THE POWER OF SKILL 4

Before every skillful action displayed is a skillful thought processed; and a skillful thought is a product of an excellent use of the mind.

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a SOUND MIND..." 2 Tim. 1-7 KJV (emphasis are author's).

Your life cannot rise above the level of your thought life. If you are timid in your thoughts, you cannot be bold in your actions. 

Every great feat achieved is a product of a great thought process. Solutions to challenges don't just emerge, they are first thought about. It is therefore important that we build our minds. 

The difference in results of any two persons, is actually not in the results but the difference in the respective capacities of their minds. If we pay attention to developing our minds, we are indirectly developing our world and vice versa. 

How do you develop your mind? 

1. Commit to Thinking productively as a lifestyle. Always ask the questions that inspire the drive to improve on existing outcomes. 

2. Listen and learn from those who have better ideas on subjects you are particularly interested in. 

3. Consciously develop a network of those who are also seeking to consciously develop their minds. 

Your mind, is your resource centre, if you pay attention to develop it, your life will become resourceful. 

A man without results is simply a man who is not as resourceful as he ought to be. 

You will not fail!

Good morning and Happy New Week!

KNOW HOW: THE COMPASS OF DESTINY

Being successful at any endeavour in life requires a 'know how'. It does not matter how complex it seems, all you need to do is settle down and understand the 'how to' and then diligently apply yourself there in and you will become a star. 

To most of us, launching a rocket might come across as a mountainous task, why? We lack the 'know how'. But to an expert in the field, it is a basic operation. 

YOU CAN'T ASSUME A 'KNOW HOW'

You either know 'how to' or you don't. A wise man once said,

"a man without skill will kill"

Let us see what the bible says:

The Labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knows not HOW TO go to the city. Eccl 10:15

Diligence with little information is a labour that makes weary. Knowing your destination (the city) does not guarantee arrival at destination. 

For instance, as little children we all shouted what we will like to become when we grow older, whenever the question was asked, right?

Someone screamed 'a pilot' others said 'a captain' etc. That is knowing the destination but arriving at the destination will require 

1. the discovery of the 'how to' become...

2. the application of one's self to the 'how to'

All of these brings us to the following questions:

1. Where are you going in life (destination)?

2. Have you settled down to discover how to get there?

3. Have you been applying yourself diligently?

Older married couples always say, there is a lot of divorce in homes today because most young people ASSUME they know 'how to' run a successful home/marriage. 

Hence their assumption delivered its full package. 

Would you engage the services of a pilot who 'thinks' he can fly your plane? 

Would you engage someone as a legal professional who says he was anointed to be a barrister? 

When you visit the garage for your car to be fixed, stop arguing...if you knew what the problem was, wouldn't you have fixed it? You say, he charged too much, but in reality that's how much your ignorance on the subject is costing you. 

As a business man, how much are you investing in yourself so as to 'know how' to run a successful business?

As a potential parent, how much are you investing in yourself in order to 'know how' to raise sound and responsible kids? 

Knowing the city/goal/destination is not enough. It's time to sit down and discover 'how to' get there. 

I will leave you with this: 

a successful flight is achieved because every major component of the plane is functioning optimally. There are four basic component in an individual's life:

1. Relationship with God

2. Career/Business/Calling 

3. Family

4. Character Development 

If you fully comprehend how much you need to invest in all four areas, you will stop wasting time. Hence I say,

A successful life is a life that is successful in all four major components.

Remember you can not assume a 'know how'.

Till when next we come your way, settle down and discover 'HOW TO GET INTO THE CITY'.

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.

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!

THE QUALITY OF THE HARVEST

A wise man once said "if you do not like THE QUALITY OF THE HARVEST, check THE QUALITY OF THE SEED".

Our life is fundamentally what we make of it, it is not what the society makes of it as some would claim, it is not what our circumstances make of it, neither is it what those around us make of it. Everything God made responds to the law of sowing and reaping. 

Orange seeds will never produce Mango fruits.  If you sow seeds of Mediocrity, don't expect greatness. If you think and act like the poor, how would you emerge wealthy? By the way, how do the poor think, someone asks...POOR PEOPLE INVEST IN LIABILITIES, RICH PEOPLE INVESTS IN ASSETS. 

Liabilities take money out of your pocket CONTINUOUSLY, Assets put money in your pocket CONTINUOUSLY. 

The seed I want to be addressing today is THE QUALITY OF THOUGHT you put into what you do. 

Every great idea begins from a thought realm. The difference between an iPhone 5 and an iPhone 2 is basically the difference in the quality of thought process that goes into their level of production. 

Stop complaining about the outcomes in and around your life, start paying more attention to how you take the steps you take. Put some thought into it. 

Spontaneity a wise man said, is an action that lacks depth of thoughts but propelled by a desire for instant self gratification. 

Products can be improved because the processes are documented and thus reviewed once and again. 

Your thought life can not be greater than the quality of information you expose your mind to.    Zero exposure to relevant information, zero level of quality thoughts, which implies poor seeds which will result into poor out comes. 

I recently heard that AN AVERAGE BILLIONAIRE READS TWO BOOKS IN A WEEK. WOW! So, they basically renew their minds, to improve the quality of their thoughts (seeds). 

How many books have I finished in the past 90 days? What am I reading at the moment? 

This BOOK of the law, shall not depart out of your mouth but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For THEN  YOU SHALL  MAKE THY WAY PROSPEROUS and YOU SHALL DEAL WISELY AND HAVE GOOD SUCCESS. Joshua 1:8 (The Amplified).

...deal wisely...in all your seed sown (steps to be taken)

It's time for you to have Quality Harvest, till when next you visit this blog keep IMPROVING  THE QUALITY OF THE SEED!

WHAT IS YOUR PRACTICE?

As children most of struggled with the multiplication table (Tables 2 to 12). Personally, I only got to master it when I was 13 years old. How did that happen? 

I was privileged to have an academic mentor who oversaw my learning. I didn't study anything new, he only made me DO THEM REPEATEDLY FOR LENGTHY HOURS (minimum 4 hours study after school and 8 hours study during weekends). Initially, I grumbled and complained but I always completed ALL THE WORK (academic) given to me. 

One day, he said to me "KNOWLEDGE IS IN THREE LEVELS"

1. Acquisition of Knowledge 

2. Understanding of the Knowledge acquired 

3. Mastery of Knowledge (applied knowledge)

He told me most people who claim they know, are most times on level 1. Very few, manage to get up to level 2. He continued by saying there is only one principle to change from one level to the next.

PRACTICE! PRACTICE!! PRACTICE!!!

The truth is, I left secondary school as a Mathematics Authority (at that level), no need to say how my school in my time worn trophies in Maths Quizzes. I Finished and immediately started making earnings as a Private Maths Tutor at age 17.

You can have a skill, a gifting or a calling...but until you commit to lengthy hours of Practice, it will not speak. 

Check all sports men who make headlines, find out about their WORK ETHIC. I will tell you what you will see...UNTIRING DEDICATION TO PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE! 

Do you want to be the best in your field?

Do you want to be a global authority in your discipline?

PRACTICE is the master key! 

There is NOTHING impossible to learn. It's a question of, how much we want to commit to the Practice of it. 

Hear Paul's advice to a young Preacher...

...till (continuously devote) I come, give attendance to reading...neglect (fail not to practice) not the gift that is in thee...meditate upon these things...GIVE THYSELF WHOLLY TO THEM...that thy profiting (success) may appear unto ALL (global success). 1 Tim. 4:13-15

How much time do you really devote to your skill? The above text suggests: GIVE YOURSELF WHOLLY...

It's time for the world to come to your business address. It is time your voice gets heard. The choice and the decision is yours.

What's your Practice and how have you been Practicing?

Till when next you visit this blog, KEEP PRACTICING!

YOU CAN DO MORE

Self appreciation is a very good tool for inspiration; it is great to look at how far you have come and then take time out and digest that feeling of accomplishment. The biggest challenge is dwelling there for longer than necessary. 

It is time to think a step ahead of your last success...it is time to DO MORE! 

You can choose to be a Conqueror or "more than a conqueror" 

You can choose to be just an employee or be "more than an employee"

You can choose to be just a student or be "more than a student"

The key is DO MORE! 

...By faith Abel offered unto God a MORE EXCELLENT sacrifice than Cain,  by which he obtained witness...God testifying of his gifts...Heb. 11:4

O boy! Did you see that? 

They were both excellent but Abel was MORE excellent...and God also attested to it.

When God attests to your DOING MORE, your promotion will be unstoppable. Can a man (boss/manager) stop an employee whom God has approved from being promoted?

It's time to do more...

In your business...DO MORE

At your work place...DO MORE

In your relationship...DO MORE

With your Children...DO MORE

With your keeping fit...DO MORE

With your Personal Discipline...DO MORE

With your drive for excellence...DO MORE

In your relationship with God....DO MORE

Till when next you visit this blog...keep DOING MORE!

ARE YOU A PERPETUAL CONSUMER OR A PRODUCER?

Shopping is one of the biggest "fun" words in the 21st century. Everyone loves to shop, from kids to adults, boys and girls, men and women alike. 

 The truth is, someone somewhere has produced 'a good' or 'a service' that you and I are gladly subscribing to. Now the service is so impeccable that all we see is the feeling we have and the satisfaction we derive everytime we pay for such service(s); If only we also know that the person behind that idea IS GLADLY PUTTING THEIR HANDS IN OUR WALLETS AND TAKING OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES AT OUR SAY SO. 

The question is are you a consumer or a producer? 

A consumer is one who goes to the market place and enriches everyone. From the UK, he financially empowers someone in the US, Asia, Australia depending on what he or she is shopping for. 

A producer is one who puts out goods and services out there for him to be financially empowered by those in his locality and abroad. The truth is, the world is designed to be balanced economically by the producer and the consumer. A producer of a service is probably a consumer for another.

For instance, if you are going out this morning...you have to look good. So, you paid for the toothpaste idea, paid for the toothbrush, paid for your shower gel, paid for your  cream, paid for your shoes and paid for the clothes you put on. I guess, you are even thinking I need some more clothes, a possible change of wardrobe. Can you see how much you have paid to look good? Don't even want to talk about your lunch (for those of us who eat out). 

The question is WHAT ARE YOU PRODUCING? 

Who is gladly PAYING YOU for your idea (goods or services).

Stop short changing yourself, you have been enriching everyone else but yourself. It's time to go to the market place with a new vision. It's time to consciously decide how much you will be paid today, this month, this quarter. 

STOP BEING ONLY A CONSUMER...it's time to be a PRODUCER. 

I have good news for you, EVERYTHING SELLS! Oh yes! EVERYTHING SELLS! That idea is not too small, that idea is also not too big...start taking steps. 

If you start nothing you will become nothing! 

...then Isaac sowed (produced) in that land, and received (people paid him gladly) in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. Gen. 26:12

God blesses Producers more: Abraham (a producer), Isaac (a producer), Jacob (a producer), Joseph (a producer). 

Do you want to be blessed of the Lord? Start Producing 'something'. 

Till when next you visit this blog...BE A PRODUCER!

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!