Growth groundwork

No one is going to grow and go beyond how far he or she can see. Each time I am opportune to address those coming behind me, I like to tell them to see very far ahead of them. Vision that is clear makes growth very easy and non-negotiable. Very early in life, it became very clear to me that I would mentor and father presidents of the nations. It is this vision that drives me as “Jehu” of this world. And since this vision became very clear to me, I have stopped needing people to tell me what to do. Buddy, you are still being baby-seated, because you cannot see far ahead of you. As well, it is this vision that drives me to buy books almost every day. And it is this vision that makes me read through relevant books, daily.

It is the same vision that I am talking about that determines the kind of people I walk with. And it is the same vision that determines where I go. It is the same vision that keeps me awake when others are deeply romancing sleep. It is the same vision that has impacted positively on the way I look on the outside. And it is the same vision that gets me going when others throw into towel. When it comes to being disciplined, vision is it. Nothing makes a man disciplined more than a vision that is clear as water.

Ours is a very religious nation that only wishes and prays to become rich, great and successful. We go to church and mosque almost daily, yet we are so wicked. I was teaching somewhere in recent times and I was telling them what they would need to do to become significant and successful and all of a sudden, they thundered: “amen!” To which I said: “I did not pray, I only told you what you would need to do to become significant and successful. Saying amen without being committed to principles that deliver success, significance and greatness will deliver nothing.

Do I believe in prayer? Yes I do. Do I fast? Yes, I do. But fasting and prayer without acquiring applicable skill-set, germane knowledge and surrounding one with relevant people would yield nothing. This is one of the reasons a lot of religious people are not growing in every facet of life. Do we need to fast and pray? Yes. But fasting and prayer alone will not take the place of other principles of success, significance and greatness.

For the umpteenth time, within the context of nation building too, keeping vigils and fasting alone will never deliver a great and prosperous nation. There are principles that deliver great and prosperous nations. One of them is a vision that is clear as water. Nigeria does not have a vision, so how is she going to grow? Every nation that is growing has a vision that is clear as water.

The question is; what exactly is our vision as a people? What is the breed of people we are becoming? What picture of greatness are we seeing? It is the kind of vision we are seeing that shall determine the kind of people we allow to govern us. We allow scalawags and touts to govern us because we do have no vision. Check every nation that is calling the shots on earth today, they are standing on and running with a vision that is crystal clear.

Our problem as a people is still not money, but how to spend. Only blind people would say Nigeria does not have money. We do have money that is more than enough; it is blindness that is not letting you see it. Also, it is a lack of vision that makes the nations waste money. It is vision-less-ness that has been making Nigeria waste money since the Union Jack was lowered in 1960. Once again, we would continue to struggle with true growth until we first settle the issue of vision.

I remember the story of a young man—who received the vision of outrunning his role-model in an Olympic race.  After his mentor came first in an Olympic race, he asked, “how many hours do you spend daily training yourself?” To which he responded: “twenty (20) hours daily, for four years.” His mentor invested twenty (20) hours daily because of a vision he was seeing. With vision, twenty (20) hours of training become like ten (10) minutes.

• The type of thirst that water can’t quench

The boy left his model with a clear vision—outrunning his model in the next Olympic race. It was this vision that made him train for twenty-two (22) hours daily—for four (4) years! For years after, he outran his model and the rest they say is history. You too can do same thing. All you need to do is to find out what the person—who is leading in your field of assignment is doing. It is the vision of overtaking him that would make growth very easy for you.

As I begin to round off, do not just wish to become as Serena Williams, unearth the price she pays and exceed it. Serena is not an overnight success story. Tennis takes many hours from her daily. She started very early in life. Before going to school, she would rehearse and when she returned home in the afternoon, she would continue from where she stopped in the morning before leaving for school.

You want to exceed Serena’s greatness? Unearth what she does daily and exceed it. It is not enough to be gifted. Without growth, gifts and talents become absolutely nothing and they would not bless anyone.  Growth gives an expression to gifts. Also, greatness is not going to happen without commensurate growth. Growth is everything —in life, leadership and business.

It was the vision of greatness that would make Abraham Lincoln trek for hours because he wanted to borrow enlightening books, an effect of his unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Over the years, I have met with many folks who call themselves visionaries without having a functional library. True men and women of vision can empty (without being pressurized) their pockets because of relevant books, but to those who are blind, every book is expensive.

Till I come your way again on next week Monday, see you where great leaders and successful are found, buddy.