Sunday 18 September 2011

Welcome Back, CISA, and other Stories.

Wow! It’s been ages since I’ve been here. Time sure runs fast, whether you’re having fun or not. I took a long break to study for my CISA exams and since then, I’ve been MIA, forgive me.

So much has happened since, so much. I wrote my exams in June, after deciding I wasn’t going to postpone it anymore (well I did try, but didn’t make the deadline for deferment). So I had a crash study and took the exam. Alas, I will be doing it again. Results are out, and annoyingly, I was 53 marks short. Had 397, 53 marks away from the 450 pass mark. So another 70k+ for exams, not good at all.

Then there’s been the spate of violence, disasters, and tragedies all over the world. Nations warring against nations, people against nations, landslides, hurricanes, floods, boat mishaps, plane crashes; disasters. Of close perimeter to me is the incessant bombings and killings associated with the Boko Haram sect, here in Nigeria.

Truth is, the end times are nigh, and it’s going to continue this way, sadly. But we have to look past the issues, and try, even in the midst of great confusion and depression, to make great lives for ourselves.

So, today, I am posting 16 Golden rules to a great life. Read, and practice them, and they’ll stick like peas in a pod. It’s not so difficult afterall.

16 Steps to a Great Life
1.   Follow up with people promptly. No matter your field or business line, following up is really essential. And keep at it. Never see a ‘no’ as outright rejection. Rather, go back to the drawing board and re-strategize. Find out what you can improve on, any way to repackage, and return; better prepared.
2.   Take out time to respond to contacts, be it a missed call, text message, email, or DM.
3.   Practice active listening. Many people are poor listeners; do not fall into this category. Really listen, don’t wait impatiently for a pause or break in the other person’s speech, so you can jump in with your own. Practice listening with everyone you have a conversation with. Few people are good listeners so when you really listen, you leave a mark. Look people in the eye when they talk to you, but don’t let it become an intimidating stare. And never be distracted by your cellphone, or chat when you’re listening or talking to someone. “To be interesting to other people, you have to be interested in them first” Dale Carnegie.
4.   Improve your communication skills. Take a speech/public speaking class. Practice clear and effective speech every time.
5.   When you don’t make a sale, win a contract, get a deal; do not close the door on that relationship. Acknowledge them for actually giving you the time to make your presentation. Think long term, save a relationship for the future.
6.   Do you belong to any network, group, or club? Be active. Get involved. devote your time, energy, and contribution. It’s a win-win situation. People will acknowledge you, and you will learn to become a leader, an active member of a body.
7.   Invest at least one hour a day to your own individual personal and professional development. Read a book, listen to audio from experts in your field, or the areas of your life you want to improve on. Never stop learning!
8.   Refrain from giving false promises. Never promise what you cannot deliver. It is better to deliver more than you have promised, than to promise more than you can deliver.
9.   Be willing to help people.  Always be on the lookout for ways you can help others. There is great joy and fulfilment when you do something for someone with no personal gain.
10. Build your self-esteem; learn a new skill, be up to date in your field.
11. Memorize people’s names. When having a conversation with someone you’ve just met, say his/her name at least three times during the conversation. Relate the name to something you can easily remember, write down the name if you can.
12. Remember birthdays, anniversaries, new births; and send a card, gift, message, or call. It’s a nice gesture to send a note of appreciation when someone does something for you. It’ll make them feel special.
13.Be happy. Always wear a smile :-). Smile with your eyes and mouth. Laugh. Laugh with those around you. Do not mock people. Be cheerful always. Greet people cheerfully.
14. Accept people regardless of their flaws. Don’t find fault or criticize negatively.
15. Commend people. Praise them for positive actions. Give sincere compliments about character, accomplishment, possession.
16.Say no! Learn to identify the things you just cannot do and learn to say no, politely, without offending the person asking.

That’s it people, my 16 Golden Steps to a great life.
Go have a great week, and be the best!!
Be good…xx

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