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!

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'.

THE ACHIEVER'S EDGE

At the root of every great accomplishment, is vision. Vision in this context implies one's ability to see (in their mind's eyes) the reality of their undertaking even before the pursuit begins. 

 

However between vision and the accomplishment of such great undertaking is PURSUIT. No one ever features in a future he/she is unwilling to pursue. Until pursuit is embarked upon, every vision becomes a fairytale. 

You will agree with me that not everyone who embarks on a pursuit gets through to the end. Some drop off by the way side due to personal circumstances and others probably just discovered the demands of the pursuit are greater than what they first assumed. 

What then is the achievers edge?

Achievers behave (walk, talk and act consciously) like 'it'.

Every achiever behaves his/her set goal/dream even before achieving them. They carry themselves like it is already in full manifestation.  It is this characteristic that empowers a successful pursuit. How? 

They are already at the end (in their minds eyes), hence committing to the demands of the pursuit becomes "easy" to them. 

It is easier to pursue what we see and the only proof we see it, will show in our behaving the end. Explaining the end is no proof you see it...writing it on your dream wall is no proof...BEHAVING "IT" is the only proof that you are already in synchronization with it. 

Jesus at age 12, was behaving what he will be 18 years later "HIS FATHER'S BUSINESS".He was behaving his future for 18 solid years before he eventually became it.  Lk. 2:42, 49.

David saw his victory over Goliath, all he cared about was the benefit that comes after the victory. As far as he was concerned, Goliath was already dead. 1 Sam. 17:26-27, 30. 

Hannah haven prayed earnestly about having a child...suddenly changed her countenance (behaving the answers to her prayer even before it came).  1 Sam. 1:18

What are you pursuing? What is that goal/dream/career objective that looks mega? It's time to see yourself walking in its reality. 

Your pursuit is only as good as the quality of your behaving the end. 

Do you desire healing? Start speaking and behaving like the healed.

Do you desire Financial breakthrough? Start behaving like one who has already broken through. Those who have broken through carry a giving mentality not a receiving mentality. It's time to change. 

Do you desire a peaceful home? Let it show in how you treat your spouse and children. Treat your spouse honourably without minding how they treat you, Why? Because you are seeing them in the future state and so ignore their current short comings. Bring their faults to them in respect and bury it after that moment FOREVER. 

When God sees you, he sees you in your future. He told Abram: 

...but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father (even if his present circumstance seems contrary) of many nations (not a family, not a clan, not a district, not even one nation) have I MADE (past perfect tense) thee. Gen. 17:5 

What did Abraham do? He started entertaining people on the street...he began to see himself as a father of NOT JUST his household but nations. Gen. 18:1-8.

It's time to start behaving your set goal. YOU WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME WHAT YOU BEHAVE. Bad habits don't jump on people, it starts by behavioural patterns, which now becomes a habit and later people say that is his/her character. 

WHEN YOU CONSISTENTLY BEHAVE IT, YOU WILL BECOME IT. 

Till when next you visit this blog, STOP EXPLAINING HOW DIFFICULT...AND START BEHAVING THE REALITY OF YOUR GOAL(S).

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!

LIVING LIKE A SPORTS MAN

 A wise man once said, 

"Champions are not made in the ring, they are only recognised in the ring...champions are made in their everyday rehearsal" 

In the world of sports, aiming for trophies is the biggest goal for all. This is why, they submit to coaches (mentors), personal trainers (teachers), personal discipline, etc. They live everyday of their lives with a major tournament in focus. 

They sweat it out on a daily basis on the field, ring, or in the gymnasium. They might be in pain, but for the glory ahead, they endure. Some of them give up friendships and social habits that does not enhance the quality of their preparedness for the tournament. You can see it clearly in the tone of their body muscles. 

The truth is we can live the philosophy of the sports man in our pursuit of destiny.

Paul said...

Know ye not, that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 1 Corinth 9:24

It's time to set your goals as major sports tournament. Desire winning like a sports man. Enough of living like a spectator or a sports analyst. 

WHAT ARE YOU REHEARSING FOR? What disciplines would you commit to daily that would make you the best in your area of specialty. These days, people talk less of excellence and celebrate being average. Don't be caught with in that web. 

It's time to run like you want the medal. My teacher once told me, the key to unending success is PREPARE! PREPARE!!PREPARE!!! 

Some of you say, you want to be the best you can be but, the friends you keep close make you sound like a joker, your eating and sleeping  habit is contrary to the objective, what you commit to socially is amazingly ridiculous for the goals you have.

It's time to wake up! Greatness is upon you stop wasting away! Stop living like a spectator, all they know to do and all they prepare for is fun. Stop being an analyst, all they know to do, is to talk and judge those who are actively engaging in the field/ring. 

In the following week, month, quarter or year, set yourself daily goals that will make you the best. Yes! The best! Commit to the discipline that will make you become or achieve that goal, put an end to every friendship that will not feed that objective... Get a coach/mentor/Personal trainer and COMMIT TO THEIR INSTRUCTION AS IT APPLIES TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT and watch yourself become an amazement to yourself. Do you remember, it took a driving instructor to get you your Drivers License?

Believe it or not...IT WILL ALWAYS TAKE A COACH. Show me a man who is committed to a coach, I will show you a man on his way to the top. Only spectators and analysts live without one. 

You too can be celebrated! You too can be given an award! You too can make global headlines!

THERE ARE THOSE WHO MAKE THE NEWS, THERE ARE THOSE WHO REPORT THE NEWS! YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ONE OF THEM...Have you been reporting? It's time to switch roles. RUN THAT YOU MAY OBTAIN!

Till when next you visit this blog, keep LIVING LIKE A SPORTS MAN!