What I Learned (Idea copied from Bett)

Never mess with a regulator. Never pay a deaf ear to instructions from a regulator. They can shut your business down and stop you from transacting. Or you’ll end up paying fines that’ll leave your business hanging by a hair strand. Treat a regulator the way you’d treat a boil on your unmentionables. Take care of its demands. Submit the documents they ask for. Upgrade to that system they recommend. Use the fonts they emphasize. Only defy orders from your regulator if it’s a consensus by all players in the field you’re in. Otherwise, please, always toe the line.

If a chic asks whether you miss her, tell her you do, with a smile. Even if it’s over the phone, she’ll feel your smile. It’ll warm her heart. It’ll keep her smitten and on the highest cloud. She’ll be stoked for you. Most importantly, your response will save you. It’ll give you a lifeline. Don’t put logic into it. Don’t over think it. It’ll spare you from complaints and questions. If she tells you she misses you, say you miss her too. It’s that simple. Play along. Don’t pause to cook-up an answer. You can always explain later if you don’t feel her. But at that moment when the question flies over, be in class. That won’t make you a flirt. It won’t make you a liar. It’ll make you a manager of the situation. If you don’t believe me, say the opposite of what she’d like to hear. I’ve been there. And to put it lightly, I’d rather eat cucumber for lunch than go through that experience again.

Rejection hurts badly in the beginning when your skin is still smooth as a baby’s. But when you’ve gone through it a few times, you deal with it in a much better way. It starts to feel like a stray insect that lands on your shirt. Brush it off with your hand and move on. This applies to potential relationships and opportunities you go for. I’ve been rejected so many times; scholarships, fellowships, funding openings, girls. I’ve received many reject emails. They are always generic. They start off with a positive message, saying something like, “Although we were impressed by your qualifications,” and before you know it, they pull out a dagger and stab you in the chest. “We regret…” I don’t read those emails to the end.

The person who coined the saying, “Shoot your shot,” deserves a medal of honor. It’s my best motivational quote. Because if you don’t shoot that shot and you wait for everything to seem perfect and align for you as though you’re the alpha and omega of this world, you won’t get in. You’ll languish in the lack of opportunities. Let’s take a walk in the park here.

I watched the last episode of Family Guy Season 17 two days ago. Since Family Guy isn’t as popular as a certain series that’s in its finale season, I’m sure I won’t be crucified for spoiling just a little.

So the Griffin’s are seated on the couch in their living room. Brian says he’s running for mayor. Everyone thinks it’s a smelly idea. Peter tells Meg to fart on Brian for what he said. Meg says she can’t. Peter, disappointed in Meg, then tells Chris to show her how it’s done. When Chris finishes the deed, Brian collapses to the floor, gasping for air. Peter turns to Meg and says, “You miss 100 percent of the farts you don’t take.”   

“Keep trying. Practice is perfection.” – Kofi Novia (Rihanna), Guava Island.

When you’re broke, with no cash in your pockets, an empty wallet and a minimum bank balance, miracles happen. When you have more month at the end of your money, if you stay sober and keep your head up, pray and keep working, you’ll make it through without getting into debt. You might never realize how it happened. You’ll have food day and night. You’ll clear your bills. You’ll have an evening with friends. You’ll make a contribution to charity. There are times when you won’t figure out how that all happened. That’s because it was a miracle

No job is too small. No job is useless. Because at the end of the day, we’re all doing what we can to make a buck, to take care of ourselves and those we love. We shouldn’t ridicule people for what they are doing as long as its genuine work.

We can’t all rise at the same pace. The illusion of the grass being greener on the other end looms around us. Don’t fall into that trap. Some of your age mates will do a bunch of things way before you. Some will get “perfect jobs” at companies that are revered across the globe. Some will drive cool cars. Others will marry and have children. There will be those who will travel the world and share the best of their moments on Instagram. Everything will seem flawless for them. But you?

Well, you’ll still be at the lowest level at your workplace or maybe unemployed, scratching the earth to earn a living. Being in such a state doesn’t make the other people better than you. You’re different, with unique fingerprints. Your path should never be determined by the progress of others. You don’t have to put yourself on pressure to fit in, to be like them, to own what they own if you can’t afford it at the moment. Your time will come. You will fly over Mt. Kilimanjaro and marvel at its splendour. The tides will eventually blow in your favour and you’ll shine.

You don’t have to read one book at a time. Hey, read as many as you can in one go. You don’t have to read a book from start to finish. It’s okay to drop it if doesn’t tantalize you enough. Pick another one and keep going. What you shouldn’t do is stop reading. It’s also okay to read children’s books. It teaches you the art of being simple. If you don’t like books, read a range of blogs.    

Everyone needs a Bett. A Bett is someone who believes in you, someone who gives you a chance, holds your hand and opens the curtain for you to step on stage. A Bett will be tough when circumstances call for it. A Bett will point out what you’re doing right and what you’re shitty at, what you need to raise your game on. A Bett will allow you to explore other options for personal growth.

Bett’s will tell you to go forth and shine and not think lowly of yourself because things didn’t work the way you wanted them to when other things came up. A Bett will not slam the door in your face when you think you’ve dropped the baton. And even when you’ve not texted your Bett in ages, you keep a special place painted with milk and honey in your heart for them.

If you don’t yet have a Bett, you’ll eventually get one. But if you never ever get one (which is highly unlikely), try becoming one to someone.

My Bett for writing runs Craft It.