The 7 Ingredients for Success

It’s been quite a while since the last Motivation Today blogpost. Yours truly has been busy on some photography projects. I wish to appeal that we may have to limit these posts to 1ce monthly, watch out for new projects coming soon. Thanks for reading…

 True enduring success is not a product of chance or luck, but a planned, consistent and deliberate effort. Success is a choice – you become what you choose, consciously or unconsciously, to become. Winning can become your habit as you constantly leverage the elements that make it predictable.

1. Vision- A sense of purpose & direction determines ALL your life’s choices. Your vision is an insight into a favourable future. You must not only develop insight but also “outsight”, “farsight” & “fatsight” as you journey into the world of your dreams. Insight and outsight are the products of a sound knowledge and understanding of the facts. Farsight is the capacity to see the future of bliss in a seeming bleak situation; it’s a run against myopia. Fatsight is the ability to dream big. A clear vision underguards the dream journey, which is a faith walk. See beyond your nose, keep the end in sight.

2. Passion- To succeed in any endeavour; believe in your vision, yourself and your environment. Passion provides the combustion for hardwork and the strength to surmount challenges. It sees the path through every barricade of distraction & problem and supplies you energy with self confidence. Don’t keep mute about what makes you cry. Cry out in passion and see you fly. Passion is a good disturbance that rattles you out of your comfort zone. Inertia and casualness will give way once you discover your passion: whatever makes you cry, laugh, complain, angry and catches your attention always is your passion.

3. Information- Information adds flesh to your vision and helps you design a roadmap that will lead to accomplishment. Insight and outsight cannot develop without appropriate information. Curiosity will help grow your knowledge base. Brian Tracy says, “Successful people are those who learned from others who have gone before them.” Learn why others failed or succeeded. There is also the need to be able to clearly and effectively communicate your ideas.

4. Money- The currency that translates vision to reality and the resource that provides other resources. In the actualisation of your dream, money must be a means to an end, never an end in itself because when it becomes an end, it only intensifies a sense of unfulfilment in life. Money can NEVER deliver 100% satisfaction to anyone, whereas loving and touching others’ lives positively will. The human desire for wealth is insatiable; otherwise, the rich would have quit striving to be richer. Get out of your inertia; quit complaining about ‘lack of capital’. Instead, go and learn how to use OPM (other people’s money). OPM comes through loans, bank overdrafts, mortgages etc. A good alternative is to use your social capital. Social capital is using your integrity or goodwill to get business favour. For instance, Mrs A may start a pastry business by getting 10 bags of flour on credit from Mrs. B based on long-standing goodwill. Money is not everything and not all the money you need to accomplish your vision will flow in from day 1.

5. People- People are the machinery that translates vision to reality. By now should have realized you’re neither omnipresent nor omnipotent. People within your circle of influence act as your 3rd hand as they assist with what you are unable to achieve on your own. They contribute physical, moral and intellectual skills. Avoid the temptation to see people as tools that can be used and over-labour and dumped. Assemble a balanced team, understand the personalities and skills of your team members, and then leverage them for success.

6. Character- The sustenance of a man with a vision. A character flaw does to a man what toothache does to a beautiful face. An unfixed character flaw is a silent plot of one’s downfall. A leader’s personal values always transmit to an organisation’s core values. Enron and Cadbury are unfortunate recent instances. Work daily at self discipline, making quality choices and delaying gratification and you’ll build a lasting reputation.

7. God- The invisible Persona that makes things fall in place and the supernatural Authority whose final word makes all the difference. Human effort without divine leverage is futile. Pray to God to align you with His perfect will, which is a guarantee for winning. Trust Him to make your plans come through. Show charity to God, orphans and widows, and it will come back to you in multiples. Caveat: don’t depend on God if you’ve chosen the path of indolence, lethargy or indifference.

Dream, make achievable plans, run a feasibility test on your dream, and boldly step out and execute your plans. Water your dream constantly. Develop the necessary passion, get the capital (intellectual, financial & human), build your character and trust God to bless your effort. Today is the future you made reference to yesterday; the future is today!

Why giants fall 3

“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control.” (The Book of Proverbs)

You are not a saint but you can strive to improve character. The vulnerability of the human nature provides us the capacity to falter but this must never be the excuse to indulge in self destructive thoughts, habits, attitudes or addictions. Seek help to overcome crippling traits that may short-change your destiny.

Many people suffer in silence as a result of their Achilles heels; some others short-change themselves in the belief that change is impossible. Thomas Monson says, “Our very business in life is not to get ahead of others…but to get ahead of ourselves.” Take precaution before your weak point subdues you. No life grows truly great till it is disciplined. What is the way forward?

1. Accept responsibility– Change becomes elusive when the responsibility for it is transferred to another party. Accept your weakness as such and refrain from passing the buck, take responsibility for your life. Realise that other people like you have successfully managed this trait that has caused you nightmares. Everyone carries the burden of one Achilles heels or the other but with a sincerity of heart and the singleness of purpose, one can gradually and inevitably prevail over it.

Accept that you can change or improve your life. I was counseling a lady recently who believed that change was not possible from a particular age range in one’s life. This is untrue. You will move the boulders in your life once you decide to confront them: never complain about what you permit. Never blame your sexual laxity on your family weakness or your itchy fingers on bad economy.

2. Personal discipline – “You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one” opines James A. Froude. Set exit strategy goals for yourself. If you have power problem, learn to see others better than yourself. If it’s sexual, discipline your thoughts – avoid fantasies, avoid living alone, avoid pornography like AIDS, shun the promotion of nudity in the media and don’t nurture a relationship for which you don’t have sincere intentions. To overcome addiction, avoid the object of control. John Maxwell suggests that self discipline is “the ability to do what is right even when you don’t feel like doing it.”

3. Build character- A strong character would protect your potential, sustain you in trying times and make you consistent in excellence. Until you master yourself, you may never master your game. Push the limits of your success by investing in your character- your ability to do what is right, your values and your self image. John Maxwell asserts, “The lives of people who are long on talent but short on character always get out of balance.”

4. Seek help– Confide in someone who can help. Seek counseling from social workers, church counselors or professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, health workers etc.). The media can also be helpful. Try a programme like Sharing Life Issues with Chaz B on Inspiration 92.3 FM or online fora with positive objectives, Question and Answer newspaper columns (Billionaires’ Capsules with Ayo Arowolo, Sex & Sexuality with Funmi Akingbode, Dear Kemi –all in Punch newspapers) also seek divine intervention.

Your thoughts, attitudes, habits and addictions are the 4 steps of character formation. When you sow a thought, you reap an action (attitude). The fruit of an action is a habit. A habit is the seed of a character (addiction). When you sow a character, you reap a life. To un-form a bad character trait, reverse this simple linear process of character formation.

Why giants fall 2

It has been established that your Achilles’ heels has the potential to act as your stumbling stone in future, if un-checked and nipped in the bud. Usually, people don’t trip over large rocks but little stones which are almost invisible. Negligible bad habits and attitudes, little foxes that spoil the vine reduce great men to rubble.

We all possess thoughts, attitudes, habits or addictions that we hold dear. Some are not negative but, either way, thay all have the capacity to shape our lives positively or otherwise.

Imagine someone who loves to read books on any subject from literature or romance to accounting. If he stumbles on metaphysics and it distorts his mental orientation, this would be a good habit (reading) gone bad. This happened to my cousin some years ago. She read a book that deranged her mentally, making her a psychiatric patient for the next 3 to 4 years. You must be cautious to prevent your good habits from going overboard.

Let’s examine the 4 steps of character formation.

1.       Thoughts- Every man’s life is only as great as the quality of his thoughts. Your thoughts influence your self esteem, which in turn determines your life results. “Sow a thought, reap an action…” says an ancient proverb. Your progress is limited by the length and breadth of your foresight and hindsight. The Japanese say, “Good thinking, good product.” I have since discovered that almost every lingering life issue is a wisdom problem- the inability to connect to the right solution.

The celebrated footballer who scored Nigeria’s 1^st goal at the world cup, Rashidi Yekini, is reported to now be a shadow of his former self. He now lives as a recluse, having separated from his wife and friends. It is also being publised that he’s mentally depressed. When interviewed by a journalist about his dwindling career many years ago, he attributed this to his wife’s diabolical powers. A great star of his calibre limited his progress to diabolism- every man is a slave to his beliefs.

Many Africans still short-change themselves, believing that someone is responsible for their woes. Believe instead in God’s liberating power to break barriers and fight for your victory. Think through; pray through and set yourself free from mental, spiritual and physical hindrances. You’re your greatest enemy and your greatest barrier is your mind.

2.       Attitudes- In 1996, Nigerians were excited about a new revelation- Dosu Joseph, the goalkeeper of the Dream Team to the Atlanta Olympics. His accurate saves were partly instrumental to the winning of the gold medal and his fans were already looking forward to his bright future in the game. But one bad night a year later, his promising career ground to a halt! He was reported to have partied and drank alcohol so bad that he had a ghastly auto accident. He had a severe spinal-cord injury that abruptly red-carded him out of the game at age 23. Youthful exuberance has destroyed the potential of many promising talents.

Recently, I heard the story of a young promising lady who was withdrawn from a music reality show. She had posed nude (perhaps for her boyfriend) and the pictures had found their way into the wrong hands, which were ready to blackmail her and the organisers of the show. It’s sad how we allow moments of vain fun to cut short our promising future.

3.       Habits- “Sow an action, reap a habit…” says an ancient proverb.

Three years ago, the image of nollywood actress, Yetunde Taiwo Akinwande (aka Wunmi) was tarnished when she was convicted for drug trafficking. She had been arrested at the Lagos airport, having swallowed 12kg of cocaine concealed in 92 wraps. 6 months later, another nollywood star, James Oduputa was arrested for a similar crime. Subsequently another actor almost died of complications arising from cocaine, which had burst in his stomach while trafficking the drug. Live above the bad habits of your profession.

4.       Addictions- Tiger Woods lost millions of dollars, his reputation and influence to an adultery scandal. He had been world’s best golfer for about a decade, making $23m from golf and $105m in brand endorsements for Accenture, Gillette & Nike. In his 13 year career, he earned $900m alone in prize money. All these have diminished as Tiger has been weighed down by emotional setbacks and has since struggled to return to top form.

An Achilles’ heel not only hurts your pocket or reputation, it hurts those who feed at your table and the whole world. Your potent

ials get you up the ladder of success but strength of character keeps you on top. Character influences your choices, builds your potentials and makes you different; it helps you outlive your time. Good character is really not a choice.

Overcome the moment

Recently, I was at a petrol station to have my car wheel alignment done. As I waited at the restaurant of the fuel station, this statement by Tiger Woods jolted me out of my reverie:

“It’s not what you achieve in life that matters, it’s what you overcome.”

Coming from Woods during the period of his marital and career turmoil, this quote, I must assert, is phenomenal.  You’re most likely aware about the exposure of his philandering and subsequent divorce. It seems the world’s richest athlete has discovered that in the final analysis, wealth, fame or influence matters far less than character.

Are you pushing the limits in your life? Are you re-inventing your character? Improve you and live in the light of eternity. Strength of character is now in short supply worldwide, accept you need help.

Getting to the top is no child’s play, remaining at the top of your game is even more Herculean. That Bill Gates was consistently unblemished as world’s richest man for over a decade is phenomenal. You’ve got to pay the price for the top. It comes in the little things you have to overcome daily. Problems are opportunities in disguise.

The price of action

It is far easier to wish for greatness than to work for it.

Funny enough, we prefer the easier route: wishing, rather than working the talk. You have to give up something to get anything you want of life. Retrogressive habits will someday catch up with you and give you a bad name. Maybe you ask Tiger Woods, Tafa Balogun or Cecilia Ibru what this means. Life responds to action.

Thomas Monson says, “Our very business in life is not to get ahead of others…but to get ahead of ourselves.”

One of the best deals you could strike for yourself is to break free from the shackles of your character. Get ahead of every malignant behavior that finds expression through you. You’re responsible for all your actions, remember, your name is a brand.

When life is over, will your name be over?