Ask the Author: Dunstan Ayodele Stober
Answered Questions (9)
Dunstan Ayodele Stober
The most telling of those experiences are my two tours in Afghanistan, the most recent being as the CFO of one of the leading telecoms companies in the country.
Dunstan Ayodele Stober
My first book, published a year ago, is an abridged memoir chronicling the foundational life lessons I learnt from my mother that has helped shaped me into the business leader, coach, author, entrepreneur and father that I am today.
The idea came from the responses I received from my blog posts in which I was sharing my life experiences as a child and those resonate with my career, life and business. The idea that my book can provide more depth and reach audiences far beyond my geography, inspired me to write the book.
The idea came from the responses I received from my blog posts in which I was sharing my life experiences as a child and those resonate with my career, life and business. The idea that my book can provide more depth and reach audiences far beyond my geography, inspired me to write the book.
Dunstan Ayodele Stober
I am not a big reader of fiction, but I would go to Britain to be Sherlock Holmes. I love the deductive and logical reasoning of his investigative techniques.
Dunstan Ayodele Stober
Over 35 years later, I still can not figure out how I found my way home.
When I was about 10 or 12 years old, our most-prised possessions were two dark green metal jerry cans. We could not even afford them, they were a gift to dad. Every household needed them because of the scarcity of petrol at the time.
I was home alone one day when two men came in with a pack of meat. "Your dad sent us to drop this and collect the jerry cans to refill. You will come with us so you can bring back the refilled cans. It must have been between 2 - 4 PM, the sun was still up.
I left home with these guys on the trek of my life. They took me through some of the notoriously violent neighbourhoods I have ever seen to date. We went to through narrow dirt roads, passed though a few compounds, jumped over stinking gutters and even climbed some walls.
After a few hours, I was exhausted from the walk which felt like running through a military obstacle course. And started falling behind them, until it was dark and it started to rain.
They abandoned me in the middle of nowhere, wet and crying. But no one took notice, probably assuming I was just another street kid in the area.
I have tried so hard, without success, to replay the events of that fateful night of how I got home.
I could not explain myself to my parents then and neither can I do it now.
It was a mystery. An event I should forget but never will. I am grateful to God I made it home safely from an ordeal that could have turned fatal.
When I was about 10 or 12 years old, our most-prised possessions were two dark green metal jerry cans. We could not even afford them, they were a gift to dad. Every household needed them because of the scarcity of petrol at the time.
I was home alone one day when two men came in with a pack of meat. "Your dad sent us to drop this and collect the jerry cans to refill. You will come with us so you can bring back the refilled cans. It must have been between 2 - 4 PM, the sun was still up.
I left home with these guys on the trek of my life. They took me through some of the notoriously violent neighbourhoods I have ever seen to date. We went to through narrow dirt roads, passed though a few compounds, jumped over stinking gutters and even climbed some walls.
After a few hours, I was exhausted from the walk which felt like running through a military obstacle course. And started falling behind them, until it was dark and it started to rain.
They abandoned me in the middle of nowhere, wet and crying. But no one took notice, probably assuming I was just another street kid in the area.
I have tried so hard, without success, to replay the events of that fateful night of how I got home.
I could not explain myself to my parents then and neither can I do it now.
It was a mystery. An event I should forget but never will. I am grateful to God I made it home safely from an ordeal that could have turned fatal.
Dunstan Ayodele Stober
I get writer's block when I am distracted by hectic office work schedule, emotionally or by other side projects. I always have something to write about. But, I can't write if I don't make time for it.
To overcome that, I do the following:
1) I build a reserve of writing ideas by taking not of everything around me. I get ideas from movies, daily chores, new places I visit, new experiences, books I read, news and everything in between.
2) I set aside days and times of the week for writing.
3) Most important is to get out of my head and dig into my heart. Block the distractions, focus on the one reader who will benefit from what I have to share.
To overcome that, I do the following:
1) I build a reserve of writing ideas by taking not of everything around me. I get ideas from movies, daily chores, new places I visit, new experiences, books I read, news and everything in between.
2) I set aside days and times of the week for writing.
3) Most important is to get out of my head and dig into my heart. Block the distractions, focus on the one reader who will benefit from what I have to share.
Dunstan Ayodele Stober
Writing helps you become a subject matter expert in your chosen subject. It takes courage to put "myself" out there.
But the best of all, is hearing from a reader how my writing helped them get over a difficult time, how I inspire them to develop a growth mindset.
The best thing about being a writer, and life in general, is knowing that I my work impacted someone positively.
But the best of all, is hearing from a reader how my writing helped them get over a difficult time, how I inspire them to develop a growth mindset.
The best thing about being a writer, and life in general, is knowing that I my work impacted someone positively.
Dunstan Ayodele Stober
We all have a story to tell and a unique perspective to share. There is always room for one more perspective in every subject. Don't let the impostor syndrome hold you back.
Write for you. It is liberating.
Write for others. It is gratifying
Write for posterity. It is fulfilling
Never write to make a dollar, write to make a difference in whatever genre you choose.
Write for you. It is liberating.
Write for others. It is gratifying
Write for posterity. It is fulfilling
Never write to make a dollar, write to make a difference in whatever genre you choose.
Dunstan Ayodele Stober
I write to Help others see new possibilities, believe in themselves and have the courage to go after their dreams. That is my greatest inspiration, even if it happens one reader at a time.
Dunstan Ayodele Stober
My reading will be for research on my new book about what it takes to succeed in the workplace
1. Dare To Lead - Brene Brown
2. Emotional Intelligence - Daniel Goleman
3. Failing Forward - John C Maxwell
4. Atomic Habits (re-read) - James Clear
1. Dare To Lead - Brene Brown
2. Emotional Intelligence - Daniel Goleman
3. Failing Forward - John C Maxwell
4. Atomic Habits (re-read) - James Clear
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