DEVELOP A STRATEGY 2

Success minded people define certain things differently from average minded people. To an average man, hitting 70% is just good enough, a successful man will be depressed if he doesn't reach 95% for starters. An average man calls such aiming propensity "perfectionism"  but the success minded man calls it "Aiming for excellence". 

As part of strategic planning for this new year, it is important you begin by redefining what excellence will mean to you this year. 

What is your own definition for excellence?

If you set yourself a goal and you achieve the goal within the parameters you set for yourself...then you are average....but "I achieved it already" yes...you did...but again you are "average". 

When you set your goals...don't just achieve them...your aim should be to smash them. 

If you planned showing up by 9:30a.m. for a 10:00a.m. event, show up by 9:00a.m. in execution. 

They said you have 6 months to deliver, deliver it in 4 months. 

Jesus said..."If a man bid thee to go a mile...go with him twain" (Matt. 5:41). 

Meaning the least to give in everything is give "twice as much"...Jesus said what he said in relating with someone else...How much more in relating to yourself and "your own goals". 

How do you stop a man who has determined to wake up earlier than the prompting of his own alarm clock? 

How do you stop a man who sets his own records and breaks the same record without your permission? 

When Jesus fed the 5,000 men (minus women and Children) 12 baskets remained. [Matt. 14:20]

When he fed the 4,000 men (minus women and children) 7 baskets remained. [Mark 8:8].

If this year will be different from the previous don't just set goals but aim to smash those goals. 

If your strategy is "average", you will have average outcomes...if your strategy is "outstanding" then you will have outstanding outcomes. 

Those who aim for excellence never miss success. 

You will not fail!

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!

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!

THE MARK

...I press toward THE MARK for THE PRIZE...Phil. 3:14

Has it ever come across your mind that certain items in the market NEVER GOES ON SALE? The prices are fixed all year round. Just like the saying goes "to every PRIZE there is a PRICE". 

From the text above...IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO PRESS, but PRESSING TOWARDS THE MARK IS WHAT GUARANTEES THE PRIZE.

There is always A SPECIFIC PRESS POINT (THE MARK) for every level of success we desire to attain in whatever area of life. Therefore if we desire the ultimate prize then it is expected we press to the mark. 

There is a MARK of discipline and PRACTICE that would produce an Olympic Gold medalist. There is a MARK of hard work that will deliver a specific level of outcome in Business. 

The pain of pursuit is not failure, the pain of pursuit is finishing a few inches BEFORE THE MARK. 

What is your goal today (this month, this quarter)? Have you thought about the MARK you need to Press towards to deliver that goal? 

If you are pretty honest with yourself, there is nothing like "luck" that births greatness it's simply a function of PRESSING TO THE REQUIRED MARK. 

Have you ever missed a train? The train was scheduled to leave by 5:28p.m. (THE MARK) and  if you can be honest, although you ran, sprinted, pushed everyone, tripped and stood up, you couldn't get in because you MISSED THE MARK. 

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE MARK!

You can choose to have your mark, but if your mark does not equal or beat THE MARK, you will not hit your target. 

Every first class student knew from the start, that it will take minimum 6 hours of uninterrupted dedicated studying (THE MARK), to deliver their PRIZE (graduating with a first). So, they ignored lazy philosophies that say "it is not by reading too much" or "are you the only one studying"? 

Every one who wanted their faith to produce knew from the start that , they must have ABSOLUTE (THE MARK) FAITH in GOD. 

THE MARK for a great home is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE and UNCONDITIONAL SUBMISSION, any thing short of that...I guarantee "you will miss the train".

Let's see what God said to Cain, when he went grumbling...

Gen 4:7... IF THOU DOEST WELL, SHALL THOU NOT BE ACCEPTED? 

Not just doing but DOING WELL...DOING WELL...DOING WELL. 

Till when next you visit this blog KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE MARK not your mark but THE MARK!

EXCELLENCE: AN OUTCOME OR A CHARACTER?

 As a growing up child, my older sister used to always have a fight with me to clean up my corner...and this was a big struggle for me because I felt, it doesn't matter in as much as I wore nice clothes and took 1st position in my class. But she said something...

DON'T CALL ANYONE CLEAN OR TIDY UNTIL YOU VISIT HIS HOME. 

I asked why? She said, "out there, everyone is trying to give an impression because of eyes that watch, but who you are under less supervision is who you really are". So, everyone might call you wonderful kid because you performed well at school but I will tell them your corner is always untidy. 

Then, I had to change...was she mean? No! She thought me a basic principle: 

YOU CAN CHOOSE TO HAVE EXCELLENT OUTCOMES OR CHOOSE TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT CHARACTER

Let's look at the following scripture:

O Lord our Lord, How EXCELLENT is YOUR NAME in ALL THE EARTH...Psalms 8:1

Is God only excellent in Asia?

Is God only excellent in America?

I think he is doing phenomenal in Europe and average in Africa, what do you think? 

From the above text, God (his name) is excellent IN ALL the EARTH. 

It is about time we pursue all round excellence. If you don't get a pay cheque, would you show up on time? If not for your exams would you still spend time to read? 

Don't try to produce excellent outcomes...NO! BE EXCELLENT. Pay or no pay, recognition or no recognition, BE EXCELLENT!

Make a conscious effort to pursue excellence in EVERY area of your life. Now at work, because we get paid to perform even when there is a challenge or problem...we sit down, think and come up with solutions...and at home we walk away from unwashed dishes. 

I know we are all doing well "outside" it is time to do well "inside". Women submit to very ridiculous bosses at work yet they can't honour their husbands at home. Men speak respectfully  to their female bosses at work and yet at home they treat their wives with disregard. 

The pattern has to change.

Make a conscious decision to pursue ALL ROUND EXCELLENCE. 

I (your name), today make a renewed commitment to myself in the pursuit of all-round excellence even as my father in heaven.

I shall commit to an excellent lifestyle in ALL I do irrespective of appraisal or not. I simply choose to BE EXCELLENT.

In Jesus name! Amen!

Till when next you visit this blog...MAKE EXCELLENCE A LIFESTYLE!

LEADERSHIP IS UPON YOU

There are two types of people in the world today: those who

1. Think like leaders from where they are and

2. Those who think like followers from where they are

Now the difference between both types is in their mentality. The way the leader minded individual thinks most of the times drives him/her into taking visionary steps that inspires excellence. Same applies to those who think like followers. There are quite a few differences between these two types of people, but we wouldn't go into that for now. 

But one thing remains very clear, a leader is always conscious of the fact that his/her actions has the capacity to either guide or mislead, create or destroy destinies, hence he thinks and acts responsibly, NOT FOR HIMSELF but for those whom he is leading. A follower, on the other hand...thinks about self, you can see self in all his thinking and actions. Could act irresponsibly often times because he doesn't think he should inspire anyone. 

It's very clear, that whiles one school of thought inspires the need for personal development, hence the drive for excellence; the other school of thought inspires no need for continuous personal development hence leads towards a mediocre lifestyle. 

I always hear people say, "this is who I am", "that's my style","if you can't accept me then leave me", etc. The question on my mind is "is this a self defence to the justification of a mediocre lifestyle or indeed this is truly who they are"? 

The reason why we can't give up some bad habits is because we think like followers and do not want to inspire anyone. The reason why we want to live average lifestyles is because we are too lazy to step up to the DEMANDS OF PERSONAL LEADERSHIP. I charge you today, to start paying attention to your conduct, see yourself leading a million kids...your approach to life, your task, will change. 

Paul made a powerful statement 

...Be ye followers of me...1 Corinth. 11:1

Here is a man who can boldly ask the entire Church in Corinthians to live their lives after him. What Audacity! What Excellence in Character Development! 

No wonder he told Timothy...

...but be thou AN EXAMPLE...1 Tim. 4:12

The places you go to, the type of jokes you crack, your attitude towards your studies/job, CAN YOU TRULY ASK 1 million kids to do the same and guarantee they will succeed in life?

Enough of you justifying all the crazy things you do, in the name of being your own person. 

It's time to pay attention to your Character, LEADERSHIP IS UPON YOU, stop acting like a mediocre. Lives and destinies are counting on you. 

You that will inspire your children to be studious and hardworking...BE STUDIOUS, BE HARDWORKING and you wouldn't have to speak about it because they will see it in you!

This is a hard truth but someone said, YOU CAN NOT RAISE SOMEONE TO BECOME WHO YOU ARE NOT!

Till when next you visit this blog, think like a leader, lives and destinies are counting on you! 

YOU WILL NOT FAIL YOUR GENERATION!

NO WEEKENDS 4

 Average men work to produce fruit during harvest; Great men work to produce fruits all year round. 

Joseph didn't stand out because he made Egypt to profit during the days of plenty...No! Joseph stood out because he knew what it takes to be productive during 7 years of famine.

In today's world...when you build a ship or any automobile...it is tested in a "Test rig" before it is certified for use, but when Noah built his ark...there was no Laboratory, nor Rig for his ark to be tested...yet...it stood the storm for 40 days.

Friends, It's time to deploy yourself fully into your craft...because if you are giving just enough, there is coming a time...when 100% will become the new average.

Jacob was soooo good at his job, that he could literally determine what kind of offspring will be produced. 

They used to say...Isaac prospered in the days of famine...It's important to note that...in the days of famine, Isaac and his men dug wells...NOT WELL...WELLS...they produced their own water so they can sustain their crops. What you call Irrigation  today was first started by Isaac. Gen. 26:12-22. 

Let's put this in perspective: Abraham dug wells, the  Philistines seized it; Isaac dug AGAIN the wells: They dug the first well, it was seized; they dug the second well, it was also seized. By the end of the third well those who hated them knew they couldn't stop them. 

.

They dug those wells...manually, not with some digging or borehole technology. They dug those wells in the days of scarce rainfall (famine).

It's a shame without Technology, humanity was used to work ethics that out lived their existence...but these days, technology has heightened our laziness. 

Don't just "Dream Big"...but be ready and be willing to "Work Big".

You will not fail!

Good morning and Happy New Week!

NO WEEKENDS 2

You will never change your life until you change something you do DAILY. The secret of your success is found in your DAILY routines (commitments). 

What you do daily, over time becomes a habit and the quality of your habits today will determine the quality of the outcomes of your life tomorrow.  

There is what I call "Passive (Unseen) Habits" and there is what I call "Active Habits". 

Passive Habits refer to your Mental/Psychological Routines; for instance, when things don't go your way...how do you feel internally? There is no one who is born "easily irritated" - I don't think so. People practice being easily irritated by being (Passive Habit) easily irritated repeatedly...and over time it now looks like a "default character".

Active Habits refer to "seen Habits". It's usually a routine action from you that is visible to all.

Our daily routine is usually a combination of both Passive (unseen) and Active (visible to all) habits. A Qualitative Commitment therefore is a product of a Qualitative Passive habits and Qualitative Active habits. 

Until both habits are in sync success is never in view. 

Hannah always prayed (Active Habit) for a child but until her countenance (a facial display of internal emotions-Passive Habit) changed, Samuel never came. 

"...so the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance WAS NO MORE....NO MORE...sad..." 1 Sam. 1:18 (KJV, paraphrase are author's). 

When your Active habits contradicts your Passive habits, your commitment will yield no fruits. 

A house divided against itself cannot stand. 

You will not fail!

Good morning and Happy New Week!

MAY THEME: NO WEEKENDS

Congratulations and welcome to a brand new Month

Jesus was speaking once, when he established a powerful success principle; he said 

"...whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain..." Matt. 5:41

He was simply asking you to go the extra mile for another person; but the question is...How does that translate to you? It simply suggests that, when it comes to your business...you should at least always go the extra mile. 

This Month, we will be considering the theme NO WEEKENDS and our focus will be on Commitment. 

Commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do, long after the mood you said it in has left you. 

Your dreams don't recognise, weekends...it demands your full commitment. 

Congratulations once again and happy new month!