THERE WAS A LABAN

For sometime now I have been trying to clear my mind on how to put my thought together and get this piece across. I think I have finally been able to do that and hope that what you are going to read here will encourage you to keep holding on and if need be, help you to make adjustments where necessary.

If you are used to reading the Bible, you should be familiar with the very popular story of Laban and Jacob.

In case you are not the Bible reading type, let me quickly run you through the story.

Laban was a very successful businessman who had two beautiful daughters - Leah and Rachael. He also had a very thriving business as a farmer in cattle-rearing. Somewhere along the line, Jacob came into the picture and was to marry one of the daughters of Laban. Rachael to be precise. But there was a tradition that said the younger could not marry before the older, hence he had to marry Leah whom he did not love. But to marry his true love he had to work for his father-in-law for another 10 years. What a story of love.

But the essence of this article is not even about the sacrifice that Jacob had to make in order to marry the woman he truly loved, though that is something many men need to learn from. How far can you go for the woman you claim to love? What sacrifices are you willing to make to prove the genuineness of your love for this 'woman'?

Now, let us get back to the meat of this piece. Gen. 31:6-7, "You know that I have served your father with all my strength. Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to hurt me."

Sincerely, I have seen this happen to people and I also have firsthand experience of a boss changing the staff salary. I have been in HR practice for a while and have seen bosses take advantage of their workers. They use all sorts of manipulative excuses to rob their workers of their due wages/salaries. Maybe they forget that "You shall not muzzle the ox that threads out the corn" (Deut. 25:4, I Cor. 9:9, I Tim. 5:18) is still in the Bible.

These bosses, sometimes out-rightly just act wickedly, thinking and behaving like no one can query them or ask them why! Sometimes, some hide under the guise of down-time in business and then 'change' agreed wages, in some cases up to about 50% reduction.

This is gross injustice. Yes, for many Nigerians, they would rather not fight back, because they don't want to be eventually sacked. After all, "Half bread is better than none", they console themselves with. And you won't blame them. If they leave that job, when/where will they find another? And they also know that if they leave, the boss too will be happy, since he knows that there are many out there who will still accept the position for the same amount.

So where does one find respite when he faces a situation where his boss cheats on him as it was in the case of Laban and Jacob?

My submissions are simple. And they are summarized thus:

1. Quit that job. Yes! You can quit and will not die. It may be difficult and take sometime before you find another, but sometimes it is better to stand up for what you believe and not accept any injustice that belittles your person. Believe me, you will eventually find another job.
2. Remain on the job. This is especially if the reason that your boss claims to be the excuse is true. I mean it was obvious and you could see that your boss is not the wicked type, only that situation has forced his hands. Then there is no crime in waiting and weathering the storm with him till things improve and your worth in terms of salary is restored.
3. Trust God to do justice in the matter. In this case, you will not need to fight and become slothful on the job because you feel cheated. In the case of Jacob, he remained and never complained about anything, and his wage was changed - reviewed downwards 10 times. But in the end, God showed up and there was a TRANSFER OF WEALTH.

This was a supernatural intervention. God can give you a better job via recommendations from people you have interacted with on the present job. God can actually bring a situation into your bosses business that will make him begin to negotiate with you, because you are the one with the skill to attend to that situation.

I see God giving you justice in every area where you have been cheated.

God bless.

I WAS ACCUSED OF HAVING A CRUSH ON Lolo1 of Wazobia FM

Red carpet things...

I was once accused of having a crush on Omotunde. But jokingly I said it was not crush, but 7UP.

Most people know her as Lolo1. She is an OAP – On-Air-Personality and host of the program “Oga Madam” on Wazobia FM 95.1 and the Live Show of the same program which has gone international. Not only is she a presenter and comedienne, she is also an actress and very versatile MC.

But I knew this diva long before she became the Lolo1 that most people know today. I knew her as Omotunde Adebowale-David. Our meeting was first as members of the drama team of CMF – Christian Missionary Fund (2005), which was co-ordinated by another diva; the very delectable Biola Williams (Don’t tell me you don’t know her. If you don’t, try watching Tinsel).

After that we were together again at the drama group of The Fountain of Life church (note that I am not an official member of the church, but by virtue of what I do, which includes acting I get invited to participate in different drama presentations and productions from different churches). It was here that we became really close and some folks started insinuating that I was having a “crush” on Omotunde. She told me herself. But truth be told, there was no such thing. She was already married at this time. Or did I just hear you say what if she was not married? I think you should ask her that question…

During those times, ‘Motunde used to be the comedian-extraordinaire of the house, always making everyone laugh and roll on the floor with her on-spot jokes and interjections during rehearsals. Am sure she didn't even have a clue back then that she would be where she is today in the comedy industry. She has become an icon.

Why this tale you might wonder?

Let us consider a few things to learn from my very good friend, Omotunde Adebowale-David, Lolo1.

      Discover yourself: 

     One of the undoing of many in life is the lack of personal identity. Hence they try to be every other person other than themselves. Personal discovery is the key to life recovery. Omotunde discovered her area of strength, where she is naturally endowed, blessed by the Creator and gifted to be a blessing to humanity. Have you discovered yourself? Will you take the pain to go on the journey of self-discovery?

         

            Be true to yourself: 

    It is not enough to discover yourself; you also must learn to be true to that discovery. When you discover, you must develop and then deploy, that is the only way you can be who you truly are meant to be. Quite a number of people have discovered areas of passion and gifting that could stand them out in life but for fear of the unknown – all the what ifs questions that you can think of, they have shortchanged themselves and sold their ‘birthrights’. But Omotunde stayed true to the call of her life, even when it looked like it was not going to yield anything positive or meaningful. She was willing to look like a fool until she became full with the rewards of persistence and consistency.

      Ignore naysayers: 

      All through history, there have been and there will always be those who say you can’t do it. You don’t have it takes. You are not qualified enough. And many dreams have gone under due to the cutting tongues of these never-see-good-in-any-dream kinds of people. They are not going anywhere and they will attempt to stop those who are trying to move ahead with their lives. If you listen to them, you do so to your own detriment. I am sure if my good friend Lolo1 had listened to naysayers, you and I will not be enjoying the good programming she serves us regularly with her comic style of presentation on radio. Simply in a class of her own.

      Experiment and explore: 

     The word experiment simply means trying it out to see if it will work. And that agrees with “Everything remains in a state of constant rest until force is applied” (Isaac Newton). Yes, you must try new things, new approaches, new methods and sometimes in new places. Don’t just sit there and watch life pass you by, take the bull by the horns and begin to exert yourself on life. Had she just sat there waiting for the day someone will discover her, who knows what her story would have become today. Look for opportunities to practice your trade, even if it is for free at the beginning. Believe me a time will come when what you are doing for FREE will begin to attract a FEE. Ask Omotunde (doing it for FREE) who has become Lolo1 (now collecting FEE).

 Trust God: 

Me and Lolo @ my seminar in 2012

    If there is anything I know about my good friend, it is that she loves God. She is not just any other comedian out there; she is a child of God. That is where the whole journey started from – with God. And am sure if you ask her also she will tell you unequivocally that the God-factor has played a major role in her journey so far. What is it that you are trying to do and you think is far-fetched, why not adopt the God-factor and see your dreams begin to fly like it is happening for Omotunde Adebowale-David today?

Recently she granted an interview on Channels Television. Check it out here and know more about her dreams and passions that are yet to take centre stage. www.channelstv.com/2015/04/10/comedian-lolo-sets-eyes-on-nollywood/

You can also visit her personal official blog at www.lolo1.com.ng

I am @AbiodunMabadeje (MSA)

Speaker/Coach/Counsellor/MC/Author/Writer/Publisher

08135891291, 08023771690

abiodun.mabadeje@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/abiodun.mabadeje  

DON'T GIVE UP!

Look around you the obvious truth is that you will see not a few persons going through one form of challenge or the other, such challenges that surpass yours in degrees that even you cannot imagine.

But one other obvious fact that cannot be denied is that amongst these people are those who in spite of their mountain size challenges are finding ways to get on with life and do things they have to do not minding what people or situations are saying or trying to dictate.

Now, my concern is not those people but YOU! Yes, you. As a human who presently occupies a space here on earth, I can say with utmost certainty that you have one or two concerns that make you wonder, "why me?"

Nobody in this world is immune from the challenges that life poses. And you are not an exception.

However, there are things I know about you that you may not know about yourself or try to deny. Let me point out some very fundamental truths about you to you.

Firstly, do you know that you have always been a champion all your life? And that has nothing to do with any competition you have participated in and you did not win, neither does it have to do with what your situation is at the moment. Okay, you may still not be sure of where I'm coming from on this point. At your conception, you are aware that millions of sperm were released through your dad's manhood and only one got through to fertilize the egg in the ovum of your mum's vigina and that eventually became you.

Secondly, since your birth, can you imagine how many situations you have passed through? Sicknesses, diseases, school and schooling and so on?

Now, all of these may not mean much to you until you visit a hospital to see what other humans like you are going through...

What in essence am I saying, you may ask? Very simple, you have come through enough already to now give up on yourself and God as to now throw in the towel. There is still a fighter in you. A champion that situations and circumstances of life cannot keep down unless you keep yourself down. But why should you do that?

There is a generation that is looking up to you to fight through this. You cannot afford to disappoint them now. There is a God who is also counting on you to not give up but come through on the other side, because He knows what level of investment He has deposited in you. Why do you want to disappoint Him?

Above all, even if at the end of it all, you still do not win as expected, at least you can take solace in the fact that you gave a fight rather than give in and give up.

I care about you.

 I am your friend and coach, Abiodun Mabadeje

Writer, Speaker, MC, Counselor, Publisher

234-8135891291, 234-8023771690, 7445F1FE, @AbiodunMabadeje

By the way, have you got you copy of my new book The Call; The Passion; The Destiny!? Check out the review here... http://abiodunmabadeje2.blogspot.com/p/my-new-book.html You can call the numbers above to make orders or come to 30 Coker Road, Ilupeju, Lagos.

LET US GO BACK TO EGYPT...

It is a glorious feeling knowing that one has and is still making some progress in his/her life. Looking back over the past year it is obvious that some level of successes have been recorded. This is not just in our personal lives but also in our national life as a people called Nigerians. But just like we know that in our individual lives there is still room for improvement so it is in our dear nation's life. There is still plenty room for improvement.

Towards the end of #2014, I had a solitary moment and reminisced on a critical aspect of our dear nation's life and which fundamentally affects all of us and was sore disappointed. I am talking about the Power Sector. Different administrations have tried to salvage the situation with billions upon billions already spent and it seems like the light is refusing to come out of the gross darkness that engulfs us.

We have changed names but the status quo remains unchanged. NEPA to PHCN and have moved on from there to allowing private investors to bring in their expertise, but what do we have still? We have dropped in Megawatts generation. Meaning we now 'enjoy' less power supply than we did before these 'investors' came.

So at that point out of anger and frustration, I decided to do a tweet and say that government should reverse the sale of PHCN and let's go back to where we were. After all, the saying goes, "If you don't know where you are going, you know where you are coming from."

But just before I could pick my phone to do as I was thinking I had a check in my mind; "What happened to the children of Israel"?

So I had to pause to think. God took them out of Israel and was taking them to a 'Promised land". But while on their way, they encountered some challenges and some of them then said they wanted to go back to Egypt where they once were held in 'captivity'.

And because of this unfaithful (or should we say ‘unfaithfilled’?) reaction from them, God decided that majority of them would not get to the land 'flowing with milk and honey'.

You might wander, so how does this apply to us as Nigerians and then to our Power issue? Very good of you to think in that manner.

You see, all the money spent so far, and the fact that Power is now in the hands of private investors had good INTENTION behind them. It was so that we could enter into the 'promised land' of Power supply. Yes there are still challenges that we need to overcome and believe me they are many.

But the thinking of going 'back' is ‘anti-faith’ and ‘anti-God’. We must collectively resolve that we will get it right in this sector. We must not give up. And the same thing applies to our individual lives, #2014 is gone, you must let go of all the failures and look forward in this year and the years to come with faith and a resolve to succeed against all odds. And believe me, you can. Yes, YOU CAN!

Every darkness in your life is giving way to light this year. You are going to triumph over every trouble and testimony will be yours out of every test. Those challenges carry in them the seeds to make champion out of you.

I see you getting to your desired 'Promised Land - flowing with milk and honey'. And so is the case of our dear fatherland - Nigeria. A new day is dawning for us. Nigeria will not disintegrate.

God bless you and God bless Nigeria.

©Abiodun Mabadeje, your friend and Life Coach.  - Author, speaker, minister, counselor, publisher and MC. For all your social and corporate events: call #MCAbbeylosophy 08022881690, 08135891291 or bb 7445E1FE @AbiodunMabadeje