THE IDEA:
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| Mumini Alao |
For most people especially youths, starting a business can be a bit daunting; but the major philosophy behind most businesses is starting something small with an attitude to grow big. However, creating opportunities that live beyond the term of the visioneer is another daunting task that very few seem to achieve.
THE LECTURER: to share his experience and educate us on practical ways to creating a sustainable business, we had vintage sportsman for the first edition of this year’s Dare to Be Different Series.
With a BSc in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos in 1987, followed by MSc in 1991, Alhaji Mumini Alao is currently running PhD program from the same university.
He has being a TV presenter, known for hosting the popular TV talk show-the MAIN BOWL from 2001-2002. He has also performed as a BBC Sport Correspondent from 1992-96.
He has been a recipient of the Nigeria Media Merit Award(NMMA)and the Diamond Award in 1996- the first person to win both awards same year.
He actively participated in the 10th FIFA World Championship 1999 and the 8th All African Games.
The present publication of this sports savvy personality is the SOCCER TALK, a book on selected articles in the soccer world.
The topic was chosen by the Floor organizers to help young entrepreneurs build lasting businesses and personalities that will eventually make them legends. And of course we were never disappointed in the choice of lecture and the lecture.
To make the topic clearer, Mr. Alao explained the fundamental words in the topic. According to him, to Manage is to Control, Organize, to Direct situations, programs or product. Management of course comes in various shapes and situations depending on the overall result.
Legacy in the simplest term is a bequest…something you leave for others. It could be Inheritance, values, philosophy and it could be good or bad. It is what others will remember you for after the dust has settled over you.
In capstone, Managing to Legacy is the control of processes or organization of values to create an enduring philosophy or achievement that you would leave behind for others to benefit from.
Properly understanding legacy goes beyond the dictionary meaning and according to him, there are the spiritual and mundane views that encapsulate it. In understanding it from the spiritual point of view, is to understand what Allah’s legacy is as well as those of the Prophets of Allah.
Every creature is Allah’s legacy…we (humans) are Allah’s signature. Things that he has left for all his creature to make use of. He has of these legacies created signatures that will be of benefit to human kind, he has created Prophets and given Books of guidance all as part of His legacies to make an everlasting impact on the lives of those that appreciate them.
We take inspirations from Allah and the Prophets’ legacies and understand part of our obligation is to leave something useful for others.
Prophet Muhammad’s legacy is Islam and we are a product of that legacy. His legacies are abound in the Qur’an and sunnah (as related in his last sermon) bonded by the character, will and values of his personalities of those that met and loved him-pious predecessors.
Legacies of our parents…
Honouring parents as enjoined by Allah and his Prophet is because of the legacies they have given us. The care and nurture given to us when we were babes and helpless explains the legacies they have given us and why they should be honoured.
As said by the inspiring lecturer, he became today as Mumini Alao, is as a result of the legacies given to him by his parents. According to him, we know our parents before knowing Allah; and most of us know Allah from childhood because of our Parents. So all we know and practice of the deen comes first from our parents. He confesses and appreciates his dad in saying that his Dad taught him about 80% of whatever values he upholds today.
At this point reminded the Floor of the saying of the Prophet on the value of the mother
In a hadeeth of Prophet Muhammad, a man came to the Prophet asking, ‘Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said, your mother. The man said, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said, then your mother. The man further asked, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet said, then your mother. The man asked again, ‘Then who?’ The Prophet replied, then your father. (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)
He also mentioned notable, living examples of sport superstars. Most of the world sports superstars, according to him, had parents playing huge roles in the development of their career.
He explained that Andre Agassi – the retired tennis player, who won 8 grand slams, reveals that the first thing he grew up to know was a tennis racket; the first gift he got also was a tennis racket. He (Agassi) pointed that when his father was to buy a house, the property chosen was because there was enough space in the backyard, big enough to hold a tennis court.
It was obvious that Andre Agassi’s father always wanted his son to be the best tennis player and he was.
Same with Golf Player-Tiger Woods, whose exposure to golf started at the at the age of 6months; so much so that as he grew up he preferred Golf to eating.
The influence of the parents on a child’s development and life goals can be immeasurable.
Mumini explained that his father taught him candor and equity…his philosophy to him was “No matter what you face or who you meet, 2+2 is always 4”. This, he said, contributed to his attitude in journalism and has become his signature of what he learnt from his dad.
His Mom, he said taught him a lot of patience, steadfastness…for she had a tough marriage with his Dad but she persevered and came out best for it.
Together he revealed that they taught him knowledge.
For him growing up wasn’t difficult because his parent were there for him…not so many people were as lucky as he was. Still the impact of parents can never be overridden. It takes a lot of hard work to leave everlasting impact in the lives of our children.
Inspiringly, things he learnt from his growing up as his purpose and what he understands the purpose of living to be are:
To know and worship Allah To teach children and family to know and worship Allah-children are emphasized because they are our direct responsibilities. To serve Allah thru service to humanityHe believes that we can only please or offend Allah by pleasing or offending our fellow human beings. His philosophy of life is “Do unto others as you would like to be done onto you”.
Buttressing the Hadith of the Rasul, saying “You would not truly become Muslim until you love for your brother what you love for yourself”.
Of course, we all know that were everyone to abide by this, we would be living close to paradise because then we would treat each other with respect, love, consideration, peace and justice.
He enjoined us to always seek from Allah the mercy to be kind to others.
He says his only goal in life is to go to paradise.
He implored everyone to set goals that are important to it and then plan for it as it is important. This he said will guide everything one does. Setting a goal for paradise, he said, helps to manage our lives to be pleasing to Allah regardless whatever challenge we might face and whatever might be said about us.
The Complete Sport Story… To give light to his talk he went on reveal his life journey as a sports journalist.
His journey began in Lagos where he was born. His Father being a Federal Civil Servant of the Ministry of Works moved around a lot and though his nursery schooling was done in Lagos, Ebute-metta to be precise, part of his elementary schooling was done in Shaki, Oyo State. He finished his elementary and secondary in Otta, Ogun State.
This he said, emphasize the point that his parents influenced his life’s goals by deciding when and where he went to school. He confesses that today’s children are sort of luckier; knowing what they want before their parents. But for him what he wanted to do career-wise didn’t become obvious till after his A’ levels.
He went on to University of Lagos to obtain his 1st t& 2nd degree in Mass communication. At around the time he was completing his youth service in 1988 in Enugu State, Champion Newspaper was established and he applied to be a sports writer. And though he did miss his interview because of his service, he was given another opportunity to prove his mettle. The chairman of the newspaper being impressed by his school and his grade-2.1 asked that his interview be rescheduled.
Unfortunately though, he couldn’t get the sports desk at the time. He was then directed to another company- then known as COMPLETE FOOTBALL, now COMPLETE SPORTS, where he has been for the past 22 years aand presrently leading the organization as the Managing Director.
For him, his career journey wasn’t planned and all glory was to Allah. Neither did he plan to be at Complete Sports this long.
According to him, a lot of people don’t give enough credit to Allah’s mercy on them. While we should appreciate the role of destiny we must however play our part getting there!
He continued his story, stating that within 6months being in Complete Sports, he became an editor and for him it was due to just hard work, diligence and focus…nothing special.
He explained that being Muslims means we are the best of mankind and our success should be true to type because that is our obligation and right- being the best should the rule not the exception.
Understand this…
The most important factor of success is FOCUS
To achieve something sustainable we need to be focused.
Explaining this, he noted that Microsoft is synonymous to Bill Gates and as a person we should also be synonymous to being the best of whatever area we chose for ourselves. We must first identify our strength and be focused on it.
That is what Complete Sports is known for, the best of sport news!… it wasn’t easy to change people’s mind set, but because of the conviction of the team and the focus…it eventually succeeded.
Another important thing to consider when building a sustainable investment/ business is the strength of your conviction. Ask yourself -why am I doing this? How important is it to me?
Knowing and revisiting this question will help you overcome every challenge that you will face and have people share your vision.
The point is not that you shouldn’t diversify but please be on a strong footing in your area of core competence before diversifying. Never be distracted from your primary focus and strength.
Today, he tells the Floor Complete Sports has over 150 staff strength and has diversified into other things, some paid off, others haven’t…but the one thing Complete Sports and Mumini Alao is known for is the best of sports.
In conclusion, he says “going to paradise is beyond words…it has to be followed with actions. What will take you there is obvious and what will keep you from it is obvious. I know to meet my goal in going to paradise I have to work for it and be known for it”.
Another goal he has is to be remembered as someone who shared his knowledge and expertise. He says “I want to have impacted on people’s life”. He explains that sharing what you have or know helps keep off stress, take a hint from the creator of Intel-. Endeavour to train others…because you will live a happier life.
He continues saying “My position has shown me that people want to listen to me, thus I want to able to inspire people with what is right”.
Finally, He wants to be remembered as someone who was kind and generous…..now to throw down the gauntlet, he asks, What will you like to remembered for….what is your legacy.
So What Is Your Legacy?!!!
