Three Simple Steps To Self Discovery

During the past few months I've brought up the importance of being true to yourself time and time again.

But as a number of people have asked me recently, "what if you don't know who the real you is?"

An excellent question; one that I'm sure is very relevant and true in a world where-in so many spend so much time and energy trying to look, talk, and behave like others.

One of the most effective ways in which to find out who you are is by identifying your values.

Find some quality time to do the following exercise;

1. Write down your five most important values

2. Write down why each value is so important to you.

3. In one paragraph describe what it all means.

Self Belief Leads To Sustained Sales Success

I'm sure you've heard me make the following two statements before;

1. The first thing a prospect buys into is 'You'.

And

2. You need to believe in yourself to succeed in Sales

But how exactly do you believe in yourself?
You need far more substance than self-help books.

The real substance comes from within.

Here are three steps to Greater and Sustained Self Belief.

1. Identify your 5 greatest strengths

2. Identify 5 occasions in your life that you've used those 5 strengths to achieve something you're very proud of

3. Develop your 5 greatest strengths

It is these same strengths that will enable you to consistently succeed in Sales and Business.

What Does God Look Like To You?

Whilst watching the film 'Exodus, Gods and Kings' last week, in which God is depicted as a young boy, the following thought popped into my head - 'What does God look like? If I was asked to draw a picture of God, what would I draw?'

You're probably wondering what the point or relevance of such an exercise is, but trust me, if we are to have a truly personal relationship with God then the way we picture or imagine Him is not only important but very significant.

Would I have to draw two pictures of God? - one of the old testament and another depicting the God of the new testament?

To be perfectly honest I was a little stuck. So I decided to pose the same question to some of my good friends.

Here's what they had to say.

"When you asked I immediately thought of the picture from exodus - The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night - That's how I see God - Cloud and Fire."

"In my head......all I imagine I would be able to "see" would be this massive ball of bright white light that I won't be able to look at directly. It'll be too bright to see the actual physical being in its radiating from.
I've thought of this before and that's honestly what I've always imagined He would look like if standing in front of me."

"I will draw by the name (lion of the tribe of Judah) so I will draw a lion with fire around it. ‎

"I know a lot of people imagine Him as a Gandalf lookalike - White long hair and beard. Well, when I was younger I subscribed to the same thing. But now, I see God as light. The Bible says that the Cherubims and Seraphims cover their faces with their feathers as God's glory is overwhelming.Then again, the Bible also says that we're made in God's image. So I'm thinking God has our features but is also light."

"Jesus maybe( and that's because I think he will appear according to my understanding)."

"He is like a human form, an illuminating light in a distance and hard to see."

"Well he would definitely look like man."


"He is very old, has a long white beard, bushy white hair, and wears a flowing white dress or robe."

"He is young, He has eyes, sees all things, he has ears, arms and legs, and a good heart. He gave up his only son for us."

"God in my mind would be somewhere in between a woman and a man (as in features), probably like a child in size."

"I would draw a picture of man. Afterall the bible says we are made in His likeness."

I'm of the opinion that God looks different to each and everyone of us. I'm struggling to put a face on him but what I can picture is a very loving arm around me. If I had asked myself this same question a few years ago I would probably have drawn something fierce and stern looking. Lol

However I'm starting to see God more and more as a God of infinite love and mercy. And the only way in which I can picture mercy and love is in a human form; which in itself is rather contradictory since us humans aren't so strong on love and mercy. But then again maybe that's the point. Maybe the more we picture God as a God of Love and Mercy, the more loving and merciful we become - in His image.

So if you see God as light, see Him as a light of love and mercy. If you see Him as half man half woman, see him as a very loving and merciful half man half woman. If you see him as Cloud and Fire, see him as a Cloud of Love, and a gentle loving fire. And if he's a lion, then a cuddly, loving and merciful lion with the sure ability to be fierce and ruthless when fighting for you - never against you.

Whatever picture you draw, make sure Love and Mercy are the dominant features.

Closing Deals With The Right Sales Strategy 2

‎There are three things that most of us consciously or subconsciously desire on a daily basis;

1. Respect, 2. Understanding, and 3. Care.

In Sales it is vitally important to convey these three traits at all times.

1. Respect
Respect your prospect's views and situation. Don't water down or overlook it. Demonstrate that you listened, and that you respect where they're at. A failure to do this will most definitely lead to an immediate disconnect. Once there's a disconnect, any chance you had of Building Rapport is gone. No Rapport means no chance of a Relationship. No Relationship means No Business.

2. Understanding
A lack of understanding will always lead to a breakdown in communication. Once someone feels you don't understand them, they get frustrated and irritated; and very quickly start to keep their distance from you. Communication is the second most important component of Sales. No Communication means No Sale.

3. Care
Would you do business with someone that doesn't care about you? I don't think so. Failure to Care leads to a Failure to Trust.

Going back to the lady selling facial scrub;

1. She didn't show any respect for my desire to stick to my budget.

2. She failed to try to understand that my cash-flow was tight.

3. She showed very little care or concern for my situation. Worse still, by revealing her irritation she blatantly conveyed to me that all she cared about was getting the sale. Never ever do this. Once a prospect believes that all you care about is the sale he /she will never trust you. No Trust, No Business.

The truth is she was selling a good product. But because she failed to demonstrate Respect, Understanding, and Care there was no way I was going to buy it from her shop. A few days later I searched for, found, and bought the product at another outlet.

Closing Deals With The Right Sales Strategy

On my way to meet a friend at a shopping mall in London a few weeks ago I was approached by a lady selling exfoliating facial scrub. When she invited me to sit down for a demo, I informed her that I had already spent my shopping money the previous day and was now on a strict budget. She replied that she understood, but still wanted me to sample her product. After giving me a demonstration she told me the price - £80. I was actually quite impressed with the product's effectiveness, but had already made up my mind - no spending. So I informed her again that I was on a strict budget and therefore couldn't afford such an unplanned expense. She continued to say she understood but nevertheless persisted in trying to convince me to change my mind. She even reduced the price to £40. Unfortunately for her I had already made up my mind not to spend a penny. After a while she became visibly irritated; at which point, I politely told her that I was running late to meet my friend and had to go. What was right or wrong with her sales strategy?

A Pleasant Experience Leads To More Sales

It could be the simplest thing that enables you to stand out from the rest.

The area in which I stay in the UK( outside London) is predominantly a white neighbourhood - British and Europeans. So I'm sure you can imagine how difficult it was for me to find a good barber - one that understands the black man's hair. So difficult was it that I usually had to head towards London to get my haircut.

About two years ago some young Turkish gentlemen set up a barber shop in the neighbourhood. Hoping that God had taken pity on me and the other handful of black people in town, I decided to give them a go.

Not only did they do a fantastic job of cutting my hair but I got an arm massage and a mini facial in the process - all part of the service. It wasn't so much of a haircut as an experience.

Today, these guys have two barber shops on the high-street - both always full with British, European, and African customers. They've totally cleaned up.

Despite the fact they charge a lot more than the other barber shops in the area, they get three times as many customers as their competitors.

Why?

Because people will always be willing to pay for good service. Getting a haircut at this particular barber shop is like an 'experience' - a very pleasant experience.

The most effective way in which to Stand Out From The Rest is by doing a little extra to make your service not just a provision but a Pleasant Experience. It's also the best way to get people talking about you.

Maje's HIIT Squad

Okay we all know I'm a bit of a running addict. Indeed as far as I'm concerned it's nigh impossible to be much fitter than I am!!!

At least that's what I thought until I did a session with the HIIT Squad.

How do I explain this?
30 minutes of pleasure, fun, hell, excitement, pain, joy, and pure elation. You will feel all aforementioned emotions at different intervals; but the overwhelming emotions that stay with you for several days afterwards are Joy and Elation.

I wanted to give up at least three times. Within 10 minutes of commencing I was so disorientated from exhaustion that I was literally seeing stars. In-fact I'm fairly sure I saw the original Star of David!‎

But somehow Maje kept me going - superb coach!!

A 30 minute session with the HIIT Squad will not only empower you physically but also mentally - it pushed me to boundaries I never thought I was capable of.

If you want to attain a higher level of physical and mental fitness (upping your concentration levels, focus, determination and perseverance) in 2016 then I highly recommend sessions with the HIIT Squad - 14 Adebayo Doherty, Lekki Phase One. 

30 minute sessions commence from 6am, and run until 9am from Mondays to Saturdays;  evenings from 6pm.

Finally, please allow me to pay homage to a man I believe was one of the few True Living Legends of our time.

When one considers David Bowie's gargantuan contribution to the music industry the words that come to mind are 'Musical Genius, Courageous, Innovation, Constantly Evolving, Great, Suave, Authority, Master Entertainer, Fashion Icon, Art, Creative Genius, Iconic Lyricist, New Frontiers, and Leader of His Generation.'

I couldn't help but shed a few tears as I fondly recalled songs such as Ziggy Stardust, China Girl, Oh! You Pretty Things, Ashes to Ashes, Hereos, Let's Dance, and 'Ch ch' Changes.


We will miss you.  Our loss is heaven's gain.

Adieu Ziggy

Thank you for the many many many wonderful songs.

RIP David Bowie
8th January 1947 - 11th January 2016

Increase Sales With Unique Service Offerings

A Very Happy New Year To You

Let's begin with the realities on ground.

1. The economy is at a standstill.

2. Companies are intent on holding on to their money as against spending.

3. The economic outlook for 2016 is gloomy at best.


So in all likelihood many companies/sales people will be chasing the same clientele with the same service offerings.

The key to ensuring they choose you and not your competitors lies in your ability to set yourself apart from the rest.

How?

Two effective ways in which to do this are;

1. Focus more on what prospects / customers need as against offering them what you have, or what you think they need. This means taking the time to do your research via fact-finding meetings.
Listen, Listen again, and Listen some more.

2. As well as delivering what they need, provide a Free Value Added on top.

Absolute Power

Nations have fought for it for centuries, political parties continuously strategise to not only attain but also hold on to it, African leaders have maimed and killed for it time and time again, western leaders, whether they like to admit it or not have committed all manner of atrocities to either maintain or expand it, men and women crave for it, and women are naturally attracted to it (when I asked a female friend what kind of qualities she wants in her ideal man a few days ago one of her expressed desires was 'a man who exudes power -confidence'.)

Power

What exactly is it?

Power as the world knows it comes and goes. It is impossible to hold on to power for ever; absurd to imagine one can be powerful indefinitely.

Or is it?

Imagine for a few seconds that you have direct access to the One that created heaven and earth; direct access to the One that holds the moon, the sun, and all the stars in the palm of His hand; that the One who is sovereign over all things not only holds you dearly but also in the very highest esteem; loves you unconditionally, and has you continuously in mind - not because of anything you've done or can do but because of what His son has already done.

And when I say access I mean direct access - you to Him.

This is who you are.

Power isn't how much you have in the bank. Neither is it how many cars or houses you own, how big your office is, what title you hold, or how many people there are in your congregation. ‎All such things come and go.

A man / woman of power is one that daily walks in the secure knowledge of who he/she is in Christ - a beloved child of the Almighty.

Finally this year be true to yourself - your talents, your strengths, your character, your passion, your career, your likes, and dislikes.

The essence of power is being true to who you are.

My challenge to you this year is to embrace the real and absolute power of who you are in Christ, who he created you to be, and what he created you to do; even if it means going against the norm.

I leave you today with two quotes from two outstanding individuals.

1. "If today were the last day of your life, would you want to do what you are about to do today?"

Steve Jobs

2. "Ninety-nine percent of the people in the world are fools, and the rest of us are in great danger of contagion."

Thornton Wilder

Be True

More than a few people have asked me recently whether or not I'll be writing another political piece soon. Indeed when I received a message from a good friend of mine yesterday evening asking me why there hasn't been a political article from my end recently I was mightily tempted to plough straight into one. But alas, my spirit directed me to do something else - just for you.

I don't usually watch The X Factor (way too scripted and formulated for me), but I thank God I watched last Sunday's final. Three of the guest singers / bands on the show were Rod Stewart - still so marvellously successful in his 70s, Adele - who continues to soar to unimaginable heights of popularity and achievement (heavens me she has a voice!), and Cold Play - in my opinion Britain's most authentic and successful band of the past decade.

All of them - Rod Stewart, Adele, and Chris Martin (Cold Play) were separately asked to offer the two finalists some career advice.

They all gave exactly the same advice;

"Always be true to yourself."

In a world wherein we're constantly told how we should look, talk, walk, and what we should be doing (career wise) the temptation to copy others, or simply adhere to societal norms and general expectations is often overpowering. As a result too many dreams are drowned, too many passions suffocated, and way too much authenticity diluted to the point of decimation.

As my good friend Lanre Olusola said to me a while back;

"One of the biggest problems that exists in Nigeria today is that of the Copy-cat Syndrome."

Too many people spend far too much time and energy trying to be like others. The fact of the matter is that the only person that can be a great Mr. Johnson is Mr. Johnson. So why copy him when you already have so much power, talent, and uniqueness inside you to be a great YOU?!

As we approach the end of 2015 I want to encourage you to do two very important things that will not only enable you to have a fulfilled 2016, but also positively change your life forever.

1. Identify who You are

And

2. Identify what You're passionate about

Once you've done the above, map out an effective plan to actualise your true goals - based on your findings.

I'm sure you've heard successful / famous people say "I'm living the dream". What they actually mean is that they're fulfilling what they were created to do.

There are five keys to actualising your dream;

1. Courage
The courage to not only make a start, but to keep going when everything and everyone around you is telling you that it can't be done.

2. Passion
It's your passion that will keep you going when things get tough.

3. Hard work
There's no substitute for hard work. You've got to put in those hours of building Knowledge and Expertise.

4. Focus
Focus on three things.
- who you are
- how you add value
- how to continuously build and develop

5. Dedication and Perseverance
Your success won't come overnight. There will be moments of doubts, failure, and discouragement. But so long as you know and believe in where you're going, never ever give up. The difference between success and failure is not giving up.

There are thousands of people waiting for you to start being who you were created to be. Their needs are fully reliant on your courageous acceptance and embrace of who you are.

Be True To Yourself.


I've just completed the next five editions of my children's book, so the writing side of my brain is about to implode.lol... As such I'll be off air until the second week of January.

What will I be doing?

Probably watching The Force Awakens as many times as is possible.

In the meantime kindly permit me to wish you and your family the very Safest, Best, and most Happy Christmas and New Year.

Happy Happy Happy

In the most acute of shocks, and the grimmest of all horrors I looked on as that Republican candidate - what's his name again? Donald something or other I think (the fact that he's loaded doesn't mean one automatically remembers his name) - anyway I watched on pain of torture as that Donald something or other openly told the world that as president he would ban Muslims from entering the US.

Is this guy for real? So it's now okay for so called leaders of the free world to openly display hatred and animosity towards certain ethnic groups and faiths?  Is this what the world has come to? Has Hitler been reborn? Am I dreaming? - just a few of the questions that plagued my mind as I gawped with eyes and mouth wide open.

But this morning I feel elated. For not only is Donald whatever's desire nigh impossible to implement, but the idiot has played right into the hands of the Democrats; making it so much easier for the colossus that is Hilary Clinton to waltz into her destiny - First Female President of The United States of America. I look forward to her swearing in; and I thank Donald whatever his name is for making her journey to the White House that much easier.

There are two other reasons for my oh-so very happy feeling.

1. Arsenal!!!
What a come-back!! Admittedly I didn't watch the match, as I've discovered during the past year or so that when I don't watch my beloved Arsenal they tend to win - 90% of the time anyway. So as my older brother watched his beloved Chelsea in his sitting room on a cold winter's night I watched Marvel's Agents of Shield season 2 in the family room. But I couldn't help venturing into the sitting room every 10 minutes or so to not only check the Chelsea score but more importantly assess his mood. Such a loving brother is he that he wanted Arsenal to win as much as I did. The big grin on his face every time I sauntered in enabled me to enjoy Marvel's Agents of Shield so much more.
Three nil to the Arsenal. An awesome night.

And finally - do I really need to say this one???

It's been Three Years! Waiting for Three Whole Years!!!

Three years of desperately  trawling the Internet for previews, rumours, gossip, and even the faintest of plot summaries.

Three years of longing for the release of what is for me without doubt the most eagerly anticipated movie all time.

Now fairly familiar with the Knights of Ren, like every other star wars junkie I'm still wondering why Luke Skywalker hasn't featured in any of the trailers. Could he possibly be the founder / head of the Knights of Ren? Or head of the new (First) order maybe?

18th December means just one thing - The Force Awakens.

Thank God for Star Wars

Thank God for the Arsenal

And thank God for that Donald whatever his name is.

Closing Deals

You can be the greatest presenter, communicator, or relationship builder in the galaxy, but if you can't close deals you won't get Sales.‎

Before teaching you this simple technique I need to point out two key pre requisites.

1. Be Confident in who you are, and your product/service's ability to add value.

2. Be very Courageous


There are two stages to closing deals;

1. The Testing Ground

and

2. Slam and Silence

1. The Testing Ground
Before going for the kill you need to confirm whether or not the prospect is serious or not.
There are two questions you can ask that will enable you to know whether someone is serious or not.

A. Ask them what their budget is.
If they have no idea what their budget is, or are strangely reluctant to even give you an estimate then it's fairly likely the prospect is merely dabbling in possibilities, as against making a decision.

B. Ask the prospect when she wants the service to commence.
The serious prospects usually know exactly when they want something to commence.

If the above two questions yield positive results then seal the deal with a 'Slam and Silence'.

Slam
- Re-emphasise the three main benefits to the prospect. Keep this short, simple, and precise.
- Then tell her the price / fee

Silence
Wait for her answer. Do not say another word. Just wait for her answer.

Increase Your Sales In 2016

At this time of year we usually plan for the coming year - drawing up sales plans and strategies that we believe will yield positive results.

But to ensure more success in 2016 try something a little different.

1. Get in touch with previously positive leads / prospects that ended up not yielding the desired results (failed sales) and ask them why they said no.

This will do two things for you:

A. Enable you to better understand their needs and thereby empower you to improve your service offering.‎

B. Enable you to positively engage with them; thereby laying the foundation for more authentic relationships. Remember - a good relationship will always lead to business.

"The difference between a great salesperson and a good salesperson is a great salesperson asks great questions and engages the prospect, while a good salesperson is great at presenting to a prospect."

Sean Burke, CEO, KiteDesk

What Really Matters?

Were you created to be like that seemingly perfect man /woman you see at church every week - or the one that lives across the road - or even the one you see on TV?

Were you created to be super wealthy with many plush properties and luxury cars?
You may very well have been. But it's also possible that you weren't.

We're bombarded by subliminal messages on a daily basis  - more or less telling us that the key to happiness and fulfillment lies in the millions / billions / trillions in our bank accounts.

But what happens when you don't get those millions?

Frustration, anger, resentment, and depression set in.

The irony is the root of your frustration is not so much the missing millions but the simple fact that you're on the wrong path - not doing what you were created to do.

Let's get one thing absolutely clear.

When you're using the talents that God bestowed on you to serve and to add value to the lives of others, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll become a multi millionaire. But be rest assured that God will provide for all your needs.

1. Serving others doesn't mean doing things for free. It means using your talents to provide a service in exchange for fair compensation /remuneration.

2.  People are always willing to pay for Value.

A few days ago someone told me something that made the whole of the past three years so very worthwhile. She said;
‎
"I've just finished reading Home. Wow!! It really made me see God in a different light. And I can't wait to get to heaven. Not that I'm goiing to speed it up or anything, but I now realise this life on earth is nothing compared to an eternity of God's love, joy, and peace."

Whilst writing Home the Lord told me he wanted to use it to enable people to see Him in his true light - a God of Pure and Unconditional Love.

At that very moment, when my friend told me what the book did for her, I felt more happy and fulfilled than ever before.

So what am I saying?
1. Figure out what you were created to do.
2. Draw up a step by step plan of how you're going to do it.
3. Start now

‎
Still wondering what your talents are?
1. List five moments in your life when you achieved something you're very proud of.
2. Identify the talents you used to achieve each one.
‎
Then to confirm, call three close friends or family members that know you well, and ask them what they believe your biggest strengths are.

You weren't created to be like everyone else.
You were created to be you - with specific talents for a specific purpose.
It's time to start being the real you. ‎

How To Overcome A Sales Funk

You haven't sealed a deal for several months. Previously optimistic prospects are telling you there's nothing they can do for now; and your sales pipeline is more or less non existent. In-fact you just can't seem to even buy a sale.

You're in the dreaded Sales Funk.

Ask any successful salesman /woman what he or she strives on and they'll tell you it's 'Confidence' - in who they are, what's they're doing, what they're selling, and their ability to add value.

The first thing to disappear during a Sales Funk is confidence. You need to get your confidence back asap.

How?

1. Sales is extremely psychological - for prospects, clients, and the seller.
‎Mentally revisit previous Sales Successes - how you achieved them, and how you felt. This will do two things;

A. Remind you that you are indeed a good salesman / woman.

B. Remind you of strategies that work, as well as enable you to come up with new or refined ones.

2. Visit clients to ask them how they're doing, as well as how the product / service you sold them is doing. Then simply listen to them.This will renew your belief in your product /s‎ervice, as well as your ability to add value.

How To Get Quick Sales

 

There are two key reasons why you should always focus on doing your very best to exceed customers expectations. 

1. When you exceed expectations by adding even more value than your prospects / customers expect, it ensures a business relationship built to last, as against a hit and run that has no real substance.

2. By exceeding expectations you earn the right and confidence to ask your customers for referrals. Referrals are the easiest and surest way of getting new business. 

Remember - it's not just about the sale. It's so much more than that. It's about building lasting, value adding relationships. This is why Sales is and will always be the first line of Customer Service.

Referrals are vital; especially during this challenging economic period. 

Don't just satisfy your customers. 

Wow them. 

Sales and Dating

Let's look at another similarity between Sales and Dating.

When you meet someone you're attracted to, despite an initial excitement there is usually a trial period wherein you assess the other party's characteristics, in order ascertain whether or not you're a good match. 

It's usually after the initial excitement that two parties get to really know each other; once the pressure of you like me /I like you is out of the way.

Similar fashion -  in business / sales most prospects are looking for someone that doesn't threaten them in any way; that they feel at ease with; that they can trust. 

What keeps prospects constantly on a nervous edge is the thought that you are about to ask them to spend money.

The best way to remove their suspicion is to visit them every now and again and discuss anything other than business - politics, economics, football, tennis, Nigeria, the world and her dog. Anything at all. Just not business!

It is during such conversations that the few remaining walls of suspicion are levelled to the ground, as friendship and trust grows.

And there is no better time in the year to do that than now.

SexHarassment Seminar In Pictures

Sexual Harassment in Sales: Is the Nigerian Sales / Business Environment Conducive For Female Professionals? The panel moderator, Uju is the Managing Director of Chapel Hill Denham Management Limited, is an experienced Investment Management professional with over 20 years in Personal Banking and Wealth Management gained from managing clients in some of Nigeria's leading commercial banks, Discount House and Independent Investment Banking Firms such as FBN Capital and Standard Chartered Bank Limited.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (English and Literature) degree from the University of Benin and an MBA from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- ife. She is also a Member of the institute of Directors (IoD).

A Financial Planning expert, she is a highly sought after Conference speaker with a dedicated Personal Wealth Column in This Day Newspapers, Nigeria

I Feel Like Crying

I've shed tears at some point during every day of this week. 

Today I cry for 15 more innocent lives in Yola; lost to the evil menace that is Boko Haram. As I do so I'm reminded of the thousands of lives that have been mercilessly cut short in the name of religion. 

Is it really religion? 

Or is it merely a mixture of angst, resentment, hopelessness, and a selfish lust for power and relevance disguised in the name of religion??

Can one man justly kill another in the name of God? For what exactly? 

I cry for the 129 lives that were cruelly snatched from their families; parents mourning their children; loved ones inconsolable as the bitter reality of life without their better half dawns on them. 

And let's not forget the 224 lives decimated by last week's horrific airline explosion. 

I cry tears of fearful concern regarding the likely increase of fascist voices within Europe - calling for a closure of borders and encouraging all around them to look upon foreigners with suspicion and disdain; precisely what the terrorists want - mutual suspicion, fragmentation,bewilderment, hatred, and fear. 

My tears free fall as I wonder how on earth we can ever defeat an ideology so blinded by evil that it shamelessly spouts the absurd notion that the reward for taking another man's life is the warm embrace of 70 virgins in the afterlife. 

Serving the interests of God or Satan???

Boy would I love to see the look on their faces when they get to whatever their afterlife is and realise their reward is something not only completely different but altogether undesirable.

I cry also for the mess we humans have made of this our planet earth. We had everything. We still have everything. But we continue to destroy it - bit by it, chunk by chunk,limb by limb,  life by life. 

And don't you dare blame God!

He gave us free will - the choice to choose whether to do good or bad. Would you rather your son /daughter loves you as a result of his or her desire to do so, or because he or she is forced to??

Too many of us have chosen bad - war over peace; money and power over love; cheating and stealing over service; evil over good. 

Mankind's depraved hunger was taken to new and incredible heights by Nigeria's former NSA chief, who syphoned millions of dollars that were supposed to fight Boko Haram; and as result indirectly caused the death of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. 

But is he more evil than nations and leaders who act in their selfish interests of oil and arms?

I recently heard the sad story of a man and woman at war over the custody of their five year old son. The man relates that he and his ex wife were so focussed on their bitter and frenzied thirst for revenge that they lost sight of the importance of the well-being of their child. It took a frightening dream in which the child completely disappeared as he and his ex continued their bitter duel for the man to realise he had lost focus on what really matters; not him, not his ex, but their five year old son. He swallowed his pride, and allowed his ex to have her way - for the sake of their son's wellbeing. 

I judge no-one. We are all at fault. 

But amongst my tears of anguish and grief are tears of hope. For where there is love there is hope.

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear. There is love in us all. 

We just need to let go and allow it to roam freely within us. 

How?

By recognising what is important.

Life, not money

Peace, not war

Humility, not pride

Forgiveness, not angst and bitterness

Unity, not segregation

Selflessness, not 'me'

Service, not fame and power

Selfless Love, not self interest. 

The media has a part to play.

Every Faith has a part to play. 

Governments have a part to play.

But it begins with you and I.