SUCCESS REDEFINED

“The definition of success–To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one’s self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition.; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived–this is to have succeeded.”— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Success is not determined by your background, your childhood, your environment and it does not favor a particular DNA makeup. It does not depend on what you do not have but what you have. You can only offer what you have, you cannot go beyond that but you can stretch your thoughts to an extent that it gets you going and off the ground. Success answers to a particular thought system in which you create on your mind. It’s the state that gives you the required energy needed to push on even in the midst of the storm. In everyone lies the potential to succeed no matter how often we have failed. Winston Churchill defined success as going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. Every step to success is filled with a predicament to failure but it depends on how you view both personally. It is either you see failure as a stepping stone to success or failing indeed. Most people do not believe that they can do great things, they just aim for mediocrity. They do all they do because everyone else is doing it.

Remember Thomas Edison, does it ring a bell. If you have not known him yet, I will put it in these simple terms. He invented the light bulb but before he did he failed on so many experiments before the breakthrough. You can only be successful if you experiment often, it does not matter how much time you need to do that. What about Steve Jobs, he did not drop out of school only but he dropped in to a course that set the path for the beautiful fonts we see on our computers today. Abraham Lincoln failed so many times before he became the President of the United States of America. Ask any man that has attained real success they will tell you they really had so many shoddy ride with failure before having a great ride to success. One singular thing distinguished them, they never failed to try.

Success like Wisdom is always available but you choose to answer that call. A lot of people believe that failure is an indicator that you will not succeed but that is not true as you can learn from them and move on. It is even more possible to fail when you take on bigger chances though it sets you on the pace for greater success. It is quite disheartening to see a lot of people go on a suicidal mission because they have been portrayed as failures either through self – judgement or the judgement of others. You cannot live an unhappy life and expect success. Success is a product of happiness. Been cheerful is all about perspective and it will not matter if you are a success or a failure. You choose what you become, how you become what you want to become and you determine why you should become what you want to become. So success comes from the way you act. The way you act comes from the way you feel and think. Therefore to succeed you must first change something within yourself.

In Africa especially my country Nigeria, our view of success needs to be redefined. It is causing a great effect on this present generation. It is more like go to College, study any course, get a degree and pronto you can work in a bank. The fact that money is being counted in the banks does not mean there will be excess money to spend around. More so there are few banks even if more were created it is never enough to meet the large population of youths who vehemently see their future there. There is ample pressure on young people in this country that if you do not go to College, you can never be successful. This has led to the rising population of young people writing University Entry Examination every year with fewer facilities available to accommodate the growing population. So many youths see success as a mirage and as a bid to make quick money. Meanwhile there are still much more young people that are frustrated and depressed. Though there are no excuses for such feelings but that is the price paid for ignorance. We can give the world a challenge, we can bring home anything we want but it must be something positive and different from what it used to be. Our beloved country is in dire need of great thinkers, entrepreneurs and innovators, which could be you. Do not let the situation around sink you into the deep waters instead we should rise up to this challenge. The World Awaits Us.

Every step of failure leaves you with a lesson to succeed. It does not matter how often you have failed but how well you are willing to learn, correct your mistakes and try again. Success is an on-going path, a journey and not a destination.  When you succeed in anything there is always a craving to achieve something greater. Each day presents us with great opportunities. There are always new things we can do, new methods of doing what we know how to do best and keep moving. Success principally depends on the laws of change. Change keeps you aware that you need to succeed even in the midst of failure. Gain knowledge, take action and do not stop trying. Success is in you! It is time to let it out.

It is my utmost desire that youths in my beloved country will discover their potentials, be courageous and confident enough to take that path to greatness.