THE POWER OF SKILL 2

Nobody was born skillful: It takes hard work to be good, and twice as much hard work to be skillful. 

Being the best in your field is not honorary; you will definitely earn it. There can never be any Messi, no William sisters, no Ralph Lauren, without a consistent, out of this world dedication continuous practice. 

You might say, it's too much headache trying to be the best, hence it's better to just be average. If this is your school of thought, it's okay. 

It's also important to note, the world is getting increasingly competitive like never before and those who can't stand the competition are forced to retire by those who are very skillful and up to fight for their spot. 

The question is...what do you want? How do you want to be remembered? 

Being the Champion yesterday doesn't mean you should go and sleep today; you might have observed, it takes work to get to the top, and continuous hard work to remain at the top. 

It's time to increase your dedication towards your craft. If you are a cake designer, a Stylist, an Accountant, etc. It's time they address you as "the Cake Designer", "the Accountant", etc. 

"...Let them LOOK for a man who is SKILLFUL in playing the Harp..." 1 Sam. 16:16

Men of skill are always sought after...stop complaining business is down. Increase your skill and watch your organisation rise to the top. 

You will not fail!

Good morning and Happy New Week!

GO (ALL OUT) FOR IT

 Until you get to the point where you literally get out of your comfort zone, leaving your excuses and stories behind, leaving your inabilities and inadequacies and also leaving yourself behind and go all out in search of greatness, you will never get to it. 

Dear friends, may I impress it on your mind today, that greatness is a long way from home (your comfort zone). I hear you talk about it, I hear you always preparing for it, I hear you discuss it, when will you take your first step and be on the move? 

At the beginning of 2014, you said you will give up those lazy and 'do nothing friends', you said you will go out there and get yourself a job in line with your passion, you promised to work on your character, etc. It's the end of the year already, what exactly have you done? 

Let me show you how far you still have to go...

the day Moses brought Israel out of Egypt, was not the day, they arrived at Canaan. The red sea was just ahead, the wilderness was their next experience. 

The day Abraham left his father's house was not the day, he got the promise. He had to go through his testing phase, so as to sharpen him for what lies ahead.

The day David brought down the head of Goliath, was not the day he ascended the throne. He had to deal with the envy and bitterness of his boss, King Saul.   

I thought for the mere fact that Jesus got baptised and a voice came down from heaven to validate his assignment should have made everyone to believe on him...No, it didn't. 

But all of these great men would not have ascended their place in Destiny if they didn't dare to GO ALL OUT for it. 

Moses left his Palacios Pharoah's apartment to go in search of it. 

Abraham left his Daddy's mansion to go for it. 

David left his proximity to home just in case of trouble and came all the way to meet a battle he was not physically prepared for but couldn't afford to miss his chance BECAUSE HE KNEW EXACTLY what he was out for. You thought he went to give his brothers food, but this is what he had to say for himself when he got bullied.

'...Is there not a cause?' 1 Samuel 17:29

If he had delivered the food, shouldn't he have returned home...? He was on a search.

Jesus left Heaven, no wonder at his return (after 33 years) God gave him a name that is above every other name. 

Friends, I want to believe you can appreciate just how far greatness is away from your home (comfort zone). 

The question is WHEN WILL YOU BEGIN THIS JOURNEY?

Being average is so comfortable, but it is a prison. It's your turn, It's your time to leave the prison and comfort of average and respond to the call of greatness within you.

Till when next we come your way, GO (ALL OUT) FOR IT. 

Work It Now [WIN] Series: Episode 5

So many people will never take that first step towards achieving their dreams because of the "fear of failure". They usually have this list of those who started but failed to justify their refusal to make the first move. But that is crippling because they end up never attempting to do anything significant with their lives. 

But contrary to popular vote, failure is also part of the route to success; setbacks are not made for you to step back but for you to reinvent a different approach to achieving the same thing. 

On the road to success, setbacks are just part of the directional tools; they simply point you to an alternative route. Does it make the journey longer? Yes...Will you eventually get there..? Definitely. 

It is important you embrace this aspect of the journey; be prepared to get it right in your first attempt but should in case you have a setback just be prepared for a rerouting. 

The first man God created, came as an adult but there was a setback and although He was upset and disappointed, God responded to the rerouting signal; He reviewed his  approach by ensuring Jesus came as a child. 

It is not the setbacks that matter but our attitude in response to the setback. 

CALL TO ACTION: 

1. What potential setbacks could you possibly face in your next project? 

2. What are your alternative routes should the potential setbacks become real setbacks? 

3. Be mentally prepared about the fact that it might take at least twice as much of your anticipated lead time.

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

Good morning and Happy Mid-Week!

Work It Now [WIN] Series: Episode 4

David was anointed to be king yet, it took several years after he was anointed before he eventually emerged as a king.

Joseph told his former inmates to speak to Pharaoh about him and yet, they initially forgot not until Pharaoh had a supposedly unpleasant dream before they could remember him. 

The foolish virgins were called foolish not because they didn't carry oil in their lamps...but because they didn't carry extra oil in the event that the groom delayed his coming; they eventually ran out of oil just before the groom showed up. 

Friends, I need you to brace up...because in this journey of pursuing your dreams, some of your plans will be exhausted; some things might take longer than anticipated; some people would not deliver like they have promised...yet, you need to keep....keeping on. 

So, in your planning...make provisions for double; if it will take 3 miles...prepare physically for 6 miles. Why should you be exhausted when you are just close to the finish line?

Those who make it to the end...make plans that can keep them in the race until the end. 

CALL TO ACTION:

1. What do you require for the next phase of your dream?

2. What resources (Mental, Physical and Financial) do you need?

3. Prepare for twice as much as you require in question 2.

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

Good morning and Happy Mid-Week!

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.

YOUR KINGDOM

...For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mothers' womb; and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men; and there be eunuchs, which HAVE MADE THEMSELVES eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake... Matt. 19:12 KJV

Every glorious destiny will place a personal demand on its owner. It is therefore no coincidence that some will end up as huge successes and others end will up average. 

The 'c' part of the above text is so instructional. In every individual lies the power to make relevant changes for the sake of their dreams, purpose or goals. Success is deliberate and its pursuit is very intentional. No man can guess his way to any destination, neither can a driver assume a route to a location. 

The question is 'What are you making yourself'

A wise man once said, 'Failure to plan is planning to fail'. This simply implies that our activity or inactivity is a preparation for a destination or an outcome (positive or negative).

If a student studies, S/he is planning to pass their exams and if a student refuses to study, S/he is also planning to fail their exams.

If you decide to read one book a month, listen to tapes and CDs relevant to your assignment, What would you have made yourself in the next one year in relation to your dreams?

If you decide to work-out 30 minutes a day for the next 6 months and keep an eye on your diet, What would you have made yourself in relation to your fitness dreams?

If you keep listening to those who have failed marriages and relationship by keeping them as close allies, watch it, your relationship might just be on its way down. Interestingly, this is a circle I have witnessed a lot of times.

Those who push for higher degrees and Diplomas, if you look closely, their inner circle is filled with friends/family members with the same goals or have achieved the same goal.

Those (men and women) who eventually walked out of their marriages, most times have been in close ties with people who don't have value for qualitative family life, this could be through direct contact or TV Shows. 

It's the same for a man who hits his wife and a woman who shows disrespect to her husband. 

What are you making yourself?

I charge you today, to start being conscious and aware of the lifestyle you lead. Some people desire to be financially stable but they keep engaging in unhealthy shopping lifestyles. Would their dreams be realised? Your guess is as good as mine. 

WAY FORWARD

1. Keep your eyes continuously focused on the 'Kingdom of Heaven' (Your ultimate goal, vision, dreams and aspirations)

2. Consciously build habits that will enhance the actualisation of that Kingdom. 

The good news is, IT IS IN YOUR POWER to make the relevant changes you need. So why not accept personal responsibility and take charge of your destiny?

You will not fail!

Till when next we come your way...focus on YOUR KINGDOM.

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.

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 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!