ABOUT THE BOOK
I have seen and read many inspirational books but there is something electrifying about this book. To be candid, the book made me to shed tears, because the book was as if the author was particularly talking to me. It’s such an explosive that can activate your mind and your whole life as soon as you digest and follow the principles there in. I recommend this book to anybody who wants to be great.
| Thomas Arbor Salzburg Austria |
The book “THE road to greatness” is quite inspirational. It is an imperative contribution to the development of human mind and ability. The author decidedly aimed at equipping you to believe in yourself, know the unknown man in you and think positively. The book is outlined for everybody especially the youth of today who are facing challenges, in order to sail through the existing controversies and predicaments in their lives. It is also an aspiration to rise above one’s present situation and find their effort greatly rewarded.
This is a book for the future champions and personalities who would love to be great. Who do not want to be limited by the circumstances surrounding their existence but soar beyond imagination.
| Fidelis Odoh Human Right volunteer corps |
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated; first and foremost to my creator who inspired me to be the Chief servant of the less privilege and the defenseless.
It is also dedicated to my late father who set the standard I strive to reach and my dear mother who sacrifice all to sustain my choice. To the defenseless, the oppressed, the less privilege and the needy whose anguish ensure my continuing protest. To my mentor late san Gani Fahwihimi for dropping his shoes as a stepping tool for me.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
How can I say thank you where there are many people to thank for their contribution towards the success of this book. First and foremost all my thank goes to God Almighty who endeared me with strength and inspiration which gave birth to this work.
Special thanks go to Rev. Fr. Donatus Ofuluozor who was my Rector when I was at St, Augustine’s Seminary Ezzangbo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Who prepared me educationally, psychologically and spiritual for the task ahead.
Also a big thank you goes to Mr. Larry Oguego, the national coordinator Human Right Volunteers corps. And greater tomorrow initiative whose passion for humanity inspired me for task ahead.
I wish to express my gratitude to Mr Fidelis Odoh who sacrificed his time to edit this work. Also for his advice, useful suggestions and moral support. This has helped me greatly, to attain to the height I am now in life.
FORWARD
The ideas and thoughts portrayed in this book would definitely make the world a better place if properly applied in our activities and things we do.
If you desire to stand out clearly and to make an indelible impact in the lives of others both in your generation and afterwards, then this book is for you.
The book leads us to greatness because it extensively shows us the road to greatness. We desire to be successful in everything we do – in business, in sports, in politics, in every career we engage in every Endeavour and sphere of our lives. It is our natural desire to always be on top-to be first and not the last; to be the winner and not the loser; to be victor and not victim. We want to associate with champions, with celebrities, with great and noble achievers. Hence, a book that helps us discover ourselves is most welcomed, which is why I recommend this book as a must read for all that wants to be great.
| Mr. Calistus Odoh. |
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of these inspirational book is to give you hope and show you the road to greatness. It has been authenticated that human beings can live without food for 40days, without water for 4days, without air for 4 minutes and without hope for 4 seconds. That is one of the reasons why when you call somebody to tell him that his goods worthy millions sank on the sea, some on hearing the sad news would collapse and die, some would even hang themselves. Why? Because they have lost hope completely.
This book gives you hope and a ladder to climb into your destiny.
What has somebody told you that whenever you remember them, it makes you to cry? Is it that you are a disappointment? That you are a failure? That you are not man enough? That you are a disgrace? That you are born to suffer?
A friend told me a pathetic story of his life. He said “my name is Johnson, two years ago after the demise of my beloved father, my father’s elder brother suddenly turned against me and my family. During one of the family meetings, we were discussing on when and how to bury my father. When I wanted to talk, he rebuke me, said I should shut up that I was not going to make any point. He also told me that I was a disgrace and disappointment to my family that I was born to suffer and that I must actually suffer. He talked as if he was my God. I cried bitterly like a child” from that day onwards I resolved to be successful and significant in this life so that I would surprise my suprisers. Let them live to see me become that significant personality they thought I would never be. Believing that nobody is my God and my destiny was in my hands.
I became focused in life, putting extra effort to reach the target of attaining greatness which I set for my self. Thank God for my life today. I had indeed surprised my suprisers. I had become significant in my family that no family meeting would hold without my consent. My uncle has 2 building and a car but I have 12 houses in different states and 6 private cars. Infact, I had donated cars to 3 churches and 2 buses to motherless babies home. Thank God for my life today.
If success in life is measured by size, the ant will look foolish before the elephant.
We all at one time or the other, have had experiences, some of course pleasurable, others nasty and disheartening. Some still gather tears to our eyes each time we remember them. You may have lost your beloved parents, wife, husband, son, daughter, fiancée, you may have had a child out of wedlock, you may have had academic failures, you may have not beared children after marriage, you may have had wanted to further your education but nobody to sponsor you. You may have been betrayed by somebody who promised to marry you or somebody you want marry or whatever the mistake you think you made. But you see my beloved friend, you are special and by implication your destiny is bright. I bet you desired something better. And you can have it .You can erase your past and give it no more reason to keep you from moving towards the great future you are destined to rule. I recommend this inspiration book to anybody who genuinely need a positive change in the way the world is today. Man’s inhumanity to man, oppression, corruption, bad leadership, human right abuse etc I need a change in my country what about you? If yes get this book. I encourage you to get a copy for yourself, tell your friends, families’ colleagues and loved ones about the book. You can do what I cannot do and i can do what you cannot do but together we can make the world great.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title Page ………………………………………… i
Copyright page ii
About the book iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Forward vi Introduction vii
CHAPTERS
1. The world is waiting for you…………………… 8
2. Be passionate to humanity……………………..
3. You deserve to be great………………………….
CHAPTER ONE
THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR YOU
Indeed the world is waiting for you. It waited for Martin
Luther King Junior and he surely arrived and moved the
United States of America. It waited for Shakespeare,
and he came and lifted Literature, It waited for Bill Gate, he made the world a global village. It waited for
Barak Obama, he became the first black president to
rule America. The world is waiting for you because, you have something the world needs. Don’t be a spectator, or a passenger. Don’t pass the world
unnoticed because posterity will never forgive you. Wake up, don’t allow your children to ask you where you were when your mates were becoming presidents, generals, Barristers, doctors, Business
Tycoons, Governors etc
A lot who have failed in life blame their poor background wrongly for their failure. Others blame their father, Mother, Uncle, cousins, for
not sponsoring them to make it in life. But regardless of all these excuses, I want to assure
you that nobody has the key to your success in life except you. Buttressing my point from
biblical point of view
“Jeremiah 1: 1 -5
God’s word to Jeremiah “Before I formed you in the womb I know you, and before
you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the
nation” It does not matter the kind of background you came
from. The purpose for your creation stands
“If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he is not fit to live”
Basil Robert
“Homo plantet, homo irrigate sed dues dat.”
“Homo Planet, Man water but it is God who give increase”
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
The first step toward achieving greatness is believing in yourself. No matter what people has told you. That you were born to fail, born to suffer, born by mistake, hopeless, a disappointment. Why not surprise your surpriser? They need to live and see you become that significant personality they thought you would never be. You are never born by mistake, by accident or as a result of a chemical reaction. The purpose for your life still stands and that’s what you are expected to use for serving humanity.
“Nemo dad non quod habet”
“Nobody gives what he does not have”
Always have faith in yourself, believing that nobody has a final say in your destiny. Your poor background cannot determine your future. But it depends on your mental attitude towards it. That is the reason why two individuals can be subjected to a certain challenge, one sees the challenge as the end of his life, he becomes despondent about his predicament until he is overcomed by the challenge. But on the contrary the other sees it as a stepping stone to his destiny.
Sometimes people think that if you’re currently successful you have always been that way. What has somebody told you, about your life that you are worn out with grief? That whenever you remember it makes you to cry. How long would you allow people that do not want your progress to triumph over you? Do you want people to gloat over your down fall?
Are you like a stronger to your relatives, like a foreigner to your family? Have people disgrace, insulted and dishonored you because they felt you are a non-entity? Have your loved ones told lies against you, opposing you, even though you cherish and love them? Have people paid you back with hatred for love shown to them? Why not make a decision to surprise them? Let them be ashamed, when they had seen you become successful and prominent.
After conducting a seminar on “your road to success”. One of the participants told me a pathetic story that made my heart to bleed. He said, “My father was taking care of my needs when I was still in the university. But his behavior towards me changed two year after my graduation. I looked for a job for two years but all to no avail. I noticed my father was no longer happy with me. He shouts at me at any slightest provocation. He would always tell me that he was tired of taking care of me. That I was a waste and a disgrace to our family. He told me that I should know what I would do with my life that he doesn’t think he will be able to cater for my primary needs again. I wondered why my biological father was treating me like a stranger. A person who was supposed to encourage and give me fatherly support and advice. My mother always rebuked him whenever he was inhuman to me. On one fateful day, I was eating, he entered and saw me. He reminded me that I was eating my fellow man’s food that I should get my own food. I had to burst into tears, I wept bitterly. I had to surmone courage to ask him what I had done to him. Angrily, he rushed me, with my spoon still in my mouth; he slapped my cheek. My mouth started to bleed. From that very day, I made a decision never to set my eyes on him again and I angrily packed all my belongings and left the house.
After many weeks, one of the companies I submitted my application with called me and offered me a job. Today, I am the manager of my company, and my miserable life had turned around for good. Because I believed my destiny would only be delayed but can never be denied. I wonder who my biological Father wanted me to run for help, but today I am on top ruling my world. As he concluded, I felt for him. My beloved, nobody has a final say in your life. All you need is to believe you can do it and put extra effort towards achieving it. Bill gates came from a poor background and he believed in himself, but today he has affected the world. The restrictions in your background and your physical handicap should be your propeller toward greatness. You don’t need to depend on any body to be successful in life
Human beings would always fail and betray you. Even your family members i.e. father, mother, brother, sister uncle etc could betray you
HOW LIFE WORKS
Who constantly disturbs my parents that he needs a grand child that age was slowly moving against him?
MY GRANDFATHER
Who said my mother was only interested in her own family, that she doesn’t allow her children to visit their brother’s house and that she also prevents her son form buying clothes, snuffs and sending money to her?
MY GRANDMOTHER.
Who personally told me that he is tired of feeding me that I am now a full grow man like him, that I should start to cater for myself?
MY FATHER.
Who always reminds me that all my mates were married and prosperous, that my best friend bought a Jeep and 2 plot of land respectively ?
MY MOTHER.
Who always compared me with his children, whenever I was successful, he was not happy. He would always advise me take his sons and make them successful like me?
MY UNCLE
Who always pretended she loved and cared about me, but on the contrary, said malicious things against me? In my absence, she told my father bad things against me?
MY STEP- MOTHER
Who always compared my family and my business with his own family. They pretended to be happy, but his were always jealous of my achievement?
MY COUSIN
Who constantly reminded me that I should share our father properties, that he is a man now and needed to start his own life?
MY BROTHER
Who pretended they loved me, shared in my achievements, ate and drank wine with me, called me all sort of big names, informed me of the happening places in town. But abandoned me when I was overcomed with challenges?
MY FRIEND
Who placed all his hope on his family, friends and relations but at end was betrayed, disappointed and wept but when things seemed alright, he went back to them?
MY SELF
Don’t place your hope on people, because they would definitely fail and disappoint you.
Some people are naturally made not to help you because you had been destined to be great. And when such person helps you they would claim they were the one that made you great. There are people, whenever they render any financial assistance to you, before some seconds the news is all over places. Even people you least expect to know about it would definitely hear about it. They just helped you because they needed the praises and glory attached to it. Your challenges in life should always propel you and be your stepping stone to greatness. Don’t be despondent about your predicaments.
There is no challenges that you are facing or may face subsequently that a worst and a similar situation had no been faced by some other people. I was charting with a friend, he asked after another close friend of mine. I told him that his world had turn around for two months since after losing his mother.
To my surprise, he told me that my friend was, not serious. That as he was talking to me, that he had lost his father, mother, brother and his two lovely sons. That somebody who had just lost only his mother is behaving as if the world is coming to an end. Though he seemed to be harsh in his statement but he was right to some extent, because he had experienced the lost of loved once to the extent that death doesn’t move him again. So, whatever challenges you are facing, some people had faced a worst challenge and overcomed them.
Let your challenges be your stepping stone to greatness. A man was recorded in history, he was handicapped. He had no hands but nevertheless did a famous thing that posterity would never forget him. He drew once of the famous art work ever. No hands but posterity would never forget him. He drew one of the famous art works ever. A person who has no hands. he drew with his legs, you could imagine!!! He drew tomatoes, rice and beans, painted them, the art work was so real and natural that when it was displayed on a field, the birds of the air gathered to devour them, hoping it was a real food.
There are people, who could just be unfortunate like him , without hands. They would start pitying themselves or choose to be beggars. But many people had channeled their predicaments to greatness.
James monrve, William Harrison, and William Mckinley dropped out of their respective schools in 1776, 1771 and 1860 and still went ahead to become the 5th , 9th and 2nd president of united states in 1817, 1841and 1897 respectively.
Bill gate did not complete his education at Harvard University. He went ahead to found Microsoft corporation and today recorded as one of the world’s richest man.
“Dum spiro, spero”
“While I breathe, I hope”
Things don’t turn up in this world until something turn them up
The present predicament you found yourself, don’t see it as the end of your life. Life challenges are blessing and better opportunities in disguise. Some of the inventions in the world today were done out of life challenges. Men like Like Kim Woo Chong, founder of Daewoo incorporation that was trekking bare footed on the street of Korea. Men like Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, the president of Brazil that had to shine shoes and sold peanuts because he did not have money to feed. But had a dream for the top. Let me briefly discuss the life history of Liuz Lula Da Silva. He was born on 27th October 1945, in the small town of Garanhums, state of Pernambuco, in the North East of Brazil. He is the seventh of eight children of Arstides Inacio Da Silva and Euridice Ferreira Da Mello. The father left the family to work as a stevedore in the port of Santos, states of Sa’o Paulo, carrying coffee sack. Lula met his father for the first time at the age of five, when he came to visit them. In December 1952 the mother traveled on the back of a truck for 13 days with her children, to migrate to the cost of the state of sa’o Paulo. They settled in vincente de carvalho, a poor neighborhood of Guaruja, a well know beach resort. When he was seven years old he sold peanut and oranges on the street of Guaruja.
He attended” Marcillo Dias” a state owned school, where he learnt how to read for the first time at age of at the age of 10, but had to drop out later.
In 1956, the mother separated from the husband and had to live with the children in the city of Sao Paulo in one single room at the back of a bar in a neighborhood called Ipiranga. Lulu’s first Job at the age of 12 was as a dry cleaner.
He also worked as a shoe shiner, and as an office boy. When he was 14, Lula went to worker at Columbia where for the first time he was officially registered as a worker. He later enrolled in a technical school where he studied for 3 years to become a mechanic and a lathe operator.
At the age of twenty- one, he lost a finger in a work accident while working in an auto parts factory. Lula was not initially interested in politics, but threw himself into trade union activism after his wife died of hepatitis in 1969; he was 24 years old then. He remarried in 1974 at the age of 29 to Marisa Letica and they have five children. Elected Leader of 100,000 strong metal work union activism in Brazil by turning what had mostly been government friendly organization into a powerful independent moment in 1980, Lula bought together a combination of trade unionist, intellectuals, Trotskyites and Church activist to found the workers party (WP) the major socialist party in the country’s history. Since then the worker’s party has gradually replaced it’s revolutionarily commitment to changing the power in Brazil with a pragmatic, social democratic platform. He later became the president of Brazil.
HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAM
I admonish you to hold on to your dreams, never allow lack, success, pain prison, education, war or failure to stop you from pursuing your dreams for you might be the next present, governor, senator, attorney, generals, ministers, ambassadors. So I welcome you to the world of Lula the famous shoe shiner, peanut Seller, metal worker, Labor leader who won 62% of the voter caste.
“Labor ant pauper ut divites fiant”
The poor work to become rich”
“Homo plantat, Homo irrigat sed dues dat”
“Man plants, man waters but it is God who gives increase”
What must be must be. I admonish you to pause and meditate Over this statement.
“What must be must be” say it out let the person nearest to you hear it. Then ponder and meditate over it.
Whenever you have faith in yourself, you are bound to make remarkable improvements. You have all it takes to be successful, they are all around you. But the issue is whether you are ready to take the bull by its horn.
COULD YOU IMAGINE!!!
A remarkable incident that took place in Nigeria, during the Beijing Olympics 2008, in china was a food of thought for critical and logical thinkers. During the Olympics, the president of federal republic of Nigeria Late Alhaji Umaru Yaradua mandated the National sports commission, ministry of sports and other sports agencies to ensure Nigeria win at least 8 gold medal out of the 231 gold medal been contested for at the Olympic games, or face been sacked. The athletes were of two category: - The normal and disabled athletes. The normal athletes could not boast of a single gold medal for Nigeria. But on the contrary, the disabled athletes came back with four gold medals, some slivers and bronzes. They knew they were not physically fit like others and had to put extra effort to compliment their inabilities. It is quite pertinent and perhaps incontestable that had it been it was the normal athletes that won those gold medals. The government would organize a presidential party for them, give them cars and houses. But on the contrary, these disabled athletes who had made the country proud would definitely go back to continue the menial jobs they were doing ranging from shoe mending, tailoring, basket weaving, blacksmithing.
A HUNGRY HEART FOR GREATNESS
You should have a hungry heart for positive results. Whenever you have a passion for something, you should be ready to work towards actualizing it in the wake of 1950’s America was taken by racial injustice and segregation. Martin Luther King Junior had a dream and a vision, which he made sure he actualized. He told the people he had a dream which content must be translated in to reality in no distant future if America was to become great. His dreams, he said was after all, not something strange. It was deeply rooted in the American dream. We hold this truth to be self-evident that all men are created equal.
In his dream, he saw as clear as crystal. A time would come when his four children would no longer be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. A time would come when the spirit of brotherhood would prevail over the Satan of segregation that had created unjustifiable social barriers between the sons of former slave master and the sons of former slave. Although he did not live to see his dreams come true. But his dreams later become a reality. Today, not even the sons of former slave been free, but a son of a former slave becoming the President of the United States of America. The evidence is Barak Hussein Obama becoming the first black president of the united states of American. It is quite unbelievable, but it is a history now. When we remember those days when racial discrimination of the black by the white Americans were the order of the day.
It was then a crime for black and white people to eat together, attend school together, attend any public gathering together. Not even to go to the same Church with white and pray to the same Church with white and pray to the same God. A black was expected to stop aside each time he met a white man on the road.
Black people have no voting right. But today, a black man is ruling the United States of America. Let me make it clear again, if you don’t believe in yourself and being focused, you are bound to be giving flimsy excuses about your failures in life.
Like Barak Obama would Always Say
“ if you believe you can, then we can”
Dear brother and sister, I believe in you, I know you can, just keep on trying don’t give up.
BE PERSISTENT
Stick to the changes you want in your life, don’t give up. Keep on trying and hoping. Once there is life, there is hope.
A Story was told of a bat, it had a special challenge, “I don’t understand it “ his mother said, “ All bat hang by their claws and sleep upside down. Why can’t you?
“ I really do try hard” The father and brother encouraged him to try a little more” he tried it many times but kept on falling. “It’s impossible – just impossible” the bat sighed, “I am a flop” I can’t hang by my claws “no, you are not a flop. Said the mother kindly, you just have to keep trying” “but every time I try, I fall on my head” no more, he said to himself as he lay back on his back on the leaves “may be other bats can sleep upside down, but I can’t. The mother has to apply a sap on his claws, “it is magnetic” he hung down, he didn’t fall. Look at me, he shouted, when his fat.her came. He said” “good for you, my son “you see , you just had to keep trying “I think it was the sap “the claws stuck to the tree, but the mother had to gently unwind the claw to enable him come down . He started hanging down with the help of the sap. But one day, the bat could not find any sap on the tree. “What will I do now? He cried” it’s impossible, “I just can’t do it without a sap. Just then, the mother ran over to him “look, she said. I found more sap, then she rubbed it on her son’s claws. He had opened his claws and was hanging down. It works! Thank you, mum he shouted! Every one came over to look, then the mum yelled “my son, you are doing it! Said his father” he can always do it without the sap on his claw. No, no, no, “cried the mother, jumping up and down. “it wasn’t the sap, it was water, I deceived him , I put it on his claws for him to believe it was sap. This is wonderful, I am proud of you! Said the mother “I can do it! I can do it! “The bat yelled “you just had to think you could do it” said the father. The story of the bat was an example of what happens in our lives. The solutions to our life challenges are right under our nose but we are always short sighted to see them. We always give hundred reasons why we shouldn’t succeed but without having a single reason why we should succeed.
But sometimes, we need people to help us believed in our self. The mother of the bat, believe in her son but her son believed he was a flop. She had to deceive him into believing that he was using a sap instead of water. He confidently hung down like other bats.
Some people strongly believed they are a flop, a failure, highly disadvantaged. No matter how people tries into put them on track, they believed they can’t do it But you had all it takes to do it. Sometimes people help you activate the sleeping genius in you.
I could still remember very vividly an incident that took place many years ago, when i was in the secondary school. During the inter house sports, I was among the athletes that would represent my house in the 1500m race. Though, I tried in previous races but there were two athletes that always beat me whenever I compete with them. I believed I would try in the race but I was sure those athletes would definitely beat me again. Parents and well wishers were around to witness the competition. When my parents came, I told them I was going in for a race my mother told me that I should emerge the winner in the race. When the race started, I tried my best not to disappoint my parents but those two athletes were great and capable.
At appoint, I resolved to myself that I must emerge the winner. I increased my speed and minimized my energy.
Like a jet I overtook them and the presence of my parents inspired me .At the end I emerged the winner.
My soul believed it could do it and also not to disappoint my parents I made it. At times we need people to help us awaken the sleeping giant in us
AWAKEN YOUR SLEEPING GIANT
Every human being has a sleeping giant in him/her. The giant that would make you exceptionally different from other people.
But when you keep it dormant, regret, disappointments, failures would be your companion. Awaken your sleeping genius; it needs to be activated to do wonders.
No matter how enormous the challenges of life might seem to be or how long it has lasted, take a bold decision today and believe you can circumvent the challenges. Those things that seemed impossible in your life, why not believe, stand and fight until you conquer them?
“ Veni vidi vici”
“I came, I saw, I conquered”
Good things don’t come easily. No matter how hard you had tried, don’t quit, keep on trying believing you can do it.
People you were better off than faced their life challenges and surmounted them. Why then do you think you cannot make it? Is it job, marriage, death, disease, poverty, parental issue, education, children, divorce, betrayer etc that posed a challenge to your life? Just believe you can surmount it and you would definitely overcome it.
“Possunt quia posse videntur”
“They can because they think they are”
“ Dum spiro spero”
“ While I breathe, I hope”
ALWAYS ASSOCIATE WITH GREAT MINDS
Great minds think a like. And you should also be hopeful in all your endeavours. Hoping that one day you would be the greatest man ever that you were meant to be. Abraham Lincoln’s Letter to his sons’ teacher is a source of inspiration and guide to personalities who would love to attain greatness. His principles when properly applied to your life would definitely make you to be significant and great.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S LETTER
It reads, “He will have to learn that all men are not just and that all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundred there is a hero, that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader, teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. Teacher to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning. Steer him away from envy as you can .Teach him the wonders of books but also give him time to wonder over the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on the green hill side. In school, teach him that it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideals even if everyone tells him that they are wrong. Teach him to be gentle with the gentle people and tough with the tough people. Try to give him the strength not to follow the good when everyone is getting on the bad wagon. Teach him to listen to all men, but filter all he hears on the screen of truth and take the good that comes through. Teach him to close his ear to hallowing mobs, and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right. Treat him gently but do not cuddle him, because only the taste of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the patient to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in his creator and faith in himself too because then he will always have faith in mankind. This is a big order but please see what you can do. He is a fine fellow, my son. He concluded. This letter is a guide to some of our principles of life. When properly observed and implemented, it make us have an outstanding personality. Be persistent, tough times don’t last, but tough people last. Don’t give up your dreams and visions even if you fail.
“90% of all failures results from people quitting too soon”
“We can do anything we want to do if we strict to it long enough”
“Don’t dream up thousand of reason why you can’t do what you want, find one reason why you can”
Before success comes in any man’s life he is sure to meet temporary defeat and perhaps some failure. When defect overtakes a man, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. These are what majority of people does. Don’t see your life challenges, as the end of your life but as a beginning of a new brighter day because every challenge has a positive side in disguise. Success comes to those who become success conscious.
Failures come to those who indifferently allow themselves to become failure conscious.
But to be successful, you should learn to change your mental attitude from failure conscious to success consciousness.
“Ex abundantio cordix us loquatur”
“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”
Consequently, whatever you conceive in your mind, speak about it surely it will come to pass.
“ Voce populi, voce Deux”
“ The voice of the people is the voice of God”
The bible stated categorically that ones tongue has the power of life and death. That whatever you confess with it, from the depth of your heart must surely come to pass. Don’t forget that whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
“90% of the world’s population has 10% wealth while 10% of the world’s population has 90% wealth”
CLASSES OF PEOPLE IN THE SOCIETY
No matter where you fall in this class distinction, it should never be a barrier for you to attain greatness. Because your poor background is never an excuse for your failure in life.
LOWER LOWER CLASS = These classes of people are the poorest of all the people in the society. They have no hope of the next moment for survival. They constantly need people’s for assistance to survive. They cannot boast of a square meal a day.
LOWER MIDDLE CLASS = This class of people still falls among the poorest in the society. But they are slightly better that in the lower class. They can’t boast of a three square meal a day
LOWER UPPER CLASS = This class of people are still below the poverty marginal though they can manage to afford a 3 square meal a day. They are serious struggling to enter middle class.
MIDDLE LOWER CLASS = This class of people are an average level. They are not too poor and they are not rich. They can boast of 3 square meal. They are serious looking for recognition. They are struggling to enter next class.
MIDDLE UPPER CLASS= This class of people are also trying to live above the average. They are quite comfortable with what they have. They can boast of a comfortable house, cars etc but they are seriously struggling to enter the next class.
UPPER LOWER CLASS= This class of people lives above the average level in the society. They have all the luxuries life can bring. They are never satisfied with what they have. They are seriously looking for social status, recognition, chieftaincy tittles etc. they are seriously struggling to enter the next class.
UPPER MIDDLE CLASS = THIS CLASS are the wealthy people in the society. They live above the poverty margin. They are also looking for recognition. They spend some reasonable cash on bazaar, launching, social functions, in order to gain people’s admiration and recognition. They are also struggling to enter the last class.
UPPER UPPER CLASS= This class of people are the wealthiest in the society. People in this category are very few.
They have fame and wealth and are no longer looking for recognition because people know they are wealthy. They have reached their climax. In launching, they don’t spend cash again like the people in the other classes because they are no longer looking for recognition and fame again.
Having critical examined the classes; you would definitely notice where you belong. But just know that many personalities from lower lower has made it to the upper upper class. Just know that wherever you fall right now cannot determine where you will be in time to come because you are the master of your destiny. I want to remind our graduates and undergraduates that life is not a bed of roses. Life in school is characterized glossily by flamboyant imagination. A lot of youth build castle in the air while in school. Student refused to know that there are many poor people who went through university.
Of course, they wouldn’t think that a graduate could seek employment for up to five years or more, that many graduate die without having handled the steering of their own car. What is the fate of the graduate who spent four years in university only to become a beggars in the midst of his school mates in primary and secondary school who joined trade.
The rich classmate of his, move about in flashy cars, spend some reasonable cash on babes, bazaar and launching. But you don’t even have money to eat least 3 square meals a day. Some people wonder why good people must suffer instead of being rewarded for their goodness. We therefore wonder why some people who seem not to care at all about God and religion, apparently prosper in life.
The message I have for you is that you have no reason to fail in life.
Some would complain that their parent were dead, and nobody to help them. Some would give excuses that they were the last born in their family consequently needed support from their elder brothers and sister for survival.
Your poor background and position in the family does not matter, it is very inconsequential to your success in life. Some last born today are the breadwinners of their respective families today. A director of a company told me his history. He said “presently, my elder sister is the manager of my company. I was the last of ten children form my parent.
She was the person that baby sitted me when I was still tender. If twenty five years ago, she was told that she was baby sitting her boss, she would probably not believe it.”
Just be patient and persistent your time shall surly come. Your destiny can be delayed but can never be denied when your time is due you shall surely be at the top where great personalities like you are.
A man I respects so much, a prominent man in the communication sector, a man of integrity, a great man to the core told me a sad story of his poor background. Before then, I had always mistaken him as a person born with a silver spoon but on the contrary, he labored tirelessly to become what he is today.
His father married seven wives, and his mother was the seventh wife.
His half brothers and sisters were all grown and some of them were successful businessmen and women in their field of endeavours. He was just eight years old when his father died. The mother, who was just a housewife, has no source of income to take care of the family. He had to drop out of primary five, on the ground that none of his stepbrothers and sisters agreed to sponsor him. Even though, they all had the where withal to take care of his education.
At the age of eight, he had started hawking oranges and mangoes. When he take care of his poor mother.
When he personally resolved to be great, he dropped the hawking business and join trade.
He joined a man that specialized in assembling and encoding of satellites and DSTVS. The boss taught him only the preliminary aspect of the job but refused to teach him the basic encoding job he needed to know. These was for him to serve him for many years.
One day, his master traveled, and coincidentally a customer he suppose to have encoded his DSTV came . the customer was very angry with him since his boss was not around. Though he could possible not boast of doing it himself because his boss has been hiding how to encode it from him. He confided in me that he secretly watch his boss whenever he is doing an encoding job.
After much pressure from the customer, he had to ask him to come back in 3 hours time and collect his work. He later coded the DSTV. When his boss returned he told him what happened, thinking it would be a welcome development but the reverse was the case. He was accused of secretly watching him whenever he was doing encoding works. Consequently, he was sacked. He had to start partnering with a friend that does the same work. The friend can only do assembling work but he does the encoding work. People started patronizing him and today by his grace he is the breadwinner of his nuclear and extended family. Secondly one of the highest network and communication provider gave him a four years contract to mount their mast, satellites and decoders.
That presently, his poor mother is living in his personal house in London.
He recalled about how his half sister slapped him when he asked her for his school fees many years ago. But today, he had to pay 3 million naira, for that his half sister to have a kidney transplant in Spain. Today, he has his own network and communication providing company too. He said that he is now living a comfortable life and he travels out of the country at will.
That he has forgiven his brothers and sisters. He said I should tell you that your own is on the way. DID I HEAR YOU SHOUT AMEN. Claim it, I want you to shout to the hearing of all the people close to you, let them ask you why you are shouting. Remember, you are a moving train and nobody can stop a moving train. Is it possible? -No.
Make use of every opportunity that comes your way. Because you might not have a second chance to create first impression
“ Alexander the Great visited the studio of an Athenian sculptor and found it full of little gods He was particularly attracted to one with a covered face and winged feet, what is its name-
“Opportunity” The Athenian answered. Why is it’s face covered? Because men live so haphazardly that they rarely see it when it passes in front of them”. Why does it have wing on it’s feet? He answered “ Because once it flies by, opportunity has flown
J. Mainus
ASSOCIATE WITH GREAT MINDS
Great minds think alike. The friend you keep can either increase or decrease you chances of being great.
“Paves cum psribus faciume congregantur”
“Birds of a feather flock”
Evil company corrupts good manners, the friends you keep can either effect you positively or negatively
“Corruption optimi pessimant sunt”
“The corruption of the best is the worst”
Some friends you keep are not source of encouragement to you at all.
They would always remind you of your past mistakes and inadequacies in life. They always blame and defame our personalities. They are just around you because they are benefiting from you in one way or the other. But nonetheless, there are friends that lead us into greatness. They are there to guide and stand by you when you are overtaken by challenges of life. An honour with them will be like a ten years lesson with a special adviser. They are your companion, helper, adviser and advocate. They are ready to learn from you advice and encourage you.
Always be careful on the kind of people you keep as your friend. Because some of them will cause you pains, sorrow and regret. After speaking in a seminar one of the participants walked up to him and confided in me how to trust friend and made him to go perpetual pains and regret the story started like this. The bangs of the door almost brought the roof down. The quakes and shakes were as traffic as the reverberation Tyson’s blow could cause meanwhile the hangover from the birthday party of my friend I attended the previous night was telling heavily on me. So I clumsily got off the bed amidst staggered to the door. I was very shocked to the core on seeing four uninformed men waiting for me
I instantly suspected that a problem has probably erupted at the party. Permit me to take your mind back a little I have been an occupant of this one room apartment since my graduation last year. You shouldn’t expect me to occupy a flat at this age. It is not that I belong to the lower class at least with a CD, a refrigerator and a cut rug, I am not poor for my age. My father was importuned to serve as a minister in the second republic. I chose to leave there for a reason. I want to see what I could achieve with out the ever-scrutinizing eyes of my parents on me. Presently, I have not got a stable employment. Back to my august visitors a hand had already throttled me before I could alter a word. It’s like one waking up just to have the nozzle of a gun pointing at one’s chest.
Moreover, there faces were not visible enough and familiar too because this was happening at about 5:30 am. It was later that they writing on the wall was clear. They were combing all nooks and crannies for my friend! They told me that he had a hand in a recent burglary at a shop nearby, where about one million naira was carted away by the robbers shooting the watchman.
Also they explained that since sources confirmed that I am his closest friend around, I must surely be aware of his ware about. My attempt to plead my innocence were futile as they told me that I have one week to decide that if I decide to run, they must certainly catch up with me.
Then they were gone! Afterwards, the question streaming into my mind were, “is Samuel really guilty? Have I been moving around with a first class robber”
However it all started when I was in my second year in the university, I was privileged to be mobile with Datsun Cherry. We were always at one party or the other. Please, don’t judge me by all these, that is life over there.
So, we are just birds of a feather that flock. It was at one of those gigs that I met Sam .we automatically, stuck to each other. Our parents were aware of what was transpiring between us. I wonder what they will say on hearing of this latest development. God forbid. We both graduated the same year with flying colours. Before then I never had anything linking Samuel to being a robber neither did I observe any? Well if they saying that “not all that glitters is gold” holds in this case, then you can’t blame me. I am not a god.
Moreover owing to his background a wealthy father cum a social juggernaut, you as a person will attribute any extravagance of his to the above.
Also, as he has a ride, one cannot monitor perfectly his movement but is Samuel really responsible for the charge. A week before the cops came I really saw him as often as I used to as a result I could not get from him what the setup was. However within that same week a neighbour gave me a note, which he said Samuel dropped while driving by. In it he stated that he was traveling and could not see me base on that
It was a week and half before this event that he told me in as a matter of fact manner that he attended traveling any moment from then. To where? He said to the far north to finish up a business with a friend and that’s all. Infact I could not certainly assert Sam as guilty or innocent. Even if the charge is true it would be actually a hard truth for me to believe considering all these good old days. But does it imply that Sam seeing that his game was up decided to escape in travel disguise? Anyway, it is left for you readers to weigh the two sides of the coin I have presented to you. I hope you don’t expect me to go back to the cops. Actually they will suspect I am trying to conceal the truth. And imagine the hell I will see from their torture, though I am innocent. But then I am not ready now to die innocently in that manner. Maybe, now am very sure I will cover a reasonable distance before they realize what’s up. That was the end of his sympathetic story. I seriously blamed him for not knowing the true identity of his closest friend. Like they say, show me your friend and I will tell you who you are. Still implies here. How do he expect people to believe him. That a friend he had known since his second year in the university till date, that he cannot predict his capability and tendencies. Even from his actions and reactions.
“Ignorantia legis non escusat”
“Ignorance of the law has no excuse”
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
All opportunities are golden, so manage your opportunities well. For you to attain greatness you have to take risk many atimes, people see opportunities that could lead them to greatness but they are afraid to embark on it, because of the risk involved. Though, we have to manage our risk. Life is full of risk since we cannot predict the next moment a person you may see this minute can be dead the next minute.
I can still recall many years ago, a very good childhood friend of mine, visited me. He told me he has been given admission to study law at one of the state owned universities. I was very happy for him, he also infirmed me as-a-matter-of-fact that he will be traveling back to the school that same day to do his school clearance. Around 6: pm that same day, I got a call informing me that my beloved friend has died in a ghastly motor accident. And has been deposited in a mortuary. I couldn’t believe the story. A friend I spoke with in the morning who was strong and vibrant was now dead. You should try to avoid certain risk that you can avoid but wise to take only risk that can take you to your destiny, i.e. working for humanity no matter what it will cost you,
I wish to see you at the top as you become conscious of the fact that you are not born by mistake or as a result of chemical reaction but for a purpose..
Whether you are born with a deliver spoon or a rubber spoon it does not matter, a spoon is a spoon. But you can decide to make your own spoon golden.
The sky should not be your limit but your starting point.
Nobody has an edge over another, it is just a matter of chance and opportunity. I wish you success as you struggle to break through from the shackles of poverty to abundant wealth.
CHAPTER TWO
BE PASSIONATE TO HUMANITY
Nothing will happen in the society which did not first happen in our minds. “if wrong is rampant,if indiscipline is rife, if corruption in the order of the day, we have to search our individual minds for that is where it all starts”
Mr justice Oputa of the federal supreme court of Nigeria.
The biggest disease today is not HIV, leprosy or tuberculoses, but rather the feeling of being unwanted uncared for and deserted by everybody the greatest evil is man’s inhumanity to man, lack of love and charity, the terrible indifference towards ones neighbour who lives at the road side assaulted by exploitation, corruption, poverty and disease.
Mother Teresa of India
“Homo lopus homini
“Man is a wolf to man”
Every now and then people complain of the country being so bad, corruption, man’s inhumanity to man. But let me ask you, what contribution have you made to make your country great? When last did you pray for your country, every morning you wake up, pray for your business, health, against your enemies. But have you ever remembered your country in your prayers.
HAVE YOU PRAYED FOR NIGERIA TODAY?
Some will prefer to travel abroad, because they feel their country has deteriorated. You want to run to abroad those people over there who developed their countries for them? Why not have a better future and dream for your beloved nation.
“Incundus est laudere quam cupare”
“It is better to praise than to blame”
We always talk ill of our government, if we place you in there shoes do you think you can do better?
We usually hail each new government civil or military, with a credible geniuses but in a matter of months sometime in just weeks, we begin captious amplification of every error made only goodness know why find it easier to commended than to commend. We never try to balance error with achievement know matter how insignificant this achievement may seen and as is expected each group of leader fails to deliver the goods. Eventually and why not our collective failure oriented consciousness in conjunction with other known variable work to pull them down. They fall victims to our cult of failure. You should have a positive dream for your beloved county can do for your country to make it great.
Martin Luther King junior had a positive dream for his country when racial injustice was the order of the day in the United States of America
He told the people that he had a dream which content must be translated into reality in no distant future if America was to become great. His dream he said was after all not something strange. It was deeply rooted in the American dream- “we hold this truth to be self evident that all men are created equal. In his dream he saw it as clear as crystal. A time would come when his four children would no longer be judged by the colour of their skin but by the strength of their character. A time would come when the spirit of brotherhood would prevail over the Satan of segregation that had created unjustifiable social barrier between the sons of former slave masters and the sons of former slaves.
But today, the dream he had for his beloved country has come true but today all the countries in Africa. Why not has a positive dream about your beloved country?
I was demoralized, when I overheard a woman said that Nigeria had rotten. That God would surely destroy Nigeria as he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. But people say Nigeria, Nigeria but who is Nigeria? You and I. Government, Government who is Government? You and I.
So, why are you badmouthing Nigeria? Thought, Nigeria is full of churches and mosques, But Nigeria is by and large a godless country. I don’t know whether you have observed this on Sundays especially in big cities that were highly populated and developed, around 10,000 clock am when most of the churches dismiss together. You would observe that everywhere is crowned by christen worshippers to a cracking point. You would be forced to wonder if all this people truly go to church, how come corruption, bribery, hatred and social vices were still the order of the day. But no matter what, you should have a positive vision and dreams about your nation. Irrespectionate the religion you believe in, be passionate about your country and constantly put her in your prayer. There was a sticker that in circulation with an inscription..
“HAVE Y7OU PRAYED FOR NIGERIA TODAY”
Many patriotic citizens place it at the back of their cars for people behind them to see it. These acts as a reminder. It makes people to if they had actually prayed for their country.
Remember that what you owe your beloved country is your positive contributions and your prayers. I must commend the company that produces Amstel Malta for their good public relations.
Whenever I am traveling or on the highway, I must see a long truck or on the carry Amstel Malta with a bold inscription at the back where any car following it would see it HAVE YOU TAKEN AMSTEL MALTA TODAY
Whenever I see such inscription, I would really ask myself if I had taken Amstel? And if I had no I would definitely take it.
I sincerely believe that when you remind people and yourself to pray for beloved nation, they would probably do that.
We ought always to pray and also be a patriotic citizen in order to curb some of the social vice and man’s in humanity to man that is rampant
“Homo Lopus Homin”
“ Man is a Wolf to Man”
MAN’S INHUMANITY TO MAN
People make life miserable for their fellow human beings even the poor make life unbearable for each other. Those who are oppressed shift blames on another oppressed and torture him instead of helping to make things easier and better. Imagine a story where a woman married for many years without a child but when she was finally blessed with a baby boy, the night after the naming ceremony, armed robbers invaded the place, without stealing anything but shot the little boy. The mother seeing that her only child has gone, she held the killer and asked him to kill her at once.
On that process others took to their heels, because of the alarm raised by the rescue and unasked the killer, and behold it was the landlord, what a wickedness? Why do human beings created by God choose to be wicked? Because I don’t think anybody was born naturally wicked. These are human beings who have the heart of a beast. They have eyes, head, and body but lack conscience.
If we are talking about those that were oppresses to death, what about the living once? Most lives haves have been jeopardized by the fellow human being like a boy who was told his rival that he will deal in a murder case, got himself involved in a murder case, that led to his death by what they see in the day to avoid being killed at night. Most families have been wiped out by their fellow beings, due to inhuman dispositions to one another. People even work while others in charge enjoy the money not minding that those people have responsibilities. The disparity between the rich and the poor is two wide, where the poor commits a crime that will take 20years in prison, he will serve it but when the rich does that, the reverse will be the case. A poor man was trid for the offence of the rich. When the poor tries to seek for the evil done to him, the rich will do anything to subjugate him to inhuman treatment, which may lead to His death. The work is that those that are meant to guild us have turned against us who do we trust? Who do we believe now? For you to stay alive, you need to be security conscious.
That implies guiding and protecting your life jealously. Bearing in mind that nobody is to be trued. Not even that your parents. How you feel about your friends does not necessary mean that your friend will respond in similar manner. So while you may think that you are in a loving and trusting care of your loved ones, you might unknowingly be digging your own grave.
Where father use their children for rituals, mothers use their children for witchcraft. Brother kills a fellow brother for their father’s inheritance. Friend kill friends- so who do we trust now? Only yourself. Everybody can disappoint and fail except your destiny.
A story was told of three brothers, after the demise of their father who left behind estates and properties. Out of greediness and quest for material things, the second son had to eliminate the first son in order to inherit the properties alone. When the younger brother suspected that he killed their brother, he was killed too. Terrible things happen, even things be ground our imaginations.
I was charting with a lady, she don’t seem to have any positive view about men she told me that she hated men with passion. Though she refused to open up to me the reasons behind her I could help were talking, I told her I could help people who are defenseless get justice.
Then she seemed to be a little bit relaxed shed told me that she had a friend that was raped by a guy, and the guy told her to do her worst. She told me that her friend cries bitterly whenever she remembers that a greater part of her has been parted with
“Bonum faciendum et malum vitandum”
“Good must done and evil avoided”
I assured her that I help people like her friend get justice from a competent court of justice that I could help her friend if I see her. She asked me, what if she was the person? I was silent. She told me that she was the victim and started weeping. She told that whenever she remembers the incident, she feels her world has turned around.
She now sees all men as being the same though i had to convince her that though he had been treated inhumanity but all men are not the same. Some are nice and good.
Julius Caesar, a famous and powerful leader was assassinated by his closest friend Brutus. Before his death, some of his soldiers overpowered him. The first person stabbed him at his back, he screamed. Then the second stab. The third was so fierce and sharp that he had to turn back, behold! Was his best and trusted friend Brutus. A person he trusted. And dined without a bleeding heart and betrayer, he shouted Even you Brutus and died”. He would possibly not believe that his trusted friend could slay him
At times, people could be selfish, self-contra and heartless.
People could be heartless. I could still remember the year I lost friend. He was sick; consequently, he was rusted to a hospital. After diagnosis, the doctor demand for eight thousand Naira for his treatment. Unfortunately, his parents were late and of his uncle agreed they had the money . even to contribute it among themselves was an issue. One of the uncle was an university professor and the other were successful bu8siness tycoons respectively.
My poor friend was left with no option than to die. Since there was nobody to save him. But the shocking story was the day I went for his burial. I expected the burial ceremony to be in a poor style. But he was burial in a grand style. I wept bitterly, because my friend who died because of eighty thousand Naira we burial with more than three hundred and fifty thousand Naira.
This is a person the uncles even one of them could have possibly saved.
In this life many people has caused us pain and sorrows in many ways
The typist that my previous book, personally asked me to tell the world her story. How people and the world has been unfair to her.
She believed a tenant in their compound killed her mother.
The mother had a misunderstanding with a tenant. The man openly threatened that he will kill her.
Through many people award us feared the man because they believed he was dangerous and bad. A week after the threat, her mother died. Had mother just had and was nursery her four months old baby
In the morning of the day she died. She woke up about 12.30am that morning and suddenly stated praying. After praying for a while, she entered back into her room and locked herself ip. Before then, she used to wake up before everybody in their house. But on that day, all her children woke up before her. The four months oil baby in her room was seriously crying but her door was locked. Her father traveled to the village, so they had to call they Aunty who lives around. The door was later broken into, beholds! Her mother was stoned deed she was later rushed to the mortuary.
The tenant never sympathized with them. One year later her father died in a mysterious manner two. He fall sick, when he was rushed to hospital, the doctor diagnosed him and said that nothing was wrong with him but her father was dying slowly. When she tried he cry, her father assured her that he would be fine. He speaking with him he died. Since then she felt the world has been very cruel and wicked to her.
I advised her to accept what she cannot change and be hopeful because God must surely see her and her siblings through.
Stories of man’s inhumanity to man is practically everywhere.
A woman visited her daughter that has just delivered a bouncing baby boy. As woman normally do, she went with some local foodstuffs for nursing mothers. Among the food stuff was Abacha, a popular Igbo food called “African salad”
The family comprised of the husband, the wife, 2 sons, a daughter and their housekeeper. After preparing the African salad, all of them that ate the African salad died. except the new baby that didn’t taste it. All the family members even the mother that brought the African salad unnatural death should be left to your imagination.
Whenever we are celebrating our success in life, some of our friends are not happy. The might pretend to be happy but deep inside their mind, they are Jealous and sad,
If they see a means to circumvent your achievement, they would possibly stop it. When confiding in your friends be careful not to tell him all your secrets. A friend today could be your worst enemy tomorrow, and things you confided in them about would be used agagainst you. Such friends are more dangerous than a rattle snake. Because they know where you sleed, where you go, who your friends are, your family members your likes and dislikes.
Your friends, remain mysterious and unfathomable. Their characters have secret recesses that they never reveal.
Let us critically examine the reason why human beings behave they way they do.
BEHAVIOURAL ASPECT OF MAN
Let’s examine the behavioural aspect of man. There is a postulation which centers on whether human behaviour or capabilities are inborn. Psychologist like Descartes proposed that human behaviour are programmes by nature
But if it is true that our behaviour are already programmed, why must people be punished for their actions since it has been programmed and thee action is not their fault, since it has been promrammed by nature? On the contrary John locke posited that human action and behaviour are acquired through experience and the environment. You think that people are good or bad from nature/ or do you think it is the environment that makes people to be either good or bad.
As individual differ, that is how their responses would differ. Both nature and environment have drastic effect on the behavioural pattern of an individual has tendencies ie the which is naturally inborn.
Nobody is specially taught how to be wicked, steal, kill, pull a trigger etc.
But whenever his inborn tendencies takes control you you start to misbehave. The difference between bishop and a thief is self control.
They both have the tendencies to steal but while the bishop can control his, a thief cannot. A day old baby cries, frown smiles etc who taught them how to do those thing? Is tit you and I ?
Imagine a seven months old baby slapping a fellow child. Who taught him how to be violent? These tendencies are inborn but it depends on the way you control them.
To be a highway robbery, you don’t need a special training, all you need is just to decide you want to do it.
On the other hand, talking about how experience and environment effect the behavioural pattern of a individual. When an individual is born, he does not know what is expected of him. After sometimes, he learns to adopt the way of life of his people. Individual characters and behaviour are shaped through training in order to function according to societal acceptable rules. A child starts learning from his parents, siblings, relatives and peers
Any influence whether good or bad acquired from these people lised above is always difficult to erase in our adult life
Thus, a child from a hardworking, disciplined, dedicated and morally sound family background is, in most cases bound to internalize these virtues and live with them from the rest of his life.
This principle agrees with the biblical saying” Teach a child the way he should follow and when he grows up he will never depart from it. Your friends too can influence you both in a negative and a positive way.
They kind of company you keep, if they are good, you turn good and vice versa
“Corruptio pessimant sunt”
“The corruption of the best is the worst”
On the conclusion both nature and the environment effects the behavioural pattern of an individual.
Some people when they are caught in a criminal act like stealing. They would always say that they stole because the economy was bad. Has brought out the criminal tendercies in them and that was why they had to steal. Choose your friends, don’t let your frinds chose you. Do you have friends that prendship whose foundation is not solid? This are people instead of inspiring you, they expire you.
Have you forgotten that evil communication corrupts good manners.
YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT
My beloved, please be careful so that you would not waste your precious life.
Do you know that your family and the world loves you? Be extremely careful let personal security be your watch world
Have you ever imagined what would be the fate of your lovely children when you are no longer there to protect them?
Do you want your lovely wife to suffer from the hands of your wicked brothers and uncles? The doctor you wanted your son to be, do you want him to be a begger amony his peers?
Thatht your lovely mother that you clained of love so much, do you want her to die of heart attach? Those popel that wish you death, do you want them to rejoice over your exit?
Who do you think would give your children motherly and fatherly advise
CHAPTER THREE
YOU DESERVE TO BE GREAT
What price can you pay for greatness no price no gain. when ever we se great personalities we will always deser to be like them. These great personalities are individuals who have sacrificed in many ways to be great sacrifice for greatness can come in many ways. People sacrifice thrie lives, time, marriage, health wealth, presuer etc for greatness. It take courage, determination, perseverance, sacrifice to attain greatness.
Bless Macmillan Colbe would put it , the greatest sacrifice is the ability to attest ones believe with ones blood,”
When people have vision for greatness, some of this prevalent social vice, like corruption, bribe , drug addiction, murder , mans inhumanity t o man etc will reduce since the only thing that willl be dorminant in peoples mond will be how to help humanity by doing things worthy been remembered for. Everything comes at a price to be educated you pay a price, to pass your exam you pay a price by reading. To be successful there is a price to be paid and to be great there is a price for iyt too.
Everybody wants to be great but not everybody can pay the price for greatness.
You are great when your voice and sacrifice contribute to sharpen the course of history. Even when you are to proclaim your right to freedom even behind prison bars. Even with a gun at your head. When you had to defend with conviction and with risk to yourself the freedom of others. Never allow anybody and anything to take the place of you conscience which is your creator’s final place in you . you have a talent and potential needed to change peole’s life positively . without affecting people’s life you are just experimenting . the highest law of thuniverse states that
“salus popupuli superemes esto”
the welfare of the people shall be supreme law”
anything you do without having the people at heart is considered inhuman. Nobody can leave in total isolation when a growilng slint is taken away from a burning furnace , it fades but when it taken back it rekindles.
You need people around you to keep it moving . your greatest time and happiest time will come because of people and our wort moment will come because of people. There are no such things as self made men and women. Everybody needs friendship encouragementand help.
Sometimes in your life, you feel tht your lif is turning arroud due to sorrows, pains, disappointments there are changes every where.
ranging from family problems ,rejection , poverty , weakedness , envy and so on.
Many young people from broken homes, single parents and ophans suffer from rejection. No human being is above live changes and temptations
“homosum,et nihil humanum alienum estmihi”
“I am a man and nothing .human is foregn to me”
some of the changes will always make us to cry . I once attended a workshop on capacity building. Many people from all species of life attending it ranging from doctors, lawyers , priests ,civil servants. The workshop lasted for two weeks and our hotel accommodation was paid for. I became a friend with one of the priest that attended the workshop. One day I went to his hotel room to discuss an issue with him. I couldn’t believe my eyes behold he was crying. He was very spprised when he saw me because he did not know his hotel door was not locked. He quickly cleaned up his face ,he opened up to me that his personal life changes where wageing him down .some children would not believe their parents cry . they atimes when you udenly enter your fathers room without knocking , you will probably see him weeping. No body is above life changes.even the pope, bishop, presidents, priests do cry. They cry overtheir life changes since life is never a bed of roses even though they prich and deliver people . they cannot deliver themselves
“nemo judex in causa sua”
“no body is a judge in his own case”
you always need people around you to survive weather you are rich or poor. You have to be passionate to the plight of the lesss privilege ones in your society.
The moment such people understand that you cherish them , the way they feel about you changes. Nobody gives a damn about you until they know how much you care about them .i was moved when orphans defenseless motherless babies, Widows, the displayed, and the needy were crying the death of the wife of the former president of Nigeria, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo. They wept because of the impact she created i8n their lives. A barrow pusher who is considerate is a million times preperable to a rich man who is inconsiderate and selfish. Another great personality is Late SAN, GAN Fahweh. Prior to his death. Many people he affected their lives were crying for him. This is because of the impact he created in their lives.
This is a man who strived to impede his name in the notice board of immortality which he later did. The oppressed and the defenceless he fought for at the court of law really felt the vacuum caused by his death.
The has been arrested for more than 66 times even dehumanized for fighting for people right. As a legal luminah for defended only the people who had no body to fight for them
I was among such people he impacted their lives because he was my model. He had been arrested for more than 66times for fighting for humanity and I had been arrested for 7 times But I am still climbing up to the ladder of greatness I guess you go through those moments when you think about what are going through and the sacrifice and suffering you face, that your own loved ones do not have an understand not even an appreciation and seeking to destroy your image at every point. Don’t bother about the reward get for sacrifice you made for humanity because when you are only looking for benefits, you might really not go far because many people must sure not appreciate your sacrifice.
CAN YOU IMAGINE!
Jesus Christ sacrifices his life to save humanity > He paid the ultimate price for greatness. Nelson Mandela of South African paid a price for greatness. He sacrificed his president ship for humanity. He fought to make sure his country was free from apartheid system. He was arrested and taken into captivity foe 27years, from 1963- 1990. when he was later released, his people asked him to retain his president ship but he declined the offer because he wanted young people to step into his shoe of greatness.
He was later honoured with a noble price as the world’s ICON of peace for his sacrifies for humanity freedom, and even lives for humanity.
Like Roosevelt, the American cowboy’s president. He had a passion for greatness but he doesn’t have the will poer to do that. He was very thin, deubating asthma, possessed very poor eye sight. His parents weren’t sure he would survive. But his passion for greatness kept propelling him. When he was 12 years, his father told him, you have the mind, but you don’t the mind cannot go as far as it should. He started sacrificing his time preparing his body and self for greatness .He felt is through politics he can affect the lives of his people. By the time he graduated from Harvard, he was ready to tackle the world of politics
He didn’t became that overnight. He served as new York city police commissioner to president of the united states, he improved himself and in time he became a stony leader.
Under his leadership ,the united states emerged as a world power, help his country develop a first class navy. He negotiated peace between Russia and Japan, winning a noble people prize on the process. He is one of the greatest presidents of United States of America. He died in his sleep on January 6, 1919, at his home from his bed, they found a book under his pillow up to the very last, and he was reading a book on how to achieve greatness.
“If you have not seen what you will die for, you not worthy to live”
When martin lurther king Junior, noticed that the blacks were not considered fit to make any contribution towards the mainstream of America social and political life. When racial discrimination against the black was the order of the day. He vowed to sacrifice his life for common men which consequently made great,
He told the people that he had seen both. But he was either going to reach the promise land nor the mountain top.
He also said “ even if physical death is the price that some must pay to free their children from psychological death. The end life is not be happy nor to achieve pleasure and avoid pain, but to serve humanity, come whatever the outcome would be
A day to his assassination, he said” But I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now because I ‘ve been to the mountain top and I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life longevity has it’s place but I am not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. His premonition was deadly accurate. Because the next day, he was associated.
Mahatma Gandhi of India also paid the ultimate price for greatness.
He brought about the supremacy of the role of law in South African and later won independent for India
THINGS GREATMINDS AVID IN ORDER TO BE ON THE TOP
Inferiority complex = the inability to believe in yourself is the easiest route to fail in your quest to greatness. Often times quite a number of people who has passion for greatness could not make it because they lack faith in the great potential that is inside them to change the world. They see themselves as people who are incapable of achieving or doing anything right. But the trueth is that you are as good as Martin Luther, John Kennedy, mother Theresa of India , even bether than some of this personalities. Never think think lea of youeslf or that you are inadeguance. Do not under estimate your intelligence, and you . can achive greatness. There is nothing you will put your mind and enery to it you will definitely sprout like an aok tree. When a ting acorn, loses its hold on the tree and drop to the ground. It becomes the mightiest of all the trees. That is how the seed of greatness inside you grows if you have the passion.
SEIFISHNESS= Great personalities avoid this negative vice of self centred ness inorder to be the top and to achieve a positive goal in the lives. It keeps one stagnant in life. Selfish people cannot affect people’s lives. All they care about is themselves. They may feel they have amassed something but their insatiable thirst eventually lead to their undoing , leading them to over do things and in the process loss all
A pride= pride they say goes before a fall. Greatmen does not exhibit this attitude. The person who is full of himself who claim to know it all tends to scare people away from himself,.
He can ever live for more than hundred years with out making positive impacts in people’s lives. They are just a passenger, passing the world unnoticed. Because he is Mr know it all people feel uncomfortable around such people making it difficult to get help when needed even when he is doing things wrong , no one will care to correct him for fear being rebuffed.
We were often told that in life, nobody knows it all no matter how intelligent or how high your intelligent quotient is
FEAR= Fear is the greatest enemy of ordinary men. Great men don’t fear anything. They are always ready to take thee bull by bondage till date because of fear of being a failure. You shouldn’t allow fear to deter you from achieving greatness. Don’t be afraid to take any step or venturing into a worth while project that can affect people ‘s lives.
Greatness is a step or away if only you can be told enough to take the challenges. It is not the smart people that attains greatness, but people who have passion for greatness and are bold enough to take the bull by the horn.
LOSS OF CONTROL= Great leaders never allow people to make crucial decision for them. Many people who had passion for greatness lack faith in themselves. As a result they allow others to dictate to them what they should do or not to do. Every single decision concerning their lives is taken by some one else. I stand today to reassure you that you are the world’s greatest you that you are the world’s greatness. Mange your life well, do not allow your dad, mum, siblings, wife and friends to run your life.
AVOID LAYING BLAMES= GREAT leaders are always aware that nobody is above mistake .they make mistakes like other men. But they never blame others for they mistakes and failures, instead you put your own blames on them whenever you blame others for your failure, by doing that you will never seek for a change. Avoid compromise, do the right thing at all times irrespective, of the consequences. Be on the side of truth always, maintain your integrity, it always pay at the end when you append your name on the notice board of immortality
A MOMENT WITH A GREATMIND
A day with a great mind is better than one thousand years with a small mind. There are personalities that a moment with them will alter a lot of things. You would never remain the same.
“ Scientia est potential”
“Knowledge is power”
People do not perish because of money, because of your enemies but because of lack of knowledge. Evil minds corrupt good manners.
These are personalities that would be humble enough to accept they did not have all answers to life.
You would notice they don’t make false promises and had no preference, it seemed they have given you a gift, an indescribable strength, an understanding of human nature and the power of being the world’s greatest achiever. Whenever you are leaving their presence, it should always seem you had grown wiser than when you had come in
A moment with such great minds is better than a thousand years with a self centered people.
Mr. larry Oguego, The National coordinator, Human Rights volunteer corps and greater tomorrow initiative is a man that perfectly fit this description
He had a vision of a perfect world where the hope of the oppressed would be totally restored. And the heavy weight of the law would fall on the oppressor. And by that the animal instinct of the oppressor would be tamed. And the hope of the oppressed would be restored. As a human rights reformer he guides people on how to become a law abiding citizen. This is a personality whose exit would make the oppressed, the needy, the defenseless, orphans etc weep I would confess that I always seemed to have grow wiser than when I had come to him. Some people would wish he was their father to be tapping continuously from their abundant knowledge.
“You are the same today, that’s how
You are going to be in five years form
Now expect for two things; the great mind
You associated with and the books you read”
Always remember to single your self out, have an outstanding personality and develop a hungry heart for greatness.
The bible stated categorically that that see thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings for greatness is equivalent to been part of an auction. When the just plain and everybody is ready to take an active part in it. But as the price goes higher and higher, there are fewer and fewer bidders. When the price is relatively low is willing bids. At the end, only one person is willing to pay the high price the item actually cost. No matter how little you can help people in need, it counts help them. The more your hungry heart for greatness increase, There is no success without sacrifice. Just know that any time you successful people, great men, you can be sure they made sacrifices to make it possible because no cross no crown.
What can you sacrifice for greatness?
Your time, wealth pleasure, life health etc what do you want to remembered for? Do you think people would notice you exit when you finally join the great beyond? Is it only your family members would Think about it .Why not create an impact in people’s lives today? You are undisputable special, whatever passion you have for humanity, devote your time, money and anything you can think of to make it work
“Aurum et oprgentum non est nobis
Sed quod habemus hoctibi damus”
Gold and silver we have non but
Whatever we have, we give to you
So if you have been given the ability to prophey, speak out with as much faith as was deposited in you.
If your gift is serving others, like Martin Lurther king Junior, mother Theresa of ibndia, SAN Gani fahwemi of Nigeria, Nelson Mandel of south African serve them well. If you are a teacher teach well. If it is leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don’t just pretend to love humanity. Really love and be ready to make sacrifice for them.
Hate what is wrong Hold tightly to what is good. Love humanity with affection and take delight in serving them at large.
Be humble, Thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t look for your own interest, but take special interest in working for humanity.
Non Mihi, Non tibi,nobis’’
Not for me, not for you, but for us
Be always ready to uphold integrity let your actions and statements be mutually consistent. dont compromise your stand . dont betray your stand dont betray your concience
i could still remenber a very critical decisio i took many years back when i was in the high school .though it seemed drastic but some people said i was perfectly in order.
that was when i was in augustines seminary school ezzangbo ebonyi state, Nigeria. i was the school sanitary prefect. it was part of my jurisdiction toensure that the students were punctual to school activities that the school compound neat and that all the students are neat. One day, during general inspectionday, at the school assembly ground. I was mandated to bring the list f all the dirtiest students fron jss1 to sss3 . by implication my class was included. Calling somebody from my class would generate controversy because the public image of the person would be tarnished .bur I was not to compromise my integrity,even though it was difficult decision for me to make.
There was a particular family in that school. They were known for dirtiness.they were 3 in the school, the youngest of them were in jsss1, followed by the one in jss3 and lastly the one in my class sss3.though I was a little bit confused on what t do but I didn’t want to compromise my integrity. In the list I submitted, the three brothers were called in their respective classes.though I was latter questioned by the schoolmanagement when the one in my class reported me but it was crystal clear and obvious that I was not biased. Many atimes, I personally ask myself if I was actually unfair in my decitions but I sincerely believe I was upholding my inegrety.
Abrahom lincolm told his sons teacherto teach hi son to close his ears to hollowing mobs and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right. that was exactly the principle I uphold.
No matter where great personalities find themselves, both in adverse and good condition they never compromise their integrety .they never cease to declare freedom for humanity. Biblically isrealites lamentation in exile was unlike great minds because no matter the condition great minds find themselves they would never cease to proclaim freedom for humanity. Isrealits lamentations in exile “by the rivers of Babylon we sat down there we wept when we remembered zion.on the willows nearby we hung upon harps. Those who captured us to entertain them. “sing us a song about zion” how can we sing a song to the lord in a strange land?
May I never be able to sing again if I don’t remember you. If I don’t think of you as my greatest joy! Remember , lord, what the Edomites did, the day Jerusalem was captured..remember how they kept saying tear it down to the ground!.
Babylon will be destroyed. Happy are those who pay you back for what you have done to us who takes your babies and smash them against the rock.
This version elevates my spirit whenever I face any challenge fighting for humanity. Greatmenn would never cease to affect people’s lives even if in the midst of adversityies. Even when they had to defend with coviction and with risk to themselves the freedom of others.
“only passion , great passion , can elevate the human soul to achieve great things”
- Denis detroit
That is why some people instead of embarking on unappreciatable works, they would prefer to be on their own
But great personalities never cease to affect peoples lives eve though they don’t appreciate. Greatness is all about the mental attitude , just believe you want to be great , work toeards actualizing it and you would be great.
“Vita non est vivere, sed valere”
“life is not to live , to live well”
As you have seen the road to greatness , it is expected of you t o follow the road into your destiny. The world is waiting for you. Don’t be a spectator, or a passenger.
Don’t pass the world unnoticed because poeterity will never forgive you my beloved you are welcomed to the club of greatmen.
