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Tolu Fiz Akanee is a thinker, writer and speaker; the author of A-Z Life lessons

Monday, November 29, 2010

You, yes you!

Where are you
I miss you
I don't just want you
I need you

I need you to matter to me
I miss the movies we saw together
I miss the evening drives
I miss the dinners
Your lovely evening dresses
The way you poke my dimple
I miss locking my lips into yours
I miss buying you gifts
I miss how you whisper "I love you"
Oh I wish to be naughty so I pull your cheeks once again
Can I look into your eyes once more

I miss those moments
I miss you

I miss you cos I'm fed up with you
Fed up with the you imagined
I'll rather miss you unimagined than imagine you anymore
Show me you exist and come on over

I don't wanna see you on that side of life
I wanna see you on this side of life
C'mon cross the bridge
Show me you're real

C'mon so you meet my friends
Cos they think you don't exist
C'mon and silence them
I need you real soon
I need my lady


Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

How about this

How about this?

How about this
How about change
How about being the odd one out
How about being different

U don't see what they see
U don't like what they like
U don't wear what they wear
U don't feel what they feel

U don't what they do
U don't get what they get
They don't get u
U don't get them

How about this
How about u
How about them
How about us

Its ur world against theirs
Ur voice against theirs
U, them, us?
As the lines are drawn

How about a wait to see who prevails


Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Happy Sunday to you all!

Church service starts in 15mins and I woke up with a different feeling this morning and I've been feeling bad kind of that I've slowed down on blogging in recent times......so here I am trying to correct things.

A lot of things have happened in the last couple of weeks; NYSC camp and the hustle for a good job placement being tops in my life affairs. I've been praying, hoping and trusting God for the best and the heavens smiled on me on Friday as I got two acceptance letters from Total and Schlumberger and a lot of people have been asking "which one are you going for?" "how are you gonna go about it"

I've been confused myself but I think I made up my mind to go for Schlumberger.
I cant exactly point out to specific reasons why I feel Schlumberger is better than Total, but that's just how I feel.
My decision however comes with this latent feeling of "what if after NYSC, Total now offers their corpers a mega post-NYSC pay package?"
Really there's no 100% justified decision so I'll just go with it.

Meanwhile, I have a conviction that Accenture will still pick me, but I wanna remove my mind from Accenture. I love the place the and all, I like the corporate culture, it's consultancy and consultancy is my thing which means it should be a good training ground, yet I'm not sure I want it anymore.
I have a feeling it will interfere with my plans for El Fiz and on the long run, El Fiz that was supposed to be a plan for NOW will be a FUTURE PLAN....I wouldn't want that. I guess I'll rather stick on an engineering 8-5 and have my passion for consultancy haunt me after 5 o' clock.

But I am excited about the turn of things, I can remember telling people that offered me a couple of IT firms while I was still searching for a place that I cant afford to have anything less than a multinational on my CV...
Some people advised I start with the ministry and then see how I can cross over later
Others said "a bird in hand is better than a thousand in the forest"

And I kept on saying "I can't be stranded"
It's a covenant with God...I can't lack any good thing, I cant! Not when my God is still on the throne and I'm excited that God honoured his word in my life.

I trust God to send me a sign before mid night so.............thats it.



I was on the island yesterday for two book readings.
They bullied me to do a book reading at the galleria cos one of the authors weren't there....I didn't just want to do it, but I sensed the act of doing the organiser a favour at that instance will count for something in the nearest future, so I did it to stamp that "I am doing this for you Sir" impression.
However, I said no to the TV interview they had afterwards.

I moved on to Terra Kulture for the celebrity book reading.
Myne Whitman was there! I was so excited to see her and I can tell you she's having fun...somewhere at the back of my mind I always knew her Nigeria book tour will the best so far, cos Nigerians are loving people, we embrace each other and we enjoy celebrating our people.
She's as warm in person as she sounds online and I admire her a lot.


I met Chiedu, great, powerful young man! We had a chat that lasted 30mins or more and I can affirm it that he's a great man. Engineer by day and a creative artist by night.

Chude was also around. And Chude is ever energetic! I've promised to join the future awards team to see how I can contribute to such a great initiative.

I've missed the island gatherings, I've missed mixing with the great and I think I'm back.

I want to make some dangerous..and I mean dangerous statements about the coming year. I want to commit myself to the impossible and I trust God to take me there.
I will share some of my thoughts on that in the coming days

I have to go to church now to dance and appreciate the lifter of my head.


Again I wish you all a Happy Sunday!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Another remarkable 26th

The last time 26th was on a friday was in August and that was the day my STV interview was aired on national TV. The moments that followed the 15mins interview were moments of great joy, excitement and it was unexpectedly very emotional as I wept at different times through the course of that day. Tears of joy, tears of joy, tears of joy......
I will never forget that day of my life

That was 3 months ago and that same God has not given up on me

In the words of the Psalmist
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceaseth as they are new every morning..."
God answered my prayers today

I picked up my request letter from Total Nig plc this morning after I received a call yesterday that I've been offered the job

With that letter I was able to reject the Ministry of special duties posting.

And just as I was getting to Agege on my way back home, a call came in from Schlumberger.
2hrs later my request letter was in my box

2 job offers in one day!

In the words of my Bishop "1 day of favour is enough to end 1 year of labour"

Today has indeed been my day of favour and I thank God for this!
For the shame with which I left Osun, he has given me double.

All glory must be to the Lord
For He is worthy of my praise
No man on earth can take glory for this
All the glory must be to the Lord

This is my story
This is my song
Praising my saviour all the day long
Rejoice with me!

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

As the days go by....

December 31, 2010 is somewhere around the corner and its time to start evaluating the year as we put our hopes and aspirations for the year down on paper.

I had a refreshing time at the Accenture interview yesterday and I'm very grateful to God for that. However, through the cause of the interview I had to point out a lot of scenarios on how I have proven myself in past times, and having loads of instances to refer to strengthed me a lot through the interview process.

I had a long discussion with my mentor today and it was WOW!
Those are life moments money cant buy being shared with people that only God can give you access to. To say I was inspired would be an understatement.
It was a powerful moment with powerful dishes served at the power table

Its a long journey ahead to success and even a longer one to greatness. I just have to keep at it

Paid employment can only make one rich, it doesnt bring wealth...and if the dream is to become wealthy, paid employment is out of equation...its only a means to an end

feeling very sleepy rite nw..I'l talk more tmrw

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Owambe weekend


It was fun at the wedding of the Medinus yesterday as there was plenty to eat, drink and gist about.
I had loads of fun hanging out with a couple of friends from school.
Some how my camera was not behaving itself, all the pics came out blurred buh I stil have to share..enjoy!



 
Cheersssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Daddy's girl doing her thing


Hope you all had a wonderful weekend, I wish you all a fulfilling week ahead!

Accenture interview tomorrow.....let's go there!



Saturday, November 20, 2010

About to be employed

As the job search continues a lot of interesting developments have come up in the last couple of days.

On Thursday I was at Total downstream for a job test and interview.
They wanted a corper with Autocad proficiency and that was the first thing we (myself n a friend) were tested for...we did good and we moved on to the interview. We were interviewed by a white guy..their Technical coordinatior (TC) and the interview was smooth...just a couple of cheap questions based on what I had in my CV.
Apparently, if I get the total job I will be their draftsman at the Techincal department, in other words it will be one year of Autocad! I'm not sure I can handle that but...its wayyyyyy better than a job at the ministry!

Schlumberger is still looking promising. My link is still promising and I know it will come out well.

Accenture has invited me for interview on Monday. I like Accenture a lot, it has loads of relevance to my future aspirations and I'm confident that with God on my side I will ace the interviews.

For now, my preference is
#1 - Accenture
#2 - Schlumberger
#3 - Total
#1,000,000,000 - Ministry of special duties

That ministry job is out of it. Good news is a friend of mine was able to reject hers yesterday without any need for bribing anyone..so it will come easy for me most definitely!

I'm happy with the turn of events, the fact that I have 3 options is priceless, it is something many crave for. Day after day I keep getting that assurance that service year will be worthwhile.

El Fiz is on pause for now until I settle my 9-5 life
Other self development things also on hold
When I feel like reading a book, I read my bible...dats all I want for now
When I start work all other things should fall in place.

If u ever wanna be nice to me, please pray for me and my family...someone had a minor injury in this house yesterday, it should never happen again by God's grace

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Re: There is a God in heaven

I was praying to God during our mid week service when God opened my eyes to the past.

I was reaching out to God on my posting and letting him take full control cos its nt something I can handle alone.

Immediately God took my mind to a testimony I shared last year on hw God favoured me wit a life transforming summer job.

Read up the testimony here

http://el-fiz.blogspot.com/2009/07/there-is-god-in-heaven.html


Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Ede camp in pictures.

Sa'ad the mad man....this soldier is few thoughts away from madness

Room G3 wit 23 bunks!

Iya Nuru our faithful drycleaner

corper cooling off during one of those boring lectures

Boni n Sizu


Demmy n Yewande



Adebayo made the list of top 10 under 20....congrats bro!
(random buh sum1 sent this pic to me cos I was in the background..lol)


 The best meal I had in Osun state...tantalizers chilling

 
Demmy with the fun kids we met at tantilizers..aged 2, 4 n 6..lol


The "no-endurance" endurance stroll

 me n Reme with a man-o-war instructor





Very boring and short camp fire night

Passing out parade



Yinkeey on Platoon 11 chilling

Oil n Gas goons 


KC, Me n Demmy after the passing out parade

Me n Chinwe (Funeh this shot was 4 u)

On camera with the NTA Osogbo crew


==========================================
Orientation camp over...

==================

What next?


Saturday, November 13, 2010

As NYSC Orientation comes to an end

I'm back!

I returned to Lagos yesterday evening
I returned with mixed feelings and I couldn't find any form of happiness in the last couple of hours I spent in Osun state.
My NYSC posting didnt go as expected...I was anticipating exxonmobil but what I saw was an eye sore
"Ministry of Special duties
TGS/Perm Sec education dist 1 Agege
1, Pen Cinema, Agege"

How can?
What happened?
What went wrong?
Why me?
Not Tolu Akanni

How can I jonz this big?
Too many things were running through my mind as we travelled back to Lagos
I couldn't even talk to anyone in the bus cos apparently everyone else seemed to have gotten encouraging places and for the first time in my life it looked like I was the unlucky one that was left out.
Every other person I know that wanted Exxonmobil got it, so why me?
I didn't even want to leave room for anyone to gimme any form of encouragement, I was angry a plan had failed and that anger was all I wanted for that hour.

So a plan has failed now
As much as I wish this was one big nightmare, it sad to see that I'm awake in the reality of it
I hate failed plans but this one has happened
So I'm back to the drawing board
Back to analysing alternatives
Back to repositioning myself for the best

I wonder what God is up to anyways
I smell His touch all around this...there's something He sees that I'm yet to see but one thing I'm sure of is that "All will be well"

I cant be stranded
I cant suffer
I cant fail
I cant be in want of any good thing

Thursday, November 11, 2010

NYSC diARiES - day 18

What was goin to be a 22 day journey was soon cut down into 19days...many thanks to the muslim society n the govt for declaring monday as a public holiday

Tmrw I return to las gidi
I miss life in the city
I miss my family
I miss my church

Bye bye NYSC camp
Bye bye Ede
Bye bye Osun state

Glory be to God for keeping me
His name be praised!
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Saturday, November 6, 2010

NYSC diARiES dAY13

Of a truth, I'm always humbled each time someone tells me "I read ur blog" or we have a conversation n they go "I saw that in ur NYSC diaries"

I just wanna say a big thank you to you, I appreciate you a lot.

It feels good to have a voice. There are millions of people worldwide seeking to be heard and when I have u listen to me without making any serious effort to draw ur attention then I'm elated.


I love people
People make NYSC fun for me
I would have gone crazy if I were to be in the midst of total strangers.
The stories I hear everyday, the gists we share, the things we do to squeeze fun out of frustration are the things that keep me going.

I love God
Though not as much as He loves but I love Him in my own way and I just wanna thank Him again on this blog.

There's this frame we had in our house back then, it reads
"GOD IS OUR EVER PRESENT LISTENER"
This one line has subconsciously shaped my relationship with God through the years.
When there's no human to talk to or when what I have to share is too heavy to be shared with any being, I talk to my ever present listener.

The tone of a statement influences the message it passes across
There's a way u simply say
"Give him something"
There's a way u solemnly whisper
"Giiiiive him something"
And that whisper influences the tone of the message

The most powerful msg I've heard in a long while came from my aunt last month.
Old woman in her 70s; she came for my bro's wedding and her parting words left me with a burning confidence.
After she saw my book and all she had showered blessings on me she looked at me in the eyes and went
"Olorun ti sowipe 'bere lowo mi emi o si fifun o' mu gbogbo ohun ini re wa siwaju oluwa ni gbogbo ojo aiye re"

"God has said 'ask and it shall be given unto you' continually bring all of your needs to God for the rest of your life"

She need to have said it to you for you to understand its full effect!


I went to Osogbo, the capital of Osun state yesterday. Not bad but not so good....therz no place like Lagos men
I enjoyed d trip outside camp sha...spent 5hrs @ tantalizers
The routine was fun
Salad- toilet - rice n chicken - sleep - ice cream - sleep - doughnut n meatpie - sleep - more ice cream
Then we left....crazy life jor!

Therz Mr Macho n Miss NYSC pageant tonite. I hope I have fun cos I'm rly not in d mood jare
I've been sleeping all day
Btw, I saw my face in d mirror after 12days yday n d word is 'horrible' I look like a beast!!! U don't wanna c hw much beards I have on my face
I shall shave tomorrow

Catch you later,
Thanks again for reading!

Tolu Fiz Akanee
| thought | written | spoken |
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

NYSC diARiES dAY9

I didn't plan to blog today but I have a brief thot to share so Iemme do that quickly.....


Crazy crazy day in Ede camp.....I had to stand through the length of the lectures on how to secure employment. But hanging around the hall cos d seats weren't enuf wasn't so bad after all, it earned me more friends.....I had a mouth watering dishes of intelligent conversations with friends all around.

Thanks be to God for the rain that interrupted our parade. I just ran inside my hostel and with low battery on my phone I decided to make use of the journal I bought for my NYSC experience.

I've started work on the structure of my next book. I just like the way the chapters came in place all of a sudden. As soon as I fix a release deadline I'll be glad to share a couple of interesting features that the book will have.

God is always with me.
He loves me
And He makes it clear to me on a daily basis

Tomorrow will be a greater day for sure

----------------------
N.B. I figure I didn't exactly channel my opinion about non-CU graduates with tact. Its not as bad as I put it then.....just that they were really getting on my nerves at some point. I'm sorry!
----------------------

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Monday, November 1, 2010

NYSC diARiES dAY8

It's 1 week since we got here
It's the 1st day of November
As in November is here already!
July, August, September, October, now November
I miss July.....I will neva launch a 1st book again
I miss August.....d spotlight was wow
I miss September.....d empowerment process was awesome
I miss October.....trusting God 4 lagos postin was *sighs*
Now November is here
I'm gonna start work this month even though the stakes r high, I'm trusting God 4 Exxon mobil.

A part of me is wanting to start something fresh
I need a vacation this december jor
Some El Fiz things should take better shape this month

I don't wanna worry about tomorrow, I just wanna remain optimistic and maximize every opportunity that comes my way.

In my subconscious I'm beginning to see thingsssssss....as in I'm seeeeeeeeeeing things.

I need God to help me oh

I'm enjoyin my Forbes app, its been a blessing to my intellectual health.....d articles r very informative.

Btw, I wish I could gather 20-30 corpers daily and teach them life lessons.......sincerely I have a lot to share and I know their lives won't be the same buh therz no obvious platform 4 that here mehn.

The average Nigerian graduate is not 'informed'
Hopefully in the nearest future, I would love to tour NYSC camps to teach graduates


fOOd fOR thOUGht:
"The future belongs to those who recognise opportunities long before they become obvious"
Wha do u see?

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