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"Until you become completely obsessed with your mission, no one will take you seriously. Until the world understands that you're not going away—that you’re 100 percent committed, with absolute conviction, and persistent in pursuing your project—you won’t get the attention and support you need." — Grant Cardone

Reading this quote reminded me of someone I know who’s been selling Amazon KDP products for over four years. Every day, he’s consistent: posting updates, sharing his journey, and putting his brand in front of people.

You can’t think of Amazon KDP without his name coming to mind, simply because he’s always there, committed and unrelenting.

His dedication perfectly embodies what this quote is emphasizing.

Whatever you choose to do, go all in. Share your passion so much that people start associating you with it.

For instance, back when I was focused on A-level studies, people would reach out to me for tutoring advice because they knew that’s what I did.

Even now, people contact me about ghostwriting and copywriting because I’ve consistently shared insights on those topics.

My message to you this week?

Don’t go easy on your dreams. Whatever you want to achieve, keep showing up every day, even on the hard days.

Whether you’re still learning or ready to launch, keep putting it out there, keep showing up to learn.

Your dedication will make people think of you whenever your work or field is mentioned.

Wishing you an amazing week!

Stay committed, and let the world know what you’re about.

The Chronicles of a Young Educator
(Episode 7)

Preparation Met Opportunity

In today’s episode, which is the second to the last, I’ll be sharing how I was able to publish my first book.

Remember I shared the story of how I started teaching CRS (Christian Religious Studies) because there was no opening for an English teacher at the time? I taught CRS for about three years, and one day, my boss called me to his office. He said, “We always buy CRS textbooks for students every year, and you also give them comprehensive notes. Why not turn those notes into a book?”

That idea stuck with me, and I thought, “Why not?” So, I started typing my notes. I can’t even remember how long it took me to finish typing! It felt like months, but eventually, I did finish, though I didn’t tell my boss right away.

One day, he came to the office and asked, “Are you typing your notes?” I told him, “Yes, I’ve actually finished.” He didn’t say much then, but a few days later, he asked to see the notes. I said they were on my laptop, which was at home, so he told me to go and bring it.

When I returned to the office, I was surprised to see a man sitting there. My boss introduced him as someone who helps people publish books. I didn’t even know he was planning this! The man started explaining the costs involved, and my boss didn’t hesitate, he paid the deposit right there! He didn’t ask me for a single penny in return. I paid the balance when the books were ready.

That’s how I was able to print 500 copies of my first book. It was such an incredible experience.

The reason I’m sharing this story is to encourage fellow teachers. Teaching isn’t just about what happens in the classroom; there are so many opportunities we can leverage, such as teaching online or creating a platform to share knowledge.

For example, I got several buyers from my YouTube page, where I teach CRS. You can produce your own textbooks based on the subjects you teach if that interests you.

Don’t limit yourself to just teaching in schools! There are many ways to earn from your knowledge.

Let’s also keep developing ourselves and be ready for opportunities. Imagine if I hadn’t typed those notes, that opportunity would have passed me by.

I hope this story inspires you to see that teaching can open doors beyond the classroom.

Thank you for reading. I hope you learned something from this!

While jogging today, I thought of writing something about Nigeria.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to write, but I decided to just express my thoughts as they came. So, let’s have it😊

Nigeria is filled with talented people, people eager to work, especially if it helps them earn a living.

We have more hardworking people than lazy ones, and I truly hope those who work hard are rewarded for their efforts.

It’s only fair that people who give their all from an early age should be able to retire early and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

I really hope things get better.

At this point, my message is one of hope, that amidst all the struggles, we should keep our heads high, believing that things will eventually turn out well.

We all need to play our part, no matter how small, to see a better Nigeria.

When I realized Nigeria is 64 years old today, I just shook my head, thinking, ‘What have we been doing all this time?’

But I also reminded myself that things can only get better.

We will keep doing our best, and I truly hope Nigeria progresses.

I wish you all a happy Independence Day, and may we all enjoy the good of this land.

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"Almost everything we'll ever do in life that is really powerful, that really produces a result in our lives, that quantum-leaps us to a new level, requires us to do something uncomfortable."
– Jack Canfield

These words really hit home for me because they remind me of moments in my life where I’ve achieved significant progress. Looking back, I realize those were actually the most uncomfortable moments.

Take, for instance, when I decided I was going to graduate as the best student in my class in secondary school. I was in boarding school, and I remember leaving the hostel as soon as the porter opened the gates, just to get to school early and study before breakfast at 7 AM. After classes, while others were chatting or relaxing, I stayed back to read, sometimes heading to the chapel to read for peace and quiet. It was tough. There were plenty of moments when I wanted to sit and chat with my friends, but I had set a goal and committed to it.

Another example was when I made the decision to earn the money I needed for my university application forms. I took up jobs as a salesgirl for a grocery store, walking in the hot sun while my friends were at home enjoying themselves. It wasn’t comfortable at all, but I knew what I wanted, and I went after it.

Then, there was the process of publishing my first book. I can still remember the countless hours spent typing, retyping, and pushing through the exhaustion just to finish it.

The lesson I’ve learned is that if we really want to be like those we admire(the ones at the top who are doing well) then we need to be ready to do what’s uncomfortable. It could mean waking up in the middle of the night to pray for your business, or choosing to save instead of buying something you desire because you’re investing in your future. Sacrifices like these are part of the journey.

So, my challenge to you this week is this: What uncomfortable things do you already know you need to do? We often know the sacrifices required to become who we want to be. So why not just take the plunge and do them?

Maybe it’s finally enrolling in that course you’ve been postponing. Or committing to reading a book weekly. Perhaps it’s seeking out a mentor to help grow your business. Whatever it is, go for it. One day, you’ll look back and be thankful for the sacrifices you made.

Wishing you a productive and successful week ahead!

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth
By T. Harv Eker

I spent some time reading a few pages of this book today, and I have to say, the lessons hit home. They're simple but powerful.

One of the ideas that really stuck with me: If your goal is just to be comfortable, chances are you’ll never get rich. But if your goal is to get rich, you’ll probably end up pretty comfortable.

That made me stop and think for a minute. Being "comfortable" sounds good, right? But there’s more to it. You might be able to go to nice restaurants occasionally, but you’re still looking at prices before deciding what to eat. I’ve been there. Picking what you want to order based on the price, not on what you really feel like eating. The beauty of real wealth, though, is being able to choose what you want without worrying about the cost. I know that’s not possible if you’re just aiming to stay comfortable.

Another part that got me thinking is this: If you’re not seeing the wealth you want in your life, it could be because, deep down, you either don’t truly want it or you’re not willing to do what’s needed to get it. I know that sounds harsh, but hear me out.

There are actually three levels of wanting. The first is, "I want to be rich." It sounds good, but honestly, it’s a bit like saying, "I’ll take wealth if it happens to fall into my lap." Wanting something isn’t enough. I mean, we all want things, right? But just wanting doesn’t make it happen. If all you do is want, you’ll just keep wanting.

The second level is, "I choose to be rich." Now, this one’s a step up. It’s when you actively decide to go for it, to make it happen. You’re cutting off other options and telling yourself, "This is what I’m going after." But even this isn’t the highest level.

The third level, the one that really makes a difference, is commitment. "I commit to being rich." This is where you’re all in. No half measures. No holding back. You’re fully committed, like, "I’m going to get rich, or I’ll keep going until I do." Saying that out loud hits differently, right? For some, it feels exciting. For others, maybe a bit intimidating. And that’s the thing—most people never reach this level of commitment. They might be trying, but trying is not the same as being fully committed.

If you’re thinking, "But I’m working hard, I’m trying," trust me, I get it. But trying isn’t the same as committing. When you’re committed, you’ll do whatever it takes, no excuses.

Getting rich isn’t a walk in the park. It takes focus, courage, knowledge, and a mindset that doesn’t quit. You’ve got to believe deep down that you can build wealth, and that you deserve it.

You’ll never have all the answers or information before you start. Get ready the best you can, take action, and figure things out as you go.

So, if you really want to be rich, focus on making, keeping, and investing your money. If you spend all your time focusing on spending it, you’ll just stay where you are.

The Day I Almost Got the Beating of My Life from a Student’s Family

Back in 2017, while serving as a teacher during my NYSC, I nearly got into serious trouble. This was my second year of teaching, as I had started while still in university. At the time, I believed in enforcing strict discipline. I had students who weren’t the type to easily follow instructions, and I made sure to come up with tough punishments that would make them think twice before disobeying.

I had a reputation for giving out painful punishments. Sometimes I’d make students do planks for several minutes or other exercises that were really tough. The idea was that they’d rather follow my rules than face the consequences. A few times, I even used a cane or gave a slap here and there. Looking back, I know it wasn’t right. As a teacher, it’s important not to always rely on aggression or punishment. But at that time, I think the pressure of teaching so many classes got to me, and I often lost patience.

There was one particular day that stands out. I had given some students an instruction, and one of them, a girl, blatantly refused to obey. I called her out of the classroom, intending to make her kneel as punishment. She refused. In that moment, I felt I had to take control of the situation. After all, I didn’t want to look like I couldn’t handle my students.

I grabbed a cane and stood there, just holding it. I didn’t intend to use it, but the sight of it was enough to make her kneel down. I sent her back to class afterward and thought that was the end of it.

But before the school day ended, as I was about to leave the staff room to teach my last class, another teacher rushed in to tell me that the girl had run home to her family. Now they were outside the school gate, armed with sticks, demanding to see me. Apparently, the girl had told her family that I had beaten her and worsened an injury she already had.

That was one of the scariest moments of my life. I was just a corps member, teaching at a private school in the North. I felt so vulnerable. The school went completely silent, and the principal instructed me to stay in the staff room until they could calm the family down. After they left, one of the teachers accompanied me to the spot where I’d take a bike home, making sure I got on safely. He warned me to be careful and just stay in my house.

Later that day, I spoke to one of the CDS presidents living in my compound, and he reassured me that nothing would happen. He even arranged for someone to es**rt me to school the next day, just in case. That night, alone in my room, I reflected on everything. Maybe I didn’t need to be so harsh. Maybe there were better ways to discipline students than punishment or beating. From that point on, I changed my approach.

I stopped beating or punishing students altogether. I realized there were more effective ways to manage a classroom, like having conversations with the students. I became a calmer, more understanding teacher, and my students responded well to that. If you’re a teacher who still uses physical punishment, I encourage you to explore other options. There are better ways to guide students without causing harm.

I’d love to hear from you—especially if you’re a teacher. How do you discipline your students? What methods work for you? Let’s share ideas. Thank you for reading.

The Chronicles of a Young Educator (Episode 5)

The Lafia School Debate: Lessons Learnt the Hard Way

In today’s episode, I want to share a story from my NYSC service year when I started teaching English. When I arrived at the school, I found out I was the only Corps member assigned to teach English, and with just one other English teacher (an elderly man), I was tasked with handling almost all the English and Literature classes. I taught about 4 to 5 classes at the time.

One day, the school was invited to participate in the Lafia School Debate competition. The owner of the school assigned me the responsibility of preparing the students for the competition and even promised a cash reward for every stage we passed. Excited, I selected three students: a Chief Speaker and two back-up speakers.

We won the first stage, but interestingly, the student I chose as Chief Speaker didn’t win the award for Best Speaker. Instead, one of the back-up speakers received the honor. Regardless, I was proud of my students, and we advanced to the next stage, which we also won. Then it was time to prepare for the final round.

By this point, the Chief Speaker was getting a little overconfident. I tried to correct him, but he didn’t listen. At that moment, I should have replaced him and prepared someone else, but I didn’t want to seem like a harsh teacher. So, I continued preparing him as planned. Just a few days before the final competition, however, the Chief Speaker suddenly stopped coming to school. We couldn’t reach him, so I had no choice but to start preparing another student to take his place. It was a lot of pressure for the new student, especially since the speech was long and he didn’t have much time to learn and practice it.

Looking back, a key lesson I learned is that you should always have extra students prepared when competing because anything can happen. I remember during my secondary school days, I was often chosen as an extra participant for competitions, just in case. That was the mistake I made in this situation; I didn’t have a proper back-up plan.

On the day of the final competition, the original Chief Speaker showed up. Since the new student I’d prepared wasn’t fully ready, I had to allow the Chief Speaker to participate. Although he tried his best, he forgot some of his points, and unfortunately, we lost. The owner of the school was disappointed, especially since the competition was held on our school’s premises. It was a tough loss.

After the competition, I spoke with one of the organizers, who pointed out something I hadn’t considered. He said that I should have swapped the roles earlier on in the competition; specifically after one of the back-up speakers won the Best Speaker award in the first stage. If I had promoted her to Chief Speaker and prepared her properly, we might have won. To be honest, I did think about it when she won Best Speaker, but I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by swapping roles.

That day, I learned an important lesson: as a teacher, you can’t always let emotions dictate your decisions. Sometimes, you have to make tough calls, even if it means hurting your students’ feelings or disappointing them; especially if it leads to better results. In the end, it’s about getting the job done and doing what’s best for everyone.

I hope you learned something from this story, and I look forward to sharing more in the next episode!

“Commitment is the ultimate assertion of human freedom. It releases all the energy you possess and enables you to take quantum leaps in creativity. When you set a one-pointed intention and absolutely refuse to allow obstacles to dissipate the focused quality of your attention, you engage the infinite organizing power of the universe.” – Deepak Chopra

This quote is a powerful reminder of the importance of commitment. It’s about staying dedicated, even when obstacles arise. Imagine you commit to waking up at 4 AM; whether it’s to listen to a podcast, pray, write, or whatever your goal may be; you follow through, even when you don’t feel like it. Commitment means showing up, despite how you feel in the moment.

I’m not perfect, and I’ve broken commitments many times. But this quote from Deepra choprah reminds me that there’s no other way to achieve something significant in life without commitment. You have to stay dedicated to your goals, no matter what gets in the way, and you’ll see your life change for the better.

That’s my challenge to you this morning: stay committed to your goals, and the results will follow!

The Chronicles of a Young Educator (Episode 4)

The Approachable Teacher and the Overly Attached Student

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a personal story about how students sometimes become overly attached to me as their teacher. Most of the students I teach are preparing for university, so they’re young adults. Some of them have been out of school for a couple of years, trying to secure admission into different universities. Given that, they’re not children, and some develop a strong attachment to their teachers.

Over the years, I’ve encountered several situations where students would crush on me. After lessons, they wouldn’t want me to go home; instead, they’d ask me to stay back and chat with them. While I appreciate their fondness, I’ve always found ways to maintain healthy boundaries.

But there was one particular student that left me praying for wisdom on how to handle the situation. He was relentless: constantly texting me, even on days when there was no school. These were advanced-level students, so they had my number for assignments and group discussions. At first, I thought nothing of it. When he texted, I’d reply with a polite “I’m fine, hope you are too,” and remind him to focus on his studies.

Then, things took a turn. His messages became more frequent, and he started to show an interest beyond the classroom. One day, he sent a text saying, “Can we go somewhere quiet, just the two of us?” That was when I realized this was more serious than I initially thought. I knew I had to act fast before things escalated.

So, in our next class, I acted as if nothing had happened. But as the class was ending, I called him out in front of the others. I asked, “Am I your friend?” He hesitated and replied, “No.” Then I asked, “Who am I to you?” He said, “You’re my teacher.”

“Exactly,” I told him. “From today, that nonsense stops.”

Honestly, I didn’t plan to address it this way; I had initially thought I’d speak to him privately. But in that moment, I prayed for guidance, and these words just came out. After that, he stopped sending inappropriate messages. I’m still not sure if it was because I called him out in front of his classmates, but either way, it worked.

This experience taught me that sometimes, being a teacher requires more than just classroom skills. You need wisdom to handle situations like these with diplomacy, and you often have to be firm to maintain boundaries.

To my fellow educators: Have you ever dealt with a similar situation where a student developed a crush or attachment? How did you handle it?

The Chronicles of a Young Educator (Episode 2)
Premium Tears and a Lesson Learned

In today’s episode, I’m sharing an experience that brought me to tears and taught me a valuable lesson.

This happened after I took on the CRS teaching job I mentioned last time. By then, I was teaching at two advanced-level schools and preparing for NYSC. I had already structured my schedule to ensure I finished teaching all the topics before I left for service. One of the schools was managed by a couple, and I always checked in with the wife to sign in when I came to teach.

I remember clearly telling her that I’d be leaving for NYSC soon, but I would make sure to complete the syllabus before then. I even printed my NYSC forms in the school office, so it was no secret that I was planning to leave soon.

Now, let me explain the contract I had. The agreement was that I’d be paid a certain amount to teach the entire syllabus, with part of the payment upfront and the balance once I completed the syllabus. I was nearing the end and had already started preparing to leave for NYSC, so I asked for my balance.

That’s when things went downhill. The school owner told me I wouldn’t be getting the rest of my money because I finished the syllabus “too fast.” I was shocked! He said I hadn’t informed him about my NYSC plans, which wasn’t true. I even suggested we ask the students if they understood everything I taught them because I was confident I had done a thorough job. He refused.

I felt so hurt and cheated. I knew I had done my part—I didn’t just rush through the material; I ensured the students grasped everything. I gave them notes to study at their own pace and engaged them in discussions during class. Yet, here I was, being told I wouldn’t get my balance.

I cried—yes, I cried. I went to a mentor of mine who had introduced me to the school, hoping he could help. He agreed to speak to the school owner. So, we went to his office, but after their conversation, there was still no sign of my money. I was devastated.

Out of desperation, I called my best friend. He told me to stop crying and said, “I’m coming to get your money for you!” His confidence was infectious, but I was worried—was he going to fight?

We went to the office together, and I stood behind him while he spoke to the school owner. I don’t know what he said, but, to my surprise, the money came out of the man's pocket right there! All this while, he had my balance on him but refused to give it to me. Finally, I got my payment!

Looking back, this experience taught me the importance of having a written contract. If we had put everything in writing, I could have easily enforced the agreement. I urge anyone in a similar situation to always have a signed contract. Don’t rely on verbal agreements—get it in writing, with signatures, so that if issues arise, you have proof to back you up.

That’s my story for today. I hope you’ve learned something from it!

Transitioning from traditional classrooms to online or virtual teaching can be a game-changer. If you’re planning this shift, here’s how to get started:

✨Get Trained: Invest time in learning how to use online tools effectively. Whether it’s Google Classroom or creating engaging slides, mastering these tools is crucial for effective online teaching.

✨Engage Your Students: Virtual classrooms require new strategies to keep students engaged. Explore techniques to maintain interaction and focus, such as introducing online games.

✨Seek Mentorship: Connect with experienced online educators who can offer guidance and insights. Learning from those who have successfully navigated this transition can provide valuable tips and help you overcome challenges.

I hope you find these tips helpful for your transition journey!