Category: Success Unplugged

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Becoming a Living Legend

living legend

Who says you cannot become a living legend? There is a big misconception about legacy. Ordinarily, people tend to equate legacy as an end-of-life affair. But there is another twist to the issue of legacy. And the truth is that you can create your own legacy while you are still alive. You can become famous and be admired by a large number of people whose lives you have impacted while you are still alive. It is legacy that distinguishes the legend.  By their legacy we shall know them. Without mincing words what makes you a legend is the legacy you leave for others. And this legacy is rooted in your deeds and exploits in life.

Have a Dream

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams – Eleanor Roosevelt.

The truth is that you can become a living legend but you must dream it. You must have a dream if you hope to leave a legacy. If you don’t have a dream then there is nothing to live for. Your dream is your course of life. Obviously, your dream in life will form the basis for your legacy. No legacy is possible without a dream. You must own a dream for you to be able to become a legend. Dreams are futuristic in nature. They take care of the needs and challenges of the future. And these dreams sometimes take longer to be actualized.

The biblical Joseph as a little boy had a dream where all his brethren made obeisance to him. That dream took more than thirty years to be actualized. However, while waiting for the actualization of his dream Joseph did everything to safeguard and nurture his dream. One thing he did to safeguard this dream was to stay focused. 

Safeguard your Dream

There were threats everywhere around him that would have halted this dream starting from his brothers. They did all they could to stop him. They hated him with passion because they were jealous of his dream. From there they took a step further by planning to kill him. They threw him into a deep empty well, and eventually sold him into slavery. As a slave boy his ordeal continued as his master’s wife cast eyes on him and wanted to lure him into sleeping with her. He vehemently declined and refused his mistress’ advances. And this landed him into more troubles.  He was wrongfully accused and imprisoned.

All these things did not distract him, rather he remained focused. However, when the time came his dream was actualized and he was appointed a leader in Egypt second to none but only pharaoh. He became an icon, a legend highly admired and revered throughout the land because of what he did to save the land. His was a legacy that would save the nation from seven years of severe famine. Through his idea food was stored up in abundance during years of great harvest. The reserve was so enormous that they became a food distribution hub; they even have enough to sell to other nations.

Dreams are Powerful

Dreams are so powerful and will always materialize no matter how long it takes. And nothing can stop a dream whose time has come. It is your dream today that will translate to legacy in the future. Martin Luther king Jnr. we all know him very well, once had a dream. In his famous speech ‘I have a dream’ he made explicit the dream he had for the American nation. It was a dream for equality among the different races that makes up the United States. It was a dream for freedom and Justice deeply rooted in the American dream.

Unfortunately, he was assassinated in the course of this but his dream lived on. And today we celebrate Martin Luther king Jnr. as a legend because of the legacy he has left- the legacy of civil right. He was a legend and a champion of civil right. In fact much of the rights, justice and freedom that the blacks and other Americans enjoy today were because of his dream. Many are now happy and fulfilled being citizens of the United States because of this legacy.

Dreams are Bigger than the Dreamer

From the story of Martin Luther King Jnr. We can understand that dreams are bigger than their owners. Dreams outlive their owners once they are actualized and become legacies. Do you have a dream in life? What is your dream about the future?  The first step to becoming a living legend is by having a dream. In the next post I will explain how you can nest your dream and to turn it into a legacy.  

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Legacy: Footprint in the Sand of Time (2)

legacy

It is a well known fact that we can’t live forever, but there is something that does. Our legacies outlive us. So in this journey called life we must all work towards carving our own “was here’’ inscription on the wall of time by the legacy we leave. Like the graduating students in the illustration I gave in part one of this post. The moment we carve our legacies those that will come after us will know that we were once here. Legacy is eternal. It outlasts life itself. The legacy we leave behind can live for centuries long after we are gone to the great beyond. It is futuristic in nature. We can rightly say that the legacy we leave lives after us. Legacy speaks volume. It has a voice. It tells people about us. What we have achieved in any given field.

Leaving a legacy is akin to stamping your footprints in the sand of time. However, for us to stamp our footprints in the sand of time for others to follow there are few factors that we must consider.

Think about the future

All good men and women must take responsibility to create legacies that will take the next generation to a level we could only imagine. – Jim Rohn

I want to believe that so far you are beginning to brainstorm on what legacy you will leave behind. Are you planning to leave a legacy?  If the answer is yes, then you must think about the future. You must be futuristic in your approach to life. Your goals must also be futuristic. Set long term goals with the future in view and plan on how to achieve them. Considering the next generation, even those yet unborn is an option you must choose. Think about how your legacy will affect them.  

For a legacy to be better appreciated it must be directed towards the good of the people.  And for you to do this you must be ready to conquer greed, avarice, and every inordinate ambition for self gratification and personal aggrandizement. You must be altruistic in your approach to life. Ask yourself this simple question, “What do I have to offer to humanity?” This must be borne out of pure and unfeigned love for humanity. Your legacy must bring comfort, satisfaction, and fulfillment to many. And it must also meet the needs and aspirations of others.

Do something today.

For posterity to remember you, you must do something today. The legacy you will leave behind is based on your today’s work. What people will remember about you is what you have done with your life. And what is worth remembering is worth doing well. People will remember you because of what you do today.

If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” – Benjamin Franklin

What are you doing with your life in service to humanity? Your legacy is wrapped up in the actions and responsibilities you take. Even the decisions you make all point toward the legacy you will leave behind. So you must work hard to leave a good legacy in your pursuit in life. And to do that you must do something worthwhile with your life. In fact you must impact the lives of people around you with your talents. Find your aim in life today while you still have the wherewithal to do so.

The future holds a lot for mankind – either good or bad. It is bloated with some elements of mixed fortune. In fact, we are all living in view of the future. All our efforts and activities today must point towards a better and fulfilling future. There is an inextricable relationship between the legacies we will leave behind and our activities today. What you do today determines the kind of legacy you will leave in the future. In fact it is the connecting bridge between your success and the legacy you will live behind. So do everything to succeed today if you want to leave a good legacy.

In addition, a moment of truth will come when we shall take cognizance of all the decisions we make today, 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 achievements and legacies and to others it will be a time to lament and regret their inability to do something reasonable with their lives. You must always do the needful to meet the needs and demands of the present, because your future fulfillment lies in what you do with your life today. You must never defer responsibilities. Learn to take prompt actions as the need arises. Prompt and immediate execution of tasks will help you leave a good legacy and guarantee your fulfillment in life

Doing something reasonable with your life is a bold step to a good legacy and a life of fulfillment. Fulfillment comes when you know that people are benefiting from your legacy. In other words you will derive happiness and satisfaction when your work or what you have done is helping others to find fulfillment in life.  Indeed for your works to become a legacy it must in a way or the other improve a lot of lives.

However, you must possess an element of hope in your heart. You must have the mindset that the happiness of others lies in what you are doing today and therefore it must be successful. The burning question now is what are you doing with your life today? If you are doing nothing, start something today. Think of a project, business, scientific discovery, invention, creative insight or whatever will uplift and add value to lives. 

Remember, it is by doing something not by inaction that legacies are born. And to leave a legacy you must do something extremely well while you are still living. Hence, to ascertain whether you are heading to the right direction regarding legacy you must critically evaluate or assess yourself. Ask yourself some fundamental questions like;

i.) What exploit have I done now that I am alive?
ii.) In my sphere of influence what value have I created with my exploits?
iii.) Do I touch or impact people’s lives by what I do?
iv.) Will what I do be enough to create and leave a legacy for others?

The world will be a better place if we will all do everything within our capacity to leave a good legacy.

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Legacy: Footprint in the Sand of time

legacy

It was my first day in college. I had just concluded the registration exercise for new students. And coming out of the vice-principal’s office I headed to the left wing of the school complex walking down the alley. Just as I descended the staircase to go to my new class I could see so many inscriptions on the wall. But one of them caught my fancy, it was boldly and artistically written, “Don Carlos was here, 1980-1986, forget him not”. Those inscriptions did one thing, they made a point. They created awareness, telling anybody who cares that the youngster in question has passed through the college. This became a norm among the graduating students, each year they competed among themselves to carve their own “was here” inscription with their names. They want incoming students to remember the inscription on the wall. This is a sort of legacy to them.

The real essence of life is in the legacy we leave behind. Have you ever spent time thinking about your life? What posterity will remember you for? Or what legacy you will leave behind? The worst thing that can happen to you is to live your life without leaving evidence that you once lived on earth. I have said it times without number, in fact let it become your success mantra, that you are not living life just to exist but you are living to make an impact in life. Hence, the impact you make in life becomes the legacy you will leave behind for posterity to remember you.

The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts life
– Williams James.

What is Legacy

Legacy according to Webster’s dictionary is something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past. It could be either a good or bad legacy. However, in this section we shall focus on the good legacies. This involves the transmission of values, inheritance, wealth, or attitudes etc. Hence, legacies are certain privileges bequeathed or passed down from one person to another. And in my own words, legacy is the evidence of a fulfilled life, a life well spent here on earth. It is leaving one’s indelible footprint or mark of success and achievements on the sand of time for others to follow. The legacy question is a critical one which we must address to lend credence to our quest for happiness in life. It is a powerful indicator of fulfillment. It defines our net worth.

Everyday Legacy

Earlier on I did say that the essence of life is in the legacy we leave behind. Life is segmented into phases. Life is in phases. And legacy is akin to writing a book, with each chapter you finish you start a new one until you come to the conclusion. It is progressive as life itself and so it is not only an end of life affair. We write our legacy every day by our actions, through the decisions we make, and the attitude we exhibit, etc. Therefore, in every phase of life we find ourselves we must strive to leave a legacy behind. These legacies are based on the experiences and awareness of such phases.

What phase are you in your life, career, business, or marriage? Are you a politician, entrepreneur, teacher, parent? What legacy are you going to leave behind at this phase of your life as you prepare to move on to the next phase? It may interest you that you can leave a legacy in every area of life.

Leadership by example

In any sphere of influence whether in politics, corporate world, religious circle, academic world, or family any individual that wields authority and influence over others is a leader. And every leader has the moral obligation to leave behind an enduring legacy. As a leader you must do something that will make those under you remember you for good. The best legacy a leader should leave behind is to lead well. This is leadership by example. And will be evident in your approach to leadership and communication style, and the capacity to impact people around you. It will also show in your ability to meet public goals. As a leader you will be very far from leaving a legacy if you are unable to meet the needs of those under you. These needs may include spiritual, economic, financial, emotional, political or leadership needs etc.

Invest in People

True leaders don’t invest in buildings. Jesus never built a building. They invest in people. Why?  Because Success without a successor is failure. So your legacy should not be in buildings, programs, or projects; your legacy must be in people –Myles Munroe

As a leader, for you to leave a good and lasting legacy behind you must invest in your people. This should be your priority. But all your policies must be people-oriented. You must be able to carry people along and drive them to prosperity.

No legacy is so rich as honesty – William Shakespeare

There are other legacies a leader must leave behind. These include honesty and integrity, love and peace. Through these legacies a leader will be able to touch a great number of lives around him

If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader – Dolly Parton

Obviously, there is fulfillment for you as a leader when you meet the needs of those under you. Lead very well if you want people to remember you in life.

Parental Upbringing

It is up to us to live up to the legacy that was left for us, and to leave a legacy that is worthy of our children and of future generations – Christine Gregoire

As a parent what legacy are you leaving for your children? What will your children remember you for? Every parent must leave good legacies for their children. And one of such legacies is good parenting. It is the responsibility of parents to train or bring up their children well. It is also their legacy to leave behind inheritance for their children. Therefore, every parent should work hard to bequeath the legacy of inheritance to their children. A good man will leave inheritance to his children’s children… Proverbs 13:22

Every parent as a matter of urgency should consider the above verse, and do everything within their power to leave inheritance to their children.

The best Legacy

In addition every parent must adequately train their children or wards. I strongly believe that the best legacy a parent can give his or her children is adequate and good upbringing. Even if you are not well disposed to give them financial or material inheritance, give them a good upbringing. Inculcate good values in them. It is the best inheritance any parent can give his children. And this good upbringing involves sound and adequate education, both formal and informal. Parents must make plans on how to give their children the quality education they deserve.

This planning includes funding their education even up to tertiary level. Fortunately, there are some contributory schemes or bank savings products that are tailored to meet the need of funding your children’s education. You can subscribe to any of these products. Start contributing and saving for the future of your children. Securing the future of your children is the best legacy any parent can leave for his or her children.

Adequate training is a prerequisite for the sustainability and preservation of every legacy we leave for our children. The truth is that whether you are leaving behind a large business empire, estate or a good name as a legacy it requires a high level capacity to maintain it. And the children will jeopardize or hurt this legacy if they lack the capacity to do so. Hence, it takes good upbringing and adequate training to develop such capacity.

To be Continued…

Till then always Dare to Succeed.

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Inspiration: Livewire of Every Successful Enterprise?

inspiration

Inspiration is the livewire of every successful enterprise.

Greatness is more than potential. It is the execution of that potential. Beyond the raw talent. You need the appropriate training. You need the discipline. You need the inspiration. You need the drive – Eric A. Burns

Could this be Inspiration?

On a fateful day back then in school, we returned from lectures to the hostel to find our roommate reading with the audio CD playing at the peak of the volume. Immediately we asked him why he was playing the music at such a loud volume since he was studying and preparing for the exams. And he told us that he likes listening to the R&B genre of music because it gives him motivation whenever he listens to them.

Another, a Civil Engineering student one day while he was doing a structural drawing almost consumed a packet of cigarettes, and when asked why he must smoke while drawing he said, ‘It is for concentration’. I am inspired to draw well whenever I smoke. Could this be an inspiration? It is different strokes for different folks.

What is Inspiration?

Inspiration according to Wikipedia refers to an unconscious burst of creativity in literary, musical, or other artistic endeavors. The concept is derived from the Latin word ‘inspirare’ which means to ‘breathe into’.

Two vital Elements

It is worth noting that two vital elements are captured within the purview of inspiration. First, it is an unconscious, involuntary occurrence, and hence we have no control over it. It comes like packets or flashes of ideas and if it is not firmly grasped can slip out of our reach. Second, it comes like a divine influence, it is breathed into, and that is to say, it is drawn from a higher source. Like a phone battery plugged into a power bank, there is an inspiration bank we all must connect to draw from it. However, the level of our connection determines well disposed we are to inspiration. Let us examine this scripture,

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man become a living soul- Genesis 2: 7.

Comprehensive Definition

Inspiration is a divine influence or action that motivates one for excellent performance in any endeavor. A sudden surge of brilliant or timely ideas characterizes it. It is the livewire of every enterprise. Any enterprise on the verge of collapse needs it to bounce back to life. And to do that you need brilliant and timely ideas which are a product of inspiration. The soul of creativity is ideas. The whole essence of inspiration is creativity; hence it is the spirit of creativity.

The Power of Inspiration

Every notable achievement or invention is a product of inspiration. Therefore it becomes leverage for success. As we all know creativity is a springboard for success and it comes via inspiration. Brilliant ideas for success are conceived the very moment it comes. It is a prerequisite for success as you need it to understand the fundamentals of any endeavor, be it business, music, literature, science, technology, etc

 But there is a spirit in man and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding – Job 32: 8

What is it that inspires you in life? You must discover it now if you must have a stake in the realm of success. What is it that motivates you to do more? Or something that brings out the best in you. Something that tests your creative ability or something that makes you think out of the box. It could be literature, music, biography, a role model, a decision, goals, or vision. Whatever it is that will inspire you to succeed think about it.

Imagine, believe, dare the Impossible