YOU CAN TURN A SETBACK INTO AN ADVANTAGE

you have your title. Land does not usually depreciate in value. Don’t put money in business you don’t understand. In a bid to augment our salaries, my wife and I started transportation business. But, sad to say that everything came to naught. We lost all the trailers and tippers we bought in the process. The lesson we learnt from that was: do not go into a business you don’t understand. I advised my wife to concentrate on her profession, which is teaching; and she agreed with me. She is doing well running her own schools.

LESSON Health When you lose your health, nothing else makes sense. Many of us don’t understand that when you lose your health, everything else you have acquired loses meaning. Your attention would be on how to regain your health, and you are willing to sell everything to be healthy. I try as much as possible to exercise. At a point, I stopped exercising when I joined the CBN because of work. I almost paid dearly for that, as I suffered a health condition that almost kept me indoors if not for God’s timely intervention. I have learnt to check my blood pressure on a daily basis. I have changed my diet and I now exercise. When you get to middle age, you must adopt life style changes. Again, your heart must be free: don’t bear grudges. Bitterness destroys your biological system; don’t be bitter. Don’t be jealous. The race of life is not a 100- metre dash. It is marathon.

LESSON I worry about the way we talk about the future of Nigeria. In fact, this is one issue that keeps me awake on a daily basis. We should emphasise our commonality and leverage our size and diversity for greatness. We should copy examples of Indian and China, Malasia, etc. Hate speeches and divisive conducts should be discarded by all. I turned down an offer as an Officer in a popular bank a few decades ago. I was to do six months to be promoted to an Assistant Manager. I insisted that with my First Class Degree, the least I deserved was an Assistant Manager from day one. My friends that took up the job got confirmed in six months, while I was still looking for the same job. So, having rejected the job, I got a lesser job a year after those that accepted the job I turned down became my boss. As much as possible before I sleep, I try to reflect on what I got right and what I got wrong. One, from my late boss, Dr. Rufus Giwa: That when you are humble, people are willing to overlook your mistakes. Two, was from Chief Joseph Sanusi who told me, ‘young man be truthful; falsehood may appear to be holding sway, but it cannot run for too long. I have held unto that. Third, Dr. Lekan Are also taught me that everyone cannot like you even when you are doing good, but remain consistent and continue to do good whether people appreciate you or not.