#Mywordfortoday is #Determination

#Mywordfortoday is #Determination

“Everything worthwhile is uphill. Sadly, many people have uphill hopes and downhill habits.” - John C. Maxwell"

In Nigeria and if I daresay, the world, finishing with a CPGA of 2.49 which is a Third Class can be very devastating because it could mean losing out on many juicy job opportunities. 

This is the story of a number of people, but is that the end of the world? Is that the end of the story? Absolutely not. Of course, getting jobs and opportunities with that class of degree is very challenging. 

Many Nigerian employers use your first degree and your age to employ staff, failing to understand that in spite of holding a third class degree, or even a lower class of degree, one can be a first-class employee or even a business owner. 

Today I am writing this blog on determination, to encourage those of us in this situation. 

Sure, you didn't do so great at school, however, your grades will only follow you forever if you do not put it in "rearview and focus on your windshield" i .e. Put the past behind and look forward.

The only way to grow in life is to learn from the mistakes we had made. Success isn't only made in the grades you'd received, but is measured in the person you become or trying to become.

Don't get me wrong, grades are important but your performance after how you leave the university is "importanter".

I found this interesting quote on Mark's internet "don't be afraid to start over again. This time, you are not starting from scratch, you are starting from experience".

My people are wont to say "do not listen to the noise in the marketplace, neither should you allow drummers in the marketplace to drown out what is inside of you. Drummers typically have the attention of the villagers because of how loud their drums are, but never allow them to push you into doubting your own capabilities." (I sort of paraphrased this).

I have found that when we allow our failures (I called them failures because of the stigma attached to the class of degree) to stretch us, we will move past our comfort zones. Failure is a much-needed ingredient on our ways to success. 

Like Ralph Emerson Waldo said, "the person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be".

Whatever it is that we nurture will grow. And this holds true whether in our personal, professional or spiritual lives.

We tend to give effort to what is important to us. Leave the past to be the past, focus on where you'd be rather than what is setting you back.

Determination alone might not suffice, so you've got to discover and understand your strengths and weaknesses. This would build up your motivation and sort of invigorate you.

Are you a good starter and a poor finisher or you have no finish; maybe you can't even start at all but once you start you keep going?!

It is also important that you get help. Some of us need accountability partners that will lift us when our motivation is low.

I listened to a motivational speech that likening motivation to having a bath daily. Our motivations might wane and in those times your accountability partner helps you to take up the Slack.

Determine exactly where your passions lie and make something of that by carving a niche in your passion.

Learn from your previous mistakes so that history does not keep repeating itself and please, please, please as much as possible surround yourself with people who will encourage you on your journey to greatness. 

Stay away from sycophants i.e. people who will tell you what you want to hear and not what you need to hear. 

Let me end this short piece by reminding you Nwankwo Kanu in spite of his ill-health (he had a hole in his heart) went on to play for Arsenal FC and, is today one of the biggest names we have in football in Nigeria.

Remember the journey of a thousand steps begins with just one.

Bibireosefowora 💘

22052020