Eng. Prof. Zaipuna O. Yonah
Take it from me: You are a project, and everything you do in life is a project. And the above-quoted wisdom teaches that: “In the business of splitting logs, if your axe is blunt and you don’t sharpen it, you will have to work harder to use it.” Applying this wisdom to your life, you always do something for yourself or others. If for yourself, it is for success. If it is for others, it is living for significance, which is more than working hard for success. It is choosing to train to work smarter. Therefore, in life, you are continually challenged to sharpen your axes. The axes are your heart and mind and those of your colleagues, family, and friends. Suppose you don’t improve your knowledge, your ability to plan, and the skill to execute the plans with meaningful actions. In that case, you will find it harder to improve and/or maintain your level of performance, impact, and influence on others. An empowered and enlightened heart and mind will always perform excellently. It is, for this reason I am encouraging you to sharpen your axes (mind and heart) by joining TIPM to study Project Management (PM) or Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) so that your performance improves in line with your dreams, which are a reflection of the kind of life you want to lead.
PM and M&E practices are vital because they help ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the expected quality of work. It also helps identify and mitigate risks, manage resources effectively, and ensure stakeholders are well-informed and involved throughout the project. Upon acquiring this knowledge, you can apply it in various settings and industries, including business, healthcare, education, government, non-profit organizations, and even at home. Overall, studying PM or M&E can help you gain a deeper understanding of organizational behavior, planning, budgeting, decision-making, communication, managing stakeholders, and other essential aspects of managing people working in teams and resources, completing tasks on a deadline, and efficiently managing time. When you plan your projects well, you can foresee challenges, manage risks, prioritize accordingly, and keep your eyes on the end goal.
Therefore, I dare invite you to join TIPM to sharpen your axes seriously and be ready to perform smarter. You will surely come out strong as a change agent who does not conform but transforms for the common good. And all of us at TIPM shall be your partners throughout your career.
“He who quarries stones may be hurt with them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them. If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength, but wisdom [to sharpen the axe] helps him succeed [with less effort]” (Ecclesiastes 10:9 – 10; AMP)