Author: Olaojo Aiyegbayo

I watched the movie, Locke, last weekend and I would rate it as the best film I have seen this year so far. This is saying a lot considering that I have seen 60 movies in 2014 already.

There is a big difference between having an idea and executing an idea. The discipline required to execute an idea is what separates dreamers from doers.

Executing your ideas not only requires ‘discipline’ but also ‘time’ therefore I would advise you to take the long view.

 “Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year – and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade.” – Tony Robbins

There is no such thing as an ‘overnight success’.

There is the assumption that because you are naturally strong at something; you don’t have to have to spend too much time on it. You should devote most of your attention to your weaknesses instead. The danger of this is that you take your strengths for granted; overcompensate on your weaknesses with little marginal gains to show for it. There are three main things you can do with any given weakness.

leave (something) on the table v. phr. to refrain from taking the utmost advantage of something; to not address every aspect of a situation; in the form leave money on the table... (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary) 

I frequented Foodco supermarket when growing up in Ibadan because it was close to my dad’s old office which made it accessible and convenient for grocery shopping. I went to Foodco during my recent trip to Nigeria. The supermarket had moved a stone’s throw down the road from it’s original site. The moment I walked into the new Foodco, I immediately felt claustrophobic. All the retail items were squeezed into a small confined space. Add about 15 shoppers, 7 shopping attendants and 2 security guards to the equation and I was surprised that no one fainted while I was there.

I was in Nigeria for 13 days a couple of weeks ago. The last time I was in Nigeria was 2002. Some things have changed in the intervening years but a lot still remained unchanged. The enforcement of the rule of law is one thing that hasn’t improved.

Notice what inspires you

Notice what interests you

Notice what you are drawn to

Notice what repeals you

Notice what turns you off

Notice what energises you

Notice what drains you

Notice the rhythms of your life

Notice who you are

Notice where you are

Notice where you are heading

Notice what is happening around you

Notice the coincidences in your life

Notice the things you stumble over

Notice the mistakes you keep making

Notice what you are feeling and why

Notice what you notice

Almost all roses have thorns. Yet we don’t tend to focus on the rose’s thorns rather we concentrate on the beauty and fragrant smell of its petals. The rose’s thorns does not diminish the flower’s perceived worth or value. Life like the rose has its petals (positive things) and thorns (negative things). You have the choice on what to pay attention to in your life. Remember that what you focus on will magnify and multiply.

I watched a BBC documentary on Amazon a few days ago and learnt about the company’s 14 leadership principles. These principles were crafted to build a strong organisational culture within Amazon. An organisation’s long term success is based on its culture. The ones with strong cultures thrive while the ones with weak ones die. Every Amazon employee is expected to adhere to these principles or find a new employer.

I believe that the sustainability of a strong organisational culture is dependent on effective organisational leadership. The documentary stated that Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO, is the number one internal champion of these leadership principles. He insists that these principles influence every strategic management decision made at Amazon.

I have listed these 14 leadership principles below.  All of these principles may seem commonsensical.  They are principles that you would expect any ambitious organisation to hold. It is however one thing to have commonsensical leadership principles and another thing to follow them.

There are two creative acts which I try to do every day. I am not always consistent but it is a daily aspiration. I seek to write everyday and take at least one photo a day. I use two websites for this: 750words.com for writing and blipfoto.com for sharing my photos. My 750words writing is private but my photo sharing is public. Writing everyday enables me to develop my critical and creative writing abilities while daily photo taking helps me train my eye to spot interesting visual stimuli to capture and share.

Tottenham Spurs played Liverpool Football Club yesterday at Anfield stadium in Liverpool. It was a big game for both teams and the game ended 4-0 in favour of Liverpool FC. It was an entertaining one-sided game with some comical defending from Spurs gifting Liverpool at least 2 goals. “Where is our manager?” chants reverberated around the stadium as frustrated Spurs fans watched their team get humiliated on the pitch.