Benita’s Corner (Episode 2): Rachel’s transformation

Holla peeps! I hope you didn’t miss me too much.

Without further ado, I’ll just get back to the gist I was narrating the last time we met. Yes, Rachel… <Read Episode one>

 

How did this reunion even happen? I went to an eatery for lunch with some guys from the office and while we ate, Jeff from Procurement who thinks he’s handsome (he’s really just there) lets out a slow whistle. We all followed his gaze and it landed on this bombshell of a woman who was fueling her car beside the eatery.

 

Folks, let me not even lie, she oozed class and money. What?! She was standing near her car, a sleek Mercedes Benz. As someone who loved fashion, I could tell that she was wearing designers from head to toe. Her dark skin shone, and her long legs were framed by these wicked Louboutin heels. I was drooling.

 

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Benita’s Corner (Episode 2): Rachel’s transformation

Benita’s Corner (Episode 2): Rachel’s transformation

Holla peeps! I hope you didn’t miss me too much.

Without further ado, I’ll just get back to the gist I was narrating the last time we met. Yes, Rachel… <Read Episode one>

 

How did this reunion even happen? I went to an eatery for lunch with some guys from the office and while we ate, Jeff from Procurement who thinks he’s handsome (he’s really just there) lets out a slow whistle. We all followed his gaze and it landed on this bombshell of a woman who was fueling her car beside the eatery.

 

Folks, let me not even lie, she oozed class and money. What?! She was standing near her car, a sleek Mercedes Benz. As someone who loved fashion, I could tell that she was wearing designers from head to toe. Her dark skin shone, and her long legs were framed by these wicked Louboutin heels. I was drooling.

 

When she turned towards the eatery we were in, I almost choked on the dodo I was chewing. That can’t be!

 

I immediately stood up and ran to the door. I’m sure my colleagues would have thought me crazy in that instant, but that was the least of my worries.

 

I ran to this beautiful ebony figure and threw my arms around her. In shock, she turned, and her face lit up in recognition. “Benita!” she screamed and hugged me right back. This was my paddy, Rachel. The same one I used to drink garri with in Uni when sapa would hold us. The same one that stayed up at night with me, weaving dreams of the life we would have years after graduation. This same Rachel was distraught with frustration when three years after I had started working, she was still job searching.

 

Yes, the same Rachel!

 

“Rachel, it’s been a long time. Na only for WhatsApp we dey chat these days and that one sef is once once. Are you now in Lagos?” I quizzed.

 

She laughed out loud and responded “There’s so much to talk about but not here my friend. In response to your last question, yes, I’m now in Lagos. You look great though B, why don’t we meet up to catch up on good times babe? If Saturday looks good for you, we can meet at my place.” I agreed happily while thinking in my mind “See Banana Island telling Ikorodu it looks good.” She gave me her address and I held on to it for dear life.

 

After one last hug and a few air kisses, she stepped into that gorgeous car and drove off into Lagos traffic. I just stood there dazed and confused.

 

“Break time is over madam, let’s get going,” Jeff said as his voice brought me back to reality. I forgot that I had eaten my lunch only halfway and just sauntered back to the office with the guys, my mind focused on Rachel.

 

How on earth did regular Rachel become classy rich Rachel, I wondered.

 

Saturday must come fast because Rachel gats cut this her soap for me…

To be continued…

 

 

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6 types of people to have around at retirement

Your experience through retirement will largely depend on the people you surround yourself with. To have a happy and exciting retirement, consider having these types of people in your circle.

 

  1. The Adventurous

This is the friend that is up for anything and is a great companion for road trips or getaways. With them, you experience the other side of your comfort zone and enjoy the excitement that life has to offer.

 

  1. The Authentic

With this kind of person, you can be yourself. They allow you to be vulnerable, express your emotions in healthy ways, and help bring a smile back to your face when you’re down.

 

  1. The Cheerleaders

This is the person you can always count on to lift your spirits, motivate you through challenges and make y

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6 types of people to have around at retirement

6 types of people to have around at retirement

Your experience through retirement will largely depend on the people you surround yourself with. To have a happy and exciting retirement, consider having these types of people in your circle.

 

  1. The Adventurous

This is the friend that is up for anything and is a great companion for road trips or getaways. With them, you experience the other side of your comfort zone and enjoy the excitement that life has to offer.

 

  1. The Authentic

With this kind of person, you can be yourself. They allow you to be vulnerable, express your emotions in healthy ways, and help bring a smile back to your face when you’re down.

 

  1. The Cheerleaders

This is the person you can always count on to lift your spirits, motivate you through challenges and make you smile.

 

  1. The Positive

This kind of person emits positivity and when you stay around them enough, you’ll experience deeper happiness, better health and a sense of peace and well-being.

 

  1. The Excellent Listener

When your friends listen to you and try to understand your struggles, dreams, and goals, you feel heard and safe to make improvements in your life. In retirement, sometimes, all you just need is a shoulder to lean on and ears to listen.

 

  1. A trusted PFA

When you have a trustworthy Pension Fund Administrator like ARM Pensions, you can rest assured that your financial interest amongst others is protected, giving you the peace of mind, you need to enjoy retirement.

 

Learn all you need to enjoy a comfortable retirement at www.armpension.com

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Too big a bite

As Jotham lay on the road, panting, his heart thumping hard and his lungs fighting for air, he sincerely thought he wouldn’t live to tell his story.

 

After a couple of minutes in that state, he noticed a small crowd began to gather and people murmuring, “Is he dead?” “Looks like he fainted,” “Abi he has a heart attack…” Amid all the assumptions, he heard a confident male voice say, “Give him some space. He needs the air.”

 

By the time Jotham came to, he was sitting by the culvert with a tall, middle-aged man standing over him and staring in concern. “It’s about time you came back to this crazy world, my friend. I’m Dr. Jide and I saw you pass out while you were running.” Jotham immediately remembered the events that led up to this moment.

 

He had been pretty much inactive with his exercises and hadn’t gone for a run in about three years. After so much procrastination, he decided to get b

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Too big a bite

Too big a bite

As Jotham lay on the road, panting, his heart thumping hard and his lungs fighting for air, he sincerely thought he wouldn’t live to tell his story.

 

After a couple of minutes in that state, he noticed a small crowd began to gather and people murmuring, “Is he dead?” “Looks like he fainted,” “Abi he has a heart attack…” Amid all the assumptions, he heard a confident male voice say, “Give him some space. He needs the air.”

 

By the time Jotham came to, he was sitting by the culvert with a tall, middle-aged man standing over him and staring in concern. “It’s about time you came back to this crazy world, my friend. I’m Dr. Jide and I saw you pass out while you were running.” Jotham immediately remembered the events that led up to this moment.

 

He had been pretty much inactive with his exercises and hadn’t gone for a run in about three years. After so much procrastination, he decided to get back to his run and set a target for himself.

 

He wanted to cover the same miles he used to when he was a consistent and fit runner, but the human body always has a way of sending signals to remind us not to bite more than we can chew.

 

Jotham took off from his estate in full sprint and after just a few minutes of pushing against the resistance his body was building, he collapsed.

 

After hearing his story, Dr. Jide shook his head and said, “That’s the mistake right there, bro. Your body is not a machine and you’re not at your full physical capacity as three years ago. You needed to coerce your body, joints, heart, and muscles back into the game by starting out with a warmup. Then follow with walking short distances, then longer ones. As your body adjusts to this, you can take it to a brisk walk for a longer distance”

 

“Again, watch your body’s adjustment and know when to take it to a mix of walking and running. You must go through these stages to prepare your body for a full-blown run, my friend.”

 

Jotham sighed and nodded in agreement. He knew this deep down but was too stubborn that he took too big a bite and it landed him on the roads of Lagos, panting like a ram about to be executed.

 

He thanked Dr. Jide, dusted off his workout gear, and walked home in regret – he hoped none of the on-lookers had caught the entire thing on camera and posted to social media. The thought of that sent embarrassing shivers down his spine.

 

Join our RFTF Group on Facebook and visit our website to get more health and fitness tips.

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6 ways to reignite your passion for your work

After working for 15 years, Kemi started to feel a bit ‘bleh’ about her job. The passion, drive, and zeal for work that she had in her earlier years had diminished and she needed a jump start.

Here are the tips a career coach gave her.

 

1. Engage your brain

Boredom often causes disinterest in one’s work. Sign up for a development program at work or take a course on your own. Learning something new will excite you, open your mind and give you an edge on the job that you didn’t have before.

 

2. Find meaning in your work

Think about why you got into your field of work originally, and whether you’re still on the same path. When you renew your commitment to the goals you had, or make new ones, you get a renewed sense of purpose.

 

3. Move others forward

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6 ways to reignite your passion for your work

6 ways to reignite your passion for your work

After working for 15 years, Kemi started to feel a bit ‘bleh’ about her job. The passion, drive, and zeal for work that she had in her earlier years had diminished and she needed a jump start.

Here are the tips a career coach gave her.

 

1. Engage your brain

Boredom often causes disinterest in one’s work. Sign up for a development program at work or take a course on your own. Learning something new will excite you, open your mind and give you an edge on the job that you didn’t have before.

 

2. Find meaning in your work

Think about why you got into your field of work originally, and whether you’re still on the same path. When you renew your commitment to the goals you had, or make new ones, you get a renewed sense of purpose.

 

3. Move others forward

Being a mentor to someone younger in your field can boost your enthusiasm for what you do. There’s something gratifying about creating a legacy and helping others advance.

 

4. Explore a new challenge

If there’s a project that needs extra hands or a person to run it in your organization, step up to the plate. Accepting and acing a new challenge may be all you need to get your enthusiasm fired up.

 

5. Declutter your workspace

When you start to declutter your workspace, you’re making decisions of what you value or don’t value. It helps you get a sense of what you want in your job and to decide the things that matter to you.

 

6. Be open to change

The average person changes careers multiple times in their life. If you still feel a sense of emptiness with your current career after trying out all the above, maybe it’s time to consider a change in career.”

 

Learn more at www.armpension.com

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Young adults and retirement

Young adults and retirement

We follow two cousins both in their 20s, Jude, a businessman, and Mary, as they embark on a visit to their 65-year-old Uncle Frank. Here is how the story goes:

 

Jude

 

Jude loves living the life. Whenever he hears the word, “Retirement,” he scoffs because it seems so far that it hardly feels real at all. That eventually became his excuse to justify not saving for retirement. He often jokes that he’ll still be agile and efficient well past his 70s, so he can still run his business and earn a living.

 

Mary

 

Mary is after the “baby-girl” life: slaying for the ‘Gram, owing debt just to buy shoes, bags, and human hair in vogue, and never caring about saving. She also believes that retirement is too far to consider now hence she makes no effort to supplement her compulsory pension contributions with additional funds. In fact, if she had her way, she wouldn’t even save a kobo for retirement.

 

This visit to Uncle Frank is about to change their lives…

 

Uncle Frank

 

Uncle Frank lives in a decent bungalow in a high-brow estate in Abuja. He is well off and makes foreign trips at least once a year to visit his children. He also has a thriving business managed by his younger son in Lagos and looks ‘fresh’ every time Jude and Mary see him. They both admire him a lot.

 

During their discussion, Uncle Frank asks his niece and nephew about work, business, and relationships. Then somehow the discussion veered towards later years and retirement.

 

He noticed their nonchalance towards the topic and chuckled. Then he began his lecture:

 

“You youngsters don’t realize that the years slip by and building a sizable nest egg becomes more difficult if you don’t start early. Remember that you’ll also probably acquire other expenses you may not have yet such as family, in-laws, mortgage, and others,” he said.

 

He took a swig of juice and continued, “You may not earn a lot of money now in your business and career, but one thing you have more of than richer, older folks is time. With time on your side, saving for retirement becomes a much more pleasant and exciting prospect. You have time to map out your retirement plan and whatever you save compounds with the years and gets reinvested to make you more money.”

 

“How do you lads think I managed to build the life I have now after my years in the Human Resource space?” he finished with a smile.

 

It was a visit to remember for Jude and Mary. They got schooled by Uncle Frank and suddenly, their motto of living for the moment sounded utterly lame.

 

Got your retirement locked down? Move to ARM Pensions and we’ll help you plan for a better tomorrow.

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6 tips to excel in your career

Many years ago, Maureen Akintoye applied a list of smart nuggets to help her excel in her career. Now, with over a decade of successfully running a top Marketing and Advertising firm in New Zealand, she shares a few career tips which worked for her and where they originated from.

 

  1. I first heard Zig Ziglar say it when people challenged him on his “positive attitude” manifesto: “You can do anything with a positive attitude better than you can do it with a negative one.” – Lea McLeod, Career Coach.

 

  1. Work hard and be nice to people. It’s a very simple motto I try to live by daily – Marie Burns, Recruiting Leader at Compete.

 

  1. There’s never going to be a precisely right moment to speak, share an idea, or take a chance. Just take the moment – don’t let thoughts like “I don’t feel

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