Benefits of Failing Always

Failure is a common experience for me as I grow up. I have been experiencing failure since my childhood days. I have disappointed many people. At a time in primary school, I could not understand our lingua franca. I failed junior school maths. I failed senior school Biology. I did not pass an undergraduate general study course, and I narrowly escaped failure in a core course. I performed below expectations in a postgraduate course. Thus, I failed in academics. It may appear there are some rays of hope in other ramifications, but not. I failed many times in my relationships with people, and unsuccessful in business. I did not realise my essence of living.

I have also failed to see failure from the correct perspective. I barely think of how I eventually came out of these messes. I was quick to judge myself in the light of setbacks I have experienced. Other people do the same to me. I felt they don’t understand my ordeal. Not all do. Am I now hopeless? Isn’t there anything I can do with my life? How did I even get here – failing from being a toddler? I fell several times until I injured myself but I didn’t give up because I will have limitations if I can’t walk like other children.

I see. Where are even those failures today? I mean the past failures I have accumulated. Why are they not added to the present ones? Oh, something happened along the journey to where I am now. I left my failures behind me, though not without some scars.

Failures can be devastating, discouraging and defeating. Like a progressive move from small to big successes, failure can increase progressively. Failure is a milestone. No, not a ‘milestone’, but a ‘mile’ ‘stones’. It is a journey with attributes of mileage and stones. Mileage is a distance to be covered in life, while stones (a massive rock) are the obstacles you must climb to the other side to continue on the part of successful achievement. Therefore, failure is inevitable.

Welcome failures with cheerfulness; overcome them with carefulness. Take a deep breath as you approach each one and prepare to climb. Don’t turn back. Resources have gone into the journey. Observe its massiveness. Climb progressively. Your experience with similar failures may not work now because things have changed. Times have passed. Weather conditions change at different times. Climate also changes from what it used to be due to global warming. Modern approaches occasioned by the digital age are replacing the traditional ones. You are probably at your 1300hr if you have a mileage of one day or 40 per cent if your total mileage is 100 per cent. When you eventually reach the other side of the stone, appreciate your efforts, but don’t rest. Develop stamina for the one ahead. There will be many more before you complete your mileage. Observe the terrain as you go. That may determine the nature of stone you will come by as you move on, and this will help you put on the necessary kits to climb without being hurt.

Let me remind you again that climbing can be hurting. Expect to stumble. Prepare for any eventuality. You may sustain minor or pronounced bruises even with your safety kits on you. It will heal up, ok? The scar it left you is for you to remember how it happened, how severe it was, and how you eventually overcame it. It is a real-life experience you cannot buy and will help climb the stones ahead. Motivational talks or coaching classes cannot offer it. It is practical, not hypothetical.

Failure is good, and failing is beneficial if you learn from it. Make the best use of your setbacks, big or small. Kindly share your experience as you tread the milestones of failure.

If you find this resourceful, do not hesitate to share. If otherwise, that may be a failure for an improved outlook. We move!

Preparing a delicious life

Think of the efforts and resources you put into cooking that delicious meal on your table, most especially on special occasions or celebrations. Oh, you enjoyed the last one? Even if you cannot satisfy your appetite at home for some reason, I am sure you won’t hesitate to pay any amount to buy that favourite delicacy from the best restaurant in the city.

That is how you should think about the outcome of your daily, weekly, monthly, yearly (or any other yardstick you choose as your timeline) undertakings. It should bring delight and happiness. Something that is remarkable, rewarding and can be appreciated. Thus, be willing to spend time, effort, money or other resources to achieve them.

They may not be easy. You may require extra training, staying more focused, getting in touch with someone that can help out.

What if the food is too salty and you almost throw it away? You have to take precautions the next time you are preparing it. It may be the combination of seasonings or forgetting you initially added salt, and when it appears tasteless, something must be missing.

Treat your achievements the same way. Avoid too many details on a particular aspect when there are other 99 things. Avoid wasting resources, all because you have or can avoid many. What of those times you might not have enough. Always think of contingencies, the rainy day when you won’t be able to go out and buy even though you have the money. Do away with forgetfulness. That appointment can be once in a lifetime opportunity to break loose from the life of mediocrity. Write it down, or add it to your calendar and if it is not a business secret that you cannot share, ask someone to remind you.

And when it appears you are not getting what you want, it may be that your effort is not enough. Add more. Spend more and wisely. Focus on what is missing – maybe your weaknesses. The skill or ability you do not have. The next should be better. Do not disappoint yourself again. It may cost a lot if you meet other people’s needs, maybe your customers. A repetitive mistake may mean you are not competent. They will find alternate except for a few loyal one’s who may also be discouraged and start contemplating alternatives.

There are also times that what you cook might not be tasty to you but does to those you serve. That is why you should be intentional to seek feedback. Make this a habit. Share the food with someone or a group so that they can appraise your mastery of cooking skills. Why do you keep that new year Jollof from your visitors? What if you eventually waste it? Do not waste your efforts and resources. It might also be beneficial to them. Think of that fulfilment and self-actualization in meeting a need.

What is your perception about this meal I just served you? Feel free to share the meal. Some people say, ‘joint or collective eating is usually tasteful.

Starting and After

Even though you’re not much right now, you’ll end up better than ever.

Job 8:7.

The beginning


An activity, a degree programme, sporting event, a training programme, learning to drive or swim, leadership position all have something in common – initiation. It is a milestone that need not have an end depending on the commitment of the person involved. It is historical, and it is a reference points for what happen after. There are usually uncountable starting points in lifetime. For instance, when you come into existence, the day you stated taking walking steps, the time you started attending school, among others but some usually come with reminisce of how it all began, what you started with, who joined along the line, the challenges faced at the point of launching out, events you would not like to reoccur as you make progress, among other stories.

Life lesson


When you are just starting a business, you are not likely to contemplate having a challenge you cannot overcome since you have factored in likely risks and appropriate mitigating strategies. You trust your intuition because you are original. However, you have watched others starting just like you. The story is a mix of failure and success. You are thinking, “won’t it be my turn to fail?” Failing is not even the issue here rather what you do with your failure when it became apparent. This is because failure will always come at certain points no matter how little. So, the fear of failing should not even be a concern. You failed when you started walking as a toddler because you fell several times before mastering the walk step. Do you always get all your exercises, assignments and practical right when in school? I can say a big ‘No’. So, do not fear failing because you rose after falling several times as an infant. So, when you are big enough with stamina, don’t contemplate failing.


Learning to walk


How then do you start becoming a professional in the real sense, drawing a cue from your growing years as new born or when you are learning to walk? Some initiatives will be highlighted here to help you start taking a more productive decisions regarding your chosen or future career. The order they are presented here does not mean one is important than the other neither are they in order of preference or execution/implementation.


Rest on your belly; crawl; start holding something tight to rise; watch others doing the walk; hold tight and move along; find a guide and take a step at a time; gain confidence by standing at a point; start moving; maintain a balance by taking the first step. Fall, then rise and move; attempt to move towards that attractive item; take the item and try moving with it, even if you will need to drag; stay focus; don’t allow distractions. They were there before; start catching up with that better walker, gradually but steadily; do your ‘little’ runs.

From the foregoing, the following general principles apply to being a starter professional in any undertaken.


Start from somewhere/Start something: It is not enough to conceive an idea or wish to work in an industry. You must do something to make this possible. Rest on your belly if that is all you can do for a start. You may need to start by writing something down on your idea or do a search for the type of position you need in that industry you intend working. Just do something…something.


Look out/ Watch what others are: It is true we may not be conscious of whether that toddler is watching us doing something or not before walking. What he begin to demonstrate later on in life will show he must have being watching his environment – other children crawling or walking or grasping items around the house. You too should start watching other people doing something similar to what you are doing or about to do. That include people around you, or from sources such as the internet.


One-step at a time: Do not stay where you started. Take another step at least you have watch others and seen few things. Get going. Start crawling, holding something tight. Demonstrate you are not an actual beginner.


What if you are guided: Of course, you can. They all started like you. Flying on the eagle’s wings. A mother will be happy to help her baby out. Read their articles, use their resources as they make them available, attend seminar and workshop, use their counselling sessions. You can’t stop learning; you will do same later in your career.
Failure is feedback: You will fail. If you do not fail, you will not learn to do the right thing. See failure as a means to improving on yourself but that is not to be indulged in laziness or laxity. This failure has to do with when you think you have done everything right and something later went wrong. Okay?


Be ambitious: Don’t be afraid to do the unthinkable. We once sang: “Good better best, I shall never rest until my good is better and my better best”. A time will come that you can stand and walk on your two legs; pick objects and move along probably without a guide but you don’t get disconnected from them. As a lad, you might want to pick a dangerous object. You need your parents to instruct you against that decision. Someone collecting it from you – they have to if it can get damage or injure you.


Conclusively, falling is permitted and can be hurting. Stop accepting backing now because you can walk on your own. Don’t be disconnected from your guide, learn to avoid what can hurt or injure you; grow along and start connecting; make attempt to practice each point until you gain mastery. Learning is a continuous process. You cannot grow by being static. You can always get better, be the best and beat the best! Why not start from where you are.

Do share your take and experience in the comment section below.

Originality on Demand: C-I-C-R Strategy

Getting promoted = Potential byproduct of being an original ~ J. T. O’Donnell

There is hardly anyone that does not like to acquire genuine items. The benefit consists of the usability of the items. That is the ability of a product to meet the intended purpose during its useful life. In the business world, there are situations in which there is an ingenuine or clone version of a product. It looks exactly like the genuine one and maybe mistaken to be original because of the high level of similarity with the known brand of product. Manufacturer of such items usually put a security check which they advertise for loyal customers not to fall victim to the fake one.

Just do something different and differentiating.

As a professional, you are to find your strong point, leverage it while you give something of value to your customer. It is the edge you have over others in your industry. It does not mean you cannot sell or offer similar goods or services just like somebody by your doorstep, but something must show you are not the same as others. Likewise, it must be difficult for your competitors to replicate your offerings.

Originality can be in the form of colour, texture, smell, appearance, taste, packaging, composition (for formulated products) of product or you treat your customers or clients, offer service, feedback mechanism, etc. Just do something different and differentiating.

…don’t sacrifice originality for cost-cutting. You can look into other areas to achieve this objective…

It is also necessary to maintain that standard you are known for and seek to improve it. The observed abnormality during the economic trying period is the variance of products and services. Some products now have differences in taste, sizes reduced and less effective. On the other hand, services are no longer regular. Recently, I observed a bank in my area known for quality and timely service now failed in these areas. I thought I was the only one to notice this development until I approached a shop to purchase a few things. I made my payment online and expecting to leave almost immediately since I do not doubt prompt feedback, but the transaction took a longer time to complete than expected. I have to wait for several minutes for my payment to be confirmed. I was surprised to be told by the shop attendant that the bank is not efficient in that service delivery. The point being made: don’t sacrifice originality for cost-cutting. You can look into other areas to achieve this objective because once you lose your loyal customer, you may need to start rebuilding again after years of labour and investment.

Originality can also mean seeing things in a way different from general perception. You can penetrate a business by going in the opposite direction to others. It can be as novel as ‘climbing the tree from the top‘. I know you understand this.

C-I-C-R Strategy

A study conducted by Prof Adam Grant, an organisational psychologist revealed that consistently completing the following four steps will make you more original as a professional.

Creativity – Producing ideas that provide the solution to an identifiable problem.


Initiative – Doing something about your idea.


Conviction – Using your passion and belief in the need to solve the problem to drive you forward.

Risk mitigation – Being proactive in minimising the tendency to fail so you can take a calculated risk without fear of losing much.

In addition to the above, you will become original as you carefully plan your activities and dedicating to achieving them. People who get promoted are problem-solvers. They take the initiatives. They are proactive. They look for ways to add value and make a measurable difference. You should be original, not counterfeit.

Further help

Express yourself by cultivating your style, tastes, and personality.

Believe in what you do, and do not worry about what competitors/others do.

Trust your intuitions and instincts. Other professionals don’t have the ultimate authority over what step/action to take. It does not mean not listening to advice.

Conclusively, you become original as you do what you do distinctively and differently. It does not just come your way; creativity, initiative, conviction and risk mitigation are the hallmarks – experiment with what you expect; express the essence, and experience the expression.

How To Be Organised Always

The greatest advancements of this century, the light bulb, the airplane, and computer, were created by innovators – people who imagined things that did not exist and asked why. Being an outstanding employee requires a touch of this inventors’ spirit, a determination to consistently strive to create value – Bernie Milano

Many at times you find yourself in a disarrayed situation. You think of accomplishing a task now, but along the line, you got caught in another demanding your intervention. If you are not careful, you will possibly not return to continue the first not to talk of completing it. Since these situations are made up of competing activities, you are left with the decision to choose which should be done first. If you are well-coordinated, you might be able to move forward early but at some other times, this is difficult. The complexity is higher if you are in a group. Members will be competing to have a say. Whether you are making personal or group decisions, having a standard way of doing things might serve better or be preferred. I do not mean you must follow the rule all the time but having such in place might be the medicine for the resultant severe headache.

You must have also failed to meet a deadline at one time or the other, delayed a friend you are going out together, have to sweat profusely searching for an important document and struggle to submit an application on the last day. I have found myself in all these situations in the time past. The last one appears to leave me with painful experiences. There was a time I needed to submit an application, which was in two stages. In the first stage I passed, I was able to submit an online form. I was not fortunate to scale through the second stage, which involves submitting a letter to justify my qualification for a scholarship. I need not wait for the outcome since I already know where I stand. The officer in charge was ‘well organised’ to politely inform me of my late submission of the email, and that I would not be considered.

Many have similar experiences and are still ‘enjoying’ it. I mean enjoying it. It has become part of them. They never think of changing how things are working with them in this regard. Getting organised is a price you have to pay to forestall these regular scenarios that play out in our daily life.

Perhaps the following would motivate you to escape from your comfort zone.

Saving time and having more time to attend to other things

On time delivery of project or rendering services

Cost savings

Quality outcomes

The list is endless. If you put things in the proper perspectives, your orientation changes regarding how to handle your daily activities, how you organise your working space at home or office, when to do what considering factors of time and other resources; and generally fostering an environment for effectiveness and efficiency in daily actions vis-à-vis the cost of doing otherwise.

Pay close attention to the following areas that you need to organise. You can thereafter add yours in the comment section of this article.

Your desk: Sort items out by client identifier, by project name, by date – whatever makes the most sense for you.

Computer files: Organize file for easy retrieval. Be specific regarding the names you give to files. Put things with similar characteristics into similar folders.

Hard files: Arrange them in a manner they can be easily accessed; alphabetically, by client name or by project name.

Your calendar: Do you have a place to go, project to execute, deadline to meet? Organise them in your calendar to avoid slipping over schedules and being double booked. The electronic calendar may be very helpful since it has the advantage of notifying you of any engagement not minding your location.

Office gadgets: Put things where you can easily locate and use them. Those things use often should be closer than others should.

Yourself: Stop implementing your activities at the wrong time. Stop placing your items in the wrong locations. Let them have their places. Stop jumping the queue. If you want prompt attention, be punctual yourself.

How then can you stay organized?

Communicate better

Do not be the only one on the field of play. Remember twenty-two players prepare for the game. Each person needs the right information as to the wing to play, and how to play handle opponents. If you happened to be the coach, you are not supposed to wait until you get to the field of play before telling your players what to do and how to do it. Communicating with others in your team saves from the stress of running up and down on the field. When you are not well organised, your opponent that is better off does less work hitting the target when your team is busy running from pillar to post. Timely communication makes you better organized to make strategic decisions in a timely manner on the stage of action without the fear of wreckages.

Activities should have their time

Make sure you know when you are doing what you are supposed to do. The time allocated to tasks may not be very much convenient but it helps you to handle chaos situations. When you do just one thing but leaving others undone, you will incur costs that can be monetary, loss of trust, loss of progress, having to delay other things, among others. So, learn to do only what you are supposed to do only at its time.

Don’t just prioritize

Some activities may appear insignificant compare to others but can be like the ignition for a car to move from A to Z. At times, prioritizing might make you ignore and fail to carry out such activity. You will be left to regret your action when you need to have done them earlier before the succeeding ones. It follows that being less importance now does not mean they will remain so in the future. Therefore, stay focused and adjust when necessary.

Let them have home

Things should have their place in the office, on your computer and other electronic devices and in your mind. It is easy to get lost if you do not have a home. You cannot even be located because you do not have an address you were found last. To be organized in this sense means keeping your things where can always go back to search for them. They should be properly labelled and kept where they can be located easily. Make easy-to-access storage spaces for things you are sure to use almost every time and do not let the space be too clumsy.

Keep only what you need

Having fewer things is an indication that you enjoy those things more and feel convenient about those things rather than letting half of what you own to accumulate dust. You will spend more time managing those things you do not need and the once you need.

Let others be responsible

Why do you think you are the only one that can do everything? That is a sign that you are not an effective team leader or mentor. If you live an organised life, you do not overload yourself with responsibilities, meetings and deadlines. Go through your activities on regular basis to see the ones you can give out to those you trust. When you do this, others will be bearing your stress with you and at the same time giving your delegate a sense of responsibility. You will feel secure when delegation is necessary for the future because your delegate has been trained to take similar responsibilities in the time past.

Make sure you are doing something

Staying organized does not mean a stress-free life. You must work hard to complete the present task so as not to encroach into the time allocated to others. Lifehack says, “work harder when you feel like giving up today. What’s more important is to remember what you work for is meaningful to you. And this is how you can stay motivated and happy every day”

Declutter regularly

Create time during the weekdays to organise your activities and things. Things do not stay organised on their own; they need to be organised continuously and consistently. When you are just starting, it may appear difficult but as you stay focused, you will be on track and achieving results.

Choose your approach wisely

I know you must have done some things right in the past. So do what has worked for you in the time past. The culture that makes you stay organised will be developed as you apply your style alongside the initiatives above.