The Market Place
It was a very hot Saturday afternoon, haven concluding the day's work: house chores, laundry and cooking, I decided to restock my kitchen.
You all know what a marketplace is right? A place where buying and selling of goods and services take place in exchange for money.
On getting to the market, I had to fix my headphone to avoid getting deaf. The market was too crowded that I had to enter a particular store to check the list I made.
Sitting down, I looked around, I saw different categories of individuals buying and selling, some tall while others short, some fair while others dark, some fat while others slim, they were all engaged in what brought them there in the first place.
Suddenly, my eyes went straight to a particular young lady that stood transfixed, so unsure of what to buy, I could see her pricing a lot of things and ended up buying nothing. She went home with nothing, just the money with her.
After scanning through the list I made, I bought all that I needed and headed home.
Haven't read this friends
The marketplace represents this Earth
Yes! the Earth is a marketplace that accommodates different species of people having different purposes.
Some persons have discovered their purpose and they are going about fulfilling it. While some people are just so confused, leaving purposelessly and in the end, fail to fulfil why they existed in the first place.
Now,
I want to ask you a question
Yes! I mean YOU reading this
Have you met with purpose?
Have you discovered the reason for your existence?
Or are you like that lady in our story that stood confused, not knowing to want to buy? She stood confused because she hasn't discovered why she came to the market.
You need to get understand that every one of us has a different purpose to fulfil.
You have a purpose peculiar to you alone
No one is created to function the same way as you
No one is created with the same purpose as yours; meaning that everyone has his or her part to play.
It would be a waste of resources, time and effort to end up not discovering and fulfilling your mandate on Earth.
I put it to you today that the worst thing that can ever happen to you as a person is not death but dying without fulfilling your purpose.
It is so painful to see that the graveyard is the richest place on Earth because it houses powerful talents that weren't utilised, potentials that weren't maximized and purposes that weren't discovered.
Don't add the number of people that won't add any positive change to life.
Let's assume that all these great men you've heard of, did great things, just assume they didn't discover why they were on Earth and didn't do this great thing, how would this world have been? Where would you have been?
This is something to ponder on!
That is why you have to discover how you were manufactured to function
Find out that gap that you are to fill and fit in
Time is not on your side
Discover purpose
Discover it now
Cultivate it
Nurture it
And serve it all around.
LEARNING IS NOT ENOUGH.
Learning is defined as the ability to acquire knowledge. It is the change in one's behaviour. You will agree with me that everyone is learning but there is a difference between a person that is just learning and not practising and a person who is learning and also taking required actions.
What difference does it make? You may want to ask. It makes a whole lot of difference. That you learned fashion designing does not make you a fashion designer until you put what you have learnt into practice.
Learning how to create content does not make you a content creator until you start taking action. You remember that saying "when you put what you have learned to practice, it helps you to become an expert in that field.
Action takers are the best learner. Don't just learn that skill, put it into practice.
If I may ask,
What is stopping you from putting the skill you have learnt into practice? Why are you restricting the world from learning from you? As you acquire the knowledge, I beg that you put them into practice.
I am cheering you on.
Ideas
HOW TO NEVER RUN OUT OF CONTENT IDEAS EVEN IF YOU'RE EXPERIENCING WRITERS' BLOCK
Ideas to write on come to us daily but it would take a writer at heart to see these ideas and make use of them.
These ideas might not come so direct, or say "hey, I am an idea, please write about me."
In my previous content, I mentioned one idea to write on hides in the comment section of your posts or that of others.
Another place to get ideas to write is from our day-to-day activities.
That morning, after rushing to take my bath, I headed for class at exactly 7 am.
"Wow," was the only word that escaped my lips as I stepped into the class already crowded with students.
"Oh no, I have to stand throughout the lecture periods," I said to myself as I looked for a corner where I could stand without obstructing the view of others.
The first lecturer came in and did his usual thing, as he was about to leave, he stood transfixed as though he was remote-controlled.
He has come again, where the declarations were made as several students confided while he relinquished.
Your guess is right, he asked us to tie a sheet of paper for our test.
The class immediately went silent, the test was conducted and being the only one standing, Mr Andrew the lecturer asked me to collect and arrange the scripts together to bring them to his office.
"My legs hurt, hurrgggg!" I said
"You can sit on my seat, in 20 minutes I'd sit behind," came an ordinary voice from the bottom.
I never realized I said that out disdainful, I contended to myself, Oh! That's so charitable of you, thank you so much.
Mrs Ngozi walked as slow as a snail into the class and this made everyone crack a little, because if that was called a catwalk, then no one should be walking.
Soon enough, some students left for home, very few went to get what to eat while others sat patiently waiting for her to finish her session.
"Brass," came that sound from my stomach, I held it and immediately recalled how I woke up by the sound of the alarm that rang endlessly.
I got home that day at exactly 6:30 pm without anything in my stomach.
Later at night, I did my normal routine of writing down ideas I got from my daily activities and linking them to my niche.
Dear writer
You can't go out of ideas to write on when you have activities that occur daily.
There are one thousand and one ideas that come to us daily, but it would take an observant writer to catch those intriguing ideas and develop them into something beautiful.
What am I driving at exactly?
You have to observe like a writer and add up critical thinking to be able to analyze your daily activities and come up with something to write.
Observation is a skill I have learned over time and I can tell you for free that it has helped me become better at what I do because it allows me to write daily.
Now, do this for me, or probably for yourself.
Be very observant whenever you're discussing with someone, or there is a passer-by who almost gets knocked down because he wasn't on the pedestrian lane, or when you're about to board a taxi or on transit, be very observant to get ideas to write on.
Be observant of your environment and its happenings.
At the end of every day, write down how your day went, from when you woke up to when you went back to bed at night.
Have a bank where you take these things down.
Don't just store it in your head hoping to remember it whenever you want to write. You can never trust your brain sometimes because it can malfunction.
Believe in yourself and work hard. You'll get the reward whatever you do. God gives you a return when you do work positively and hardly. Keep your struggle on and do writing on different topics. If you have any queries you can comment here and also give me your feedback about this.
Don't do these as a newbie writer
DON'T DO THESE AS A NEWBIE WRITER.
Most newbie writers make several terrible mistakes that lead to having a stagnant brand even after two years.
There is no big difference between where you are now and how you started, you have just been in one position as a writer.
This can be very frustrating, many newbies give up on writing when they find themselves in this position.
This is because many newbie writers make several terrible mistakes and the result can be nothing but a stagnant brand.
Some of these things you should never do as a newbie writer to avoid being stagnant include:
Not being intentional.
If you are not intentional about your growth you will never grow as a writer.
When attending conferences, and webinars, signing up for courses and training becomes so impossible for you as if you are being forced to do them you will never move forward.
Don't jump to write a book when you are yet to gain clarity.
I see people who are still struggling with writing right going ahead to write a book, some are still confused and they are going ahead to write a book, which should not be.
Truth is, as a newbie writer you don't write a book yet, you have to grow yourself as a brand first, you should be able to have discovered your target audience and your brand message.
Sadly, most newbie writers don't have a brand message or even a target audience and they are getting busy with writing a book instead of growing their brand first.
Dear newbie writer, don't jump to become an author when you are yet to gain clarity.
Clarity comes first before writing a book.
I mean if you don't gain clarity first, it is very easy for you to write the wrong book. A wrong book will only bring you nothing but frustration. I am sure you don't want to be a frustrated author, do you?
If you are still struggling to gain clarity as a writer you can connect with me on Messenger after reading this and I will help you out if you are intentional.
Clarity is important as a writer. Before people will start seeing you as an expert writer you must have gained clarity.
Before you do the things expert writers do please gain clarity, so you will not fall into errors and regrets.
As a newbie,
I made lots of mistakes which I never knew were mistakes until recently.
Of all mistakes I made, there is one which happens to be very common among newbies, and I thought to share.
I made this mistake, 85% of the newbies I see make this same mistake. Unfortunately, more and more newbies will.
As a newbie, I was forced to think that freebies were all I needed to grow in the digital space.
I never saw the need to pay for any training, class or buy any course.
I was always after freebies. Always after everything that is tagged FREE.
For a moment, I found it quite okay and for the fact that I was a newbie, I felt the freebies would do. Little did I realize that I was wrong. 6 months passed.
Another 6 months went by. And another 6 months followed.
A year and 6 months after resolving to take the digital space seriously, I was still a newbie.
Trust me when I say IT WAS FRUSTRATING. I wondered and wondered what it was that I needed to grow.
And then one day, I told myself the truth.
The gold I sought was in the things which I was unwilling to pay for. Freebies are mere brunch. They're not as satisfying as the lunch itself.
After a year and 6 months of endless frustration, I decided to pay for the knowledge I needed. And within 3 months, the puzzle was solved.
I bit my fingers in regret as I thought of how far I would have gone if I had only paid for the knowledge. It's high time newbies in any industry are told the bitter truth. They won't get it all in freebies.
Freebies are only appetizers. The reason you're still a newbie might be because you are always after freebies.
No amount of money is too much to pay for knowledge that will take you from point A to point B. Know this, know peace and find growth.
My struggle with wishes
MY STRUGGLE WITH WISHES
Even though you may wish to grow to become a better person, you can't wish for yourself to grow.
Growth is a personal attempt. And it takes intentional and aware endeavour.
The wishful part will only motivate you to want to grow. But you'll not grow by wanting to grow. Desiring to be like Ronaldo will never make you a Ronaldo, as powerful as desires are.
You only grow by acting on what you want—your desire. And again, it is a personal, deliberate and conscious effort.
It requires going against what you may be used to (your comfort zone) and doing what you haven't been doing.
It requires giving up on some old habits and forming new ones.
Growth will cause a separation between the current you and the old you. It'll cost you your time and relationship with other people.
Growth is painful; yet rewarding. You'll be stretched and stressed in your growth process.
Sometimes, you'll feel like giving up. It's normal because of your humanity. But you'll have to continue, by looking back at WHY you want to grow.
If your WHY isn't powerful and sufficient, you will give up. Or you may decide to have a stronger WHY!
Growth will embarrass you; people will call you names. They will tell you your own is getting too much. They will tell you you were not like this before. But remember, "THEY" will not grow on your behalf. Likewise, THEY will not fail on your behalf. More importantly, THEY will neither be rich nor poor on your behalf. So grow.
Growth is a personal matter—even if it's an association thing. Nobody will grow on your behalf even amidst the most powerful association. Growth is your choice. It's your cross; therefore GROW.
Growth will cause you to fail many times before you eventually succeed at it. It's the reality of growth because it's not a straight line graph. No, it's a curve that will take you through the unusual, making you do the unusual before you eventually become the unusual.
How can you say you're growing and you're the USUAL person everybody can identify with? (Please, read John 3:8)
SEE: You were not designed to stay with "some" friends forever. Growth will reveal the true ones.
While some will become jealous; others will accept envy as their permanent visitors— just because you're growing.
Some will leave you to grow secretly to compete with you later. But remember, if you pay attention to them, they'll still not grow on your behalf. So, what do you do? Keep on growing amidst the right people, and remain focused.
Also, don't be afraid when you fail while growing. You'll fail at it. At least at a point—because you're learning something new.
You're changing. And failing, to succeed, or succeeding through failures, for growth, is part of the curriculum. Therefore, embrace the failures, learn from them, but GROW; by rising when you fall. Okay?
This is my way of motivating you. I'm sorry for being blunt. It may appear painful, but please, grow. It's your reality. It's your cross. So—grow.
VOLUNTEERING
As someone who desires to impact lives, volunteering is one activity that helps me achieve this purpose.
What is Volunteering? Volunteering is a voluntary act where you give your time, energy and resources to something.
I'm intentional about volunteering because it has helped me build myself in different areas.
I get to contribute my quota to society just by volunteering.
Since it is voluntary, you don't expect to be paid. However, there are benefits to volunteering.
Below are some of the explanations you should contemplate volunteering.
1. Experience: You gain experience when you volunteer. No employer wants to employ someone inexperienced. Volunteer experience is an experience that can give you an edge over others.
2. Networking: Volunteering helps you network and meet new people. You can meet your mentors, business partners and even your life partner when you volunteer.
3. You Learn New Skills: You may be given tasks you have never done before. Carrying out those tasks helps you try out new skills. Leadership skills, Communication skills, and Time Management can be learnt as a volunteer.
4. Impact: As a leader who wants to make a difference, you can't afford to neglect your society and community. Volunteering allows you to make a positive impact on your society. Volunteering provides you with a connotation of objective and belonging.
Now, scream I'll grow in the comment section! That's how I'll know you read it to the end. God bless you.
How I moved from a newbie to an expert writer
HOW I MOVED FROM A NEWBIE TO AN EXPERT WRITER.
I always tell newbie writers when they come to me with their writing problems that the writers they see and admire today didn't just get there, there underground lies the untold story behind their becoming.
Here are some of the things that I did to move from a newbie to an expert; award-winning writer:
Intentionality
I see people who want to get to the peak of their writings but yet don't understand the role of Intentionality in getting there.
There were times I spent the last money I had on my pieces of training, there were times of great learning, unlearning, and relearning (still on) from expert writers than when I was still a newbie.
Sadly, I see so many people who want to become expert writers not being intentional about their growth, they want to start big without following the processes because it's hard for them.
The truth is nothing good comes into existence by mere wishing, you must put your hands together to work for it.
You must be intentional with a growth mindset to be able to become an expert in anything including writing.
Be intentional by:
Learning from experts.
Stop jumping only on free pieces of training, be ready to pay for knowledge.
Buying books and courses.
Many don't have the money to spend on knowledge, but they have the money to spend on an extravagant lifestyle, this is why many newbies and aspiring writers are not living their writing dreams already.
Implementation
After becoming intentional you must be ready to grow by implementing all that you have learnt through Intentionality.
Many complain of not getting the results they need after paying for courses, buying books, and signing up for training when they don't implement what they have been taught by their superiors, this is why there are so many newbies and struggling writers.
It doesn't end in paying for knowledge, you must get to work by constant practice and implementation of all you have been taught.
Sadly, many just pick the simple things they are being taught, only to do away with the difficult ones but want the same result. How?
After each piece of training, I made sure I practice all that I was taught, I did that constantly till I started seeing the positive changes I was looking out for.
You can't grow by mere wishes, you must put out your best foot in practice and implementation.
Behind every glory there is a becoming story, you must file your becoming story with constant practice of your learnings and unlearn.
You don't become an expert until you practice and implement it several times.
In conclusion, if you want to move from a newbie to an expert writer you must be intentional and also be quick in implementing the right strategies.
Go back to the courses, pieces of training, and events you paid for and practice what is being taught.
DON'T WRITE THAT BOOK YET. DO THESE INSTEAD.
Are you planning to start writing a book soon? Don't do that yet, do these instead:
Build your KLT.
You shouldn't rush into writing your first book if you haven't built a strong KLT presence.
What is KLT?
K = Know
L = Like
T = Trust
This strategy in this context means that before you write your first book your audience must know you, like you, and trust you.
Sadly, most authors rush into writing their first book without getting known, liked, and trusted by their audience, which is very bad.
This very reason is why many authors get frustrated after writing their first book, one big effect of writing a book without building a strong KLT factor is "low sales."
Don't write your book yet if you still have a weak KLT factor.
Gain clarity.
You need clarity as a writer before you write that book. If you are yet to gain clarity on your purpose and destination in life generally (who you are, where you are, where you are going to, and you are strong WHY) you should not write that book yet.
Understand your purpose and plan in life before you write that book, if you do this you will not make the mistake of writing your dream book, but the book that provides a solution to the problem your purpose is solving.
There are many factors to consider before writing your first book, but these two are very important.
Which point is very important to you among the two?
No need for pretence
No need for pretence
I and dave went on a date to Hilltop eatery one cold Saturday evening. It was indeed the right timing because that day I was so bored and needed to hang out only for him to call me by noon to ask if I'd love to go on a date with him that evening.
Oh gosh! Who wouldn't want to go out with Dave, the most popular, handsome, and wealthy guy in school? "Yes, I don't mind," I hastily replied while jumping on my bed to show how happy I was.
As we got to the eatery, mere looking at the environment would suggest to you that this place is for big men... I got the shock of my life when I entered inside. Outside is nothing to be compared with the beauty I found inside, wow! this would be my nicest twilight eternally.
As we sat down, the waiter immediately came, we requested what we wanted and it was served. Just beside us were seated a set of ladies having fun.
I was done eating and it was time to eat my chicken, but I had a problem, a very serious one which was, I didn't know how to use the cutleries provided for it (knife and fork), I decided to use my hand to better enough myself.
Dave who was struggling with the fork and knife joined me, and what surprised me most was that those ladies beside us were forming posh, and it was obvious they weren't comfortable, so they also joined me in using their hands.
Funny how this is but the point I'm trying to make is that you should be yourself. No matter who you're with, no matter where you find yourself always be who you are and not who you're not.
Being yourself is being who you truly are without any form of pretence. It’s uncomfortable pretending as someone else because it’s not you. All personalities are unique and using another personality is like trying to fly a Boeing but the closest thing you know is to ride a bike.
You can’t pretend for too long. People will always manage a way to find “you” even if your looks and personality are already hundred percent someone else’s.
Being yourself boosts your confidence.
You get to trust yourself and your instinct.
You don't get carried away by people's opinions.
This and many more reasons are why you ought to be You.
I was in my corner, with my hands on my book, I adjusted my glasses to observe what he was trying to do. Surprised and anxious I was, the sight was fascinating to behold.
"How can this work, ridding his bicycle with the bag of water on his head, it's not going to work," I said to myself as I approached him.
This was a little boy that came to buy a bag of water in the area where I leave. Onlookers were passing by, some stood to watch the scene. Even the man that sold the water to him said nothing to him. I wondered the kind of people they were that they could not correct a little boy that was doing wrong.
"My dear, what are you trying to do? Can't you see it's not possible?" I said immediately I got to where he stood probably confused about what to do.
"My dear, go drop the bag of water at home, and come back for your bicycle, don't worry, I'll keep an eye on it," I said as I immediately packed his bicycle to one side.
He nodded in affirmation and walked home.
You might also be like this little boy
I could see you trying to rush the process
You want success so badly that you can't do what it takes because it seems it's taking too long.
Life is in stages
You can't skip the process and not get crushed. Take it one stride at a moment.
There are tons of ups and downs you'd encounter. There are moments on mountains tops and moments in valleys of despair
They are part of life that you should follow through. Success is embedded in the process
So dear, follow the process.
Bend your mistakes
BEND YOUR MISTAKES.
A mistake is an accidental or wrong action not made deliberately.
Mistakes are blunders or errors made often, and they happen even to the most intelligent persons.
I am here to inform you that those mistakes can be turned to your advantage.
Abraham Lincoln was one of the greatest men that ever ruled America.
He was a man that never gave up his political career, amid several downfalls. He kept on striding until he became the president of America.
He was a man who never gave up!
Many that were termed failures used their mistakes to learn. Are you interested in turning your mistakes into benefits?
Then you need to recognize your mistake(s)
Lack of recognition will hinder you from learning how to improve or do it better.
Know how to do it better.
Bruce Lee once said, instead of buying your children all the things you never had, you should rather teach them all the things you were never taught.
Materials wear out but knowledge stays. Learn from both the old and the young. No age limit in learning. Learn and keep on learning how to do it better.
Learn from your errors.
As you seek knowledge, you will begin to see your misconceptions and omissions. Your eyes that were veiled will be opened.
Become not just a pupil but an instructor.
Release what you know to others. Pass on your knowledge and you will increase in learning. Instruct others on what you learned from your mistakes and you become a mentor to others.
Daily humble your heart to learn more.
Humility helps you to see, while pride veils your eyes. You will begin to increase in learning with an open and sincere mind.
Life is a teacher and we are enrolled in school.
Life teaches us how to improve and do things better.
Have an attitude of daily increase. Life is not static, so keep on improving by reading good books, and searching for knowledge in the right direction, from others that have gone ahead of you.
Keep on riding on your storms and turn them into a higher height of glory like the eagles.
Eagles are never afraid of storms. They always fly higher than the storm and go above it to a good place of rest.
Use your troubles to scale and fly higher, and you will discover that you are walking in dominion over all circumstances.
One of the comedians said it was poverty that made us discover talent.
You can turn your flaw into an objective.
Yes, you can!
See you at the top!
THE MYSTERY OF TIME.
TIME is a fraction of God encapsulated in man.
When God breathed life into man, he deposited into him a fraction and dimension of himself, giving him a Go-Ahead to continue with the creation of things in the world.
As a result of this, we are opportune to have so many innovations and more are still coming in, courtesy of science and others.
This TIME given to man has an expiry date, it is not forever. How you utilize and make use of it matters a lot.
Time is the substance upon which the existence of life is sustained. The moment time is absent, life becomes absent.
Time is a currency; how it is used to trade is of paramount importance.
Until you have begun to trade in the right market with the currency of time, it remains a wasted resource.
Man is born, Man dies. But before death, man lives. While living, time is expressed.
Are you living yet? Or are you just existing?
How do you intend to use your time here?
Think it through.
Till I bring sense your way again.
Don't waste your energy and time
DON'T WASTE YOUR ENERGY AND TIME
I know you want to do something. You want to try out things, and learn as many online skills as possible.
You want to sell, you want to make money, you want to impact, you want to influence, you want to be known.
It's not bad to dream and wish for all these things. Yes, it's not bad at all.
Which area do you want to impact and make money from?
Have you thought of it?
Here are some helpful tips that will help you to minimize your energy and time while trying to be productive.
Learn a skill that interests you.
Don't learn that Skill because people are cashing out from it. Don't go into it because your friends are succeeding in it. Learn something you're passionate about, and learn what you love. It's the passion that will keep you through the dark times.
Find your suitable niche
Here is one of the biggest mistakes newbie writers always make. I did make the mistake as well. Trying to learn everything and trying to work on all the niches. It's not bad to learn everything, cause you will get the knowledge that will help your skill but trying to function everywhere won't favour you as a newbie.
Let's say, you're a story writer, content writer, copywriter, ghostwriter, and Scriptwriter, trying to be everything will require a lot of energy and time from you. To make it easier, master one first, practice and be good at it, and be known for it then it will be easier to add others.
Take it easy
Don't always be in a rush. Take time to master what you've been taught. It is a process, enjoy and embrace it with patience. Allow yourself to grow, it's okay to make mistakes, don't be too hard on yourself.
Have a mentor/Coach
Trying to do it all by yourself when there's something that can help you walk through the path with ease will be a waste of energy and time. There are experts in your niche, learn from them. Take their paid classes and let them guide you through, doing it alone will be difficult. Learning by yourself is not a bad idea, but having an expert to guide you will make you enjoy the whole process.
Take time to practice
Stop wasting your time and energy on frivolous things when you should be practising what you were taught. While people are making money online, you are losing yours by the daily use of data.
If you're not earning money or working online then stop wasting your data and energy online. Use that energy to practice and sharpen your skills.
Different, Yet The Same
The world is composed of a sea of people, each one uniquely different from another.
A family of 5 siblings is a lot for parents to hold together ever since their childhood days.
One may be the silent type, one who never ceases to talk, one generous and giving, be it toys, food or personal belongings. One of them still may be strict with her or his things.
Later in the society where they grew up, other character traits will soon manifest as they get more exposed to others.
They emulate classmates and Teachers they like or want to be like people they admire. Some characteristics of others can be seen or detected by us, their parents, who are their very first teachers!
We don't want any of our children to live wayward lives. If we noticed the change in them, may we hear and listen to the warning bells!
Time to give them our Undivided Attention!
Every child needs our firm words of advice and loving discipline.
Only by teaching them the proper way, at a proper time, in a proper mood, could they come to understand that we are doing this for their sake, but without ruining their childlike zest for life!
Our communities and society, in general, are suffering from behavioural patterns owing to misguided parenting.
The family, though the smallest unit of a community needs to be the pillar for children to grow as responsible adults!
Dear parents, please let us love our children by training them on the way they should go!
If this was helpful, drop a comment.
They came for me
Who am I? Why are they after me?
I'm just a naive and innocent girl who's trying to understand life from her point of view. I'm afraid that if I see and view from people's perspectives, then there will be no 'ME' again. We will all be the same, life will be the same.
I am nurturing my naive personality with lots of love, it works out for me. I'm me in my eyes, nobody knows. Perhaps they are too busy to see, or maybe I'm not even different as I presumed.
How am I different when I am still locked up in my shells, the uniqueness I'm happy to exhibit is against my growth. I'm failing to realize one thing_ it isn't my uniqueness, it is my weakness. I am nurturing my weakness, I am feeding it without knowing.
This is the beginning of self-discovery. I'm discovering my strengths as well as weaknesses, I will differentiate and not mix them up.
But when I thought everything was over and I'm finally going to rejoice, I realized that it was just the beginning.
Yes, I have learned a skill. I am doing great and I enjoyed doing it but I still feel like I'm not at my best yet. I'm doubting myself again, I'm questioning my abilities. Every little success story from other people breaks my little nurtured confidence.
It is painful. I have tried but I can't keep up again. I'm giving up.
At least my consolation is that I tried before giving up.
When I was at the point of giving up they came for me.
"Wow, I read your piece of writing. It's beautiful. " Believe me, I was shocked to hear that. Was she here to mock me? I scoffed at the stupid idea of teaching someone when I'm still doubting myself, it can't be na.
All I need is to learn, learn, and continue learning. I can't teach anyone when I haven't even gotten up to Five years of experience_ experience matters but how will I get this experience?
Will I become the expert I've always dreamed of? Will I get ten years of experience when I'm shying away from showing my skill?
How will I get the real deal when I can't take up the smallest responsibility?
I'm going to advise you not to be like me. Accept your call. Take up the responsibility. Show the world your amazing talent.
Don't be the one to put off your light. Don't be the one to doubt yourself. You don't need all the knowledge in the world to start, you can't be an expert at the beginning.
Comparison is a killer of joy. Self-doubt is destructive, don't absorb yourself in them.
Be your greatest fan. Believing in 'you' will go a long way. Keep adding fuel to your light cause you're the light of the world.
Answer the call when they come for you, you have to guide them. Don't run away from your legend.
Youthful Beauty
Youthfulness. You can say this is when the beauty comes. It's the time of life we are so active and filled with lots of energy.
At the time even God said we should serve him. He wasn't wrong when he said that. In fact, how can he ever be wrong??
We have lots of opportunities at this particular stage of life. Everything is still more easier and accessible.
We can do anything at this particular stage. But not to deny the fact that many have lost in this particular stage of life.
But why?
Maybe the beauty wasn't clear enough?
Maybe the beauty was overrated??
Or it's possible the beauty was underrated.
I can still remember how happy little Ella was when her Dad presented her with a pink beautiful gown for her birthday which was going to be the next day.
She was overwhelmed by the beauty of the dress, she grin and giggle around the house happily showing everyone how beautifully made her dress was.
She even slept off with the dress tightly in her little arms
But sadly enough when she woke up the next day which was her birthday and the day she was supposed to put on her dress...
All the beautiful beads were gone and the dress was rumpled beyond what Ella had seen yesterday.
She never imagined her beautiful dress could lose its beauty within a blink of an eye.
Now what she never knew was that no beauty last forever but what we can do with the beauty of now that will Sustain it.
The same relates to every human.
What are you doing with the beauty of now to make it more beautiful?
Are you overeating it..? Just like Ella?
Are you underrating it rather?
But however you choose, bear in mind that
Beauty should begin from the heart
No beauty will last forever if you are not investing in it.
The choice is yours now to make great use of your BEAUTY in your Youthfulness.
Never stop Learning to share and grow.
The Rule
THE ‘DRAW’ RULE
Many have concluded that they do not have enough to offer the world. But is that true?
I do not concur with the statement that a man is empty and has nothing to offer. Not even a tiny bit. Even John Obidi once said, “Use what you have for what you have is plenty.”
While my belief might appear confusing and the usual saying of speakers and writers, I still want to see you live the best of your life and overcome that feeling. And so, I came up with a solution in the DRAW rule that would help you to live your life better.
The first is D which stands for DISCOVERY.
In the ongoing Skill Up Initiative organized by Miss Chioma Nana and her team, one of the guest speakers, Ms Chinaza Favour, said, “No man is short of talent. The least talent God can give to a man is one.” Discovery of your inner prowess is the foundation for any other thing. To make use of what you have effectively, you must first discover all that it has.
R - REFINE
Using Ms Chioma Nnana's point of view, take a look at your inner prowess in its discovered state as yam. If you do not peel off the first layer, it is not presentable and fit for consumption. So is your talent if you fail to refine it.
A - APPROVAL
The truths of the old age are truths for our new age. The experience of the older generations is noteworthy instructions for the younger generation.
Take a look at the founder of Pepsi-Cola before his product boomed. He discussed with the founder of Apple what changed his life.
Take a look at John Obidi. He has a senior figure in Sir Olakunle Soriyan (PK) who gives him better insight as the futurist that he is.
Take a look at Val Okafor. He has his senior person in Fela Durotoye and that has made his journey purposeful.
You have someone that has harnessed a similar inner prowess as yours. Get their approval. Seek to know more about your inner power from them.
W - WORK OUT
Last but not least is your responsibility. Work out your inner prowess and make it visible. I love the saying of Chioma Nnanna, “there is no spotlight behind the scene.”
It is none of life’s business if you do not take your life business with all seriousness. In the first place, dominating in this life is not meant for the mediocre and unserious at heart and dealings. Be diligent and work miracles.
Having shed light on the DRAW formula, I do hope you see things from a better perspective and would live your life better.
Dear you, do not make a mockery of that which is within you. The command goes thus, “Strive to show yourself approved...” You can complete it.
Do you know that your love for your craft and the tenacity with which you move are factors that will take you far?
Many have already moved on after celebrating Tobi Amusan's achievement at the World Athletics Championships. However, when I read that she took a loan of $50,000 so that she could adequately prepare for the competition, I realized there's more to Tobi's success than meet the eye. Like someone put it, "No wonder! Na $50,000 day pursue her."
Sometimes, you need more than a dream. The courage to take calculated risks toward bringing your dreams to reality is just as valuable.
Happy new month! I hope you find the courage to take those calculated risks that will take you far. Cheers!
In whatever you do, never get too comfortable!
Why Success is celebrated more than the process
When a portion of food is undergoing the process of cooking, people don't give it a solid trust or compliment till the food is ready and has been tasted. That is when you hear;
"The food is scrumptious"
"The meal is delicious"
"Wow! What a luscious taste"
One can easily get it wrong when you judge a food by its aroma. Some food's aroma is nice but the taste is not appealing.
When an artist is making a portrait, its beauty is defined when the portrait gets the finishing touch.
"Your drawing has a way of capturing so many emotions."
"You drew so well. It is so creative and beautiful"
You can't capture the real beauty of a drawing while it's half-baked to its finishing.
Let's take a look at the metamorphosis of a butterfly.
Egg to Caterpillar to Chrysalis, then finally it turned into a butterfly.
While it was at the phase of the process, it didn't look like the end product. It didn't look attractive till it metamorphosized into a butterfly, which is now admired by the world.
I don't think the butterfly will have so much admiration if it remained in its egg or caterpillar or chrysalis stage.
If you witness a Fashion Designer making a dress from the scratch, you may be forced to think he or she is only just making pieces of your fabric, if you don't have knowledge of clothes making. But when those pieces are fit, you can only exclaim an affirmative and positive response to the end product.
"What a beautiful dress"
"What a great design"
Garri will never have seen the limelight if the manufacturer gave up in the process.
When a building is in the building process. Its beauty is not yet defined, so it doesn't get the compliment till it's built and furnished. Then you hear resounding compliments of the building.
The lists are endless to point to.
I want us to connect the dots and embrace this secret and know peace. I am still in my becoming stage and some days are rough but this is one secret that has been among my stronghold.
This part of success is one of those tough phases of the journey because in this phase it takes only those who can endure and be consistent and persistent in this process phase to get the trophy of success.
Do you now see why this phase doesn't get much appreciation, awards and compliments that it truly deserves?
I have had sleepless thoughts about this but since getting to be exposed to this bitter truth and secret, I have learnt over time to keep my eyes on the prize thereof while I pay the price therein and not focus on whether I am getting the cheers or not, so I don't get drained by the challenges that come with the process.
The patent truth is that some people have lost focus on the prize and stopped paying price required to attain their dreams and goals because they got distracted by the hocus-pocus that comes with the process.
Some were just a few steps to success but couldn't attain it, because they focus on the blur forming of their dreams and the cheers that are not forthcoming and hence got discouraged along the journey to forging on.
Some were about to be the next breaking record, the next greatness, the next answered prayer but they gave up in the process of becoming.
The whole efforts put together all went to void and extinction.
This reminds me of one soul-nourishing quote from Thomas Edison "Many life failures are people who didn't realise how closed they were to success when they gave up"
This is one quote that I always glued to my soul to help me stay in check and keep me going.
The truth is that the world is watching you but to get their appraisal, award and recognition, you must endure the hurdles of the process and birth forth that dream.
If you've given up on your dream due to the hurdles of the process, I hope this finds you and stirs up your spirit to give your dream a chance to reality.
If you have been hanging and holding on but are becoming weary, I hope this strengthens and nourish your bones to keep pressing on till you actualize your dreams.
The world will only recognize you not in the process of your dreams but the actualization of your dreams.
The process only becomes a motivation when you birth forth the dream.
You are a pregnant soul with great dreams, persist and strive to deliver to your world that dream that you have been nurturing and the world will have no option but to give a history ovation unto your name.
No matter how long it takes you, don't give up, there's no record of late arrival, it can only be the latest breaking news.
Give your world-breaking news that will be marked in the heart of lives and can't be forgotten in a hurry.
Don't give up before the miracle, success, or greatness happens.
Dear Dreamer
This is a call to keep thriving and striving to break the record. You have not come this far to give up in the process of making your dream see the limelight of reality.
Your world awaits the manifestation of your dream.
When Inspiration Fails Me
WHEN INSPIRATION FAILS ME:
Writers, who want to dispense value but find it difficult to do, do you know there's a way out?
Inspirations won't show up every time, yet you must maintain consistency
Motivations would disappoint most times because they would seem void and might not give you the vibe to cause your pen to bleed, so what do you do?
Your audience is expecting you to show up every time, they do not care what your source is, they just want you to feed them, they portray you as a 'god' in their heart, and you have no place to hide!
Below are five basic ways to trigger your pen to bleed! Read, hallucinate and love.
1. Don't lie to yourself, raise your hands in surrender. Agree that you are out of ideas.
2. Now, take your time to position your body in the most comfortable way to think at that instance (you can either sit, lay down, rest your elbows on stairs, etc.). Please, don't force comfort, your body will define how it wants it to you. Do you get it?
3. Give yourself a few minutes, you'll be able to remember events past, just one after the other. This is because you are a complication of stories, you are made up of occurrences; you will get one or two self-story (ies) that would catch your emotions, trust me, you wouldn't be able to do anything next better than to use your sword (pen)
4. At this point, don't rush to write. Remember it's your story that prompted what you are about to write, so take your time, don't be too emotional, be sure of the genre you want your content to take and be very careful so that it wouldn't just be an expression of emotions others won't benefit from. You are a blessing, you remember? Let your pen keep blessing!
5. Once you've taken your time to compose content, don't stop at that! (Your head should not swell) don't forget that there is tomorrow and tomorrow. Do you ever notice that ideas come in bulk? When they come, please jot them, they are as expensive as cheap they are! The words you put together would inspire a lot of words to you, write them down!
You might not love to take this same process tomorrow, utilize your ideas! They are golden, expensive and volatile.
WRITERS, PICK YOUR SWORD AGAIN!
Whoever says growth is easy should come out of his hide and proclaim that!
Hello writers, it's okay to thirst for growth and yearn for consistency, this of course is not a prevention of tiredness.
Only a human who has life is liable to thirst and hunger, a dead body cannot. If you don't feel like writing but you know you need to, this shows there is still life in your pen, your ink is ready to blot; all it needs is your desperation to handle it!
See, it's not easy to grow, it's not a child's play to flow; it takes thirst and hunger...
Whenever you are tired, remember there is still life in your pen, it's still powerful! You can't sit down while in the boxing ring when you're supposed to fight with your sword! 'You have entered it!'
Your pen is stronger than you could imagine, you are on the battlefield to fight tiredness, laziness and idleness. Fight them, you are overcome. Hold your sword again, your skill will be revived.
WRITERS' PHOBIA
We know your pen is your sword, you can fight and overcome with it, nonetheless, there are some instances when you would be scared of using your sword.
Have you ever been tempted to keep an idea for future references? It's funny but true. You would just feel insecurity
'If I write on this, what will I write tomorrow?'
Let me make something known to you, God who has created you to be a writer knows how to source ideas for you. Maybe you don't get it, writing is like daily bread, you don't know what you will eat tomorrow until it comes but you won't just panic because you will have something to eat!
See, gold and silver, I have not but this which I have is 'pick your pen and start writing jot those ideas on papers, people are waiting for your craft! Don't worry, ideas will come tomorrow! You are not a writer by mistake! You are ordained for the work, you hear?
Go back to your God, keep asking him what ideas he needs to pass so you will pass to the world, you are not the only writer, remember? He will provide you with ideas and help you establish them in your unique way! Dare to be different, seek God.
Has this content blessed a writer? Kindly let me know at the comment session. You won't stop being blessed.
Build New Relationships
"I just want to be tall" I murmured out of a frustrated mind.
I met quite a several people a few years ago who made me believe that my height is a stigma. At first, I didn't care but with time, I started to believe these lies.
"Take, hang these clothe on the wall. Oh, you're not tall, I'm sorry!" Even my boss at work used to say this, I was too tired of hearing these over and over again. There was almost no interesting way out, I just wanted to be tall! I just wanted to be left alone, must I be referred to every time?
That's my story; everyone who has met me before knew I am neither a dwarf nor a giant, I'm just down to earth. I found myself, amidst people who don't appreciate others, how did I survive this period? This could be valuable to you extremely.
1. DON'T ACCEPT THE LIES:
Everybody wants to feel high like they want to dominate someone else's life, they want to feel important. How do you do away with these people even if they seem to be everywhere you go?
First, don't believe that you can't build a new relationships with others. There are over one billion persons in the world who are ready to appreciate your beauty, stature, completion, etc. Make attempts and meet them. I know you are not comfortable with the niche you found yourself, but you are just confused because you feel everyone's the same in their thoughts towards you! THIS IS A LIE, a hot one from the pit of hell. It wants to make you feel less important, don't allow it. You can create connections and build new relationships.
2. ACCEPT ALL COMPLIMENTS WITH JOY:
Those who speak to make you feel intimidated are myopic. They don't believe that you can be better.
"You are just ugly; dirty rat. Just take this bread and eat out your empty head"
"Wow, you are just being you now. I believe you can be better, take this bread and eat, this should quench your anger"
Do you see the wise difference between the statements above? You can imagine the psychological effect on the second person, I know.
Those who treat you wrong don't believe in you; prove them wrong, and stay happy. Their words are not enough to catch you impotent, I hope you're catching these. I love Ben Carson's mum, according to the open story, she made the impossible very possible and brought the best out of her son. See wisdom.!
Their words can't tear you down, stay positive.
Those who hurt your optimistic mind with their awful words or acts don't deserve to be in your circle, take the bold step to replace them.
3. DON'T DESIRE OUT OF FRUSTRATION
Go back to the story above, my own story...
I just wanted to satisfy my myopic circle, those who don't believe in me, I wanted to meet their selfish needs. Don't do these!
Desire is supposed to be from a sincere not frustrated heart, if it doesn't maintain this standard, then it's not for you.
God created you in the best way, if anyone doesn't like it they are not just your enemy but God's.
This three-step are those I took basically and have been blessing my living.
No one can steal my joy from me, it's not possible! I am able. Amen.
Do you know that there is something you have but others need?
God didn't create everyone equally; He made provision for survival for all His creations.
As a writer, you just joined the space a few months or days ago; are you scared of sharing values? Please, don't compete with others; do your thing in your way as being inspired.
Competition with others withers! It's a killer of inspiration and peculiarities in men.
Do you feel intimidated by the experts' content on social media platforms? This is for you; you are not professional, but still, believe that there is something you have that the world even the professionals need!
Just discover, keep writing, keep learning;
Don't stop praying, don't stop sharing. One day, you will be known. Amen?
@Nehamaya