I enjoyed the Luxury to engage my Boss in a conversation, the Group Managing Director of Courteville Business Solutions Plc, Mr Bola Akindele. It was an awesome time with the man who had built an empire that would outlive him and be a pride to the African continent in the area of technology.
The first question I asked the 52year old man was centered around the word Synchronicity; he said everything that had happened in his life has been as a result of Synchronicity, “I would not have been here if not for Synchronicity which is from God.”
Sir.B as he is popularly called explained how God ordered his steps in starting his own company ten years ago which is now worth more than 4 billion Naira, enjoying the robustness on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. It has since been determined as one of the best companies to work in Nigeria by; “Great Place to work”.
While on this mind exhibition with Sir.B, he gave the credit of his abundant success not to his brilliance or to his high and mighty friends but all to God which he called the Synchronicity in his life.
Before I could ask him what the word meant and that does it mean that one does not need to work or have a vision because there is something called Synchronicity. He voiced out my thought saying without you working on something ‘legal’ Synchronicity will not work for you and this I believe 100%.
During the course of our conversation, I broached the topic of books and he immediately stood up from his executive chair, walked to his all glass book shelf and brought out the biography of Sam Walton. He said the book talked about how the man built the largest retail outlet in the world and he mentioned to me he had all Malcolm Gladwell’s collections which made me blush because I have read two of Gladwell’s books with the title ‘Outliers & The Tipping Point’.
I quickly asked him about the 10,000hours in Outliers one of Malcolm Gladwell’s books and he said “being good at something is different from being wealthy, it’s not how long you work on something” but by God’s grace he added.
Mr. Akindele had given his staffs a copy of the book “How to Read More” by Martin Udogie. The book made an exposition on how the reading culture is going into extinction in Africa, how we can preserve it and how people can actually enjoy reading. It highlighted some insights that would help you see that reading is not hard but something one can enjoy.
I have not delved deep into the ‘How To Read More’ book but Azeez Zakariyau one of my colleagues is using all the available time he has to crunch every word in the book. My take on the book will come after I have read it but I suggest you get a copy. It seems a wonderful read judging by the words of Mr. Adebola Akindele and Azeez on the book. I say again Get a Copy!!!
I also read the extracts from The 7 Secrets of Synchronicity by Trish and Rob Macgregor. I must say it is a wonderful book which explains how Synchronicity works in our everyday lives, you can also get extracts of the book here http://www.hayhouse.co.za/userfiles/file/7%20Secrets%20extract%20-%20final.pdf and I am very sure you would like to get the book.
One of the things I enjoyed from Mr.Akindele is the relationship I have with him. There is a saying which goes thus “if you want to know where a man will be in ten years check two things, the Book he reads and his association”.
Where would you be in the next Ten years?
By
Tolu Books
