tHe jOHnNy RocKet, LagoS FiAsCo..

till this very moment as i write this piece i'm in shock as to how Nigerians can actually endure this kind of treatment. As i have been told this video is a lot better than what some other Nigerian have to endure to keep their 9-5s. So here i am trying to unwind with my family, when my sister-in-law informs me that every hour the waiters at Johnny Rockets in Victoria Island have to do a choreography routine right in front of the customers, every hour, every day of the week. Call it corporate culture, i can understand , but when the staffers do this so reluctantly as seen in the video it kind of makes you wonder how much of our dignity we have to sell out to keep a job especially in all these so called franchises. This video in my opinion is a ridiculous attempt at corporate culture. Watch!

iN hiS iMaGe!

we interviewed In His Image, one of Nigeria's best Acapella groups. Listen and Download below. Today also happens to be Mothers Day. here is wishing all mothers a beautiful day.

zARa gREtti !!!

The world only saw a glimpse of the gift God put in you. Words cannot express the heaviness in my heart. Memories of the voicenotes and BBM chats only linger more now that you are gone. We could do absolutely nothing to help your pain. We prayed, we hoped but it wasn't enough. I pray for God's comfort for your family. It feels even more Sad now remembering that we first met through HCODE...

~@gozzim

tAMinG tHe LaGos GaNgsTeR 2 (contd.)

... At this point I figured he was a troublemaker and was already inhabited by the spirit of anarchy, I couldn’t resist stirring at his unseen hand half expecting him to pull out a weapon. I looked at him seriously thinking about his answer and half wishing I could punch the taste out of his mouth. if you have no clue what i am talking about you might want to read the 1st Installment of this post here

Only a week before that I went ApeShit-Crazy on a Tri-Cyclist in Phase one who made a long scratch on my car because he refused to be patient. Scratching the car wasn’t my problem, it was that he had the guts to zoom off without an apology, I chased him down slapped the taste out of his mouth and seized his keys, which I drove off with hoping to return it to their association head (which I did by the following day). My wife didn’t let me hear the last of that, so imagine what was going through my mind that night when this guy unleashed his demons.

Back to the anarchist Moshood, For some reason the Spirit kept me from acting up so I got close to the guy and said to him: “I promise you tears this night just keep coming” and I drove off half praying and expecting him to hit me again and keep tailing me. 10 mins later past OANDO I turned into my neighborhood waiting for him to pull in right after me, but no sign of him for a while I was sure he specifically had a mission, a part of me was scared for my wife in the car with me, but the choleric in me couldn’t stand being cheated. I eventually drove home  and stewed in disbelief, and then it hit me! 

Exactly 7 days before that I was the unforgiving macho who was dolling out slaps and seizing keys but now I was powerless even in the face of intentional provocation.

Imagine for a minute another scenario where I punched the guy and maybe he had a medical condition and was also drunk and he passed out right there or even died; or another scenario where I approached him and he pulled out a gun and shot me right there all for nothing. 

How would that play out for my family, or friends of mine or his friends who would at most have donated their avatars, and BBM Display Pictures for 24hrs. 

Some times, some fights are not worth your life or emotion. Understand that every choice you make has consequences and to every ying there is a yang. 'Nigga moments' don’t make you a better person, you have absolutely no point to prove. Life is too short live peaceably with every man as best you can and let God fight your course. Never complain about situations you have no control over. That said have a great day.

-- @gozzim

Please leave your comments in the boxes below.

iKwORsHips- nOt yOuR aVeRage wOrShippEr

last sunday i had the unique privilege of bring IKWORSHIPS on our radio show HOLYHOLLA. Before his appearance on the show i really didn't know to expect especially since during my research of him there was very little information to go on.

He did make quite an impression on the crew, even better we must have made quite an impression on him too with our goofing around in the studio as always. 

I bet by now most of the guests who have ever been on the show must have given up on us by now. I bet they find it hard to understand why people like us can be so unserious on air. well enjoy our interview with Ikworships below. Just hit play and lets have your comments.

tAMinG tHe LaGos GaNgsTeR…

Last Friday, I received a harsh lesson in patience. The kind of lesson someone with my temperament wouldn’t naturally be open to. I had just rounded off my activities for the day by attending a special program of music and Comedy at the Pistis Centre called NJOY with my wife. Leaving the venue in high spirits and heading straight into the OANDO traffic along the Lekki axis, my wife and I recalled jokes from the event as we drove and then all of a sudden I felt a sharp jolt.

We had been hit from behind and I looked through the rear view mirror to be sure it wasn’t a set up, got out of the car to assess the damage and without even looking at the other driver  (lets call him ‘Moshood’ for the purpose of this piece) got back in the car.

As I settled back into the driver’s seat, I looked at the clock it was about 9:00PM and I figured it was a dangerous time to be making trouble so as I prepared to drive off I felt yet another hard jolt, this time a slightly louder sound from the SUV Moshood was driving. This couldn’t be happening, was this guy deliberately trying to provoke me? For some reason I chose to ignore him and kept driving. I must note that it took a lot for me to not even look at or talk to Moshood, the driver of that car.

You see I have always known there are really mad and irresponsible people in Lagos but talking about it is one thing and seeing it play out is another. Still stuck in that traffic we kept moving, my wife did all she could to calm me down and then I began to see reason, but just as I was cooling off and making excuses for Moshood’s conduct in my mind thinking maybe he was drunk and all, another loud BANG! From behind. Hell no! I wasn’t having non of this sh#%t no more…

I got out of the car keeping my distance and avoiding a clear line of sight should incase a gun gets pointed at me I examined my car once again, just a minor scratch on my bumper and I approached the driver: “ are you looking for a fight, of have we met before?” I asked the driver. His exact response was this and I quote: “ I have hit you exactly 3 times. 3 times is exactly what it took for you to come find out if I had a problem.” Then he kept quite, maybe waiting for my reaction...

To be Continued...

If you are still reading this I would like to ask a simple question:

what would you do if you were in my position?

I am particularly interested in your responses please leave your comments.

--@gozzim

oNe aRtiste yOu cAn't aFFord to iGNoRe! ~InYene eKonG

Yesterday on HOLYHOLLA we had the unique privilege of hosting the next best gospel artiste Inyene Ekong. It was indeed an interesting interview we had. He talked about his relationship with his former band mate Frank Edwards, His Salvation and relationship with God and other artistes, Performing at 3 stadiums and doing business. This young man has a certain level of grace the world cannot ignore. Enjoy the podcast below and please follow the show on twitter @holyholla:

--@gozzim

aRe tHe bEst tHinGs in NiGeRia tRuLLy fRee?

They say the best things in Life are free! Being a Nigerian does bring a certain level of complexity to that statement. Coming from a Nation where everything is generally designed to keep the strong in power, the rich, richer and the poor, even poorer; it is hard to accept that statement. I stopped having blind optimism about our hopes on becoming a developed country, though this doesn't mean i stopped being patriotic. Why? well as long as i am not in the sphere of the powerful leaders yet and cannot even get a glimpse of their activities, i cannot continue to believe in the good will they so proclaim.

I have come to learn that nothing happens by accident in this country. Like the former CBN governor Malam Sanusi once said the issue of vested interests is our biggest challenge yet, but is it really not a problem even in the developed world? I tweeted yesterday that everything in life revolves around relationships, so at the end of the day words like 'Merit' are hardly in our vocabulary as a nation. As i have always said, nobody owes any one anything in this life not your parents (save for caring for you in your formative years and providing a good education), not your government (that is if it is not clear to you already that majority of the officials in our polity are not there for any one but themselves). 

In a country where the average Nigerian generates his own power, provides his own security, provides his own jobs, there is hardly ever any need for dependence on the government. But then again it is so hard to make any grand nationwide impact as a citizen without being in the above mentioned sphere.

I also understand that as a Leader it is hard to please everyone, but there will forever remain that middle ground of performance acceptance that both the governed and the government can agree on. I also think its only human nature to pick people or individuals you have established a relationship with over individuals on merit. That relationship is what creates that edge over people who truly deserve that job or position. We need to accept the fact that we are a peculiar Nation and those peculiarities need to be adapted to by any one willing to make a difference. So my advice to those looking to make any impact as far as the government is concerned is to build meaningful relationships in your chosen endeavor. Nothing good comes easy, nothing is ever free and there will always be a price to pay.

-- @gozzim

$500 LoAN.. iNteRestiNg rEad

This may seem like a joke, but it really does make a lot of sense... business sense, horse sense and common sense ~~~~

An old Native American wanted a loan for $500.  

The banker pulled out the loan application. 

"What are you going to do with the money?" he asks the Indian.

"Buy Silver, make jewelry, and sell it," was the response.

"What have you got for collateral?"

"Don't know collateral," replied the Indian

"Well that's something of value that would cover the cost of the loan.  

"Have you got any vehicles?"

"Yes.  1949 Chevy pickup," replied the Indian

The banker shook his head, "How about livestock?"

"Yes, I have a horse," replied the Indian

"How old is it?" the banker asks.

"Don't know, has no teeth," replies the Indian

Finally the banker decided to make the $500 loan.

Several weeks later the old man was back in the bank.  

He pulled out a roll of bills, "Here to pay." he said.  

He then handed the banker the money to pay his loan off.

"What are you going to do with the rest of that money?" the banker asks.

"Put in hogan", replied the Indian

"Why don't you deposit it in my bank," the banker asked.

"Don't know deposit," replied the Indian

"You put the money in our bank and we take care of it for you.  

Whenever you want to use it, you can withdraw it."

The old Indian leaned across the desk and asks the banker... 

"What you got for collateral?"

courtesy-- inspire21

bEaUtiFuL-- MaLiMusiC

I just couldn't resist posting this video! Malimusic does have a way of reaching out to you through his lyrics.

giVe mE yOuR toMoRRow (Live Performance by Ozichi)

watch this Live Performance from Ozichi on our show last sunday. 'Give me Your Tomorrow'

tHe $20miLLioN OsCar seLfie

I am hardly ever swayed by media hypes, especially because being a media strategist, I have come to understand how the news is made. but i would like to share a very interesting fact about this Oscar selfie seen above. For starters even though at the time it all seemed spontaneous, this selfie wasn't entirely unplanned.
if you look closely at the picture, you would notice the white samsung galaxy phone. Samsung paid a whooping $20million as part of sponsorship costs for ads to run at breaks during broadcast of the Academy Awards. As part of the deal Samsung and its ad agencies negotiated to have the phone incorporate into the show.
Further more in the weeks leading up to the Oscars some samsung executives trained Ellen DeGeneres on how to go about taking selfies at the show. But as it turns our Samsung received a lot more mileage from Ellen hosting the show than actually running ads.

The picture above is undoubtedly the most valuable and most popular self of all time. who says 'Advertainment' doesn't give more mileage.

-- @gozzim
primary source wsj.com

aPPLe wANts YouR dAsHboArd-- CARPLAY

its not enough that apple owns my mobile(iphone5) and work life (MAC) they would like to own my dashboard too apparently. Apple launched car play, at the Geneva International Motor Show, pretty much an extra dashboard in your car that gives you access to maps, Siri, phone calls etc. while you drive. Ferrari, Volvo and Mercedes Benz get the first chance to roll out Apple Carplay. I wonder if this would become an indispensable auto companion.
--@gozzim

oZicHi oN hOLyHoLLa 2nd March 2014

alas its finally here, a PODCAST of our interview with the very talented vocalist and song writer Ijeoma'Ozichi'Omotade. In addition to being the daughter of the first Nigerian to graduate from a Post Graduate program at Harvard, she is responsible for the theme songs for some of the bigggest brands out there like VISAFONE,UAC, Indomie, sweet sensation, Fidelity among many others successful brands. Listen and let me know what you think. 

--@gozzim

tHe FuTuRe oF dRiviNg

mArcH oN... ChAnGing yOuR LiFe isNt iMpossiBLe!

If you are reading this, you, like myself have put 2months in 2014 right behind you. But 2months into 2014 has your life changed? All those annual prophetic declarations, resolutions and goals...still haven't began to come alive yet??

Only a fool does the same things and expects better results. The challenge with some of us is: like the world we desire change, or at least an improvement in our situation but are a largely unwilling to make the necessary changes in our lives.

I am of the school of believe that 'Time' is the greatest asset any man has and with it you can create every other need. Rather than wait another 10months for magic, we could make conscious efforts to rewrite our stories. I would like to share a few pointers to help us evaluate changes we need to make to come into those resolutions:

1. Revisit/Review your goals for the year

2. Refocus and put pressure on the most viable of these goals.

3. Reevaluate your circle & network of people around you. Some people in your circle could just be anchors holding you down to your current position.

4. Sometimes shut doors need to be knocked on again or even kicked down for access. Nothing good comes easy.

5. Believe! not just in you but in your Maker. God will never be pro mediocrity.

6. Understand that if God gave you those ideas you can achieve them. Allow him help you figure out a way.

Have a beautiful March!!

~ @gozzim