The impact of technology on our lives

The world moves and drags us along with it; willingly or unwillingly, we eventually move along with it.

My Dad worked out of town for the most part of my growing years and I recall with glee how alongside my mum and siblings I looked forward to visiting Mr Balogun's house down our street. The purpose of the visit most time was singular: communicating with my Dad on telephone. Mr Balogun happened to be the only one with a telephone in my residential circumference.

Fast forward to today, I laugh each time I have to pass through Mr Balogun's house. Nothing funny really. Just that the same gadget we all came to his house to use, my youngest sister got hers when she was about 13 years old. Include the fact that Mr Balogun's house at the time was a Mecca of sort, as people always thronged in to make use of his telephone.

There was a time I had to visit a cybercafe to send and receive email messages from friends and loved ones far away. Sometimes, having to navigate some long distances to make use of the fastest internet services around my vicinity. Today, I don't even have to log into a computer to send and receive emails.

The world is moving fast and it is moving into our palms. New devices are designed daily to fit into our palms. On the go. In the process, there are a whole lot of things we eventually never get to use either by choice or by force.

And so I ask some questions. Simple routines that were normal when I was in my formative years. How often do I make use of certain things.

When was the last time I made use of a paper dictionary?
When was the last time I wrote a letter to a friend it loved one?
When was the last time I used a chalk to write?

Think about it and add to the list.

In the very near future some of the things we were associated with will eventually become extinct. Think about a dinosaur and how scientists have tried to prove to us that they once were inhabitants of the earth we live in; That's the exact face our kids may give us when we relate some of our experiences to them.

Who knows, maybe in the future we could be talking about a Green Pawpaw phone that establishes live virtual communication.
Lol.

12 Characteristics of Successful Business Management Teams

What are the success secrets of the world’s most successful business teams? What characteristics or traits do they possess that other business management teams don’t? What characteristics must I be on the look out for when building a business team? If any of these questions ignites your interest, then please read on as I explain in detail the characteristics that make a great business management team.

I have listened to series of successful entrepreneurs and drop out billionaires being interviewed but despite their different lines of business, strategies employed and marketing terrain; they all seem to have a common business success secret. And that business success secret is their “Business management team.”

Now if the richest people in the world such as Bill Gates, Ingvar Kamprad, Mukesh Ambani, Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, Li Ka Shing and Aliko Dangote; the richest black man in the world all credit their success to their business team, then there must be something significant about having a business team.

The sustained growth of companies such as Oracle, Apple, Dangote Group, Berkshire Hathaway, Reliance Group, Arcelor Mittal and General Electric is primarily hinged on the expertise of the business management teams behind these companies.

Now instead of telling you the importance of having your own business management team or how to build a business team (which I have explained in details in previous articles), I will be using this medium to highlight the specific characteristics possessed by the successful business teams all around the world. So if you are ready to learn, then sit back and read on.
12 Characteristics of Successful Business Management Teams

1. Definiteness of Purpose

Definiteness of purpose is one of the success secrets of the world’s most successful business management teams. Successful business management teams know the company’s goals, objectives and vision at their finger tips; and they are focused in the pursuit of the company’s objectives. They know their specific role in the company and they concentrate on this role to make sure that the business objectives are met.

2. Knowledge of the Business

Successful business teams have adequate knowledge of the business of the company. The general rules of business are the same throughout the world but market intricacies are different from industry to industry; so also are the environmental factors. That’s why I said that successful business management teams have adequate knowledge of the business.

A competent corporate manager in the food industry may not perform excellently when assigned to a business operating in the oil and gas sector. Why? The reason is because the industrial intricacies and the market are entirely different. Take a look at what happened to Apple when John Sculley took over leadership; Apple lost market share and profits declined rapidly.

What really happen? I can’t really tell; after all, John Sculley was successful during his time at Pepsi. But all the same, I can attribute his failure to sustain Apple’s market share to lack of understanding of the business and market intricacies associated with the technology sector.

John Sculley was experienced in the food and beverage industry; however, he wasn’t able to transfer that experience to the technology industry because the rules of the game are different. So if you are going to build a successful business management team; be sure to make “knowledge of the business” a top priority for the members of your team.

3. Commitment

Take a closer look at the characteristics that make up successful teams and you will see commitment at the core. Successful business management teams are committed to the success of the company in which they serve. You may not really understand how commitment affects the performance of a team until you study the management structure of companies such as Berkshire Hathaway and Google.

4. They are Goal and Result Oriented

Successful business teams are result oriented. They know that their competence and credibility will be adjudged based on their accomplishment; so they press forward for positive results because results keep them in the game. If they fail to produce results; they will get kicked out of the company by the business owner or investors.

5. They are Individual Thinkers and Critical Problem Solvers

Members of a successful business management team are individual thinkers and critical problem solvers. Though they are a team, the members still think individually and solve intricate problems associated with their own area of expertise. For instance, the Chief Operational Officer individually tackles problems associated with the firm’s daily operations while the Chief Financial Officer strives to keep to keep the company’s finance in good position; yet they are all working towards a common goal, “Sustained Business Growth.”

6. They are Team Players

Successful business teams are team players. Though members of the team are individual thinkers; they all act with same definiteness of purpose towards actualizing a common goal.

7. They are bonded by the Business Mission Statement

At the core of every successful business management team is something very important. This single factor is the reason why successful business teams are successful and this factor is the “business mission.” Successful business management teams know that the entrepreneur’s spirit is in the business mission and that’s why they strive to stay focused on the business mission. It’s this same mission that keeps them together as a team; take the mission away and the centre will not hold any longer for the entire business.

8. They are Strategic in their Approach

Successful business management teams are strategic in their approach. All members of the team are individual master strategists with respect to their own field or calling. Successful teams strategize, plan and make in-depth calculation or analysis before arriving at a decision. And once a decision is reached; they execute it without delay and monitor the feedback.

9. They are Competitive

Just as soldiers are tested on the battle field; so also is the competence of a business management team tested in the marketplace. Competitiveness is the reason why successful business management teams emerge successful; they are always on the watch to swiftly counter the moves of competitors. Price wars and media attacks are product of business teams testing their wits against each other.

10. They are Responsible and Accountable

Successful business management teams are responsible and accountable for their actions. They know that the company’s success or failure is dependent on the decisions they make; so they take charge and execute their plans without fear of the consequences. If their move backfires; they take responsibility, learn from the mistake and move on.

11. They are Opportunistic

Successful business management teams are opportunistic in their approach and strategy. They are always on the lookout for trends, problems and opportunities they can exploit. They are always quick to take advantage of a miscalculation or false move from the competitor.

12. They are Excellent Communicators

And lastly, successful business teams are excellent communicators. They know how to motivate their workforce, raise capital from investors, promote the company’s products and increase brand loyalty through their spoken words.

As a final note, these are the 12 characteristics and success secrets of the world’s most successful business management teams. So if building a business management team that will serve in high capacity and keep your business metrics strong is your topmost priority; then make the characteristics listed above a priority while forging the values on which your team will be built and your business will end up having a strong management team.

by Ajaero Tony Martins

Powerful MUST-HAVE attitude tips to make more money

1. Realise your potential

2. Don't look back

3. Dare to dream

4. Don't give up

5. Stop the complaining

6. Change your circumstances

7. Accept responsibility

8. No shortcuts

9. Be excited to learn

10. Share your money makin skills

11. Be a good listener

12. Give yourself a break
Ifada Ighodalo Johnson
CRIG CONSULT
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THE FACTS ABOUT ACID RAIN

All hell was let loose with the recent news that there is an expected shower of acid rain across the geographical region of Nigeria. The mass media, both electronic and print, the internet, as well as mouth to mouth information have all been awash by stories of a looming bout of acid rain.

In the wake of an SMS which was sent out to a large number of people, informing them of an oncoming acid rain which was misconstrued to cause cancer and death. The full text of the message reads thus:

Be careful from the 20th to 28th of this month, there is possibility of an ACID RAIN. The dark circle appeared around the moon on 17th of last month & this is an indication of Acid Rain. Apparently this happens once in 750yrs. It rains normally but It may cause skin cancer if you expose yourself to it. So ALERT your dear ones. This information is from NASA in the USA. DO NOT neglect. Please forward this to your friends. Better to be cautious than sorry.

Granted, bad news is expected to spread with more voracity and intensity, this explains how and why the current wave of stories about the acid rain has circulated across Nigeria. But some reasonable questions to be asked are: what is an acid rain, and is it a new occurrence? What are the effects of acid rain? How come it is just beginning to take preeminence in the minds of people?

First, let us understand the phenomenon described as acid rain and shed more light on the principles that govern its formation, activation and eventual release.

What is an acid rain?
Acid rain is rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, i.e. elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructure through the process of wet deposition. Acid rain is caused by emissions of compounds of ammonium, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids.

What is the history of acid rain?
Since the Industrial Revolution, emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides to the atmosphere have increased. In 1852, Robert Angus Smith was the first to show the relationship between acid rain and atmospheric pollution in Manchester, England. Though acidic rain was discovered in 1852, it was not until the late 1960s that scientists began widely observing and studying the phenomenon. The term "acid rain" was generated in 1972. Canadian Harold Harvey was among the first to research a "dead" lake. Public awareness of acid rain in the U.S increased in the 1970s after the New York Times promulgated reports from the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire of the myriad deleterious environmental effects demonstrated to result from it.

What are the effects of acid rain?

 Surface waters and aquatic animals
Both the lower pH and higher aluminium concentrations in surface water that occur as a result of acid rain can cause damage to fish and other aquatic animals. At pHs lower than 5 most fish eggs will not hatch and lower pHs can kill adult fish. As lakes and rivers become more acidic biodiversity is reduced. Acid rain has eliminated insect life and some fish species, including the brook trout in some lakes, streams, and creeks in geographically sensitive areas, such as the Adirondack Mountains of the United States.

 Soils
Soil biology and chemistry can be seriously damaged by acid rain. Some microbes are unable to tolerate changes to low pHs and are killed. The enzymes of these microbes are denatured (changed in shape so they no longer function) by the acid. The hydronium ions of acid rain also mobilize toxins such as aluminium, and leach away essential nutrients and minerals such as magnesium.

 Forests and other vegetation
Adverse effects may be indirectly related to acid rain, like the acid's effects on soil (see above) or high concentration of gaseous precursors to acid rain. High altitude forests are especially vulnerable as they are often surrounded by clouds and fog which are more acidic than rain.
Other plants can also be damaged by acid rain, but the effect on food crops is minimized by the application of lime and fertilizers to replace lost nutrients. In cultivated areas, limestone may also be added to increase the ability of the soil to keep the pH stable, but this tactic is largely unusable in the case of wilderness lands. When calcium is leached from the needles of red spruce, these trees become less cold tolerant and exhibit winter injury and even death.

 Human health
Scientists have suggested direct links to human health. Fine particles, a large fraction of which are formed from the same gases as acid rain (sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide), have been shown to cause illness and premature deaths such as cancer and other diseases.

 Other adverse effects
Acid rain can also damage buildings and historic monuments, especially those made of rocks such as limestone and marble containing large amounts of calcium carbonate. Acids in the rain react with the calcium compounds in the stones to create gypsum, which then flakes off.

Clearly, it is obvious that the case of the recent alarm oozes out of the thoughts of some mischievous individuals or groups who decided to cash in on the wide gap of illiteracy in the country. Contrary to the contents of the SMS’s that have been sent out, “Scientists have suggested direct links to human health.” and cancer have not been directly linked to acid rain.

The simple truth is that as long as we (humans) continue to embarrass mother nature and pollute her wit our knack for comfort, we would in turn, be embarrassed by mother nature. Acid rain has been around for a very long time, it is as old as the very first time that we have released ammonium, carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur into the atmosphere.

Finally, I would like to use this medium to advise Nigerians that the stories going around about a looming acid rain are not only false but also inconsistent.

Do you think you are happy? Read this!

Have you ever tried to figure out why; in one second you are happy and the next you become Sullen?

The last words that come out from your mouth before retiring to bed at night is "Why did I have a bad day?"

Simply put: Why would you be unhappy?
What could be responsible?
Can you voluntarily decide to be happy?
Whose responsibility is it for you to be happy?

Let us try to figure these together.

What makes you happy?
This is the first and most important question that must be answered in the quest for happiness. Often times, you would observe that your feelings are mostly influenced by external factors. These factors include love, hate, what others say or do to you, etc.

Practically speaking, you would effectively rid yourself of any kind of unhappiness if you understand the fact that what you feel most times does not come from within. The senses of the human body that is responsible for feeling is very deceptive and funny. It is structured in such a way that it senses only those things that come from outside. How do you sense the feeling of touch? External touch. How do you sense the feeling of guilt? Doing something wrong. How do you sense the feeling of love? Being loved. All these come from The External Factors.

So for example, the next time you are about to feel unhappy try to reason in this direction. Ask yourself, what would change if I continue to feel the way I do? The very simple response to that most times is NOTHING. So instead of brooding over the situation start to think, and solve the problem before it becomes a problem. Understand the fact that if you can master the act of feeling good without any external factor involved then you have effectively mastered the map of happiness. Nothing would make you unhappy. Nothing! Not when you have mastered how to choose what makes you happy.

What if...?
We often times neglect one very important fact that we know. I strongly believe that one defect or should I say feature of all human beings is the fact that it knows a lot but finds it hard to put them all into action when required to do so. Why do I say so: very simple, whether you choose to be happy or not life continues, Right? Let me try to put it a bit lightly; put the whole problems of the world on your earth, when you die, the world will definitely miss you and mourn you for a very long time, perhaps for a whole long week, and the life will continue. Note: life will continue!

True, there are expectations to be met, but the attitude to life should be very easy and simple. Don't attempt to be the Super Human or should I say Superman. Even he did not choose to be so. And he also got hit, remember. He fell, a lot. He was also bruised, remember. Work hard, play hard, think hard, pray hard, read hard, write hard, but never bother hard.

There is a very big difference between thinking and worrying. Choose the previous and life will become what a lot of people say it is not, to you; A BED OF ROSES.

Be happy! It will make you become a better person. And remember nobody, and nobody and nothing on the face of earth is capable of deciding how you feel. Else, why would you say you are responsible if you are not responsible for the way you feel?

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