Tend to Your Leak!

I wasted time, and now doth time waste me. ­– William Shakespeare

 Have you seen a leaking water tank? I recently bought a two-thousand-liter overhead tank and filled it with water I needed for a project. With this I was sure I would have little need for water for a long time. Unknown to me it had a small crack right beneath it and the water seeped out little by little. A few days before the project was to begin the tank was dry. Two thousand liters gone!

As the leakage was to my tank so is wastage to your success journey. Silently, gradually, little by little, your potential for success dries up. A period allowed to slip away may be time leaking out. You know what you need to do, you know why you should do it and you know how to do it but you still do not get to do it. You say to yourself: I will do it later. I am not up to it now.

Unplanned spending may be money leaking out. You have a project at hand but one night out and a couple extra sticks of Suya won’t kill the project – or so think. So the tiny amount of money leaks out and you are not closer to reaching the funds needed for your project.

Taking people for granted may be network leaking out. You meet someone for the first time but feel why bother I will meet him again, failing to consider that first impressions come once and that every meeting is an important opportunity to strengthen your people ties and enhance your networking.

In every area of your success journey leakages are possible. Smart achievers tend to these leakages and minimize them to the barest minimum. They ensure that their relationships don’t leak, their expenditure is within planned control, and, probably most important of all, their time isn’t wasted on frivolous things.

The Blind Man in Front

“One blind man cannot lead another; if he does both will fall into a ditch.” – Jesus (the Christ)

When you see a man with a stick and his hands placed on another person right in front of him you automatically assume he is blind. What never crosses your mind is that the blind person may be the folk in front or, more comically, both may be blind! You assume this because you know that to lead you need to see.

Unfortunately many leaders cannot see. To be a follower denotes there is a place you want to get to but you need someone else to facilitate your journey. It certainly is – at least physically – permissive for a follower to not see his way. To be a leader, on the other hand, you must see your way through.

Many folks take this for granted because they have misunderstood the basic concept of leadership. It is assumed that leadership is about staying in front or being on top. Both of these ideas are misguided because a shepherd boy, for example, leads from behind his flock. In effect he is more a guide who knows where he his flock needs to be and how to get them there. Without proper knowledge of where to lead people to you cannot guide.

Second, many leaders imagine themselves and their followers as a pyramid structure in which they are the peak while their followers carry them. This is another misconception because rather than a pyramid, the structure is turned upside down and the leader is at the bottom carrying the weight of the followers.

       With this modification in conceiving what leadership is, you would realize that you cannot lead without seeing where you are headed. The sight of the leader gives solace to the followers. It makes them confident to put the next foot forward, knowing that if their leader did not fall into a ditch they would not.  

It does not matter if it is a question of marriage, church, or football team. A leaders’ vision is paramount. The first question to ask any one person you intend to follow is, “what can you see?”

Choose Your Second Name Carefully

Neither this man (a man born blind) nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God may be revealed in him. ­– Jesus (speaking to his students).

It is easy for people to define you based on conditions you know nothing of. Situations beyond your control can leave a name that you detest attached to you for the rest of your life. Imbecile, Albino, Black, White, Third world, Poor, Short, Thin, and much more are used to place a definition on folks. Of a truth it is impossible to completely severe yourself from all of these – somehow one (or more) gets you.

This is so because we are all born with situations beyond our control. It was like the story of two famous twins in the Bible – Esua and Jacob. At their births, the first came out hairy and so he was named Esua (hairy). The second came out holding unto the heel of Esua and was named Jacob (usurper). These kids did not have a choice over what the world defined them with - they were born with it. They did not have a say as to what their name, and henceforth identities, would be. 

Later in their lives they both had the opportunity to be further defined based on their actions. Esua sold his first born rights to Jacob for a plate of red stew and based on this action was named “Red”. Jacob troubled an angel and fought for a blessing and based on this action was named “Israel”. This second set of names were binding and have lasted centuries beyond their lifetimes.

My point is, what we are born with is not as important as what we do with it. You may have been born into a family that defines poverty at a glance but you can leave a great inheritance and legacy for your children’s children. You may have been born out of wedlock but you can be the best parent, husband or wife that the world around you will ever see. Hold on to Jesus’ priceless words when he said of a man born with blindness: Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God may be revealed in him, and let the works of God be revealed in your life. 

How to Locate God's Provision for You...

So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided.

Provision is key to achieving your goals. If you are to achieve the things you dream to achieve you need to find provision of the resources required to do it. 

     In considering this thought line I recall my teenage year’s addiction to the computer game, Super Mario. Three things will ensure you succeed in taking Super Mario to the end of each stage; the amount of life he has left, his degree of invisibility, and the weapons he has at his disposal. Mario does not have these things all through his adventure and you will have to get to certain stages of each level to get the provision of more life, invisibility, or better weapons. Whenever you have the three combined you feel super indeed until the time it wears out.

     As it is with Super Mario so it is with your success journey. If you would receive God’s provision you must be at the right place. This is important. If Mario does not arrive at the stage in the game level where he can get more life or weapons, he will receive no provision, irrespective of how much dire need he is in.

     On God’s instruction, Abraham set out on a strange journey that would redefine his entire life and that of the nation that would come after him. He followed instructions to a specific mountain of which he was told to make a big sacrifice. At the very moment that he was to strike his son, he heard a call that showed him the real sacrifice. Don’t you wonder what would have happened if he had gone to the wrong mountain?

      A similar thing happened to Elijah. In the heat of a famine he received this instruction: “Get out of here fast. Head east and hide out at the Kerith Ravine on the other side of the Jordan River. You can drink fresh water from the brook; I’ve ordered the ravens to feed you there.” It was important he followed all these instructions on location because there and there alone is the provision. 
      If you would receive provision you must be at the right place. 

BIG Thieves Stoning small Thieves

All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But only he who never sinned may throw the first! – Jesus (the Christ)

Have you noticed that, more often than not, we have solutions to other people’s problems but are perplexed by the same problems in our own lives? Somehow it is easy for me to solve my problems than it is to solve mine.

Sequel to this when people do things they are plainly improper and wrong but when I do the same things I have a reason why it happened the way it did.

This happens because we all think logically towards other people but emotionally toward ourselves. When relating to folks we use our heads and when we are handling ourselves we use our hearts.

In truth – if we would make progress with ourselves and be of help to folks – we need to reverse the process. We are to handle folks with our hearts while we handle ourselves with our heads.

Develop the habit of cutting folks some slack. The same reason why you do improper things may just be theirs. Some time ago I broke a driving law because I was trying to get to my father in the hospital who needed my help. Whilst doing it I wondered what the other law-abiding folks were thinking. They probably were thinking the things I think of folks I see breaking the same law.

I in no way suggest that you break laws for just any reason but am saying that when we know the reasons people do some things we may have a paradigm shift. This means that we may see the same things differently because we are now looking from a different perspective.

I know that you sincerely want to help. You indeed can help folks to make progress in their success paths but I would encourage you to use these words as guideline:

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures,

Criticize their faults – unless, of course, 

You want the same treatment.

That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.

It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbors face

And be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.

Do you have the nerve to say,

“let me wash your face for you,”

When your own face is distorted by contempt?

… Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face,

       And you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. 

Winter of my Discontent

It’s not time for despair, but for repair. – Gary Montecalvo

 I am at that point where you look carefully at what you are doing and where you are headed and wonder whether you know, in heavens name, where your life is going. (It isn’t that I am experiencing this for the first time – just that every time feels new in its own right.) I had a long talk some hours ago with my better half (that’s an overused humble way of simply saying wife) and we questioned every way I feel can move me to the next level of goal achievement. Good part of being married is that you can no longer make solo decisions. At the end of our talk I cannot categorically say we made progress.

Deep within my heart lies a discontent – a feeling that there is much more to lay hands on, much more to do and experience. Logically, it would suffice to say, “Young man you have a long life to live so please be still,” but if you have been young you would attest to the feeling of desperation that frequently keeps it company.

While drifting along in thoughts my mind went to Adam with his wife, Eve, in the garden. No history books. No folk tales. No songs. Just the two of them and all of creation. How did they overcome their winters of discontent? What did they result to when it was looking obvious that their dreams (and the whole of mankind) would die with them? Did they despair? Did they fall into the gloomy pit of depression as many of us would?

Just the way I cannot answer my own questions, I also have no certain answers to these questions. Instead, I look to another man who was left all alone at his time of despair. At one time, David’s camp was raided and all the women, children, and their possessions were taken. His men were in despair and debated if the best action was to kill their leader and friend, David. David was found himself in a winter of discontent. He would have stayed confused and depressed but instead we read that, “David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord.” May that be where Adam received strength? Most probably.
                          [Also Read: Tired? Take a life leave]

At your times of trouble I implore you to look to the Lord. It is there that you receive encouragement that strengthens.

Dream-Maker

I just now remembered something – I’m sorry, I should have told you this long ago … there was a young Hebrew slave whom we told our dreams and he interpreted them for us. – Pharoah’s Cupbearer (speaking of Joseph)

 I am not one of those who believe in the “Self-made” man. I read gazillions of articles that use words like, “Self-made millionaire,” “Self-developed speaker,” and lots more but I don’t think that in practice there is anyone that can described as such.

That is simply because I don’t believe that the governor in a great governor is solely accountable for the greatness of the governor. I strongly believe that the friend, the foe, the neighbor, the stranger, the seller, the buyer, the speaker, the listener, the teacher, the learner, the receiver, the giver, the lover, the hater, the ex-lover, the marketer, the consumer, etc. in the governor, also play an imperative role.

All the people and factors that surround our lives collectively make us. They help you succeed in succeeding or succeed in failing. I believe that Moses wouldn’t be Moses without Pharoah and Jethro, David wouldn’t be David without Samuel and Saul, Jesus wouldn’t have been the same Jesus without Joseph and Mary.

You can be part of the another’s success story. I met a friend after a long time apart. I discovered that he was now a pilot. I was noticeably in awe of this. The closest I have come to a pilot was the public address they give before take-off and landing. So I dug deeper as to how he became one. He briefly narrated how his father called him up and asked if he still wanted to pursue his childhood dream of flying and offered to support him actualize it.

When folks tell you of their dreams and aspirations, search your heart to see how you can help them bring it to pass. No person grows appropriately as an island. We all need others to survive and to thrive. My success is tied to you and so is yours to me. There is a song that goes:

I need you

You need me

We’re all a part of God’s body

Stand with me

Agree with me

We’re all a part of God’s body

It is his will that every need be supplied

You are important to me

I need you to survive

I won’t harm you

With words from my mouth

I love you

I need you to survive…

…

Decide today that you will be a part of someone’s success story. You will be glad you did.

For other articles on Ambition, click here...

Attitude Revolution

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. – Winston Churchill

Our attitudes are important factors in determining how far we get along our success paths. Your attitude is the way you think and feel that affects your behavior. So in effect it is not merely what you think but the way you think.

King Solomon reckoned that, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” Mahatma Gandhi expounded on this by stating that, “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.”

Ultimately, your thoughts do two things. First they show you who you really are. When in doubt as to who you are, do not go as far as asking for people’s opinion. Simply search through your thoughts. Second, your thoughts determine who you will become. Your thoughts are to your life what the steering wheel is to a car – it determines the direction.

To develop a great attitude, take careful note of your manners. Young folks think it is old school to say sorry when wrong, please when they need help, or thank you when they are helped. These simple manners affect our attitudes immensely. Also, you should identify people that have threaded the path you are on and follow. Mentors help us ensure we don’t make the behavioral mistakes they made. Finally, be present. Be there when you are needed. Do not miss out on opportunities to be a part of worthy ventures.

You can change everything by changing your attitude to a positive one. 

Spiritual Revolution

Believe me a man cannot even see the kingdom of God without being BORN AGAIN. – Jesus (the Christ)

We all have two pairs of eyes (that’s my way of expressing it) – the outer set of eyes that we can all see and an inner pair that we cannot see. With your outer set you have access to the physical environment. Your eyes feed you with up eighty percent of the information you have. Though very important, your outer eyes are very limited to the things that presently exist.

With your inner pair of eyes sight has no boundaries. You can see what no one else can. You have access to limitless information. It is with your inner eyes that you see the future. Joseph was seeing with his inner eyes when he declared to his family, “Look I have dreamed another dream … the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed to me,” when they were mere wandering shepherds. Martin Luther King (Jnr) saw with his inner eyes when he proclaimed, “I have a dream that one day my four little children will not be judged by the color of their skins but by the content of their character,” though what his outer eyes saw was racial prejudice and discrimination. With these men and many others that have experienced inner sight I can boldly say they had a glimpse into the Kingdom of God.

For your inner eyes to see a future yet covered, you need a spiritual revolution. You need a complete and dramatic change in your inner person – your spirit. In the words of a carpenter, Jesus (the Christ), you “cannot even see the Kingdom of God without being born again.” You must have a complete transformation, a change that is not short of existing for the first time all over again.

Being born again means the second you never existed prior to the revolution. Your prejudices and biases, your desires and inklings, your habits and comfort zones, all have never existed.

A spiritual revolution is, indeed, an awesome experience because it empowers you on your inside. You will suddenly be able to affirm that, “I can do ALL things through the anointing (empowerment inside you), which strengthens me.”

In addition, it sets up for an all-involving success. By this I mean the whole of you will be a part of your success story. You will identify and make consistent progress in your unique success path and you will experience what King Solomon meant when he said, “The [success] path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” 

Another Theory of Evolution

There is a queer feature in all of us that robs us of the best God has in store for our lives – our ability to adapt to unfavorable situations. On the one side our adaptive features help us to survive difficult times. The father of modern-day evolution, Charles Darwin stated that, “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.” I agree with this statement. To survive you must learn to adapt, to acclimatize, to familiarize, to conform. You must learn to act like the Romans while in Rome.

Unfortunately survival is the best you will continually get out of an adaptive life. If you would live life to the fullest you must take a step further. You must learn to get ahead of mere conformity to creating the changes of the favorable situation you want to experience.

A full life is full with exciting experiences. It is motivated with visions, goals and a skillfully defined purpose. This is a far cry from what most of us experience. We are used to changes made – howbeit without empathy – by the government. We cry and shout, protest and accept a milder version of the same oppression. We are trained in schools to not be different. “Fit in!” we are commanded, “you are not the first and neither will you be the last.” Any wonder we are so hopelessly – and non-uniquely – the same? We are Zebras in a flock of Zebras.

                        [see also: Do You Want a Revolution?]

I conclude with this lovely poem by Mokokoma Mokhonoana culled from his book, The Confessions of a Misfit. It summarizes my thought line for this article.

Somebody is born.

Somebody goes to school.

Somebody learns to conform.

Somebody types a CV.

Somebody gets a job.

Somebody follows orders.

Somebody gets a golden watch.

And then, eventually,

Somebody dies.
       And, a nobody is buried...

…

…

Selah 

To read other articles on change click here.

Work IS Progress

On the seventh day God finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. – 1st Book of Moses

 “All work and no play,” it is said, “makes Jack a dull boy.” True. Have you ever wondered what all play and no work makes Jack?

Work is a universal part of human life. Skin color may vary, cultures may be different, and tongues may be diverse but everywhere you turn on the face of the globe people work. It is a good thing to work. Paul, the fiery apostle once opined: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat”! He was of the old school that taught there is no food for lazy man.

Beyond food, there are some very important things to note about work. First, we were all created to work. We read that, “God placed the man in the Garden of Eden as its gardener, to tend and take care of it.” The very first assignment man had was work-hinged.

Second, work brings us into productive living. You cannot live productively without working. Paul encouraged us in his letter to the Ephesians, “If anyone is stealing he must stop it and begin using those hands of his for honest work so that he can give to others in need.”

Third, work teaches us self-discipline. Remember that whatever (it doesn't matter what it is) your hands find to do, do it with all of your might. It takes self-discipline to exert such a level of effort to a work.

Forth, your work is healthy for your body and mind. Waddell G., Aylward M., and Burton K. in Work and common health problems, note: “It is known that unemployed people and their families suffer a higher rate of premature death, increased rates of depression and anxiety, higher rates of self-reported ill health, heart disease and risk factors of heart disease.”

                          [also read: How to Love What You Do]

       Finally, if you work you will appreciate other peoples work. You would learn to see the efforts of others and have respect for it. It is easy to look down on another person’s efforts if you are idle but when you work your outlook will be different. 

Have you Asked Yourself the Right Questions?

At the end of the day, the questions we ask of ourselves determine the type of people that we will become. – Leo Babauta (Blogger and author)

“Who has a question to ask?” You probably have heard this statement a zillion times in classrooms, conferences, seminars and churches. The default response is, “No” (at least until someone becomes bold enough to ask some silly question with an obvious answer.)

Interestingly, your breakthrough can come from the quality of questions you ask yourself. It was Voltaire that said, “Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.” Many questions lack substantial quality and so shut the doors of progress rather than unlock them.

I suggest a progression in the path of quality self-questioning. In this process there are three very important words: What, Why, and How. These words must be used in this progression. Do not stop until you conclude the process else you will be left with a crippling answer.

So let’s do a little exercise on a person that has an issue with his or her looks:

STAGE I:

Question: What is the problem I have with my looks?

Possible Answer: I am thinner than I wish to be.

In this stage the word, “What,” unlocks the situation. It brings you to a clear realization of the problem. The clearer you ask this question the better the response you will receive. Now you can progress to the next stage.

STAGE II:

Question: Why am I thinner than I wish to be?

Possible Answer(s): Because my mother was very thin. Because I don’t eat healthy foods. Because I don’t have friends to support me.

  This stage tells you the possible reasons why you are facing a particular situation. You must be careful with this stage because you can easily get very bad answers that can affect your self-esteem. This is more reason why you must not stop here.

STAGE III:

Question: How can I get better looks?

Possible Answer(s): I could eat healthier diets. I could begin an exercise program. I could read stories of people that overcame similar problems. I could start a blog that tells people about the progress I am making.

This stage is very important as asking “How” unlocks your creativity and ushers you into a world of positive answers. This is the stage that will liberate you from any problem. Without this stage quality self-questioning is impossible. You can try this exercise with any problem you are facing – it works all the times you use it.