THE ART OF MULTI-THINKING

During my sophomore year in the University of Lagos, one of my lecturers then took us a course which probably is the worst nightmare of any Art or English student. And the reason for migration of many.

Take a Guess!

You guessed right! Statistics

He came to class that morning and said he was going to prove to the class that people “don’t think”.

I thought to myself “How is he going to accomplish this?”

Then he went to the front, wrote a question on the board including the “how to get the answer’’, He asked the whole class what the answer was and to my surprise, nobody could answer it.

Everyone he pointed too missed the mark, until he said the answer and as if a veil was removed, sounds of “I wanted to say it” was heard in the background.

Many factors could have caused that but the take-out is this “Everyone can think, if you put your mind to it”

Over the weekend, I was privileged to chairman the annual state conference of NCCF which involved all the 18 zones in the state and guests from other states in the country. I had to co-ordinate over 15 committee and sub-committee throughout the duration of the project (pre and post). In as much as this wasn’t the first time I will be handling such projects but this was rather a terrain of mainly youth corpers filled with vigour, energy and passion.

Truth is every moment of the planning phase was fun and exciting and at some points felt like a woman in childbirth probably trying to deliver twins but I realized that through the process I was involved in a rather amazing art of multi-thinking, working with a very strong and selfless team. Getting updates from all the committees and ensuring that their needs were met, providing strategic advice and recommendations to those in need; ensuring we met set deadlines and objectives, connecting all the dots together and making sure all the team members (including those whose location were approx. 4hrs away) work together.

Am not quite sure about the popularity or existence of this concept but from my experience I would put it as an Art of engaging the mind in multiple connected endeavours at the same time and still remain a piece.

It involves tending, monitoring and producing ideas and solutions to related activities in a project.

This doesn’t imply that one has trust issues or finds it hard to delegate responsibilities but instead an assumption of role as the director or co-ordinator of the scheme.

I believe the human brain can do a whole lot more than we task it and it’s even possible we die without ever using up to 10% of our brain capacity.

MULTITASKING VS. MULTI-THINKING
A project manager or head of business is tasked with the responsibility of babysitting and providing direction and advice to multiple units involved in the project and if this is not properly managed can lead to frustration, stress and possibly untimely death.

Like a wife that mops the floor, does the laundry, baths and care for the child, goes to the grocery store and still remains in one piece to do the dinner; that’s exactly is how engaged the right brain is from pre-conception to birth.

I always like to believe that the world belongs to thinkers not dreamers. Best captured by an ironical quote I stumbled upon, “To achieve your dreams: Keep sleeping”.

Having to think through connected events and still remain a piece was definitely tremendous and eye-opening. Not to mention the positive post-conference feedbacks received.

Have you ever tried multi-thinking? Kindly Share your experience

Business: The Igbo Mindset Nigerians Must Adopt In 2016 (2)

It’s February and the present economic realities have succeeded in weathering the hype and fun that comes with the new year.

The Nigerian market is experiencing one of its worst economic crisis ever, the downward slide in oil price and other antagonizing market forces is really pushing the country to the edge but in all, the masses, those at the bottom of the food chain would always be the most hit.

Aliko Dangote in a CNN interview puts the quagmire this way. “The drop in oil prices will give us (Nigeria) an opportunity to diversify the economy. This could be a blessing; there will be pains, but good things do not come without pain”. Emphasis on blessings through pains! Are we really prepared to go through the storm?

Dangote points to the fact that Nigeria urgently needs to budge into other sectors of the economy. This would obviously not come easy, for it would cause a shake and disruption of status quo. But it seems like the best for a country as large as Nigeria.

Another valuable inference is the revival of entrepreneurial spirit and proper nurturing of entrepreneurs in the country.

I strongly believe that the entrepreneurs of today will be the game-changers of tomorrow. This spirit is predominant amongst the Igbos.

Taking a cue from my last post, below are some of the Igbo mindset we must inculcate this year, if Nigerians must thrive in this time.

3) Collaboration: Am sure that at one point or the other you would have come across labels like Amaechi and sons Ltd, Dave and John investment etc. doing one joint venture or the other. This might look funny to many but herein lies invaluable truths that keep businesses alive. They understand that no man is an island and as such come together to win the market.

There is a popular African saying that if you want to go fast go alone but if you want to go far, go together. Collaborate and co-create this year!

Just as Henry Ford puts it. “Working together is Success”

4) Start Small: Men like Jim Ovia, Cosmos Maduka and Tony Elumelu didn’t become rich overnight but went through the process and paid the price. The road to diversification and economic victory lies in the strengthening and empowering of SMEs. This explains the reason why more Igbo men and women are involved in entrepreneurial activities than white collar jobs.

Start Small! Think Big!

5) Negotiating: Ideas, services and efforts can be underpriced if not well sold, defended or negotiated.

From the seller, an Igbo man can really give an outrageous price for a commodity that if not careful, you might be forced to purchase simply because you failed to negotiate or question the price.

The buyer: Think like an Igbo and you might as well minimize cost.

6) Take risks: Every business endeavor possesses its own level of risk, take it any way. A failure is one who recedes from starting. Today’s revered and highly accomplished business moguls were those who took risks in very unfavorable conditions.

Take the risk! If it fails, take another! It won’t be long before it pays off.