SET YOURSELF

No one arrives anywhere by chance. Show me a man who is about to embark on a journey, I will show you a man who is consciously making preparation. 

Have you seen a man who suddenly arrives at work without any CONSCIOUS preparation? Permit me to say therefore...

If you do not set yourself to go somewhere, you will never arrive there.

If you do not set yourself to do something you will never get it done. 

No man leaves his house for work unconsciously and then sees himself suddenly on his desk; I may not know your destination but when I see your direction, I could predict your destination. In the same vein every journey to success is a function of a CONSCIOUS ENGAGEMENT. 

Success and failure are very predictable, because those who desire them leave traces. 

The truth is, if we don't set ourselves to be great we are already setting up ourselves to end average. 

As a business man, if you don't set yourself to be successful you are invariably setting yourself to fail. Same applies to every other endeavour in any area of life. 

                                            

Let's see a man called Abraham in the text below...

...and they (he and his household) went forth to go (set themselves) into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came...Genesis 12:5

Where did they set themselves to go? Canaan.

Where did they arrive? Canaan. 

Did they set themselves for Canaan and later arrived at Canada?

Did they set themselves for Canaan and later arrived at Cambridge? 

Where you are today, believe it or not was your set up. If it must change, then you need to reset yourself. 

Every failed endeavour (career, business, relationship, marriage, health, finances, etc) failed because we consciously set it up to fail. If you would be sincere, you knew when it started. 

The good news is, it does not matter what has failed or what is not working, if you are genuinely interested to arrive at a better destination then you can reset yourself to arrive  there. 

Stop complaining about the past failures, stop complaining about people, you are the captain of your ship (life) and only you can set the sail.

Hey! Look ahead, what can you see? Do you see Canaan? Then it is time to SET YOURSELF to arrive.

Till when next you visit this blog, SET YOURSELF for greatness.

I CAN'T MAKE IT: MY STRENGTH IS SMALL

In the field of sport, every athlete and sports person would tell you the importance of stamina: The ability to move comfortably at a steady pace and having one's breathing rate and heart rate fully coordinated during a highly-intense, full body endurance sports or exercise. Stamina does not jump on people, it is gradually developed through regular routine exercises before the game(s). This is the reason why long distance runners stay long in the race; it is the same reason footballers can comfortably run around for at least 90 minutes during a game. Fitness can not be over emphasised when it comes to the world of sports.

How do you characterise an athlete with so much fatigue, feeling overwhelmed by the demands of the game and running out of gas just a few minutes into the game? Would you say, they have been developing stamina?

Friends, every potentially great destiny in life is like a potential Olympic gold medalist. There are high-intense, full life enduring demands in the pursuit for every greatness. Whether greatness in family life, career, business, academics, etc. These demands would always be present as long as we remain in the game (of living). Just like the athlete it is very critical that we build all round capacity. Develop ourselves for the greatness ahead. The same way stamina do not jump on athletes, so also capacity development does not come upon us. 

We need to consciously build it by applying ourselves to destiny building disciplines (exercise), Why? If we are still living and greatness still remains our objective, personal development is not an option, it is the way out. 

What can you say about the following statements?

...I can't make it...

...It feels overwhelming, I just can't handle it...

...I want out...

...I quit...

These are expressions that are common with Destiny Fatigue, Lack of preparation through robust personal development routines, Low stamina, etc. 

Some of your goals would not be achieved within the anticipated time frame. Your stamina would be required during such moments; certain targets might just take a little bit longer than your research suggested, your endurance is very key to achieving your purpose, your dream and your goal. It is time to build capacity. Therefore...

You can not afford to be obese or over weight in the pursuit of destiny.

You can not afford to burn out.

You can not afford to not work out mentally in order to build resistance. 

Let us see what the scripture says: 

...If thou FAINT on the day of adversity, THY STRENGTH IS SMALL... Proverbs 24:10

Before every quitting is a poor capacity development; before every feeling of 'I can't make it' is a lack of discipline to exercise.

What are you doing with regards to the game in your life? Family game? Career game? Business game? Faith game? Are you building capacity or just wishing your greatness to chance?

How many books have you read in the last 90 days, with regards to the games you are engaged in?

How many practical steps and disciplines are you cultivating for the game ahead? 

Athletes do not eat every thing that smell or tastes nice...that's a discipline. Are you driven by pleasure and comfort? Do you subscribe to paths of least resistance? 

Friends the demands for being successful in any endeavour, is INTENSE, requires ENDURANCE during the entire process; therefore strength (stamina) has to be built. 

You will not fail!

Till when next you visit this blog...keep building STRENGTH for the days ahead.

DON'T LOOK BACK

 Emotions are very powerful; but this power could either be a booster or a weight on the path to success. Some people have used emotions to take giant steps and other people have also refused to take steps because of their emotional state. 

A wise man once said: COMMITMENT IS STAYING LOYAL TO WHAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO DO LONG AFTER THE MOOD (emotional state) YOU SAID IT IN HAS LEFT YOU. 

Have you ever seen people start certain things passionately and a few blocks down the line, they are beginning to consider walking away? What changed? Their emotions.

Someone would say, challenges grew bigger, right? But at the point of making the decision to commit, how come it seemed as though ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE and then suddenly it's beginning to be circumstance based? Emotions.

Greatness is never birthed by unstable emotions. FEELING GOOD ABOUT THE TASK IS A DISCIPLINE YOU DEVELOP, IT IS NOT WHAT THE TASK OFFERS YOU. The task will never remain the same, the challenges won't grow smaller, there would be bends along the road, bumps and pot holes alike, but you make a conscious decision to be in charge of your emotional state. STOP BEING EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE! 

You see, the road to success is long and demanding already but when we allow our negative emotions to get in the way, it makes it even longer. Friends, receiving insults is part of it...being disrespected is definitely part of it...not being appreciated...sudden changes that you didn't anticipate...the list is endless. WILL YOU GIVE UP? WILL YOU LOOK BACK? 

WILL YOU STAY COMMITTED? 

Some people stopped going to the GYM because the trainer is too hard on them, now they look twice as big than their first appointment at the GYM. Why? They don't just feel respected...who was to gain in the process? The trainer or themselves? 

Behind every divorce is an uncontrolled emotion.

Behind every business failure are negative emotions.

Behind every failure in life is self pity (a destructive emotional state).

Why are you always quick to walk away? Why do you keep 'giving-up' on things?

What am I saying? if the goal is yours and the dream is yours, keep your negative emotions out of the way AND REACH FOR YOUR DREAM! 

Stop complaining about people, because you would meet people everywhere. The world was not created for you alone. So, DON'T YOU LET ANYBODY OR THE TREATMENT YOU RECEIVE FROM ANYONE STOP YOU FROM REACHING YOUR GOAL!

Joseph had every opportunity, I mean justifiable opportunities to be bitter and hateful but he knew that feeling good is a DISCIPLINE , not what life or people would offer. Did he succeed or not?

David, haven been anointed, preparing for kingship, had an enemy chasing him, yet he refused to be bitter...even when the temptation was so high, all he did was to keep alive but patiently waiting for his time.

If we don't keep our emotions on check, we would soon check out on our greatness. 

Jesus gave a man a task...and the man said, he had his Dad's funeral to attend to and then, he will be back, guess what Jesus said...

...let the dead bury the dead: but go...(and do your assignment) Luke 9:59-60

How hard? Do you think Jesus was insensitive to his plight? 

Jesus was simply teaching him to not allow 'the good' distract him from 'the task'. 

In conclusion, Jesus said

...NO MAN, HAVING PUT HIS HAND TO THE PLOUGH, AND LOOKING BACK, IS FIT (QUALIFIED) FOR THE KINGDOM...Luke 9:62

Average people run average emotional lives...great people run powerful emotional lives. 

YOUR EMOTION IS YOURS...ONLY YOU CAN KEEP IT IN CHECK, WHEN IT TRIES TO GET IN YOUR WAY TO GREATNESS! 

Till when next you visit this blog...DON'T LOOK BACK!

PROTECT IT

You know, I have heard of people who can't stand criticism from either fellow competitors or from spectators. The truth is, that is life for you. There are those that will never like you, regardless of what you say or do, they just don't like your face. So, it is of no use trying to prepare a 'defence speech' neither should you feel bad for yourself. 

The painful part is, some potentially great dreams have been lost because those who had the dreams could not withstand criticism. Friends, it is your dream and in as much it is yours, ONLY YOU CAN PROTECT IT! 

If it means cutting off from certain 'do nothing and negative friends or relatives' - PLEASE PROTECT IT! If it means you stop watching certain shows, programs or even the News on TV- PLEASE PROTECT IT!

Friends, you better get ready to loose certain relationships, certain ties and certain hobbies; it's not because of you hate anyone nor you are feeling too special about yourself but for the demand that comes with the fulfilment of your dreams and purpose in life. 

Some people have lost brilliant opportunities not because they ain't qualified but because they lost their preparation time, practice time and rehearsal time to a 

1. Show on TV,

2. Some girl time hangout 

3. Boys night out

Anyone who does not have respect for your purpose and greatness in life is not qualified for a relationship. If they show little or no regard for your passion, you have no business chilling with them. 

Let's look at the beginning of Israel's problem which I think most of us can connect with.

...and the Children of Israel journeyed...600,000 on foot that were men...and A MIXED MULTITUDE went up also with them...Exodus 12:37-38 (KJV)

Let's see the same scripture in another translation:

...the Israelites moved on...600,000 on foot besides their dependents. There was also A CROWD OF RIFFRAFF TAGGING ALONG... Exodus 12:36-38 (The MSG) 

MIXED MULTITUDES (riffraff tagging along)

No wonder the journey was filled with so much negativity. 

How can they go up with a crowd of riffraff?

Do you remember Abraham and 'Lot' ?

The question is...

Have you been carrying a mixed multitude in the name of 'friends' from Work/Church/Childhood? 

Till when next we come your way keep PROTECTING IT.

Work It Now [WIN] Series: Episode 2

The New You: 

No one ever amounts to anything by remaining who they have always been. You can't be a good athlete without being in shape.

Friends, this "you" doesn't have the capacity to pursue that dream of yours. Why? 

This "you" is so fake and it has kept you from reality all these years. 

This is the "you" that goes to bed even when he doesn't feel sleepy but because it's night time...he spends two hours on the phone...and then later sleep for 8 hours. As though that wasn't enough, he still craves for 2 hours siesta in the afternoon. 

How many hours does this you cost you for sleeping in a day? You know the answer...

I'm going to keep it real, this "you" will have to die...yes, you heard me....If you will ever realise your dream...this "you" will have to die.

The you that loves to sleep when others are working, the you that wishes things will get easier, the you that believes you can pick a million dollars on the road someday; that you that calls really successful people lucky, the you that believes the Government is suppose to provide jobs...you know that you. 

Does it surprise you Jesus told Nicodemus 

"Except a man be born again, He cannot see the Kingdom of God" Jn. 3:3 KJV

Every dream will dare you...every dream will place a daring demand on this "you"; 

you have a choice to keep "being yourself and lose your dream or you lose yourself and be your dream". 

It's time to die so you can wake-up to the reality of the demands of your dream. 

CALL TO ACTION:

1. What are some of the things you are doing today, that is against your future? 

2. Attach Penalties to those behavioural patterns in question 1. 

3. Discuss 1 and 2 with someone who can help keep you disciplined. 

It's time to Work It Now...It's time to WIN. 

Good morning and Happy Mid-Week!

THE DEMAND: AVERAGE OR GREAT?

The race of life comes one inch at a time; there are those who stay in the race just for the records and there are those who want to win the race; both parties think differently and hence they commit to different types of discipline.  

The question here is, are you just in the race FOR THE RECORDS or are you in the race so as TO WIN? 

In other to win in whatever race you find yourself, be it financial, career, spiritual or marital, all you need to do is to stay ahead of your competition. Competition does not suggest some other person in the race, it simply suggest staying ahead of what you consider your best. If 100% seem to be your best, stay ahead by giving 110%. You need to become your own competition. 

Someone said, it is not easy...Yes! I wish I could tell you living average is easy, I wish I could tell you being an underachiever is easy. Friends, there is always a price to pay, whether you want to live average or you want to be great. The only difference is one price comes before the other. 

When you live easy, life will turn our hard but when you commit to seemingly hard but rewarding disciplines, your life will turn out easy. 

If you choose to live average, you would enjoy pleasures today and get the pain tomorrow. If you choose to live great, you will get the pain today and have endless pleasure tomorrow. 

So in whatever way you look at it, you must pay something for whatever you decide to do. 

How do I then stay ahead of the Competition?

Get tough on yourself! Place the demand of greatness on yourself! Great people are ordinary people who just seem to put great demands on themselves and average people are ordinary people with average demands on themselves. 

Can you imagine an orange juice without the process of 'squeezing' of the juice? Can you imagine keeping fit without going through the rigors of exercising and working out? It is time to stay ahead of your competition. It is time to leave your average lifestyle and aspire for something more than average. 

You would amaze yourself if only you knew, how much of your potential that could be realised by placing great demands on your self. 

Paul Said:

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown....therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly...I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize... 1Corinth. 9:25-28 (NIV)

Paul said, 'I strike a blow to my body...that I will not be disqualified for the prize'

It is time to place new demands on yourself...demands to make you stay ahead.

Do you feel overweight? Place a new demand on your lifestyle that would empower your being fit.

Do you feel financially down? Place a new demand on yourself for services that can generate income.

Are you struggling with that subject? Place a demand on yourself that would increase the number of hours you study which will in turn address the challenging areas of the subject. 

No matter what you do, do not just be in the race...STAY AHEAD of the competition and you can only do so, by placing the relevant demand as it applies to your objective. 

Till when next you visit this blog, place a demand on yourself FOR GREATNESS and NOT FOR BEING AVERAGE!

DRIVE YOUR DREAMS 5

David was first a king as a shepherd boy, ruling and defending his father's cattle's before he became the King of Israel, ruling and defending his Heavenly father's children-Israel. 

Joseph was first a "Domestic Staff" for Potiphar, maximizing his Management skills before he became the "Chief Executive Staff" of Egypt. 

Whatever it is you claim you want to do or become, you can start doing the same at the very place and level you are today in your journey of life. 

All great footballers playing for any prestigious club in any top league today, once played football on the streets of their neighborhood, with passion, joy and so much excitement as though it was already a dream come through. 

It's easy to say David miraculously defeated Goliath; but what was a sling doing in his hand? How come he already had stones on him? Is it not obvious, that David was used to slinging for fun as part of his shepherd boy hobbies? He has so mastered the art, he could turn down Saul's armour and rather relied on his slinging mastery.  

You want to be a fashion designer; begin to draw designs on old newspapers....enjoy it at that level, do it with a sense of pride. 

You want to be an international business man, start rendering little services today; think about little needs you can meet at a fee, right now at the level you are. 

I always say...you don't need branding to begin. If you see a problem, jump in there...show them you can fix it...and you are already in business. Those whose problems you have solved, will do your advertising campaign. 

Be careful of "ego" it will keep you grounded for life. 

You see, a man of ego will have problems selling "water", he will hide from his neighbours, he will rather employ someone to do it; 

but a passionate man will knock on his neighbour's door "I'm in the business of making water available" how can I serve you today?

Do not despise the days of little beginnings. 

Don't allow your ego get in the way of you taking small steps today in the direction of your dreams. 

Drive your Dreams.

You will not fail!

Good morning and Happy New Week!

MAXIMISE YOUR LIFE

An Iroko tree will never grow half the size less than it was supposed to grow. Water bodies flow maximally, sometimes they so flow that they cause flooding. Think about time for just a second, it does not stop, I call it the dedicated workman. You can choose to party or go for funeral, work or sleep, make progress with your task or whine...TIME WILL NEVER STOP being TIME. 

For some strange reasons only human beings live life but not to its full potential; and to think we are the only creation that was made in the likeness of God, makes me even wonder more. Just imagine God's potential and imagine the potential of another being (you and I) created in His image? 

The question is ARE YOU MAXIMISING YOUR LIFE or are you living less than you were created for? 

If you die today, can we fully list out what's going down the grave with you? The things, you were too lazy to birth for the benefit of the world? The Industries? The Medical Centres? The Schools? The Businesses? The Books? Ideas that were never explored? etc. 

But the question is not when we die...the question is by the time you retire for the day, could you confidently say I fully unveiled my potential for today? 

YOUR GOALS FOR THE DAY IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO FOR THE DAY, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY ALL THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED DURING THE DAY. This is where we start living less than our potential. 

Friends, it begins from now...empty yourself daily. Don't go to bed with daily potentials that were never maximised. Let me say this, PROCRASTINATION IS A MYTH...it doesn't exist. How? Every day has a potential, moving things forward (procrastinating) simply means you are living your yesterday in your today. There can only be one December 1st 2013, doing December 1st related business on December 2nd 2013, is you loosing one day of the month/your life. 

It's time to MAXIMISE YOUR LIFE!  

Jesus said

...but I have a baptism to be baptised with and how AM I STRAITENED TILL IT BE ACCOMPLISHED! Luke 12:50

No wonder 33 years OF STRAITENED LIFESTYLE is today still imparting the world after over 2000 years. 

You too can out live your existence. Start MAXIMISING YOUR LIFE!

DRIVE YOUR DREAMS 4

A baby requires milk at birth and then graduates to solid food after some months. You don't use a Safety Helmet as a Baseball cap, neither can you drive a ship on a motorway.

What does your dream require and what are you feeding it? What environment does your dream require to blossom, what environment are you creating. 

It's not enough to have a dream, it's not enough to know what you want...if you aren't feeding your dream right...that dream will never see the light of day. It's okay to do something but it's even more important to do the appropriate thing. 

Are you suppose to be working out 5 times a week and you are just doing 3 times a week?

Are you suppose to be studying for 3  hours a day and you are just studying for an hour a day?

Are you suppose to be saving 30% of your income monthly and you can barely save 10%? 

There is no such thing as, I have done my best...if you are not giving it what is required, you aren't giving your best. 

You cannot short change the process. 

You can try to talk everyone to believing you are doing your best...but the process will find you out.

Stop waiting and expecting to be congratulated when this is something you are supposed to be doing; Whose dream is it by the way? So, who else was suppose to be doing the work? 

If you are suppose to dial an 11 digit number, and you dial just 10 digits correctly...you will never reach your destination. Stop looking for short cuts. 

If you claim you want it so bad, then commit FULLY to the price.

Don't complain about the results you didn't get by the work you didn't complete. 

You will not fail!

Good morning and Happy New Week!

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

As a very active child whiles growing up, I love to play a lot. I always looked forward to the next half term holiday and the next end of term holiday. It was so interesting because right from the first day of the term, I will ask my older sister about the closing date of the term and from then on, the count down begins. 

One day, the long vacation just began and I woke up very excited knowing I had 8 solid weeks to play; my sister got into the room and said to me "I know it is your right to play out the whole holiday because it is a holiday but when you get to the last day of the holiday, what would you reflect on as an achievement during this 8 week period"? 

We both saw the same thing but interpreted it differently. One of the fundamental differences between an achiever and a non achiever is "interpretation". They both have the same challenges, faced with probably the same economic circumstance but their independent interpretation of their situation is what informs what actions they both take. 

When you LOOK (vision) at a challenge, circumstance or situation, "what do you SEE (interpretation)"?

Jesus was told of a girl who was dead, in response he said, "she is asleep" Matt. 9:24

David was before Goliath, whiles everyone was scared because they saw a giant, David was excited because he saw "a bird", no wonder he told Saul, "I don't need all of your armoury, a bird only needs a sling and a stone". I Sam. 17:39

Have you just lost your job? What do you SEE?

Are you having any difficulty with your wife? What do you SEE?

Does it seem like your pay cheque is not good enough? What do you SEE? 

...but be transformed, BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND... Rom. 12:2

YOU CANNOT SEE BETTER THAN THE QUALITY OF THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND! 

Till when next you visit this blog, PAY ATTENTION TO HOW YOU SEE (interpret) what you look!