CHECKOUT THIS COUPLE; THEY ARE BOTH PILOTS!

One is used to father and son in the flight deck, now how about Husband and wife?

Amazing. Meet Capt. Isi Paul Eghonghon and his lovely wife Mercy Eghonghon, both with Aero.

Getting Captain Isi to do this revealing interview was not easy due to his tight schedule. Well, the good news is that we eventually did.

Who is Capt. Isi?

Captain Isi is a young vibrant Captain, full of life and not scared of taking on new challenges.

You are a Pilot and married to a Pilot. Nice combo. How did you meet?

Thank you. We met at the airport, I introduced myself and we had a pleasant conversation afterwards, I was quite drawn to her, she’s smart, determined, family oriented and gorgeous at the same time, I’m glad I made that move; best decision I ever made.

How do you both cope being away from home most times. Juggling flying with the home front?

Being away from home a lot is a misconception, if you fly long haul or in another country away from your family; then yes I agree, but we are both based in the same country, we fly routes that don’t take us away from home for too long. So juggling is not really much different from any other working professional.

Do you see one of you stepping down at some point?

Neither of us has to step down, I met her in the profession that’s her passion, I equally enjoy it. We strike a balance with spending quality time with the kids and as a family. I see us flying for a long time even if it’s for leisure. We love it.

Taking command at a relatively young age, what is the magic?

Laughs… relative here is old in my profession. You can start flying at 16 and get a commercial licence at 18, with determination and hardwork, command can be attained at 23, so trust me, command at 30 is not necessarily young, my wife actually got command at 25, she sabi... laughs.

What advice do you have for pilots intending to marry a pilot?

To specifically advise a pilot marrying a pilot would make it seem like a peculiar case, frankly it isn’t necessarily the case. Applying wisdom, understanding, listening to your partner and acknowledging and appreciating them is still the case for us like many other couples. Probably finding that balance would be more applicable to pilots. There are a lot more on the plus side though, having a study partner, having someone that equally shares your passion and seeing the world together; I’ll say go for it, the benefits are immense.

Nice Combo aint they? Captain Isi Paul and Mercy Eghonhon are such an inspiring aviation couple who are quite good at what they do and are really keeping it together.

What can I say? The sky is obviously the stepping stone for this lovely couple. Keep cruising…..

Source: mamajsaviationblog

7 POWERFUL LIFE LESSONS GIRLS CAN LEARN FROM MUHAMMAD ALI

By Jeanine DeHoney

My father was a fan of boxing, and he loved Muhammed Ali. 

As Daddy’s little girl I was stuck to him like a magnet, so there was no question in anyone’s mind that I’d also be a boxing fan and rooting just as enthusiastically for Muhammed Ali as he did.

Although I didn’t even like stepping on an ant, I was mesmerized by this man who danced back and forth in the ring saying, “I’m the greatest,” or “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee….” My tiny fists would alternate between shadow boxing with him, and egging him on to knock out his opponent. And that was how it remained as my father grew older and I grew up, too big for his lap, but never too big for his arm draped around me as we sat together on the couch.

One thing I’ve realized about the great sportsman and humanitarian, Muhammed Ali, is that he influenced me in a positive way. Gender should never be a prerequisite for whom we hope our children emulate, or will be inspired by.

Everyone needs a role model, and Muhammad Ali was mine. 

There are so many lessons girls can learn from the late Muhammed Ali to help them stay capable and strong:

      1.    I am the greatest.

Teach girls to never be ashamed to say they’re the greatest, to shout it loud and proud, speak it vehemently through their lips, and feel it in their heart even when others think they aren’t.

Knowing they’re great will encourage them to do great things and bask in the freedom of accomplishment. Growing up, too many of us were often told that excessive pride was not a good character trait for girls.  

That’s wrong. If we want our girls to write their names in the sky they must know they can, and should, stand in their own glorious power. 

2.  Talk smack.

Muhammad Ali talked smack, but he also could back it up. Our girls need to know it’s all right to talk smack every now and then.

Girls need to make others see, and understand, that they’re a force with which to be reckoned. And to protect themselves against the elements of sexism and discrimination.

They must find and claim that extra bit of inspiration to finish the last leg of any race. 

3.  Leave it in the ring.

Muhammad Ali left his blood, sweat, and tears in the boxing ring. He was focused and didn’t let anyone or anything deter him. 

Girls need to know that when they’re doing something – whether it’s a spelling bee, a science competition, or an audition – they need to leave it all in the ring.

They have to believe in their potential power, and creativity, and skills. They have to believe that perseverance and giving their all makes anything possible.

4.  Learn to do the rope-a-dope.

The rope-a-dope is a style of boxing associated with Muhammad Ali in which one opponent intentionally puts him or herself in what appears to be a losing position, attempting thereby to become the ultimate victor. 

All girls need to learn how to maneuver themselves out of tight spaces to become the victor. They need to learn strategy, they need to know that appearing to an opponent as though they’re losing steam is an important tactic for catching their breath, regrouping, and pressing on unerringly to triumph.

5.  Do the Ali shuffle (keep dancing).

Girls need to learn as they move through this world, they need to keep dancing.

They need to dance to celebrate their bodies because no matter what shape or size they are, or disability they may have, their bodies are a work of art, a unique masterpiece. Girls need to dance to hush those who shame them through malicious comments. 

Just as with laughter, they need to know that dancing fancy and free will release feel good endorphins. They to know that this is not only for their physical well-being, but for their emotional health as well, so they’re strong enough to TKO anything attempting to obscure their shimmer-shine.

6.  Never back down from controversy or beliefs.

Muhammed Ali was willing to go to jail and lose his livelihood for what he believed.

Our girls need to know that their voices count. They’re never too young to be an advocate, demand justice, and have their rights and passions respected even if they go against the grain of others.

7.  Be a humanitarian.

Muhammad Ali treated all people – no matter their race or creed – humanely. He shared a sense of hope for a better world and did his part to cultivate that hope, even through his debilitating disease, even when he could only express it through his eyes and his heart. 

Girls must also know that whether it’s through school, or social media, they can raise awareness about humanitarian causes no matter how great or small. They can participate in food drives, start a hashtag to stop bullying, take on body shaming, volunteer, paint a mural with an inspiring message of hope, or plant a tree for a cause. 

Girls need to know that they have the power, the grace, and intellect, and the ability to create a better world, all while adding their own inherent unique touch. 

KEY BUSINESS LESSONS FROM ALIKO DANGOTE

Aliko Dangote

1.      The power of connection:

For many years Dangote enjoyed a monopolistic right to import certain very essential commodities into the country. This was made possible by his connection in government to the people who mattered. It is popularly said, ‘your network determines your net worth’. It took Dangote three decades to earn a billion dollars, during this period he had dealings with virtually all the governments in power, starting from the Shagari regime.

Many people criticize the business mogul for his style of business, but the truth remains, you need to network with the people that matter, or else, you may remain a mediocre player the rest of your business career.

2.      Manufacture, don’t trade:

Dangote once said, “manufacture, and don’t just trade. There is money in manufacturing even though it is capital intensive. To achieve a big breakthrough, I had to start manufacturing the same product I was trading on. I am an advocate of manufacturing because it does not only improve your business status, it also helps you give back to your community and country; with respect to job creation and economic development.”

Start up with trading in order to boast your confidence and gather capital, and then later, move straight to manufacturing. As a manufacturer you are directly in the driver’s seat, you call the shots! A trader can never go higher than a manufacturer, a manufacturer can get as high as he ever wants to.

In whatever business you are engaged in keep ruminating and strategizing on how you can begin to manufacture rather than just being a trader.

3.      Start small, but dream big:

Dangote once said, “I built a conglomerate and emerged the richest black man in the world in 2008 but it didn’t happen overnight. It took me thirty years to get to where I am today. Youths of today aspire to be like me but they want to achieve it overnight. It’s not going to work. To build a successful business, you must start small and dream big. In the journey of entrepreneurship, tenacity of purpose is supreme.”

Source: youngnaijaentrepreneurs.com