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Food for Living: Be Intentional with Learning
By Henry Ukazu
Dear destiny Friends,
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn” – Alvin
One of the beauties of life is its ability to humble anyone. Nobody truly knows it all. We all learn, and need one another to succeed. That’s why it’s important for one to thread softly. It is however, sad to see people who have lost golden opportunities to learn due to pride. Most ignoramus feel because they are mentors, rich, older etc., they can’t stoop to conquer; I have a simple message for them, as Per Michel Legrand, “The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”
Still on humility, an energy entrepreneur, Mr. Kola Adesina, once stated, that “one thing I like about tomorrow is, you will not know who will truly be relevant, available, alive, bigger, and mostly needed. Tread softly”, and I concur with this quote because life is so dynamic, it will teach you a lesson if you refuse to learn the experience of life.
One of the unique traits of all great men is their ability to learn, relearn and unlearn. Most people who have truly succeeded are great learners. These set of people learnt from their failed businesses, relationship/marriages, personal and professional lives. If you truly want to make an impact, you must be intentional in learning.
Learning is not limited to the four walls of education, one can learn from friends, parents, family members, colleagues, partners, mentors, mentees, social media etc. According to a sage, the wise man learns from his mistake, but a wiser man learns from other people’s mistake.
We live in a digital world, where the internet is the new currency for people who truly know how to take advantage of the opportunity it provides. Everyone is literally on social media. You can connect and learn from resourceful people if you have a good product, service, skill, gift/talent, knowledge or attitude and seek either mentorship, internship or support.
However, it is sad seeing some uninformed and poverty-stricken minds gallivanting on social media instead of learning from resourceful minds.
The good thing about learning is that it never goes out of fashion, and no one can take it away from you. Whatever you have, lives with you unless you desire to share. We will continue to learn until we leave this sinful world.
According to Henry Ford, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”
The sad thing in our contemporary society is the prevalence of young minds and advanced adults looking for handouts as opposed to looking for opportunities to learn how to fish. Learning is a posture of the heart. If your heart is willing to learn, you will have the eagerness to explore different learning styles to help you discover new things.
Just as life comes with challenges, learning is not an exception. According to Albert Einstein, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving”.
To navigate the tough terrain of learning, one must always improvise new ways of learning-by-learning new skills, techniques, and principles. This is because when you look at most of the successful people in the world, they understand these ideologies. For example, Warren Buffet and Henry Ukazu spend most of their time reading and researching. Today, be motivated to heavily invest in yourself.
It’s instructive to know that knowledge will not come to you, you must be intentional and strategic in seeking knowledge. On a personal note, I spend time to read; I read voraciously on almost anything I find valuable. This is because when you know more, you will be paid more. This is why the “top” is always scanty while the button is crowded. Dr. Seuss was right when he stated “the more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Nothing will teach you a lesson in life more than life experience. Tom Bodett once stated, “the difference between school and life – In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.”. The beauty of school is that it will give you theoretical knowledge, provide security for you and maybe connect you to resource persons if you are able to network well, but life will give you the pragmatic and practical answers to apply all you have learnt in school.
Nobody will give you an opportunity to learn or thrive unless you show interest in the opportunity. As the Buddhist will always say, “when the student is ready, the master will appear.”
Below are some of the advantages of learning. Learning will open your brain; it will keep you abreast of recent information globally by keeping your mind young and sharp; you’ll gain new insight and perspective to life. Learning will make you to think out of the box; it will make you more creative; learning can humble you when you become aware of what you don’t know; learning will make you have value and respect.
In conclusion, in 2024, and beyond, be intentional in seeking information and opportunity to learn. Remember, if you are not informed, you are deformed, and once you are deformed, you can’t perform because information will lead to reformation and transformation.
In a nutshell, information leads to formation. Regardless of what you have learned, make it a habit to continually develop yourself adding value to the world while practicing humility because life will humble you.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate and creative writer Design Your Destiny and Unleash Your Destiny. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
Impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has described the corruption allegations against him as “fictitious and unsubstantiated”.
Speaking during a welcome rally at his residence in GRA, Ikeja on Saturday, Obasa maintained that he was not afraid of being impeached but emphasised that due process was not followed.
The former Speaker alleged that his removal was orchestrated while he was away, and accused the state commissioner of police of aiding the process.
He claimed security agents, led by the police commissioner, invaded the assembly complex and his homes in Agege and Ikeja, locking his family indoors with over 200 officers present.
Obasa dismissed allegations of misappropriation.
He mocked claims that a gate construction had cost N16 billion, saying, “Is it the wall of Jericho?”
He said: “I am not afraid of being removed, after all, it is not my father’s chieftaincy title. I am representing my people and they have returned me six times. If you want to do anything, do it well.
“They did the removal all because I was out of the country. Lagos is a special place, we cannot denigrate the state.
The former Speaker cited the case of the former speaker, Rt. Hon Jokotola Pelumi.
He said when Pelumi was removed, he was in the assembly and “we did not invite policemen.
“When my sister, former deputy speaker of the House, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho was removed, we did not invite the police.”
Obasa said an innocent person should not be discredited, and there must be proof of allegations showing exactly what he has done.
“The Lagos State House of Assembly is above common standard of excellence.
“I appreciate the members of the governance advisory council and Governor Babajide Olusola Aanwo-Olu of the state. He is my brother and he always calls me his younger brother.”
Obasa was impeached on January 13 by more than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative house over alleged misconduct and sundry offences.
His Deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately elected the new speaker, becoming the first female to take charge of the legislative body in the State.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed that 38 persons, including seven crew members, were injured when a United Airlines plane made an emergency landing in Lagos on Friday morning.
The Boeing 787-8 flight with 245 passengers was en route to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), in the United States, from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, when it developed problems midair and was forced to return to the airport.
There were also 11 crew members – eight attendants and three pilots – on the plane.
The FAAN Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, who confirmed the incident through a statement, said all passengers and crew disembarked safely.
She, however, said four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries.
According to her, 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries.
The statement read: “The United Airlines Boeing 787-800 departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, at 11:59pm on Thursday, but made air return and landed safely at 3.22am on Friday.
“On board were 245 adults and 11 crew members.
“The team of Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services, Aviation Medical, and Aviation Security were already at the gate when the aeroplane parked for deboarding at D31 without incident, and the door was opened at 3:37am.
“While all passengers and crew disembarked safely, four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries, and an additional 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries.
“The rescue team responded swiftly and effectively, having been on alert and standby.
“Aviation medical ambulances transported the injured passengers, some to the MMA Clinic and others to the headquarters clinic.”
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
There’s no doubt that human beings by nature are insatiable. When we get one opportunity, we always look for another. When we attain one height, we always look for another accomplishment. Isn’t it true that the end of one mountain is the beginning of another.
However, I don’t think it’s selfish for anyone to dare to succeed.
Being ambitious doesn’t make one an opportunist or disloyal. It all depends on one’s perception or outlook to life. It’s just natural for one to dream big. It’s only ugly when the process one chooses to achieve his desires becomes dirty and nasty.
According to a former Nigerian presidential candidate and seasoned Economist, Mr. Peter Obi, “if you must be referred to as “Your Excellency”, then the process through which you arrived in office must be excellent”.
If you desire to be reckoned with on the journey of existence, you must be legitimately hungry for success. One’s hunger for success will facilitate the drive to accomplish great tasks despite daunting obstacles posing as challenges.
When one has this mindset, one will not be bothered by the noise which serves as obstacles and challenges along the way. Negative and weak minds are always concerned on why something won’t work. They tend to focus their energy and reasons on the obstacles facing them. But great and productive minds always focus their energy on the reasons why it will work. This is the spirit of an insatiable mind who is a goal- getter.
It’s instructive to note that we can’t please everyone. According to Bill Cosby, a famous actor, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.” Isn’t it true that when you talk, people will still talk about you, when you don’t talk, people will talk about you, so whether you talk or not, people will still judge you, so, do what’s best for you. There’s nothing you can do to please human beings. Your best option is to live your best life.
To understand how the insatiable nature of man works, one must be oneself. You don’t have to “please” anyone. Be yourself, and don’t try to be like anyone just to curry favour. It’s important to note that when you are yourself, the people that matter will come through for you, and the people that don’t matter will gradually find the bearing in another space because those that truly care don’t bother and those that bother don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.
Life has truly taught me to focus on the important things of life as opposed to the mundane things. It’s truly sad to see people spending more time on the little things of life, and spending little time on the important things of life. That’s just a misplaced priority.
When you are yourself, the best people can do is to copy or imitate your style. They can never imitate your creativity nor can take your originality from you.
We live in a world or society where people don’t generally care or show empathy. Most people tend to live around themselves, their family, and close associates. They generally find it hard to lift a finger to assist others for reasons best known to them. Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka once said, “we live in a wicked generation”, re-echoing the voices of a lot of people of the world. Some people in authority just have criminal expertise in amassing wealth of opportunities meant for the citizens without thinking of the citizens they are meant to serve.
It’s worthy of note that not everyone will like you nor support your work, but when you find people who truly care about you; please hold them tight. This is because despite having family members you have shown love and compassion, they might not still appreciate you even if you lay your life for them, they will still find something to say. Again, this is the insatiable nature of man.
It’s okay for everyone not to like you, normalize living your life for God, yourself, family and those that care about you. If everyone likes you, you have a problem.
Did you know that you can get a new family from friends, strangers, and acquaintances? These sets of people might appreciate you more than your own family members. They might not demand or under appreciate you like your family members and close friends or associates. Any little support you give them will be highly appreciated. Their focus is to see you do better.
In conclusion, as you desire to succeed in life, never give in to failure until you have made your last attempt, and never make your last attempt until you succeed. This literally means whatever you desire, dream it, think it, say it, and believe you can achieve it. This principle is generally applicable to relationships, businesses, family, personal and professional development.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design Your and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
