Henceforth, builders in Lagos State who indiscriminately stack heap of sand, gravel and other materials on the road, pedestrian walkways or drain paths would face the wrath of the law. This is because such illegal practice was the cause of constant flooding whenever it rained in the state habited by 18million people. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Aderemi Ibirogba who gave the hint in Lagos said the government’s clampdown became necessary because of the lackadaisical attitude of some construction site workers and owners who are in the habit of stacking heap of sand on the road and pedestrian walkways, without minding the effect of this on the environment. He said government would henceforth seal up properties of culprits in addition to prosecuting the owners. Ibirogba bemoaned the practice of stacking building materials on the road and drain parts because owners of such properties do not usually bother to clear the remnants after the completion of their work, thus leaving such remnants to pose environmental nuisance for residents of the state, an act considered unacceptable by the government. The Commissioner therefore appealed to residents to discontinue this act and as a matter of importance abide by the rules and regulations governing building construction in the state to avoid sanctions. He explained that officials of the state were already deployed to fish out such properties and their owners from all over the state, adding that “we have enough men and the right equipment to achieve results in this regard”. It would be recalled that the state building laws makes it an offence for anybody to embark on any construction without making adequate arrangement to stack materials within the premises of the site. However, contrary to the law, builders now stack materials on the road and drain paths without any consideration for the environmental impacts. Some even discharge materials even right on the middle of the road, drain paths and pedestrian walkways. He was tough on people engaging in such practice because, as he said “The aftermath of July 10 flooding where buildings were taken over by the flood leaving the occupants homeless and properties destroyed in the state, was better imagined and we don’t pray for such to happen again because we as a government values the lives and properties of the residents who wholeheartedly gave us their mandate in the April 2011 general elections”. In this regard, he said, “our position as a government is that we would no longer condone act capable of causing untold hardship to the good people and residents of the state and anybody found indulging in the indiscriminate dumping of left-over sands in our gutters, which ultimately end up in blockage of the drainages across the state would be sanctioned and face the music. personally, i guess it's about time this is done. That is, hoping that the enforcement follows through also. |
Friday 29 July 2011
DRAINAGE BLOCKAGE: LAGOS DECLARES ZERO TOLERANCE ON INDISCRIMINATE STACKING OF BUILDING MATERIALS
Thursday 28 July 2011
Toy Storage Ideas for Boys' Rooms
A little boy's room doesn't have to be littered with toys all over the floor. Creative and inventive storage strategies can house all your child's most precious possessions without making his room look like a daycare run amok. Rather than opt for storage solutions readily available at a big-box store, try a unique solution that will reflect the personality of your little boy.
Vintage Chest
- An older, restored storage chest painted to match your little boy's room not only holds a large amount of toys, but enhances a room's pirate or train theme. You can weather a newer chest to look old, giving it a distressed appearance, and you can paint your child's name or add custom graphics to your chest to personalize it for your little boy. If you do use an older chest, restore the hinges and sand the wood to ensure it is smooth and in top working order so it doesn't cause any harm to your little one.
Hanging Storage Baskets
- Make soft fabric hanging baskets in a variety of sizes. These baskets are lined with plexiglass squares so they retain their shape and hold the heaviest toys. You can use your choice of fabric, making custom storage solutions for your room. Because they are suspended from curtain rods, you can put them almost anywhere, and, unlike toy storage with shelving, your little boy won't be able to climb them and jump off. Buy bigger rods to support the weight of bigger baskets.
Rolling Crates
- Update inexpensive vintage crates by adding low-cost wheels so they can be stowed neatly under beds and in other out-of-the-way areas. Use the separators in old soda crates to make different sizes of cubbyholes for storing blocks, cars and other small toys. Remove the separators to make one large crate to store bigger items.
Antique Cabinet
- As an alternative to the standard shelves or toy cabinets available in big-box stores, an antique cabinet can be filled with cubbies, shelving and bins to store all of your little boy's toys, with the bonus of being able to neatly conceal them behind closed doors when not in use. No matter what the style or theme of your son's room, you can find a vintage or antique cabinet to enhance the look of the room. If you cannot find the perfect cabinet, refinish, distress or paint a cabinet so it fits in with the look you are trying to achieve
Read more: Toy Storage Ideas for Boys' Rooms | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8785215_toy-storage-ideas-boys-rooms.html#ixzz1TPg1aoD1
FASHOLA URGES RESIDENTS OF DISTRESSED BUILDINGS TO RELOCATE
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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Tuesday urged all those living in distressed buildings in the State to relocate from such buildings to enable the Government remove them to prevent loss of lives through building collapses. Governor Fashola, who spoke in Central Lagos while inspecting Bristol Hotel building which is currently a subject of an ownership tussle between the Martins Family and WEMABOD, said Government was always concerned when a building collapses and life is lost adding that Government would rather take a preemptive action to avoid such a situation. The Governor, who said he had come to assess things for himself at the building on account of several petitions he had received concerning it, warned that Government would enforce compliance to ensure that no defective structure causes preventable deaths. “If we see a building that is distressed, we take you out and bring down the building. Whether you want to get out or not, we owe a duty to prevent you from killing yourself and we are going to come and remove you from that building. This is not an emotional thing; we want to keep you alive first”, the Governor said. Speaking specifically to Bristol Hotel traders, Governor Fashola explained that the building which, according to him was over fifty years old, was not build for trading, pointing out it could give way as a result of the excess weight being exerted on it by the wares and merchandise owned by the traders. “We do not want any misfortune to happen here; that is why when we build markets, we design it to take the capacity of a market – warehouses, goods in transit and everything. This Hotel was not built for trading, so you cannot trade in the building in your own interest”, the Governor said. According to him, “Nothing hurts me more than coming to carry dead bodies under a collapsed building. We can avoid that and it is only the living that can trade”, adding, however, that no matter the temptation, the traders should not trade in the streets. “There are other shops across Lagos that are empty. So, if this place is not ready, go and take a shop temporarily elsewhere, when we finish, you can come back here. I know that it is the returns here; the profit you make here that is the attraction. But do you want to risk your lives for the profit? It will not be in the interest of your children”, the Governor said. The Governor disclosed that Government would soon finish close to about 8, 000 new shops in Oyingbo, Tejuosho and other places adding that work would soon continue on Phase 2 of Oluwole Market. On the issue of sanitation in the place, Governor Fashola urged the traders to endeavour to keep the area clean pointing out that Government has provided refuse collection bins for that purpose while street sweepers and officials of the Lagos Central Business District are working round the clock to ensure the cleanliness of the environs. “We created a special department in Government – CBD – because of you so that your business will prosper. We are working to bring electricity to this place for you. So we need your cooperation; do not burden us with more than we already have. It is your responsibility to clean up this place. It is not just Government alone. If you comply willingly, you will reduce your interaction with CBD officials”, the Governor said. Pointing out that the CBD officials were there in the interest of the traders, Governor Fashola, however, warned, “If you do not comply willingly, they will seal your shops”. He promised that his administration would do all in its power to make Lagos livable for everybody adding, “We understand that it is the privilege and burden of Lagos State to continue to be a place for Nigerians of all walks of life to come and seek out a living and actualize their expectations in our State”. On the ownership tussle between the Martins Family and WEMABOD, Governor Fashola, who noted that the interests in the building, requires a resolution, declared, “There seems to be a conflict, the title, the ownership, between WEMABOD and the Martin Family. The matter is in court. The only thing I can tell you now is that I will not act in defiance of any court process. If there is any title dispute before the court, I am going to wait for the court to determine who the true owner is before I go in and resolve the issue”. The Governor, however, advised the two parties, “How long that will take will depend on you. You can make court process shorter if you sit down and resolve the matter among yourselves. If you can’t resolve it, clearly, the court will have to make a determination and Government will abide by the determination of the court”. “But if you think that working with us, we can help you bring about quicker resolution, we can identify the titles in our registry, the Attorney General is here, the Special Adviser CBD is here, you can go to them, our doors are open, we can bring you through, show you the title documents we have, the titles won’t lie. “And, therefore, if the issues are resolved amongst yourselves, you can find a new partnership; WEMABOD is an old hand in property development. You might find a new partnership that works for both of you. We will be glad, as a Government, to facilitate that partnership to make sure that we see the redevelopment of this place very quickly; we are waiting so that you can decide how you can develop this place very quickly”, Governor Fashola said. Governor Fashola, however, counseled, “Let me tell you what I always tell those people who are fighting over land; nobody owns land, it is the land that owns us and ready to consume us when all is done. So while we are here, let us make the best use of it”. Earlier, the traders at the hotel had, through their representative, appealed to the Governor to help resolve the issue quickly so that they would resume their business in the building, pointing out that their wares had been locked up in the building since April last year. Also a representative of the Martin Family told the Governor that the family was ready to renovate the historic building if WEMABOD would withdraw the court case while the WEMABOD representative, who claimed that out of the three interests owned by WEMABOD in the building one had expired while two were still running, said its interest was to knock down the original building and redevelop the place. The Special Adviser to the Governor on CBD, Mrs. Derinola Disu, on her part said the CBD was interested in the redevelopment of the area in line with the specification and design of structures within the CBD. |
Affordable housing , my dream says Jeje, the Commissioner for Housing, Lagos State
The newly appointed Commissioner for Housing, Lagos State, Mr. Bosun Jeje, has pledged to make affordable housing the hallmark of his stint in power, even as he promised to resolve some of the lingering controversies in the ministry.
According to him, the availability of affordable housing units is a common issue in all mega cities with Lagos not being an exception.
The commissioner said, at an interactive session with journalists in his office on Friday, that the growing population of the state, majority of whom have no houses of their own, deserved to have roofs over their heads.
To achieve the affordable home dream, Jeje said the ministry would look at significantly reducing the cost of housing construction by utilising locally sourced raw materials.
He also said the home ownership mortgage scheme being floated by the state government would soon commence, noting that the availability of a strong mortgage finance mechanism was essential to realising the affordable home ownership dream.
The scheme, according to him, has been designed to provide long term mortgages for all categories of people in the state at an interest rate not exceeding six per cent and with fairly long amortisation period.
He urged residents of the state to form cooperative societies with a view to saving for home ownership, noting that they could raise the equity contribution for the houses to be bought from such societies, while the balance would be spread over some years.
Jeje, who unveiled his blueprint for housing development in the state at the session, said the state government would build a lot of housing units to satisfy the needs of the people.
Although he said it would take about four or five years to complete housing projects using the conventional building systems, the commissioner said the ministry would embrace new technologies and methodologies of housing construction in order to shorten the delivery time and produce more quality units at reduced prices.
He also said the ministry would embrace the Public-Private Partnership model for the construction of more houses.
“The motivation for housing development in the private sector is profit, while in the public sector; housing provision is regarded as a social service. We will marry the two and use whatever we make as profit on houses in prime areas to subsidise the prices of the low-income houses,” he said.
On the expected takeoff of the state’s mortgage scheme, Jeje said over 700 housing units were available for members of the public to purchase on mortgage, noting that contrary to insinuations, the state had no abandoned housing projects but many ongoing ones.
The commissioner said the government was opening new satellite towns to accommodate fresh developments and relieve the metropolis of congestion.
Some of the new towns, according to him, are located in Iba, Ojo area; Ajara in Badagry; Odoragunshin in Epe and some several schemes in the Ikorodu area.
Jeje said the ministry would also encourage multi-storey buildings that consist of different dwelling units in order to fully maximise the available land space, but noted that provisions would be made for old people.
Rezidor sign deal on $25m Park Inn with Apapa Hotels
The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the world. The group features a portfolio of more than 380 hotels in operation and under development with 81,700 rooms in more than 60 countries. Rezidor operates the brands Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Missoni, Regent Hotels & Resorts, Park Inn and Country Inns & Suites; mostly in Europe, Middle East and Africa., has entered into an agreement with the management of Apapa Hotels Limited for the development of a four –Star Radisson Hotel, in the heart of Apapa, Lagos, which will cost $25 million.
The 103 room hotel is located at Emotan Road and Oduduwa Street in Apapa, a major port and mixed use suburb on the mainland to the west of Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Specifically, the project sponsor, Apapa Hotels Limited, has signed a management agreement with Rezidor Hotels APS Danmark (“Rezidor”) to manage the hotel under the Park Inn by Radisson brand. The development entails the conversion of existing buildings into a hotel, involving interior and some exterior remodeling and renovation, as well as design and construction of specific adjunct facilities.
The Rezidor Hotel Group, according to PRNewswire, is one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, announces its 7th hotel in Nigeria: The Park Inn Lagos, Apapa featuring 125 rooms is already under construction .
The Park Inn Lagos, which is currently under construction, is scheduled to be launched in the first quarter of 2013 and will comprise of 125 guestrooms, an all day dining restaurant, a sports bar, a 330 meter square of meeting space, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre. The adjoining area will include a shipping business and will be heavily landscaped as well as park-like, which is a major advantage in Lagos.
Project descriptions had it that overall construction completion is estimated at 75 per cent with wet works nearly completed. However, outstanding work is mainly on the provision of electrical and water services; installation of furniture, fittings and equipment, landscaping and other external works. The first phase of the hotel is expected to open by the third quarter of 2011.
According to the Environmental and Social Categorization and Impacts (ESCI), the expected key social and environmental risks and impacts include occupational health and safety, traffic, hazardous materials, solid waste and wastewater. These risks and impacts are expected to be mitigated through design specifications and implementation of a robust social and environmental system based on good international industry practice.
The consultant also noted that no land acquisition or involuntary resettlement was required and no adverse impacts are expected to biodiversity, indigenous peoples or cultural resources within the project’s area of influence.
On the social categorization, the management agreement provides that Rezidor will take responsibility for the day-to- day operation for the property, labour relations, training, FF&E, daily and preventative maintenance programs, life and fire safety, housekeeping, laundry, security, kitchen, food and beverage, public relations, and local and international marketing.
The consultant further said that Rezidor has implemented a business program based on three pillars; namely; taking responsibility for health and safety of employees and guests; respecting social and ethical issues in the company, as well as in the community, and reducing negative impacts on the environment.
“Rezidor identifies and selects key stakeholders that are influenced or impacted by the company economically, socially and environmentally, and develops objectives for each that are reinforced by performance based targets. To implement the program, Rezidor has developed a business manual that outlines the procedures at all hotels for establishing the organizational structure, conducting sustainability performance audits; attaining independent third party certifications, ratings and eco-labels; implementing hotel specific action plans; and strategies for external communication of results,” sources said.
Speaking on the project, President of Rezidor,Kurt Ritter noted that “Nigeria is one of our key markets in Africa and extremely suitable for our dynamic mid-market brand Park Inn by Radisson. We are already developing a Park Inn in Lagos, Ikeja and have also established the brand in Abuja and Abeokuta.”
Besides, he observed that Lagos is one of the most dynamic hotel markets in Africa – but still lacking internationally branded hotel rooms as a result of a surging economy buoyed by high oil prices and high barriers to entry limiting hotel development. Apapa is the major port of the city of Lagos and has a high concentration of businesses related to shipping and petroleum.
Rezidor has identified the emerging markets of Africa as a focus area for future business development; the group currently has the largest pipeline in Sub-Saharan Africa and develops its core brands Radisson Blu (upper upscale) and Park Inn by Radisson (mid market) across the continent. Future openings include hotels in Addis Ababa/Ethiopia, Lusaka/Zambia, Kigali/Rwanda and Tete/Mozambique.
The 103 room hotel is located at Emotan Road and Oduduwa Street in Apapa, a major port and mixed use suburb on the mainland to the west of Lagos Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Specifically, the project sponsor, Apapa Hotels Limited, has signed a management agreement with Rezidor Hotels APS Danmark (“Rezidor”) to manage the hotel under the Park Inn by Radisson brand. The development entails the conversion of existing buildings into a hotel, involving interior and some exterior remodeling and renovation, as well as design and construction of specific adjunct facilities.
The Rezidor Hotel Group, according to PRNewswire, is one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide, announces its 7th hotel in Nigeria: The Park Inn Lagos, Apapa featuring 125 rooms is already under construction .
The Park Inn Lagos, which is currently under construction, is scheduled to be launched in the first quarter of 2013 and will comprise of 125 guestrooms, an all day dining restaurant, a sports bar, a 330 meter square of meeting space, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre. The adjoining area will include a shipping business and will be heavily landscaped as well as park-like, which is a major advantage in Lagos.
Project descriptions had it that overall construction completion is estimated at 75 per cent with wet works nearly completed. However, outstanding work is mainly on the provision of electrical and water services; installation of furniture, fittings and equipment, landscaping and other external works. The first phase of the hotel is expected to open by the third quarter of 2011.
According to the Environmental and Social Categorization and Impacts (ESCI), the expected key social and environmental risks and impacts include occupational health and safety, traffic, hazardous materials, solid waste and wastewater. These risks and impacts are expected to be mitigated through design specifications and implementation of a robust social and environmental system based on good international industry practice.
The consultant also noted that no land acquisition or involuntary resettlement was required and no adverse impacts are expected to biodiversity, indigenous peoples or cultural resources within the project’s area of influence.
On the social categorization, the management agreement provides that Rezidor will take responsibility for the day-to- day operation for the property, labour relations, training, FF&E, daily and preventative maintenance programs, life and fire safety, housekeeping, laundry, security, kitchen, food and beverage, public relations, and local and international marketing.
The consultant further said that Rezidor has implemented a business program based on three pillars; namely; taking responsibility for health and safety of employees and guests; respecting social and ethical issues in the company, as well as in the community, and reducing negative impacts on the environment.
“Rezidor identifies and selects key stakeholders that are influenced or impacted by the company economically, socially and environmentally, and develops objectives for each that are reinforced by performance based targets. To implement the program, Rezidor has developed a business manual that outlines the procedures at all hotels for establishing the organizational structure, conducting sustainability performance audits; attaining independent third party certifications, ratings and eco-labels; implementing hotel specific action plans; and strategies for external communication of results,” sources said.
Speaking on the project, President of Rezidor,Kurt Ritter noted that “Nigeria is one of our key markets in Africa and extremely suitable for our dynamic mid-market brand Park Inn by Radisson. We are already developing a Park Inn in Lagos, Ikeja and have also established the brand in Abuja and Abeokuta.”
Besides, he observed that Lagos is one of the most dynamic hotel markets in Africa – but still lacking internationally branded hotel rooms as a result of a surging economy buoyed by high oil prices and high barriers to entry limiting hotel development. Apapa is the major port of the city of Lagos and has a high concentration of businesses related to shipping and petroleum.
Rezidor has identified the emerging markets of Africa as a focus area for future business development; the group currently has the largest pipeline in Sub-Saharan Africa and develops its core brands Radisson Blu (upper upscale) and Park Inn by Radisson (mid market) across the continent. Future openings include hotels in Addis Ababa/Ethiopia, Lusaka/Zambia, Kigali/Rwanda and Tete/Mozambique.
Churchgate launches N156B Abuja World Trade Centre
Projected by the promoters, First Continental Properties Limited, a subsidiary Churchgate Group to cost N156 billion, the development, which will feature the iconic 37 storey World Trade Centre towers is a multi-use complex, comprising luxury high rise office towers, luxury apartments, conference facilities, capital city shopping mall and entertainment facilities. The project is being financed with private funds as well as local and foreign finance institutions backing.
The site sits on 6,102 hectares of land along Constitution Avenue in the Central Business Area that is strategically positioned at the heart of the city of Abuja leading directly into the city from the Airport. It is adjacent to the main Railway Station as well as the Central Business Transport Terminal. A ring road is also being constructed around the site giving it unrivalled access into center of the city.
Historically, the World Trade Centre project site used to be known as Bakassi Market, an illegal market that was removed in 2003 by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). The site was then handed over to the Abuja Investment Company Limited (ACIL) to develop as a befitting world-class shopping mall.
Already, the project divided into three phases has commenced, with Churchgate Construction Company Limited leading the construction team as the main contractor. Other consultants are Woods Bagot Limited (concept architect), Edifice Consultants PVT. Limited (executive architect), WSP Consultants (Structural Consultant and MEP Consultant) while Messrs Hancock Ogundiya & Partners are the Local MEP & C& S Consultant and Space Designers Limited (Local Architectural Consultant).
Giving an insight to the project, the Group Managing Director of Churchgate, Mr. Vinay Mahtani revealed that the project would consist of luxury offices, serviced apartments, hotel and the 40,000sq metres Capital City Mall. Other components are a leisure centre, cinema and convention facility. He disclosed that Churchgate was building the project expeditiously with the aim of completing the first phase by the year 2013. He pointed out that the Churchgate Group believed that Abuja, being the federal capital and a frontline city in Africa had been in dire need of a landmark project such as that.
Mahtani hinted that the World Trade Centre real estate initiatives in Abuja would rank among the topmost developments around the globe both in terms of scale and quality. He also said that the Churchgate Group already had a track record for developing quality high rise buildings and the Abuja World Trade Centre development would not be an exception. “Already the project has provided job opportunity for about 600 inhabitants of Abuja and the satellite towns with the figure expected to rise to 1500 as work progresses,” Mahtani added.
“The building site for the proposed World Trade Centre Abuja is set to emerge as the premier address for residential, commercial and office space in Nigeria,” claims Ibukun Adeogun Churchgate’s chief marketing manager, WTC Project.
According to Adeogun: “The World Trade Centre master plan provides for areas of public gatherings, services and amenities unlike anything Nigeria has ever experienced and will rank amongst the landmark destinations of the world. The site is located along the main gateway into the Central Business District. With 40,000 square metres of shopping centre on two levels, a branded hotel, twin tower office space for the blue chip companies of the world and a real-estate component, the World Trade Centre in Abuja has something for everyone,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital City, Senator Bala Mohammed who inspected the WTC project site under construction recently, commended the Churchgate Group for its initiative in bringing the World Trade Centre real estate brand to Abuja.
The minister who was accompanied on the visit by the FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide and the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abiodun Olorunfemi also congratulated Churchgate for securing the rights to the World Trade Centre brand for real estate development in Abuja. He remarked that the project was an example of public-private-partnership initiative, which the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan supported.
Mohammed disclosed that the project would be used as a model to implement some upcoming private partnership project in the FCT including the Central Area Boulevard, the Central Park and Botanical Gardens as well as the Area 10 mixed development project.
The minister stated that owing to the high profile and global scope of the World Trade Centre project, the Federal Capital Territory Authority had requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to process diplomatic status for the development. According to the Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Investment Company Limited, Dr. Abdu Muktar, two previous attempts to select development partners were unsuccessful before the selection of First Continental Properties Limited, a subsidiary of Churchgate Investment Company Limited in 2009 through a competitive, transparent process, leading to a development-lease agreement with AICL. The scope of project later was expanded to a mega-multi-use complex, which would be bustling throughout day and night.
Wednesday 20 July 2011
Clinton fights cooking deaths in developing world
CHENNAI, India (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is putting her diplomatic and personal influence behind a campaign to reduce the nearly 2 million annual deaths caused by dirty wood- and coal-burning cooking stoves in the developing world.
In the Indian port of Chennai (CHUH'-ny) on Wednesday, Clinton said an initiative was on track to put cleaner stoves into 100 million homes by 2020. Almost half the world's population use traditional stoves and open fires to cook their food. Exposure to smoke from their fuel, often dung or wood, kills close to 500,000 people each year, mainly women and children, in India alone.
Clinton has adopted the Alliance for Clean Cookstoves as a signature project. It aims to help develop and market low-cost, efficient stoves in developing countries.
is it that we are immune to that kind of stove problem
or our stoves are better
or it is just least on our list of problems?
anyway, we are part of the developing countries, so this initiative will reach us
or are we really part of the developing...or our 'under-development is still loud even here
Nine Things Successful People Do Differently
Why have you been so successful in reaching some of your goals, but not others? If you aren't sure, you are far from alone in your confusion. It turns out that even brilliant, highly accomplished people are pretty lousy when it comes to understanding why they succeed or fail. The intuitive answer — that you are born predisposed to certain talents and lacking in others — is really just one small piece of the puzzle. In fact, decades of research on achievement suggests that successful people reach their goals not simply because of who they are, but more often because of what they do.
1. Get specific. When you set yourself a goal, try to be as specific as possible. "Lose 5 pounds" is a better goal than "lose some weight," because it gives you a clear idea of what success looks like. Knowing exactly what you want to achieve keeps you motivated until you get there. Also, think about the specific actions that need to be taken to reach your goal. Just promising you'll "eat less" or "sleep more" is too vague — be clear and precise. "I'll be in bed by 10pm on weeknights" leaves no room for doubt about what you need to do, and whether or not you've actually done it.
2. Seize the moment to act on your goals. Given how busy most of us are, and how many goals we are juggling at once, it's not surprising that we routinely miss opportunities to act on a goal because we simply fail to notice them. Did you really have no time to work out today? No chance at any point to return that phone call? Achieving your goal means grabbing hold of these opportunities before they slip through your fingers.
2. Seize the moment to act on your goals. Given how busy most of us are, and how many goals we are juggling at once, it's not surprising that we routinely miss opportunities to act on a goal because we simply fail to notice them. Did you really have no time to work out today? No chance at any point to return that phone call? Achieving your goal means grabbing hold of these opportunities before they slip through your fingers.
To seize the moment, decide when and where you will take each action you want to take, in advance. Again, be as specific as possible (e.g., "If it's Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, I'll work out for 30 minutes before work.") Studies show that this kind of planning will help your brain to detect and seize the opportunity when it arises, increasing your chances of success by roughly 300%.
3. Know exactly how far you have left to go. Achieving any goal also requires honest and regular monitoring of your progress — if not by others, then by you yourself. If you don't know how well you are doing, you can't adjust your behavior or your strategies accordingly. Check your progress frequently — weekly, or even daily, depending on the goal.
4. Be a realistic optimist. When you are setting a goal, by all means engage in lots of positive thinking about how likely you are to achieve it. Believing in your ability to succeed is enormously helpful for creating and sustaining your motivation. But whatever you do, don't underestimate how difficult it will be to reach your goal. Most goals worth achieving require time, planning, effort, and persistence. Studies show that thinking things will come to you easily and effortlessly leaves you ill-prepared for the journey ahead, and significantly increases the odds of failure.
5. Focus on getting better, rather than being good. Believing you have the ability to reach your goals is important, but so is believing you can get the ability. Many of us believe that our intelligence, our personality, and our physical aptitudes are fixed — that no matter what we do, we won't improve. As a result, we focus on goals that are all about proving ourselves, rather than developing and acquiring new skills.
4. Be a realistic optimist. When you are setting a goal, by all means engage in lots of positive thinking about how likely you are to achieve it. Believing in your ability to succeed is enormously helpful for creating and sustaining your motivation. But whatever you do, don't underestimate how difficult it will be to reach your goal. Most goals worth achieving require time, planning, effort, and persistence. Studies show that thinking things will come to you easily and effortlessly leaves you ill-prepared for the journey ahead, and significantly increases the odds of failure.
5. Focus on getting better, rather than being good. Believing you have the ability to reach your goals is important, but so is believing you can get the ability. Many of us believe that our intelligence, our personality, and our physical aptitudes are fixed — that no matter what we do, we won't improve. As a result, we focus on goals that are all about proving ourselves, rather than developing and acquiring new skills.
Fortunately, decades of research suggest that the belief in fixed ability is completely wrong — abilities of all kinds are profoundly malleable. Embracing the fact that you can change will allow you to make better choices, and reach your fullest potential. People whose goals are about getting better, rather than being good, take difficulty in stride, and appreciate the journey as much as the destination.
6. Have grit. Grit is a willingness to commit to long-term goals, and to persist in the face of difficulty. Studies show that gritty people obtain more education in their lifetime, and earn higher college GPAs. Grit predicts which cadets will stick out their first grueling year at West Point. In fact, grit even predicts which round contestants will make it to at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
6. Have grit. Grit is a willingness to commit to long-term goals, and to persist in the face of difficulty. Studies show that gritty people obtain more education in their lifetime, and earn higher college GPAs. Grit predicts which cadets will stick out their first grueling year at West Point. In fact, grit even predicts which round contestants will make it to at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
The good news is, if you aren't particularly gritty now, there is something you can do about it. People who lack grit more often than not believe that they just don't have the innate abilities successful people have. If that describes your own thinking .... well, there's no way to put this nicely: you are wrong. As I mentioned earlier, effort, planning, persistence, and good strategies are what it really takes to succeed. Embracing this knowledge will not only help you see yourself and your goals more accurately, but also do wonders for your grit.
7. Build your willpower muscle. Your self-control "muscle" is just like the other muscles in your body — when it doesn't get much exercise, it becomes weaker over time. But when you give it regular workouts by putting it to good use, it will grow stronger and stronger, and better able to help you successfully reach your goals.
To build willpower, take on a challenge that requires you to do something you'd honestly rather not do. Give up high-fat snacks, do 100 sit-ups a day, stand up straight when you catch yourself slouching, try to learn a new skill. When you find yourself wanting to give in, give up, or just not bother — don't. Start with just one activity, and make a plan for how you will deal with troubles when they occur ("If I have a craving for a snack, I will eat one piece of fresh or three pieces of dried fruit.") It will be hard in the beginning, but it will get easier, and that's the whole point. As your strength grows, you can take on more challenges and step-up your self-control workout.
8. Don't tempt fate. No matter how strong your willpower muscle becomes, it's important to always respect the fact that it is limited, and if you overtax it you will temporarily run out of steam. Don't try to take on two challenging tasks at once, if you can help it (like quitting smoking and dieting at the same time). And don't put yourself in harm's way — many people are overly-confident in their ability to resist temptation, and as a result they put themselves in situations where temptations abound. Successful people know not to make reaching a goal harder than it already is.
9. Focus on what you will do, not what you won't do. Do you want to successfully lose weight, quit smoking, or put a lid on your bad temper? Then plan how you will replace bad habits with good ones, rather than focusing only on the bad habits themselves. Research on thought suppression (e.g., "Don't think about white bears!") has shown that trying to avoid a thought makes it even more active in your mind. The same holds true when it comes to behavior — by trying not to engage in a bad habit, our habits get strengthened rather than broken.
If you want change your ways, ask yourself, What will I do instead? For example, if you are trying to gain control of your temper and stop flying off the handle, you might make a plan like "If I am starting to feel angry, then I will take three deep breaths to calm down." By using deep breathing as a replacement for giving in to your anger, your bad habit will get worn away over time until it disappears completely.
9. Focus on what you will do, not what you won't do. Do you want to successfully lose weight, quit smoking, or put a lid on your bad temper? Then plan how you will replace bad habits with good ones, rather than focusing only on the bad habits themselves. Research on thought suppression (e.g., "Don't think about white bears!") has shown that trying to avoid a thought makes it even more active in your mind. The same holds true when it comes to behavior — by trying not to engage in a bad habit, our habits get strengthened rather than broken.
If you want change your ways, ask yourself, What will I do instead? For example, if you are trying to gain control of your temper and stop flying off the handle, you might make a plan like "If I am starting to feel angry, then I will take three deep breaths to calm down." By using deep breathing as a replacement for giving in to your anger, your bad habit will get worn away over time until it disappears completely.
It is my hope that, after reading about the nine things successful people do differently, you have gained some insight into all the things you have been doing right all along. Even more important, I hope are able to identify the mistakes that have derailed you, and use that knowledge to your advantage from now on. Remember, you don't need to become a different person to become a more successful one. It's never what you are, but what you do.
HEIDI GRANT HALVORSON
Heidi Grant Halvorson, Ph.D. is a motivational psychologist, and author of the Succeed: How We Can Reach Our Goals (Hudson Street Press, 2011). She is also an expert blogger on motivation and leadership for Fast Company and Psychology Today. Her personal blog, The Science of Success, can be found at www.heidigranthalvorson.com
i hope we all find this useful, if we try to practice this....
joke of the day
There was a Zambian girl who got married to a Chinese man, after two months in the new marriage she got Pregnant and duly bore a baby girl who later died after two weeks.
The Aunt at the funeral came crying.`I KNEW IT,`I KNEW IT,`I KNEW IT,`I KNEW IT!
So close relatives got curious, took the Aunt on the side and in a quest to establish what she knew.
Then she said loudly, `I KNEW IT, THAT CHINESE PRODUCTS DON'T LAST!!!!!!
So close relatives got curious, took the Aunt on the side and in a quest to establish what she knew.
Then she said loudly, `I KNEW IT, THAT CHINESE PRODUCTS DON'T LAST!!!!!!
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