plans Archives - The Olive Branch

Let the waters flow

theolivebranchadmin — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 11:13:25 +0000

Many years ago, In a distant faraway Utopic Land, there was a baby girl given birth to in the stream of happiness, she was birthed with so much love and faith that she had no idea what the future held for her. All she knew was that it would be a life filled with joy.
She grew up with the naivety of life but the love of a family and then like all stories go, tragedy struck.

20 years later, she’s on the streets, tough and defensive but still with a little faith trying to make ends meet. She no longer remembers home, she barely remembers family. One day, she gets hit by a car and the driver takes her to the hospital. He falls in love with her and decides to marry her. They get married finally and he takes her to his hometown.
The prominent chief sees her and realizes she looks just like his wife. Eventually, they find out she’s their long lost daughter who was kidnapped many years ago. There are tears and reconciliation and everyone lives happily ever after.

Can we skip to the good part?

I can continue this story, you can too. I’m sure you knew where this was headed. You already formed the conclusion in your mind.
“Forming a conclusion” is the easy part. How you arrive to that conclusion is the tricky one.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

As a 90s child ☺️, i can say to an extent, i had a balanced childhood. I played a lot, played outside and inside. We had a lot of games that time and i also knew when it was time to read.
I didn’t know what i wanted to be in 10 years, i wanted to be a lawyer then a shop owner then a doctor, they changed because i only knew that i wanted to be something in life. I didn’t know what exactly.
So along the years, the shapes changed, the colors changed and the picture changed.
Someone once told me that if we knew what it would take to get to a destination, we wouldn’t want to go there at all.
Before i entered medical school, people told me how it wasn’t easy to become a doctor but they just told me. If i had probably experienced it in my mind, who knows if i would have gone ahead with the journey.
As i grew older, the painting started looking like something that made sense and very soon, it became a landscape painting of one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.
Painting for me doesn’t come easy but i had to paint and I’m still painting.
(This is just a metaphor for saying my future is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, it’s dependent on what you see your future as).
I had a determined end for that story, the girl would find her way back home and she would live happily but there are a million ways she could have gotten home. I could have written that 100 times and it would still get to that same end.

What next? I really don’t like that question

“Many plans are in a man’s mind, But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).”
Proverbs 19:21 AMP

I’m not going to tell you not to make your plans but make sure your plans are from God and on God. You cannot attempt to lean on your own understanding.
Imagine the way i wrote that story. The character was possibly wondering what exactly was going on with her life and she may have tried one or two ways to get out of her situation. They may or they may not have worked but i, the writer was weaving a very beautiful story that made it all worth it.
That’s how God is to us and even far greater because i can make mistakes while writing, even misspell or use the wrong words or context but God is perfect in his ways and thoughts and he knows the ultimate best for us.
The purpose of God for your life won’t change. The plans may and they will but there’s already an end, promised.

It’s not as easy as it sounds but it gets easier the higher you go. What do you think you know? How much do you think you know?
You need a map and you need clarity on next steps so what makes you think you can figure that out on your own. This isn’t an adventure movie, it isn’t Pirates of the Caribbean or Chronicles of Narnia( all beautiful movies) but God isn’t there to give you hints. He’s not a passive character or an observer. He wants to help you completely. Why don’t you let him?

Get ready to swim

The moment i typed the first word of this article, i had no idea how i was going to pass along what i wanted but i knew the message i wanted to pass across and i trusted God and the holy spirit to write this.
So, I don’t know if you’re like me, discovering purpose and figuring out the ultimate plan or maybe you’ve already discovered purpose, you know what’s next but you’re scared to take that next step.
A dear friend of mine will always tell me;
“How do you know you can walk on water if you don’t step out of the boat”.
Step out! Come out! Come out of it with the faith of a child that believes in Santa Claus or the tooth fairy.
It will be so beautiful to watch at the end, no more holding back. This is the sign that you’ve been praying for. Catch your sub eh.
Let those waters, let your waters flow and let your life move with the fluidity of an unhindered wave.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 NLT

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BEFORE YOU START THAT BUSINESS

theolivebranchadmin — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 10:36:08 +0000

A lot of people have woken up to the reality that getting a job is not as easy as it used to be anymore and are therefore seeking for alternative means to livelihood. Even people who have the job have realized that their salaries are only enough to make ends meet and are also seeking for other ways to make wealth. Undoubtedly, one of such means is starting a business (i.e. becoming an entrepreneur). A lot of people these days have started one business or the other while some are just about to start one. If you are reading this and you are one of the people just thinking of what business to start, then this is the part where your attention is greatly needed.
Here are a few tips on things to consider before you start that business.
1. THINK OF AN EXISTING PROBLEM AROUND YOU AND WAYS YOU CAN HELP.
Helping people solve their problems is one major way to be successful as an entrepreneur. Before you decide on what to do, think of one thing that is lacking around you that you are sure you have the ability to provide. It could be goods or services. Take for instance in this COVID-19 era where schools have been shut for months, parents are afraid that their children will not remember what they were taught in the previous term and they need someone to help coach them. If you think you have the required knowledge and patience to handle kids, you can organize lessons for them. Don’t be surprised that even after schools resume, some parents may still want you to continue taking their children extra lessons. Gradually, you grow and soon, you may even have a large coaching center.
Don’t just started ANY business. Instead, look for a problem to solve. That is the spirit of an entrepreneur.
2. DO WHAT INTRESTS YOU
Before you even think of starting a business at all, you should understand that owning a business can be very challenging. It is therefore important that you choose a business you enjoy doing because when those challenges come, one of the things that will keep you going is the love you have for what you do. This is very similar to marriage. If you marry someone you truly love, that love will keep the marriage going even in the face of challenges and turbulence.
Consider what you love doing. You may pick one of your hobbies and start a business with it. I should however stress that once a hobby of yours becomes a business, you should let people know that you are no longer doing it as a hobby but now a business else, you may be easily exploited. In the same vain, do not convert all your hobbies to enterprises, else you won’t have anyway to relax and have fun.
3. GET TRAINED
Once you have concluded on what business to do, look for how to get trained and become professional at it. You should understand that no matter what problem you are solving, someone has already started before you and there is competition already. Your business has to the options customers/clients have to choose from for the same service/product. One thing that can give you an edge is your professionalism.
While starting a business, online platforms like YouTube, Instagram and even Google should be your friends. Don’t be too stingy to spend money on data to browse. It is called investing in yourself because you need all the knowledge you can get before starting a business.
4. SEEK ADVICE FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE
Get close to people who have already started your line of business. Ask them questions on how they started, the challenges they faced and how they were able to overcome each phase as they grow their business.
Have a mentor in your line of business whom you look up to for advice. Trust me, you will need all the counsel you can get as a fresh business owner.
5. GET THE RIGHT MARKET
No matter how nice your product/service may be, you sure need an active market for it. Consider what part of the population needs your product/services the most. They are called the target consumers. Find out the location where the target consumers are more abundant. That is your market.
6. REACH MORE PEOPLE
We are in the digital age where one can reach more people from one’s comfort. The consumers in your immediate environment can never be enough for you. Therefore, you need to reach more people. Make use of social media platforms to advertise yourself. Cretate an awareness for your new business everytime you have the opportunity to. You may even make a tee-shirt that carries your business name which you can wear once a while. Tell everyone you meet about your new business at every chance you get.
7. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP YOU GROW
This is very important. The people who surround you are very likely to determine if your new business will grow or not. You need friends and family who will show support by patronizing you and/or referring you to potential customers. People who are ready to trust you on what you do. People who will give you encouragement and support.
8. PLAN
A business plan is very important. Do a survey. Ask around for what will it cost you to start up. Count your cost and make sure you have almost everything out in place. A business start-up without a plan is already tending to collapse.
9. PRAY
Not everyone believes in God, but if you do, please pray to Him to help you through your new journey. He will surely lead you on the right path and connect you with the right peoole.

After all these, you are most likely to have although not challenge-free but a successful journey in your new business.
Feyisayo Mercy Olufemi.

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