No pain, no gain

It is Monday again. And you are thinking ' when will this hustling stop'? Well, you can't avoid the act; that's the way to survive especially in a city like Lagos.  Every responsible human must hustle because you have got bills to pay, people who depend on you financially, strangers you would assist along the way, I can go on and on.

True. It can be overwhelming. You are not alone. The following ways can ease you while hustling which leaves you refreshed and vibrant.

1. Be organized. Most of us are 'learners' in this aspect. There are short courses to enlighten you on this. You could also research online.

2. Work smart.  Hard work pays when you are smart about it. There are lot of resources on this depending on your industry.

3. Be realistic. Even when you have got big dreams. Let your daily actions be geared towards your dreams. Chase that dream! But be realistic.

Share your views. 

Brand Yourself...

In the work place, there are ways you can distinguish yourself from others without appearing to be self absorbed and self-aggrandizing. If you want people to see you as powerful, act like a credible leader.

As a brand, have your own mission statement and review every six months to make sure you still believe what you wrote.

Whatever you are doing today, measure yourself against the following;

# You've got to be an exceptional expert at something that has real value.
## You've got to be a visionary, a leader, a teacher, a far sighted imagineer.
### You've got to be obsessed with pragmatic outcomes. "

                              Source : Linkedin

" As you scope out the path your'career' will take, remember the last thing you want to do is a manager"
            Credit: Yolanda N George-David
            Brand yourself, creating your own value.

Vacation on my mind...

It is the sixth month of the year and for me, I am already thinking ‘how do I spend my vacation? An average Nigerian hardly goes on vacation. Most people think vacation is meant for the affluent. But you know what? You can go on vacation either alone or with friends/family. You don’t need to leave the country!

When was the last time you went on vacation? 2years, 3? 4? 5? Common! OK. Let’s start with how you can commit more on travel.

First, you need to change your mindset. Travel is not meant for the affluent only. You too can go on vacation. Everybody needs it. Travel gives you memories you want to cherish for life. Visiting new places leaves you with experiences that give you exciting vibes and most important, you increase your knowledge.

Second, create a travel budget. You may think ‘ but I don’t earn well’ Yes, you don’t but considering the fact that you need to widen your horizon not just with books but by seeing things for real; you need to save for it. If you start the savings in January as low as 5,000 naira, you get 60, 000 naira by December of the same year.
Now you are wondering? Who goes on vacation with 60,000 naira?

Third, start small. You don’t need to start with Obudu ranch in Calabar or Dubai. You can visit a nearby town and learn about their culture and lifestyle including tourist sites. You live in Lagos? Why not visit Abeokuta or Ibadan and discover the difference from Lagos? Remember, almost all states in Nigeria has a tourist site.

 Agodi park &gardens in Ibadan                          Source : hotels.ng

If you are still in doubt that your monthly income is not substantial enough for a vacation, then you need an extra income stream.

The western countries know the importance of vacation on health. Also, the fact that travel broadens horizon and understanding. Why don’t we imbibe the same attitude and grow both individually and nationally? Let me hear your views in the comment section. Enjoy your weekend.