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The Power of Planning: Authentic Strategy for Delivery of Possibilities (Part 3)
By Tolulope A. Adegoke
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
– Mary Oliver
A goal without a plan is just a wish. Plan your works and work your plans. Overlooking the powerful effect of strategic planning is simply planning to fail. Good planning without good working is nothing but a wild joke! Plan out your life strategically on paper, and decide today to start living intentionally by your heart (true conscience). Spencer W. Kimball reveals that: “To be sure your life will be full and abundant; you must plan your life.”
Dear friends, hear what Jim Rohn wrote: “if you do not design your own life plan, chances are that you will fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Nothing much.” This simply means that, you must start living intentionally, by subjecting your ego, pleasures and weaknesses under the principles of strategic or effective planning toward actualizing purposes and fulfilling your great destiny.
So, what and how do you engage the principles of Effective Planning?
Set a Definite Goals (SDGs)- your goals must be specific.
Decide on deadlines for your goal(s)
Write down your goals- make it plain on paper. Habakkuk 2:2(KJV) reveals that: “And the Lord answered me and said, write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” Also remember that ‘the faintest ink is better that the sharpest memory.’
Develop steps or strategies towards achieving the goals that you have written.
Determine ‘what’ (the costs or sacrifice) you would give in exchange for your plans to come into reality. We all must remember that sowing comes before reaping, therefore, you must enter into the labour room and process on investments and work out your goals into reality. Pay the prices needed to get the prizes that comes with it. This is simply the law of give and take.
Set career/Mental goals: Refine your talents into skills and business (expertise). Be loaded enough with relevant skills for effective production and great value. Create value on daily basis. Read relevant books, articles and journals to brush up your mental capacity. By so doing, you can identify more of your talents and develop those talents into what is called skills. A skill is a polished, processed or refined endowments (potentials).
Talents has capability to be available. In fact, it makes one available, but skill(s) makes you desirable. The ability to earn from your skill is called expertise-the art of business. It is business that makes you profitable. It is profit that you need! Business is therefore the availability to make profits from your skills.
Set health goals for yourself: your health is the security wall of your skills, do not joke with it! Prevention is better than cure, and obedience is the best form of sacrifice. Suffice to say, follow medical prescriptions, stop self-medication to avoid complications. You must maintain fitness (Mental or psychological and physical fitness).
Build Relationship with God: don’t dare joke with your relationship with God. Do not take it with levity. Daily meditation should be unquestionable. Make your body the temple of the Lord (do not abuse it). Have a secret place of personal communion with God, read more of His Word-the Holy Bible is a high opener of mysteries. Be a kingdom builder, contribute to the growth of the House of God (The Church) through the following means: Evangelism, Sacrificial giving, Tithing among others.
Have Welfare Package(s) for your family: give your family a treat, take them out on vacation, make them smile, laugh and happy. Sweeten the heart of your spouse, stop being too critical, forget her past failures and move on by focusing on her strengths. There are levels of blessings, favour attached to your wife and children; they are created to enjoy the money you make, while you were created to make the money.
Set your Financial Budgets: This has to do with income first. How much comes in and what are the monthly inflow of money into your treasury? How much is your expenditure? You just need to be seriously detailed and strict with your finances. Endeavour to save more. Savings is paramount!
What is a Plan that matters?
A plan is simply a method that is detailed for achieving an end, it the customary method of doing something. Another word for it is procedure.
A plan is also a detailed formulation of a program of action. It is effective plans that separates achievers from ordinary dreamers. It is not what you hear that counts, it is what you do with it what you hear or have heard or read that counts! There are so many people that are carrying exactly what they are crying for! You were born loaded with enviable and unique gifts. You were born with virtually everything you will ever need so that God’s glory would be proclaimed by your evident (empirical) successes or results.
The major assignment man has is simply to make God to be better known to the world through your works, results, greatness or outputs. According to Fela Durotoye, “you are the exact example of the intentions of God! The purpose of creation by God is for Him to reign on Earth through us. We were formed in our mother’s womb because of the assignments we were sent to do (actualize or fulfil), because we all are on mission, here on earth! And if you fail, that means God’s brand has perished, God forbid! Your results have more than your name at stake”.
Promotion does not come by fasting and prayer alone, but by planning and hard work. Your results are tied to the brand of God, because when you were arriving this world (earth), you were given virtually everything you will ever need. So all you need to achieve your purpose, that greatness or successes is by engaging on EFFECTIVE PLANNING. However, if you crave not just to merely exist, but live well and effectively you must always practice and engage the principles of Effective Planning.
In conclusion, I charge you not to pity yourself, stop the blame games! Get to work by stretching the limit of your commitment- embrace excellence in place of mediocrity. It is my sincere desire that young people and adults will heed to the call of excellence, in spite of the prevailing mediocrity around them today, regardless of the culture of underperformance and frivolities that are being celebrated today. We all must work out ourselves for a successful end! Show me a man with good and effective plans, and I will show you a brilliant mind; show me a brilliant mind who is committed effective planning principles and I will show you a limitless man. It is an archaic saying that the sky is the limit. I will gladly tell you this: “there are footprints in the sky, the sky is the starting point; don’t be limited, don’t be intimidated, don’t be lazy, you need to tear up the ceilings of the sky in order to breakthrough into the world beyond it. Guess what, you don’t do that wishing or by guessing. You start by imagination, believing and putting them into writing and running after the vision by hard works and smart moves!”
(The end…)
Thank you all for reading.
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.
E-mail: adegoketolulope1022@gmail.com
globalstageimpacts@gmail.com
The Federal government has declared Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28, 2026 as public holidays to mark the celebration of Eid ul Adha.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement on behalf of the government.
The declaration was contained in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani.
It said the declaration affirms the Federal government’s profound respect for the faith and spiritual heritage of millions of Nigerian Muslims who join the global Islamic community in observing this sacred occasion.
“The minister conveys the warm felicitations of the Federal government to all Muslim faithful in Nigeria and throughout the Diaspora. Eid ul Adha is a festival of deep spiritual significance, grounded in the values of sacrifice, obedience to God, and compassion for one’s fellow man.
“The Federal government urges all Nigerians to use this period for prayer and sober reflection, asking for divine guidance upon the country as it continues its pursuit of peace, security, and prosperity for every citizen,” Ajani said.
“It is in the spirit of brotherhood, shared humanity, and national unity that the Federal government wishes all Muslims a peaceful, blessed, and joyous celebration,” the Permanent Secretary added.
Africa’s biggest corporate supporter of culture, Globacom, is commemorating the life and legacy of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, at this year’s Ojude Oba Festival, marking the 21st consecutive year of its sponsorship of the cultural event.
This year’s edition, themed “Ojude Oba 2026: Celebrating the Legacy of Oba Sikiru Adetona,” is taking place at the Festival Pavilion opposite the royal palace in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
The celebration pays glowing tribute to the remarkable accomplishments of the late monarch, who transited on Sunday, July 13, 2025, after an illustrious reign spanning 65 years.
The departed monarch ascended the throne on April 2, 1960, and during his reign, the profile and prestige of the Ojude Oba Festival grew tremendously, making it one of Africa’s most celebrated cultural events.
In a statement issued in Lagos, Globacom posited that Oba Adetona’s unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Ijebu culture, traditions, and values was a major factor behind the company’s continued support for the festival.
According to the company, “This year’s celebration goes beyond our traditional role as sponsor over the past two decades. It is an opportunity to honour the exceptional legacy of the revered monarch, Oba Adetona, whose vision and commitment elevated Ojude Oba to its present status.”
Globacom recalled that the late Awujale played a pivotal role in transforming the festival into a unifying platform that brought together Ijebu sons and daughters from across the world, regardless of religious affiliation.
This inclusive vision and royal leadership, said Glo, inspired the company to begin sponsoring the festival 21 years ago. Over the years of Globacom’s sponsorship, Ojude Oba has evolved into a globally recognized cultural celebration, attracting thousands of visitors and dignitaries from within and outside Nigeria.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its support for the festival as part of its broader objective of showcasing Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage to the world.
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Everyone experiences life in different ways. There’s absolutely nobody on planet earth who hasn’t encountered situations or circumstances that shaped them or gave them different perceptions of life. No matter how we try, we can’t run away from problems. A friend once jokingly said, problems are like women; they are the “necessary evil” you can’t avoid, especially when they have an interest in you.
We all experience life in our families, relationships, academics, spiritual life, careers, health, and even personal life. But what makes the ultimate difference is how we’ll react to it.
Let me explain a little bit using a case study of family, health, career, academic, spiritual, and personal aspects.
Family
It’s instructive to note that what makes a family is secret, so imagine a case where the secret of a family is divulged. There’s bound to be problems that will arise. Another scenario is when a family experiences the death of a loved one. I think that’s one of the most painful experiences one can ever experience because losing a loved one is no joke. The death of a family member can shatter a family if not properly managed.
Imagine a case where the head of the family, say a father, passes to glory and his wife is not financially stable to manage the family. The children will experience challenges that will shape their future. The question we need to ask ourselves is, how do we manage death when it happens?
Health
Another scenario that can shape us is our health. Health is so important that without it, one will not be able to function properly. There have been life-threatening health cases that lead to the untimely death of a sick patient. The question we need to ask ourselves is: how do we respond to these health challenges when it comes to us?
Career
Do you know your career can serve as an encounter which can shape you? Yes, an encounter is like an experience which can make one not remain the same. Do you also know that your career can make or mar you? Yes, while one’s career can serve as an instrument to one’s success, it can also lead to the demise of someone, especially if it’s not a purposeful career befitting the person.
Academic
Some schools of thought say that examination is not the true test of knowledge. There have been situations where one’s academic background can metamorphose them in the right direction, especially when one is intentional and purposeful in their chosen academic pursuit, and there have been scenarios when someone ventured into academic pursuits that are not suitable for them.
I was once a victim of this ugly experience when I ventured into Taxation Law at New York Law School. Despite earning a scholarship in the program, I knew for a fact, assuming I got a job, it won’t be fulfilling because I will be a victim of defective success.
Spiritual
One of the most defining moments of one’s life can be seen in their spiritual life. It’s sad to see most people playing with their spiritual life. They fail to realize that spirituality controls the physical. When we talk of spirituality, there are two types. Those for God and those for gods. It’s always good for one to align to one side, but as a matter of advice, it’s always good for one to stay on the side of God.
There are many situations that would have ended one’s life, but due to one’s neglect of one’s spiritual life, the life can be cut short. Question: How do you respond to spiritual things when spiritual forces push you around?
Personal
Last but not least is our personal life. How we respond to life challenges in our academic, health, finance, relationship, career, or even spiritual life can determine how far we go in life. Remember, it’s instructive to note that it is our attitude and not aptitude that will determine our altitude to life.
The big question we need to ask ourselves now is: how do we respond to these challenging circumstances or issues? The answer is attitude. You’ll agree with me, you may not always be able to choose your circumstances, but you can choose to respond to them.
There was a touching story about a man who was unjustly and wrongfully convicted for murder, and he spent many years in prison awaiting trial, another fifteen years for final judgment to be delivered, and yet another ten years on death row. In all this travail, he managed to keep his sanity.
Finally, on the day he was to be executed, fresh evidence indicating his innocence prompted the governor to order his immediate release. At the prison gates he sad “ all a man can be taken from him, except the last form of the human freedoms, -the power to choose one’s attitude in all circumstances”.
Do you see, life is not really about what happens to us, but how we react. That’s what will make the difference.
In conclusion, regardless of how life challenges, circumstances, and situations push you around, just have a good attitude and outlook to life. Don’t allow it to weigh you down.
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 and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
