices you make, the risks you take or is willing to take, and how blessed/lucky or unlucky you have been.

However, there are certain risks you cannot afford to take, like driving with your eyes closed, walking across a road with a blindfold, etc.; but there are some that are very important and necessary if you really want to make it in life.


Why do we need to take risks?

1. Some great and amazing opportunities come from risk-taking
While some risks don’t pay off, there are a whole lot of others that do.

2. It helps build confidence.
Taking risks can help you stand out as a confident person. It can also present you as a leader who is not comfortable with the status quo.

3. It teaches us some great lessons that can help us discover new things. 
It provides opportunity for internal growth.

4. Success will not come to you – you have to pursue it
Nothing good comes easy, and that includes success, neither does it come cheap or fall on your laps. You have to play your part to be successful, you have to pursue it, put in great efforts and make a lot of sacrifice in order to achieve it.

5. You can’t achieve anything (success) by playing safe.
Risk-taking opens you up to a whole lot of opportunities and possibilities that you never thought of. For example, a fisherman cannot catch fish if he is afraid of the water, he has to launch in deep into the water to be able to do that.

6. Taking risk helps you overcome the fear of failure
Arianna Huffington identified the fear of failure as a major roadblock to success. She told Business Insider last year:
“We women are a little more risk-averse because whenever you launch something there’s a big chance it’s not going to work. And we have a bigger problem with failure ... [Women deal with] what I call the obnoxious roommate living in our head that constantly puts us down, doesn’t want us to fail because we become identified with our successes and failures”.

But failure, Huffington insists, isn’t the end of one’s journey to success, but usually the beginning.

7. Taking a risk means taking it fully and completely
If you want to and have to take risk, it should not be haphazardly, you have to be prepared and there is the need to follow through. You also have to educate yourself about it and be prepared in case of any possible fallout.   

...to be continued

Breaking: Dino Melaye Arraigned by the Police (Photo)

Few days after winning the senatorial seat of Kogi West senatorial district, Senator Dino Melaye, has been arraigned by the police at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court, Apo area of Abuja on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, on a six-count charge, part of which was attempting to take his own life.

Part of his charges also include an attempt to escape from custody in 2018 and damage to police property.

However according to reports from Vanguard, Dino denied committing the offences listed in the charges.

Eating An Avocado Per Day Can Do These For You

Health freaks everywhere absolutely love avocados and it’s no wonder. Avocados are absolutely delicious, they are super versatile and the health benefits are huge.

It’s very hard to find another food that is as good for you as an avocado, so let’s look a little deeper at what they offer.

1. They have properties that fight cancer 
Avocados contains several ingredients that can help in preventing chances of cancer. These major properties include phytochemicals, phenols and xanthophyll.
This is a really amazing advantage of eating avocados on a regular basis and leaves you with no excuse not to do it!

2. They are good for cardiovascular health
Research has shown that avocados are really good for the health of your heart. They have absolutely no bad fat but plenty of good fat, which is really vital for your arteries.

If you eat an avocado every day, your cholesterol levels will improve and you will generally feel more healthy in yourself. They also have high levels of potassium which improves blood stream, again positively influencing the heart.

3. They improve the health of the skin and eyes
Lutein and zeaxanthin are two ingredients found in avocados that will help strengthen your eyes and also prevent visual decay.

You might be wondering why they are so good for skin as well. UV affects us every single day but avocados have vital properties that can give you an extra layer of protection from the sun.

4. They help in weight loss
A main reason why the popularity of avocados is on the increase, is because many people are starting to realize how beneficial they are to weight loss.

These little green fruits are surprisingly filling, which will help prevent unnecessary snacking throughout the day. They also help your digestion and stop you from looking/feeling bloated because they are packed full of fiber.

There are so many health benefits to avocados.
With the number of different avocado based dishes out there, look around and see what could be right for you. They can help you lose weight and become a healthier person, which is what we all want!

Source: activefeel (modified)

Fans slam actress Mercy Aigbe over massive cleavage-baring outfit

Nigerian celebrities are no doubt very fashionable and they often try to take huge steps when it comes to style. However, even the trendiest of them sometimes fall short with their outfits and fans waste no time in calling them to order.

Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe, is one celeb who knows her onions when it comes to fashion. She has steadily built a reputation for herself as a stylish woman. Despite that, she seems to have left a number of her fans with a sour taste in their mouths over the outfit she wore to Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinda Marshall’s 62nd birthday.

The mother of two was dressed in a black top which left nothing to the imagination, paired with a cute body-hugging skirt. She posted photos of her outfit on Instagram and fans wasted no time in sharing their opinions. A number of them decided to call her to order and advised her to dress decently because she is a mother and a role model. While others saw nothing wrong with the attire and they praised her.

See some reactions below:

Check out different reactions to Mercy Aigbe's outfit Photo: @realmrcyaigbe / Instagram Source: Instagram

Source: legit.ng

Luke Perry Dead: ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ Alum and ‘Riverdale’ Star Dies at 52 After Massive Stroke

Luke Perry died at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, on Monday, March 4, days after suffering a massive stroke, Us Weekly confirms. He was 52.

“[Perry] was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancé Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, stepfather Steve Bennett, brother Tom Perry, sister Amy Coder and other close family and friends,” his rep said in a statement to Us.

“The family appreciates the outpouring of support and prayers that have been extended to Luke from around the world, and respectfully request privacy in this time of great mourning. No further details will be released at this time.”

Us Weekly confirmed that Perry was taken to the hospital on Wednesday, February 27, after he had a stroke at his home in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles. His rep told Us at the time that the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum was “under observation at the hospital.”

A spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department told Us that paramedics responded at approximately 9:40 a.m. after a 911 call. Perry was transported via ambulance to the hospital.

Celebrity Deaths in 2019: Stars We’ve Lost

The Riverdale star’s 90210 castmates sent messages of support after news of his condition broke. Shannen Doherty, who played his character Dylan McKay’s love interest Brenda Walsh, shared a throwback photo of herself and Perry hugging via Instagram. “My friend. Holding you tight and giving you my strength,” she wrote on Thursday, February 28. “You got this.”

Ian Ziering chimed in with his own Instagram post, writing: “No words can express what my heart feels hearing today’s shocking news. Let us all say a prayer for his speedy recovery.”

Perry starred on the Fox teen drama series, which ran from 1990 to 2000, alongside Tori Spelling (Donna Martin), Jennie Garth (Kelly Taylor), Jason Priestley (Brandon Walsh), Ziering (Steve Sanders) and Doherty.

Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of All Time

A Beverly Hills, 90210 revival of sorts was confirmed on Wednesday, though the 8 Seconds actor was not set to appear in the Fox update.

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star more recently starred on Riverdale as Fred Andrews, the father of main character Archie Andrews (KJ Apa). The series debuted in January 2017 and was renewed for a fourth season in January 2019.

Perry was married to Rachel “Minnie” Sharp from 1993 to 2003. The exes shared son Jack, 21, and daughter Sophie, 18.

The Oz alum grew up in Ohio and later moved to Hollywood to pursue acting. He appeared on soap operas before landing his breakout role as Dylan McKay. His work varied from film to Broadway to voiceover ahead of his TV comeback on Riverdale.

Source: Us Magazine

11 Cancer Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

Nobody likes the “C” word. Cancer is the scariest disease out there but if you catch it early, you have a big chance of survival.

Obviously, some of the symptoms associated with the disease can also be contributed to other minor illnesses but it’s ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry and get yourself checked out by a doctor if you have any concerns.

Below are 11 cancer symptoms that you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT ignore. Take special care about the last one, since it can often be misinterpreted.

1. Persistent tiredness

Feeling tired or experiencing fatigue often can be down to many things, one of those being cancer.
Both colon cancer and leukemia can generate this symptom. If you are tired more than what you feel is normal or for a longer period of time, seek medical help.

2. Drastic and unexplained weight loss

If you are experiencing weight loss quickly and don’t really have an explanation for it, there could be a deeper reason.
Most cancers will cause you to lose weight at some point so keep an eye on those numbers.

3. Persistent pain

Constant pain that seemingly has no cause or reason can be a sign of cancer, especially if you are taking treatment but it is not working.
Depending on where the pain is in your body means it might be a symptom of a brain tumor, rectum, ovary or colon cancer.

4. A weird lump

If you find a lump in your body or are just noticing a thickening or “change”, this could be an indicator that everything is not as it should be.
Even though some changes in your body are normal, pay close attention and trust your gut instinct.

5. Frequent fever

Cancer affects the immune system which results in a regular fever for what seems like no reason at all.
It’s more common during later stages of some cancers but it shows up early in cancers of the blood including lymphoma and leukemia.

6. Changes on the skin

I bet you didn’t know this but skin cancer is actually the most common kind of cancer and the best way to detect this is by noticing changes in your skin.
Keep an eye on any unusual and new freckles, moles or warts on your body and if they change size or color, get this checked out by a doctor right away. Reddened skin, blotches and bleeding on the skin can also be signs of other cancers.

7. Persistent cough

If you have a cough that just won’t seem to go away, there could be more to it than just your common cold.
If your cough causes you to experience pain in your chest, back or shoulder area – this could be even more reason to get checked out.

8. A change in bladder or bowel habits

Needing to go to the toilet more often either to urinate or to release your bowels, could be a sign of cancer. Diarrhea and constipation could also be signs of colon cancer.
Signs of prostate cancer include pain when passing urine or blood in your urine.

9. Unexplained bleeding

If you start coughing up blood, this is a big symptom of cancer.
Some other types of bleeding to look out for and get investigated include bleeding from the vagina, or from the anus.

10. Trouble swallowing food

If you are struggling to swallow or are experiencing indigestion issues, these could be signs of stomach, esophagus or throat cancer.
These type of symptoms are usually not associated with cancer but it is still better to get them seen to.

11. Other symptoms

The symptoms that have been mentioned so far are the most common signs of cancer but there are other things to look out for. This includes things like swollen feet and general changes to how your body looks/feels.

Again, they may not be signs of cancer, or could even result from the various cancer treatments, but it’s always better to feel safe than sorry.

That is your health we are talking about, and it’s always best to check with your doctor if something bothers you.

Also yearly and bi-yearly checkups are a great idea if you are over 30 or 40 years old. Remember, most cancers are treatable with very good chances if caught early.

Source: activefeel.com

Toyin Lawani buries Bobrisky alive in new Instagram post

Toyin Lawani and the controversial Nigerian transgender continues to fight dirty on social media. 

No, this is none of our business… but wait a minute, won’t Toyin Lawani bury Bobrisky alive cash wise? YES! A Capital YES! So Toyin Lawani threw a 37th birthday party for herself over the weekend and till Monday morning… I mean... till we type this, it’s still on many peoples lips. She went all out employing the best hands just to make her 37 grand! But Bob, her former bestie – yes they were very close they shared a lot together back then… took to Instagram to shade her on the very day writing;

”HEY BITCH? WE ALL KNOW YOU ARE SO BROKE . STOP WASTING MONEY YOU DON’T HAVE”.

But as you know Toyin will NEVER let a shade directed at her pass… she fired back! Toyin wrote;

“I DON’T ASSOCIATE WITH LOSERS, REASON WHY IS THIS, CAN BE POOR & STILL BE A WINNER  LIKE BOLANLE THE PEPPER GIRL, SHE’S NOT RICH BUT SHE’S GOT VARIOUS SKILLS AT CREATING SO SHE’S A WINNER ,
LIKE MY PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED GIRLS GLADYS/MERCYLINE WHO CAN’T SPEAK NOR HEAR & I TRAINED THEM TO BE BADDASS TAILOR/HAIR STYLISTA, THEY CREATE CLOTHES FOR WIZKID, TIWA ETC , THEY ARE WINNERS.
“THEY JUST NEEDS CAPITAL TO BLOW BIGGER ,IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANY SKILLS YOU ARE A LOSER, LOSERS HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER, LOSERS NEED WINNERS TO SHINE & LOSERS FOCUS ON WINNERS WHO DON’T EVEN SEE THEM OR THINK OF THEM.
LOSERS NEED TO LIE TO MAKE THEMSELVES FEEL GOOD OR FOR PEOPLE TO THINK THEY ARE ON A HIGH HORSE .
THEIR TALENT IS TO LIE TO BELONG..”

Now it’s not the first time they will publicly fight… but who won this round?

Source: Opera news

Tips about Life

On Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5. Make time to pray.

6. Play more games

7. Read more books than you did in 2011

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.


On Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree....


On Society:

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything..

28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.


On Life:

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come..

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Thank You.

Arrest: I will not be cowed to concede defeat - Atiku

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has assured Nigerians that under no circumstance will he mortgage the mandate of Nigerians as freely expressed on the 23rd of February, 2019.

This assurance comes against the backdrop of the invasion and arrest of Alhaji Babalele Abdullahi, son in-law and finance director of his group of companies in Abuja on Saturday, 2 March, 2019.
Paul Ibe, the media adviser of Atiku said the arrest was a desperate move to have the former Vice President concede and congratulate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

Atiku rejected the result of the presidential election, saying he would challenge it in court.
"Nobody will stop PDP from going to court" -Secondus.

“The EFCC agents numbering about two dozen came in 2 regular vehicles, an 18-seater Toyota bus (registration Abuja CS 522 RSH) and a hilux van. They came with a search warrant to search the house and office of Babalele and found nothing incriminating.
They then proceeded to his office at Oakland Centre in Maitama and found nothing incriminating there. However, they took away some documents of landed property.

Not done, the EFCC officials stormed his Wuse residence where they again found nothing incriminating after the search,” Mr Ibe noted in a statement.
He added Babalele was taken away to the EFCC office in Wuse to make a statement alongside Mr. Lawan Ayuba.

“It was gathered that the petition relied upon to invade the residence and office of Babalele was authored by a brother of the wife of President Buhari. As a law-abiding citizen, Atiku Abubakar recognizes the constitutional role of the EFCC and indeed any other agency of the government to carry out investigations, but will not be cowed by any attempt to blackmail him into mortgaging his mandate,” he said.

A top official of the EFCC declined comment on the arrest. The spokesperson of the commission also didn’t respond to numerous phone calls and message sent to him on Saturday.

Source: Daily Trust

Adeola Sowemimo: First Nigerian Female Pilot

A First Nigerian Female pilot has emerged on Quatar Airways and she is not just a pilot but the first Nigerian female pilot to fly the Gigantic Boeing 787 Dreamliner Aircraft.

According to reports, she is also the first Nigerian female pilot to fly the Boeing 767 Aircraft across the Atlantic. She has now joined the likes of Kenya’s Captain Irene Koki, Ethiopia’s Captain Amsale Gulau and a few other African female pilots who fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Congratulations Adeola!

6 Top Fashion Tips To Cultivate Your Charisma

Have you ever wondered how celebrities manage to appear so radiant? Or how they exude an indescribable extra something that makes them magnetic? In this article I will share six easy ways to help you cultivate your own charismatic style and presentation by following simple yet timeless fashion tips.

1. Interview friends, family or colleagues who will give you an honest opinion or engage an image consultant to determine what colors & styles best suit you and are in harmony with your natural features like your skin tone, eye and hair color.

2. Colours– A way to test if your colours are harmonious is to look into a mirror in natural daylight while holding a piece of clothing/fabric next to your eyes or directly underneath your chin. Notice which stands out more – the color or your features.

Colours that are “right” put the focus on you and not the garment. For example if you have ocean blue eyes, wearing the same or complimentary blue colour will make your eyes stand out and people may comment about how well you look.

A colour that is “wrong” often makes you look dull, drains your energy, can be repulsive to you or may even cast a slight shadow on your face. If you are wearing colours that aren’t good for you, people may remark that you look tired or ill even if you feel fine.

If this colour testing seems foreign, don’t worry. With practice you will begin to experience the subtlety of how colours can influence your mood and instantly make you look and feel more attractive.

3. Prints should be in proportion to your feature size based on your body’s natural geometry. For example if you have small to medium size features, you should wear small to medium size patterns and jewellery.

4. Shapes – The shape of your face and your features should determine the shapes of your accessories and print designs. If you have an oval face, you can wear oval earrings, necklines, belt buckles and eyeglasses. Most of us are a variety of shapes so we are able to combine them. For example you may have oval eyes, a teardrop nose and a square chin. Again, it is helpful to look into a mirror or at a recent photograph of yourself to objectively determine which shapes you inherently possess.

5. Layering can make you more prepared for social situations. For example, you will rarely be disrespected for being slightly overdressed. When you wear layers, you can always take off a jacket, tie, scarf or jewelry to occur less formal.

Before an important meeting ask questions in advance about clothing guidelines. If you are doing a sales presentation or public speaking, dress “a cut above” what your audience is expected to wear. For example if the dress code is casual, go smart or business casual.

Again, you can always roll up your sleeves to appear more relaxed. But if are male and show up to a meeting with short sleeves and no jacket and all other men are dressed in collared shirts with long sleeves, you will be at a disadvantage before you even open your mouth.

6. Culturally Appropriate – In today’s global environment we always need to be aware of what is ethnically suitable. Especially if you will be travelling to a new region, it is wise to do an internet search, ask your travel agent or someone living in the location you will be visiting for advice on local etiquette and proper attire.

A personal fashion style can easily differentiate you from others. The fact is a positive impression can be generated even if you aren’t feeling particularly charming. As long as you have a sense of who you are and wear what mirrors your native coloring and innate physical design you will convey a comfortable confidence and natural charisma.

Note ~ if you change your hair, eye or skin colour or experience aging, some of the colours and styles that look good on you may change. You will need to adjust your wardrobe accordingly.

Deborah Torres Patel

Copyright 2006 Deborah Torres Patel

Cultivate Charisma, Charm and Power in your Work Place and Outside.

It is not really too hard to revitalize your personality once you understand what needs to be worked on. It will only take your hard work and a genuine attitude towards your goals and you can cultivate a magnetic personality with all the attributes of charm, charisma (gift) and presence. Attributes which will propel you not only at work but in other facets of life and will serve you for a lifetime. Charisma is a trait found in individuals whose personalities are characterised by a powerful charm and magnetism (attractiveness).  

1.      Speak with your Dressing

The way you dress is the way you are addressed! If you want to have a successful and promote-worthy image at your workplace and outside, you must invest in your image. 

There is no excuse for poor dressing; you have to look good always. The way you dress says a lot about you! Do not dress down, except if your organization has a dress down policy but even at that, you have to make sure that there is always something conservative about your dressing. You do not have to spend a fortune to look good. Your wardrobe might be cheap but let it be comfortable, neat and fitting. Match your colours well; create no room for colour riot!

For a man, it might mean a nicely cut two-piece suit, a blazer, or a corporate pants (no khaki or joggers).

For a woman, it might mean strong cover shoes, a blazer or long sleeved corporate blouses. It’s not enough to just talk the talk; you must look the part; corporate, dependable and savvy.

To look good however, there are some don’ts;

a.    No Jeans: Don’t be found in them, except if your organization has a strict dress-down code. Even with that you can wear them but only on Fridays. If majority of your colleagues put them on, you can stand out from the crowd by looking one step above them. It sends a subconscious message across that you posses a higher corporate authority.

b.    Do not put on any piece of attire that looks and/or feels more comfortable than what you wear when you are on vacation or at home.

c.    Don’t wear stripped, multi-coloured or flowered material on another multi-coloured material; it looks nauseating.

  2.      Cultivate A Genuine Smile

One can always tell when a smile is genuine because it lifts both the countenance of the giver and that of the receiver. 

A smile speaks; it tells the world that you are happy and pleased to see someone. It says that all is well (even when it’s not). It never kills to be friendly; it only attracts goodwill to you. 

The truth is that there is an art and a science to smiling; what makes it pure is that it comes from the heart. Make an effort to like people if you find it difficult. 

Look for something you like about someone and concentrate on it. Before you know it, the image of that person will change in your mind and you might find the person more interesting and likeable than you had previously imagined.

Practical

Practice having a winning smile; place yourself in a mirror and smile. If it pleases you to see your smile, then you aren’t far from the goal. You do not want too much teeth, you don’t want a smile that is automatic and plastered to your face. You want it to slowly creep into your face and light up the room. Let it reach your eyes and soften your features. Then you can practice that; smile at everyone from the gate to your boss. Let it be a frank smile of happiness and friendliness. You will be greatly blessed.  

3.      Be Attractive

Simply put, people are more influenced by people who look attractive. They want to be around you and be identified with you if you are attractive. There are no hard and fast rules about it; it’s either you are or you are not! 

Naturally, people who practice impeccable grooming are found very attractive. You don’t have to be Miss World to attract healthy attention. 

If you have any good qualities, put it up. Make sure it is out there, not under a bushel. If it is your height, put on slender clothes to enhance it more. If it is your eyes, don’t put on heavy make-up, just enough to accentuate it. We cannot have it all, we can only make what we have seem larger than life and in the process, make it sufficient to last a lifetime. Going further, fix anything that isn’t attractive about yourself as far as you can. It could be pot belly, warts, unnaturally-thinning hair, bad breath, bad teeth, bad skin, and poor eyesight. The truth is there is no excuse if they are capable of being improved on. Make sure you improve on them.