yOu aRe riGHt..

 

There is something so beautiful about this picture. How ballerinas from a very young age push the limits of the capability of their bodies..

One way or another we as humans always find ways to impose limitations on ourselves. At the end of the day we become a sum if our choices and experiences and so like the saying goes, if we say we can't - We are right; and if we say we can we are also right. Perspective makes all the difference.

gOiNg aGaiNsT tHe tiDE!

Blind Bartimaeus teaches us how to sing a solo when the chorus is against you. Mark 10:47-48.

— Tera Carissa (@teracarissa) July 19, 2015

This tweet from Tera Carissa got me in deep thought about what it truly takes to be an achiever. In reality nobody ever achieved any great feat by doing exactly what every other person around them did. Over the years i have come to one solid conclusion that the common denominator in every winner's life is simply an 'EDGE'. My  childhood gaming days comes to mind as a good example of what it means to have an edge. Back when the video game 'Street Fighter' was a thing i only knew how to use two moves  and one player (Dhalsim) in all my games. He was the grown Avatar looking dude who could Extend punches and kicks beyond his reach, teleport and stay suspended in the air. All i knew to do was throw those long punches and teleport, and i became so good and fast at those two moves that was all i really needed to win.

The story referenced in the tweet above covers the story of a blind man in Jericho named Bartimaeus who during Jesus' visit against all odds and public opinion regained his sight. We only read about him today because he was bold enough to do something about his situation howbeit yelling like a mad man on the streets.

There are 3 things Bartimaeus had that made a difference to his situation which we can also learn from:

1. Information: He had heard of the exploits and knew of the power Jesus carried. He also heard that Jesus was in town, he also recognized the opportunity of a life time.

2. Faith/Conviction: Armed with this information, He was convinced that an encounter with this Jesus would solve his problems. In an era when Miracles and Christ was considered uncool he wasn't ashamed of his Faith and conviction.

3. Tenacity: Against all odds and pressure to be quiet while he called for Jesus to save him he persisted until Jesus heard him and called for him to come close after which he miraculously re-gained his sight.

These three (3) things can be generally summarized in one word: PASSION. what dreams, ideas or courses do you feel driven to achieve? what challenges do you have to contend with on a daily basis?

The story of blind Bartimaeus teaches us that in the choir of life, only people bold enough to sing solos get the chance get noticed..

In the history of humanity, every great man from Einstein to Walt Disney; from Steve Jobs to Mark Zuckerberg; has had to swim against the tide of popular opinion to attain greatness. whatever you find yourself doing sometimes the best path to that destination is the road less travelled.

-@gozzim

#doiT: bE tHe aRchitEct oF yOur oWn OppORtuNitieS.

A few days ago I read a piece on Anderson Cooper's rise to fame, and I found the revelations in there particularly inspiring. In it he talked about how not having a 'Plan B' was his secret to media success. When nobody would give him a chance at being a correspondent, he borrowed a home camcorder from a friend and with the little he had he embarked on trips to cover troubled developing countries like Somalia only to sell his stories to media outfits in the U.S. He would later get hired as an Intl. correspondent by 'Channel One' as a result of his efforts (Lesson: Sometimes getting people to trust you requires you changing their perception of you. Doing that requires drastic efforts on your part). This all or nothing approach to life especially when caught between a rock and hard place may be counter intuitive for some but in my opinion the most ingenious and creative solutions to challenges have been produced by men who have been backed into a corner without a backup plan.

The world is saturated with people who often let their degrees, environment or circumstances dictate who they become. In an increasingly difficult world where even having a PHD doesn't guarantee a job, only a few wake up to the realization that you are a sum of the choices you make and that we as individuals have to create our own opportunities in life. There will always be more than one way into a market. 

what is it you want so bad that the so called professionals of your industry won't let you in on? or what is that thing you dream about so much that the nay sayers have given you absolutely no chance of attaining? I say we (Yeah I said we, 'cos just like you I'm trying to get up that ladder)use their pessimism as fuel to attain the unattainable. People can only make you feel bad about yourself, your ideas or convictions if you let them. 

So share less with perssimists and be the architect of your opportunities. Because humans are mostly perception driven most will only believe when you have attained that goal/dream.

-@gozzim

mAkiNg a KiLLinG oFF of #Ebola

Some people sure know how to make a living off of people's fears. for those who truly understand the concept of capitalism, its easy to understand why people make money either in an uptrend or downtrend, and in good times or bad times. There is alway money to be made. But before i make my point i would like to state expressly that i am in no way endorsing any of these individuals i am about to mention.

Ebola was discovered about 38yrs ago and since then there hadn't been a worldwide course for concern until now, especially after the full on outbreak in West Africa and subsequent exportation to the western world. 

It makes logical sense that after several decades of discovery there ought to have been a vaccine or even an outright cure for this disease, but not everything about business is logical. Global Pharmaceutical companies simply did not see viability in developing treatments for a disease that was just a flash in the pan and particularly confined to a certain part of the world until now.

From ZMAPP to all other forms of potential cures/vaccines there is no short supply of 'geniuses' world over claiming to have a cure, after all there is money to be made right. Allow me share 3 cases of shrewd business people and a company that have and will make a killing over the real effects of the Ebola outbreak.

1. Meet Todd Spinalle, currrently making a killing with his FDA unapproved anti Ebola wafers. this utterly ridiculous jerk claims his wafers are a food supplement with about 544% of Vitamin C and his 'EBOLA-C' wafers can prevent or make customers immune to Ebola. Another classic case of preying on people's fears. Spinelli has so far sold 14,000 units of his poison at $34.95 each. Fear is money!

2. Meet John Schulz a cyber squatter who specializes in buying Disease domains. He owns the domain 'Ebola.com' which he bought for $13,500. He is looking to sell that domain to a pharmaceutical company for $150,000 (its business don't take it personal). According to him the domain name already has at least 5000 hits per day just from curious visitors. Schulz previously owned 'birdflu.com', 'fukushima.com' and 'terror.com'. Foresight does pay!

3. Finally a company called 'Giant Microbes' that makes stuffed toys claim to have sold out their stuffed Ebola Virus toys. This company apparently had created long ago stuffed versions of the HIV virus, Gonorrhea, and Herpes. I guess they would claim it was for instructional purposes, which ever way in their case a Teacher's prop maker's reward is right here in the midst of the Ebola outbreak. lol

Lets not forget manufacturers of disposable Hazmat suits which in the last few weeks has become a massive hit. If you invested in a publicly quoted company that manufactures these you would be a boss right now. Especially since health regulators advice Drs. change these 7 times daily.

I guess depending on how you choose to see it certain principles hold irrespective of location and social constraints. The principles of Demand and Supply, or sowing and reaping will never fail even in some extreme cases as seen in Gen. 26:14 where Isaac sowed in the midst of famine and reaped a 100 fold. I guess the world would never run out of ways for people to make a living either legally or illegally.

So do you think people like Todd Spinalle or John Schulz qualify as legal business men? let me know your thoughts in the comments box below.

- @gozzim
credits: mediaitedotcom

dOoRs..

Imagine for a minute that your mind is a heavily guarded (skull) fortress with various entrances (eyes, nose, ears, etc..). Also imagine that your very existence and quality of Life, depended on how well you develop and protect this very mind.

When you think about it, every possible man made convenience from Aircrafts, to something as simple as a spoon, to the tallest skyscrapers on earth; these were once a product of some innovative mind. Everything in existence were once intangible in the human mind so much so that a persistent belief in the possibility of its existence pushed individual inventors to bring  these things to life.

What exactly do you believe about yourself?
What kind of thoughts do you encourage?

Indeed whatever the mind can conceive, the hand can achieve, for the fact that your very mind could it is enough evidence of the inherent possibilities.
You are and will forever be the architect of your own fortune or worse - misfortune. The God given power to make choices is what ensures that in addition to His freely give grace to excel in Life we have to make conscious efforts to make a difference in every situation we find ourselves. So every chance you get to develop your mind or shield it from any form of social trauma enough to make a difference in Life should be embraced. Guard your thoughts with all diligence..

-@gozzim

LiViNg oN bORRoWeD tiME

Some mornings i wake up feeling like i'm living on borrowed time. Well maybe i am 'cos these days it all seems like one minute you are making jokes with friends and then the next minute you read from on a blog that your friend is gone. 

There has to be more in this Life than just subsistence. Yeah i said that, no matter how much wealth you have amassed for yourself or are hoping to amass, if you haven't given any thought & action to how much that wealth will touch or change the lives of people in your sphere of contact (and not just your family) you are just subsisting.

I have come to learn that 'our time here on earth is indeed a transaction'. You have breathe in exchange for a chance to live a life of impact using your gifts as a means of basic exchange and a chance at Eternal Investment. A typical scenario:

You are a gifted singer, somehow you rise to fame and become a world renowned pop icon, and the big bucks roll in faster than you can spend it, Yes! you have arrived but there is indeed a lot more that you can do than buying cars, paying sibling school fees, or even hooking your friends up. The best courses are the ones that outlive you and your gifts. People are dying every second in Liberia, Guinea all from Ebola, perhaps there are communities who before the Epidermic were followers or your music, but these people don't trust the government agencies perhaps adding your voice to that of the government will help them listen to how they can survive this epidermic. Surely having a million followers on social media is not just for bragging rights...

You see it may all seem like 'YOLO' and 'One life to Live' and then death, but i'm sure most doubt that you won't give account of the time you have spent here on earth. So as you go about your activities remember that every second of every day you are privileged to be alive you should constantly seek to exchange that breathe for a life of impact. You only live Once but if you live right Once is enough.

-@gozzim

mArcH oN... ChAnGing yOuR LiFe isNt iMpossiBLe!

If you are reading this, you, like myself have put 2months in 2014 right behind you. But 2months into 2014 has your life changed? All those annual prophetic declarations, resolutions and goals...still haven't began to come alive yet??

Only a fool does the same things and expects better results. The challenge with some of us is: like the world we desire change, or at least an improvement in our situation but are a largely unwilling to make the necessary changes in our lives.

I am of the school of believe that 'Time' is the greatest asset any man has and with it you can create every other need. Rather than wait another 10months for magic, we could make conscious efforts to rewrite our stories. I would like to share a few pointers to help us evaluate changes we need to make to come into those resolutions:

1. Revisit/Review your goals for the year

2. Refocus and put pressure on the most viable of these goals.

3. Reevaluate your circle & network of people around you. Some people in your circle could just be anchors holding you down to your current position.

4. Sometimes shut doors need to be knocked on again or even kicked down for access. Nothing good comes easy.

5. Believe! not just in you but in your Maker. God will never be pro mediocrity.

6. Understand that if God gave you those ideas you can achieve them. Allow him help you figure out a way.

Have a beautiful March!!

~ @gozzim

#iMbiBe

courtesy Peg Fitzpatrick

scREw yOuR aNcHoRs!

you ever get in those awkward positions where people try to make you feel bad 'cos finally you got your shit together and moved on positively with your life? Maybe you finally found God and your old friends you used to drink and smoke pot with get on your case 'cos you were once birds of a feather; or you get a fantastic job opportunity and then your psycho girl friend/Boy Friend does all she/He can to discourage you cos the job requires you to leave town?

Truth is the whole concept of progress in life entails overcoming some form of hindrance (inertia, friction) I understand that sometimes the history we share with people make it really hard to move on from them. One simple and very obvious fact at the end of  the day is this: 'no one ever achieved any worth while feat by being toooooo considerate to everyone around them well at least not to themselves.' If you were too careful about hurting your fingers how would you become a good farmer. The best feats are attained through some level of compromise to self.

So in conclusion i will say this: some people are anchors and you have to learn to cut them off when you have to. Screw Your Anchors!

~g.d

cold fire!

i recall a few years ago while back at school, i made a trip every month to attend a very popular inspiration session in V.I hosted by a foremost motivational speaker. a friend of mine and I would come all the way and head back to school all 'fired up' 'cos we had supposedly heard and rubbed shoulders with the wealthiest & most influential motivators within and outside Nigeria.

In my honest opinion if i had to do it all over again i would probably have been satisfied with just one of those sessions, subsequently i would go on to read volumes of inspirational books all 'cos i thought i would hit it big along the line.

"what good is getting all fired up, if you cannot transfer that fire or passion to a meaningful project?"

If you are in the habit of networking you would agree with me that sometimes its not worth meeting people especially if they won't remember you the next time you meet. The best way to keep you networking memorable is to be known for a form of unique project/feat. It doesn't matter how many seminars you attend, or how many books you have read or will read, to attain a certain level of relevance you must apply your self positively to whatever passions you nurse.There will never be a perfect time to do anything meaningful. 

START SOMETHING NOW!

~gd

Dreams can be a hard Nut to crack...

I must admit: making dreams come through is  hard.  Living in an enviroment like ours where there is too much for too many, but few people hoarding all that much resources it can also be very discouraging. so many young people try so hard to get into the labour market and then try so hard to get out of it once in.

The ancient mould of getting a degree or two and getting a good job... doesn't really cut it these days since almost everyone in the labour market has a degree, doesn't it make any sense for you to stand out in some way?

As much as it feels like things are not right or you do not have enough to make your dreams happen, there is only one important fuel required of you: PASSION. It is the fuel that keeps you going when that required capital ain't forth coming or when doors of potential are slammed in your face.

A word of advice to you no matter how bad things look, keep your dreams alive in your heart & mind cos it will always give you hope; secondly spend 40-70% of your time everyday thinking and doing at least a few things about that dream and watch the power of positive attraction help you make that dream a reality.

na my own be that.
~GD

Extra-Ordinary People…

isn’t it amazing how a few men make a huge difference in world affairs. A wise man once said that where there is a vision there is a flock, meaning it doesn't matter what the vision is once you’ve got extraordinary people behind it people will most definately buy into that vision.

*check out Adolf Hitler despite the brutality of his vision till today we still have people who believe in his course years after his death.
*Another very good example is the US presidential aspirant: Barack Obama, the chicago Illinois senator has proven over the last couple of months that he is indeed a potential leader and that there is a new breed of politics that is far more effective than what was obtainable in the past. Enough of my ranting…

My point exactly is that every man has been blessed with a unique potential to do extraordinary things. It is my understanding that for every challenge a man faces he has already been equipped with the solution. the fact that you could even recognize that challenge is simply an indication of the fact that you can solve it.
Fela Durotoye a business consultant once echoed: "in order to achieve what has never been achieved, one must be ready to do what has never been done". this obviously means that it is only a fool that keeps doing the same thing and expects a different result. This is definately the attitude of extraordinary people like Barack Obama, Bill Gates, Woods,  and Steve Jobs.

Extraordinary people make things happen while ordinary people simply stand by and watch things happen. my question to you then  is  which would you rather be?
So every day you wake up always have it on your mind that you are alive for a reason, and that reason makes you a unique being .
till my next post…ciao.
stay Extra Ordinary.

-@gozzim