Theninetofivers

Mental toughness has decreased with the passing of time and this has brought many positives but also negatives too. Our parent’s generation became hardened by their experiences which have aided them through life but there is now room for caring for mental health issues caused by life. Pressure is an unavoidable factor that arrives in many forms but not everybody can deal with it in the same way. Some crumble, some thrive, some go on holiday and some buy planets!  When the money is limitless sometimes you can afford to spend it recklessly but when do you gain more money than sense? Is ‘buying a planet’ simply a way to cause controversy and stay relevant or is it a reality we may have to consider? One reality we have been forced to live with is Covid-19 which does not seem to be going away any time soon. The jabs are being require for a lot more places and it feels like the net is closing in on those who are refusing to take it. It has had a knock-on effect for the Olympics as interest is at a all-time low. Dave fans are at an all time high after his amazing album release, will he get the accolades he deserves, only time will tell. There is a lasting impression urban culture has with society and it is being used as a marketing tool but is this to be expected when there are profits to be made. Check out all this and more in another ravishing edition of TheNineToFivers Podcast

Where do superstitions come from, why do we abide by them? Is it a case of better safe than sorry? What forms what we believe? Evidence or perceived evidence can play a part with things like the law of attraction. If it works one time, you are more likely to buy into that ideology. Some things are down to belief, faith and action and other things are down to preparation, where that line blurs between the two is not exactly clear. Good outcomes achieved via dubious means is prevalent in life, whether intentional or not. Some disabled people are being made to feel even lesser than usual when they are matched next to words meant to inspire abled body people. Inspirational porn, it is something most people have never even considered but revenge porn is something a lot more people can relate to. Is it a can of worms engaging in it, or just a bit of fun? There was plenty more topics in this episode but the episode ended with a hotly debated topic regarding Churches and their Pastor’s wealth, check it out whilst it’s still sizzling.

This week the guys discuss the theme of life and reality hitting you fast. Is settling down and having children something the black community leave too late compared to other cultures. Have times changed where people in general are being more career driven leaving less time for starting your own family? It is often said that time is a great healer, but the question of revenge is always present. Is it ever worth it? Do we often overlook getting help and going to therapy? Often we associate therapy with victims or ex gang members but does every one in life need to attend some form of therapy to decipher who they are today forming the person they have become? Is there a stigma still attached to this in 2021 and why? The biggest thing usually attached to seeking help is embarrassment, the boys delve in deeper and ask is there a difference between privacy and secrecy? Relationships often suffer because people point to the fact they don’t have enough in common but is this really the key to having a healthy and long lasting relationship? Do we need balance? How far should jobs go regarding leniency when it comes to employees being absent from work due to sickness? Are they entitled to know the ins and outs? No one likes dictator like behaviour and everybody is accountable for their own actions, this raises the question on why the president of Nigeria has decided to ban twitter because of a deleted tweet!? Is there underlying issues or is it just a temper tantrum? We live in the world where not everyone likes the same thing, but XO rightly asks why do people go out of their way to dislike things? Are they doing it to show genuine distaste or do people just like to go against the grain highlighting the element and freedom of difference? Listen to all this in depth on the latest episode of Theninetofivers out on all social and streaming platforms Like, Share & Subscribe!

Should you stay in your lane when you are good at something or is there any harm in branching out? J Cole stirred up a lot of controversy unexpectedly by joining Rwanda's basketball league. Whilst it brought a lot of eyes detractor believed the star had not earned his right to be there and was taking someone else's position. Could he have played in the team if he were just a regular person on skill alone? The verdict is not clear, but it raises an interesting discussion point. The benched player has a right to be annoyed but ultimately their performances have left them in a benchable position and as life is not fair you have to do all you can to fight against the odds. Chelsea did the unexpected and beat those very odds by winning the Champions league ahead of Man City. Life is a game of fine margins and sometimes little factors play a big role when it comes to crunch time. The more you prepare will increase your chances of victory but crucially it doesn't guarantee success as there are some things you cannot plan for. Working hard does generally reap rewards in one way or another but sometimes we can overwork in pursuit of something. Our generation is generally considered lazier but where does the balance lie? Do incentives and perks help or harm us? These things depend on the person and everyone is different but often blanket rules are given for fairness. Contracts are contracts but what happens when mental health is impacted? Is the first port of action to punish? Unfortunately, as seen with Naomi Osaka this approach was taken over her refusal to speak to the media. It has opened up discussions that will surely have long lasting effects on the sport, workplace and education. School days have been extended to help students catch up but is this simply putting a plaster over a gaping wound? It doesn't give the government the best attention, but it can be argued all attention is good attention whether negative or positive. Find out about all these topics and more in a chilled edition of TheNineToFivers Pod

Conflict and injustice are rife in this world, but certain causes get more social attention than others, is there undue pressure to care and support about these issues, or is it warranted? When people feel connected to an issue you are far more likely to be passionate about it but is this the wrong attitude to have, should you ally yourself to all human injustice or is it simply an unrealistic expectation? What is clear is that bullying people into action might not be the best course of action, but empathy should be applied to those that do so. With an open heart and ears, perspectives and understanding can happen if a person is willing to listen. A person can take a defensive stance just as easily if they feel like they are being attacked but is that a bad thing? Defensiveness plays a part in protectionism, but it is typically associated with negativity. Can you ever defend yourself without being defensive? Where does the distinction between being defensive and explaining yourself lie? It’s a balance and often what you perceive a person’s intentions to be can be a major contributor in how you interact with them. J Cole has returned from his musical hiatus with a fire album and he has been embraced wholeheartedly by the scene. In an age where rappers feel the need to jump on trends, it is refreshing to see classic rap still being appreciated. When we hold artists to a higher esteem, we tend to give their projects more chances than we would usually, but this is something that has to be earned. Reminiscing is just as easy when the new stuff just doesn’t hit the same as the old stuff but sometimes, we romanticise the past and are perceptions are forever warped. See all our thoughts on this and more in a engaging edition of TheNineToFivers Podcast.

Work is where we spend the majority of our time and most workplaces offer a wide range of social and bonding activities. It might not be a bad idea to take part in these every so often, the make up of your life and how social you are may influence how likely you are to participate but sometimes getting out of your comfort zone can produce amazing and surprising results. The workplace can be a place to climb the ranks but sometimes if the role does not pay enough whilst being mixed with too much responsibility it can sometimes take the gloss off the shiny new title. This can cause you to question if it is even worth going for the role being offered. Unwanted leadership can drive people out of a company and with a generation of job hoppers it is surprising to hear the average amount of years a person stays at a company for is 4 and a half years. Statistics say that the average person has 12 jobs in their lifetime. Why does it take so long? If you found your dream job and it was in conflict with your religion could you give it up? Especially if it is paying lucratively? Whether you are being paid handsomely or not, affordable designer is now available. Selfridges are now renting clothes and branching out into hosting wedding ceremonies. Is it a sign of the times where businesses are being forced to evolve? or is natural progression expected in any industry? People may look down on weddings of this nature but often people lack empathy for other’s situations. The difference between empathy and sympathy can sometimes be confused and you may slip into one without even realising. A situation that is hard to understand however is not having a basic level of numeracy or literacy. But for some people that is their reality, and they have somehow managed to navigate and succeed in life relying on other means. Check out our takes on all of this and more in another engaging episode of TheNineToFivers Podcast!

Back again with another episode and this week there Is an air of optimism as the UK seems to be on track to a somewhat normal society. Elections are around the corner but are people incentivised to vote for local government? Feedback could provide insight into this question as it is valuable when it is honest. In the workplace, a way to achieve this is via suggestion boxes and for the most part it is an effective way for people to get out their thoughts without fear of backlash. There are constantly new ways to innovate the working day and the effectiveness of meetings are constantly being debated. Are they a waste of time or a necessary evil or something in between? As things get back to normal and lockdown comes to an end, relationships born in lockdown will start to come under freedom pressures. Was it love or was it lockdown? Either way is too much emphasis put on love? Can you make a relationship work if it is devoid of it? Is love ultimately influenced by other factors?

Can you actually learn to love someone with enough time and effort? Some would argue yes, duty of a husband and wife should trump all feelings if that decision was made. Is your spouse owed anything from you? In fact, do you owe anyone anything? There is certainly an expectation that when you go to work you will not be harassed but this story keeps popping up and up. What environments allow such heinous acts to go on for so long with so many victims? We don’t have all the answers but listen to our thoughts anyway in a confusing edition of TheNineToFivers Podcast

Can successful black men have long hair and in the corporate world or is this something that is seen as untidy, unprofessional and not appropriate? Where did these norms come from and are they right? Some would argue you either fall in line or create your own system but why should this be the case? There are those that would happily speak out in such instances but others don’t want to rock the boat, is there peace of mind in holding your tongue and leaving things unsaid or is it really a situational thing? Rejection comes to us all at one point or another but do some of us handle it better than others? It may be gender related as men are typically putting themselves in more situations where rejection is possible. With technology these days all things are possible as seen with the normalization of body editing and filters when it comes to social media posts. Is it a sign of insecurities or just something we have grown accustomed to? Does it become dangerous when you tie too much of yourself to your online presence? RIP to the young king who lost his life trying to save someone else is it a testament to how he was raised by his African parents. Another African making waves is Daniel Kaluuya a member of DSS and proud owner of a Oscar, bafta and SAG. Whilst recognition is nice, do these award ceremonies judge fairly and should we be building our own? Check our thoughts on this and more in another engaging edition of TheNineToFiver Podcast.