Two of the most visible qualities of the Nigerian breed are drive and energy. Nigerians are sure hardworking and tenacious; they never say die. It’s so bad to see that people get involved in activities which they know would kill them, yet they do not desist. Nigerians keep returning to the place of death. They work daily in the valley of death, yet they choose to find comfort in the claws of destruction. Most people are on the survival mode- they just want to survive another day. It’s unfortunate that we cannot differentiate between activity and productivity. We dissipate so much energy day-in-day-out with no corresponding results as proof of our ‘hard’ work.
I heard a disheartening story recently and I would love to share it with you. There is this company run by a slave-driver foreigner. You earn about N5000 a month working vigorously. For you to become a staff and start earning about N10000/ month, you must have either worked for four years or had your hand injured or cut by the dangerous machines. Unfortunately, quite a number of people get handicapped. This is because they doze off while working on the machine due to inadequate rest during the day or night. More unfortunate is the fact that a few people who are desperate for promotion and cannot wait for four years nurse the ambition of getting their hands trapped in the machine. This to them is not a risk but a smart and pleasurable strategy. All for joining the caucus of the 10000naires- an amount that can’t even pay their bills. Crazy world!
The Nigerian Situation has gone beyond the predator-devour-prey scenario to the shark-slay-shark battle. Only the die-hard, smart, sharp and results-focused brands survive. Well, 20% of the people think, plan and realize the results, while 80% of the people toil and labour with nothing to show for it. As a result, 20% of the people control the wealth of nations, while the 80% struggle with and share the remaining 20%.
You see, the majority is not always smart. I want to be in the top 20% minority. What about you?
Staying Strong in Tough Times August,2008
Circumstances are the pillars of our lives. They constitute the shaping force of our lives- past, present, future. Our life is a summation of events. A man is a reflection of his experiences- the different events, places, people, and ideas he comes in contact with. The most important thing in every challenge, confusion or situation we go through is the state of our mind. There are no tough or strong people; there are only tough and strong minds. Our mind is the seat of conviction; it is the centre of our lives. A writer once spoke through a character, ‘things have fallen apart, the centre can no longer hold’. Logically, this is correct. But in the arena of champions, it is possible for things to fall apart while the centre holds. The centre is most important. Definitely, if the centre falls apart, every other thing will go with it.
Imagine a stadium main bowl. If the wings fall apart, the pitch can still remain and the spectators would only have to watch the matches on their feet. But imagine that the pitch gets spoilt, the seats will not be able to serve their purpose as there will be no game to watch, no match to celebrate. The purpose will then be abused.
Our mind is the battleground of our lives, dreams, and ideas. No matter how bad our lives seem to be crashing, if our mind is intact, and we won’t stop believing, we will definitely bounce back. Whatever dream or idea that you have that cannot survive in your mind, can not survive in the world. The world is a bleeding page; it’s a harsh and unfair world that holds nobody favourite. It only respects great minds. No wonder the earth is a reflection of the minds that have dwelt in it and maximally explored it.
The most tragic thing that can happen to you is a mind crash. If your mind is not strong in tough times, nobody can help. We hold the key to our lives- our mind.
What is the test of faith, if we go through what we have conquered? How does a child grow intellectually? It’s by testing his brain and mind with newer challenges; once he scales through, you know that he should not remain where he was yesterday. We write exams in school every time we are to be promoted. Have you ever asked why? Examination is the test of maturity, succeeding at it is the evidence of improvement. If you must move to the next level, you must scale fresh hurdles. Even in the corporate world, are people promoted without measurable evidence? No, you are tested with greater responsibilities which you must excel at.
The lives of the most successful men are trailed by tough times. To be celebrated, you must achieve the extraordinary. The earth is too crowded to notice mediocres. Sometimes, we think that Christianity saves us from tough times when it actually baptizes us into them. Our breakthrough lies at the completion of the toughest assignment. I once heard that the fish grows to the limits you impose on it. If you put it in bucket, it grows to its size, if you put it in a bigger place, the same thing happens, but if you place it in an ocean, the possibilities are endless. We are limited by our comfort zones.
That trouble is not strong enough to devour you. Always remember, you have GOD close to you. But then, even God wants you to believe. You will not only survive, you will succeed and shine. Keep Believing!
Spend more time adding value to people beside you than you spend competing with them.
Winning is not everything, it’s the only thing. Failure is not an option, don’t even think it.
Whatever you have to give up to live your vision is not a sacrifice, it’s a golden investment.
Never spend the money you don’t have trying to impress the people you don’t like.
Planning is essential, execution is critical.
Underpromise. Overdeliver.
The new economy is about change. We are in a NOW economy and it’s all about relevance.
The majority is not always right, neither are they always smart; Visionaries are always in the minority.
Failure is the only luxury of poor men that rich men cannot afford.
Never look for what is wrong in a competitior’s business for the purpose of excitement, but for what you could learn about how not to do business.
