THE POWER OF ACTING NOW

Imagine this: Two entrepreneurs have the same brilliant idea at the same time. One says, “I’ll start today.” The other says, “I’ll start later, when I’m ready.” A year later, one is running a growing business while the other is still making plans. Which one are you?

Procrastination is the silent thief of success and has destroyed more dreams than failure ever did. It’s the reason why some ideas never see the light of day and why great visions remain stuck in notebooks and KIV files in laptops.

Here’s a painful truth:

Opportunities do not wait for indecisive people. While you are planning to plan, someone else is acting on the very idea you’re afraid to explore and act on.

THE TRUE COST OF DELAY

Procrastination is not harmless. It has costs:

• Lost Time—and time is the one resource you can never recover.
• Missed Opportunities—in business, timing is everything.
• Reduced Confidence—the longer you delay, the more fear grows.

I once met a man who had a brilliant idea for an online food delivery service in Nigeria, years before it became popular. He kept saying, “I’ll start when I have enough money.” By the time he was ready, Jumia Food and other platforms had taken the market. He said to me, “That should have been my business.”

That is what procrastination does — it gives your dream to someone else who is ready to run with it NOW. According to Napoleon Hill, America’s self-help author (he wrote bestsellers like Think and Grow Rich,Outwitting the Devil, The Master Key to Riches, The Law of Success, Positive Mental Attitude among others): “Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand.”

Procrastination can rob you of your opportunities. Think of Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC. He was 65 years old before he finally franchised his chicken recipe. Imagine if he had given up on his dream after facing over 1,000 rejections.

Procrastination can also rob you of your confidence. When you delay taking action, you start to doubt yourself and your abilities. You might think of J.K. Rowling, who was a single mother living on welfare when she started writing the Harry Potter series. She faced rejection after rejection, but she didn’t give up. She took charge of her dream, and look at her now.

THE ENEMY CALLED “SOMEDAY”

• You might be putting off your business idea, thinking you’ll start tomorrow, next week, or next month. But tomorrow isn’t promised, and the clock is ticking. Many people live in the land of “Someday.” Someday I’ll launch that business. Someday I’ll improve my skills. Someday I’ll take that bold step.
  But here’s the truth: “Someday” is not on the calendar. Only “Today” is. Your dreams will remain fantasies until you give them a date. Dreams without deadlines are comatose dreams. Renowned global motivational speaker, author and teacher, Zig Ziglar is quoted as saying: “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” Makes sense, doesn’t it?

FAITH AND ACTION: YOUR REAL CAPITAL

Some of you are waiting for more money, more contacts, more confidence. But here’s the truth:

You don’t need everything to start—you need the courage to start with what you have.

Faith is not having all the resources. Faith is believing that as you move, resources will align. Action attracts provision. Confidence is not the absence of fear — it’s the decision to move forward despite fear.

There’s a young woman in Lagos who dreamed of starting a fashion brand. She had only ₦15,000. Everyone told her it wasn’t enough. But she took a step — bought fabric, made just three designs, and posted them online. Today, her brand exports to three countries. She told me, “If I had waited for everything to be perfect, I’d still be waiting.

PRACTICAL STEPS TO BEAT PROCRASTINATION

Start Small, Start Now.

Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Begin with what you have. Even the biggest empires started with something small.

Break Big Goals into Actionable Steps

People delay to act on their ideas because they are overwhelmed. Divide your big dream into smaller, achievable milestones and start working on them piece by achievable piece.

Set Deadlines and Stay Accountable

A goal without a deadline is a wish. Write it down, fix a date, and tell someone who will hold you accountable.

In conclusion, the future does not belong to those who wait — it belongs to those who act. Every great achievement you admire today began as an imperfect step yesterday. Delay can rob you of your legacy. Think of all the great things you could achieve, the problems you could solve, and the lives you could impact if you took charge of your ideas and ran with them now. Don’t let procrastination hold you back from leaving your mark on the world.

So, I leave you with this challenge: Before the end of today, take an action — just one — that moves you closer to your dream. Don’t wait for motivation. Don’t wait for permission. Just do it. Because when you move, things happen. When you move, doors open. When you move, your faith becomes reality.

Remember this:

“A year from now, you will wish you had started today.” — Karen Lamb

So long!

Fatherhood with Ibe

WHEN YOUR SPOUSE EARNS FAR MORE

– What Does It Mean for You as a Man? (Part 1)

I have tried to respond to questions along this line several times so I want to address it here as objectively as I can. How should a man cope when his wife is the bigger breadwinner in the home? Many men completely fall apart when their wives or committed spouses earn far more than they do. Even among men, a common joke is: “If your wife feeds you, you’re no longer the man.”  For ‘the man,’ you can substitute ‘head.’

The African home has long been built on a structure where the man is the primary provider and, by extension, the recognized head of the family. For generations, this model defined masculinity; a man’s ability to care for his household financially was proof of strength, leadership, and respectability.

However, times have changed. Across Africa today, more women are breaking barriers, earning big paychecks as professionals, entrepreneurs, and executives. Some own businesses that dwarf their husbands’ incomes; others work in multinational corporations, commanding salaries that many men can only dream of.

While progress for women is worth celebrating, it raises a delicate question: what happens to the man’s traditional role when his wife earns far more than he does? For many men, this scenario feels like a quiet earthquake shaking the foundations of marriage and masculinity.

The Issue of Headship

African culture — and in many cases, religious tradition — places the man as the head of the home. Historically, financial power reinforced this position because men were the ones who left home to work and provide for their families while the women stayed back to take care of domestic issues. If the man is paying the rent, school fees, and daily expenses, his leadership would not be questioned because society often ties leadership to financial strength. These cultural undertones create pressure that can lead to unhealthy behaviors when roles reverse.

From childhood, many African boys are taught that a man must “provide or perish.” Losing this role feels like losing self-worth. A man whose wife pays the bills may become the subject of covert or overt ridicule. There is also a deep-rooted fear that financial dependence on a wife or girlfriend will breed contempt. Phrases like “Money changes women” echo in the mind. Therefore, some men subconsciously compete with their wives instead of collaborating, which leads to tension.

Understanding Your True Role

Money plays a part in family life, but it does not define manhood. Leadership is not all about who signs the bigger cheques; it’s about who sets the tone for the home. Many times, even in situations where the man is the overall provider, it is still the women who are the actual leaders in the home because they keep it all together, running smoothly (I come in peace, guys).

True headship goes beyond financial ability. It is about vision, responsibility, and guidance. A man can earn less and still provide leadership by being intentional about values, setting direction for the family, and fostering emotional and spiritual stability.

Here are roles you should play, regardless of income:

• Visionary Leadership: Chart a course for your family — discuss long-term goals, savings, values, and what success means for you and the family.
• Emotional Anchor: A financially strong wife still needs emotional security. Be her sounding board, her safe space, the one who calms storms when they arise.
• Spiritual and Moral Guide: In many African homes, the man sets the spiritual direction. Continue to nurture that role as and how it aligns with your faith.
• Active Participation in Parenting: Leadership also means investing time in raising children, instilling discipline, and modeling character.

When a man rises to these responsibilities, money becomes only one aspect of headship — not the entirety of it.

Pitfalls to Avoid

A role reversal can bring out the worst in men who feel threatened. Here are common mistakes to avoid:

• Competing Instead of Collaborating: Trying to outspend her or prove superiority financially is a losing battle.
• Passive Aggression: Silent treatment, sarcasm, or belittling her success erodes intimacy. So also is taking out whatever frustration you feel through physical intimidation.
• Overspending to Impress: Taking loans to “maintain image” will only deepen insecurity. This sounds insane but you’ll be surprised how many men do this.
• Abandoning Responsibilities: Some men retreat completely, claiming: “You’re the rich one; handle everything.” This creates resentment and imbalance.

Transition Tips

The healthiest couples talk openly about money and expectations. Here’s how to navigate the shift:

• Acknowledge Your Feelings: Don’t deny the discomfort. Process it, maybe with a trusted mentor or counselor.
• Communicate, Communicate and Communicate: Discuss finances without blame. Agree on how bills, investments, and savings will be handled. Be open and honest.
• Set Shared Goals: Focus on building wealth as a team. Success should feel like a joint victory, not an individual trophy. Compliment your wife unreservedly and thank her sincerely for aspects of home care and building that she’s handling.
• Stay Confident in Your Worth: Your contribution to the family is more than money. Confidence attracts respect.

The African man stands at a cultural crossroads. The world has changed, but the essence of leadership—vision, responsibility, and integrity—remains the same. When your wife earns more, see it not as a dethronement but as an opportunity for partnership. A strong man is not really the one who makes the most money, but the one who builds the strongest home.

(Part 2 will deal with issues that may come up hen your wife earns more and how to handle them with dignity).

Till the next upload, keep up the efforts. Cheers!