A Good Name

I had an experience recently that made me think about names and reputation. What am I known for? What associations come to mind when people think about me?

On a trip out of the country recently, I was stopped by an officer responsible for checking money laundering at the airport. As usual, he asked how much I had on me and I told him I wasn't carrying cash as I spend electronic money. The next question was "Where do You work?" I told him and he immediately asked me to go and continue my journey. He then turned to his colleague and told him "Na xyz people, nothing go comot from her hand", xyz being an individual that is closely associated with my place of work. Translated into proper English, his comment was that I wasn't going to give any money to them because of the person he associates my place of work with. 

My place of work is noted for being ethical and that message is a central theme in all we do. It was heart warming to me, that even a customs officer associated us with ethical dealings. That's how I got thinking about the value of a good name. 

That association saved me from the usual back and forth conversation that would have occurred as the customs officer normally would have tried to question me in an attempt to make me give them some money just to be on my way. If he sees me any other time going forward, he probably would not even bother stopping me. That's part of the power and value of a good name.

So, back to my question - What are you known for? What can people say about you? What's your brand? Branding is so valuable, we all know it. Many sports personalities earn money, even after retirement through endorsements as companies pay them to associate with their products, knowing that people would be more disposed to patronising them if they believe that this person also uses this product. In reality, we know that most people that endorse many products probably never use them, but just associating the product with their brand gives the product a big market boost. Recently, a company's shares became hot cake on the market because Oprah Winfrey bought a stake in it and joined its board. 

While we won't all become famous athletes or talk show hosts able to command millions in endorsement earnings, we can create a name and a brand for ourselves that speaks of good, ethical and an honest character. We can be the shining light in our little circle. We can be the candle that shines on darkness and attempts to light other people's candles and convince them to stand on the side of right and good. Many people have gotten great jobs, just because someone recommended them and said, call so and so, he or she will do a great job.

We should make our stand known as godly people, who do right, not because anyone is looking, but because we honor our maker, who sees in secret and rewards openly. We should stand on the side of right, not for the reward but for our conviction. 

We all have a name. We all have a reputation, whether we are deliberating seeking one or not. The question is - what are we known for? Be known for the right things. Be known as the person who can always be counted upon to do his or her work well, on time, proactively. Be known as the person who provides a listening ear to someone in need of one. Be known as the person is never late to a meeting. Be known as the peace maker. Choose what you want to be known for and make it known.

Have a great rest of the week. Blessings on you and yours,  

Forthrightness

Hi Friends,

As I thought about what to caption my thoughts for this week, forthrightness is the word that came to mind. I checked it in the dictionary and it means being straight forward, explicit or direct.

I have been aware for a long time that most people can't stand the truth being told to them to their faces and for this reason other people respond by not being completely honest about their true feelings or thoughts. It's also not considered politically correct or polite to tell someone for example - that they aren't looking good because we don't want to hurt their feelings. When asked to do something for someone, even when it's not possible or convenient, we pretend that we would do it knowing fully well that it's not going to happen. Or sometimes we invent stories that really don't make sense but are plausible enough to placate our audience and not make them feel bad about our indirect rejection or refusal.

The above facts were reiterated to me recently. I don't blame the other party for the reasons stated above. It's just not normal practice. Unfortunately for me, that's not my way. I'm an open book. A close friend has mentioned and I think a few others probably think the same but for the same reasons stated above have never said it, that my writings are too personal and reveal too much. I don't know how to do otherwise. It's either I don't write, or I write openly. If a topic is too personal to be open about, I don't write about it all.

I tell it as it is or I don't talk at all. If I say I will do something, you can bet your bottom dollar I will break my back to do that very thing. Experience should have taught me otherwise, but perhaps some things are too ingrained. I'm reminding myself this week to always remember that not everyone is like me and to take people's actions and words in the light of paragraph 2 rather than the way I would act. Taking people at their words and expecting them to be forthright cost me a lot in time and energy which I would have preferred not to have wasted.

I won't write more than this simply because I am realistic enough to know I can't change something as ingrained as what I have described above. The lesson for me is to remember this in my dealings with people. Take people's words with a pinch, read between the lines and realize they are probably doing the same for me and let them know that doesn't apply to me. I'm also feeling a bit low emotionally so I really just want to stop here.

Have a great weekend and a wonderful work week. 

Blessings on you and yours,

The Seeing Eye

This title probably sounds like tautology, but it is possible to have eyes that are open but don't see. There is a blindness of the mind and/or Spirit. There are also degrees of sight. 20/20 vision typically comes from hindsight, but people have various degrees of sight, from the absolutely can't see without glasses to the I can manage type.

I'm not looking to talk about optometry today. What I have on my mind is people with keen minds who examine every situation looking to find opportunity, however "needle in the haystack" little it might be.

I got thinking about this during the week when I happened to catch a few minutes of a radio program in the car on my way somewhere. Currently in Nigeria, foreign exchange cash is almost taboo because the banks aren't dealing in cash at the moment. Some guy, realizing that more than ever before, people now have to use formal channels - letters of credit etc, is organizing training on that and he came on the radio to advertise it.

I think Nigerians are especially good at spotting opportunities, especially my good friends from the East. In fact, I was reading on some blog the other day 55 facts about Nigeria. One of those facts is that there is at least one Nigerian from the eastern part in every country of the world. It's very believable because they have an anointing for enterprise.

Applying this to myself, I thought about how I view life and situations. Am I constantly on the lookout to see what opportunity I can draw out from any situation around me? I ask the same of you. No matter how you and I answer this question, the real answer is that we can probably do more.

I told myself that I need to cultivate that habit and attitude of always consciously looking for the proverbial silver lining in every sky. It doesn't have to be a cloud. Even when the skies are clear, there must be something more I can draw from it. That is actually the lesson for me today. I shouldn't just look for opportunities when there are clouds around. I should look for more and deeper opportunities even when all seems to be going well and life is honky dory. The truth is - there's always more to be mined. It's a matter of attitude and perspective. 

Let me quickly state here that isn't a call to greed. It's a call to be like our Father, who, each day of creation was convinced what He had done was good. But! He knew He could do more and kept on till He attained what He believed to be the epitome of his creation and then He rested.

The fact is - we can never see the entire picture in one day or one sitting. The more we work, the wider we then see and new avenues reveal themselves and we need to keep exploring till we get to the very end. More work is the reward for hard work.

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. My wonderful mum added a glorious year yesterday and I bless God for the special blessing He gave our family in my mother. I will write a tribute to her next week if you'll bear with me. The time to appreciate her is now, not at some point many years down the line when I can't share that appreciation with her.

Show love this week. Blessings on you and yours. 

Enjoy your week!