2015 has come with its challenges, and ups and downs, This passing year has been many things and has seen many things change and some stagnated in their various ways. I have had my own experiences and exposures, I have chalked some successes and failed at some ventures. I have met new people and parted ways with many others, all in all I have been a better person than I used to in 2014. One of the major things I did this year that makes me happy beside myself is the fact that I made 50+ new friends.
If for nothing at all 2015 has shown me many things prime of these is that as humans we have choices we are responsible for these choices and we must make these choices one way or the other, whether we like it or not we must make a choice. It does not go without saying that everyone has a path some choose the highway and others the byway which ever road you choose be sure to maximize the road signs, the bends and bumps and the speed limits with the end goal in sight, try not to copy or be like the person in the seemingly fast lane or slow lane, stay focused make and learn from your own mistakes tho not all mistakes need to be repeated
“If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. But by all means, keep moving.” Martin Luther King Jnr
As we slowly grind into the new year here a few things i am thinking of doing either starting to do or intensifying efforts.
God First
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 NIV
I am not bringing this point in just because my church chose it as its theme for the year 2016 but that I believe in the impact of putting God first in every endeavor of ones life. Sometimes we are so excited about doing something and we forget to ask God’s direction and opinion we have grown so individual that we make the decision and ask God to validate our decisions. But in 2016 decide to put God first in everything you do. Before you walk to that meeting, talk to that business partner, speak with that youngster and before going to bed speak to God.
Priorities
Having my priorities in order has really helped me look better, fresher, and more relaxed. Kim Cattrall
In 2015 I had opportunities both locally and globally I tried in various ways to drop those I didn’t feel right about and i run with those I did feel confident about. I chose the platforms I thought would get me a step closer to achieving my dreams. I always put my goals first, I learnt to prioritize things I wanted to do and worked in a timeous manner to achieving them. In 2016 go all out “Go big or go home” Apply for that job, find that client, present your white paper to speak at that event, whatever positively impactful thing it is you want to do step out and get it done. until you make the step to do it you would be building your own walls and barriers that may not exist at all.
Get mentors and mentees
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ― Benjamin Franklin
I have various mentors who speak to me in various ways either one-on-one or through their publications and social media pages. I have learnt a lot from these people and I never take them for granted these people sometime give me what to and what not to expect out of life. I remember one of my mentors spoke to me about focus and not to do too many things hoping to excel in all, that one would definitely lack, that thought has stuck with me for the past 3 years and still works for me and if you understand that principle you will know that you need to prioritize your time and effort and channel more energy into what you want to achieve most before doing those that just excite you. It is also very important to have mentees, people you encourage, people who look up to you, people who want to be like you. Any brain that only received and never gives would be stagnant and will make less impact (just like the dead sea) have mentees as a chimney those you let off the positive vibe on, it ends up making you a better person and even makes the mentee a better person.
Look and think before you leap
“The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.” ― Horace Walpole
It is good to think and deliberate on issues before making the jump. Think of the effect it would have on you as a person and those around you. Always sleep over pertinent decisions and don’t be quick to say yes or no. I have been victim to bad decision one too many times and trust me it is better to waste a little more time deciding things than making a rush decision and regretting the rest of your life. Always get the fine details, ruminate on it, sleep over it and then take the best decision.
Ask questions
“Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.” ― Voltaire
In my formative years i was thought to question things, not to take things hook, line and sinker, to be more critical and analytical and i would definitely add this attitude to this list. Many people believe asking questions is a sign that you are dumb or slow at grasping things but no asking questions brings you closer to making better and sometimes the best choices, it gives you deeper understanding into things sometimes more than common knowledge (what everyone knows) it give you more insight into what you should do or should know.
Be an investment and savings addict
Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship. -Benjamin Franklin
It is important to save and invest your monies. Yes have fun and celebrate yourself when you get paid but that should be a fraction of how much you save and invest. Investing in tomorrow’s ventures is a wise way of living tomorrow today. Always keep little cash on you to prevent you from spending too much without planning. You shouldn’t put your monies in long fixed deposit schemes (in order that you can access it in “emergency” situations). Always have the purchasing power at any point in time though you should try as much as possible not to be an impulse buyer as the previous point stated “look and think before you leap”
Read Anything
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
I am one person who loves to read and i mean read anything, if i am sitting in a lobby waiting for a meeting to start and i see a magazine lying by i would glance through and most often than not i find something intriguing to read. It may be funny and off your kind of topic but its knowledge would come in handy at some point in your life. It is said that there is nothing like too much information when it comes to reading and the brain can never be too full to contain new information hence read. Find books that educate you, motivate you, inform you, and entertain you. one of the things i said this year that still excites me is “We need leaders to read and readers to lead” a leader who doesn’t read is a leader who is not ready to lead and a reader who is not leading is a time bomb in waiting. task yourself to read at least 12 book this year (one every month) and it would amaze you the manner in which your thinking would be transformed.
Spend a lot of time with positive and optimistic people
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” ― Oscar Wilde
There are many different types of people, people who are natural pessimists; they always tell you the reasons why something am cannot or shouldn’t be done (they shouldn’t be confused with extremely analytical people) they would tell you how unqualified you are or how bad the systems or ecosystem is and how it would play out your business idea, they love to point out what’s wrong with the picture and give you a thousand reasons why you should choose the conform over a challenge. Don’t spend time with these pessimists and bad energy givers, rather surround yourself with the right positive energy, watch out for people who are ready to tell you a thousand reasons why your idea makes sense, people who tell you the truth in your face, people who understand challenges yet help you find solutions to them these are people who would help you attain your goals and these people are mostly on the right path themselves and would not mind helping chart your own. It must be stated that sometime a good mix of optimists and pessimists is good this would clearly depend on your discretion.
Think of innovative business ideas
“To any entrepreneur: if you want to do it, do it now. If you don’t, you’re going to regret it.” – Catherine Cook, co-founder of MyYearbook.
I have been an entrepreneur for the past 10 years and yes there are many things I have learnt and the journey of an entrepreneur has never and would never be easy. I love the challenge to make something work, I love to employ people and make them work to be paid. I love the way you are responsible for finding innovative ways for things to work out and for new ideas to break forth. Entrepreneurship is exciting though challenging, you will wake up sometimes with no money in your bank account and you would have to find the money to pay your workers before you think of what you would take home. It is not easy but it is exciting, look around you, what can you do, how can you do it, when would you do it, research your idea and find out all the things that are necessary to make that idea work out, tell a few trust worthy people, fetch their thoughts validate your idea, take it to market and when you are all certain throw in a little of your own cash if it all checks out go find that “positive investor” (not just any investor) and make it happen. Ghana is plagued with many challenges and that should be exciting for any entrepreneur because that just means there are many business opportunities in finding solutions to these challenges.
Give back to society
When God blesses you financially, don’t raise your standard of living. Raise your standard of giving.
In the coming year do well to give back to society in any small way from giving away befitting used clothes, to donating books you have outgrown or perhaps joining charitable organizations such as the Rotary or Rotaract clubs where donations are collected to do meaningful projects in various communities across countries and continents.
Fail. Yes Fail!
Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war. Donald Trump
It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure. Bill Gates
I have failed at many things and you can verify this from my very close friends and allies. i have even spoken at events about how to fail and fail fast, easy and safe. when you realize its not working move on learn from your mistakes, carry along the strong bits and drop the weak links, analyze your failure; why you failed, how you failed, when you failed and what exactly you failed at. Don’t brood over it for too long, though you shouldn’t take the lessons learnt for granted after all you paid the price (the failure) for that lesson. Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” Failing at something doesn’t mean you are a failure unless you allow the failure keep you down. Dust yourself and move on.
Make time to have fun
Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun. Randy Pausch
I have always loved to have fun, be it driving out of town, spending time at the beach, meeting with friends at a pub or just being with my wife watching a movie or chitchatting, i make time for fun, that therapy works big time. Try as much as possible to spend some time having fun with those people you love or those you can laugh with or those who make you laugh. Having fun refreshes your mind and resets it for even bigger thoughts and ideas, it is good to soak in serenity and freshness, star gaze or bird watch whatever it is make sure you have fun doing it.
At the end of it all give thanks
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:17-19
Giving thanks has always and will always be a good thing. Showing appreciation acknowledges that you haven’t done anything by neither your own strength nor your power it alludes credence to those who have helped you get to where you are. First and foremost thank the almighty God for all the opportunities that came your way and those that didn’t, thank god for all your failures, and everything else in between. you remember (Luke 17:11-19) when Jesus healed 10 men with leprosy and only one came back to say thank you, he got more than the healing but was also made whole.
These are a few things I thought about you can utilize the comment box below to add some to this post. Happy new year.
