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The Power of Planning: Authentic Strategy for Delivery of Possibilities (Part 2)
By Tolulope A. Adegoke
‘You must:
Permit to perform by planning well; perform to perfect by training well
Lean on knowledge, from it you may find wisdom.
Acquire skills for accessing and actualizing desired intentions or goals.
Never ever relent following the above steps over and over again!
True VISION exposes, then empowers our individual or corporate MISSIONs. There will be no fulfilment of mission(s) without effective planning. It is an effective plan that compels you to sit well (that is, to study well and strategise properly). If you do not sit well, you will never ever discover or unlock a passion (solution) to pass on and on (that is, to solving challenges or problems) unto the next generations- this, will not only grant you prosperity but also posterity! For without effective planning, there will be nothing of such values for all-round IMPACTS! Planning is an intentional and strategic order, through which principles are discovered, from which possibilities are birthed to solving individual, corporate and national challenges in a bid to hand over a better world unto coming generation(s)’
– Tolulope A. Adegoke
Effective planning is the key to success. It is revealed in Proverbs 24:3-4 (NKJV) that: ‘through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.’ This means that, every enterprise is built on wise planning, it becomes strong through common sense and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts.
Luke 14:28 further reveals that: ‘For which of you, intending to build a tower sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?’ So, for any serious building to be built, there must be effective planning through blueprints, calculations (that is, Engineers has to work on blueprints and calculations, the same goes for quantity survivors before they start construction at all). Jesus Christ said, before you can live a meaningful life, you must sit down first!
In the University, when you sit for an examination and fail, you will need to re-sit, that means you didn’t sit well for the examination at first! Sitting means planning, while sitting well means planning well!
Most students fail exams in the first place because they didn’t plan well, no definite plans on the grades you intend to get! Common sense tells you to find what works for you, and work on that which works! Those who have flights planned flying higher. Therefore, your goals must be simple as letters A, B and C, which can be described as:
Attainable, accessible, Actual (that is, specific).
Believable, bold (that is seeable, firm)
Creative, concrete.
I can vividly remember at a time (years ago) when one of my revered mentors from the United States requested that I send him synopsis about myself, which includes my plans for the next five to ten years. Though I knew that I needed and wanted to succeed big time, yet I could not write it plain on black and white; I knew I craved to impart lives globally, but I didn’t know what mental or social structures needed to put in place… I was like dynamite wanting and waiting to explode but didn’t know how to. So, I wrote so many pieces of stuff down and forwarded it to him (I guess he’s busy laughing out loud as he’s reading this piece of mine right now). I thought within me that, anyone reading this synopsis would at least, by themselves deduce facts from the many words I have engaged to describe my desires and intentions for the future. In truth, as at then, I didn’t really have the understanding of the formulas A, B and C. My revered mentor later responded with a phone call, in his enchanting and some-how intimidating baritone: ‘Adegoke, you need to make your plans for the future so plain and simple enough such that it will be clear enough to make the race as simple as A, B and C!’ yes sir, I responded timidly. Do you meditate at all? Yes, sir, but not all always, sir. I responded as swiftly as I could. Alright, anyone one who desires to soar must first sit well, seek solitude in order to visit the industrial giant within, the dialogue to with him and discover who and what stuff he has been created for. Whatever answers you receive in such processes must be written in very plain language. Seek answers, find the way, and knock the shut doors you desire through thinking and meditative prayers…this will give you enough substance or capacity to have and make bold plans without missing the right words to describing who you are and what purposes you have been created to fulfil. Is that clear? He uttered firmly. Yes, sir. Very clear, I responded. It was then I realized the Power of Silence in Solitude… it was then that I started developing a firm relationship and became a better friend with the Holy Spirit-Who has been patiently craving for my full attention, just to help me out with my destiny! It was then I understood the awakening of the giant within. It was then I was able to conquer many battles of the mind. I started arriving at the sublime state, such that I understood well that God is always ready to respond to our many requests, and help us with strategies through the mediums of humility that breeds inspirations, to the point of revelations, later to illuminations, then we could advance to creativities at Divine speed. But of what use is speed without direction?
Many people today crave to have speed in their daily dealings, yet forgets to deploy the tools of strategies which could only be powered by sitting down well, humbly- focusing on the Maker, aligning with Him to discovering deep things secrets that your parents, teachers and role models cannot even dare teach you. Not until you sit well, to plan well, you will never discover a passion (that solves problems) to pass on unto the next generation that delivers not just prosperity but posterity!
Fine-tune your mind into the divine frequency to align with your Maker, therein lies the guide to your destiny by the leading of the Word (Scriptures). Meditation on the Word of God powers your vision as revealed in Joshua 1:8. It enables you to see beyond Academics; therein you have access to ‘revelational’ knowledge to solving issues beyond mortal reasoning, and becoming a blessing! You become a god over specific challenges or problems; you become an answer to the prayers of a majority! You become a dream come true.
Back to the above subject, your goals or dreams must be ‘Achievable’, realistic and also accessible in your vision- it must not just be a dream you have never pictured within you. You can only feature in the future that you have pictured within you!
Your dreams must also be ‘Believable’ by you! And to others at least to a reasonable extent. It must be goals that will make the blood run in your veins, which is an indication that you so much believe in it, even if there are oppositions and both ugly and beautiful distractions on your paths.
Lastly, your dreams must be ‘Concrete’- your goals must be rock-solid (that is, it must carry weight and must scare you). If your dreams do not scare you, then it is not a dream! And despite the fact that it is very scary, you must believe in what Ephesians 3: 20 (KJV)says ‘Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly, abundantly and above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.’ That means the power that works within us must be powered or propelled by FAITH! This is where the power of FAITH comes to play; your faith must work; it must align with your dreams!
(To be continued…)
Tolulope A. Adegoke is an acclaimed “globalpreneur”, with the mandate to enrich lives and provide the professional, spiritual, academic and leadership empowerment needed to birth, maximize and sustain possibilities in peoples, corporates and nations. He is a prolific writer, frequent keynote speaker and spoken word poet, among others, having written countless articles in diverse reputable fields and honoured many public invitations. Tolulope is the privileged Founder/ President, TheGlobalSTAGEImpacts (GSI) – wired for delivering possibilities. He is the Founder and Chief Editor, Your Online Celebrity Exhibition Magazine (YOCEM) – a global online platform wired for the continuous showcasing of natural talents, skills and businesses of individuals and corporates. He is the CEO, Beyond Media Consults. He is also a Senior Administrator.
E-mail: adegoketolulope1022@gmail.com
globalstageimpacts@gmail.com
Dear Destiny Friends,
Every human being loves to get approval, either for the great work they have done or the ones they are doing. They love to be appreciated and admired. They also love to be given attention when they have something valuable to say or do. In all of these, one thing is certain, there is something special about us, and this special thing makes one unique, and ultimately attracts people to us.
Let’s face it, nobody will admire you, appreciate you, approve you and give you attention if you don’t have anything to offer. The reason most people associate with someone is because they feel or know there’s something they can gain from the person. It’s hard for someone to relate closely with someone who they don’t see potential value in.
There is no doubt each and everyone of us is unique, yes, there’s something unique about you. You can sing, you can write, you can dance, you can lead, you can serve, you can cook, etc. One can even be a good actor, athlete, comedian, or preacher. The list is literally endless. Now, what’s unique about you?
When you discover what’s unique about you, please do all within your reach to nurture and develop it. One day, the right person, who truly appreciates and knows your value will celebrate you.
I have a friend who is exceptionally skilled in writing and developing creative contents. I call him a genius because he can literally write a book within a week. How he does it is what I don’t understand. I was surprised when he once told me he wrote a book and manuscript in one week. According to him, he has been developing the contents mentally, but hasn’t found time to put his thoughts together, and when he finally gets his thoughts together, he was able to write the book and manuscript. This is a typical way of knowing a unique being.
Many, however, do not know what’s unique about them. We focus our energy chasing what is not chasing us instead of focusing on developing what we already have. It’s sad to see young and old people living their lives in an unintentional manner with a belief that somehow lines, favour or opportunities will fall in place for them.
Sometimes, we rely on other people’s affirmation and opinion, and accept it as our fate. For instance, just because one is tall, he might be told he will be a great fit for basketball without considering if the athlete loves basketball; again, just because someone is very intelligent, his parents will encourage him to major in a particular discipline, which is perceived as lucrative without considering if the person likes it pr not.
I once experienced this fate when my late dad inspired me to study taxation law in New York Law School, a major I detest with passion. It was like a suicidal mission for me because I do know, it will take miracle to graduate from the program. How I was able to get a scholarship for my grades and graduate in record time is a story for another day. I’m not wired as a finance person, I will better serve humanity in the social and developmental space where my skills, talents, gift and passion will be better utilized. And ever since I joined the space, I have seen results.
There are many cases where many people lose their identities without knowing they are unique. We are all unique in our individual ways. Just like there are several gifts and talents, we have different skills. When you know what’s unique about you, you will stand out and the world will not only appreciate you, but will celebrate you.
When one discovers the power of their uniqueness, we will gather strength to unleash it to the world. Uniqueness works in several ways. For instance, the mere fact that ten people are genius, talented, skillful or valuable in a particular work, the person with the unique gift is the person who will not only stand out, but will be called upon to do the work.
Let me share more insight. If ten people sing a particular song with a great voice, the person who is called to be a singer will receive a unique appreciation because he/she is working on purpose. That is why it is easy to see a lot of people venturing into a particular form of business, but the favour of the business will not locate them because they are not uniquely destined to do business.
Few years ago, one of my mentors shared a deep insight with me. He said that, as a trained medical doctor, he once observed that despite the fact there are hundreds and thousands of medical doctors practicing their profession. One fateful day, he noticed a particular patient was not responding to treatment despite all the medication that had been given to him by a nurse, his health was deteriorating, then another nurse came and administered the same pill a nurse gave the patient, and the patient began to feel better. What does that tell you? The second nurse was probably working in her purpose which aligns with her profession, and as such the corresponding success. This goes to show that when one is unique, it has a way of robbing off on their work.
Furthermore, he stated that Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, and Beyonce are some of the gifted singers and dancers the world has ever celebrated. He went on to say that we have hundreds and thousands of musicians, but only a few have got the spotlight.
What does that tell you? When you are unique, the world will celebrate you. I have understood that the fastest way to get recognition in life is to work in areas where one’s strength and unique gift will better serve the purpose. This is simply because the world does not celebrate one’s weakness, rather, the world celebrates one’s strength.
In recent times, I have seen myself as a counselor and human inspiration. My counseling skills have enabled me to influence people to live positive lives. Overtime, I have realized that when people share their burden with me, they feel relieved after speaking with me. What amazes me most is the fact that even my elders feel comfortable to relate with me on a cordial basis. Maybe, I have a unique gift for counseling and educating.
Today, I am going to charge you to focus your energy and time on whatever will bring you the highest satisfaction. Even if you are looking for a job, applying for school, or seeking any opportunity, your focus should be centered on what you have that the job, school or opportunity will amplify. When you do so, you will be in high demand.
In conclusion, please affirm to yourself today, I am a unique being with a unique personality, purpose and gift.
Say to yourself, ‘I am original’, and refuse to be fake.
Again confess that your originality, authenticity and uniqueness will attract favours, blessings, opportunities from leaders and queens to you, and you will be celebrated.
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
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has emerged as the Best Road Safety Agency in Africa. This monumental achievement corroborates the Corps’ almost four decades of dedication, resilience and passion towards safeguarding lives on Nigerian roads.
The Corps, according to a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), received the award at the 3rd edition of the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award held in Elzuwini in the Kingdom of Eswatini, South Africa between 14th and 15th of April 2025.
You may recall that Kofi Annan Road Safety Award was initiated by the Office of the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Road Safety in collaboration with Kofi Annan Foundation to immortalize the contributions of African illustrious son Kofi Annan who served as the Secretary General of the United Nations.
The prestigious Road Safety Management Award represents a badge of honour for Nigeria, and a pure testament of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to unflinching support for the Federal Road Safety Corps and his believe in the Corps’ potential to serve as a model for other African nations. Indeed, FRSC’s tireless efforts to reduce road crashes and promote safe driving practices have paid off, earning recognition across the continent.
The recognition further speaks volume, as well as justifies the giant strides Nigeria has made in ensuring safety of road users and her leadership role in the Sub-region.
Reacting to the recognition, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed said that it is a testament to FRSC’s unrelenting passion for road safety. He thanked the entire community of the motoring public, stakeholders, partners, and the Nigerian people for their support. Emphasising that together, the Corps was able to achieve the enviable feat because of the collective energy and all round support received from the motoring public.
The Corps Marshal also revealed that FRSC’s winning formula includes, innovative strategies, implementing cutting-edge road safety initiatives that drive results, collaboration, fostering partnerships with stakeholders to promote road safety awareness, community engagement, educating the public on safe driving practices, full deployment of technology and road safety protocols.
The award was received on behalf of the Corps and the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the Principal Staff Officer to the Corps Marshal ACM Meshach Adigizi Jatau.
A Chief Magistrate in the Rivers State Judiciary, Mr. Ejike George, has resigned his appointment.
He hinged his decision on the unease over the appointment of a Sole Administrator to oversee the affairs of the State.
His resignation was contained in a letter dated April 11, 2025, and addressed to the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State through the Secretary of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission.
The letter was titled “Voluntary Retirement From Service.”
George, who disclosed that he had put in 16 years in the judiciary, said the appointment of a Sole Administrator is tantamount to a “quasi-military administration.”
He expressed dismay over the direction of the governance of the State, which he said is “alien” and “antithetical” to the values of the legal profession.
The statement read: “This present is intended to convey my decision to voluntarily retire my appointment as Magistrate of the Judiciary of Rivers State.
“This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a modern state like ours.
“Milord will agree with me that this type of governance system is not only alien but also runs antithetical to our hallowed profession as legal practitioners and adjudicators.
“Having put in a whopping 16 (sixteen) out of my 22 (twenty-two) years of legal practice into this Judiciary as Magistrate under successive democratic administrations, I find it difficult to work with the current setting, as doing so would amount to a tacit and naive acquiescence.
“Thanks Milord, for the opportunity to serve.”
