Thursday 31 January 2008

TO RECEIVE, ASK.

While returning to the office on a hot afternoon with some colleagues, we drove past a young man who was trekking. Though he was sweating profusely, he didn’t ask for a ride when our car was approaching. On a second thought, I told the driver to reverse so that we could pick up the young man. Surprisingly, he walked past our car again. Not until we beckoned on him did he even come closer to the car. We then asked him to join us in the car since we were all heading in the same direction and so he did. He later told us that he was even going to our office to resolve some issues. When we got to the office, he was so full of thanks that I then had to ask him why he was slack in asking for a lift in the first place when he saw an opportunity to escape the scorching sun. As expected, he had no solid explanation to back up his lackadaisical attitude. It was at this point that I reasoned that one of the reasons why many fail in life is because they refuse to ask for help - majority fail in business, academics and in life generally because they refuse to ask for guidance. Many starve because they refuse to ask for assistance. Countless opportunities have been lost by many because they failed to ask for help at the appropriate time. The list is endless.

A closed mind never receives. We often miss out of the good things that could easily be obtained because we refuse to ask. We wait endlessly for miracles when all we might have to do is to just ask for the miracles to come to pass. I can’t however guarantee that you will get all the help you require by asking just once. Many a times, you might need to ask several times before you receive the desired. So, be determined. Learn from babies: even when they cannot yet talk, they still cry to protest - and they won’t stop crying till they get what they want. How much more you that can communicate! How often do you compromise your standard because you fail to ask? Why suffer in silence when succor beckons? Why live a frustrated life when help is available? Even though it’s not certain that you’ll receive help each time you ask, but at least asking increases the possibilities of receiving. So why not take the shot! I also agree that asking for help can be humiliating at times, but what do you do when you still need the help anyway? You ask. It doesn’t mean you have to be lazy though, you have to play your part before asking for help (remember that the universe is not structured to favor the indolent). Likewise, tact should be employed: you should know when to ask, how to ask, where to ask, and from whom to ask. Else, your requests and efforts might be in vain.

“If there’s something to gain and nothing to lose by asking, by all means ask” advised W. Clement Stone. Beloved, you’ll definitely need the help of others for one thing or the other and the only way you can get the required help is by asking because mortal men cannot see through your mind to ascertain whether you need help or not. For doors to open, you might have to voice out. So do not hesitate to ask for help whenever you need one. Come out of your shell before you die inside your shell. Swallow your pride before your pride swallows you.

Nothing is impossible; everything is doable. The help you require for that challenging situation has always been there, but for the asking; help is often available, but you might have to ask to receive. So key-in to the vast provisions available to make unprecedented progress in all areas of your life. Be expectant. Be receptive. Be proactive. Be ready. Be determined. Be successful.

Friday 25 January 2008

YOU NEED GOOD FRIENDS.

Since you are a social being, you cannot do without mingling with friends. Interestingly, who you mingle with will determine your reasoning, your reasoning will determine your actions, and your actions in turn will determine the results you get from life. Thus, your friends can be assets to you, while they can also be liabilities. Your friends can get you jobs, while they can also get you sacked. Your friends can help you inculcate good habits, while they can also introduce you to bad habits. Your friends can recommend you for a lifting, while they can also fish you out for destruction. Your friends can support you, while they can also demote you. Your friends can give you a new lease of life, while they can also kill you. Isn’t it just wise then that you choose only good friends to roll with? The answer is affirmative.

Sadly, good friends are rare to come by in times like these because selfishness is the order of the day. Who then is a good friend? A true friend, in Richard Exley’s words, “is one who hears and understands when you share your deepest feelings. He supports you when you are struggling; he corrects you, gently and with love, when you err; and he forgives you when you fail. A true friend prods you to personal growth, stretches you to your full potential. And most amazing of all, he celebrates your successes as if they were his own.” How many of your friends fit into that definition? Do a thorough assessment and be truthful to yourself. Since anyone that can’t increase you will decrease you, keeping bad friends is tantamount to wickedness to self. So purge them out! Let go of them before they ruin you! Flee from the bad ones! If however you’ve got some good ones, cultivate the relationships; hold on to them tightly, they’ll inevitably add to you. If you haven’t got some good ones, then it’s time to search for some; it’ll help - you can win with people.

It doesn’t matter the quantity of friends you have, it’s the quality that counts. So, reshuffle; discard the bad ones, keep only the good ones, even add more good ones. It is also worthy to note that the Law of Attraction comes to play here as you can only attract good friends to yourself only if you are one, so by all means make yourself one so that you can network your way to success.

Team up with great minds so that you can scale the utmost height. Soar with the eagles!

Friday 18 January 2008

CARRY YOUR CROSS.

While growing up, I literally looked unto some acquaintances of mine for help but was mostly disappointed with the way things turned out. In fact, not until when I started working did I forgive some of my relations and friends that I thought could have helped me up when I needed it most, but who didn’t. Now that some are looking up to me, in as much as I would have loved to, I can’t help as many as I wish because I also have issues to deal with - I have to think of my personal needs, my immediate family, plan for my future before I can now think of assisting others. My wants have remained insatiable while my resources are limited for now, and that limits my might. I’m even sure that I must have disappointed some loved ones that looked up to me for one help or the other at some point or the other too. I can now see why I didn’t get all the help I needed then. Should those that have let me down in the past be condemned? Or should I be condemned? Certainly not, everybody is just trying to make ends meet.

After series of experiences time and again during my few years of sojourn on earth, I have reasonably concluded that if anyone desires to succeed in this world of reality, such a person will have to personally carry his cross. Show me a man dependent on his fellow men, and I’ll show you a man that’ll soon be disappointed. Fellow, human beings will ever fail you, not because they are selfish, but because they are also limited to some degree. So resolve to face your challenges squarely. If help comes along the line, fair enough; grab it and be grateful. If not, there should still be no deterrent. Decide to breakthrough anyhow.

Your best hands are yours. Never resolve to waiting endlessly for help, the time and effort you put into pursuing and expecting help from others can be used creatively in proffering solutions to your set undertakings. And besides, some undertakings are not transferable, you have to do it yourself if you must get the desired result. So be ready to always carry your cross at all times. Stop trading blames; accept the responsibilities that are yours.

Now, pause to re-evaluate your situation and then re-strategize. There must be a way around your situation without you having to depend on others, so start thinking of solutions. I can’t promise you that it’ll be easy though, there’ll come a time when your strength will fail you. When it does, just hang in there; don’t give up! Whatever the situation may be, however hopeless the odds are, you can make it. It’ll call for careful planning, sacrifice and determination though, but it’s achievable.

Be it known to you that those you’re looking up to for help are also looking unto others for help, so avail yourself of disappointments. Close your eyes to those around you that you feel could help but are not helping; be prepared to go it all alone and you’ll be surprised at how providence will move to your aid. You can be independent and yet make waves. You can even outshine your contemporaries. You can achieve excellence without being a pest.

Heed the words of wisdom and prosper. Be reminded that you’ve only got but one shot at life, so it’s up to you to paint a masterpiece or a meaningless daub out of it. After all, it’s your life!

Wednesday 9 January 2008

TO OBTAIN, SEEK.

Our world is all-inclusive; Mother Nature has provision for all our needs. All that living things (plants, animals, human beings) needs to survive has been deposited in this same world of ours, all we have to do is to find it and use it – that simple! Is it water? Apart from rivers, streams, you can also find water below the surface of the earth. It even falls as rain. Is it food? We have numerous plants and animals that are edible. Is it herbs? Many plants are medicinal, even their roots are not useless. Is it energy? Crude oil, charcoal, to name a few, are always there for us to convert to suit our purpose. Is it shelter? Trees, limestone, sharp sand, rocks are always there for us to utilize to build for ourselves the shelter that we desire. No doubt, the Master Architect of the universe had envisioned all our needs and made provision for them all. As generous as nature is, it is however sad that many lack. I have reasonably concluded that one of the reasons why men lack is because they fail to tap from the vast provision; they fail to seek what they require. Thus, they dine and wine with poverty when all they require to flourish and lavish has been provided. What a pity!

A careful study of nature shows that our universe is not structured to favor the indolent; you have to seek to obtain. Food does not get to birds in their nests; they go out to find food. As tiny as ants are, they also search for their food. Even the king of the jungle does not enjoy the largesse of animals having to stroll into his den, he goes out to hunt! Yet, we wait for destiny to smile on us when all we need to do is to seek! Funny, isn’t it?

The secret of obtaining is seeking; it is omnipotent.

Good things sometimes elude us because we seek amiss; how you seek, when you seek, where you seek, and from whom you seek matters. Thus, it is important that you get your facts right before taking action. Can a fisherman find fish in the desert? Likewise, a trained petroleum engineer will be wasting his time in a desert; he needs to be where his services are needed before he can be gainfully employed. You can obtain whatever you want if you seek right. Do you want a change of job? Then, roll out your resume in numbers to establishments in need of your services. Do you need contracts? Send out proposals to all prospective clients; they need to know what you can offer. The list is endless. To get the desired result(s), you must do it the way it ought to be done.

It’s alright to manage while you’re working out a solution, but it’s a sin in a world of plenty to keep managing till the end of your days. So, do something! Take a step. Even if you have to seek greener pastures in another continent, do so! By all means, ensure you part ways with poverty. As we begin another year, it is imperative that you seek out your wants so that you can finish strong. You deserve nothing but the very best, so go for gold! Whatever you want can be yours if you seek for it; it might not come easily though, but it can be yours with effort and perseverance. Why settle for less then when all that you require can be obtained?

Universe’s heir, it’s time to exercise your rights; seek the fortune that you are entitled to. It’s time to possess your possessions! It’s time to prosper!