Evolution - Stage 4

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In January 2013, I started this blog as a platform to share my ideas, with no proper form or focus. Anything went.

A few months later it evolved into an inspirational blog. But when ‘inspirational blogs’ started flooding town, I had to move shift focus. Inspirational blogging became [and is now] too common.

In 2014, I started personal development blogging. I was sharing personal development ideas based on my knowledge and experiences. Later on, in the latter part of 2015, I realized how generic this blog was becoming. Then I got to a point where I realized I had to focus and build my blogging around something specific.

Hey, what's up with your reading goals for 2016?

For the record: I love cats

Less is more. That's the philosophy guiding my reading goals for 2016. As much as I relished the challenge of reading 40 books in 2015, I decided that this year I would have to step that down. The plan is to read less books, do more thinking and take more deliberate action. My main focus in 2016 is on understanding, not knowledge.

In December, I made a list of 25 books to read. Then I changed my mind again in January, with the idea that I may end up reading more or less than 25. I decided that I would just go with the flow. That whatever number I would arrive at  in December 2016 would be good enough. But now, I realize that is not a good idea; it's not a smart way to think. If I want to achieve anything worthwhile through reading in 2016, I have to be deliberate about this whole thing.

Mind you, I haven't decided on a number yet. But what I have done is to make a list of categories of books I'd like to read, based on the areas of my life that need the most attention. There are at least three books under each category, each of them has been selected based on strong recommendations from people.

But that's enough about me. Now, let's talk about you.

Why do you even have reading goals in the first place?

If you're serious about setting and/or accomplishing reading goals in 2016, then you need to be deliberate about this thing. Don't just pick any book to read, narrow your scope and make sure you have an objective for this.

Why do you want to read the number of books you want to read in 2016? Is it so that you can gain mastery in a new subject? Or so that you can acquire new skills that come from practicing the things you will read? Or is it so that you can tweet about all the books you have read and show off to people? Make sure you get your motives right. In the course of the year, you will face obstacles that will obstruct you from achieving your reading goals. What will matter most, what will keep you going, will be the objective(s) for setting those goals.

Narrow your scope

When pursuing your goal, one thing you will notice is that there are so many books in the world you want to read. Some great titles won't pop up until late in the year and they will tempt you to veer off course. Sometimes that is okay, other times it's not.

So it is important for you to narrow your scope. What kinds of books do you want to read this year? Why do you want to read them? By the time you answer these questions, you will be better prepared when delicious books - that aren't already on your reading list or aren't in the categories of books you've scheduled for the year - come your way.

So far this year, I have read hundreds of articles about content marketing, and I finished one book and read another half way. I finished reading StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath and read half of Charles Duhigg's The Power of Habit.

Now I'm reading The 50th Law by 50 Cent and Robert Greene. I don't intend to finish all the books I start. What's most important to me is gaining valuable knowledge from them. Once I sense that I have gotten the main point of the book, I will move on to the next one. Just like that!

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Why I almost quit blogging

January 2016 was the toughest month I have ever had. I came into the year hoping for great things and it seemed like January was out to steal my joy. Things weren't going the way I had hoped. I came this close to deleting my blog and looking for something else to do. I will admit that most of my trouble was my fault. But still, it wasn't fun.

Please I need your help with this questionnaire

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Hi guys!

My friend, Princess, is in her final year in the university and needs your help with her research project. Kindly click this link and you will land on the questionnaire.

It is designed to investigate the effect of social media on youth political participation in Nigeria. This is one of her core requirements for her B.Sc. Please note that it's for Nigerians aged between 18-35.

Once again, here's the link to the questionnaire, Thank you very much. Please help me share this link on Twitter, Facebook and anywhere else you can.

7 TED Videos That Will Fire Up Your Creativity

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It's been a tough couple of weeks for me. Things haven't been so good, at work and almost every other aspect of my life. But I believe this is all part of a process.

What Do You Want 2016 to Be Like for You?

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I’m excited about 2016 and all the possibilities that may come with it. I wasn’t as excited about 2015 as I am now. I mean, considering all the lessons I learned in 2015, I’m thankful that I am a little bit wiser this year. Are you excited about 2016? You should be.

I know this will be a good year, I feel it in my gut. But I also know that 2016 will only be as good as we make it. Whatever good things that will happen this year will happen because of the seeds we have sown in the past years and the seeds we will sow in the early months of the year.

Ugh! I Lied to Myself

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Note: This is just a random rant

In the final days of 2015, I made a decision that I was going to read just 25 books in 2016. I convinced myself that I needed to read less and practice more; that I needed to read less books in 2016 than I did in 2015. Turns out I was only deceiving myself.

After going through my book (ebook) stash, and seeing some really great titles that I just have to read this year (that weren’t on my reading list already), I decided “you know what? Screw it!”

I’ve changed my mind. I can’t put a cap on the number of books I will read this year. I won’t even set a target anymore (save for my target of at least 25). I’m going to go with the flow and read whatever appeals to me at the time. Whatever happens, happens.

Happy new year people! We are going to grab 2016 by the cojones (read: grab the bull by the horns) and make the most of our lives!

Would You Like to Write for My Blog?

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Since I started blogging in January 2013 I have tried to use every post on this blog to help people and be a blessing to them. Without you reading this blog, it will just be 'another one' of those blogs. But you have made every letter and thought on this platform worth it.

The Top 10 Songs and Albums On My Creativity Playlist

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Everyone has a go-to music playlist, for when they are sad or happy or in need of inspiration. When I need inspiration to write, I listen to some specific songs or albums and they help boost my creativity. And since I listen to a variety of music genres and lots of songs, I can’t put them all on this list.

But then, there are songs and albums that stand out though. This is the list of the top 10 of them (in alphabetical order).

The 15 Best Things I Read in 2015

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If you ask me how 2015 has been like for me, I’ll give you one simple answer: deliberate. 2015 has been a deliberate year for me. I came into this year with the intention to learn and grow on purpose, and that is what I have done.