Hey Blog Fam,

Trust we are all doing great and following hard after all that the Lord has placed in our hearts.

So today's post is centered on career, so the career professionals should get in here, and if you aren't in the corporate world yet, do keep reading because you'll learn a thing or two.

Without further ado, let's get into today's post.

***

Recently at work, some people were interviewed for some openings within the firm I work with. After the interview, the interviewers deliberated and sorted out some names of those who they felt were qualified for the position. 

The shortlisted people were all contacted on the next stage of the employment process which will be for them to submit their credentials and certificates.

It was at this stage that it was detected that one of these prospective employees claimed he had a degree he did not have and so could not produce when it was required.

Seeing this man loose out of the opportunity was such a humbling moment for me.

This was a personnel who had already scale through the interview process, what was left was for him to submit his documents, have them verified and then be accepted into the company, but he missed out on all of these because he claimed to have a certificate he didn't have.

By now, you should have guessed the mistake you should not make in your career, but if you are still thinking of what it is, then it is the fact that you should be honest on your Curriculum Vitae (CV). Even during all the interviewing process, only state what your true strengths are.

I know we are in a world that has told us that when you are asked if you can do something, say yes first and then go and learn how to do it, but this is not same with the information you give to a prospective employer. Be sincere with where you are even as you communicate that you are willing to learn the needed skills you do not posses at the moment. 

Don't claim to have a degree you don't have. 

Don't claim to have worked in a place where you have never worked. 

Don't claim that you are an expert in a skill while you are only a beginner. 

Stay true to yourself and to who you are per time.

One of my co-workers who was in the know of the guy's case mentioned that, If you are not proud of the degree/qualification you currently have, nothing stops you from enrolling to get a higher degree or certification in your line of profession, but don't ever lie to be who you are not.

I read of a lady who claimed she was an excellent driver while in truth she was a learner, and by the time she got the job, she was required to travel with the official car, she had an accident that could have been avoided if she were to be a professional, and although she came back to the office in one piece, that signaled the end of her job, because the management felt that if she could have lied about her ability to drive, then there was no limit to what she could have lied about to. 

Doctoring your skills is not a strength, others might do it and not get caught, but just think of all that's at stake when you do get caught. You might get the job and when you are caught be told to leave, or you might even not get the job because of your insincerity whereas if you had been true to your current degree you might have got the job without any hassle. 

Any employer that won't accept you at the level you truly are now don't need you on their team, there are others whom your current level will be all they need even as you make progress in your getting more certifications and experience. 

Be comfortable with stating the skills you currently have even as you forge ahead professionally. 

You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work-in-progress at the same time (I learnt this statement in a book; She's still there by Chrystal Hurst, I hope I'll be able to review the book soon on the Blog).

At all times, keep staying true to yourself.

Here's to greater advancement in your career.

There's so much light ***

RELATED: 5 TIPS TO INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY AT WORK

                    5 PRATICAL TIPS TO HELP YOU STOP DREADING MONDAYS

Hey Blog Fam,

Trust we are all doing great and following hard after all that the Lord has placed in our hearts.

Today's Blog Past was first published on the Blog in May 2019, so if you haven't read it before do have a great time reading it. And if you read it when it was first published, I'm sure you'll re-learn a thing or two just like I did.

Enjoy!

***

I read this book some months ago(now years ago), prior to this time I have only read one of her books, A Woman After God's Own Heart, it was a great book that opened my eyes to see a whole lot of new things, so early this year, when I went to the place I buy my books(which is Bible wonderland, Surulere, Lagos in Nigeria) I decided to buy another book by this great woman and after reading through, I was not disappointed.

Permit me to share with you some of the things I learnt from the book;

✓ The book is an exposition on the book of proverbs 31, I know a large percent of people especially ladies are very familiar with this seemingly total woman who seems to have everything figured out, but one thing we should realize is that she didn't get to that height in one day or one year, she became a virtuous woman with TIME. Anything worthwhile takes time, we also should be ready to give it time.

✓ Although having all these Godly attributes might seem so far away(almost looking impossible), but we have to continue to put one foot in front of another - by taking a step at a time- we will finally arrive at our destination which is becoming beautiful in God's eyes.

✓ The Proverbs 31 woman was not just a woman who was conjured up by a man, it was actually a woman's definition of who an ideal woman should be. We also should start seeing as a guide given to us from an elderly woman.

✓ Contrary to the world's belief system that beauty is just the matter of the skin, I learnt from reading this book that God's definition of beauty transcends this. It is not just about having loving physical features that is pleasant to the eyes...

Being beautiful is about...

1. Having a personal relationship with God

2. Knowing God's will and doing it

3. Being a woman with the heart of a mother

4. Being a woman with an helping hand, who is always willing to help out no matter how small

5. Being a good manager of time, not wasting time but investing time

6. Being a good home keeper, acquiring the needed skill to excel in this aspect

7. Being a woman whose finances are together, not just purchasing things on impulse but thinking them through

8. Being submissive to the man in her life because that is the will of God

9. Being able to prioritize and choose her battles

10. Being a woman who is excellent at everything she does

10. Being a woman who is willing to learn money skills, who learns how to make money, manage money, save money, invest money, and all these will in turn make us more of an help meet.

11. Being a woman who values each day, who knows fully well that how we live each day is our 'one step at a time ' towards excellence

Let me stop here for now.

If you haven't read this book, please do well to purchase it on your next visit to the bookstore, it will definitely be worth your money.

There is so much light***

Hey BlogFam,

Trust we're all doing great and following hard after all that the Lord has placed in our hearts.

Today's post will be on the books I read in the just concluded month, without further ado, let's jump right into it.

1. Parenting Isn't For Cowards By Dr James Dobson

As the name implies, this is a book on parenting, and while I am not a parent yet but I will be one in no distant time by God's grace, and it is only wise that I start equipping myself with the right knowledge.

Unlike all the other books I read in April, I didn't start reading this book in April, in fact, I rolled it over from January to February to March before finally finishing it in April.

Lessons Learnt;

- No two children are the same, so I owe my children the responsibility of understanding each of them and treating them based on this understanding. There is a way to raise a compliant child and there is a way to raise a strong-willed child, and I am to learn all that is involved in raising them based on their uniqueness.

- While I am going to be a parent from when I give birth to my first child till my last day on earth if Christ tarries, active parenting isn't going to be for life. There will be a season when I can wield all my authority over my child, but as the child grows up, I am to release the reins gradually after which I am to finally release the grown child. There is nothing more dangerous than a parent exercising authority on a grown child.

- At every point in time, the child must always know who the parent is, especially in their formative years. I am not to be a coward. I am to show affection when I should and discipline when I should too. 

2. Digital Minimalism By Cal Newport 

I mentioned this book in an earlier post about utilizing the time you spend on social media well.

This book was recommended by CoachE' and oh my God, it really opened my eyes to a new way of using my devices and most especially the online world.

Lessons Learnt;

- In the social media world, the user of the services is only a product to them, they want to trap my attention as much as possible and sell it to their customers. 

- While I might not be able to totally eliminate the use of social media from my life, I can to a large extent control the time I spend on it. Deliberately controlling the time spent on these sites will help free up more time that is needed to devote to my top goals.

- For every point in time, I am to make sure I am the one using social media to advance my life, and not just joining the statistics who are mindlessly scrolling through the various newsfeeds.

3. A Single Lady And Her Dreams By Ife Grace

I purchased this book on her Blog, and it was a good buy.

She chronicled some of her life's journey chapter by chapter.

Lessons Learnt;

- I can not expect to really grow only by consuming free content or resources. She mentioned the struggle she experienced while trying to pay for a course, how she overcame that struggle, as well as the growth she has experienced just by the virtue of paying for that course. While free contents are good, to really grow at an optimum level, I will have to invest my resources to gain knowledge.

- I can not choose to wait till I am married before I am happy. Even in my single days, I should be happy and go all out in doing the things that make me happy.

- I am to prioritize my relationship with Jesus. The essence of my life fully rests on my relationship with the Lord.

- Putting structures in my life is important as I need them to fully optimize my productivity. A big NO to doing things haphazardly.

- Journalling is very important. I did a post on the power of journaling, you can read that here.

4. Divine Disruption By Tony Evans, Chrystal Evans Hurst, Priscilla Shirer, Anthony Evans and Jonathan Evans

Oh My God!

This book is such a refreshing read. It was really worth the time.

This book came as a result of the death of the mother of the house; Lois Evans who went home to be with the Lord in December, 2019.

Tony Evans is a patriarch of faith, and the fact that he is the biological father of Priscilla Shirer; the war room star actress takes his points higher.

Lessons Learnt;

- Legacy Is Key. I love how they are a family of God, this family and even the generation before and after them are all sold out to the Lord. It's so beautiful to see a family of God, all fully sold out to the Lord.

- The mother of the house holds things together. I love how both Tony (the father of the house), as well as the children, mentioned again and again what a solid support Lois was both to her husband; supporting him in ministry, and her children when they became parents.

- I learned that the seemingly small things I am doing in my life today are preparing me for the big things of life tomorrow. I loved when Priscilla mentioned that her mother's journal in the days when all she was doing was changing diapers formed a bedrock for the books she later wrote in life. 

- I learnt to keep trusting God. There will be times my prayers will get answered in the way I want, and other times it won't go that way, but in all, God can be trusted and he is a good Father. This statement coming from a family that has experienced so many losses is such a welcome thing, they definitely know what they are talking about. I will also be here, trusting God. 

I definitely can not exhaust all the lessons 1learnt from the four books I read in April, but I trust you have been able to learn a thing or two.

There is so much light***