It’s absolutely amazing to me to find that deep inside ourselves is the one place we will never look for answers. Quite a lot of people are terrified to look within for answers, they find it easier to blame the environment, their parents, bad luck or even their situations, and anybody but them is the source of all discontent and failure. We like to follow the path of least resistance, taking on suggestions and established truths of others so we don’t have to dig for our own inner truths! Once upon a time, it was an established truth that the earth was flat; the man who thought it round was considered a heretic; so founding our lives on established truths is tricky as truth changes ground once new information is available!

At the personal level, self-knowledge, attitude and behaviour are crucial. Knowledge or self-awareness in this context involves accurate understanding of our own feelings, preferences, goals and values, grasping how others feel about us and applying that information in our daily transactions. A positive attitude for success grows by cultivating a “can-do” or winning mentality and believing in ourselves, overcoming self-doubt and taking reasonable risks, being assertive and not aggressive, being goal-motivated, admitting mistakes, and moving on after each setback. With respect to behaviour, the focus is on how to act appropriately in stressful situations, putting our emotions under reasonable control, adaptability and balancing rational and emotional considerations.

Joe, my friend was greatly agitated some two weeks back over the appointment of General Theophilus Danjuma as chairman of a new committee to help government cater for victims of the current wave of insurgency in Nigeria. Joe thought that the Danjumas of this world have had more than enough of public assignments insisting that recycling such individuals in a nation overflowing with dynamic and bubbling human resources suggested the failure of government to ponder outside the box.

Separate or Joint Accounts — Should couples have joint or separate bank accounts? This is a question I get asked often. I know some couples who operate joint bank accounts smoothly and they seem to have mastered the act. I do not have joint accounts with my wife, although we have access to each other’s money, including ATM and debit cards.

Separate or Joint Accounts — Should couples have joint or separate bank accounts? This is a question I get asked often. I know some couples who operate joint bank accounts smoothly and they seem to have mastered the act.