October is for Overcomers

OCTOBER is a month for overcomers. After what seems like a really tough season for many, I sense it’s a season of victory. Victory in your mind. Victory in your spirit. Victory in your attitude. Victory in your business and life. Get ready to overcome whatever stopped you before now.

We were inspired by this article from Udo Okonjo! Read below –

Victory in your attitude Click To Tweet

Even the young ones aren’t left out of the reality of the tough times we are in. During a phone conversation with her 15-year-old son who called to talk about the pounds sterling now exchanging at over N600 and to generally check how everyone in Nigeria is fairing. I told him don’t worry, just do his best and get good results, your dad and I will do our best too. He said, mum I believe that “Action and faith” (in his words hope and productivity) are the best approaches to dealing with this tough season. I agree. He’s clearly his mama’s son.

Here are 7 Quick Practical Tips for Overcoming this Recession

O – OVERCOMER’S MINDSET

The starting point this month is that you must recognise that you are configured and have all it takes to overcome tough times. You must decide deliberately to overcome fear. Overcome being stuck. Overcome confusion, panic and a sense of hopelessness. You must as a matter of priority; take hold of this once and for all!

Recognise that the free-falling exchange rate in Nigeria and seeming lack of direction in your life or economy has no power over you in eternity. If it lasts for a very long time, it won’t outlast eternity. Even if it does, you are better off approaching it with a fighting can do positive spirit. Put things in proper perspective. You’ve got this. You will overcome. Take that as a given and then go get equipped and get to work.

C- CLARIFY

Clarity is critical to getting anything mega done. Having a clear direction actually gives you wings and a new zeal. Every time I write or review my goals, I am re-energised. Sometimes being bombarded by the dire economy and even personal circumstances can make us lose sight of our once vigorously held goals and aspirations. But to overcome, you must know exactly what you need to accomplish these last 3 months of the year from October to December. Clarify your topmost goals and zoom in on those. I like to set what I refer to as #GoMega goals. These are

Sometimes being bombarded by the dire economy and even personal circumstances can make us lose sight of our once vigorously held goals and aspirations. But to overcome, you must know exactly what you need to accomplish these last 3 months of the year from October to December. Clarify your topmost goals and zoom in on those. I like to set what I refer to as #GoMega goals. These are

Clarify your topmost goals and zoom in on those. I like to set what I refer to as #GoMega goals. These are game-changing breakthrough goals that have the most impact on your overall life and business. Set them in your business to stretch and motivate you. Then get a laser-focused handle on them and refuse to let go until you achieve them.

T – TERRITORY

It’s time to take new territory. If you are not taking new territory, you are stagnating or losing territory. Challenging times are the best times to begin to seek out new opportunities. Stop assuming this is it! This is not it! There’s more territory to take. New markets. New niches. New client categories. New product lines. New ways of funding that idea. New relationships and collaborations that could grow your current idea, project or business. Don’t sit in one location and die.

I love the 4 weak lepers in the biblical story who changed their storyline by boldly proclaiming- we aren’t going to sit in this tough situation and die. What’s the worst that can happen if we explore new territory they said, moving into enemy territory to confront new horizons? Instead of thinking what if you fail, how about thinking what if I succeed?

Who knows what would happen if you made a call to a new supplier today? Or resurrected that old contact? Instead of worrying about the lack of or rising foreign currency- how about looking for markets where USD is not being rationed or scarce? Could this situation be a wake-up call to expand? To think bigger? To get out of your comfort zone? To diversify? Without risk, nothing worthwhile is ever accomplished.

Get out of your comfort zone and think bigger Click To Tweet

O – OWNERSHIP

It’s a season to take responsibility for your life as a private citizen. Yes, Government has a role to play. According to Okey Enelemah (Nigeria’s Trade Minister) who shared some profound insight recently at the Society for Corporate Governance 2016 conference, “the role of government is as an enabler and honest broker. The Government has to lead by example but requires shared accountability with private sector collaboration. A case of Mutual interests. ” I agree largely with him.

In my opinion, old fashioned things like not complaining and not making excuses for your results should become the standard. Accept responsibility for where you are. Everything you are facing whether as an individual or a business is a result of your past decisions and actions.

Yes, things are tough, but did you save, did you borrow too much, invest too little, take too much risk or too little risk? Did you plan ahead? Send your kids abroad without a plan A or B? Really only losers make other people and circumstances their problem. You can’t overcome if you don’t own the power to make a change starting with your actions. We all could do with more ownership and less blame game while working towards the right enabling environment and a society where truth, fairness and justice prevail especially for the more vulnerable members of our society.

I personally believe we could all do more to contribute to the kind of society we so desperately desire. That’s why I’m excited about the distinguished Chevening Scholars Alumni who were hosted at a gathering on Independence Day at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Ikoyi.

B – BELIEF:

What do you believe about this season? Really be honest. What do you believe about the economy? What do you see? Recession or opportunities? Do you believe that a certain level of chaos and uncertainty are the perfect backdrop for the emergence of new titans, trailblazers and champions? Or do you believe, this is the time to run away for some time or maybe adopt a wait and see approach?

As a man thinks- so is he. As you see, so shall you overcome. I pray you to see correctly. I hope you see the opportunities that others are seeing and taking advantage of. There’s a way where there’s a will.

E – EXCESSIVE

Yes, I want you to be excessive this month in offering value whether as an entrepreneur or employee. Tough times call for going the extra mile. Tough times require excellence like never before. Give no excuses and accept none. In a recession, competition is tougher, people are ready to do what it takes, so don’t expect any favours or applause for doing just enough.

Deliver an exceptional experience to your constituents/clients/employers who quite frankly are looking for an excuse to cut out your service or product from their expenses. Oh and yes, do cut out the excesses in your lifestyle and expenses if you know you can’t afford them. Be excessive in offering value but also trim your excesses if you want to overcome this month.

R – RAT RACE

Get out of the rat race. Run your own race. Preferably dance to your own carefully selected music. There’s too much noise in the marketplace, especially in this season. There’s a tendency to compare your storyline to another person’s business or to compete without knowing whether you are both dancing to the same music. The fact that everyone else is in the real estate, fashion, food and beverage, power sector or telecoms doesn’t mean you have to be.

The fact that they are struggling doesn’t mean you have to struggle either. Honestly, it’s not really true that things are tough for everyone to the same extent. In my real estate sector, I love when people look in a pitiful way and ask how things are going, expecting a sorry tale. I always smile because I know something they don’t know. Let me let you in on a secret- There may be a recession in the land but it doesn’t have to affect you in the same way as everyone.