Day: August 7, 2022

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How To Carve Your Own Niche

carve your niche

Carve your own niche if must be the best you can be in any given field or sphere you find yourself in. In other words, always dare to succeed. It is only when you have succeeded and carved a niche for yourself that you can be a force to reckon with in such a field. Your niche is your success signature. It is your gateway to the realm of success. And one thing you must understand is that it is only through the conquest of challenges that you can carve your niche. It goes without saying that success has so many friends. Everyone wants to associate only with success, and no one wants to identify with failure or mediocrity.

Elsewhere in the world success is celebrated every other day. You must know that men will only celebrate you when you are successful-when you have succeeded in that which you are doing. Hence, if you want to be a force to reckon with in life, then dare to succeed. Do everything within your capacity to conquer the many challenges of life. Not until you conquer you are not relevant as far as success is concerned. That is to say, if you cannot rise above your challenges you are a misfit for success. Your success is inextricably tied to your conquest. Conquest is not an end in itself; rather it is a means to success.

 However, if you must carve your niche then you must be more resolved, strengthened, and determined to succeed even in the face of challenges. The earlier we understand that every successful person has had his or her own fair share of defeat and failure the better for us. Each time we taste failure we should never quit instead we should make more frantic efforts until we break through. On the highway to success, the very first few steps we take are always very clumsy and staggering.

Carve Your Own Niche and have your story

Behind every success story is an embarrassing first effort, a stumble, a setback, or a radical change of direction – Seth Fiergeman

Every one of us is potentially successful and so we must vigorously pursue our goals and objectives with purpose in order to have a story – a story where we can share the secret of our success. However, you cannot have a story until you have carved your own niche. And to do that you must conquer your chosen field of endeavor. Hence, for you to achieve that you must be ready and willing to take responsibility.

Indeed, you are the one responsible for your failure or success in life. In case you don’t know success has never been, and will never be by accident. No one ever dreams of success and yet carelessly leaves his or her life in the cruel hands of fate, such is the dynamics of success. It is the product of every conscientious effort we make, and the actions we take in life.

Therefore, if you want to share the story of your success so that people will learn the secret of how you made it in life carve your own niche. Not until you do that, you cannot be able to share your little secret in your success story. It gives joy and a sense of fulfillment to know that people can learn, understand and benefit from your story. Always dare to conquer so that you can have secrets to share in your story. However, to carve your niche, daring to succeed should be your topmost priority. Have you carved your own niche? I am curious to know.

Imagine, believe, and dare to succeed.

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Rising Above Challenges: How to Overcome Challenges

rising above challenges

Many people are afraid of challenges and the fear of these challenges has denied them happiness and satisfaction in life. As far as fulfillment is concerned many are bruised and cast down and they find it difficult to rise because of the fear of challenges. This post is dedicated to allay your fears of challenges. Rising above challenges is the true test of real happiness and satisfaction. You should understand that your success lies in your ability to rise above challenges.

Challenges are not abnormal rather they are normal phenomena of life. And we encounter them every day in our pursuit of fulfillment. In fact, they are realities of life. And every circumstance of life has its own attendant challenges. They are tests that we must all pass to qualify for a life of fulfillment. Challenges test our strengths, skills, and abilities. However, many people in this test have been stampeded and trodden down because of their inability to overcome these challenges of life.

Rising Above Challenges: A top priority

Rising above challenges must be your utmost preoccupation if you dream of a successful life marked by happiness and satisfaction. You must take the bull by the horns and confront your challenges if you don’t want to be a victim of circumstance. Challenges come in the guise of stumbling blocks whereas they are actually stepping stones to a life of success and fulfillment.

Challenges in this regard are difficulties and hiccups which we encounter in carrying out specific assignments or tasks. They have also frustrated the well-orchestrated efforts of many in the pursuit of success. Therefore, rising above challenges should be a top priority for anyone who dreams about success. On the other hand, many have confronted and overcome their challenges. As I said, earlier man is a creature of instinct – Instinctive by nature. And will instinctively fight for survival when in precarious situations. Hence by instinct, you are well enamored to confront and overcome your challenges.

Testimonials

Obviously, your success comes only when you challenge and rise above challenges. Stories abound of many who have found fulfillment in life after they overcame and rose above their challenges. And I would like to share the stories of two such highly fulfilled individuals. In fact, if they could rise above their challenges, then you are well disposed to rise above your own challenges.

At the peak of his football career, a young man was diagnosed with a serious heart defect. His life was threatened; his career was also threatened as well as his destiny. It seemed as if he had come to the dead end of his life and career. The circumstance was a barefaced definition of adversity, one that could ruin his life, career, and destiny. All his achievements were about to go down the drain at one single stroke of a challenge. But he persevered, fought back, and was able to rise above this major health challenge. He went through heart surgery which was very successful and he emerged a conqueror.

Today, we celebrate him as a legend of African football. His name is Nwankwo Kanu a.k.a Papilo, two times African footballer of the year and one of the most decorated African footballers of all time. Many of his exploits came after this adversity. This adversity also gave birth to a Foundation – the Kanu Heart Foundation which has assisted many with heart defects through surgery to correct the anomalies. A lot of people have benefited from the goodwill of this Foundation. This Foundation has put smiles on the faces of little children and young adults in Nigeria and other African countries that are majorly his targeted audience and spared many parents the agony of losing their children. You can see how Kanu rose above the challenge of major health crises, and positively he has impacted many lives.

Testimonial #2

The Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) is a leading non-profit and non-governmental organization galvanizing action against breast cancer in Nigeria. It was founded in 1997 by the first lady of Ondo state Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu, who is a breast cancer survivor herself. Today BRECAN is increasingly improving the lives of many victims of breast cancer who would have succumbed to the disease due to ignorance and lack of support. But after her ordeal and survival, she launched a campaign against breast cancer in Nigeria. According to her “I could not keep quiet after I survived”.

She fought and survived the dreaded breast cancer and floated BRECAN to cater to victims of breast cancer. In other words, she rose above the health challenge and she is now impacting the lives of women with breast cancer. No matter how tough your challenge might seem it is possible for you to rise above it and add value to other people’s life. Understand that the big deal is not that you are faced with challenges, many have, and many to date are still passing through challenges. The big deal is how you can manage the realities of these challenges. The way you handle them will determine whether you will succeed and live a fulfilled life.

Manage your Challenges well

You must know that no matter how tough or difficult your challenge might be rising above challenges is possible. But it all depends on how well you manage the challenges. In other words, you can turn your challenge to your own advantage. Bear it in your mind that no matter how difficult or hopeless your challenge may seem you can still overcome it. The secret is your willpower, your determination. You must be willing, you must be determined, you must be resolute. Remember, where there is a will there is a way. So be willing, rise up and take advantage of your challenge. With your determination, you can get yourself up from the dust until you rise above your stubborn challenges.

What are those things that threaten your peace and happiness? You must stand your ground and defy them. The high point of fulfillment is asserting your success even in the midst of challenges. You must attack, demystify, or mesmerize your challenges. Challenges come in various forms and shades. And one remarkable feature of the challenge is that where one challenge ends another begins. But interestingly, the momentary response of many to challenges is that of despair and hopelessness. They are easily intimidated by challenges. They become afraid and want to avoid challenges with utmost carefulness. But the truth of the matter is that in life we are bound to encounter challenges. These challenges are not only temporary, we can also overcome them. And every challenge we overcome opens up a new vista of happiness and satisfaction.

Challenges Make you Stronger

that which does not kill you makes you stronger – Nietzsche

Don’t be afraid of challenges. It cannot kill you but can only make you stronger. No matter the toughness of your challenges you have all it takes to rise above them. As we already know, challenges test our abilities. Through challenges, we are able to discover new talents, while we are able to learn and perfect new skills. Hence, proper handling of challenges brings out the best in us.

Finally, rising above challenges means that you see beyond your present predicament. You can only see the silver lining in the cloud of success when you raise your sight above your present situation. Don’t be myopic in your view of problems, take your eyes off your problems rather look at your abilities. You can attest to the fact that challenges are not forever. For instance, a few months or years back you were grappling with intimidating challenges that seem to sink you but today they have fizzled out as they appeared. Don’t kill yourself because of your problems they are not worth it; rather be optimistic, hopeful, and patient as you do your best believing that you will soon overcome.

Imagine, believe, and dare to succeed.

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Instinctive by Nature

risk taking

Every one of us is instinctive by nature. Until we understand this fact about the nature of humans we will still be intimidated by the challenges of life. Moreover, we must understand that we have the ability to survive and turn around situations even precarious ones where the hope of survival is very slim. This ability helps us withstand and absorb the shock of the catatonic blows of challenges of life. Our instinct helps us to avoid a breakdown in our quest to succeed and find fulfillment in life.

Chika, 7, and Ikenna, 10 were engaged in a brawl. The duo has had a heated argument over who owns a toy. ‘I will beat you, said Ikenna, and then replied Chika ‘I know you will beat me but I will disgrace you. Before you know it a fight ensued between the two boys, Ikenna being the older began to punch and kick vigorously just to carry out his threat. And true to his word he beat Chika black and blue with bruises all over his face and blood gushing out from his mouth. The other kids watched with keen interest and nobody tried to disentangle them.

However, Chika who nobody gave any chance against Ikenna fought back and withstood him. He survived the onslaught and in a single swoop fell Ikenna to the ground before Ikenna could know what befell him he pressed him hard to the ground and stuck his mouth with a handful of sand. ‘Ikenna don chop sand ooh’ the other children shouted, meaning Ikenna has eaten sand. Small Chika has beaten Ikenna. That was the end of the fight, Ikenna went home shamefully and defeated, even though he had designed Chika’s face with bruises, while Chika was the victorious one for the fact that he made Ikenna chop sand.

That was a Childhood experience. During those times when two children fight the one that is made to ‘chop’ sand is defeated no matter how fierce or defiant he is in the fight. Now, relating this scenario to the topic at hand you are instinctive by nature. Remember the downfall of a man is not the end of his life. On the contrary, it becomes the end of his life if he accepts to kiss the dust or eat sand. Challenges or troubles of life may throw you to the ground but don’t kiss the dust. Kissing the dust or eating sand is akin to defeat or surrendering to the challenges of life.

You may fall down to the ground many times but make sure you don’t kiss the dust” – Chidi Kalu

Human by nature always fights for survival whenever he finds themselves in a precarious situation. This is possible by the instinct of man. Man is instinctive by nature and will always survive the onslaught of adversity because he has the endowments it takes to survive. But the greatest error or mistake one will make is to give up when you have the chance to fight back and survive the tides of adversity. Like I said earlier, man is a creature of instinct. And will instinctively fight for survival when in precarious situations. Hence by instinct you are well enamored to confront and overcome your challenges.

In one of my posts on Assumption, someone curiously asked me the difference between Assumption and Instinct. I want to state here that there is a wide difference between assumption and instinct. Instinct is inborn – that is we are all born with instinct. It is more or less an inspiration. Instinct is all about our immediate reaction to happenings around us. On the other hand, Assumption is based on experiences in life. Mind you no two experiences are the same in life.

Hence, it is prejudicial. It is making judgments on any issue based on face values, without any empirical evidence. You don’t assume that because it worked for Mr. A it will also work for you. There may be other factors that came into play for A to succeed that you have not considered. Hence, instinct is naturally inbuilt in us like the survival instinct in man, whereas assumption is based on our past experiences in life. 

Oftentimes when life or situation pushes us to the wall or ground there is every propensity that we fight back. That is the survival instinct in man. Man will always do everything within his power to salvage his situation. So next time you hear the phrase ‘follow your instinct ‘ it means naturally you have all it takes to handle challenges and survive in life. It is the urge to fight back when life pushes you to the wall. You must persevere, fight on until you overcome your challenges, and succeed in life because you are instinctive by nature.

 Has life been unfair to you? Have you been beaten black and blue, and bruised by the challenges of life? Have you been pushed down to the ground?  You must push back; you must fight back. You must not kiss the dust or eat sand as it is very dangerous to do so. Fight back and keep your hope for survival and fulfillment alive. You still have a chance to rise from where you are fallen. Remember, you are instinctive by nature and naturally endowed to overcome and succeed in life.