The 4Cs of a Professional

The other weekend, while facilitating a Project Management Professional (PMP Exam Prep) workshop (something I enjoy doing and I have been doing for some time now) somewhere in Lagos, one of my students, Stacey, asked me a very interesting, albeit tough question: Bola, who is a PROFESSIONAL? Of course, there is a module in the PMI curriculum called PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, but I knew Stacey wanted more than what the PMBoK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) says. Stacey is a highly successful executive with 11 active years of experience in Management, so I had better come up with a resounding response, resounding and convincing.

I took a deep breath, the whole class, a total of 12 students (participants) and the hall was quiet. I could read huge expectation mixed with anxiety in the faces of the participants. I took two steps backward, adjusted my glasses and without trying to remember what the dictionary says about a Professional, responded to Stacey by saying EVERY PROFESSIONAL must have at least 4 Cs and here they are.

1. COMPETENCE

Irrespective of whom you are or what you do, to be called a Professional in your own field or any field at all, you must have competence. Competence in the subject matter. People around should be able to call you Subject Matter Expert. And you can’t be an expert in a field without competence.

2. CONFIDENCE

While Competence is needed, if it is not backed by confidence, you can’t be a professional. Confidence basically means a feeling of trust and firm belief in yourself or others. While I worked as Head of Project Management Office in one of the Consulting Companies in Nigeria, I sat on the interview panel sometime for a recruitment and while one of the applicants for the position of Operations Manager, John (not real name) knew his stuff, he wasn’t convincing enough, Now this is lack of confidence, and need I say he dint get the job?

3. CREATIVITY

The corporate space is pretty saturated these days. Many people know stuffs. I once got a feedback from one of my students that referred more people for my trainings. In his words, he said Bola is highly creative and this is one of the things that distinguish his training sessions from the many others. So, to be a professional, in addition to competence and confidence, you also need to be more creative, more original and more distinct. Look for another, albeit better, way to do the same thing.

4. COUTESY

Arrogance, lack of respect for self and others, is not found in the dictionary of a professional. If you are very good at what you do but you are not courteous, sooner than later, you will have a more courteous person take over from you…….

By the time I finished explaining the four Cs, Stacey and the other 11 participants in my classes stood up with fulfillment and satisfaction at my response.

So, just like Stacey asked me the other day, I ask you: Are you a Professional?

Judge yourself using my 4Cs framework.

Important Note to Parents!

For a while now, and shortly after Stacey arrived, my twin brother, Taiwo Abraham, has been posting notes on LinkedIn. Little did he know that I haven been copying each of the notes everyday and here I have the combined notes.

It is very informative and instructive for parents, most especially the new computer age parents...

1. Warn your girl child never to sit on anyone's laps no matter the situation, including uncles

2. Avoid getting dressed in front of your child once he/she is 2 years old. Learn to excuse yourself

3. Never allow anyone refer to your son as "My Husband" or your daughter as "My Wife"

4. Whenever your child goes out to play with friends, make sure you look for a way to know/find out the kind of play they "played"

5. Never force your child to visit any adult he/she is not comfortable with, and also be observant if your child becomes too fond of a particular adult

6. Once a very lively child becomes withdrawn, it's time to patiently ask a lot of questions and find out why

7. If you don't teach your child about sex, the society will teach him/her the wrong ways and values

8. Teach your 3-year olds how to wash their private parts properly and warn them NEVER to allow anyone touch those areas areas,including YOU.

9. Once your child complains about a particular person, don't keep quite about it. Take up the case and get down to the root of the matter

10. Blacklist some materials you think could threaten their sanity (this includes books, music, movies and Cable TV Channels). Let them understand the values of standing out of the crowd.

LASTLY, BRING THEM UP IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD!!!

As i write this, I am speaking to myself and Odunola.........

 

NAUGHTY or NICE

It is often said " What was said is not as important as the way it was said".  In the same light, I can safely say "The combination of letters is not as important as the arrangement"

I recall vividly back in early nursery/primary days, the teacher would scramble words together and ask that we re-arrange them. Then, that was something fun till i saw the below.

Read and try to laugh....

                                  

                                    DORMITORY:
                        When you rearrange the letters:
                                   DIRTY ROOM

                                      PRESBYTERIAN:
                        When you rearrange the letters:
                                   BEST IN PRAYER

ASTRONOMER:
When you rearrange the letters:
MOON STARER

DESPERATION:

When you rearrange the letters:
A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH:
When you rearrange the letters:
HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE:
When you rearrange the letters:
HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES:
When you rearrange the letters:
CASH LOST IN ME

ANIMOSITY:
When you rearrange the letters:
IS NO AMITY

ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters:
LIES - LETS RECOUNT

SNOOZE ALARMS:
When you rearrange the letters:
ALAS! NO MORE ZS

A DECIMAL POINT:
When you rearrange the letters:
IM A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES:
When you rearrange the letters:
THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO:
When you rearrange the letters:
TWELVE PLUS ONE

AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE:

MOTHER-IN-LAW:
When you rearrange the letters:
WOMAN HITLER 

INCREDIBLY YOUNG TALENTS

In the office today, while creating a Risk Register for a cross-cultural, multi-phased project that involves implementation of several mission-critical systems deployment  I am currently managing, I got a little bored and decided to check the social media (something i seldom do). To see if Toke's husband has impregnated another lady, if Ben Murray Bruce has fought vehemently in the Senate against the 100 Billion naira wardrobe allowance (Ok, I over-exaggerated. It's actually 8.64 billion naira) , if Linda Ikeji is now engaged, if Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is now Minister of Finance, if Wande Coal has gone back to Don Jazzy, if D'Banj has finally released a hit single since after the split with Don Jazzy or any of those weird things you see on social media lately

I opened my Gmail, and since google is creating a global village where just with one account, you can access google doc, Gmail, YouTube and google plus, i located the YouTube link and straight up i saw a link to an amazing episode of Ellen's show.

My attention was drawn to the Kids' section and there i came across these young talent...

Remember the bible says "The gift of a man maketh room for him....."

Please see these amazing videos below.

This boy

And this duo

Morals:

Whatever you child/children want(s) to do, please encourage and support them once you can convince yourself that it is morally right....


My Resolution:

While I and Odunola will try as much as possible to train and encourage Stacey to develop likeness and love for books and reading, We will also help to nurture other talents and skills she might have.

SECOND FIRST INTRO.



So, while i worked in a company that produces TV shows such as Who Wants To be A Millionaire Nigeria, Who Wants To be Rich Ghana, MTN Project Fame West Africa and other TV programmes, I wrote a brief intro about myself. Please see below in italics

"Ok, This is my first shot at blogging and hopefully it will be a great and interesting adventure for me.
Lemme quickly intro myself.
My name is Bola Adesope, i was born on the 23rd of June, 198X(Ofcourse you were not expecting me to spill my year of birth like that.)
I grew up in Lagos, went to the great and prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University where i studied Electronic & Electrical Engineering. Still in career journey, I have few IT Certifications such as MCTS,CCNA,MCSE just to mention a few.
I work with an entertainment company in Lagos.
I am passionate about project management( And just so that you know, i am PMP certified)
I offer training and consultancy on Project Management.
Lemme stop here and come back when i am fully and mentally prepared and ready to write.
See you soon guys.
Bola Adesope,PMP"

But less than four years after, I am back to the blog, Except this time, the about intro has changed 50%. Dont worry, I am still Bola Adesope (I haven't changed my first or last name. Although my friend and brother Taiwo has changed his last name. Yeah, he is a guy and he changed his last name few weeks after he got married. No, not to the wife's last name but something entirely different. So, while his wife Wura was processing change of name, the husband too was doing same).

I have since moved from that company to two other companies, changed my career from Information Technology to Management Consulting (with bias in Project Management, Business Strategy/Analysis and Process Improvement/Business Process Design).

I have added about few more international certification (PMP, PRINCE2, ITIL, BAP, SSYB, SFC, CSSBB).

I have started corporate and public training, with a group of intelligent guys, i run, alongside my 9-5, a company called Value Breed Consulting (www.valuebreed.com) offering Training and Consulting services to individuals and Businesses.

I am married to the beautiful, intelligent and spiritual Odunola

I am not just a husband now, I am a proud Daddy. I have a very very CUTE and beautiful daughter named Stacey....

I guess a lot has changed since the last time i wrote, and i guess that is a good thing.

But what i have achieved is nothing compared to what i still want to achieve, All i can do is continue to improve. Remember KAIZEN!!!