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

Opinion: Church, Clergy & Commerce

This is a summary of an ongoing discussion I'm having on Twitter via the hashtag, #OnChurch. Please do not take what I say out of context. Kindly read the full text below.

I've worked with, been a member of and served in a number of churches in the last 25 years or so. I've been friends with and a mentee to Pastors and Ministers so the recent accusations on the commercialisation of the clergy caught my attention.

I've watched the good, the bad and the ugly ALL being reviled in a generalised group of perceived "moneyed clergy". And, the “good guys” have failed to define themselves or clarify what they stand for.

There's an assumption that “the right hand must not know what the left hand is doing” so they hold their peace. Some believe the outrage and slander are the "persecution of Satan", hence God will surely fight on their behalf. If so, they have grossly misjudged the pulse of the nation, their followers and the ominous strategies of the devil.

The rage stems from a number of factors and I shall try to elaborate:

Some clergy are seen to be rich in the midst of a poor congregation and nation.

There seems to be a huge gap between what Pastors preach (prosperity) and the reality of the lives of followers.

There is no clear indication of many Pastors' sources of income, hence the assumption that must “feed fat on offerings and tithes”.

Church structure is often obscure. To the world, it seems to be run like a sole proprietorship.

Church is not seen to live up to the cardinals of charity and societal impact unlike the old Missionaries who established hospitals, schools and other institutions.

Church is seen to have too many unregulated sources of income including tithes, offerings, seed and pledges.

Church is not seen to conform to the regulatory stipulations of their tax-exempt status both at home and abroad.

In response, I will touch on a number of important things. These are opinions meant to spur honest discussion.

First, the Nigerian context is one that demands SENSITIVITY. Our nation has been raped repeatedly by power and influence. A “rich man” on a street of poor people would be unwise and insensitive to project his affluence even if he earned it or it was given to him. To do so would be wrong timing and context or perhaps a simple case of honest bad judgment. The key is moderation and to remember that even if a thing is lawful and not bad in itself, it may not be expedient and may cause offence.

Just like a nation deserves who the people vote for, every congregation deserves who they submit to. We will achieve little by condemning the church in its entirety. I am particularly saddened when I see Christians doing so. We cannot sit on the fence pretending to be above it all. We are parts of the whole. Whatever affects a part impacts the whole. When society maligns the church, they malign YOU, the Christian. When people attack “that” church, they'll soon come after YOURS.

For those advocating for greater State regulation, I say this - When the State gets a foot in the door, it extends its tentacles. First, regulation of giving, then healing, then preaching, then publishing, then assembly.

To continue, as a congregation, we must NEVER park our intellect at the door of church. We must contribute constructively and respectfully. We must not assume that Pastors KNOW what to do. A Pastor can never know about business administration like a professional does. In the same way, a professional cannot know the intricacies of pastoring.

If you're gifted, the places to volunteer in church NOW are administration, processes and communication. Church must self-regulate NOW. The old obscure methods will no longer work.

The church must institute sustainable community development projects instead of continuing the practice of unsustainable handouts. Church must teach people to be independent, to seek God for themselves, to succeed economically to IMPACT THE WORLD. Our focus must NOT be on money but on what it CAN DO politically and socially. But church needs help and instead of murmuring, we must get to work and respectfully find ways to access leadership.

As per the 'gullible' - they remind me of a woman that keeps going back to a man who lies to her. If she were my sister, I'd speak the truth in love but acknowledge that 'deliverance' won't come overnight, especially if the grip of the man is strong. To a large extent, if the government were doing its job of providing economic opportunities, education & exposure, we'd minimise the gullible who seek 'miracles' and solutions to very real dire problems. Ultimately, deception can only thrive where there's gross darkness and paucity of information.

A major imperative is for churches to be more structured and open. Essentially, to practice what they preach. They must COMMUNICATE their social interventions to demonstrate their intentions and relevance in society. Some churches do A LOT in their communities. They are marriage counsellors, business tutors, leadership coaches and crisis managers. They run charities, benevolence outreaches, support groups for the bereaved, widows, and helpless. They should ARTICULATE this CLEARLY especially in a country lacking these basic structures.

FINALLY, I will never begrudge a Pastor's right to personal prosperity. (But I acknowledge that personality quirks complicate image issues). I'd find it odd if Pastors didn't prosper by the same principles they preached. If a Pastor helps you become better, he must progress too. We cannot "muzzle the ox", so to speak.

I don't think God has ANY ISSUE with his children being very wealthy. Where will the resources for good come from? He called different types of men: Tax collectors, business men, professionals etc. But perhaps 'Pastor Lagbaja Ministries' should be distinct from 'Lagbaja Church'. A Pastor's income from intellectual property e.g. Speaking, books, investments etc should be clearly structured separately from the church.

Ultimately Pastors are leaders with dual responsibility - To the God who called them and to the community they operate in. Times are changing and they must adapt and evolve to do more excellently the work of the Ministry.

Turning Ideas into Products People Will Buy

This is a transcript of my session on #ElevateDay, a live Twitter event @elevationng. 

#ElevateDay is an open forum for learning, sharing and impacting.

These are the key points from the session:

INTRODUCTION

In this session, product, service and company are used interchangeably.

International case studies are cited because they're easier to Goggle and research. Local examples are also provided, where possible.

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

We begin with the PRINCIPLES that should guide product development. Thereafter, we’ll explore ways to ensure people PAY for your products.

Ideas hate to be wasted. If you're not in the habit of turning them into products, others will deploy the same ideas right in front of you.

Your product MUST MEET AN INTRINSIC NEED or UNCOVER A NEED. Build your product based on the APT principle: Anger, Problem, Time.

ANGER: What is the public angry about? How does your product address that anger? The angrier they are, the more willing they are to pay for a solution.

PROBLEM: What problems does your product solve? Does it make life easier for people? Does it remove a burden?

TIME: In this multitasking generation, can your product save people time? Can it help them do several things at once? This is the key to Hootsuite, for example.

Address 2 levels of need: FUNCTIONAL & ASPIRATIONAL. Louis Vuitton bags are not just carriers, they're icons and status symbols. Beyond function, what does your product ADD to the life of the consumer?

Does your business help others earn? E.g. Apple provides an ecosystem for App makers to earn income.

Build systems not just products. Apple built the product (iPod), distribution system (iTunes) and marketplace (App Store).

Own the value chain or invest along the chain so you make money at every point.  Imagine that your product system is a toll-gate.

To avoid cannibalisation, use distinct complimentary brands for different audiences but ENDORSED by the motherbrand.  For example, Ralph Lauren has a high end Purple Label brand & lower end Chaps brand. Somewhere in the middle is Polo.

Never design a product from your perspective.  Ask what the customer wants.

INSIGHTS FOR SELLING YOUR PRODUCT

Never position your product in a way that people think their doing you a FAVOUR. Have self esteem.

Sell your product from the perspective of the customers’ needs. Have you found out what they need?

Identify with your prospective customer. Truly get to know them. Speak their language.  For example, you can’t successfully sell to a technology company if you don’t “get” technology.

Speak the language of service not profit. Customers can tell if you're just pushing a product or if you’re there to help.
Be enthusiastic. Your product is the best thing since sliced bread.

Tell STORIES. Build a legend around your product. The market likes inspirational stories with a sense of history.  I cannot emphasise this enough. TELL A STORY. Sell drama, aspiration & inspiration. Make people FEEL.  Make them WANT your product .

Your product must have character and personality. If it were a person, what would it look like? How would it talk?

Use cultural contexts to your advantage.  In Nigeria, use the bandwagon effect. Sell first to the influencers in a group.

Identify the power structures in a company.  Focus the thrust of your product presentation for decision makers.

Place your product for free with people & companies with high visibility & following. They are your brand ambassadors. Use their testimonials for marketing.  For example, if you’re in the fashion industry, place your product on the body of a Nollywood star on the red carpet.  If you're in technology, give a top company  a free trial.

Make industry insiders your sales agents. They understand the market and have the respect of their peers.

If your product is novel, EDUCATE THE MARKET. Do short demo videos or speak at events. Position yourself as an industry expert.

If you're an ideas person but shy, partner with a business developer who loves proposals, pitches and sales.

Do a test-run of your product first. Sell it to friends or in an online store to get feedback before full deployment.

Build critical networks: School associations, professional bodies, church etc. They are your first customers. Demo your product & speak at their meetings.

Be consistent in marketing.

STRUCTURES REQUIRED TO RETAIN PRODUCT LEADERSHIP

Don't launch a product without the structures for consistent supply. Do not create demand without supply.

Never offer more than you have the capacity for. It will hurt your reliability & integrity.

To keep your promises when you’re overextended, explore short term collaborative partnerships.

Remember every idea that isn't sold is inventory and cost. Focus on sales.

Package your product very well & lay massive claim to it. If a usurper develops a copy, everyone knows they're the fake while you're the original.

If your expenses consistently outstrip your revenue, your product will fail (we'll talk about loss leaders some other day).

Ask: Who will bear this cost? The customer? The investor? A grant? You must pass on your costs to someone.

Always value ALL costs, including the time you spend thinking and planning.  Even when you get supplies free, add it to your costs to get a REALISTIC idea of the cost price of your product.

Be careful about pumping money into a rave of the moment idea. Let an objective outsider with a financial mindset advise you.

Ask: Where will the cashflow come from to sustain the company while I work on this idea? How will I pay salaries? Sort out cashflow FIRST.

See Allan Sloan's article in the Nov 5 edition of Fortune for a good case note on how a great idea can still fail.

If you co-develop a product with others, do the legal paperwork BEFORE it becomes successful. Partners sometimes forget agreements in the midst of prosperity.

Any product that has significant public following has a potential for profit e.g Facebook. Ask: How can I consistently harness my followers to create value?

CASE STUDY – Phlemin Global

Our case study Phlemin Global (http://phleminglobal.com/) provides inverters & power solutions.

Firstly, the name may not immediately suggest what the company sells.  However, it would be suitable as the name of a HOLDING COMPANY.  The current products may be domiciled within a division called Phlemin Power. This is the brand name that should be marketed.  Flemin Power may also be easier to pronounce, spell and remember than Phlemin with a “P”.

Every business requires backup power in Nigeria, so Phlemin meets a need and solves a vexing problem. Instead of a one-size-fits-all-approach, Phlemin may create solutions (with customised proposals) for homes, small businesses and corporates. The proposals should display empathy & identification.

Phlemin should identify very well known SMEs and corporate businesses and offer to do a complimentary power audit plus free product trial for a month.  Companies with significant power needs should be targeted e.g. those that close late or work on weekends.  After the trial period, the testimonial becomes a reference and some may be converted to paying clients.  Phlemin may also target new homes that are being built in residential estates, partnering with respected realtors/builders.

These are general principles that can be adopted by any company.

SELECTED QUESTIONS

Q:  How do you sell your product to a wider audience?  How do you reach decision makers and industry insiders?

A: There are 2 ways to sell a product successfully: The market LOOKS FOR YOU or you GO LOOKING FOR THE MARKET.

The first strategy is to position yourself as an expert in your field supplying the best possible product or service.  You can begin a blog on issues in your sector, voluntarily speak at events or write magazine columns.  Be active on Twitter and comment when issues are being discussed by leading global thinkers in your field. Be part of the discussion.  Over time, customers will seek you out because they recognise you know what you're talking about.

In the second option, you become active in networks. Decision makers value people of value. Volunteer on a committee of a high level professional, school or church group. The Board Members of such committees are usually business decision makers. Let them notice you through HARD WORK.  Deploy the product you want to sell for free on the committee. You’ll get to market your work ethic, product AND meet the decision makers.

CLOSING REMARKS

A new edition of #ElevateDay holds every Tuesday at 6pm @elevationng on Twitter.

Thoughts on Divorce

I've studied all the 'Christian arguments' about divorce. This is my submission and personal opinion.

If Jesus truly likens 'divorce' to the 'sin' of adultery, then ironically, he says the same thing about looking lustfully at a woman or man! He forgives both. Move on.

If Jesus readily forgives you of 'lookery', why do you have a hard time 'forgiving' those who divorce? Are you in any position to judge?

Jesus is concerned about attitude; people treating marriage as a revolving door that can be conveniently entered in and out.

He seeks to protect people from being used. He recognises the hardness of the human heart. That's why Moses gave a less than ideal 'way out'.

It's interesting that Jesus seemed to be advocating more for women to be treated justly than anything else. He was concerned about people being used & abused.

(Extends to men too). It is amazing how people prefer to sentence others to a life of misery because of a mistake by advocating for no remarriage after divorce.

No one comes out of a divorce without scars. Love teaches that we should tend the scars first before having difficult conversations.

For every assumed 'public' sin, God highlights a 'private' equivalent to shut up self-righteous people. So those who call abortion murder for e.g, should think of the times they've committed murder in their hearts by hating others.

Ultimately, no human being can set himself up as judge and jury over another's life. Look to your own life and the people under your own authority.

Cockroach Death

God will probably not forgive me if I die a cockroach death

You know how you unceremoniously squash a cockroach & then move on? That's how insignificant a cockroach death is.

Cockroach deaths abound in Nigeria. For example, getting hit by a commuter bus (Danfo) while crossing the road or a random motorbike (Okada).

Such deaths are entirely preventable yet they occur with astonishing regularity in our dear country. I was reading the other day that the number of deaths by motor vehicle may outstrip those by malaria! Conspiracy theorists say the Government's trying to exterminate us but I have no proof.

And so cockroach deaths happen in our sleep when our houses are overrun with floods. They find us in the air as planes inexplicably drop from the sky. They locate us in our offices when terrorists ram through laden with explosives.

Cockroach deaths are in our hospitals when the doctor finds an artery instead of a vein or when there's no blood. Why is there always no blood when it's your turn?

To avoid cockroach deaths, Nigerians have evolved several ingenious means of survival.

The favourite by far is prayers. There is no form of potential death that prayers cannot save you from in Nigeria.

Whether you're being pursued in your dreams by family in the village or you need to make it to Ibadan safely; prayers are deemed particularly effective against cockroach deaths.

Then there's the option of amassing enough wealth to fund your own militia. They'll protect you from Boko Haram terrorists, who have a bomb with your name on it.

You also need your own armoured jeep for stray police bullets and four phones so you are assured of network availability when dialing for help should armed robbers pay you a late night visit. And, you need a relative in the Police Force for when you're erroneously arrested for wandering.

Cockroach death by fake drugs is another kind invented by those who don't think you should recover from the sickness that ails you.

Whatever you do, please try as much as possible to avoid a cockroach death. Remember, God may probably not forgive you.

On Dreams

This is another twitter summary from @subomiplumptre, using the hashtag #ShoSpeaks.

If you find yourself pregnant with dreams, the following may happen:

Your dreams may be born healthy; they may be stillborn or they may be defective.

Your dreams may be born but the dreamer may die; both the dream and the dreamer may die.

It behoves you to do whatever you can to carry your dreams to full term and to ensure you're alive to enjoy them.

Giving birth to a dream is not enough. You must develop it to maturity.

Every dream has an expiration date. For a dream cannot remain a dream forever.

I am tempted to think that if one does not delve into the realm of the controversial, one has not begun to dream or attain innovation.

You must get uncomfortable in a place that's too predictable or calm. It means there's nothing exceptional going on.

A strong sense of self means you can conceptualise incredible things. But pride stifles new ideas, especially collaborative ideas of geometric proportion.

Cross functional teams generate well-rounded ideas.

Perhaps you should forgo idea sessions, if there's no designated executor in your midst. Dreams are good. Execution much better.

You must execute ideas with a strong sense of certainty and boldness. You'll make mistakes, yes. But you'll learn.

And when you choose to bounce ideas off another, choose someone smarter than you. One completely trustworthy and discreet.

Project Management for Growing Businesses

This is a summary of a Twebinar held on Thursday, November 1 using my Twitter handle, @subomiplumptre and hashtag, #PMNG.

During the Twebinar, 3 Project Management (PM) issues were discussed: STRUCTURAL, PEOPLE and POLITICAL.

STRUCTURAL

The CEO of a growing business plays the dual role of PM and Executive. He is ultimately responsible for quality assurance and execution.

Define what success looks like BEFORE embarking on a project, so you can recognize when you get there. Review EVERY milestone against this picture.

Execution is everything! But strategy is the non-negotiable starting point. Where's your strategy document?

Availability is key in PM. You must be accessible across several platforms: Email, phone, chat etc. Your clients should NEVER chase you with money.

Keep extensive project notes and contact details. NEVER leave a project's history in the head of a team member.

Choose simple PM platforms or archive systems like Google Drive or Prowork.Me for ALL collaborative documents.

You don't want to spend all your time searching for stuff. Use simple naming conventions for documents.

Set up simple GROUP communication tools e.g. Skype Groups, Google Hangouts, Whatsapp Groups, Email Lists etc.

It saves a lot of time when project team members' contacts are appropriately grouped for streamlined communication.

Instead of detailed document format specifications, provide simple templates everyone can use.

Your project MUST have a calendar and task list with CLEAR responsibilities and job owners.

Follow up constantly with periodic check- ins. Reserve meetings for high level reviews or strategic decisions.

If deliverables aren't explicitly spelled out AND agreed beforehand, your project will be afflicted by a creeping expansion of brief.

Measure everything!

Know when to bring in professionals for project scalability and sustainability. If you can't afford to retain them, use short contracts at key junctures.

The quality of resources invested in a project is a pointer to its relative importance to your organisation. You can always tell which projects will fail.

Some projects sell themselves with just a brief. Abstract tech based projects usually require a demo.

NEVER give custom to an unstructured/immature/emotional company. If u must; pay a little more to install a PM who'll GUARANTEE delivery.

Breaking up procurement may save money but for critical projects, seek end-to-end solutions & guarantees from companies with brand names to protect.

If you can't handle a small project well, you'll fail spectacularly as you scale up. Be qualitative and thorough NOW. Have integrity NOW.

Don't be achievement greedy. You can't do everything. Keep a few goals in sight.

Don't stretch yourself beyond the level of your capacity or HR. You'll end up with half-baked project results.

Read all you can about your project. Insight comes from unlikely sources. Sometimes all you need is an idea for the project to take off.

Use visualisations to help you 'see' a project: A logo, screensaver, chart etc. Let the project come to life.

PEOPLE

When choosing a team, welcome ALL volunteers but ensure you identify likely drivers BEFORE you begin.

Identify those on your team with initiative. Let them LEAD tasks and groups. NEVER TRUST THE FATE OF YOUR COMPANY TO AN UNTRUSTED HAND.

You can't run an exceptional project if it isn't constantly in your heart or on your mind. It must consume you.

You'll pick up useful lessons EVERYWHERE that can be applied to your project when it’s constantly on the front burner of your heart and mind.

The best ideas often come from the most unusual places. Actively seek solutions from the arts. You are selling to people with emotions.

Frame the issues for your team in a simple concept paper or brief. Make sure they understand and buy in to the overall objective.

Ensure team understanding through preliminary readings, review meetings & calls. Let everyone state what they understand or don't.

Get to know the people working on the project through one-on-one discussions, chats or group hang outs.

Plan for romantic realities especially for long intense projects. People WILL get together. Manage it when they do.

You may desire a project but it won't 'take' if there's no personal passion, sacrifice or commitment of resources.

Regulate your emotions and strength as a PM. You need them to manage others. Don't 'leak' emotions.

Have your team's back. Be loyal. Never side with a client against your team outside. Chew your team in private.

Lead by hard work. Take on project tasks first before delegating to others.

POLITICAL

If it's not documented, it doesn't exist in the public sector. Document everything. Leave a VERY long paper trail.

If a project has little buy in from management, don't begin immediately. Spend a few weeks selling the “idea”.

Identify the hold-outs in Management. Meet with them. Ask for their input and “try” to align to what they'd be willing to approve.

Deploy emotional IQ. Understand the power structures in a project. Who has influence? Approval authority? Design the project with that person in mind.

Always give the 'power centres' a heads up first. They should NEVER find out about an issue in the general meeting alongside everyone else.

Before a project begins, do the requisite courtesy calls to pay respect. The approval authorities like that sort of thing.

For clients that are guilty of serial delays, build in the cost of delayed payments into your invoice BEFOREHAND.

There are some sad projects where the process is more important to the organisation than the result. Don't feel bad. Such is life. Make sure you get paid nonetheless.

Find out what’s important to your client and structure your project accordingly. You may think it's your product. For them, it may just be for show. Such is life.

You can always assess the level of management support by their level of availability.

Ultimately, you learn as much from failure as success.

Church Musings

We sometimes forget that being a Pastor is not just a calling but also a 'job'. A Pastor dedicates focus and time to his responsibilities to achieve mastery.

Should lay people dedicate any less time to THEIR job? If a Pastor spends 16hrs "pastoring" while you spend 8hrs on your work and 8hrs in church, guess who'll end up being mediocre?  Internal conflict arises when you get caught in the God vs. Mammon debate. You keep spending more time in church to please God and to prove you care more about him than your "worldly" pursuits. And, as long as you don't see your work as service to God, you'll remain conflicted.

I'm reminded of a scripture that says: "Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men", the key word being "whatever". I believe the crucial thing is to discover what God has called you to and then you can channel your energy and time appropriately. I acknowledge that some people are called to church-based ministry. Others are terrific at multitasking. But for some, God needs them primarily in the marketplace or in Government. And above all, he needs them in their families.  You can tell a person's priority when he/she chooses a church function over spending time with a loved one. If God needs you in the marketplace, yet you spend all your time in church, how will you achieve mastery? If your work doesn't give you purpose; if you don't feel like you serve God through it and you need to make up for your guilty conscience through church activities, then perhaps you should take another look at what you do.

I'm all for volunteerism, but not at the expense of calling. That's tantamount to leaving your place of purpose. If God has called you to Government, you'll be leaving your place to go sweep in church.  You will achieve more for the kingdom by developing sound policies for the nation than keeping church chairs clean. If God wants you to get an MBA, but instead of reading on Saturdays, you prefer to attend choir practice, you're just kidding around. When you fail, you turn around to ask what happened to the 'favour of the Lord'? You deserve a resounding knock on the head.

The principle of Love Languages applies to God. You have to first understand him then love him the way HE wants not how YOU prefer.  What has HE called you to do? Where has HE placed you? Once you understand this, you'll stop feeling guilty about church activities.  And really, church cannot approbate and reprobate at the same time. They cannot want the benefit of my tithe or brain on committees yet mock the time and effort it requires to acquire same. If I spent all my time at choir practice, there'll be no tithe.  Let the fruits of your calling serve you in church and the community. Whether it's your training, pedigree, hard work, time or money. That's your treasure.  Where your treasure is, there your heart will be.

The God Chronicles Part 5: God, the Healer

I first got an inkling that something was wrong with me, after a troubling romantic episode. My theory was a build up of stress, capped by an overload of negative emotions broke down my typically strong bodily constitution.

A colleague noticed I had a lump in my neck and asked that I check it out. Thus began a 2 year process of injections and drugs. So much so, I would eventually have to teach a colleague how to administer the injections for when work required us to travel out-of-station. And I got a doctor's note to travel with packets of tablets when going out of the country. But, this blog post isn't about me. It's also not about having to deal with a dad who suffered a broken leg, then hypertension then a stroke. It's really about what happened 2 years later.

My mom, the solid rock and Amazon, became afflicted with a strange illness. For some reason, it robbed her of the ability to talk, move much or respond to external stimuli. Doctors proffered disparate diagnosis and a subsequent litany of drug prescriptions. Now, as anyone knows, when you're on a diet of drugs without a clear diagnosis; in their trial-and-error fashion, the drugs begin to wreck havoc to your body and mind.

As you can imagine, confusion, trepidation and uncertainty gripped my family. Should she be hospitalised? Should a resident nurse be hired, as 24hr care was required? Would my dad be able to handle the pressure as he was also dealing with serious health issues? How would we handle the financial pressure of a condition that seemed to have no time frame?

In the midst of the uncertainty, my family chose to appeal to God, the Healer. I think at some point in everyone's life, we come face-to-face with God's promises and take the frightening step of attempting to believe them. It isn't everyone who grows up with a natural faith in God. Some develop a personal relationship with him late in life and take tentative steps to develop trust in his word.

In trusting God to heal my mum, my family came together to fast and pray. I've never been the type to fast. But, I've come to understand that beyond being a symbol of humility (and for some, a way to impose serenity on fleshy passions), fasting can also be a seed.

Sowing is self-imposed deprivation towards a cause. So when you fast, you deprive yourself of culinary treats as a function of humility and demonstration of faith (an expectation of something you're believing in). I may be wrong, but when you have nothing else to give, fasting can become a seed. (This is my opinion).

My family fasted and prayed. (Afterall what else could we do and who else could we turn to?) Coming together to pray binds a family in a common cause. (However, I still dislike the routine morning and evening prayers families engage in. Growing up in a religious family turned me off them for life).

We trusted God because we had taken a pledge to give our lives to him and so, we expected him to take care of us and intervene in our troubling circumstances.

2 weeks later, I witnessed a bona fide miracle on Christmas day. My mom who wasn't talking or moving much, was up, dressed in finery, made up and sitting in the parlour waiting to go to church. In the following weeks, she would rally and make a remarkable recovery. Needless to say, i now believe in miracles.

As i look back on The God Chronicles, i am amazed by how far God has brought me and how much he longs to develop a relationship with humanity; how much he desires to be involved in our daily lives & thoughts and how much he wants to direct us to achieve his purpose.

The purpose of the Chronicles was to try to capture in some measure the little i've come to know about God and to express my heart to him and the people around me. I hope it's provided you with a glimpse.

As always, i would love to hear from you. I'm @subomiplumptre on Twitter or you can send a mail to subomiplumptre@yahoo.com. You can also join the conversation at #ShoSpeaks.

The God Chronicles Part 4: God, the Saviour

[The following essay represents a personal conviction which i reserve the right to express publicly].

There are four knotty issues I contended with when I accepted Jesus Christ as a "Lord and Saviour" (a.k.a getting "Born Again":)).

1. That I was separated from God and he considered me a sinner because of something some guy and his wife did almost 2,000 years ago in a garden of indeterminate location

2. The existence of a "Trinity" - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit

3. The concept of Jesus Christ as the "Son of God"

4. The process of "Salvation" which seemed to require so little

I spent considerable time musing on these issues, trying to resolve them or at least come to a place of quiet conviction. I eventually "accepted" them as fundamentally true even before I began to "understand" them. Perhaps this is what people call "Faith". The heart does recognise infallible truth when it comes in contact with it.

The first concept becomes easy when you relate it to "authority". For example, an evil President can condemn a population of 140m people to multi-generational poverty, hopelessness, terror and international scorn by his actions or inactions. Conversely, a good President can figuratively save an entire nation.

In the same vein, one man, Adam was placed in a position of authority over mankind. He disobeyed God and screwed the whole of mankind over. And so another 'man' needed to step in (one without sin), in a representative capacity to redeem man. Hence, the need for God the Son to be born into the world as a man. It never ceases to amaze me how we believe in fantastical tales of science fiction and mythology but stumble at the concept of God the Son being born into the world as a man in the person of Jesus Christ. When he shed his blood, he paid the price for our sins and created a way for us to be reconnected to God our Father. When God raised him from the dead, he did so, so he could defeat eternal death once and for all. It doesn't mean we no longer sin. But now we can appeal to the redemptive work of Jesus and gain forgiveness when we do.

The second concept - The Trinity - requires a better mind than mine to explain. But I do know that God tries to explain incredibly difficult concepts to us using human typologies. Hence, the closest I've come to understanding the Trinity is to consider that man is a Spirit who has a Soul and lives in a Body.

God is our eternal Father. His Son, Jesus Christ is his Word, his ultimate representative and the only one we can look upon. The Holy Spirit is a quickening regenerative Spirit. The Three are One.

The third concept - the Sonship of Jesus Christ - is where a number of people sometimes get stumped. Again, it goes back to the principle of designated authority. God does not procreate and does not have a wife. Sonship is a title not a biological designation. It describes perfect manifestation; someone who has authority to act. Sonship on earth tries to mirror this but I submit that God is the First Father while Jesus is the First Son.

The fourth concept - the process of salvation - requires simple belief and incredible humility. It requires an acknowledgement that our own works can never save us and that we require the grace and mercy of God.

A man/woman comes to a place where he recognises his limitations and the fact that he's a sinner. Sometimes, he doesn't even know what his heart is searching for. He just knows he needs something/someone. In the words of the song, I'm With You by Avril Lavigne, he recognises "It's a damn cold night. Trying to figure out this life. Take me by the hand, take me somewhere new. I don't know who you are but I'm with you".

The process of salvation may be "simple" but it is profound. A man arrives at the point of submission, acknowledges God's Lordship, Jesus' Sonship and ability to save and accepts it. It's not necessarily about speech or the words we say out loud, or else the vocally challenged can't be saved. But confession is prescribed because words are significant. Saying it out loud is a declaration of a decision.

A simple prayer of salvation would go thus: God, I need you. I messed up. I can't save myself. I believe Jesus your Son can, cause he gave his life for mine. You also raised him from the dead so I can defeat eternal death too. Please save me. Amen.

I believe salvation is not an end in itslef. It has very little to do with going to a heaven of indeterminate location, though that's a plus. Rather, it's much more about building a relationship with God, knowing him and unlocking a lifetime of fulfilling purpose and having a positive impact on the world.

I've tried to summarise the little I personally know of salvation. It would be my pleasure to continue this conversation. Feedback is always welcome.

(Buzz me @subomiplumptre, subomiplumptre@yahoo.com or join the conversation at #MakingGodFamous,#ShoSpeaks)

The God Chronicles Part 3: God, the Intelligent

I can’t tell you when I fell in love with God’s Word. As a child, I attended Sunday School and read Bible stories like anyone else. And they were just that, stories. I can’t tell you exactly when the word of God became essential to my being; when I began to look forward to reading it every day; when it became essential to me.

Perhaps, it was when the words began to impact me specifically and not generally. I would study the Word and it would be relevant to my circumstances and challenges. It became an active and responsive thing. And no, it wasn’t some variation of lotto where I’d drop the Bible on the bed and take the first random thing that opened up as gospel truth! After all, the Word of God is not a diviner’s stone. But, in my daily readings, God began to speak to me.

The subject didn’t matter – Relationships, work, family, sadness – there was always a word for me. I remember I used to muse in difficult times, “If only I can spend some time listening to God and reading the Word, I’ll find the answer”. And so, the Word of God became my comfort, direction and instruction (this part I resisted:)). It began to shape my character and worldview; opening up my mind. My brain virtually became prised open as ideas, intellect and inspiration poured in. It is assumed that I am intelligent, but very few people know I became more intelligent and discerning because of a consistent consumption of the Word of God. Nothing else has impacted my life like it.

Funny thing about the Word of God – being open-minded and reading other things enhances your understanding of it.

If you read poetry, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the Psalms. If you learn about the nomadic habits of shepherds, you’ll appreciate some of the factors that shaped King David’s youth. If you understand science, you’ll better appreciate Moses’ and Apostle Paul’s references to cosmology.

The Proverbs exhort us to “buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight”. You wouldn’t need to buy it, if it were free or could easily be downloaded from the internet. The most specialised courses, schools, research material etc. often need to be paid for or at the very least worked for. You must exchange something for it – time, effort, sacrifice or money. Wisdom is very precious and at a certain level the Word of God builds both your intellect and wisdom. Yes, the Holy Spirit gives insight and understanding, but it’s hard to communicate concepts and contexts that you don’t have any reference for. Don’t get me wrong. You’ll still be personally blessed by the Word, but your application of it in wider contexts e.g. Business, politics etc. will be severely limited. You’ll become one of those Christians that don’t make sense and can’t effectively function outside of Church.

If you cannot read and interpret the Word, then you are at the mercy of the one doing the reading to your hearing. Even when the Holy Spirit reveals a word to you, you will not have the intellectual base to effectively implement it. “In all thy getting, get understanding”.

One of the main reasons why I remain a born again Christian is because of an abiding love for God’s Word. I’m not a theologian and can’t tell you the specifics of how the Word became flesh, but I can testify of its life transforming power."

I leave you with Apostle Paul's prayer: "I ask — ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him — endless energy, boundless strength!

It would be my honour to tell you a little bit more about God, the intelligent one-on-one. Let’s begin a conversation: subomiplumptre@yahoo.com.

(Follow me @subomiplumptre or join the conversation at #MakingGodFamous,#ShoSpeaks)

The God Chronicles Part 2: Not Afraid to Ask Why

It is assumed that if we bring God down to “our level” or demystify him, people will either take him for granted or fail to accord him the reverence he deserves. They may even deign to treat the things that are holy as carnal. Thus, Christianity has evolved into this abstract, irrelevant, and sectarian club.

Perhaps we failed to understand that very few human beings can relate to abstract concepts. And so, a student may read a voluminous textbook prior to an exam because he can readily relate the work required to the desired outcome. It’s clear-cut. But, ask the same student to read his bible cover-to-cover with the same intensity and dedication and he honestly can’t understand why. He’s not being lazy or unserious as some Christians would accuse. His dedication to other pursuits disproves this. His love hasn’t “waxed cold” (when in truth, it was never properly forged, in the first place). He just hasn’t been brought to a place of understanding, where he sees the desired outcome of Christianity in real terms, beyond the snake oil skin merchants of prosperity or deliverance.

I am not advocating that we containerise God so our mortal minds can understand him or that we belittle exalted things. But I ask that we actively reveal those aspects of him that will help people truly relate to him. Jesus called himself friend, brother and son. God revealed himself as healer, deliverer and the one who is ever present. God consistently stoops to conquer. In the same vein, as Christians, we must be willing to address thorny questions and answer people’s queries about Christianity when they ask. We must stop shutting people up, condescending to them or patronising them. A simple “I don’t know” will suffice if in truth we don't, and we must then point them in the direction of someone who does know.

We mustn’t seek to have the last word in every discussion about our Father. Like Socrates, we must be willing to dissect issues, whittling them to their core essence. We must shake off every facade of piety and refrain from keeping up appearances of strength when we are most frail. Instead, we should acknowledge that we are saved by the kind grace of God.

I cannot claim to be God’s personal best friend or to comprehensively love him (for if the measure of love is obedience, then I fall short). But, I’m trying to get to know him; to build a personal, elemental relationship with him and to live for his purposes. That journey began with many questions and will grow through a desire to know and be known.

And so, I dare to call him by what i personally know about him; what has been revealed to me. I call him God, the Intelligent.

(Follow me @subomiplumptre or join the conversation at #MakingGodFamous,#ShoSpeaks)

The God Chronicles Part 1: This is My Story

I've decided to do a blog series about my journey of discovery with God.

About 15 years after I first got to know him, I'd had enough of 2nd hand Christianity. You know the kind where God is referred to in reported speech or patiently explained to you by third parties. I no longer wanted to know the God in church, books or choruses. I needed to know him for myself, talk to him, ask him questions, relate with him. I wanted to be the author of those books and choruses - telling my own experiential stories of what God had done and who he was.

You see, I became bored with the routine church going (though I was still enamoured by the Word). Perhaps because I never really knew why we went to church in the first place or why it had the structure it did. (I knew the scripted reason, but didn't really 'get' it. And anyway, school church was so much more fun and real.)

So began my journey of discovery. I would soon realise that my deepest epiphanies would occur during periods of great crisis.

This blog series will seek to share those personal insights. In some places, the actors will be referred to obliquely (as I'm not sure they'd like their names in the social media space).

Kindly follow me as I share. This is My Story. This is My Song...

(Follow me @subomiplumptre or join the conversation at #MakingGodFamous, #ShoSpeaks)

25 Entrepreneurial Lessons

1. Integrity matters. Build goodwill capital. You’ll need it to attract finance for business expansion or a crucial job recommendation.

2. Focus. Become very skilled at and known for something. It will generate referrals and significantly reduce your cost of marketing.

3. Read. Study. Be exposed. Your business can't rise above the level of your thinking and life concept.

4. Gain international perspectives and use international benchmarks which can be sourced from magazines, blogs etc. If you can, engage international interns.

5. Gain generational perspective: Hire young people.

6. Sometimes, you need to ignore industry chatter. Especially when you're cooking a breakthrough model.

7. Control your HR costs. Hire staff who can play BOTH professional and admin roles. This also creates a sense of ownership.

8. Corpers with potential are cost-efficient hires. To retain them, adopt an incentive program with the following features: Mission, responsibility, exposure, access, reduced cost of living & bonuses.

9. An entrepreneur cannot afford to NOT pay for performance. Include a trial period in your hiring process.

10. Identify protégées. They are your future managers. Pour yourself into them. Someday you won't have the energy to work at your current pace.

11. Adopt financial discipline. Constantly review actual figures not estimates. Never underbid or under price. Always cover your admin expenses.

12. Delicately manage 3 sources of income: Cash flow for operations, bulk capital for major purchases & project finance for expansion.

13. Proactively manage your culture. Use family meetings, life sessions & time outs. Create a company legend or story.

14. Institute annual strategy or review sessions. Review the numbers and lessons. Set goals and achieve them.

15. Hold monthly financial meetings. They provide an early warning signal when your company is in trouble.

16. Weekly management meetings are essential. It's a time to set goals for the week and review those for the previous week. It's also a great HR performance tracker.

17. Provide your staff with a periodic measure of progress. It helps you to identify those that are just coasting or who are lost within the system.

18. Documentation will save you. It professionalises you, increases your brand profile and provides hard evidence in times of trouble.

19. A CEO must serve & put the needs of others first. He must be accountable and relinquish the day to day financials after putting in place adequate controls.

20. Structure is key. Put in place requisite regulatory, legal, accounting & HR structures as you move from a Stage 1 to Stage 2 enterprise.

21. You need staff that can represent the company when the CEO is not around. The brand must become independent of the CEO.

22. Craft an expansion strategy for the future. It shows vision. When it's time, co-opt people in your network as strategic advisors.

23. Family matters. Staff can't work when there's trouble at home or their spouses oppose them. Develop programmes to help them understand the company. Programmes include bring-your-child to-work-day, annual family picnic, food & welfare packs for junior staff etc.

24. Review suggestions from your staff on how to make work better. But filter what they say for 'freebie' tendencies and presumption.

25. If you’re lucky, your company will attain institutional positioning. It will become the industry leader and set the standard.