Transcripts
How to Excel at Work:
Speaker:Proven strategies for achieving superior work performance By Bili Odum , narrated by russell newton.
Speaker:Bili Odum’S Little Book Is Like The Mustard Seed.
Speaker:Its impact will spread well beyond the wildest dream of the author.| In simple
Speaker:and straightforward narrative,
Speaker:Bili has joined the motley crowd of Nigerians who seek to reintroduce morals
Speaker:into our value system.
Speaker:A few generations of Nigerians have grown up not knowing the real difference
Speaker:between good and bad.
Speaker:For them the end justifies the means.
Speaker:Hard work,
Speaker:Perseverance,
Speaker:Dedication,
Speaker:Integrity and Loyalty come to them by fits and starts and in convenient
Speaker:measures only.
Speaker:Here is someone – of their generation – telling them in a believable
Speaker:manner,
Speaker:that there is another side to life.
Speaker:The reader will need some patience to reconcile some apparent conflicts in the
Speaker:book.
Speaker:Two examples .- In Part Iv,
Speaker:the author admonishes,
Speaker:“Never argue with your boss."
Speaker:In Part Vi,
Speaker:he strongly suggests,
Speaker:“Stand up for your subordinates."
Speaker:How do you stand up for your subordinates in the face of a difficult boss?
Speaker:Argue?
Speaker:Dispute?
Speaker:Persuade?
Speaker:Surrender?
Speaker:Acquiesce?
Speaker:Give up?
Speaker:Reduce your point of view to writing when all else has failed?
Speaker:Then you have exposed him to ridicule!
Speaker:The path is strewn with thorns.
Speaker:The young person must pick his way carefully.
Speaker:In Part Iv,
Speaker:under Get Personal,
Speaker:the author suggests that the employee develops a database of his employer
Speaker:because “the effective use of the database can make you ride your way into
Speaker:his heart."
Speaker:This can mean many things to many persons.
Speaker:In our environment,
Speaker:it can lead to all sorts of consequences.
Speaker:It will help employees and employers as well.
Speaker:Such a pity that my role is limited to writing this Foreword which 1 am so very
Speaker:pleased to do.
Speaker:Mr. I. S. Moemeke Chairman,
Speaker:Board of Directors Lintas Limited Acknowledgments.
Speaker:This book would not have been possible without the undeniable assistance of
Speaker:Edwin Balogun,
Speaker:Chiedu Charles Odum,
Speaker:Rotimi Soboyejo and Yinka Aiyetigbo.
Speaker:1 also want to thank Mr. I. S. Moemeke for the inspirational support and many
Speaker:invaluable comments and contacts that he provided.
Speaker:My sincere thanks also goes to my precious mum,
Speaker:Mrs. Lucy Uche Odum;
Speaker:my dear brothers,
Speaker:Martin,
Speaker:Mike,
Speaker:Onyema and Chiedu;
Speaker:and my sweetheart,
Speaker:Alice Emem Odum.
Speaker:Finally,
Speaker:1 would like to say thank you to my superiors,
Speaker:colleagues,
Speaker:subordinates,
Speaker:and friends who continue to excel at the workplace and are by no small means
Speaker:contributing to the institution of the culture of excellence.
Speaker:Introduction.
Speaker:“The proper function of man is to live,
Speaker:not to exist."
Speaker:Are You Tired Of Remaining On The Same Spot?
Speaker:Do you wish to be at a higher and respectable position in your organisation?
Speaker:Are you anxious to make that indelible mark in your field and be regarded as an
Speaker:achiever?
Speaker:Do you wish to advance upwards with the achievers,
Speaker:rather than be left behind with those who have embraced mediocrity?
Speaker:Do you want to gain that competitive edge and stand out amongst your
Speaker:contemporaries?
Speaker:Have you always lost out in getting that promotion you so desperately desire,
Speaker:and now feel that it is about time you mastered the art of winning in the
Speaker:workplace?
Speaker:Do you strongly desire to be appreciated in the workplace as an indispensable
Speaker:worker?
Speaker:Do you want total job satisfaction and accomplishment?
Speaker:Do you wish to be an inspiration to your colleagues and subordinates?
Speaker:If you answered Yes to any of the questions,
Speaker:then this is the ideal book for you.
Speaker:How To Excel At Work — Proven Strategies For Achieving Superior Work
Speaker:Performance is a store of extensively researched,
Speaker:time-tested and proven strategies and techniques that you can gain mastery of
Speaker:and apply in any workplace to put yourself on the path of career success.
Speaker:You may ask,
Speaker:“Why do 1 need to acquire the strategies and techniques when I have a
Speaker:repertoire of academic honours?"
Speaker:Unlike what used to be the situation,
Speaker:say,
Speaker:20 years ago,
Speaker:academic qualifications alone do not guarantee that you would be a worker of
Speaker:distinction.
Speaker:Look around you.
Speaker:It is clear that a significant number of the top achievers in any profession,
Speaker:workplace,
Speaker:etc. are more often than not the individuals with average qualifications.
Speaker:So,
Speaker:educational qualification,
Speaker:though necessary,
Speaker:is obviously not a sufficient requirement for career success.
Speaker:Academic qualifications and honours can enhance your chances of getting a good
Speaker:job and,
Speaker:for a certain period of time,
Speaker:keep you on that job.
Speaker:They do not guarantee career distinction.
Speaker:“Today you cannot accomplish your goals by simply working longer and harder.
Speaker:You must also work smarter.
Speaker:You must increase the quality of what you do at the same time you increase the
Speaker:quantity of your work."
Speaker:The mastery and application of proven skills for career success is a certified
Speaker:route to distinction in the workplace.
Speaker:They assure your movement towards the pinnacle of your career without hurting
Speaker:others in the process.
Speaker:In fact these skills when effectively applied end up being beneficial to
Speaker:everyone - yourself,
Speaker:the organisation,
Speaker:your bosses,
Speaker:colleagues and subordinates.
Speaker:The possession of these skills with a good measure of diligence,
Speaker:consistency and patience would make you a better worker and an indispensable
Speaker:asset to your bosses and colleagues as well as an inspiring leader to your
Speaker:subordinates.
Speaker:These benefits,
Speaker:in turn,
Speaker:over time would make you the most qualified candidate for a promotion,
Speaker:increased remuneration and any other kind of benefit you desire from your
Speaker:career.
Speaker:The skills,
Speaker:strategies and techniques that will guarantee your success in the workplace are
Speaker:articulately presented and thoroughly explained in this book,
Speaker:which is divided into 8 parts.
Speaker:Part 1,
Speaker:How To Recognise And Eliminate Obstructive Career Misconceptions,
Speaker:identifies those negative misconceptions which most people have about work,
Speaker:and has,
Speaker:more than anything else,
Speaker:placed them where they are (which is not so good),
Speaker:instead of moving them up to the top of the Corporate Tower.
Speaker:You would learn how to avoid these misconceptions and therefore eliminate the
Speaker:consequences.
Speaker:Part Ii,
Speaker:How To Empower Yourself For Career Distinction,
Speaker:presents skills that would enable you experience an easy “take- off” on
Speaker:your journey to the top of your career.
Speaker:The techniques and strategies in this section are based on the premise that the
Speaker:quest for success starts with the individual,
Speaker:and until he/she is prepared to improve personally,
Speaker:the desire to excel at work and achieve career distinction would be a mere
Speaker:dream.
Speaker:Part IiI,
Speaker:How To Become An Indispensable Worker,
Speaker:exhaustively treats skills that are required by you to create a strong impact
Speaker:in the workplace and make you indispensable.
Speaker:In this Part,
Speaker:you will realise that those who make themselves indispensable have an excellent
Speaker:chance of attaining career success.
Speaker:Part Iv,
Speaker:How To Effectively Manage Your Boss,
Speaker:instructs you on how you can apply the strategies and techniques presented to
Speaker:genuinely impress your boss(es).
Speaker:Undoubtedly,
Speaker:your boss plays a crucial role in your journey to the top of your career.
Speaker:Winning the support and commendation of your superiors would not be a problem
Speaker:for the possessor of the skills presented in Part Iv Part 5,
Speaker:How To Manage And Successfully Relate With Your Colleagues,
Speaker:teaches you numerous ways in which you can get your colleagues in the workplace
Speaker:on your supportive side as you proceed to the top.
Speaker:Like bosses,
Speaker:your colleagues can either enhance or frustrate your chances of achieving
Speaker:career success.
Speaker:Therefore,
Speaker:the mastery of the skills presented in this Part would be of immense advantage
Speaker:to you.
Speaker:Part Vi,
Speaker:How To Be A Workplace Leader,
Speaker:presents potent leadership skills you should apply in the workplace to enable
Speaker:you effectively motivate and win the undivided support of your subordinates.
Speaker:Many workers,
Speaker:have made the fatal mistake of perceiving subordinates as being insignificant.
Speaker:Little do they realise that their ability to manage their subordinates
Speaker:advertise their suitability to take on the responsibilities of higher positions.
Speaker:Part Vii,
Speaker:Your Career And Your Future,
Speaker:would enable you realise that there are really no limits to career success,
Speaker:that success is not a destination,
Speaker:but a journey.
Speaker:One level of accomplishment is just a stepping stone to another higher level.
Speaker:This part presents further strategies and techniques that would expand your
Speaker:perception and inspire you to achieve Total Career Success.
Speaker:Finally,
Speaker:Part ViiI,
Speaker:Success Notes from Top Executives,
Speaker:furnishes you with insights that only top achievers can provide.
Speaker:From Dr. Kolade to Mr. Ohiwerei,
Speaker:from Mr. Onosode to Mr. Nwosu,
Speaker:the pathway to career success is clearly explained by a few Nigerians who have
Speaker:distinguished themselves and earned the right to show us the way.
Speaker:By the time you get to the end of this book,
Speaker:you would realise that it is possible to be an outstanding success in your
Speaker:chosen career.
Speaker:You would see that opportunities for excelling at work are legion.
Speaker:You would learn that such opportunities for success are veiled and need to be
Speaker:unlocked through effort.
Speaker:Career success requires,
Speaker:more than anything else,
Speaker:focused and consistent effort.
Speaker:Once again,
Speaker:1 would like to remind you that this book is aimed at presenting techniques and
Speaker:strategies,
Speaker:the proper understanding and application of which should propel you to the top
Speaker:of the Corporate Tower.
Speaker:Achieving career success means many different things to different people.
Speaker:It could be any or all of the following .- Being promoted from your present
Speaker:level to the next.
Speaker:Receiving a rich monthly salary with other benefits.
Speaker:Lots of subordinates to supervise.
Speaker:Power.
Speaker:Security.
Speaker:Fame.
Speaker:Comfort.
Speaker:When you possess and apply proven career success techniques and strategies,
Speaker:you increase by many times your chances of succeeding in the workplace.
Speaker:This book has been designed to be your guide and coach.
Speaker:We know that you would find it useful and instructive.
Speaker:It will expose you to those things you never knew could enhance your chances of
Speaker:success in the workplace.
Speaker:In some cases,
Speaker:you would discover that you are familiar with some techniques but you may have
Speaker:taken its efficacy for granted.
Speaker:It is not intended that you only know these strategies.
Speaker:We expect that you would gradually adopt the techniques and strategies as part
Speaker:of your Career Enhancement Strategy.
Speaker:You must apply the principles consistently and be on the lookout for
Speaker:opportunities that you can take advantage of.
Speaker:Do not be discouraged at any point.
Speaker:Success at work and in your career is a progressive affair that requires
Speaker:patience,
Speaker:faith and continuous effort.
Speaker:And,
Speaker:in a short while,
Speaker:distinction and all its rewards would be yours.
Speaker:“The two most important qualities of success are focus and concentration.
Speaker:Focus means knowing what exactly it is you want and concentration means having
Speaker:the discipline to concentrate single-mindedly on one thing,
Speaker:the most important thing,
Speaker:until it is complete."
Speaker:This has been
Speaker:How to Excel at Work:
Speaker:Proven strategies for achieving superior work performance By Bili Odum , narrated by russell newton.
