Category: Lifestyle

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Goal Setting: Crucial Game Changer

Goal setting

Goal setting is a crucial game changer in the game of success. It is the ace you need to make a difference in life. And whether you will succeed in life or not depends on your ability to set, and achieve goals. Goals define what you want to achieve, your aims, and your objectives in any given circumstance. There is no disputing the fact that you will always succeed in any endeavor when you set goals and achieve them. Moreover, you will derive a sense of happiness and satisfaction when you meet your set goals.

A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul – Proverbs 13: 19.

Give your Goal a time frame

There are certain rules guiding goal setting. First, you must set goals that you can achieve within a given time frame if you must make a meaningful impact and succeed in life. Such a goal must be unambiguous, realistic, and achievable. Failure to achieve set goals is not necessarily a result of bad time management but more a result of the nature of goals and objectives you set for yourself – whether such a goal is achievable within a certain time frame or not.

For your information when a goal is unrealistic a situation arises where one feels so inadequate and unhappy about the whole thing.  A good goal encourages you to take prompt action. Ask yourself, can I achieve these goals within a given time frame? If the answer is no, you must revisit your goals as they are unrealistic. Revisit and review your goals.

Your Goal must be Flexible

Second, keep your goals as flexible as possible. It is better to achieve your goals gradually than to slip into the agony of an unhappy and unfulfilled life. There is one thing I want you to understand about goal setting. Goal setting is a process. That is to say when we achieve one goal, another challenging goal is set. Every goal in life is a true reflection of the challenge and awareness of a particular stage in life. Therefore, setting and achievement of goals become a measurement of our progress in life. It exposes the stack reality of the need for improvement in life.

As long as we have a need to succeed in life there is also a need to set goals based on the challenges before us. So there is a need for us to work on our minds to be undaunted in the face of the challenges of life. Through our makeup, we can confront and overcome any challenge no matter how intimidating it may seem. That is why goal setting is a crucial game changer as the achievement of goals to a large extent defines how successful one becomes in life.

Break down your Goal

Third, break down your goal setting into fragments. We must see it as a lifetime gradual process to be set one at a time – whether it is for the day, week, month or year. Goal setting must be done bit by bit. The more we progress the more challenging the goals become. So, it is better we break our goals into bits. Such that where one goal stops, another one will start. This will help us to set challenging but realistic goals for ourselves. It makes them achievable and culminates in profound success.

Crucial Game Changer

You must ensure you always conduct a routine check on your goal setting from time to time. Identify what you have done well and celebrate your achievement. Ask yourself what you have done right and consolidate on them. These are your strength; you must capitalize on them in the quest for success and happiness in life. In the same vein ask yourself what you have not done well and make some amendments. These are your weaknesses and if you don’t make amendments they may undermine your quest for fulfillment.

Evaluating your goal-setting ability is crucial as it helps you in capacity building. Capacity building is one of the things that will help us to succeed and find fulfillment in life. And capacity building in this regard is our ability to develop new problem-solving skills and techniques over a period of time. Capacity building is the ability to handle challenges and hiccups in order to achieve set goals and objectives. And it is all about improvisation in the way we handle tasks or responsibilities to achieve a desired result.  It is therefore imperative for Success and fulfillment in life.

Evaluation is a process that we must undertake from time to time.  It is an essential part of goal setting. Goal setting cannot be complete without you evaluating the progress you have made so far. It helps you to be in charge of the process. It is all about doing a detailed assessment or analysis of any area of life in the quest for success.

Evaluation is akin to debugging in software programming where one is able to identify errors and fix them for the code to work when it is run. Hence, if you are in the habit of evaluating your goals you will always know where you are heading with regard to goal setting and achievement is concerned. Learn the art of goal setting it is a crucial game changer in the realm of success.

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Fantastically Sophisticated

fantastically sophisticated

The key to succeed in a sophisticated world like ours is to fantastically sophisticated. The world is one complex web of human activities which needs sophistication to decode. Every facet of human life is enmeshed in sophistication. So it will not be illogical to say that in today’s digitalized world we are living a button or a click away from the future.

However, if you must strive to remain relevant in the scheme of things you must improvise. It is either you go for sophistication or you rust in life. Life becomes brute, blunt, rusty, and stagnated without personal development and upgrade. And to be fantastically sophisticated you must be open to improvisation in your business, profession or career, and in your academic pursuits – be more sophisticated. Even your thinking must also be sophisticated. You must think out the box. Acquisition of new skills, new ideas and knowledge through Personal development sharpens you and keep you relevant in a sophisticated world like ours.

As a teenager growing up was fun. We normally sit down together to discuss about issues bothering on life in the future. So on one of such occasions one of the guys as if he saw the future boasted. He did say that he would buy a television set which will be operated in the air when he grows up. However, few years later the much talked about remote controlled television set came into existence. Thus this young man’s prediction has now become a reality. Now we can conveniently operate the television set across space (air) via the remote control, without touching the gadget.

Radical Shift to Digitization

The world is fast becoming digitalized. Sophistication has triggered a radical shift from analogue to digital world; hence there has been a shift from the era of ‘black and white’ television sets with tuning knobs, to the era of high definition (HD) television sets, which one can operate through voice, gestures, and remote control. We have also witnessed a shift from the era of typewriter to that of computer typing and printing. There is also a shift from the era of fixed analogue telephones to sophisticated mobile phones.

Moreover, there are many far reaching and cutting-edge achievements or breakthroughs in science and technology. Like the nanotechnology, robotics engineering, artificial intelligence, aeronautical engineering, genetic engineering, and biotechnology etc. Indeed over the years almost every human field has improvised and embraced sophistication. Generally, there is now a sophisticated system of doing things in terms of research and operations, areas like medicine, engineering, architecture, transport, business, sports, journalism, and entertainment are all beneficiaries of this sophistication.

Therefore, for you to remain relevant in the scheme of things in a sophisticated world you must improvise. You must be open to improvisation in your business, profession or career, and in your academic pursuits – deep rooted sophistication. In order to do this you must go for personal development. Get more knowledge, get more experience and consolidate on them. Sophistication is the stability of the future. And with the trend of world events today only the sophisticated or those who can improvise on their experience will survive the future.

Sophistication Stands You Out

 In fact you must do the needful to distinguish yourself from others in everything you do. You must stand out from the crowd. Take for instance the Polaris or the North Star. Its brightness and position easily distinguish from other stars. Note, there are billions of stars in our galaxy but the North Star stands out by its position and brightness. One can easily spot and differentiate it from other (alpha ursae minoris) stars.

Another important attribute of the North Star, is that it is a guiding star. It is a dependable indicator of the direction towards the geographic North Pole, and so it is a reference point in navigation or astrology. One big lesson to learn from this is that once you stand out you will become a reference point. You will be a reference point to a lot of people who are eager to succeed like you. You will become a superstar, a role model, and a mentor because you are able to stand out in that which you do– whether in governance, business, academics, investment, or entertainment. And to do this you must be fantastically sophisticated.

Howbeit, you will only be a shining example to them when, and if you stand out. They will look unto you for direction and guidance once you stand out. Basically, to be a force to reckon with in any field you must be fantastically sophisticated, and this can be done through personal development. Of course, you will derive happiness and satisfaction in life when you have positive impact on people through your lifestyle.

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Unleash Your Talent: How to Explore Your Most Treasured Asset.

unleash your talent

One major way to open up the gateway to success and have a fulfilled life is to unleash your talent. Understand that your talent is your asset as long as success is concerned. It is common to hear people talk about a talented musician, actor, singer, speaker, writer or what have you. But the truth of the matter is that each and every one of us is endowed with at least a talent. We are all talented.

I remember vividly, a song we used to sing way back in Primary school. It goes like this;

One talent have I,
to take to the world;
While others are blessed
with ten of the best;
why should I complain
from duty refrain;
No never, no never,
Not I.

The above song captures the very nitty-gritty of this phenomenon called talent. We can understand from the song that we are all endowed with talents. However, while some are multi-talented, others can boast of just one talent. But we are all loaded with talents.

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey – Matthew 25:15.

Furthermore, this scripture verse buttresses the fact that we are carriers of certain talents. Hence, we can invade the infinite realm and succeed in life with a little creativity. Talent in this regard, is that special (unique) skill or quality that is divinely endowed on people that makes them do things with ease and very well. Talents are special gifts that help people in fulfilling destiny. One universal truth about talent is that it is for the public good. It is for positive impact. An endowment or a gift becomes a talent only when it is beneficial to the general public.

Understanding Talent

Talent is of great importance to human existence. One importance of talent is that it opens, and ushers men into the realm of greatness.

A man’s gift (talent) makes room for him, and brings him before great men – Proverbs 18:16

People with talents are ‘a greatness time bomb waiting to explode. So, your talent becomes a vehicle you ride in to achieve success, fame, and greatness. Understand that the tendency to unleash your talent depends so much on your ability. That is why even though we are all endowed with talents, some are ‘not talented’ because they lack the ability to unleash their talents. The ability here is the capacity to harness and express your talent. You must have the capacity to harness and unleash these special skills or gifts for maximum global impact.

Discover yourself

Taking the path to self-discovery is unarguably a window to capacity building. You must take the journey inward to discover yourself. Until you discover yourself you cannot live life to its fullest. It helps you to know your self-worth and unleash your talents. You must look inward to discover your strength, passion, and talents, and harness them for maximum impact in life.

By doing this you will build the capacity, and acquire the ability to unleash your talent. Have you discovered yourself? Do you have an insight into your own nature and character? Not until you do that you can ever unleash your talent.

You need a Push.

You need a push in life in order to build the capacity you need to unleash your talent. Note that for you to have the ability to unleash your talent you must be pushed beyond your limit. You must go the extra mile to build the capacity. For instance, an elastic band when pressured or overstretched does not return to its original state. In the same way, your talent when stretched beyond the limit does not remain the same. The elasticity of talent sets in. Each time you go beyond your limit there is improvisation to your talent. You will learn new ways of doing things with ease, and very well. That is innovation and creativity.

I remember vividly the time I wrote my thesis and each time I submitted my work for supervision. My supervisor then will ask me to elaborate on my work. Each time he will always tells me to write and expand my work. And it paid off as I got the best grade in my project work. My ability was overstretched beyond the limit and I build the capacity for writing. Today, I can write with ease, and I have so much developed my writing skill, such that I can write a script ten times, and each time develops new content is it.

You need Mentoring

Another way you can build the capacity to unleash your talent is through mentoring. You need to be mentored, trained, and facilitated by someone who is well-grounded in such a field for you to acquire the ability. You need someone who takes a personal interest in your success and is committed to helping you reach your full potential. Also, it must be someone who inspires you to succeed, someone who has done what you want to do and you aspire to be like him.

Mentorship encourages capacity building through the impartation of specialized skills and knowledge, and the wealth of experience of your mentor. It is your connecting bridge to fame and stardom.

Banish Fear

Let’s say your mind is a treasure box, and inside it is great potential, (talents) that you must freely express or unleash for you to be successful in life. Now, what fear does is that it closes this treasure box and buries these wonderful talents, and makes sure you don’t unleash them. This is one major reason why many are unsuccessful today. Not that they don’t have talents but because of fear of expressing their talents.

Fear strips you of all your abilities to unleash your talent by making you doubt your ability. However, you cannot develop your talents without taking responsibility to unleash your talent. Banish that fear now and give it a try. 

Finally, what are you good at? What is your passion in life? Or what do you feel so excited about? Chances are that this is your talent. And to unleash your talent you must go beyond your limit to build the capacity and acquire the ability. Do more if you must achieve more.

Imagine it, believe it, and dare to succeed.

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Mystery of Tomorrow

mystery of tomorrow

Unraveling the mystery of tomorrow is an arduous task for anyone who envisages a blissful and rewarding future. All through human existence the ‘concept of tomorrow’ seems to have always remained a mystery. There are myriads of popular parlances pointing to the mystery of tomorrow. For example, ‘no one knows tomorrow’, and ‘tomorrow is pregnant and no one knows what it will give birth to.

Tomorrow holds a lot for mankind – either good or bad. The mystery of tomorrow is that it is bloated with some elements of uncertainty. Interestingly, many are sorely afraid of tomorrow. They are afraid of what lies ahead of them i.e. fear of the unknown syndrome. This suggests why many would rather feel helpless at the thought of tomorrow because they don’t know what it holds for them. Even today many are still skeptical about tomorrow because of the uncertainties surrounding it but no matter our feelings about tomorrow, it will always come.

In fact, the entire human race is living in view of tomorrow. All our efforts and activities today point towards a better tomorrow.

There is an inextricable relationship between our yesterday and today, and also between our today and tomorrow. Whereas our today is rooted in our yesterday, our tomorrow will be determined by the activities of today. More so, today is a bridge connecting our yesterday with our tomorrow. Hence, yesterday is a lesson, today is a challenge, and tomorrow is a mystery. It is a time when we shall sit back to analyze and assess how we have fared in life. Hence, our success today determines whether we will have a fulfilling tomorrow.

Furthermore, tomorrow is the time when we shall take cognizance of all the decisions we made, and the daring risks and, or responsibilities we took, to ascertain their effectiveness. Such a time to some will be a time to celebrate their success in life, and to some, it will be a time to lament and regret their failure in life. There is a thin divide between our today and tomorrow. It is called the night.

…weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning, (Psalm 30:5).

Are you in your night of adversity as it were? Are you enmeshed in bitterness and weeping? Hold on, soon you will step into your tomorrow. Nevertheless, you must possess an element of hope in your heart. It is very important to note that no matter how long or how dark your night (adversity) may be the bright dawn of tomorrow (your success) will always emerge.

Most importantly, you can decide how your tomorrow will be. You can dictate to which direction the pendulum of tomorrow will swing. Hence you can lay formidable foundations for a better tomorrow today. Sincerely speaking, you can allay the fears of the unknown, and avert the cry of had I known tomorrow. Yes, you can but you must secure your tomorrow today. Now I will present to you the bouquet of life-lines that will help you secure your tomorrow, as well as demystify the mystery of tomorrow.

Salvation


Your salvation is the most superior of all the lifelines. It is the spiritual aspect of your quest to secure your tomorrow. As we will all know, the spiritual controls both the physical and the material. It is the surest mean to secure your tomorrow because when the spiritual aspect is secured virtually all other aspects of tomorrow is secured. It goes without saying that when you are saved your tomorrow is secured, but when you are not saved your tomorrow is not safe.

For God, so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world: but that the world through him might be saved, (John 3: 16, 17).

This is the good news, the whole message of salvation. And it is the only escape route from all the fear of the unknown, and fear of judgment, and of eternal damnation. Salvation confers on you the status of a hybrid personality whose tomorrow is intact and not in doubt.

Positive Imagination


One of the greatest gifts of God to mankind is the gift of imagination. Imagination per se is forming an image about a particular thing in your mind. It is painting mental pictures about something. Imagination has with it the power or force that can transform such mental pictures or images into reality. And as such the power of imagination cannot be underestimated, even God himself, confirms the audacity of imagination.

… And now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined, (Genesis 11:6).

What do you imagine about your tomorrow? What picture do you paint about your tomorrow? You must understand that the power of imagination will propel you to actualize that which you have painted.
When a man has a positive imagination, he has everything it takes to actualize his tomorrow. Imagination helps you see vividly your tomorrow today. Imagination consists of hope, optimism, and enthusiasm. And these three elements turn your imagination into reality. Watch out for my post on the power of imagination.

Preparation

The place of preparation in securing your tomorrow cannot is unfathomable. It is of utmost importance. A wise man once asserted that ‘’preparation brings manifestation’’, there is no doubt about this assertion. Hence, if we dream about a blissful tomorrow then it is necessary we prepare today. Adequate preparation is one factor you need to unravel the mystery of tomorrow, as failure to prepare for tomorrow means you are preparing for your failure today. Indeed, it is very needful we are fully prepared so that we will not be overtaken by the events of tomorrow. You must also brace up for the challenges and the demands of tomorrow. Prepare today to avoid the embarrassment of failure tomorrow. Thus, preparation entails planning for a better tomorrow.

Preparation entails intense planning, as you must take a feasibility study of your situation. Plan how you can rise above the challenges of such situations and secure your tomorrow. You must also take into consideration how you want your tomorrow to look. In addition, you must weigh every possible option needed to actualize your ideal tomorrow. Note, that the more prepared you are the more secured your tomorrow will be.

Investment


An adage says you must ‘’save for the rainy day’’. But I say let it not end with savings, you must go beyond savings, you must also invest for the rainy day. There is a connection between savings and investment; there is a high propensity that a good saver can become a good investor. But there is a massive difference between the gains of savings and that of investment. The gain of investment is profit, and it pours in a torrent; whereas, that of savings is interest and it trickles in drops. Note that when you invest, your resources or money will work for you. In other words, you are sending your money on errands to fetch more money.

There are investment opportunities everywhere but look out for the one that is most likely to yield a high return on your investment. However, I will advise you to be wary of all these get-rich opportunities lurking around. In the words of John Wesley;

Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can – John Wesley.

In the meantime, I will further advise you to invest all you can. Invest your money, time, talent, strength, etc and the returns on your investments will accrue to you tomorrow. And with all these returns on your investments, you will secure your tomorrow and will never be in doubt. Moreover, you must diversify your investments as every opportunity to invest is a quantum leap towards a better tomorrow.

Finally, for you to have a blissful and rewarding tomorrow you must unravel the mystery of tomorrow.

Imagine it, believe it, and dare to succeed.