PREPARE YOURSELF FOR GREATNESS

Introduction

"Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity"

(Henry Hartman)

To prepare is: to make provision for, be ready, make ready, set aright.

It means to make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, e.t.c. It also means to arrange by systematic planning and united effort (WordWeb 6.0).

Among other things, at the root of many unrealized desires are procrastination, laziness e.t.c. on the part of man. There are certain things that only we can do by ourselves. For these, no one else can or should take our place. Achieving greatness for ourselves is one of them. This is where “preparation” comes in handy.

THE 5 VITAL PREPARATORY KEYS FOR GREATNESS

1.      Write Out Your Goals

Success is impossible without a plan to work with. Our plans in life are made of our aspiring goals.

The journey to accomplishing your heart desires become closer and easier when pen meets paper. So kick-start the process of becoming great by taking notes of your desires. What are your desires, to start with?

Do you know that pilots are required by the ethics of their profession to present flight plans before flying airplanes? Unfortunately, many people launch into a new year without writing down clear goals of what they want to achieve. No doubt, little results show up for this at the end of the year.

Tips to Developing Your Goals:

·  Categorize your goals into different areas – Spiritual, Physical, Business, Ministry, Educational, Career, Mental, Financial, Health and Social

·        Apply deadlines to each of your goals

·        Decide what to do to realize each goal

·        Review your goals quarterly

·        Adjust the goals where necessary

·        Pray/Read your goals to yourself regularly

Write and work out your goals for the year starting today.

Refs: Hab.2:1-3

2.     Start With What You Have

Every individual is blessed with something unique – what I like to call “tradable assets”. There is at least one thing you have within you to beautify your life on the earth. Find and use it. Don’t common-ize what you carry. It is worth much more than you think.

Those of us who run from place to place looking for help from other people in order to realize our potential are simply shaming both the treasures we carry within and the one who put them there, in the first place.

Please don’t get me wrong. I agree that there is a place for networking. Yet, you need to start with what you have first. The idea here is to start with what we have; not what we don’t have.

Before other people would agree to come onboard with whatever it is you have going on, they would definitely like to see the results you have to show for it (however small). And trust me; you wouldn’t have to hang in there for long before they will volitionally bring their own resources to support your efforts. What can beat that?

Let’s not stifle the opportunities God grants us to let our own genius to arise and shine. Other people’s gifts won’t work for you. You are okay with just the way you are. If you don’t want trouble with your internal configuration, use your own set of gifts.

Start with what you have today.

Refs: Exo.4:1-4

3.      Launch Out In Faith

What project, desire or idea fascinates you? Have you been slack in embarking on it? If so, why?

For many people, the initial fear to start something new could be overwhelming. So they prefer to maintain the status quo i.e. Do nothing. Well, according to Elbert Hubbard, "the path of least resistance is what makes rivers run crooked". If you need to do something, fight your fears and launch out in faith.

A favourite quote of mine by William Shakespeare reads: “Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once...”

Fight your fears and launch out in faith. Unseen forces will come to back you up. God seems to come through for only people who are bold enough to take the plunge.

If, for instance, you desire to have a car, perhaps it’s time for you to visit a car dealer’s shop to check some cars out. You never know, you may get great deals that would benefit you in the long run. More so, your internal problem solving mechanism will automatically be triggered to look for ways in which you can raise the money to pay for it.

Apply yourself towards your cause. Be bold. Be confident. Be faith-full.

Launch out in faith today.

Refs: Jms.2:14,17; 2 Tim.1:7

4.     Discipline Yourself

Discipline yourself to focus on the achievement of your goals. Indiscipline is what makes a lot of people tolerate unwarranted people and circumstances around them and ultimately lead mediocre lives.

3 distracters that we should quickly find ways to manage include:

·        Television

According to Brian Tracy, many people spend between 5 to 8 hours watching TV on daily basis. Wow! That’s about one-third of a day! Let’s become moderate here - In fact, where we can, we should go ahead and switch off that box!

·        Rut relationships

We should care to evaluate our enhancement status with those with whom we spend the most productive period of our day. If we discover that little is coming out to fuel and fulfill our life purpose, then we should start considering moving on.

·        Debts

Yea! This one hit me like a thunderbolt, I tell you.

Living a life of debt is bad habit. Unfortunately, many people owe more than they own. How sad!

We must discipline ourselves to spend less than we earn. And if we feel that we are not earning quite enough to pay for our bills, then I suggest that we start looking for ways to increase our means (income). True, no excuse is good enough to stay in debt.

You are a walking wonder, with the ability to deliver profound results on whatever you set your mind on. But this ability can grossly and easily be hindered by a consciousness of debts to pay. How so? People in debt are constantly under pressure and with pressure comes the inability to think through and come up with results. You can ask around to confirm this.

Discipline yourself in the areas that matter today.

Refs: 1 Cor.9:24; Phil.3:13-14

5.      Honour God With Your Substance

The disparity between the “Rich” and the “Poor” has always been there and I seriously doubt if this situation can easily vanish. So, its time we decided which of the classes we want to belong and start/consolidate efforts to make it happen so. Now, this does not mean that the rich should not make efforts to assist the poor or that the poor should not work hard to break out of the mould of poverty.

God entrusts true wealth to people if they would honour Him with it and use it wisely. He blesses people He can truly trust.

Anytime you give to God, see it as an act of worship which comes with rewards. Guess what the reward is - it is the rain of breakthrough ideas that you can easily implement to get all the wealth you need.

Honour God with your substance today.

Refs: Pro.3:9-10; Mal.3:10-11

Conclusion

As tiny as they might be, ants have a lot to teach about being prepared. Let us take a cue from them.

T.D jakes says: “Nobody succeeds by accident. Success is intentional. It will work if you work it”. Hmm! correct words!

Practise the 5 keys described above and you will definitely become great.

I rest my case.

Thank you.

Peter Uwadone

ablepita@gmail.com