JENNIE IFEATU

  We are all living with the same level of global uncertainty. Certainty is what you create. The degree of certainty that you are experiencing right now is what you have decided to create.  Certainty is not bestowed on you from some external source. You create the environment that you are able to prosper from. You decide the level of risk you are comfortable with, you decide whether to change and develop the skill to become comfortable with higher levels of uncertainty. Every day you are assessing risk, whether starting a business, leaving a job, booking a holiday or getting on a train. Not deciding still counts as a decision and this is a decision to remain uncertain. How to Create Certainty in an Uncertain World You cannot control the world or anyone in it but you can trust in yourself.  Here is how to create certainty in an uncertain world: Remember that challenge and change are merely detours in the right direction, if you are open to the lessons that the challe...

My earliest knowledge of the word ‘Stock’ could be traced to my Business Studies class in Junior secondary school. It never made sense to me. I saw it as an ambiguous word meant for adults.  Years down the lane, I will be an adult listening to an old friend Maggie ramble about buying stocks non-stop. That constant talk about stocks, what it was and how much it could help my finances triggered my curiosity to delve into it. Plus he shares his wealth of knowledge on his experiences buying stocks tirelessly. You can check him out on https://iammagnus.com He practically gave me my first push.  These were my first baby steps (which were more like questions followed by actions); Why do I have to buy stocks? I wanted to buy stocks but not just any stocks. I wanted stocks owned by US companies like Netflix , Apple, Microsoft, Google, Nike , Pfizer ...Just name them. I wanted to beat my chest and say I owned stocks from these companies no matter how small it was.  My first reas...

  One of my biggest worries as 2021 dawned was carrying out all the plans I had mapped out in my head. Of all the things I know I identify as, I know certainly that I will always be a writer. I know I will always share my wealth knowledge but when it seems something is subtly creeping in and snatching your plans  right before your eyes. What do you do? You snatch it by the throat and yell; What are you trying to do? That will be hilarious and silly. Ofcourse, I am joking. You simply look out for other ways to execute the same plans.  In recent times, it is no longer news that the reading culture seems to be waning and it’s something to be seriously worried about. However, while we try to rekindle the reading culture, we need to look out for other ways to keep people learning.This was the option that was looking at me straight in the face when I realised podcasting was a fast option for me to send my content into the minds of people in a fast-paced world....

One of the foremost memories of my childhood and even adulthood still are cartoons. Asides from the comic relief of laughing and being entertained, you also get to watch some superheroes like Powerpuff Girls, Superman, Wonder Woman do great things with their superpowers.  Sometimes, I find myself wondering if there could be an element of a superpower in me, I actually have been tempted to carry out a genetic test to confirm this.  I bet you think this too when you think about the possibilities in your career path.  You might think you are just another employee on the payroll, however, you are just another superhero with some superpower, and here is how to harness it for your career growth.  The first step to discovering your superpower as an employee is to identify what people come to you for or compliment you about. That very thing no matter how inconsequential it might seem is your superpower. People love coming to you for this thing because they know you will do a...

  I bet one of the vantages that the online music streaming platforms have against radio and the obsolete CDs is the option of making recommendations of songs to users. There, I was listening to the debut studio album by American R&B super-duo Silk Sonic, composed of American recording artist Bruno Mars and all of a sudden, an American indie rock band is reeling off their song - I have got the world in my pockets.  It was almost impossible to have the world in your pocket some decades ago. However, technology hasn’t ceased to amaze us with the possibilities that accompany it. You can now literally carry a market in your pocket too.  With the advent of surging smartphone users and internet penetration in Nigeria, the e-commerce industry has witnessed immense growth since 2010. The e-commerce and m-commerce industries are set to record even higher growth in the future.  Nigeria has the 7th highest number of mobile phone users in the world; 172 million in 2019. Mor...

Have you ever watched how rainfall occurs?  If you are indoors and dry, it's an exciting thing but if you are outdoors and wet, there is no doubt you will be a little grumpy. Rainfall starts with little drops of water dropping like micro pellets till it assumes a furious rush of water from the sky and send even the most tiny legs scampering off to seek shelter.  Little drops of rainfall makes that heavy rain.  Tiny whispers of  'I get one gig' makes an industry. I like to refer to a couple of years back when writing was not a thing. It was assumed as just something nerds liked to do to show their intelligence.  Personally, I don't see writing as a test of intelligence.  It is rather an expression of self when it's in fiction and poetry form and when it takes a non-fiction form of business writing, memoirs, content writing and more, I see it as an unveiling.  These days, it is common to hear young people especially the upwardly...

I am one of the small fraction of people who could show at your office on a Monday, wearing my sneakers and beaming the biggest smile because I feel extremely comfortable. This was perhaps the same mindset of the conductor in my bus this morning. The conductor is a lady dressed in brown combat shorts, a  black polo and a black baseball cap to match. No, she didn't have a coarse voice but the way she went about canvassing for passengers and helping them with their luggage made the job look graceful. For a second, I forgot everything I ever knew about being a conductor in Lagos. This is one of the many surprises, Lagos gifts you. To shock you further, the lady conductor's husband was the driver. We were in an official 'Family Bus.' I was running late. I took intermittent glances at my wristwatch. This was definitely not the mornings that I could boast of being an early bird. My body had succumbed to the 'body no be firewood' gimmick.  Few more minutes...

Have noticed that almost everyone you stumble on Social Media carries a tag, Content Writer. 'Content is Queen' - that's the buzzword on the digital space scene.  Over the years, I have watched people build careers around writing articles for money, content marketing,  becoming an authorpreneur,  copywriting and starting a niche blog.  Being a content writer comes with some great perks. Depending on your position, you can have the flexibility to work from home or your favourite coffee shop, decide what topics you want to write about and see your work published and generate real value. But the job isn’t always an easy one and there a few areas of expertise you need to have to be successful other than just being a great writer.  So, here are some essential skillsets that any good content writer needs to have and continue to hone over their career: You need to poke nose  Good research is key for good content wr...

Aluta Continua is one chant that resonates with everyone who has passed through a Public University in Nigeria and allowed school to equally pass through them.  Aluta Continua  is a Portuguese saying, meaning "The struggle continues". It is highly believed that it was discovered as an inscription on Kunta Kinte's commemorate. The correct wording of the phrase is actually " A luta continua , vitória é certa" meaning, "The struggle continues, victory is certain". It is the motto of the all- Nigerian  Students Union across all academic institutions of higher education. Coincidentally, anytime I am opportune to leave Lagos for a couple of days, weeks or months. On return, it's impossible not to observe the yellow striped buses and what comes to my mind is, "Aluta Continua, Drama é certa. I t is impossible for me to guarantee you that there will not be drama on a yellow bus.  This morning, our bus is riding at a slow pace with some passe...

Apart from your identity card, another thing that identifies or characterizes you will be your hat. Hats? Yes, Hats. I hated them. I felt they had their way of denying my scalp air as a little girl plus I though it looked clumsy. This week, I took the time to observe the number of people I have been in contact with. Some wore hats and some didn't.  Here's my observation; Baseballs hats or caps are for the cool kids, fedoras are for the older men, berets are for the frat guys, floppy female hats are for the bourgie and classy women.  Interesting, isn't it? So, perhaps you can decide to embark on this with me and place people wearing hats in a category (But, don't tell them, that I sent you). Credit: CNCAPS  Social media managers too get to wear hats. Most likely not the Fedora, baseball ball or even beret. But they really do. Their hats are more superficial yet innate. These are characteristics they need to have to enble anyone spot them and say," Aha...