Acquiring Success Through The Amazing Power of Thought
Acquiring Success Through The Amazing Power of Thought
IT!
Amazing Power of Thought!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRELUDE .............................................................................................................. 8
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................. 14
FOOT IN THE DOOR STRATEGY ...................................................................... 17
CHAPTER ONE: ................................................................................................... 22
THE AMAZING POWER OF THOUGHT!........................................................... 22
THINK BEFORE YOU ACT: ............................................................................... 24
LIVE IN YOUR IMAGINATIONS! ...................................................................... 25
SEE YOUR THOUGHTS AS A MAGNET ............................................................ 25
MAINTAIN DAILY A POSTIVE THINKING TIME ............................................ 26
BE YOUR OWN PROPHET ............................................................................... 26
SOW A POSITVE THOUGHT SEED ................................................................... 27
CHANGE YOUR LANGUAGE TO THAT OF AN ACHIEVER ................................ 27
CHAPTER TWO: .................................................................................................. 30
MAINTAINING THE RIGHT MENTAL ATTITUDE: A PREREQUISITE TO SUCCESS
....................................................................................................................... 30
LOOK FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE OUT OF THE SITUATION: ..................... 35
SPEAK POSITIVE ABOUT THE SITUATION ................................................... 36
ENSURE THE BATTLE OF THE MIND ENDS IN YOUR FAVOUR .................... 36
TURN MAINTAINING A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE INTO A HABIT ........ 37
CHAPTER THREE: ................................................................................................ 39
TAPPING INTO YOUR PERSONAL GOLD MINE! .............................................. 39
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PRELUDE
This book is a book about YOU! It is a tool that you can either choose to use or
ignore; but it is all about YOU all the same!
It is about you because I want YOU to achieve something through reading it and
going through its pages. I want it to spur you to action; I want it to make you do
something about your life that whenever you look back, you will sit down and
be proud of yourself for taking a particular step at a particular moment in time
as a result of reading through its pages.
There are two most important resources that you have got to manage well to
become anything worthwhile in life: the first resource is money; the second
resource is time. However, if you dont manage your time well you are never
going to be a good manager of money.
Managing time properly depends on what knowledge you acquire and how YOU
put that knowledge to use. Adequate knowledge and time become tools that
when effectively put to use you can easily convert them to money.
In other words, if you are yet to learn how to manage your time and other tools,
(like the knowledge you will come across in this book) effectively, even if you
get money, lack of adequate knowledge about stuff like: the power of thought
and how it relates to a mans destiny; the conscious and subconscious mind and
the impact they have on your life and, what your major tool for wealth creation
is, you are not going to effectively put the money you get or earn to use!
Where this book seeks to differ to others that you may have read however, is
that:
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After that, well delve into the real stuff; Acquiring Success through the
Amazing Power of Thought!
GO FOR IT!
NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!
The man who learns how to control his thoughts, will end up being the
one who controls his world.
Britain's William Churchill it was who made the statement, 'Never, Never
Give Up'! As the story goes reportedly, on October 29, 1941, as Prime
Minister, Churchill visited Harrow School, a school he had attended as a
child, where he made the speech that contained those three inspiring
words!
If you have read Napoleon Hill's all time classic: 'Think and Grow Rich'
you will recall how he narrated in the first chapter of the book under the
sub-title: 'Three feet from Gold! an incident that also teaches against
quitting when in pursuit of a goal. He wrote about one R. U. Darby who
had embarked on a mining expedition only to give up when he was three
feet away from uncovering millions worth of gold!
I learnt the same principle through a personal incident I experienced in
1994 that made me resolve never to let it repeat itself again!
Never! I will explain!
In 1994 to celebrate and coincide with the 30th Anniversary of Domino
Stores Limited, Lagos (owned by the Murray Bruce clan) I was
commissioned to execute a Special Project on the organisation. It turned
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I had such a long list of contacts to follow-up on within a short period that
after being persuaded that there was nothing that could be done about, I
gave up!
However, the Peak Milk colour advert story did not end there!
On the day the feature came out (Vanguard's ace columnist and Veteran
journalist, the late Bisi Lawrence, had written a half page kicker to the
cover story to set the ball rolling) I picked up the Champion Newspaper,
which was also working on the same Project (letters had been sent out to
two media organisations) and was confronted with a single advert feature
story and- wait for it - the lone advert was a full page, black and white
advert of Peak Milk!
Not that it bothered or affected my performance. I had sourced several full
page adverts that featured in the project (even extending beyond the
anniversary date) seeing Vanguard increase both its pagination and print
run to accommodate the project. But the fact that those who managed Peak
Milk at WAMCO changed their minds and gave a B&W advert (after
telling me they would not) to Champion Newspapers was something I
found difficult to understand!
What had happened?
Shortly after I left the WAMCO Manager's office I learnt later that a highpowered team of four from Champion had driven to her office, begging
her to give them an advert and citing the fact that their jobs were on the
line, since 'a person from Vanguard' (me) had gotten all the adverts for the
project, while the Champion was left with nothing!
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INTRODUCTION
The person who learns how to control his thoughts will end up being the one
who controls his world!
The desire to be a motivational writer had started when I read my first selfdevelopment book, The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent
Peale. I came across the book after experiencing a setback while engaged
in school politics and studying as a student of Lagos State Polytechnic,
Isolo, and Lagos State. That, however, is another story for another day!
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Tomi had spoken to Mr Ojeagbase. The latter wanted to see me. It was an
opportunity I could not afford to miss.
Few who know me presently may have never realised that I ever engaged
in the business of motivation/inspiration in the past. However, in 1995
(almost twenty years ago) I got my first job as writer for a self help
motivational Magazine, SuccessDigest (SD) published by the owner of
Complete Communication Limited (CCL) and founded by Ojeagbase.
To tell the truth I was not initially engaged as a writer but as a marketer
who was saddled with the responsibility to canvass for adverts for the
magazine. He told me during an informal tete-a tete that he had already
employed a complete editorial team for his about to start magazine and
was only looking for an advert canvasser.
One of those amongst the team he referred to was a colleague and friend
till today, Bolaji Oyegunle; a person I would meet up with later on the
sports beat while working for the Guardian. He had moved over from
proof-reading for SuccessDigest to do same for Complete Football, before
he eventually became a sports reporter for the publication!
I applied for the sales job (though, still nursing the ambition of being a
writer) brandishing the theoretical selling skills I had acquired from
listening to the audio tapes of the likes of Anthony Robbins and Brian
Tracy. I subtly mirrored S. O (as we called Ojeagbase back then) during
the interview, noting and re-producing every gesture and move of his while
we spoke! (I learnt about this technique in another set of self-development
books I was reading then). I told him I could sell; that selling by me was
first nature. I told him that I learnt the art of selling by selling myself!
I got the job!
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There was something in me that Ojeagbase saw that made him agree to
employ me that day; even though I did not get to sell a single advert for
the magazine for the over two years that I worked for it!
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While I was supposed to be busy canvassing for adverts for the magazine
I sought to, on a part time basis, attend a short course on page planning
and Newspaper/Magazine design at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism
(NIJ). None of us on the SD team then could handle production (except for
Bolaji who working also for Complete Sports, found the task quite
demanding). Complete Football had a production crew which occasionally
helped out and included Phillip Balepo, a senior college who was later to
venture into Sports marketing/ T.V presentation.
The core planning for the SD magazine however, was handled by
Ojeagase himself.
I finished my course and the opportunity to show-off my skills came by in
an unexpected manner. Ojeagbase had a pressing assignment and told us
we would have to handle the entire production of the magazine ourselves.
It is either you guys will sink or swim he explained.
I told my colleagues that I had acquired the skills needed to plan the pages
and they should leave it to me. The magazine came out with a bang and,
coupled with the fact that we ran extracts from the book Maximum
Achievement by Brian Tracy, which I introduced to the team, it was by far
the best selling edition of the magazine up to then. Ojeagbase came back
and was so impressed, I was promoted to be put in charge of Editorial
Production, while someone else was put in-charge of sales and marketing.
In place of not getting adverts for the magazine (although I established a
number of strong contacts) I also came up with the idea an annual
SuccessDigest seminar/conference and muted the idea of selling
motivational/ Business books, then quite novel in Nigeria. This was later
to turn out as the main source of financial success for The Success Attitude
Development Centre (SADC), the mother company of SuccessDigest!
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At the meeting Ojeagbase said it was either one of the two of us would
have to leave the company as he felt I was too ambitious; desiring to take
over his organisation. (Prior to then I had also engaged unsuccessfully in
talks with him as regards owning shares in the company as well!)
Well, it all ended!
On the other hand up to that time it was among the best two years of my
life seeing Ojeagbase describe me as a man of many parts since he not
could arrive at a better way to describe the bundle of talents he saw in me.
Later on I was to chart a career in Journalism; moving on to Policy
Magazine and then to the Guardian. Before Success Digest, as mentioned
earlier, I also had a working stint in the Advert/Special Features
department of Vanguard Newspaper, where I worked and met with the
likes of Bisi Lawrence, Tony Okenedo, Ikeddy Isiguzo and Onochie
Anibeze; while Frank Aibogun served as Editor.
All of these (among other experiences) were part of what formed the
person I am today and the skills I have acquired that has led to my
publishing of Bode in Flight, an online and hard copy publication,
presented in print and video format that enables me to reach out and touch
peoples lives through motivation/inspiration, self-development and
Business ideas/concepts; and of course features stories.
But, it had all started out with the THOUGHT and desire to be a
motivational writer and speaker!
By reading this book, you have become one of those I have set out to touch!
Other chapters you will read include:
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May God help us all to realise our dreams and keep our promises.
ANTHONY OLABODE AYODELE
GO FOR IT!
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CHAPTER ONE
THE AMAZING POWER OF THOUGHT!
The
more
powerful
the
thought is (in the
right direction) the
more likely the goal
is achieved.
BODE AYODELE
Thought
is
everything! There is
nothing that was
created that was not first of all backed up by the power of thought. If you
look at the world closely you will observe the more constructive thought
that goes into something the better its outcome.
Many do not realise the power behind thought because of its invisible
nature.
When the bible states God said let there be light and there was light, the
hidden message behind this fact is that the creator thought light into
existence before speaking it forth.
The act of thinking is one of the most important acts a man can engage
in. You can never over-emphasise its importance.
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Never!
One success strategy
proven over the years is
the art of writing down
your goals. The basic
reason for this exercise
is to make you think.
Great and deep thinkers
are those who end up
reshaping the world. No great invention, scientific discovery or great
success story was not preceded by deep thought.
Dear reader, I want to reveal to you one of the greatest secrets of life.
Negative thoughts or thinking is what is responsible for all of the
misfortunes, negative occurrences and mishaps in the world today! You
may argue that these happenings are due to the hand of God but, have
you forgotten that God created man in His own image and gave man His
creative ability? Well, that creative power comes through thinking!
One of the reasons why advance world countries appear scientifically
ahead of the developing ones is due to the quality time their scientist,
inventors and leaders spend in constructive thinking.
In many cases scientists invent things that seem virtually impossible; reshaping the world in the process. Simply put, they individually or
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is not in your favour. In reality, you may follow professional advice and
take precautions, but mentally, convince yourself that your situation will
change in your favour. Ensure whatever you say is always along such lines.
SOW A POSITVE THOUGHT SEED
Sowing thought seeds is one of the easiest ways to change your destiny.
When you think of something positive write it down and put it away. A
while later you may encounter what you have written and it could provide
motivation to move you forward in life. You could send a text message or
a positive worded email to yourself. You could even write to yourself an
encouraging letter. All of these activities will help you form a positive
image about yourself.
CHANGE YOUR LANGUAGE TO THAT OF AN ACHIEVER
Finally, you need to watch your own language. Words trigger off thoughts
and thoughts lead to actions. If this doesnt make sense to you get a loved
one or a person of the opposite sex you admire to start talking to you
about intimacy. Before you know it, a part of you begins to react
physically. Even without you doing anything about it. If such dialogue
continues you will be motivated to act on your thoughts! That is the
power of words! A persons choice of words are very important. Do not
say I am frustrated. Rather, say, I have a bit of a challenge that I am
working towards solving. Keep things in a proper perspective. The
problem you are currently facing does not define you. Let your language
reveal you as a person who is focused and believes in a brighter future.
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CHAPTER TWO
MAINTAINING THE RIGHT MENTAL ATTITUDE: A
PREREQUISITE TO SUCCESS
The angle at which
a bat hits a ball
determines
the
direction it flies in.
Your
attitude
determines
your
altitude
is
a
common
saying.
This
suggests the fact
that
how
you
approach
each
circumstance determines what you get out of it. How you think
determines how far you sour above the problems of life.
Unfortunately, many have been fooled into believing that what happens
to them in life has nothing to do with how they think or feel. They are
taught that they have no way to exercise any form of control or influence
over their lives. That the only determinants of a persons destiny are
either God or the Devil, who are the representatives of good and evil.
The problem with this belief is that people ask why do bad things happen
rather than seek ways to prevent them from happening. People wait for
guidance to do something, rather than making up their minds, taking
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control and doing it. They put accountability in the hands of someone
else; of God, and go on singing mentally: whats gonna be, gonna be!
When you understand that thoughts are creative then you realise that
you must take control of your thinking pattern and processes. You must
take responsibility for your actions and destiny. You must take charge!
One of the easiest ways to do this is to control your attitude towards
every circumstance you encounter.
There are many problems you may encounter in life that may seem
unsolvable; like losing a loved one or the wrecking of a car in a motor
accident. But, what we can take care of however, is our aftermath, mental
reaction. If, when any unavoidable circumstance happens to you, your
first reaction is I am finished! It is most likely that you will trigger of a
chain reaction of subsequent negative occurrences in your life.
Fear magnetises more problems!
On the other hand, if you let the problem inspire you to think positively;
to look at it from a positive perspective, the chain of subsequent
occurrences would likely be different. As stated in the opening quote of
this chapter, the angle at which a bat hits a ball determines the direction
it flies in. Your thoughts are the bat and the problem the ball. Your
thoughts must address the problem in such a way that it must not have a
negative spill over affect; affecting other aspects of your daily life and
destiny.
Many look at their problems and allow themselves to believe they are
going through the worst a person can experience. They believe there is
no one else suffering like they do. That is the wrong way to approach a
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problem. The first thing you need to do is to put the problem and your
situation in the right perspective!
I am
sure we
have all
heard of
the story
of
the
man who
said he
cried
about
having
no shoes until he came across a person with no feet. The fact that a
narrative is publicised and promoted above others does not mean that it
is the best example of its kind. You do not need to flow with the crowd.
Many have heard of the story of Rosa Parks standing her grounds and
insisting on sitting while white people stood in a segregated bus; but few
have heard of another lady who, since she was a six year old child - went
through what Parks experienced on one day - for an entire year!
Ruby Bridges story is a perfect example of how a negative situation, when
confronted with a positive attitude can be turned into a positive
experience.
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Just
recently
Ruby, now an
adult,
was
invited to the
White House by
United
states
President
Barrack Obama,
who,
while
standing in front
of a huge framed
picture of her
attending the school during the first week when she was six years old,
told her in front of all present that she was the reason why he was in the
White House!
Could you expect such a negative circumstance to give you an honour any
more than that!
Below are tips on how to maintain a positive attitude and handle
negative circumstances when they come your way:
LOOK FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE OUT OF THE SITUATION:
There must be something positive that you can hold on to. You must
preach to yourself and convince yourself that it is not as worse as it could
be. Your mind must never be convinced that you are in for it or that you
just cant stop negative things from coming your way. The first area that
you need to recover from the shock of the occurrence is in the area of
your mind! Dont allow negative occurrences to throw you off balance!
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your own life today. Exercise and begin to think about the positive future
your God given capabilities can create for yourself?
You are whatever you make yourself to be in life!
GO FOR IT!
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CHAPTER THREE
TAPPING INTO YOUR PERSONAL GOLD MINE!
The truth is, until
you realise that you
already
own
a
personal gold mine
and you understand
how to cultivate and
tap its resources,
whatever
money
you get will be
fretted away and
amount to nothing
purposeful.
How would you react if you were informed/discovered that you own a
personal gold mine? I mean, a mine of wealth, which can only be accessed
by you. A mine that is full of assets that you can convert and sell for cash.
Yes, one that belongs to you of which you can do whatever you like with
it! Well, the truth is not only do you own one - every human being on the
face of this earth, as we intend to point out in this article - does!
Many people fail to realise how wealthy they really are. If wealth could
be defined as the accumulated worth of what you have, that could be
converted to cash, there are many millionaires out there who do not even
recognise it! I am talking about everyday people. The common man on
the street.
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Many feel the only way they can make it financially in life is to be a
beneficiary of a huge sum of money. Some seek to win the jackpot while
others go in search of a wealthy benefactor. Some are willing to do
anything - either legally or illegally - to acquire such, but the truth is, until
you realise that you already own a personal gold mine and you
understand how to cultivate and tap its resources, whatever money you
get will be fretted away and amount to nothing purposeful.
I will stop building the suspense at this point dear reader and let the cat
out of the bag- your personal mine of wealth - is your mind!
The mind of
man
is
a
personal gold
mine and the
knowledge
acquired
by
each man is the
gold!
Every
human being on
the face of this
earth has some
form of knowledge that, with time, when packaged and presented
properly, many out there will willingly pay for.
Have you considered that the experiences you have gone through in life
could be converted to cash? Have you discovered that your skills and
talents are assets others are willing to pay for to learn how you got them?
Just take a look around you dear reader and you will discover that those
who are considered wealthy in life (aside through inheritance) qualify to
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be called thus because of what they have been able to generate through
the gold mine of the mind and convert into money!
Many fail to understand the value of uniqueness. What is unique to you
could be valuable information to others. Have you survived a turbulent
marriage? Check online, there are those who have converted such
experience into a book that sells for money! Have you gone through a
crises before? There are many out there that are willing to part with a few
dimes to gain from your experience; probably as a Public Speaker. No
matter who you are and where you are there is something you are in
possession of within the store of your mind that someone else is willing
to pay for!
What most people need is not what they can sell, it is how to package and
market what they already have in their possession. They dont, at the
initial stage, need a huge sum of money from some rich person. They
need to learn how to cultivate the knowledge within and present it in the
form that that the rich person or investor will buy into it. And this brings
us to the difference between being rich and being wealthy. While being
rich could be referred to as those who have a lot of disposable income to
spend, being wealthy is possessing what can easily be converted to
riches!
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As far as that
definition
goes
dear reader, YOU,
yes YOU reading
this line at this very
moment - YOU are
not going to be but are already a
very, very wealthy
individual!
I recall an article I wrote while working for SuccessDigest many years
back. The article was titled: There are Diamonds in the mud but you need
to dig down deep to find them. In it I posited that just as diamonds can
only be found beneath the earth and require miners to dig deep into the
dirt to discover them, there are individuals who, in terms of their
potentials are similar if not equal to rare diamonds in worth, but may only
be found and discovered by those who seek them in the most
unexpected, obnoxious of places.
In the Chapter Seven of this book under the titled Constant and Never
Ending Improvement (CANI) one of the self-improvement points given is
that a person must learn how to sell oneself. Selling yourself in this
instance, refers to the ability to present and attract buyers to pay for or
subscribe to your wealth of knowledge. The skills and talents you have
are the gold nuggets but the ability to sell them effectively are the tools
and equipment you need to commence mining.
Just as the acquiring of tools for mining are expensive, the acquisition of
tools to mine and present the wealth of your mind, to attract the money
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you desire, is not easy to come by. Such tools when acquired can easily
see you become a beneficiary of numerous investment schemes designed
to assist those who have potentials to excel in business. Two of such
schemes that readily come to mind includes a the start-up loan for young
entrepreneurs scheme approved and introduced by the British Prime
Minister, David Cameron; a Business loan scheme organised by Smarta
Enterprise (both here in the united Kingdom) and the Youth Enterprise with
Innovation in Nigeria YouWiN scheme, initiated by the Ministry of Finance
of the Nigerian Federal Government, which is presently in its third and
probably, final year.
According to Paul C Nwabuikwu, Special Adviser to the Coordinating
Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,
one of the main problems Nigerian youths, -the targeted beneficiaries of
the scheme are facing- is the inability to properly sell their talents and
skills.
The question is not whether you have anything to sell? The question is,
have you acquired the skills and talents, being the tools and equipment
required, to sell it!
To turn your mental gold mine into wealth, below are two essential tips,
which will see you succeed:
MAKE VALAUBLE PROPORTIONS OF YOUR TALENTS AND SKILLS
FREELY AVAILABLE
One thing a lot of people who want to establish business fail to
understand is that putting those skills and talents to use to the benefit of
others is a powerful marketing skill itself. There are a thousand of people
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who want to tell you all about what they can do but are unwilling to give
away anything of such until you pay for it!
One motivational/Inspirational speaker/ author I have been personally
endeared to over the years is American motivational speaker, Brian
Tracy. Tracy has become such a huge success partially, as a result of the
amount of useful information he freely gives away. A highly successful
student of Tracy is Brendon Burchard. Burchard describes giving out free
stuff for others to have access (basically through the internet) as organic
content; stating that having something free to give away is one of the
surest ways to ensure you turn out successful in future.
There are many who spend pages and pages telling you what a product
of theirs would do if you buy into it without bothering to tell you anything
that will impact your life on the spot. Why would I want to buy and read
your book that you claim can motivate and inspire me to success if, while
promoting it, you cannot motivate and inspire me in the process? People
are not likely to buy because you tell them what you can do. They are
likely to buy if you seize the opportunity they offer and first of all start to
do it. Start impacting peoples lives for free with the skills and talents that
you have acquired and watch as others come seeking your service as time
goes on.
By having something valuable to freely give away, not only will you be
exercising and perfecting your skills of packaging and presenting your
talents, you will also be creating an army of word of mouth promoters for
your products as well. Brendon Burchard, mentioned earlier, noted in one
of his training sessions that there are lower and upper tier end products.
The former being products not as detailed and as qualitative as the latter.
He noted that one should ensure he has a product in both categories;
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further revealing that the free content you give out is what will attract
prospective buyers of any of these products, in the first place.
LEARN HOW TO EXPLORE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOCIAL
MEDIA
It is one thing to have social media presence, it is another to know how
to best exploit it to the advantage of your business or self-development.
While some would argue that that a platform like Facebook engages too
much of their time and does not contribute anything positive to their
lifestyle, others would agree there are many who have initiated and
maintained six figure businesses through the same medium!
Many still feel that a platform like Linkedin is still only meant for listing
your C.V and work profile. Few fail to understand that both Linkedin and
Twitter are so interactive now they the usage of all kinds of media that
could help you get across to your required audience.
In all, the success you seek for lies within you. Your unique experience
and knowledge only needs to be tapped, developed and presented in
such a form that it will attract the interest of prospective buyers.
There is a gold mine of wealth and knowledge you have acquired over the
years within you that is waiting to be explored!
Only you has the key to its vaults!!
GO FOR IT!!!
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CHAPTER FOUR
THE POWER OF INSPIRATIONAL DISSATISFACTION!
The more powerful
the thought is (in the
right direction) the
more likely the goal
it is aimed to
accomplish
is
achieved".
It
was
philanthropist,
businessman
and
motivational writer,
W Clement Stone
who coined the phrase Inspirational Dissatisfaction. In the book,
Success through a Positive Mental Attitude he co-authored with
Napoleon Hill, he highlighted the fact that one could convert his thoughts
from negative to positive; by using the emotions behind any form of
dissatisfaction, to serve as a propeller to achieve greatness.
Many have allowed negative emotions to truncate their journey to
success and terminate the belief in their ability to fulfil their dreams. They
have permitted external influences to form and reinforce negative
thoughts in their minds, rather than conquer them, on the journey to
achievement. The person who is inspirationally dissatisfied however, lets
the negative emotions they derive from the negative influence they
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But Ketchell had different plans. He concluded that he was not yet
through with life. He wanted to enjoy it and enjoy it he would.
He set goals for
himself
that
even
people
who
experienced
nothing
anywhere near
to what he did
would consider
impossible.
Then, all of a
sudden, it was all over the news that he had accomplished them all.
The 31 year- old completed what has been called "global triathlon". He
rode a bicycle over almost 270 miles; rowed all by himself 3,000 miles
across the Atlantic Ocean, and wait for it, successfully climbed Mount
Everest!
Today, he is being regarded as a record breaker, in many quarters. But
imagine at a point he was not even expected to walk!
Is there anything in life that serves as a source of discouragement? Is
there any experience that you are longing to get away from? Maybe, this
is the time to reach out, and aim for those dreams you once considered
out of reach?
Someone said the best antidote to pain is success? One could add to that
that the best way to get rid of a bad experience is by replacing it with a
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good one. You may not be able to change things immediately but you can
change the way or the perspective from which you look at it. It was coauthor and colleague of W Clement Stone, Napoleon Hill (both mentioned
earlier) who said for every adversity, there is the seed of an equal or
greater benefit."
If you take a look at your past I am sure there were experiences youve
had which you thought you would never get over. Probably, there were
times you thought you wanted to commit suicide and wondered whether
you could survive another day. But all of such thoughts are of the past
now showing that with time, by filling your mind with other thoughts, you
managed to overcome and get by.
Below are ways to turn your source of dissatisfaction into an
inspiration:
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and act as if nothing can change. For every human motion there is a
force or emotion behind it. Things dont just happen. The more
powerful the thought is (in the right direction) the more likely the
goal it is aimed to accomplish is achieved. This is why it is essential
you turn dissatisfaction into inspiration. It works!
GO FOR IT!
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CHAPTER FIVE
UNDERSTANDING AND HARNESSING THE SUBCONCIOUS
MIND
"The subconscious
mind, comprises of
those thoughts that
influence and
impact your life,
which you are not
consciously aware
of!
In the first chapter
we looked at the
power of thought.
We highlighted how
everything and anything that exists, was brought into existence through
thought. In this chapter we will take a step further from where we
stopped to take a look at how to harness the power of the subconscious
mind.
To do this, we must know what the subconscious is. Many definitions
have been put forward on the topic. Some of these are so complex that,
rather than making the subject easier to understand, they do the exact
opposite! But, basically, the subconscious mind comprises of those
thoughts that influence and impact your life, which you are not
consciously aware of!
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books or work credited to you. All of these put out a thought process that
directly or indirectly impacts your life.
For instance, when you write a book, a blog or even put up a post on your
Facebook account, someone else reads it and sets in motion a thought
process about you and what you have written. If the person is so pleased
with what you have written he (or she) could say a word of prayer;
blessing you for what you have done. Now, this will amount to a positive
thought issued concerning you that you are not aware of. It is a positive
force, seeking to make a positive impact on your life, nevertheless!
Or lets assume it is the other way round. You state something that seems
to support a government official that many consider fraudulent. Of
course, there are those that will say or let out thoughts that may not be
in your favour concerning what you have written. Or, for instance, if you
are writing against the Obama Health Care Plan, saying it is a waste of
money, some angry reader could say or hope that the next time you are
sick or need medical attention you will not be able to afford it! Here, you
have a set of negative thoughts, issued concerning your person that once
again you have to contend with despite the fact that you are not aware
of them!
Take note that I said thought is power! The more thought there is in a
particular direction, the more the possibility the direction towards
accomplishing the goal that thought is directed towards is accomplished.
As pointed out in a previous chapter scientist discover inventions by
constantly engaging in a particular thought; they desire to achieve
something, until they experience a breakthrough!
Many people do not realise that they are guided and powered in life by
thoughts. Take a look at the footballer who makes a number of dazzling
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CHAPTER SIX
STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE!
Success does not come
in one swoop. It comes
incrementally over time.
There is not really
anything such as instant
success. It requires
preparation, consistency
and focus.
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ball with, than in other bat and ball games, where a ball is similarly
required to be hit in motion, like lawn tennis and Cricket,
Missing the ball in flight in the game is common, especially for learners.
Batters are given two opportunities to restrain from hitting a pitched ball
(depending on certain conditions, too technical to mention here) before
being required to make an attempt on the third; otherwise, they are
penalised. The fear of not hitting the ball or not hitting it well and being
caught out by an opponent has scared many from stepping out and
attempting to hit! When you decide to hit a pitched, flying ball, you are
expected to step forward and place your foot on the plate in front of you,
hitting from there!
Many however, are afraid to Step up to the Plate!
Succeeding in life is similar to a batter attempting to strike a ball in
baseball!
Many want to succeed but are afraid to attempt to do what it takes. They
want to make money but are afraid to lose. The want to sell but are afraid
of rejections. They want pass an exam but are afraid of failing. Some even
want to date but are afraid of being turned down!
As the saying goes nothing ventured, nothing gained! You cannot seek
to maintain status quo and equally hope things will change for good. Even
if opportunities come knocking on your door as they sometimes will, you
have got to take advantage of them.
You can only perfect what you practise. Luck is so scarce that it is not
something you can hope to live by. Success does not come in one swoop.
It comes incrementally over time. There is not really anything such as
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Failure does not exist. Even mistakes, like the one that led to the discovery
of Penicillin, have something good to offer. Every attempt in life has its
own purpose. Its own seed of greatness!
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invariably allowing them to chart the course of your life. This could be
through charting and determining your belief system.
In all, a focused mind will eventually surmount all obstacles and
accomplish its desire to the extent to which it is focused. Distractions,
interruptions and stoppages may delay you along the journey but you alone
can decide what is most important to you in your quest for life. If along
the way, it seems someone takes what you are targeting, just believe it was
not meant for you. What is yours will eventually come your way. Just
remain focused on achieving your goals and fulfilling your purpose.
Furthermore, to programme yourself, always be willing to take advantage
of whatever comes your way. Towards realising your dreams you need to:
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BIG PICTURE:
The big picture is your overall goal or objective. Once you continually
have this at the back of your mind you will remain on course towards
accomplishing it. If it seems your life takes a detour it could be for a good
reason. Probably, your mind has discovered an easier route to get to your
destination. Or, maybe there are other things that you have programmed
into your mind that make it avoid certain routes you intend to take to
success. Keeping the big picture in focus will enable you remain on path
towards accomplishing it. Whatever happens along the course of life, it
will give you the assurance, that you will surely fulfil your dreams.
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CHAPTER SEVEN
CONSTANT AND NEVER ENDING IMPROVEMENT
"The day a plant stops
growing (improving) is
the day it starts to wither
and die. If you want to
remain relevant in this
present age you have to
improve on skills and
talents acquired, daily.
BODE AYODELE
It was motivational
inspirational
speaker
and author Brian Tracy
that popularised the acronym CANI. It stands for Constant and Never
Ending Improvement. Also calling it the 1000% principal, Tracy refers to
IT as a formula based on the law of incremental improvement. The
Japanese call it the Kaizen principal, the principal of continuous
betterment. It is getting a little bit better every day.
To Tracy, this was responsible for his tax returns increasing from $14,400
to $1, 400, 040 per year, 12 years later.
This meant he increased his sales by 100 times in twelve years!
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CANI is not only applicable to selling. If you can apply the principal to
other areas of life you will in no time turn yourself into what others will
regard as a genius in whatever you do.
One constant factor that many people fail to prepare for is change. Change
is inevitable and is bound to happen. However, to take advantage of change
you must implement it yourself before circumstances change you.
In Business and Management there is a module referred to as PESTEL
Analysis. It was designed by Harvard University lecturer Michael Porter.
It refers to a company assessing its Political, Economic, Sociological,
Technological, Environmental and Legal climate towards preparing
strategically for the future and, out-pacing competition.
You do not need to be a legal entity (another name for a company) before
you assess factors that have an impact on your life and make changes to
take advantage of them.
Another issue that people need to de-emphasise a little is specialisation.
Ill agree it is good to specialise in a certain disciplines and excel in these
areas but it is also necessary that you do not remain too dependent on
others to the point that you cannot perform without them.
I will illustrate this with a personal example. In 1998 I started working for
The Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria (first as a test candidate, then later as a
member of staff.) I had worked in the media before but had not done
anything close to working under the kind of pressure you experience while
working for a daily.
One thing that was mandatory when I started was the need to maintain a
doubled spaced writing style while preparing a manuscript. Ineligible
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directive was aimed towards victimising them. Imagine what would have
happened to me if, when the change occurred, I was one of those who
complained. Your guess is as good as mine. Still then, just a test candidate,
I would have been forced to leave!
Never wait for your environment to force you to change if you can avoid
doing so. The best way to prepare for change is to improve on your
knowledge and skills and always seek a better way to do things.
As stated earlier, the day a plant stops growing is the day it starts to wither
and die. If you want to remain relevant in this present age you have to grow
by improving your skills and talents daily.
I remember attending a Business and Management seminar recently where
the facilitator spoke on the fact that many companies were adapting
automated selling. Specifically mentioned, was Argos, a British retailer
store which commenced what they called a digital generation of new
stores.
The stores would see customers placed orders electronically and conveyor
belts transporting their products to a terminal where the purchase was
made. It was also noted that certain robots were being produced in Japan
which were designed to do the work of men.
What surprised me was that majority of the attendees at the seminar
consider this a problem for job security in the future. With the way things
are going on, many are going to lose their jobs to machines one lady
stated.
Technology will one day make men redundant, I can see some of these
companies sacking their staff another man, who sat in the front, added.
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But I felt differently and I made my views known. I explained that it was
men who would design those machines and as the future unfolds one could
make his or herself relevant by learning something that the usage of such
technology would depend upon. I reminded them that the same was said
about computers replacing men at work but it never happened. Not many
people (aside the facilitator) was impressed with my suggestion.
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even if you fluke it, few will consider you a failure. You have raised your
bar standard far above your peers. By the time you take the SS2 exam or
even SS3, you should find it easy to pass.
The same goes for a BSC student learning with Masters/PHD questions
and Thesis Research papers.
I know a HND student (a relative of mine) who back in Nigeria singlehandily designed a generator as his final assessment project while in
school. He had test run the generator prior to presentation time and many
students saw it work. When the time to demonstrate it for assessment came
however, something went wrong and it didnt work. Nevertheless, news
soon went round the school that a student had built a generator. He became
an instant celebrity and was later nominated by the school to embark on a
government sponsorship package to travel to America for a Technical Aid
Corps (TAC) exchange programme. A child can only learn how to walk if
he is willing to be laughed at. This leads us to the second point:
ALWAYS SET YOUR GOALS HIGHER THAN EXPECTED:
Never limit your targets to what is expected of you. Always seek to exceed
the standard set target; even though you might not go beyond it at the end
of the day. Setting your own target gives you that extra push that makes
you work harder.
COMPETE WITH YOURSELF ALONE:
Competition is good if you can limit it to competing with yourself. It is a
grave mistake of many to compete with another person. You may not have
the same background as the person you are competing with or, not have a
brain nurtured in the same manner. Competing with yourself means always
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seeking to do better than you did before. It doesnt matter how far it gets
you; as long as there is constant, self-improvement. One day, those who
know you, will notice you have changed. The promotion you desire for
may start from there.
ALWAYS BE A LEARNER:
No matter whatever you are called to do in life always be a learner of
something useful, even if you are considered an expert in your field.
Look for some skill not expected of you (like a lecturer learning how
to set up the computer network system; or like a student, preparing a
thesis, learning about desktop publishing). In future, all of these skills
could come in handy and give you that edge over competition. Yes
there will be competition but you should focus on yourself, not them.
If you do this you will not realise it when effortlessly, you take over
the pack!
LEARN HOW TO SELL YOURSELF:
Self- selling skills are the most important skills you can possess. Never
be among those who say My only weakness is and then mention a
self-selling skill. These include skills such as writing skills (C.V, cover
letter etc.) public speaking skills, delivering presentations, interviews,
oral quizzes, dressing up and appearance skills or modelling, and selfgrooming skills etc. The first thing you must learn how to sell in life is
yourself. If you cant do that you are bound to fall flat on your face one
day. President Obama of the United States of America continually
dusts competition because he has mastered how to sell himself.
To illustrate this Ill share with you details of a YouTube video that I
watched. The video features a lady whose name is Faith.
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CONCLUSION
Man is a programmable entity. This means that he is directed by something. He
is actually programmed by a set of pre-programmed thoughts. The thought that
directs a man could be his own thoughts or, the thought of someone else. In
other words there are some men whose minds are so powerful they can impact
the minds and lives of others by issuing thoughts in their direction and thinking
about them.
To ensure that the thoughts of others do not affect you negatively you must
engage in your own positive thinking and direct your life with constructive,
positive thoughts. It is the latter, constantly and habitually engaged in, that lead
to success and achievement. You must also be observant whether your life is
taking a negative trend (contrary to what you plan or desire for yourself) which
most likely is as a result of someone else re-directing your life by thinking and
desiring negative things concerning you.
It is the principle of negative and positive thinking and confession that is
applicable in blessings and curses. Each requires a thought process and each
must be directed at one or, another persons life. However, just as matter and
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APPENDIX
PICTURE REFERENCES
Anthony, L. (2011, August 25). The Problem we all live with.
Retrieved from EDU Solution:
http://www.edusolution.com/current_issues/history/ruby_bridges.
htm
Commerce, T. P. (2012, February 02). For the Love of Petersburg. Retrieved
from The Petersburg Chamber of Commerce:
http://fortheloveofpetersburg.wordpress.com/2012/02/02 /ruby-
bridges/
Government, U. M. (2014, February 17). Eastern District of
Louisiana. Retrieved from US Marshal Government:
http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/la-e/general/history.htm
BIBLOGRAPGHY
Maximum Achievement: Strategies and Skills That Will Unlock Your Hidden
Powers to Succeed: Amazon.co.uk: Brian Tracy: Books, 1st Fireside Ed
edition. Ed, 1995. . Simon and Schuster.
Peale, N.V., 2003. The Power of Positive Thinking, 1st Fireside Ed edition. Ed.
Touchstone, 10 Traits for Maximum Results eBook: Dr. Norman Vincent
Peale: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store.
Robbins, A., 2012. Awaken The Giant Within; New edition. Ed. Simon &
Schuster.
SADC, 2014. SuccessDigest Online Home [WWW Document]. SuccessDigest.
URL http://successdigestonline.com/ (accessed 10.5.14).
Unlimited Power: The New Science of Personal Achievement eBook: Tony
Robbins: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store, New edition. Ed, 2012. . Simon
& Schuster UK.
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