Presidential media chat: Nigerians react negatively on Twitter

Nigerians reacted Negatively towards the presidential media chat which was held yesternight, Read some tweets I found online below...

Pics: Jim Iyke tweets about his deliverance

A few hours after his deliverance at Synagogue Church Of All Nations went viral online, Jim Iyke took to twitter to deliver his message. But Dencia don't seem impressed by it all. See her tweet after cut..

Kim Kardashian ‘Bored’ Staying At Home With North West — Report

Seems like Kim Kardashian our "Mummy North West" is tired of been a mum,  after enjoying a relaxing break from her hectic schedule for months, it has now be reported that she’s itching to get back into the swing of her old routine!
here is what a close source confirmed:

PICTURES: LAGBUS crushes soldier to death in Lagos

This horrible accident happened yesterday Monday Sept. 23rd along the Alaka/Costain crossover bridge in Surulere. The driver of one of the buses in the state mass transit scheme lost control of his bus and crashed into a soldier riding a motorcyle on the express. The yet-to-be identified soldier was cut almost into two by the bus. (Too graphic...but will show you just one pic).

Ranking Of The Top 60 CEOs On Social Media

This is our second global ranking of CEOs on social media. As more CEOs have transitioned into social media, we have expanded it from 30 to 60 individuals. The ranking methodology is set out at the bottom of the article.

Article: The Single Biggest Threat To Your Job

The biggest threat to your job might come from an unexpected place. I believe that there is a hidden assassin lurking in the background waiting to finish you off in your job. Let’s face it, job security is high on everyone’s wish list right now, especially at times of economic downturn when it might not be so easy to quickly find another one.

So how secure is your job? Where is this hidden threat coming from and how can you put yourself into the best possible position to keep your job? I believe the biggest threat to your job, indeed most of our jobs, is coming from from an unforeseen eliminator. I believe that our improved ability to capture and analyse data will allow us to automate most jobs. And I am not just talking about the manual and un-skilled jobs but any job, including the jobs of knowledge workers, doctors, journalists and even sports coaches.

Video: Dbanj Releases a Teaser of His New Video

We finally get to see a teaser for the video of kokomaster D’banj‘s ‘Top of the world’, theme song of the 2013 African Nation’s Cup and one of his hit singles in his recent Album, DKM (D' Kings Men)

Article: 6 Innovative Companies In Africa

I tried to take my time to work on this list, avoiding been "Biased".
Here I noticed there alot of innovative companies  here in Africa, but here are Six African companies who share a few things in common with the most innovative outfits: They have immense ability to create new businesses and profitable growth. They continually reinvent themselves, setting industry standards and radically changing their sectors. These companies create, then recreate, then innovate. They exploit new ideas, products and services to produce dynamic and lucrative new businesses.

The First Things a New Leader Should Do to Build Trust

As a new supervisor nearly 30 years ago and as Lockheed Martin CEO and President, building trust has always been my top priority. That’s because I’ve learned over the years that if you don’t have a bond of trust with the people who can help you succeed, business comes to a screeching halt.

Article: How to Spot a Great Leader in Four Easy Steps

Leadership can be an incredibly hard concept to define and an even harder quality to learn. There are some who argue that great leaders are born but I have always believed that you can learn and develop the necessary skills through hard work and experience.

Video: Kung-Fu fighting in Football?

The Werder Bremen forward lost his head and nearly made Eintracht Frankfurt defender Bastian Oczipka lose his with this appalling kung-fu kick challenge. Ozipka had the last laugh, as his side ran out 3-0 winners.

Samsung's set to launch BBM for Android app on Friday

Samsung Nigeria has just confirmed on Twitter that they've locked down a three-month exclusive to BBM and that it will be available this Friday. That's not much of a surprise on either front, given we've got a BlackBerry event in Malaysia and India on Wednesday, and Samsung has been pretty dedicated in their pre-launch BBM advertising. For those without a Samsung phone, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle to find the .APK file floating around.

New Batman Ben Affleck speaks to Jimmy Fallon about Batman vs Superman

The actor-director sat down for an interview on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" Monday night (Sept. 16), and he spoke candidly -- and charmingly, it must be said -- about his reaction to the vitriol-fueled fallout from the casting announcement.

No Job Posted...Send Resume Anyway?

I got this question from a reader regarding submitting a resume to companies that don't appear to be hiring:

In one of your webinars recently you said go straight to the companies and avoid the postings. My question is: Do you make sure that a company is hiring or do you just send your letter and resume and hope for the best? Some companies do not accept resumes if they don't have a specific job opening.

The answer is "no." You shouldn't blindly submit your materials. But, not because a company won't accept them. They will. However...

Here's Why Your Resume Won't Get Seen...

When I tell people to go straight to the company, what I mean is there's no point in applying online unless you have someone you know in the company who can walk your credentials into the hiring manager and ask them to pull your resume from the thousands they've received online and take a closer look. Yep, I said THOUSANDS. Today, applying via job boards is the easiest way to look for a work - so, everyone is doing it. Yet, it also happens to be the least effective method for getting noticed. Why? The ATS (applicant tracking system) employers use to gather applications automatically screen you out for not being an exact keyword and experience match for the job. Still, people continue to waste hours upon hours filling out online applications only to be shocked and disappointed when they never hear back from the employers. They say to me, "But J.T., I was perfect for the job." I respond, "Yes, you and hundreds of other people." The reality is your chances of making it through the online process and into the hands of a human being are only slightly better than you winning the lottery.

Effective Job Seeker Rule #1: Submit Resumes to Actual People

Want to improve your odds of getting noticed by employers? Only submit your resume and cover letter to human beings. How? Network and connect with employees of the companies you desire to work at. Then, when a job gets posted you are a match for, instead of going into the ATS blackhole, you can reach out to your contacts and see if they can help you get your credentials in the hiring manager's hands. There's a reason 80%+ of jobs today are gotten via referral - it works!

No Job Posted? Even More Reason to Network

When there's a company you'd like to work for but they've no jobs posted, you've got an opportunity to prepare for the day they finally hire for your skill set. You can start the networking process now with employees and get to know first-hand what it will take to eventually earn a position at their company. Better still, you may learn about the "hidden" jobs at the company. The ones that are open but not posted anywhere online. While sending a resume to HR will likely end up in the circular file. (a.k.a. trash can), connecting and having meaningful conversations with employees will result in you being fully prepared to fast-track your resume to the right hiring manager.

What other tips can readers share to help people get around ATS and connect directly with employers? I'd love to hear your comments below.

J.T. O'Donnell

Networking Rules for Job-seekers: the Good, the Bad and the Almost Perfect

"Networking is about meeting people you know who can vouch for your past performance and connect you with people you don't know."

After writing The Best Job-hunting Secrets of All Time, and reading the comments, I can safely conclude that 20% of job-seekers find networking necessary, appropriate, and comfortable. Another 20% find it necessary, but uncomfortable. The rest are either not doing it, or doing it wrong.

As I've stated loud and clear on these pages many times, applying directly to a job posting should represent no more than 20% of your total time looking for a job. Sixty percent should be on networking. The other 20% represents a bunch of clever techniques to help your resume be found and get contacted by a recruiter. This post will focus on the 60% networking piece.

For job-seekers there are some major advantages to networking over applying directly. For one, you'll be able to bypass the gatekeepers. For another, you'll increase your chances of being interviewed and hired by 5-10X. Even more important, candidates who are highly referred are judged more on their past performance and future potential than on their level of skills and experiences. That’s why I tell candidates not to directly apply to a job unless they’re a perfect fit on skills and experience. If not, they need to be referred by someone who can vouch for their past performance and future potential.

Networking is not about trying to meet as many people whom you don't know. This is almost as ineffective as applying directly to a job posting. Networking is about meeting people you do know who can both vouch for your past performance and future potential, and willingly recommend you to others. Here’s how this should be done:

1. Meet 3-4 people who can vouch for your past performance and future potential. These should be your best first degree connections. Younger people can use their professors, advisors, or important church or social connections as their first degree connections.
2. During the meeting review your resume or LinkedIn profile and ask for feedback. Then ask these people if they would be comfortable recommending you to people they know who are connected to others in companies or industries of interest.
3. If the answer to Step 2 is no, find out why, and/or find some better connected people.
4. If the answer to Step 2 is yes, obtain the names of 3-4 people and their contact information. Then ask the person who is vouching for you if they would call the person on your behalf, or send an email introducing you.
5. Research your connection's connections and ask about specific people. In addition to asking people you know who they know, you can turn this around and ask them about specific people they’re already connected to who you'd like to meet. This is possible using LinkedIn, since you’re able to see your first degree connections' connections (at least if they haven't hidden them).
6. Network backwards. Start with a job of interest, and using LinkedIn, find out who you're connected to who knows someone in the company who can refer you.
7. Be direct and be proactive. When you meet these second degree connections be prepared to ask about specific people they know, and about specific jobs at their companies. All of this information is on LinkedIn. Asking to be referred to a specific person or a specific job will result in more connections and more interviews.
8. Don’t be a pest, but keep your network warm by maintaining an active PR campaign. Spend a few hours each week sending emails to those who have helped you in any way. Make them personal.
9. Establish some metrics to stay focused. Treat the job-hunting process as a job, not a hobby. As a minimum, you’ll need to track meetings per week and the number of recommendations per meeting. The overriding goal should by 50-60 people in your job-hunting network within 2-3 weeks.

Networking is how you turn 4-5 great contacts into 50-60 connections in 2-3 weeks. As described above, networking should represent 60% of your job-hunting efforts. It will take about 20-30 hours per week. This is roughly 10-15 new contacts per week via the phone, which should convert into 5-6 one-on-one meetings every week. The rest of the time should be on LinkedIn researching their connections and finding open jobs in their companies. Within 2-3 weeks you’ll start hearing about some real jobs of interest. The person doing the recommending will think it’s a coincidence, but you’ll know it’s a result of your hard work.

Getting referred increases your chances of being interviewed and getting a better job by 5-10X over applying directly. This is a pretty good trade-off since it only takes three times the effort. Even better, some of the connections you make along the way will surprise you, and put you on a path you never even considered.

Lou Adler

Drake Album "Nothing was the same" Leaks out.

Drake's "Nothing Was the Same" leaked out online on Sunday night, September 15. The album, which follows up the Canadian rapper's 2011 release "Take Care", unexpectedly arrived more than one week ahead of its official release date, September 24.

One track that draws fans' attention is "Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2". Drake worked with Jay-Z for the song, which features the 36-year-old rap mogul reworking Kanye West's famous "sunglasses and Advil" line as "Last night was mad trill, I'm fresh out of Advil, Jesus grab the wheel." 

"Nothing Was the Same" also includes Drake's collaborations with the likes of 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Jhene Aiko, Sampha, Majid Jordan and Detail. 

He has also dropped a track called "Wu-Tang Forever", a tribute to New York-based hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. It has been reported that the surviving members of the group are working on a remix to the song.

Wu-Tang Clan's U-God said "They wanted us to remix it and get on there [so] you gon' probably hear another one with us on it," he also said "Meth did his verse - we all did our verses. I wrote my rhyme in probably 15, 20 minutes. We were moving so fast we only had about four hours of studio time. If I had some time to really sit down and get juicy with it, I probably could've got juicier with it. But I still do a nice one, I still do a real banger."

Me i love the drake, and i can't wait to have the Album already. :)

Baraje-Led PDP Chairman, Embarks on seven days fasting and prayers to End ASUU Strike

Report has it that the Chairman of the New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has requested all members of PDP worldwide to embark on seven days fasting and prayers commencing from Monday, 16th of September, 2013.

In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the breakaway faction, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze (JP), the party said “this spiritual intervention is as a result of the concern of the Baraje-led PDP for the plight of parents and our children due to the continued closure of public universities following the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to protest the Federal Government’s failure to keep the agreement it signed with the Union in 2009″.

According to the statement, “It has become imperative to seek the face of God over this matter considering that all efforts to resolve this unwarranted strike have failed woefully and considering the socio-economic damage this strike has caused both parents and our children. We are confident that our resolve to go to God will succeed as the importance of fasting and prayers cannot be over emphasized”.

The statement went on to add that, “To say the least, we are shocked that the government inflicting this monumental hardship on Nigerians is a PDP Government popularly elected by majority of Nigerians and run by a President who was once a University Lecturer. In this regard, we wish to plead with Nigerians for forgiveness on behalf of the PDP Government at the centre, which could have avoided this costly strike. We wish to assure all Nigerians that as a party we will surely find a way to end this shameful situation”.

The statement then pleaded thus: “We sincerely solicit the patience of Nigerians while appealing to both the Federal Government and the leadership of ASUU to end this imbroglio so that our children may go back to school instead of engaging in acts inimical to their future. The need for this has become urgent as reports reaching us indicate that many of these students have out of frustration and boredom turned to prostitution, armed robbery and other vices due to the prolonged industrial action”.

But come to think of it oh, if our so called "Politians" are planning to embark on  seven days fasting and prayer, then how many days are we the students going to fast and pray? What a Life!!!

2 Chainz the hip-hop's hottest commodity at the Moment.

2 Chainz is perhaps hip-hop's hottest commodity right now.
His second record, B.O.A.T.S. II: Me Time, has produced three top-20 hits and a slew of collaborations with stars as diverse as Pharrell, Drake and Diplo.
And he's officially a top choice for rappers looking for a guest - 2 Chainz charges a cool $100,000 for a verse, according to Kanye West on BBC Radio's 1Xtra.

But 2 Chainz took a break from his music on Thursday to tackle a different task: Filming for Music Choice's Take Back Your Music Campaign, which he did at Other Music in New York City.
The ad campaign, which has featured Robin Thicke, Luke Bryan, A$AP Rocky and others, highlights Music Choice's library of music videos and digital music channels.
The 36-year-old rapper certainly dressed to impress: He donned a flashy hooded t-shirt emblazoned with two huge gold chains, some spotless white trousers and a pair of thick-rimmed sunglasses.

He didn't forget his namesake, of course: A thick gold chain and pendant hung from his neck.
But 2 Chainz, real name Tauheed Epps, recently revealed in a Rolling Stone interview that people don't know the secondary meaning behind his moniker.
'People think it means I wear two chains all the time,' he says. 'But it also means this is my second chance.'
Though he made a couple mixtapes under the name Tity Boy, the turnaround in his career came as he picked up a focused work ethic - inspired by Lil Wayne, who 2 Chainz opened for on a 2008 tour.

'Having a phone full of millionaires and not being one bothered the hell out of me,' the rapper says, referencing the peers that he saw and interacted with on a daily basis.
Eventually, his talent and effort came together, attracting attention from hip-hop's biggest names.
'Kanye would tell me that he was designing clothes listening to my music,' says 2 Chainz. 'Like, 'I made a scarf listening to that sh-t.''

          

Miley Cyrus defends her Wrecking Balls video

Miley Cyrus keeps a low profile with a blanket over her head while leaving her hotel and heading to the airport on Thursday morning (September 12) in London, England.

The 20-year-old actress/singer recently defended her controversial music video for her latest single “Wrecking Ball.”

“I think the video is much more [than that],” Miley told Elvis Duran on his radio show. “If people get past the point I make, and you actually look at me, you can tell I look more broken than even the song sounds.”

Miley added, “The song is a pop ballad that everyone can relate to; everyone has felt that feeling at some point. If people can take their minds off the obvious and go into their imagination and see what the video really means, it is so vulnerable.”

Source: DailyMail

Former MBGN, Fiona Amuzie denied US visa

Fiona Amuzie won the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 2010 and recently told a story of how she was denied visa at the US embassy while wearing a glamorous dress, her sash and her crown.
The second year student of the University of Coventry, UK, recalls "I think the most embarrassing moment for me happened at the US embassy. As a queen, I went there for the US visa in my full regalia, the dress, the crown, everything. And you won't believe me, they denied me the visa. It was so embarrassing. I later went back after my reign as Fiona Amuzie and this time they gave me."

10 Things Job-Seekers Must Do to Get a Better Job

... rather than complaining, take some advice from Jim Rohn: “Things will get better for you, when you get better.”

Given this state of the economy, the best thing any job-seeker can do to get a better job is to be more thorough, more savvy and more aggressive. The following are some basic guidelines for the thorough and savvy parts. These are not optional. Neither is the aggressive part, but I’ll leave that up to you.

Some Big Ideas Job-seekers Must Follow if They Want to Get a Meaningful Job

1. Applying directly to job postings should represent no more than 20% of what you do. Getting referred to a job is 5-10X more effective than applying directly. If you’re going to apply, only apply to jobs when you’re a perfect fit for the skills and experience listed on the job description.
2. Leverage your understanding of the recruiter’s role. Many recruiters are gatekeepers who don’t know the job and will just box-check your skills and experiences. Others are extremely talented, who want to work with the best people to craft great career moves. You must avoid the former and seek out the latter.
3. Implement a 20/20/60 job-hunting plan. A job hunting plan requires a performance-based resume, an understanding of how recruiters find candidates, and applying through the backdoor. Networking is the key to the backdoor. It must represent 60% of what you need to do.
4. Focus on the job, not the money. It’s better to be underpaid than overpaid. Getting promoted or obtaining a big compensation increase will only occur after you’ve demonstrated great performance. You need to put yourself into these situations. Ignore anyone who says otherwise.
5. Present your strengths and weaknesses via short stories. No one believes general statements. You must validate each of your strengths with a specific example of how it was used in a real job situation. In addition, you need to demonstrate how you’ve turned your weaknesses into strengths. Never say you don’t have any weaknesses! It means you’ve stopped growing.
6. Divide and conquer by asking the universal question. Very early in the interview, or phone screen, you must ask the interviewer to describe the focus of the job, some of the big challenges, and how the new person’s performance will be measured. Pick at least two from this list. Then prove each is a core strength using the SAFW response below.
7. Practice the universal answer to any question. You need to be able to prove every strength with a specific example. Form your answer using the SAFW two-minute response: Say A Few Words – Statement – Amplify – few Examples – Wrap-up.
8. Weave the 10 Best Predictors of Job Success into Your SAFW Response.  Make sure you have an example proving you possess at least three or four of these strengths. Then during the interview ask if these traits are important for on-the-job success. Of course they will be. Then give your example. Note: this is a slam dunk!
9. Use the phone screen to minimize the impact of a weak first impression. Even if you make a good first impression, it’s important to ask the universal question (see above) early in the phone screen. Answering it correctly will increase the likelihood you’ll be invited to an onsite interview. This will help focus the actual interview on your past performance, instead of box-checking your skills and experience, or judging you on first impressions.
10. Uncover any concerns before the end of the interview. To determine where you stand, ask the interviewer about next steps. If they’re not specific, you probably won’t be called back. In this case, ask the interviewer what’s the biggest concern he/she has about your background. Then ask how the skill, trait or factor mentioned is used on the job. To overcome the concern, you’ll need to use the SAFW two-minute response to prove you can handle the requirement.

Getting a job is no fun. It’s hard work. But working hard on the wrong things is a waste of time. So rather than complaining, take some advice from Jim Rohn: “Things will get better for you, when you get better.” Learning the ten techniques above is a great way to start.

Lou Adler

Kwara State University to be renamed 'Abubakar Sola Saraki University'

Kwara State House of Assembly has passed a bill seeking to change the name of Kwara State University, KWASU to Abubakar Sola Saraki University, ASSU.

The speaker said: With the commencement of this law, KWASU shall be Abubakar Sola Saraki University, ASSU, wherever it occurs in the University law and the law may be cited as Kwara State University Amendment Law.”

The bill, read for the third time before its passage yesterday had been subjected to public hearing after it scaled first and second reading.

The report of the House Committee on Education and Human Capital Development claimed that only five (5) of the stakeholders were against the proposed Bill… on the ground that State and Local Government resources would be used to fund the university hence, KWASU should not be renamed after Sola Saraki. The committee said 35 of the stakeholders were of the view that KWASU be renamed after the late Political Icon due to his socio-economic and political contributions to the development of Kwara State in particular and Nigeria in general.

The report added that 40 stakeholders made both oral and written submissions.
The house, however, endorsed the recommendations of the committee and approved the renaming of the university after Saraki.

KANYE WEST FIRES BACK AT RAY J "You're Lame and You Know It!"

Kanye West decided it's finally time to destroy Ray J -- and last night he blasted his wife's sex tape partner on national TV ... going straight after Ray's manhood. 

West made a surprise appearance on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" to perform his hit "Bound 2" -- but during the song, he changed some of the lyrics to attack Ray: 

"Brandy’s little sister lame man he know it now ... When a real brother hold you down, you ‘sposed to drown."

We're guessing Kanye is finally responding to Ray's song, "I Hit It First" ... in which Ray bragged about bangin' Kim Kardashian before Kanye did. 

But the best part of Kanye's attack ... the legendary Charlie Wilson punctuating the venomous lyrics with a "shabadabaweeeeeee"

It's awesome.

 


Source:TMZ

Open Nigerian bisexual Yemisi Ilesanmi speaks out, says gays have a right

Well, she's open about her sexuality because she's not based here. Hehe. UK-based bisexual, Yemisi Ilesanmi, a single mother and an atheist, who has been fighting for the rights of gays for many years, recently granted an exclusive interview to TELL magazine where she spoke on issues surrounding homosexuality and its perception here in Nigeria.

Yemisi tells TELL: (tells Tell - lol)

Whether Nigerians accept it or not, LGBT rights are recognised human rights. Unless, you can prove that Lesbians, gays, biséxuals and transséxuals are not human beings, well, you have no reason to deny them their fundamental human rights. Unfortunately many Nigerians believe in the concept of sin. First, we must understand that sin is a religious concept. Not every Nigerian is religious. Your religion is also a personal matter, why drag other people into your personal relationship with Jesus, Mohamed or Obatala?

When I am told that homoséxuality is a sin, I just tell them their religion is not my law. The Bible or Quran is not my constitution, so why is that even coming up?

Yemisi Ilesanmi continues...

The very first thing we need to understand is that homosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality are all as natural as heterosexuality. Our sexual orientation differs; we are born with an innate ability to be emotionally or sexually attracted or not be sexually or emotionally attracted to same sex or opposite sex. Unfortunately, many African societies do not provide enabling environments to discuss sexual orientation. Sexual orientation does not harm anyone. A person who is attracted to opposite sex does not harm anyone so far it is a consensual adult relationship.

It is absurd when Christian gay bashers gleefully quote Leviticus 18:22 to justify why they want to jail and stone gays. Anyone who wants to quote from Leviticus should at least read the book to make sure they are not guilty of any of the things condemned in the book. Leviticus also says you should not shave, you should not interact with a woman in hermenstrual cycle, thou shall not eat shrimps or shell fish, Lev. 11:10,11:6-8 thou shall not touch the skin of a dead pig (therefore touching football without wearing gloves makes you unclean!) So, when Christians throw Leviticus at me, I simply throw Leviticus right back in their face.

My immediate family knows my sexual orientation, my father is late, and my mother is accepting of whom I am and has shown me love and support. To continue to be an important part of my life, you cannot be homophobic, biphobic or transphobic.

My atheism has nothing to do with my biséxuality. Atheism is simply a non-belief in God. My bisexuality is my sexual orientation, no connection. However, I must say, my atheism has helped me to stand up against religious bullies, who use the Bible and the Quran to justify their hate for gays, lesbians, transsexual and bisexuals.

Religion carries a lot of unwarranted weight in Nigeria and Africa generally. This should not be so. In fact, this is one reason the African continent is still very backward. When religion carried so much weight in Europe during middle Ages, it was wrought with wars, jihads,killings and ethnic cleansing.

Many religious Africans now use the ‘holy’ books to justify the oppression of members of their own society. Even when the original owners of the religion inform them that the book has been updated and some parts are no longer applicable, Africans still insist that it is must be applicable because it says so in the book they were given. How pathetic!

20 Motivational Business Quotes to Read Every Morning

Like most entrepreneurs, my office is cluttered with motivational books, approaches and quotes. Some of these quotes are taped to my desk, while others are hanging on the wall to review every hour or so.

Not a day goes by that I don't review the following quotes. It inspires me to focus on what's most important to accomplish during that particular day, and to not get sidetracked by email, tasks or clutter that don't grow the business.

Here are 20 of my favorite quotes. I hope they inspire you as much as they inspire me.

“Out there in some garage is an entrepreneur who’s forging a bullet
with your company’s name on it.”
Gary Hamel, Business Writer

“If you don’t make mistakes, you aren’t really trying.”
Coleman Hawkins, Jazz Musician

“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable
combination for success.”
Napoleon Hill, Author

“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that
which should not be done at all.”
Peter Drucker

“I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for
failure, which is: Try to please everybody.”
Herbert B. Swope, American Journalist

“If you have always done it that way, it is probably wrong.”
Charles Kettering, Engineer

“I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be
flexible at all times.”
Everett Dirksen

“Without customers, you don’t have a business. You have a hobby.”
Don Peppers & Martha Rogers, Return on Customer

“Judge a man by his questions, not by his answers.”
Voltaire

“The minute you’re satisfied with where you are, you aren’t there anymore.”
Tony Gwynn, Hall of Fame Baseball player

“Speed is useful only if you are running in the right direction.”
Joel Barker, Future Edge

“They always say time changes things,
but you actually have to change them yourself.”
Andy Warhol

“An organization becomes bewildered rather than energized
when it’s asked to do too much at once.”
Michael Hammer & James Champy, Reengineering The Corporation

“If you try to do something and fail, you are vastly better off
than if you had tried nothing and succeeded.”
The Back of a Sugar Packet (Anonymous)

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Phil 4:13

*****

Do you read motivational quotes as part of your work day? Do you have any particular sayings that have made a difference in your life?

Joe Pulizzi

Editorial: The 10 Most Irritating Phrases Ever! Don't Use Them

Whether you are at work or at home, with colleagues or friends, there are some words or phrases that can drive the people around you to complete insanity. Especially if you use them again, and again and again!

The trouble with these words is that they are not something we have carefully chosen to most eloquently make a point. No, they are just filler words that we got into the habit of using. They often don’t mean anything, they are just there to irritate.

In some people the use of these repetitive, nothing-saying, filler-words has reached epidemic proportions. I believe we need to cure this and stop using them. When I say stop using them I don’t mean completely. I don’t mind if someone uses them appropriately. I use most of them. What we have to stop is using them repeatedly and without meaning!

But then, maybe it’s just me? Maybe I am the only one that gets irritated by that? Or do you get annoyed and tired of hearing someone talk like this:

“To be honest, at the end of the day you are literally going get into trouble, seriously. I mean, you better be careful, if you know what I mean. I am just saying.”

Or this:

“Awesome! This is, like, I mean, totally seriously, like, the most epic band I have ever heard. You know what I’m saying. I am literally going to, like, die if I can’t go and see them.”

Some might argue it is just teenagers. No. I believe that every decade has their favorites. For me, the two examples show this nicely where the first one would typically come from someone a little older and the second from someone of a younger generation.

We seem to use these words to fill pauses in our conversations. My recommendation is to actually pause, instead of bombarding people with meaningless words that simply make it more difficult (and exhausting) to understand what someone is saying. Pauses are fine! Pauses are natural.

Here are my top ten most irritating filler phrases:

1. “At the end of the day” – What does that even mean? Does it mean later? Just leave it out!
2. “To be honest” – Why, are you normally not honest with me? What a crazy thing to say!
3. “If you know what I mean” – If I don’t know what you mean I would probably tell you. I don’t need a prompt.
4. “You know” – Is this a question or a statement?
5. “Having said that” – Yes, you have just said that. I was here, you have been speaking to me and I don’t need you to tell me that you have just said something to me!
6. “Like” – This is especially annoying if it is inserted a number of times into every single sentence. Why, oh, why?
7. “Literally” – Should mean ‘figuratively’ or exactly as you say. It makes so sense to ‘literally explode’ or to ‘literally die’.
8. “I am just saying’” – Yes, I have heard it. Should this make me feel better about the fact that you have just offended me or said something that didn’t make sense?
9. “Seriously” – Are you saying that you are telling me the truth or are you using it as a replacement for ‘yeah’ – I am, like, seriously confused!
10. "I mean" – Some people litter this phrase into every single sentence they say. It must be one of the most meaningless phrases of all.

So, is it just me? Or do these words drive you nuts too? No seriously, like, totally 'comment' on this post! I am just saying, if you know what I mean? Finally, feel free to add other phrases you find particularly infuriating into the comment field – let’s make it the most complete list, like, I mean, seriously, EVER!

Bernard Marr