Mentored? The Messi Experience

I have watched Messi play football and his quick moves with the round leather ball always gives me goosebumps. Some players of the game of football that I have admired while growing up have been those whose pattern of play have always been mixed or infused with a lot of entertainment.

The Nigeria football team offered me such taste always whenever they played. Hol'up my dear, am not talking about the current team o. Am talking about the team that had players like, Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Joseph Yobo, Taiye Taiwo, a good no nonsense defender.

Like the folktales we hear at night under the moonlight, is the game of football whenever there is a national or international competition and we have to gather together at the community viewing center to enjoy massive entertainment under the names I have mentioned earlier.

We grew up watching European teams play and of course, there are names that offer all that football embodies. Manchester United and Chelsea have always been the reigning team around the community where I grow up. You will not believe that this two teams where dubbed some cult like attributes in the community where rivals fight each other when the match result do not go their way.

The first school bag  I had bought that had a football club's logo on it had a club logo that wasn't popular in my town. And to tell you that I have not known much about this club, I have to start doing researches as to who they were but I was satisfied that I am starting with a club that is not associated with nuisance and agbero-like behavior in the district. I found out that one of the key players in this my new found club was a great playmaker, his entertainment in the game is top notch. I got hooked and oh, I have found a new home.

This player as I later found out will go on to win the prestigious France football award - the Ballon d'Or seven times. I discovered what I crave in football in Lionel Messi. The dance he makes with his left foot is what I wanted in any football player and he does this in an effortless manner.

He made a shocking switch to Paris last two seasons and has continued to make an incredible impact in creating goals in an entertaining way. In comes Mbappe. A great talent already in the team when Messi came into the club. My piece today is centered on the relationship that has emerged from this gathering of talents while not forgetting Neymar Jnr. This post is about what I perceived from the dressing room and may not be factual since I do not have a first hand info into activities there.

It has seemed that Mbappe has not stopped complaining. has done this almost always as he has seemed to be that outspoken on in the team. However, I tend to wonder if the Messi experience has ever robbed of on him at all. As one who is currently sandwiched between two great players in Messi and Neymar always always the one coming up with negative vibes about the club or players with every little disagreement. I am one who thinks that having to be around men that have traversed the road you are trying to ply will give you a fair advantage.

This position is borne out of the fact that Messi in that position having nothing to prove again to the system will be serving as a enabler to Mbappe rather than a competition. And so one would wonder why this seems not to be happening. People have said that if one needs to make progress in their chosen field that their is need to find a mentor and stay teachable. It is true. Experience is the greatest teacher they said. And one need to understand that it is never said that the experience must be personal. It is wise to gather experience from others, it shows you are pragmatic and will always be one step ahead in the game.

In every setting, there are leaders who have navigated the rough waters of their field and their wisdom borne out of their personal experience will be a shining light in dark places to those coming behind. Been able to gather these experiences will also depend on your willingness to learn. You will do this when you unlearn that experiences has to be personal and subject your thoughts to that higher school of thought that experiences must not be personal.

What do you think?

Listen, Always Listen

 #AlphasoarsChief writes,

Having lived a couple of years, I can confirm to you that you 'only' live by the amount of information you have been able to garner to yourself.

This is that part where one need to understand that living by personal experiences is inconsequential, time consuming and foolish. This is so when there abound a trillion information birthed on the experiences of others that can help you sail through the waves that tries to obstruct your progress on the sea of life.

Always Listen to learn, not always to respond. You can always have opinion about issues but sometimes when your contribution is not consequential to decision making at the moment, please pause, sit back and take a moment and look at the opinion you wanted to throw out, weighing it with the already served opinions from others and see if yours will bring light or more darkness to the matter discussed.

Always listen, tomorrow's choices depend on your attentiveness today.

In a certain dilemma once and had to talk to a former colleague and he gave me a two sentence advice. I understood his stand point but the application of what he said to my present predicament doesn't seem to add up. Not until some months after, I had to refer to his advice and smile.

Always listen to live. People have gone through the journey you are embarking on, they can help you make progress, just ask them 'HOW'.

Happy Soaring!

Chicken Republic sacks two security guards - True test of Advanced Personnel Management

 Some weeks back in Nigeria, there was a wide spread discussion on on various of it's social media platforms especially on twitter. It is a case involving two security guards at Chicken Republic, a fast food company with locations across the country. A video surfaced online where two of the guards were seen dancing. The development seems to have triggered a negative reaction from the franchise and it was learnt that appointment of the two young adults were immediately terminated.

It cause an uproar as some condemned the company for taking such decision. They termed it rash and insensitive. On the other hand, some persons argue
d for the company, condemning the action of the two guards who they mostly termed careless and rude who have disrespected their job roles and their employee.

While certain narratives will mostly suit well for anyone who takes side in any side of the discourse. For me, I will think this situation exposes the personnel management issues Nigeria's public and private sector is currently experiencing. A very bad omen where an employee of a company will be relieved of his duties, not for outright and flagrant abuse of office but for a genuine invention that helps the business outlook.

One may not understand if there were laws made in the institutions I just talked about where it was specified that an employee cannot dance around in whatever form in and around the premises. It will be absurd if such laws actually existed in such an organization where entertainment is key factor in customer's patronage. Because their acts which might or might not be harmful, depending on what angle you look at it from, has the ability to change the mood of buyers and patronage for the given day.

This post is not for or against the institution. But one seeking to tell institutions to intentionally encourage employees to employ whatever means necessary that conforms to the type of business environment they are in, that will only invite more investors and patronage. Employees should not be made to live their lives on a straight line kind of job routine without inventing or contributing ideas for the organizational growth.

Captains of industries as well should encourage their workforce by looking at ideas that they bring, without tossing them aside almost immediately. Employees should be made to take part in the business. People always have a sense of belonging only when their contributions are appreciated. This people are not just the key policy makers but also include the other workers who their job descriptions might seem less important and irrelevant.

Happy soaring.

Theory of Social Media and Where to Find Help

The scale and height of social media influence in our lives today greatly overburdens theorists who tend to find it hard to analyze.

Theorist who fall into this category will quickly generalize in order to give a straight answer that, Social media is comparable to water and therefore conclude that Social Media is life. This opinion is right in a way and that is, social media and its features have enabled the rise and fall of humans.

Some people have their lives scheduled according to the dictates of social media apps on their electronic devices. Someone jokingly said, the sleeping schedule of people in this generation depends solely on the amount of battery life in their phones. Quit true. Let me give you a hint to what am driving at . . .

Mr. John gets back from a tiring day at the office. He gets into the shower and freshens up in order to relax his body with a deserving sleep. He lies down on his bed but quickly gets up and reaches for his tablet. He intends to clear all received mails for that day before finally taking his sleep. While trying to to clear the received mails, he stumbles on a peculiar mail from a stock brokerage company he intends to buy shares from. He becomes glued to his phone until the next morning at about 5am.

This schedule happened for many more weeks and, well, he woke up right after a two hours short nap but his body quickly began to feel the negative impact when he developed insomnia and fell into many stress induced disorders.

The theory put forward by many social media enthusiasts is that, it can help you grow and be outstanding in your career. But where can Mr. John find help when he has not been advised on the negative influence of what he is getting addicted to? There is need to balance every information we sell or buy. While you can get addicted to social media, you can get help as well from it - Just ask Google!😂

But hey, don't get attracted!

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