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Building a nation is the collective responsibility of all who inhabits the nation. Over the years, it had been proven that every great nation that emerged came to bear not only because their government acted but because the citizens had a positive and innovative mind. The government on its own can never build a nation without the innovative and productive mindset of its citizens. America was built by Americans, not just by the presidency. Many third world nations are were they are because of corruption. The question is what is corruption, is corruption a man? The answer is no it isn't. It is a mindset which controls the actions of those it holds captive. As a Nigerian, sometime ago i talked with a fellow citizen, a youth, a potential leader, having complained about the corrupt state of the country and the failures of the government, i then asked a simple question, WHAT IF YOU WERE THE PRESIDENT WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR THIS NATION?. When he gave his answer, it was clear to me that our national problem wasn't actually a national problem IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL PROBLEM BEING DISPLAYED ON A NATIONAL SCALE. So i put this question to you, WHAT IF YOU WHERE THE PRESIDENT?. Most of us blame the government for crimes we are guilty of. The government has failed to empower its youth and implant core values and leadership skills in them. Would you then sit and wait for the government or would you rise up and empower yourself and the numbers you can carry along around you.

The beauty of empowering others is that your own power is not diminished in the process,” said Barbara Coloroso. This is an idea that has held true throughout much of my experience. In fact, empowering other people puts out the positive vibes into the atmosphere that will be returned to you, not in any sort of karmic sense necessarily, but in terms of improving your own sense of self-awareness and confidence. This can be achieved in a number of little ways that can range from simply boosting someone else’s mood to helping them realize new aspects of their personalities. We are all in this life together, and helping others achieve their goals and revealing their potentials can get us on track. LEADERS ARE NOT KNOWN BY POSITIONS, BUT BY THEIR IMPACT IN LIVES OF OTHERS.

You may feel little or insignificant but the following are little things you can do to empower other people and contribute to the betterment of your environment and nation. You may not be the government , but you can affect lives around you.

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Speak and act with honesty. If you always speak with integrity and believe in your own words and actions, others will also pick up on this and mimic it, fostering an atmosphere of trust. Your country might be filled with a dishonest government and people, the real question is ARE YOU DIFFERENT?

Listen to others. Always listen to what other people say. I used to zone out when others were speaking but now make a point of looking into their eyes and listening to their words, which has made a world of difference in personal interactions. It has also opened me up to ideas and platforms i never knew existed. For instance i heard about steemit from a friend and gave it a try because i listened to him.

Teach people what you know. If you have a skill or knowledge to share, why not teach your own class, your friends that helps spread it to others? Never hoard knowledge.

Get involved in community art projects. Artistic projects in the community are a great way to help get everyone involved in making the city a more beautiful place to live, instilling a sense of pride in all residents.

Mentor a child or student. Getting involved in one child’s life, especially if they are at-risk, helps you both make connections throughout your lifetime. You could mentor a future president unknown to you.

Donate money to charity. If you have extra money, helping organize a fund for a pet cause helps bring the community together. It may be little but it goes a long way.

Help the spread of community health clinics. This can be done by volunteering yourself, or donating money. Either way, it can be vital in helping those who have problems affording health care to realize that they are still valued individuals and that their health matters.

Be sincere. Your sincerity will help to make people feel appreciated. Be sincere in your dealings with others. Don't be a crook. This is one thing your government may lack but is non negotiable if a nation must be built. You must be sincere

Nurture talent in others. If you notice someone has a talent that they aren’t putting to use, let them know. Gently offer suggestions of where they may go to learn more. If the child you are mentoring is constantly doodling, for example, get them signed up for an art class. Help bring out the raw materials in others, help nurture it. Be the government.

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Join or support a community farm or grocery coop. Working together to provide fresh, sustainable food for the community is one of the hot trends in some community organizations.

Volunteer in schools. Though it might sound cliché, young people are our future indeed, and helping out in schools that are struggling financially can make a big difference in a young person’s life. Be a positive role model.

Stay in touch with local politics. Helping others get empowered means also being kept up to date with the latest in what is going on in your own town. The nation belongs to us all, not the government. We all should be actively involved.

Smile more often. There is an anonymous quote that states, A smile confuses an approaching frown .Stay positive and completely approachable.

Organize recycling projects. This helps give back to the community and teaches people about the need to respect our natural environment, which is empowering for all.

Run a benefit event. Leading a team of volunteers; set up a means for raising money for a cause that you all are interested in. This can be a business idea that will empower others.

Build a group of positive thinkers. Project positivity and eliminate negative thoughts, the positivity will then be returned by others. The exchange of ideas tends to be helpful for all people involved, and can spark new business or interpersonal ideas in between all of you.

Encourage social activities. Get new social activities planned within your group of friends, your family, or in a larger community sense. Master the art of bringing people together.

Create a democratic atmosphere in your own organisation. Let everyone’s opinion be heard, and be sure to give feedback to their ideas. Be a leader, not a boss.

Help foster creativity. If someone is talented, tell them so. Andy Warhol was notoriously shy as a child and perhaps would never have branched out to become the powerful artist he is now known as if someone had not said a few words of encouragement to him in his early art classes.

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Run meetings with an open, discussion oriented atmosphere. Whether at work or in a larger community sense, let everyone know their opinion is valued.

Have suggestions ready for those who need advice. This means taking the time to think about your own behavior, past mistakes, and how you’ve moved forward. With this information in hand, you will be well equipped to advise others.

Take walks to new areas of town. This way you get to know your environment. You can find out what is needed around your community and help in provided what you can. A business opportunity may just be waiting for yo. Don't sit and complain find out what you can do.

Acquire knowledge and inspiring quotes that can be doled out. As Bill Gates once said, “The vision is really all about empowering workers.” you words can motivate someone to start a business and can as well kill multiple potential ideas.

Give a helping hand. Whether it’s helping someone who fell to get back up, or picking up something that spilled in the supermarket, it shows you care, which is empowering.

Give encouragement instead of criticism. Dale Carnegie said, “Abilities wither under criticism; they blossom under encouragement.” Every one of us has the magic power of empowering other people simply by generously giving praise and showing encouragement instead of criticism to help them realize their potential.

Take time for yourself to help others. By taking the time to sit and reflect upon my own actions each day, I find I’m better able to mentally be available for others when out in public or at home with my family. You can do the same.

Invest in your own idea and be relentless. You could be the future CEO of thousands of workers. You, i mean you can reduce the unemployment rate in your country. Imagine the over 2000 steemchurch parishioners start up something that empowers at least two persons, though little, we just succeeded in employing 4000 individuals thereby reducing employment rate around the world.

Share business opportunities with others. Don't walk the road to success alone, carry other with you. In the light of this , i came up with some ideas which include:

STEEMCHURCH: TELL A FRIEND CAMPAIGN

This involves introducing someone to the steemit community as well as steemchurch and enlightening them on how it works.

STEEMIT/STEEMCHURCH CAMPUS INVASION

This is a project still in the oven aimed at empowering students on how to be financially independent through creativity in the steemit/ steemchurch community.

The government might do nothing about the state of the youths in the country but i can and will do something. You can join me. LET US BUILD NIGERIA.