Tuesday, September 14, 2010

NOW IS THE TIME TO BE HAPPY

Many people think that if they were only in some other place, or had some other job, they would be happy. Well, that is doubtful. So get as much happiness out of what you are doing as you can and don’t put off being happy until some future date.

Dale Carnegie.


A person’s state of happiness at a point in time determines his or her level of productivity and performance at that given point in time. Many people are unhappy today because they thought life is unfair to them. They see what they have, where they are and who they are, as far from being the best for them. We all know that good is the enemy of best, but it is better to accept and appreciates the ‘good’ we have presently than to keep crying over the ‘ best ’ we are yet to attain. Learn to be happy with what you have, where you are and who you are while not relenting on becoming the best you can be.

There are people who believe they are not making it in life due to their family background. Some attributed their failure in life to their country of origin, while others believe their undoing is their educational background. The truth of the matter is that some Secondary School Certificate holders may assume they are where they are because they are not graduates, while some graduates believe it takes a master’s degree to excel, while people with master’s degree assume the peak is to have a doctorate degree. When even somebody with a doctorate degree may also believe that it takes connection in high places to succeed. Instead of thinking happiness can only be gotten when you’ve gotten to a certain position or level in life, while not be happy with your present position and at the same time continue to work towards reaching your desired level or position.

Majority of youths that are ripe enough for marriage today, both men and women often believe erroneously that happiness can only come when they are married, forgetting that marriage also come with its own responsibility and challenges. Some people are not happy working under someone else believing that happiness can only come when they own their personal businesses forgetting that no matter your present position challenges are inevitable. So be happy with your present position, job, and position while still hoping for the best. Only this can bring out the best in you.

No matter who you are, where you are and what you do, until you are happy doing what you do, your level of performance is bound to be below average. If you are not able to perform optimally due to your thinking that what you are doing presently doesn’t make you feel happy, then you are laying a legacy of mediocrity that could mar your future performance even in your assumed dream job or position that you thought would guaranteed you happiness.

The only way out of this happiness seeking syndrome is to be happy doing what you are doing, while doing it, all the times.

Never assume that you are only going to be happy when you are married, have a well paying job, own your own business or when you start to do what you think you love doing. Peak performance is only possible when you do all that you do with all your might. And the only thing that can guarantee you an upward elevation to your desired higher position is peak performance. Unless you are happy doing what you are doing at hand forget peak performance.

To excel in life the secret is: Get as much happiness out of what you are doing as you can and don’t put off being happy until some future date.


Ajiboro Deji is a chartered HR Practitioner based in Lagos, Nigeria. Tel: 2348027807452. Email:jibdej@gmail.com

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

SELF CONFIDENCE IS THE KEY

If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started”.
Marcus Garvey.


The wish of every man is to succeed in whatever he or she does. Be it business or any other human endeavors. The question is: Why are some people failing and others succeeding despite having a similar goal of success? The reason for this is self confidence or lack of it.

You can succeed in almost anything you lay your hands on provided you are confident of yourself. Self confidence assures you that you are as good as others or that you’re even better than some people. It gives you the needed impetus to try your best and leave the rest. It boosts your confidence even after failing repeatedly that you have all it takes to make it in your next attempt.

Lack of self confidence is the shortest route to failure. It explains why some job applicants fail repeatedly to get hired simply because they were unnecessarily nervous during job interviews due to lack of self confidence. Lack of self confidence will force you to accept failure, even before you’re pronounced a failure. It makes you feel so little in the presence of others. It assures you never to try because failure is inevitable. It tends to discourage you from speaking up when you really need to speak out.

To succeed in life you need to believe in yourself. Self confidence is all about believing in yourself. You’re confident when you believe in your God given and inane ability. Lack of self confidence simply means you don’t believe in yourself or your inane or God given ability and talents.

Never worry, if before now, you don’t believe in yourself. There is hope for you. You can regain your confidence and be on your way to the next level. How can you achieve this? You can achieve this by following my suggested strategies listed below.

Self Confidence Building Strategies

▪ Develop and improve your skills, knowledge and attitude.
▪Continuous learning, unlearning and relearning.
▪Identify your strengths and weaknesses.
▪Prepare so well for all assignments.
▪Read motivational materials.
▪Learn to speak in public gradually.
▪Develop ‘can do’ attitude and spirit.
▪See others as human with feelings and emotion.
▪Ask questions when in doubt.
▪See yourself as success and not as failure.
▪Dress well and always look good.
▪Motivate yourself daily by saying to yourself aloud: I’m a star.
▪Seek advice and counsel from someone you trust and respect.

Please note that self confidence is different from being rude or overconfidence. It simply means having the assurance that you have all it takes to excel.


Ajiboro Deji is a chartered HR practitioner based in Lagos, Nigeria. Email: jibdej@gmail.com. Tel: 2348027807452.