Wednesday, May 16, 2018

The world belongs to thinkers – regardless of their spiritual status


By Lolu Elegbe
Steve Jobs – Apple. Jack Ma – Alibaba. Elon Musk – Tesla. Bill Gates – Microsoft. Brian Chesky & Joe Gebbia – Airbnb. Mark Zuckerberg – Facebook. Jeff Bezos – Amazon. Garrett Camp & Travis Kalanick – Uber.
What do these people have in common? Through their dedication to technological innovation and advancement – and sheer force of will, they’ve created products and services that have literally changed the world we live in.
I always ask certain questions whenever I get into debates about technological advancement. Why wasn’t the Iphone invented 3000 years ago? Most of the components needed to make it are as old as the earth itself – so why did it fall to Steve Jobs in 2007 to do that? Why weren’t cars, airplanes, computers, etc, invented sooner? Why weren’t they invented by say Adam & Eve or Solomon or Paul or even the great inventors of old like Leonardo da Vinci? If we believe that God is all knowing, then it stands to reason that He knew these inventions would come in the future even before He created Man. So why didn’t He just give them to the first man and woman or the ones that followed shortly after?
The answer I believe is a simple one – God expects us to seek knowledge and understanding. Imagine the technological advances that have taken place in the past fifty years and how primitive the world back then now seems. Now imagine the advances in the next fifty years and how primitive our generation will seem to the generation of that time. This I believe is God’s design for the world – the creative process. Each generation learns from the success and most importantly, the failures of the preceding one, thus having a more advanced starting point to create needed products and services. Now here’s where it gets interesting – contrary to what is taught today, the pre-requisite for all this isn’t salvation! Salvation is about reconciling man to God – that does not absolve a Christian of the creative process. Instead the prerequisite is the ability to think and do – think through an idea and execute it. Thinking and executing have nothing to do with your religious beliefs. If an atheist can think and do, he would have put himself in a position to follow God’s design and will thus be favoured. An example of an atheist who is also very successful? Richard Branson, billionaire founder of the Virgin Group.
Take the people I mentioned above. I’ve read books on all of them and their companies and I can say for a fact that the most important thing they have in common, is an unshakeable belief in the power of their ideas. This belief meant that when they started out, no matter how many hoops they had to jump through, how many setbacks they faced, how many times they had doors shut in their faces, they kept going. 
For example, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, the founders of Airbnb, went through so many setbacks that even seasoned start-up experts couldn’t understand why they kept going. Almost no one was interested in “their crazy idea to monetize your spare room when you’re out” (as one investor put it). They built the site but required serious funding to take it to the next level. They tried all sorts of gimmicks including selling cereal boxes with “O”s and “M”s representing Obama and McCain in 2008. Sounds ridiculous, but that particular ridiculous gimmick was what finally opened the doors for them after years of fruitless toiling! A friend set up a meeting for them with a venture capitalist, who was looking for tech start-ups to join a mentoring/training and potential investment programme (Y Combinator). The venture guy, unsurprisingly, didn’t like the idea – specifically, he thought it was too crazy to succeed – so he declined. But as they were leaving his office, he noticed one of the cereal boxes and asked for the story behind it. Once he heard the cereal box story, he suddenly became impressed – not by the idea (which he still thought was ridiculous), but by their cereal box story , which showed him their level of determination and refusal to give up.
He immediately recommended them to the program and also recommended them to a major investor who wasn’t looking for the best idea but the one(s) most likely to stick it out through the rough and tumble of life as a start-up. About a year later, they secured funding of $7.2 million – the rest as they say, is history. Today, Airbnb is worth $30 billion – making its dogged founders billionaires.
The entrepreneurs that have changed the world, started out with similar stories of ideas most people thought were too crazy to succeed. Jeff Bezos left a job with a six figure salary on Wall Street to start Amazon in 1994, a company founded on the idea of being a one-stop for online shopping – but he decided to start with books and then gradually move into other products. When he approached his parents to invest in the company, his dad said, “what do you mean you’re resigning to sell books on the internet?” Remember that this was 1994 – the internet wasn’t what it is today, so his parents didn’t see how his idea made any sense. But his dad relented and said, “We’ll invest – not because we believe in the idea, but because we believe in you”. Today Amazon is worth about $430 Billion, making Jeff Bezos the world’s richest man with a net worth of $110 Billion. By the way, his parents are also now billionaires through that seed investment they made in 1994!
There’s a saying that fortune favours the brave. What that really means is that God favours the thinkers and those who put in the work to execute ideas. It’s got absolutely nothing to do with spirituality (or lack of it). And it’s got nothing to do with giving or tithing or first fruits. I hear all the time that Bill Gates is a billionaire because of his giving – he’s given away a total of $28 Billion. Even a simple fact-check will show that Bill Gates (and almost all the other billionaires) became givers AFTER they became wealthy. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with giving – of course we should all give. But let’s stop spreading this idea that giving was what made these people the fortunes they did. Jeff Bezos isn’t exactly known for giving – he sent out a tweet sometime last year, asking for philanthropy suggestions. This wasn’t just after he became a billionaire, this was AFTER he became the world’s richest man! So I fail to see the logic when I hear that these guys became billionaires because of their giving.
They found favour with God, despite not being spiritual or religious. Why? Because they put themselves at the centre of God’s design for this world. Innovation, development and advancement, brought about by thinking and doing – that’s the design of this world and those that key into that are the ones who change the world, regardless of spiritual status.
PS: Could I recommend 2 books…both by Brad Stone.
1. The Everything Store – Jeff Bezos and the age of Amazon.
2. The Upstarts: How Uber, Airbnb and the killer companies of the new Silicon Valley are changing the world.

• Lolu is a management consultant, with over 10 years experience managing large IT and Business Change projects across multiple UK & European industries including financial services, telecoms, pharmaceuticals, etc. Following his training as a lawyer in Moscow, Russia where he received his LLB, he worked on a number of criminal and immigration cases in London, before switching to the consulting industry. Over the past year, he has worked as Country Director for a technology start-up, as part of an exclusive partnership with Microsoft. He is a prolific writer and has written several well received articles. He is also a published author of “Through My Eyes – A foreign view of the 2008 US Presidential Election”

5 Solutions to Help You Get Out of a Financial Rut


Have you ever been in a financial rut, where you feel like you can’t get ahead? Do you feel like your financial systems aren’t working? Well, you’re not alone.
Many of us find ourselves in a financial rut from time to time. It’s easy to get stuck, especially after complacency sets in. Old systems may no longer work for your current reality.
If you’re feeling stuck and looking for a way out of your financial rut, try these 5 tips.

1. Go On a Cash Detox

To completely overhaul your finances, go on a cash detox. For at least three months, put away the plastic and say no to credit cards.
While credit cards are convenient and nice for accruing rewards, they have a way of enticing you to spend more money. Parting with hard-earned cash has been proven to be more difficult — it’s also easier to track when you’re about to run out of cash.
Start by employing the envelope budgeting system, popularized by finance guru Dave Ramsey. List out your expenses and understanding how much you typically spend. Create an envelope for housing, groceries, transportation, etc. and fill the envelopes with the desired amount of cash.
Let’s say you allot $200 for groceries for a month. You’d withdraw $200 in cash from your bank account and deposit it into the envelope. Throughout the month, use the cash from this envelope to buy groceries. Once the cash is gone, it’s gone. This method can help you spend within your means and lessen the dependence on credit cards.
Credit cards can be addictive, so if you’re looking for a fresh start, a cash detox is the way to go. It will make you hyper aware of where you are spending your money and how often you are parting with it. If you have no money left in the envelopes by the 15th, you know you’re spending much more than you should.

2. Cut Out One Expense for a Month

Being in a financial rut can often arise from the status quo. Things have gotten stale and there’s a lack of progress. So if you want to jolt your finances and boost your savings, commit to cut out one recurring expense for a month.
Do you like to go out for daily coffees? Or go out to eat three times a week? Pick one expense and commit to cutting it for 30 days. This exercise will help in two ways: one, it will help you realize that you don’t need those extra expenses (even as hard as it may be), and secondly, you will save a ton of money.
From the money you save, put that extra money to debt or savings. If you feel inspired, challenge yourself once-a-month to cut out, or significantly cut back on, one expense.

3. Focus on Making More Money

Cutting back can be a great way to save money and get out of a financial rut. Unfortunately though, there are only so many areas you can cut back on, before you’ve reached your bare bones, necessities-only budget.
On the other side of the coin though is earning more. I personally believe that making money feels more empowering and can inspire action. Whenever I feel like I’m in a financial rut, I start looking for ways to make more money.
I’ve worked as a babysitter, pet sitter, house cleaner, writer, editor, and so much more. I like working extra gigs to help fund my debt payments and I always end up learning more or acquiring a new working relationship.

4. Figure Out Your Problem Areas

If you’re really feeling stuck, it’s imperative you figure out the problem areas and what exactly is causing this rut. Is it a stunted savings rate? A lack of income growth? A reliance on credit? Whatever the case may be, write down your problem areas and come up with a proposed solution.
The point is to try something different than what you’ve already been doing. A rut often occurs after we try the same thing, with little change in results.
Start going about things differently, in both the ways you save and spend. Consider automating your savings for maximum impact, and creating positive money habits like checking your account balances daily.

5. Start Dreaming (Big)

Being in a financial rut can feel frustrating and isolating — like you’re going around in circles. While following the above steps of cutting back, earning more, and changing your systems, will help you get out of a rut, it’s also important that you don’t stop dreaming.
Dream of what you want out of life — what you really want, not what your parents want, the Joneses want, etc. What you want! Maybe you want a house on a hill, or the opportunity to sail the Caribbean. Perhaps you long for days of working for yourself and not being chained to a desk.
Whatever your dream is, hold it close and start thinking about how you will get there. It may seem intimidating at first, but with every big action, there are small steps.
Create a map of small actions you can take every day to get you closer to your dreams. Don’t get sucked into the day-to-day needs that can blind you from your dreams, but stay focused. Dreaming big can help keep your priorities straight and remind you of the big picture.
These tips will help you get out of a financial rut and make the necessary changes to live the life you want.

10 Steps to a Tech Career


"Where do I start?" That's an obvious question when you're considering a technology career. Should you get a technical certification? Learn a programming language? You'll hear a seemingly endless variety of answers, largely because the technology field is so vast, with numerous career paths ranging from database administrator to network engineer.
For those just starting to consider a technology career, it's best to avoid the temptation to jump into a potentially expensive, time-intensive training program unless you know it's the right program and career path for you. Instead, explore the field by picking and choosing from this list of 10 mix-and-match steps to get a sense of the technology job world and what you're likely to find fulfilling.
Attend an Industry Organization Meeting
Techies working in the industry's trenches can provide lots of guidance to those just getting started. They can also serve as mentors to assist you as you embark on a tech career. Where can you find these mentors? At industry groups, many of them with college chapters and mentoring programs. Be up front with your need for advice, and ask lots of questions.
For more information, check out:
 Explore Tech Job Roles
Too many would-be techies blast into the field without thinking through the myriad job roles available. Why commit to studying networks when programming may be right for you? The TechCareer Compass, a resource from industry group CompTIA, will help you sort through the possibilities with its still-evolving taxonomy of technology job roles.
For more information, check out:
Learn HTML
Programmers, technical writers, information architects and many other techies are now expected to know HTML, the language used to display Web pages. Learning HTML is a first step in moving beyond browsing to delve into the Internet's innards.
For more information, check out:
 
Read Computer Books
Visit your local library or bookstore, and head to the computer books section. If it's a megastore, you'll find hundreds of books, many with obscure titles and topics. Simply perusing books about the industry, as well as specific topics like programming and networking, will help you explore the variety of jobs in the field.
For more information, check out:
Write a Program
Programming is an essential skill for technology pros. Scores of languages exist, such as C++, Java, C#, Visual Basic and more. Learning JavaScript is one relatively quick way to get started in programming. You'll need nothing more than a Web browser, a text-editing program and the help of an online tutorial.
For more information, check out:
Install Linux
If you install and run the Linux operating system, you'll accomplish several things at once. You'll learn about the open source software movement, and you'll also get a quick course on an OS other than Windows.
For more information, check out:
Volunteer Your Services
You may be a newbie, but don't stay that way. Find someone -- even an older relative -- who needs computer assistance. This will test your ability to communicate clearly about technology, an essential skill for tech professionals. Nonprofits, religious organizations and other community groups may also be in need of individuals with computer expertise, however newly acquired.
For more information, check out:
Contribute to an Open Source Project
Just because you're not a pro with PHP or MySQL doesn't mean you're not ready to contribute to an open source project. The open source movement needs people to help stamp out bugs, write documentation and lend a hand in other ways. Any contribution will help you make contacts and learn about the techie life.
For more information, check out:
 Enroll in a Course or Workshop
Community colleges, universities and technology training centers often offer weekend or evening workshops with entry-level instruction in programming, Web development and networking. Online courses also provide a relatively fast, cost-effective way to gain insight into the field.
For more information, check out:
Build a Web Site
Forget about those automated homepage building tools. Instead, use your knowledge of HTML and JavaScript to display your prowess with Web technologies. Experiment, have fun and focus on useful tools rather than glitzy graphics.
For more information, check out:
Learn more about technology careers.
Learn more about IT careers.

8 Signs Someone Is Jealous Of You (And How To Fix It)



“The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.” – William Penn
Nothing feels worse than achieving a goal or becoming successful in an endeavor and discovering that the people around you don’t feel proud or positive about it – but rather, they feel jealous. A person’s jealous feelings can cause them to act unkindly towards us, especially in the face of our own achievements or success.
Psychologist Steven Stosny says that jealousy “makes you think the same thing over and over and the more you do that, the less reality-testing you do. Emotions all have an illusion of certainty, and jealousy makes you certain of your perception of the world.
Everyone has felt this unpleasant emotion at least once in their lives, and most likely much more than that. It seems much harder to deal with when other people feel jealous towards us, though. After all, we can control how we feel, but we can’t control other people’s emotions. Recognizing the signs that someone is jealous of you can be the first step to fixing it.

HERE ARE EIGHT SIGNS SOMEONE’S JEALOUS OF YOU

1. FALSE PRAISE

When someone is jealous of you, they’re often the first to give you a compliment that sounds sincere, or seems to be dripping with passive aggression. However, you’ll find that these people will be rolling their eyes the minute you leave the room.
They would rather pretend they’re not jealous than address the issue. One way to turn it back around is to give them sincere compliments when something good happens to them. It may help them see that you’re a genuine person, and help curb their jealousy.
Clinical psychologist Leon F. Seltzer, Ph.D., says, “Short of becoming indiscriminately wary of others’ praise or flattery, it’s only prudent to consider whether they might have a hidden agenda in praising you. That way you can minimize the possibility that their seemingly trustworthy compliments aren’t really some sort of two-faced con.

2. DOWNPLAY YOUR SUCCESS

No matter what you achieve or how hard you worked to do so, jealous people will always try to make it seem like it was a fluke, or that you didn’t work as hard as you did to achieve your success. The reasons that they come up with may be rude or condescending.
People who will envy you the most are the ones who are in need the most of what you possess, says M.Farouk Radwan, MSc.
Rising to their bait will only make them more likely to talk poorly. Stay humble but firm in your achievements. If you brag, they may be more likely to stay jealous of you.

3. FLAUNTING THEIR SUCCESS

Someone who is jealous of you may be more inclined to flaunt their success more than it’s really worth flaunting. They may be more inclined to flaunt their own achievements while you’re celebrating your own. These are the type of people to get engaged at a wedding.
Because chances are, they’re not as successful as you are. Author Bob Bly states, “There are always people who are filled with negative thoughts — not only about others whom they envy (you) but also about themselves and their perceived failure to having achieved their goals (which are often to own their own business or be richer than they are).
While it may be frustrating, getting upset is only going to make them feel more justified in their behavior. Instead, offer them sincere praise in their achievements. Leading by example is a good way to alter someone’s behavior.

4. THEY’RE IMITATING YOU

Someone who is jealous of you alternatively wants to be better than you, and also be just like you. They may imitate the way you talk or the way you dress in order to feel better about themselves. Instead of allowing this to upset you, try to encourage them to go their own way. When they’re doing their own thing, give them positive reinforcement. Show them that they don’t have to be you to be great, and that they can be their own person.

5. THEY’RE COMPETITIVE

Jealous people tend to be highly competitive, because they always want to be the one reaping the success or as clinical psychologist Melanie Greenberg says, they are “either insecure or arrogant and want to prove superiority.
While it can be tempting to take them down a peg, refuse to make the competition unhealthy, or even refuse to participate. If they try to argue with you about a job promotion, just simply tell them: “It isn’t a competition.” Refusing to play into their game will make them less likely to try and continue to one up you.

6. CELEBRATING YOUR FAILURES

Someone who is jealous is going to privately feel very good about when you make mistakes, or get reprimanded or corrected at work or school. While they may never show it, they’re often secretly enjoying your failures. Handle your mistakes with grace! You can always remind them that making mistakes are part of life and learning. If you’re not upset, they’re not getting the enjoyment out of it that they thought they would.

7. THEY GOSSIP BEHIND YOUR BACK

Jealous people will always find a way to talk about you behind your back. It’s not fun, and the things they say can be malicious and hurtful. The best way to deal with someone who does this may be just to confront them directly.
As author James Clear mentions, “… negativity from other people is like a wall. And if you focus on it, then you’ll run right into it. You’ll get blocked by negative emotions, anger, and self-doubt. Your mind will go where your attention is focused. Criticism and negativity don’t prevent you from reaching the finish line, but they can certainly distract you from it.
Since jealous people don’t tend to be outwardly confrontational, talking to them seriously about what they’re doing may be enough to get them to rethink their behavior, or to get it to stop entirely.

8. THEY HATE YOU

If there’s someone you know who hates you for no conceivable reason, they may just be jealous. This one is hard to deal with, because we often don’t like to be hated for no reason. You may feel the urge to show this person that you’re entirely likeable. But, there may be nothing to do about it. If you can’t charm them into liking you, it may just be best to cut them out of your life. You don’t need that negativity, and they’re most likely working themselves up hating you for no reason. The best way to fix it is to let it go.
Final thoughts
Dealing with someone else’s jealousy can be a tricky situation. You may feel the desire to just tell them off. But, dealing with a jealous person in a non-confrontational and positive manner is ultimately better for both you and the other person. They may feel a lot of self-esteem issues that they need to work through, and getting upset with them won’t fix or deal with their jealous tendencies. Knowing the signs of a jealous person will make it easier to fix and handle in a positive and productive manner.
(C)POWER OF POSITIVITY, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
REFERENCES:HTTPS://WWW.PSYCHOLOGYTODAY.COM/ARTICLES/200907/JEALOUSY-LOVES-DESTROYERHTTPS://WWW.PSYCHOLOGYTODAY.COM/BLOG/EVOLUTION-THE-SELF/201401/PRAISE-MANIPULATION-6-REASONS-QUESTION-COMPLIMENTSHTTPS://WWW.2KNOWMYSELF.COM/JEALOUSY/HOW-TO-DEAL-WITH-JEALOUS-PEOPLEHTTPS://WWW.EARLYTORISE.COM/SLAYING-THE-GREEN-EYED-MONSTER-HOW-TO-DEAL-WITH-PEOPLE-WHO-ARE-JEALOUS-OF-YOUR-ENTREPRENEURIAL-SUCCESS/HTTPS://WWW.PSYCHOLOGYTODAY.COM/BLOG/THE-MINDFUL-SELF-EXPRESS/201109/HOW-KEEP-YOUR-COOL-COMPETITIVE-PEOPLEHTTP://JAMESCLEAR.COM/HATERS

8 Fascinating Truths of Social Media Withdrawal


My girlfriend and I ended our long-distance relationship over spring break, a little over a month ago. We ended on good terms, but I couldn’t shake the anxiety and identity crisis that came along with being single after 8 months of dating. It was a shock.
I immediately quit social media so that I wouldn’t see or be tempted to check her updates. I uninstalled Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat from my phone. I installed the Facebook News Feed Eradicator Chrome extension to remove Facebook timeline from the web app.
I began to reflect on myself. I felt as though I had been a negative and pessimistic personality over the past few months (basically since the inauguration of our current President). I simply wasn’t happy with myself. I had no direction in life. I didn’t know what I wanted to make my career. I was lost.
I downloaded two apps — Medium and Quora — to read through self-help posts and figure out how to get myself out of my rut. I came across an inspirational post by Benjamin Foley.
I enacted two of his recommendations — I quit the news and the rest of my social media — the two biggest inhibitors to my happiness. Twitter was gone. Reddit was gone. Even LinkedIn, which I rarely used, was deleted off my phone.
All that was left were my communication apps — Messenger, Slack, and WhatsApp.
Fast-forward to the present, and I have never felt so empowered or held such a positive outlook on my life since I entered college. My withdrawal from social media has changed my life immensely. Here’s what I’ve learned.



My withdrawal was easy to explain at first.
For the people I was close with, I simply told the truth: “Oh my girlfriend and I broke up, so I’m just taking some time off social media.”
For the people I wasn’t especially close with: “I found myself spending too much time on it and wanted a break to get my academic/professional life together.”
But it’s tougher now. I’ve recovered from the breakup for the most part, but I’ve also realized the extent to which social media was holding my back. I can’t just say “I believe social media is a waste of time,” even when it’s something I actually believe. I have to pull back and resort to the “spending too much time” response.
And it’s sad that it’s been awkward to explain to others. We have come to a point in society where everyone (especially a millennial college student) is assumed to have and be active on every form of social media.

2. You experience a (valid) fear of missing out


I missed the birthdays of several of my Facebook friends. I missed my friend’s engagement announcement. I wasn’t able to ‘friend’ the cute girl I hit it off with.
I missed out on the lives of people I only receive updates from via social media. I just didn’t know what people were doing, or the other events of which I was unaware. It sucked.

3. Actual conversations (and friendships) become so much better

But my friend who got engaged went out of his way to message me the news. He even invited me to his wedding.
Talking with people, face-to-face, has become more authentic and genuine than ever before. The fact that I have no idea what my friends have been doing leads me to go out of my way to find out. I’m more attentive, responsive, and engaged in conversations because I’m learning something new about their lives I didn’t know beforehand via social media.
I’ve learned to trust in my friendships. My friendship with someone is just as strong even if I don’t ❤️ them on Instagram or 😆 their punny joke on Facebook. I just have to be sure to catch up with them when I can.

4. Productivity skyrockets

I face far fewer distractions from social media and my phone than before. I’ve passed the point where I check my phone for updates every few minutes, and can truly focus for extended periods of time. I finish my assignments and projects with more quality, less effort, and in less time. Social media no longer encumbers me as a crutch to procrastinate.
It is a gateway push toward efficiency and happiness. If I finish my work quicker, I can move on with my life sooner, hang out with friends for longer, go to sleep (and wake up) earlier, spend more time at the gym, and so on.

5. You find new ways to “waste” time

So I deleted every social media app from my phone, and downloaded Medium and Quora. I recently found myself trying to distract myself from reality (studying for finals) by scrolling through the articles on the former or questions on the latter. I go to the bathroom with my phone in order to read, not check up on the non-existent Facebook updates I missed since getting up from my desk five feet away. I even find myself procrastinating work by cleaning the apartment, spending more time and energy cooking, and planning out my summer projects.
Finish reading @ https://tinyurl.com/yc2l79mq

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Please don't be an idiot

 If you walk along any river you may see fisherman on the bank casting their lines as far as possible into the river. Now take a look at the boats, those fishermen are casting towards the shore so where are the fish?



This brings me to the topic of, "Truth". Everything is true and nothing at all.

 Line 100 people up on a sidewalk and let's stage a car collision.


 After the collision we're going to separate the 100 viewers and ask them to describe what they saw while taking a polygraph test.
You're going to have 100 true / false stories by days end So...

 Where is the truth?

*These things are child's play when you know nothiung and understand even less.

Watch what I say

 Making Jerusalem the capital of Israel will spawn a new / rejuvenate a new wave of terrorists just as Obama & Hillary spawned / rejuvenated ISIS 



Featured Posts

Rental Properties for Sale, Santa Marianita, Ecuador

  Beautiful rental with beach access. Utilities and WiFi are included, just bring your food and move in. *Be sure to ask about our long-term...

Popular Posts