LEADERSHIP POWER-POINT 12

You can blame people who knock things over in the dark, or you can begin to light candles to resolve the challenge posed by darkness. You're only at fault if you know about the problem and choose to do nothing. The hallmark of leadership is not criticism but correction and empowerment.

LIFE REFLECTION 7

There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit and not a vegetable. Wisdom is knowing not to include it in a fruit salad.

LEADERSHIP POWER-POINT 11

A vital factor in effective leadership develooment is mentorship. Each of us needs a mentor figure, a role model in our life. No matter how brilliant we may be, no matter how successful we have become and no matter how much we have accomplished, there comes a time when we lose steam, become unsure and plagued with doubt, become weak and ladden with uncertainty, become diffident and filled with unanswered questions, a time when we falter and confront the fear of failure. These are times when the reassuring and experienced words of a mentor figure is needed to rekindle our faltering flame. In their low moments, leaders turn to their mentors for advice (this by no means takes away the place of our eternal mentor, Jesus Christ). A mentor is someone you hold in high esteem. Someone trustworthy and credible. Someone who exemplifies the ideals and values that you embrace. Someone who has in deeds accomplished what he preaches and therefore has the moral authority to instil confidence in you. Now, that's a mentor we all need. But the question for us to answer is: how many of such mentors and role models exist today for our youths to embrace?

LEADERSHIP POWER-POINT 9

Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. This is a vital attribute of great leaders.

LIFE REFLECTION 5:

Has it ever occurred to you that, to the world you might be just one person, but to one person you might be the world - one person that you have touched with uncommon kindness and in so doing changed their world and ultimately their life. Think about it.

LEADERSHIP REFLECTION OF THE WEEK

Enthusiastic people are the ones who actually get things done in this world. Enthusiasm is what turns any idea into reality. And enthusiasm is linked closely with happiness. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Enthusiasm is a positive by product of three vital values - faith, hope and love. A man with these values is naturally enthusiastic about the work of his hands and his calling in life. While procrastnation is the cornerstone of every failure, enthusiasm is the iron that sharpens every success. No leader succeeds who has no enthusiasm flowing from his soul. Therefore, whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it now. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!

LIFE REFLECTIONS 4

The one important thing that I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous. The former stems from humility that anchors success and the latter issues from narcissism that opens the gates of failure.

LEADERSHIP POWER-POINT 8

Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do, than by the ones you did. So get rid of the doubts. Retreat from the safe harbor. Sail away with the winds of faith. Remember, while procrastnation is the cornerstone of every failure, enthusiasm is the iron that sharpens every success. No leader succeeds who has no enthusiasm, commitment and optimism flowing from his soul. So get up. Explore. Dream. Discover.

LIFE REFLECTIONS 3

  Life is a journey. As we travel along, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them. You will be hurt and you will hurt others. You will encounter satisfaction and disappointments in your journey through life. So always find time to capture beautiful moments in pictures and videos. Laugh and smile a lot, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Tell someone what they mean to you, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, give selflessly, love and keep your family and friends extremely close. Find a hobby that makes you happy and embrace it with passion. Remember, no matter what you do in life, some will complain, others will commend, so don't be afraid to take chances, be focused on your goals, turn your back on the crowd and direct your attention on the orchestra. Live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back. In the end, the story of our lives is what we make of it - the totality of the choices we made and refused to make. So make one right life choice today - love God with all your heart, serve Him with all your being, fear Him with all your senses. -   DR. ANTHONY UBANI, Life Coach & Leadership Development Consulant

Leadership in Action

A sincere attitude of giving; a caring concern for others and a consciouness to look beyond our ourselves to make a difference in someone else's life..... That's the hallmark of transformative leadership. It is a Christ-like quality. The absence of which is indicative of the conflicts and insecurity that bedevils Nigeria today. Make a commitment today that not a week will pass without your making a selfless investment of your time, money, energy or talent into making some else's life better. One person at a time, with love and kindness, that's how we make the world a better place. There is no greater gospel than this. Giving is the ultimate act of leadership!

LEADERSHIP ADVANTAGE: Time To Give Back!

Leadership Advantage is a privately owned Non Governmental Organisation run by a crop of professionals speacializing in Stategic Leadership Studies; Leadership Training and Development; Leadership Coaching and Counselling; Motivational Speaking on Leadership Issues.

Our mission is to help build and evolve a better Nigeria through the development of sound leadership values, principles, ethics, skills and competences in young Nigerians. We be believe that the greatest act of leadership is to empower others. Our leadership goal, therefore, is to freely give back to society by putting our collective talents, resources and knowledge at the service of young Nigerians, particularly disadvantaged youths, who cannot afford the luxury of expensive capacity building programs.

We plan to launch our free leadership seminars, workshops, coaching and counselling sessions in the third quarter of 2011. This will be followed by the commencement of our Leadership Advantage Recruitment Program which is uniquely designed to empower deserving youths with rewarding employment. And finally, our premier Youth Leadership Developnent Library will open in Abuja in the fourth quarter of 2012.

At Leadership Advantage, we are dreaming big dreams to help shape a better future and ensure that our youths are truly empowered to become leaders of tomorrow. Join us.

DR. ANTHONY UBANI
Managing Partner
Leadership Advantage

The OBJ Peace Initiative & Maters Arising

I have always been a huge fan of professor Wole Soyinka but frankly i dont know what to make of his recent tirade against former President  Obasanjo's personal initiative to try to resolve the boko haram violent face off with the Nigerian government.. Yes, one can understand the symbolical issues raised in the respected professors's  press release, but  methinks that Nigerians, the international community and indeed the family of those killed in the UN bomb blast and other such terrorist acts will be very happy and gratified if in the end, peace and order is restored through the Obasanjo initiative  - that is in spite of the poor timimg as professor Soyinka  suggests. I think that this is not the time for grandstanding and moralisations on timimg and symbol. This is the time for all people of goodwill to rise and provide courageous and purposeful leadership that can help resolve this boko haram saga that has claimed hundreds of innocent lives. To the best of my understanding, what Obasanjo has done is to provide leadership when it was most needed and for his modest efforts, no matter how flawed it may be perceived, he deserves our support, encouragement and prayers - certainly not criticisms.