Migration of my blog to www.subomiplumptre.com

Hello all. It's been 6 years on the Blogger platform.

From today, November 26, 2013, I'll be migrating my blog to http://www.subomiplumptre.com, as i prepare to launch my second book - No Bullshit Volume 2. You can read about my book here.

See you at my new cool website, http://www.subomiplumptre.com.

Thank you for all the support!

My top Nigerian contemporary music artists

This is an evolving list of my top Nigerian music artists.  You'll find them on my iPod and I play them all the time.

Tuface

To truly appreciate Tuface, you MUST watch him perform live. His ability to freestyle and create lyrics on-the-spot is legendary. If he was a rapper, he would be a rap battle god. In summary, his live performances are electrifying and studio albums a pleasure to listen to. His musical marriage with Producer, J-Sleek is a match made in heaven.







StylPlus

StylPlus redefined contemporary Nigerian RnB. They made it grown up and sexy. 








Sound Sultan

Lyrics matter. Sound Sultan is a lyricist non pareil and musical craftsman. 











MI

MI made me fall in love with rap again. He made rap "musical" and demonstrated that it needn't be loud or profane.








Wizboyy

Apparently I have a thing for music from the Niger-Delta. Wizboy is all about natural harmony, effortless melody and great music!











Sunny Neji

I fell in love with Neji's album, Unchained. I'm an album junkie and feast on entire albums not just individual singles. On Unchained, every track is a winner.










Wizkid

Wizkid sings populist commercial tracks but is a bundle of true genius.








Psquare

A tad commercial but Psquare's music is VERY easy on the ears. They put on a VERY good show. These guys know how to dance!





D'banj

Dbanj's music is well em... But he defines charisma, dedication, ambition & hardwork. HE IS AN ENTERTAINER.











Tiwa Savage

Tiwa's was a highly anticipated album. Not sure the result, Once Upon a Time, met expectations but it's always a pleasure to hear her sing.






Banky W.

I am very biased. His sideburns make me forget everything else. Okay, I really like his music too. 











Omawunmi

Omawunmi defines gritty creativity, energy and hard work. She is progressively talented.











Waje

Darn! This girl can siiiing! From featured vocals to an album of her very own, Words Aren't Just Enough, Waje has come a long way, baby!

Lessons Learned

The other day I watched a wild dog dart across the road in front of my vehicle. I wasn't moving too fast and was able to easily avoid it. But I wondered what fate would have befallen the poor dog if it had been another driver moving at a much faster pace. I thought to myself that many of us live lives that way; oblivious to danger and peril. 

That experience sparked off a chain of thoughts. I began to think of the many lessons life teaches us. If we would but listen and observe, there are many principles to be imbibed on a daily basis. 

Over the years, I've learned some incredible lessons. Some have evolved into personal philosophy. I've codified some; been taught some; overheard some and read some.  I'd like to share a selection of my favourite life lessons with you:
1. Never live your life like a careless dog crossing the road - oblivious of danger. Don't be like the man King Solomon once described - toying with fire then as he carelessly sets fire to the house and it burns down, he says "I didn't mean it".

2. Never take Panadol for another man's headache - It's not your problem. He/she is grown. They'll deal with it.

3. When hunters learn to shoot without missing, birds will learn to fly without perching - Adapt and survive.

4. Never use your own values to judge another man's capacity for good or evil. You will live life in perpetual surprise. 

5. As your money increases, so will those who want to spend it with you. Avoid devourers. Learn the art of saying NO and being unavailable. 

6. Don't expose your friends, spouse or other people to being used and abused. Protect them. 

7. You don't have to answer every call. 

8. You don't have to attend every event.

9. You don't have to grant every favour. Care less about what others think of you. After they've gotten what they want from you, they'll move on to the next source. The day you push back and say no, they'll resent and abuse you. 

10. You don't have to be there for everyone all the time. If your tank becomes empty, you'll have nothing left to give. 

11. You have siblings and colleagues Let them carry some of the load. You are not Superman/woman. 

12. As you prosper, give commensurately. It enlarges you heart and keeps you grounded.

13. Never spiritualize another man's pain. Don't dismiss people's troubles with religious platitudes.

14. Never use the speed with which you bounced back to measure another man's pace of recovery. 

15. To know your true friends, watch how they respond to the things that are important to you, especially when you've been there for them in the past.

16. Some friends will cause you to consider a philosophy of hardness. Don't give in to the temptation to change who you are. Simply cut them off and focus on those who are worthy of you. 

17. Never get to the point where you begin to think of "friends" in terms of waste - waste of time, waste of resources, waste of life, waste of self. You should leave long before that. 

18. Never let the people who care about you regret the sacrifices they made and time spent with you. Do not be ungrateful and insensitive.

19. You cannot lead or project manage the unwilling.

20. Don't put your future on hold because you want to avoid offending people. People will always choose what is in their interest. If people don't put you into consideration when making routine decisions, should you consider them when making critical life decisions?

© Subomi Plumptre 2013. All Rights Reserved

No Bullshit Volume 2 - Development Diary: October 4, 2013

I just finished 3 of the final 7 chapters of my book No Bullshit Volume 2. The chapters are: Anthony the Taxi Driver, Emotional Blackmail and Tales of Desperate Love. It's been a very productive day.

Here's an extract from Tales of Desperate Love:

"We met for the first time. I deliberately wore red. You told me about your broken heart and attempt to find love again. I told you it had been a while since my last relationship. We felt a strong kinship. Months later you told me you wanted to kiss me after our first date but the gentleman in you wouldn't. The outfit worked well".

I'll start another article today, Schizo Generation. It explores how my generation battles with the traditional imperatives of our upbringing while embracing the liberties and knowledge of Western societies.

At this pace, my book should be finished in a week or two.

Rosemary Ajayi and Kathleen Ndongmo have promised to read the first cut. Will they be shocked, pleased or disappointed?

On Depression

I believe depression is NOT an issue to be trivialised or responded to in an offhand manner. Like other types of psychological trauma, we have for too long in Nigeria pushed depression under the table and asked people to just deal with it.

It is my opinion that it is presumptuous to think that every person dealing with depression can easily overcome it or even has the strength to believe they can. It is wrong to dismissively suggest they need faith or religious deliverance. It is insensitive to assume that only those who lack material things or blessings have cause to be depressed.

If you are lucky enough to have overcome depression, you shouldn't use your experience, knowledge (or lack thereof) to make sweeping statements or generalisations about others. Seek to understand, cite credible facts & data about the issue not just personal exceptions.

Finally, may God not visit upon us the things we mock so we can learn humility and sensitivity.

The 20 Laws of Nigerian Politics

To understand Nigerian politics is to understand the following:

1. Almost every power play is executed by proxies, many times without the direct knowledge of the Principal.
2. Proxies are all powerful; getting away with murder in the name of the Presidency, ex-Presidents, Ministers, wives of political appointees & elected officials and so on.
3. Politics is about POWER and how much of the RESOURCES of the nation you can personally appropriate. It is not about PEOPLE or DEVELOPMENT.
4. You CANNOT escape tribe and religion in Nigerian politics. Accept and work with what you have. 
5. Money is an inescapable force. It's virulently ingrained in every aspect of our polity and has been known to make otherwise rational Nigerians lay aside logic and humanity.
6. He who controls the distribution channels of information controls the political conversation.  
7. Many news stories are sponsored and full of agenda. Mere citizens are never deemed worthy of knowing the real story. 
8. Morality hangs by a thread. There are many grey areas in an arena characterised by iniquity, inequity and impunity.  
9. Political fights and party cross carpeting are the norm. Pull up a chair. They are always rather interesting. 
10. To succeed in Nigerian politics, you must be exceedingly wise and crafty. True intelligence is not required. We have technocrats for that.
11. You need spies everywhere as well as a comprehensive political intervention structure (attack dogs included).  
12. You must be willing to accept what is possible as opposed to what is ideal.
13. You must have the capacity to sleep well at night having heard plenty of bullshit and witnessed unimaginable evil.
14. You must have the patience of a snail, the resilience of a caterpillar and the doggedness of a bull.  
15. The Nigerian citizen can be likened to a daughter who has been imprisoned in a dark basement by her father with barely enough to eat & has been repeatedly raped.  This is the only way to appreciate the trauma, malfunction, split personality and self-preservation of the average Nigerian.
16. In a country of mass iliterates where the majority are not entrepreneurs and where stock options barely exist for professionals, the easiest route to prosperity is political patronage.
17. Many Nigerians will claim any tribe, swear any oath and sleep with anyone to get a piece of the national cake. 
18. Access to power is not by merit. It's based on who you know and who owes you.
19. Idealism must be tempered by reality and pragmatism.
20. Beware of violence. It is often a ready tool in the hands of those who seek to take all, keep all and protect all.

No Bullshit Volume 2 - Development Diary: September 13, 2013

My book has two expressions: opinion pieces called Disclosures and shorter free form inspired verses called Freestyle.

I wrote a Freestyle piece today called, In Search of Love.

Here's the first verse:

"I commit to finding love
The love between a man and a woman
But I can't tell you whether it requires enduring search or simple faith"

Musical Musings

Portrait of Nellie Lutcher, New York, N.Y., 1946/1948 [LOC]

I'm beginning to understand why Jazz, Country and other forms of  "classic" music are referred to as elevated music (relative to "popular" music). It's not so much the style of music as the elevated thought required to create or understand it.
It takes patience to listen to the storyline; experience to relate to it; exposure to understand it and good taste to appreciate it. Only a contemplative soul can discern the subtlety of instrumentation. It's not in-your-face or shamelessly obvious. The noble can deeply recognise the hard work and character needed to tow the unpopular line to create complex art.

Pop music is like brash sex without foreplay or seduction. It lacks finesse. Elevated music is like a 3-course meal in a deliberately chosen restaurant with mood lighting and vintage wine.

Elevated music calls to your spirit; makes you want to make love to it over & over, plumb its depth and build a lifelong friendship. Popular Hip Hop or R n B sometimes leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Its unoriginality astounds you. Its baseness and disrespect for any and everything surprises you. You wonder how an artiste could take a chorus, repeat it over & over, add a beat and present it as a finished work of art. Sometimes it does a pretty good job of capturing in 4 minutes all the things wrong with a generation - the shallowness; commercialisation and desperation.

I'm beginning to acquire the patience required for elevated music; broadening and stretching my musical palate. I listen to a lot of different genres nowadays, especially Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music. It's been an interesting and exploratory journey. I wonder what music has captured your heart and mind lately? My Twitter handle is @SubomiPlumptre. I'd like to hear from you.

© Subomi Plumptre 2013. All Rights Reserved

On Financial Discipline

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason is a life transforming book. It teaches you to live within your income, while investing and paying off debts concurrently.

Essentially, it teaches you financial principles to meet your present needs, escape the debts of the past and ensure your future prosperity.

This is what I learnt and now practice:

For sums I earn, that are given to me or are proceeds from investments, I take out 30% FIRST - 10% for giving, 10% for investing, 10% for settling debts (if any). Then I live within 70% of my means!

When I take out the 30%, I pay it out IMMEDIATELY (give, invest, pay debts) so it doesn't remain in my account. That way I am FORCED to live with the remaining 70%. No amount of emotional blackmail or crisis can touch the money. It's left my hands!

The key to financial discipline is to know what you're going to do with money before it comes your way and to disburse it immediately it comes. If not, you'll end up spending money that isn't technically yours, including money meant for suppliers, contractors, staff or your future.

Another principle - Keep a daily or weekly record of spending by category - giving, food, provisions, entertainment, debt service etc. At the end of each month (and at year's end), insert the figures and plot the charts in Excel. You may be surprised at what you regularly spend the largest proportion of your money on.

Money doesn't lie. Spending patterns are an insight to life's priorities. They also identify never before seen leakages. Documenting your spending builds the habit of tracking expenditure and keeping receipts. It breeds responsibility.

If you choose to practice these principles, I'd like to hear from you about whether they helped. I'm @SubomiPlumptre on Twitter.

I wish you all the best on your financial journey.

No Bullshit Volume 2 – Development Diary: September 4, 2013

It's been 5 years since volume 1 of my book, No Bullshit. It was compiled in 2006 and released in 2008. I’ll complete volume 2 in 2013.

I've decided to keep a progress report of sorts, as I round up writing No Bullshit volume 2. I'll give you previews of the book cover, completed chapters and ongoing narrative from the website development process. For those lucky to read the first draft of volume 2, I hope to be able to share your reviews as they come in.

So far, I've completed 17 chapters of No Bullshit volume 2. I have 11 more chapters to go. The deadline is September 2013 to commemorate my birthday. I added a new chapter today - Chinenye, the Customer Service Officer. It's a parody of a telecom operator’s attitude to service.

I’m about to commission the website for www.subomiplumptre.com. It will be a comprehensive repository of my book, thoughts, blog and bio. My new website will have the following main sections: Myself, My Book, My Work, My Articles and My Blog. Sub-sections will include: My Causes, My Interests, My Quotes, My Top Tweets and My Travels.

More to come later. Stay tuned!

On Loyalty

Having worked with my peers on several projects, I can safely say loyalty is not well understood in this generation.

We wash our dirty linen in public. We use Timelines instead of Direct Messages and Inboxes to air our grievances.

When a friend makes a mistake, we correct him/her publicly, without giving the benefit of the doubt.

We sow seeds of discord and disunity then wonder why our generation hasn't succeeded in fixing this country.

We learn about each other via Chat, Timelines & Emails rather than in person; scarcely spending quality time. How then can we foster loyalty?

Until we move from accusation to conversation; until we stop relishing others' mis-steps and correct kindly, we're not yet on the path to loyalty.

This is a #DearLA Letter - A Single Woman’s Missive.

Dear LA, a potential suitor recently asked why I wasn't married. It was a loaded question and it came with a full set of assumptions.

It wasn't so much an enquiry as a subtle judgment - "A woman like you in her 30s should be married by now. If you're unmarried, there must be something wrong with you - Perhaps a dark past or you're unmanageable and no man can control you". (As if marriage were a time stamped project devoid of human considerations and life's complexities).

So, I decided not to dignify his query or satisfy his curiosity or ignorance thereof. Instead I said something rather cheeky, rejecting the premise of the question. I simply indicated that he was far older, unhappy and unmarried, hence his question was moot!

But lately, after reading your letters, I've chosen to clarify my position, at least to myself. It will influence the course of my future relationship.

First, do I want to get married? Of course. Have I been asked before? Yes. So, why didn't I say yes? Simple - Choice and Conviction.  Perhaps I'm a romantic idealist but I believe marriage is a serious institution. It has mystical connotations and should not be treated lightly.

I won't get married because society expects it, my peers are doing it, my biological clock is ticking or I'm lonely. I'm not brave, stubborn or unrealistic. Just truthful to myself. No one else but me and the person I eventually choose will deal with the consequences of the decision. I'm also acutely aware that marrying the wrong person can wreck my peace, health, future & potential. I'm not fooled by the smiling faces of the married who cry in distress when no one sees.

In the meantime, I deal with the usual pressures as well as I can- sex for one. Perhaps if I was getting my freak on regularly, the decision to wait would've been easier. But I guess I was lucky enough to experience my "mid-life crisis" at an early age. Principles have finally prevailed and I choose not to sleep around. Anyway, doing so will do nothing for my personal happiness. It's a temporary fix at best.

To be sure, I have the opportunity to indulge and the knowledge to avoid unwanted "medical conditions". I have no fear of a besmirched reputation as I can opt for foreign flings. I also seem to serve a very forgiving God:). So rationally, my primary reason for sexual prudence is I've never understood how to split my sexual favours in several places. And so loneliness has become a constant companion. I'm sapiosexual, you see.

I have multiple ideas every day, so deeply desire a home for my head; a counterpart; conversations that matter; laughter. Someone I can relate to; whose mind sharpens mine; who'll be able to relate to my fantasies without being aghast! I do admit to sometimes using work to chase the loneliness away but I'm thankful for it. Prevents me from calling those I shouldn't. I'm also grateful for those who are there for me.

So, there you have it LA. Perhaps the next time the question comes my way, I'll be better prepared to give a factual response. In the meantime, I continue to focus on happiness, no matter how obscure. I choose to wait even if it doesn't accord with so-called popular wisdom or convention. I choose to make the best relationship decisions knowing I can't fully control outcomes or the future.

I remain as always your mentee, Subomi Plumptre.

[This was a submission for the #DearLA Twitter series by Leke Alder (@Leke_Alder). Other series in the collection include #Letr2Jil and #Letr2Jack]

#PMNG Knowledge Series: All Hail the Grand Volunteer (Or Not)! What You Weren’t Told About Volunteering

Today, I’d like to speak on the subject of Volunteering.

Having volunteered for quite a few projects & causes myself, I’ve learned there are some lessons worth learning which I’d like to share with you.

First things first - volunteering is hard and is not for everyone. It’s typically a thankless job & you’ll probably be taken for granted as very few have learned the delicate art of appreciating what they do not pay for. Nevertheless, it's a noble pursuit particularly when it’s for a good cause. And there are many good reasons to volunteer. However, when you choose one, know you are no longer doing anyone a favour.

Your reasons for volunteering may include: Belief, fulfillment, networking, opportunity to test skills or products, experience, exposure, purpose…the list goes on. Once you decide to volunteer, you should give the same dedication & commitment to excellence you would any paid assignment. Anything else is unworthy of you and a disservice to the cause you're volunteering for. A sacred tenet of volunteering is to adopt the same approach to quality for God, country, Alma Mater or cause.

Keep in mind WHY you're volunteering, always. It will help on those days you feel like quitting. And I assure you, there are days you’ll want to quit. You will feel you’ve wasted your effort when you wonder why you’re serving in the first place and come up empty. Therefore, have a strong reason for serving with clear outcomes and a definite time frame. Yes, I said time frame, because there are some things you should never do when volunteering:

i. Beware of never ending assignments.

If you want to volunteer on a revolving basis, ensure you still fix a definite tenor which you can renew if you choose to. Tenor gives you a chance to re-evaluate and take stock of achievements, failures and changing objectives. Also ensures you’re not taken for granted.

ii. Beware of “dumping syndrome”.

This is a scenario where a group deliberates on a solution, but implementation somehow falls solely on your shoulders. Strongly resist this. Yes, the responsibility may be an acknowledgement of your ability but trust me, it’s more about everyone else avoiding work. If a project is a team effort, EVERYONE must share the burden of implementation with a designated lead and resources. A project without a leader and dedicated resources for implementation is dead-on-arrival.

iii. Resist being taken for granted.

I'm sure you recognise the situation where you do all the work, but are sidelined anytime there's an acknowledgement of contributions or a reward. I call this a conspiracy of ingratitude. Never accept it. Always document your contributions for posterity (NOT boasting rights). This is because anything that is not documented does not officially exist. If you ever need to walk away from a project, do so with dignity. Channel the lessons learned and experiences to a worthier project.

iv. Beware of narrow-vision.

Never sacrifice your purpose, family or life calling for someone else’s vision. This is where tenor comes in handy. It gives you a chance to assess the effort being expended on your own assignments relative to what you’re volunteering for. You can then adjust accordingly.

v. Beware of waste.

When you volunteer, make sure there’s a system in place to capture all contributions and deliver a viable product or else all your efforts will come to nought. Imagine creating beautiful plans that never see the light of day. And please don’t volunteer for a cause whose leaders are not committed to implementation. It’s a waste of your time and contributions.

Now, a word for organisations that use volunteers.

If you regularly court high level professionals as volunteers, there are a few things to bear in mind. Your staff must be ready to give up weekends and after hours to align with the free time of your volunteers. Sometimes weekends & after-hours is only time they have to give you after their day jobs. You can’t want their input, yet desire it at your organisation’s convenience. It’s not going to work. (Moreso if these volunteers reside in a different time zone from yours). Your volunteers will likely call at odd hours because that’s the only time they can spare. Take it or leave it, but don’t complain.

I sincerely hope these insights will prove useful to you – whether you’re a volunteer or organisation. I wish you all the best on your volunteering journey.

[#PMNG is a social media series exploring practical project management principles for business, causes and life. © Subomi Plumptre. She may be reached on Twitter @subomiplumptre]

What Drives You?

I believe the purpose of riches and its multiplication through investment is to facilitate building something useful that outlives us.

Therefore, I seek to die with absolutely nothing to my name that has not already been pegged for distribution.

I believe we should seek to pour everything we have into building that which outlives us, keeping no more than is required to live, operate and create new value.

We must continually ask - What can we build for the next generation with the energy and clarity of mind of youth? What life project can we begin or progress?

Ceaseless activity does not equate with purpose. We must be wary of activities that distract us from thinking deeply about life; that prevent us from coming face-to-face with ourselves.

So, I ask - What drives you? Can you commit to a few things that drive you not several things that distract you?

I think you'll be better off for it.

Mentoring & Other Matters

I've often wondered at the generic watered down construct we call mentoring, nowadays. Mentoring now runs the entire gamut of business leverage, networking, godfatherism, emotional support and even spiritual coaching. It’s gotten to the point where I’m not sure what I’m being asked to do when people ask me to “mentor them”.

To be fair, I’ve had two mentors who I recall poured their lives out, sacrificed immense time & effort and literally became surrogate dads to me. I enjoyed robust give & take relationships, not the one-sided cap-in-hand beggarly “mentorships” I see today. As a rule., I'm cautious of mentoring that's devoid of service & tutelage but big on what can be derived from the mentor with minimal effort. Then & now I understood mentoring was incomplete without tutelage & character moulding. At times generational friendships were formed in the process.

I surmise that everyone isn’t cut out to be a mentor while some quite frankly do not inspire a desire to be mentored. But, whichever kind of relationship you choose to forge with someone you look up to, simple rules should apply:

1. Give your would-be mentor a good reason to adopt you beyond the kowtowing & flattery

2. State what you've already done on your own, then ask for what you need to progress it in very clear terms. There are few things as wasteful as gaining an opportunity to make a request, only for it to be unintelligible & non-specific

3. Never show up late for a meeting with a mentor. It shows lack of good breeding and organisational ability

4. Never allow a mentor pay for a business lunch. It is a sign of a greedy spirit and ungrateful soul

5. Schedule your requests to your mentor in such a way that you don't transfer your time pressure. He/she has competing priorities

6. Never undervalue your mentor's intellectual contributions. Clarity, wisdom & advice are priceless

7. Your mentor trades in knowledge. That's how he/she got to where he/she is. Value it; whether it's an email or conversation

8. It may look easy; may seem there's a lot more from where his/her contributions came from; but it takes A LOT for it to appear that way

9. When you ask for a favour, consider why your mentor should grant it. Having more than enough, familiarity or charity are not valid answers

10. Give your mentor a good reason to back you because when a mentor does a favour for a flimsy reason, you use up valuable equity that could’ve been used for a more important future request

11. Don't be the person who only calls when you need something. That's why your mentor avoids you

12. Stop hounding and harassing your mentor with every problem. Grow up. He/she is not a saviour

13. Appreciate your mentor (and his/her family). Don't assume they have it all. Be generous. Support their projects too

14. Mentors think in big pictures. Don't expect them to advise on the minutiae of execution too!

15. In times of trouble, mentors need loyalty. Even if you don't approve of their actions, the least you can do is to not take sides against them in public. Be loyal

Do all these things and you should hopefully be worthy of great mentoring. I wish you success.

Thoughts from The Future Project Symposium for Emerging Leaders

My generation does not require perfect leaders. I would not trust a perfect leader. Rather, I respect a leader who has publicly fallen and risen again.

The job of rebuilding Nigeria will be a collaborative one. We cannot do it alone. If we choose to tear each other down, who'll be left to work with?

We need to get off our high horses to mend the broken fences that have led to distrust in our generation. We need to thrash out every issue and then move on. We need each other.

We need to stop subbing and directing articles, tweets and posts at each other. Let's pick up the phone instead; meet; confront each other directly and have real conversations. And yes, we do owe each other explanations. The work of rebuilding Nigeria has no room for pride.

We will achieve very little divided. Being "at the grassroots" doesn't make you any more relevant than the elite or intelligentsia. It's not a competition. You are not more patriotic, more knowledgeable or more involved. We need to stop talking down to each other. We no longer have conversations; we have condescension. We behave as if we have a sovereign right to be listened to. Track record does not automatically translate into credibility or leadership. You have to earn it and convince people to follow.

We must learn from every side but not be seduced by unsavoury values. A little knowledge is a very dangerous thing. Without knowledge of every side & a willingness to listen, our generation will remain ignorant indeed.

There is no prescribed level of knowledge that is required to be politically relevant. Someone may know who his/her Local Government Chairman is, another may have read the Constitution and so on. However, what we do have in common is the personal experience of having lived through Nigeria's issues and challenges. Let's bring it ALL to the table: knowledge and ignorance.

Before you criticise a leader, consider if you can do the volume of work they do or even do it better. Your past record will provide an inkling. Criticism is invaluable but we must move beyond talk. Our generation must show how things should be done.

Finally, hope is a powerful thing indeed. We may be dreamers but we're not the ONLY ones.

Passion, the Heart of Projects

You may have been here before. The point where your passion for a project sputters to a slow but sure death.  You began in high spirits. Perhaps the idea was groundbreaking or it offered a chance to learn something new or develop yourself. So you gained early traction; achieved quick wins and everyone was pleased. You felt a rush of achievement and satisfaction. New iterations surged through your brain. Horizons expanded and you thought “Yes, we can do much more! We can grow bigger; break new ground".

All of a sudden, you realise to your absolute amazement that you seem to be the only one left on your team with the same level of enthusiasm. Once active team mates have melted into the background of unavailability. Project sponsors have moved on to the next new thing. Resources have been rationalised and slowly your passion ebbs away with each new day. 

If you’ve ever experienced this, I have a few lessons for you. They may not resuscitate your project but they’ll help you manage the next one better; help you believe again.

First, never become emotionally over-invested in a project. It’s about the cause, not your effort or your personal feelings. As a project manager, you must imagine yourself as a tool. You're only as important as the relative importance of the project to the organisation that owns it. Therefore, don’t get too comfortable or take things personal. Your primary purpose is to execute defined objectives. When those objectives change, move on to  secondary objectives.

Your secondary objectives on any project are to gain experience, learn something new and meet great people. These will prove useful in future. Everything you invest in a project is valuable experience. As a project manager, you stand a lot to gain from every project. When organisational priorities change, don't insist on keeping your project in its exact form. Be flexible. Understand the new strategic goals and adjust accordingly. No project deliverable is sacrosanct. Remember, your project is only as relevant as the evolving strategy of the organisation.

Maintain an active relationship with your project sponsor. Gain feedback from key stakeholders. They’ll let you know what’s really going on. Don’t carry the burden of slacking team mates. If there’s no capacity to execute the project, admit it early on and inform the project sponsor. Remember the golden rule of projects: A project is only as valuable to an organisation as the amount of resources dedicated to it. Also identify a confidential sounding board; someone to help you vent or rant. Trust me, you’ll feel better afterwards.

Document everything – Successes, failures, why the project stalled, recommendations etc. And if your project consistently lacks organisational support, minimise the resources and effort attached to it until it becomes a priority again. Avoid waste. Don’t outrun the organisation's appetite for execution. Match your effort and ideas to what the organisation has the capacity or vision to absorb, understand and execute. To test the organisation's commitment to a project, set clear conditions & dependencies. If the conditions are not met, you have your answer. Sometimes your organisation may require external validation before they fully commit to a project. Be patient.

Termination is the last resort when it has been clearly communicated to you that a project is no longer priority.  If you insist on seeing the project through, rekindle your passion by remembering that the project is about a bigger or long-term cause that goes beyond immediate imperatives. Think about the potential success and your role in it. Imagine your contributions to laying a strong foundation and be content.

I hope this has been useful. I'd like to know what challenges you're currently facing on your project. Are you losing your passion? Why? Please share with me on Twitter @subomiplumptre.

Thank you.

People, Projects and Insights on Business Structure

[This is a transcript of my March 9th Twitter knowledge series - #PMNG (Project Management Nigeria) and #BizNG (Business Nigeria)]. 

Welcome to today's 2-in-1 session: People & Projects and Insights on Business Structure. Today, I’ll speak on People & Projects first then segue into Insights on Business Structure. Please send in your questions and feedback via Twitter. Mention @subomiplumptre using the appropriate hashtag so I can track - #PMNG or #BizNG.

Let’s begin...

PEOPLE & PROJECTS

At the start of a new project, DON’T set goals, DON’T develop a calendar, DON’T plan and DON’T strategise.  Instead, have an informal session where you get to KNOW your team mates.  You’re going to work with them for a while. You’ll demand results. Get to know them first. Assess their strengths, weaknesses, motivations & motives. You’ll get a more realistic sense of who/what you’re working with.

For ongoing projects, spend some meeting days on social outings. Bond, build loyalty, uncover intentions and give your people a much deserved break.

Document instructions. Take your team through written notes. Call or meet 1-on-1 to ensure understanding. Do not assume.

When there’s persistent system breakdown, it’s a clear sign you should change your unit head, revamp the process, buy new equipment or get a reliable backup. 

Any task without an owner by default becomes the leader's responsibility.

Regularity of meetings is key; whether virtual or in person. Enter these meetings into the team's diary. A meeting a month may be used for training. Continuous knowledge is key and get team members to train one other. This builds leadership capacity.

Ensure your team adopts international industry standards so they don’t limit your international vision. Someday you'll need international collaboration and your team may stumble if they’re not well versed in international terms, processes and standards.

After every major deliverable, debrief as a team to regroup, review and agree on remedial actions & immediate next steps.

In all things remember, the team is more important than the project. A successful team can be deployed again and again to deliver great projects. So, build a core team.

INSIGHTS ON BUSINESS STRUCTURE

There's an interesting Nigerian case study - 2 companies. 2 dead founders. 1 thriving. 1 restructured & sold. The 2 companies are Aluko & Oyebode, a law firm and Cornerstone Insurance, an insurance company.

Many lessons may be gleaned from the evolution of both companies. I'll outline a few...

A vital component of a grand vision is succession planning. Key man risk devalues the effort, financial worth and lives invested in a business. 

The personality of a founder must become the BRAND PERSONALITY of the business through a process of transfer or institutionalisation. While getting the job done keeps the business running; taking time out to build the culture ensures its long term survival.

The essence of a company and its history must be documented. It cannot solely reside in the heads of founding members.  A successor's folly will be to mess with the core values of the company. A new vision, yes. But preserve the values.

The day you find your successor is the day your grand vision starts getting truly implemented. Anything else is like sitting on a stool with creaky legs. The stool might collapse when any real strain is introduced. A successor may be a partner, young protegee or executive committee. Think about and do what works best for your business in the short and long term. But, begin the process of documenting your history and values today.  Start communicating same with your staff.

Thank you.

To view the Q & A session, please search for the following hashtags on Twitter: #PMNG and #BizNG

#PMNG Knowledge Series: Growing Businesses, It's Time to Get Serious!

#PMNG began with a series of tweets on Project Management in Nigeria. It has evolved into a general business Twebinar & interactive session @subomiplumptre. This is a transcript of the session that took place on February 2, 2013:

Today I’ll explore the philosophical, structural & HR imperatives of growing businesses in Nigeria. I'll start with a real case note.

I’m a volunteer at an Non Governmental Organisation where i was asked to suggest new service providers. I contacted a referral by email, phone & Twitter. Till date, the requested invoice has NOT been received. I eventually worked with a 2nd referral. The relationship was cordial; turnaround time prompt; depth of reasoning rich and availability constant. Today, he has become my de facto service provider of choice. I learned a valuable lesson from the two interactions - A business cannot grow, stabilize or expand without ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY. Talent is not enough and sometimes a business is its own worst enemy. An entrepreneur can’t engage the market at certain heights or on multiple fronts without administrative capacity. Building this capacity is the only way to get serious about business. Yes, you can make money through “deals”, but at a certain age, you can’t run around looking for deals. Easy come, easy go. No structure, no sustainability.

Administrative capacity is the difference between a one-man company and a corporation. Everything the business seeks; from finance to contacts to new business is fueled by administrative capacity. An entrepreneur CANNOT raise funds, cultivate networks or deliver quality if he/she is too busy putting out fires, doing documentation, running the office or putting off customers with inefficiency. Customers should never take their money elsewhere because a business is unreachable. With the availability of multiple devices and contact points, this is unacceptable. The quality of contact also matters. Never put an ignorant or disorganised person in charge of your brand interface. Customers will leave and you won’t even know why.

A growing business also needs core MANAGERS. People to develop or expand business lines and play political roles. The administrative staff should deal with the day-to-day paperwork. When an entrepreneur is bogged down with paperwork, quality control & administrative tasks; there will be limited business growth.

I will show you how to develop core admin and management teams DESPITE the decrease in the quality of our educational products and paucity of talent. (I’m assuming of course that you already have a professional team, so I’ll focus on the business of the business).

First, you must accept that as a growing business, you CANNOT afford great talent. The competition is fierce; the pool of talent shallow. Therefore, you must innovate and be open to new HR and remuneration models. You must decide upfront what you are willing to GIVE UP to get talent. If you can’t pay top salaries, are you willing to invest TIME and EMOTIONS, for example? Give up future earnings or EQUITY? I'll explain:

Time & emotions: You must rigorously (re) train from scratch, investing 3-7 years and pouring your life into your team.

Equity: To develop new business lines, you may choose to give out equity or share profit with experienced talent in a bid to attract and retain them. You don’t need to give equity in the core business, to protect the culture. Rather you can spin off the new venture as a complementary entity and give equity or share profit in that unit.

If you choose to invest time or equity, there are 3 models named after 3 global companies: GE, SouthWest Airlines & Google. You should choose a model that suits your business growth stage, personality & industry and is sustainable.

GE runs a process model. It’s an assembly line that churns out leaders through ongoing training, mentorship, exposure & opportunities. This model works for already structured organisations that need leaders for rapidly expanding businesses on an ongoing basis. It's expensive as it requires internal & external training, progress mapping, documentation etc. But if your business has branches, it's a good model as you can dispatch people from the core company who embody your culture to run those units.

Southwest is for an entrepreneur looking for 1 or 2 core managers who can run the business in his/her absence; “successors” so to speak. Young, bright minds are closely mentored - They eat, travel with you; have long philosophical conversations with you. They are family. You look out for them and defend them. You train them and earn their loyalty. This is a huge time/emotional investment. The fear is, what if they leave? While you may institute minimum engagement contracts or non-compete agreements, people may still leave due to circumstances beyond their control. But the truth is it’s the only way to produce a certain kind of loyalty. You win some, you lose some. There are no short cuts. And anyway, you can’t financially afford ready-made experienced staff. They’re out of your reach. However, if you have an urgent HR need, you can use contract consultants to plug the gap while you take the time to groom your core team. Your business will not outlive you without a core group who believe in you & the business. The core team frees you to dream of new businesses and explore other ventures. They allow you to enjoy the fruit of your labour without worrying whether the company will collapse if you're away.

Google runs a venture model. It’s for businesses that have venture funding or are at stage 2 funding. They can afford talent. The key is to look for industry experts who can open doors or expand the business. Often they are older than you and will only do it if you give stock options or profit sharing. They are beyond salary and have the luxury of working where they choose. They will only join you for the challenge and the chance to build something great or own a share of something potentially big. They will want something they can cash out later should the venture prove successful. So it’s a win-win for all.

When recruiting, there are some things that are NON-NEGOTIABLE in admin or management staff. I will list them. But to ensure the right fit, identify a friend or mentor who already embodies what you’re looking for and ensure they’re on the recruitment panel. They will help you spot “themselves” in the candidates and will provide a measure of objectivity.

For Admin staff for a growing business, some critical competences are required in the 1st 6 months of engagement/training. If they do not exist by then, please fire - you're carrying dead weight. The competences are:

- Ability to quickly produce impeccable proposals & invoices

- Constant availability via electronic channels

- Ability to develop & manage a calendar and provide clear project updates

- High ratio of completed to uncompleted tasks

Forget everything else on your checklist. If these competences do not exist, please do not hire or fire thereafter.

For Management staff in a growing business, these are the required competences:

- Networking ability & political astuteness

- Ability to create new income streams

- Leadership & training ability

- Resource management

- Strategic vision, planning & execution

The 1st three functions that must be filled at management level are:

- New Business Development & Execution - Financial Management & Investments - Relationship Management, Service & Quality Control

If you're lucky, some roles will be combined in one or two people.

As a growing business, you’re truly on the path to being serious about making money and building a sustainable company when you’ve built a strong admin & management team. This year, make it your top priority.

To view Questions & Answers from this session, please see the Storify thread at: http://tinyurl.com/pmngnew

The Hypocrisy Of Political Correctness

I have followed the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) movement for some time now. I am concerned that this group is in danger of perpetrating the same things they’ve accused others of doing: Narrow-mindedness and bigotry. May I explain why before your mind shifts to defensive mode?

If you’ve ever begun a conversation about LGBT issues on a global forum like Facebook or in a city where Gay Marriage is legal, and you decide to play devil’s advocate; arguing for heterosexuality or “the sanctity of Marriage”, you’re immediately met with defensiveness, anger, suspicion or even outright attack.  After a while, you may be shut down, threatened with a hate crime or slander!

During the height of the “Anti-Abortion” movement in America, those protesting came up with the term, “Pro-Life”.  Unfortunately, when they used the term, they inadvertently tried to cast the other side as “Pro-Death” or “Anti-Life”. This was of course wrong. So, I guess it was only a matter of time before the Homosexual community tagged anyone who openly spoke against the lifestyle as “Gay-Hater” or “Gay-Basher”.  [I guess payback is a bitch. And really, anytime we call heterosexuals straight, aren’t we indirectly inferring that homosexuals are “bent”? No wonder the claws are out on both sides of the aisle?]

I have often wondered why so much venom is unleashed when the subject of sexual orientation comes up.  Same as religion.  You rarely see such displays of temper when a grown person refuses to eat meat at a function, stating that they’re vegetarian, or when they decline a drink or cigarette at a function.  At best they’re viewed as different or subscribing to another lifestyle. But when a person openly states that he doesn’t subscribe to the LGBT lifestyle, he’s vilified as religious, a bigot, not understanding or “with it”. Why? Saying what a person believes doesn’t make him/her a bad person.  Disagreeing with something, someone or even an entire movement doesn’t automatically make that person condemnatory. Holding a different belief from yours doesn’t make a person narrow minded or backward.  After all, 50 yrs ago, very few people believed what you believe now, and they weren’t stupid or unenlightened. Heck, 10 years ago, you probably didn’t even believe what you believe now!

Typically, in conversations about differing lifestyles or beliefs, BOTH sides are guilty of the following:

1. Wanting to prove a point: “I really don’t care what you have to say. I just want to score points to prove you wrong”
2. Wanting to be right: “I desperately need to be right.  Secretly, I’m afraid of the possibility that you may be right, after all”
3. Bitterness over some perceived or actual oppression by the opposing group: “I can’t have a rational conversation with a group that has done this or that”
4. Rebellion: “I want to think what I want to think and no one should tell me any different”
5. Self righteousness: “My way is better, and by the way, it’s the only way”
6. Self-pity: “You poor ignorant backward soul”
7. Defensiveness: “No one is going to browbeat me or snooker me with unverified facts. And anyway, I know you have an agenda”
8. There’s also what I call “appeal to authority” – facts and data are reeled out with an end-goal in mind.  A person takes a position then adduces “facts” to support that position. Information is also divorced from religious beliefs, cultural norms, ideologies and the prevailing zeitgeist, forgetting that people rarely do things because of factual reasons.

On another note, I’m worried that the desire to be accommodating of EVERY lifestyle is spurning a new type of affirmative action in the workplace and Hollywood. There’s a token LGBT role in many movies.  There’s a deliberate attempt to provide for an LGBT role in the management cadre in cities where the lifestyle is legal.  What then happens when fringe sexuality like bestiality becomes legal (I think it’s actually legal in some American States) or when every religious group clamours for affirmative action?

In Nigeria, where religion and ethnicity are huge considerations in Government appointments, we have witnessed such shocking dislocations, as positions are “zoned” to individual ethnic or religious groups without regard to competence or appropriateness.  It also logically follows that since gay couples can adopt children, then LGBT characters should also be introduced in Disney movies, so that children may be tutored on becoming more understanding of sexual orientation. Mmmn…Is that really where we’re headed?

The laws a country makes are largely driven by the amount of influence a specific group wields and how passionate they are at advocating their position.  So whenever a law is passed, I actually don’t subscribe to the opposing side bitching about it.  The truth is while the opposing side was sitting pretty, the other group did the hard work of taking to the streets, raising money, and articulating their position using persuasive propaganda.  It was simply a matter of time. If you don’t like it, organise effectively. Once upon a time, tobacco industry loyalists thought the anti-tobacco movement would go away, but now in developed countries, smoking is no longer permitted in public places.  Sustained propaganda and strategic movements work. Conversely, rhetoric very quickly gets you ignored.

Now, to my personal beliefs about homosexuality. I have gay friends and recognise it’s a choice. None of my friendships has suffered because the other person subscribes to a different lifestyle from mine. However, I cannot divorce the subject of homosexuality from my religious beliefs. To do so would be to hide my head in the sand in a bid to appear politically correct. My objection to Homosexuality has NEVER been about lifestyle.  It’s about MARRIAGE. Christianity tells me that marriage is not about a boy or girl wanting to have sex or make babies. It was meant to represent something completely God-focused - The union of Christ and His Church. A union that accommodates believers from different tribes and tongues who form a body - the BRIDE of Christ - with one head – Jesus.  A homosexual marriage DOES NOT represent this and I am yet to hear any argument that refutes this.

An interesting text in Genesis Chapter 2 speaks about marriage being between a Man and someone who was “taken from him”, a “part of him”, a Woman.  It wasn’t primarily about procreation.

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Ephesians Chapter 5 further expounds on marriage being representative of Jesus Christ and his Church. That’s its primary purpose:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

So while I cannot dictate how people should live, I do take exception to the LGBT community saying gay marriage has nothing to do with the sanctity of marriage. It has EVERYTHING to do with it. In fact the conspiracy theorist in me wonders - if the union of Christ and his Church is represented by the marriage between a man and a woman, perhaps the corollary, that is, the union between a man and a man represents something else - the spirit of the AntiChrist.  I leave such matters of dialectics to Pastors.

Ultimately, our response to differing lifestyles should be guided by the following: Do we care about people and love them despite their beliefs or lifestyles? Do we sincerely argue the issues or seek to attack personalities? Do we accord individuals their fundamental human rights and respect their freedom of association? Do we understand that people have the right to choose what they want to do, not what we expect them to do particularly when they are not under our authority? Do we recognise that there are larger forces at play in the world and we should never lose sight of the forest for the trees?

I do believe that in the end, ALL will be made clear. Till then, let us live according to our convictions; never stifling the spirit of debate; never labelling; never judging.

2013: The Year of Collaboration

This is a summary of a Twebinar held on January 5, 2013 @subomiplumptre.  It is part of a series tagged #PMNG (Project Management Nigeria) which holds every first Saturday of the month on Twitter.


Welcome to 2013: The Year of Collaboration. If your idea, product, project or business has made it this far, it deserves to go much further.

Today I’ll spend a little time talking about collaboration and how it can propel your idea or business.  Then, I’ll take questions.

In 2013, your speed of innovation will explode as you increase your capacity by collaborating with new people. Emphasis on the word, NEW.  Think of it as a network of computers. Many brains processing an idea from different perspectives, not just yours.

This year, use Social Networks to meet new people who can be useful to your project. It's cheap and the barrier to entry is low.  Sometimes, people may ignore you at first, but let the brilliance of your contributions set you apart on their Timelines.  Like in the real world, a MENTION or REFERENCE by the right person online can get you noticed by the RIGHT people.

Use Social Networks to collaborate with people around the world; people you'd otherwise never be able to work with or meet. Be bold. Be opportunistic even.  But, build offline relationships too. They will require more time & emotional commitment. However, people tend to share more over a drink:)

Attend more hackathons and start-up competitions. Don’t be afraid of your idea getting stolen. Focus on the potential exposure and platform.  At those competitions, seek potential partnerships with people who have skills you don’t currently have: Marketing, business development etc.

2013 will be a year of crowdsourced skills, ideas & talent. But whoever adds value; bring ideas to market will make money.  Anyone can have an idea, but it takes an ORGANISATION no matter how basic to effectively bring it to market. This year, organise and structure.

Your best collaborators will be those who work well online: by email, skype, chat etc. Those that are very tech-friendly. They’ll save you time & money on projects.

In 2013, begin your search for a SUCCESSOR. You can't dream and grow big without a very competent backup.

Use celebrations to launch important ideas. Turn your next birthday into a product launch. Everyone's already there. Why waste it?

Talk more. Your most unusual ideas will come from conversations. Strike up a conversation about your product with an interesting person on your timeline, for example.

Choose a partner the same way you'd choose a spouse or significant other. If you're smart enough to choose a significant other, you can choose a credible business partner.

Be ready to give out equity in 2013. Focus on being a part of something great and not a full owner of nothing.

Buy wisdom and sell it not. Be ready to swap equity for intellectual contributions. Wisdom is the principal thing and should command monetary value.  This is the year where agreements have to be clearly spelt out. Hire a good Lawyer. Don’t be cheap.

Don't be grasping. Give people more than they contributed to the venture. This builds tremendous goodwill for future projects.

This is the year of shared office space, shared energy costs, shared staff costs. It's the year of the shoe-string budget start up.  In-kind payments will become more common e.g. a Lawyer paying his Accountant with legal services.

Volunteerism will also rise as people work together to make their world better.  Spend a few weeks working or volunteering outside your industry. The experience and perspectives gained will be invaluable.

To view Questions & Answers from this session, kindly visit the Storify page at http://storify.com/subomiplumptre/pmng-project-management-nigeria