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  • Attitude, Encouragement, Goals, Skills, Success Principles

Up Your Game!

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Today, July1, 2008 is the beginning of the second half of the year… so Welcome to Second half!

In the last one week, one particular thing has consistently been coming to my attention. While I have been busy, I have also had the time and opportunity to have some fun. In the midst of it all, I have come to realize that the greatest benefit you can do for yourself in this second half is to up your game!

The greatest enemy of great is good. The greatest enemy of exceptional is average. Rarely are people get motivated to do beyond where they get comfortable. Do you have a benchmark? Do you have standards you aspire to? Did you set goals for yourself at the beginning of the year, are you taking stock? If you are far from your goals, it’s alright, you now only need to up your game.

Here are a few tips on why and how you need to up your game this year.

Do a little more!

I went for what I would call a Christian entertainment program organized by Daystar Christian Center on Friday night, tagged Effizy Night.

Amongst a number of things that I saw, I saw different artists come on stage to display their various talents. I saw people that could sing and people that could move the crowds, I saw people that could dance and people that were exceptional! I saw two compere’s, one that was good, and the other that was clearly better. I saw the crowd clapping, sometimes shouting, while yet sometimes giving a standing and shouting ovation. Different levels of skill display attracted different levels of crowd appeal. It dawned on me first hand, that the little extra after the ordinary is what makes up the extraordinary. Whatever it is that you know how to do, you have to put a little more into it. If you practiced for 30mins before, increase it to 1hr. If you read for 1hr before , make it 2. Double your input, and it will affect you output. Do a little more!

Maximize the Moment.

I was in a Church on a speaking engagement on Sunday morning-Headstone Church. I went there to speak at their early morning career service. There were three key things in my heart and mind for them.

First, whatever it is you desire in this life, it’s not a desire if you have not taken out time to at least pray to God about it. Have you taken your career desires to God in prayer? How skilled you want to become in that area, have you prayed about it? Are your financial goals known to God. The first step in the achievement of any purpose is prayer to God. If you understand God well, (if you don’t I believe it’s a worthwhile investment of your time to know Him) you’ll know that when you ask him for something that he has in mind to give you as well, he answers you. When God answers, you might not see the physical manifestation of the answer immediately, but it becomes reality in a spiritual form. In order to make what you have received manifest, your behavior in the now, needs to correspond to the existence of what you have prayed for. The moment for example that you ask for a Job, and believe that you have it, your behavior needs to step up to the reality that it exists. You need to start reading like someone who has your desired level of intelligence, you need to start preparing yourself by doing the things that will be required of you, you need to step up your game to match with what you have asked for. Don’t push your action till tomorrow, make it today! Act today! When was the last time you did something courageous? When was the last time you went the extra mile? When was the last time you were proud of yourself for how much time you put into some activity? When was the last time you felt you were being trained or groomed for excellence? When was it? Maximize this moment, don’t push your best days forward.

Make up your mind and get a Coach

I had the opportunity to watch some excerpts of a movie centered around the spelling bee competition on Sunday. This girl was obviously good, but because she had not prepared adequately she was almost going to lose out of the competition. When she finally made up her mind to go for the price, she decided to buckle up and work on her talent. She also decided to go meet a man in the same city who had won the same competition locally before, to coach her.

We all need to make up our minds how far we intend to go in life. How high do you want to climb? How deep do you want to swim. What is your aspiration? The quality of a man/woman’s life is a function of the quality of direction he or she gets. We celebrate many sport stars and athlete’s today because they were coached by people who gave them time and commitment. Is it Tiger Woods or the Williams sisters? These are products of coaching, interestingly by their dads. Someone has achieved success in the line in which you desire success or close to it. Make up your mind about what you want, and go after the people that can help you. Remember an hour with a wise man is worth many years of study. Experience is only a great teacher when it’s the experience of others. Set you goals, drive yourself hard and get a driver you can respect.

Refuse to Arrive

I got to hear about a comedy show for Sunday evening and decided I would attend. With the encouragement of some of my colleagues (My wife, Emore Ogho and Busayo Akanro), we decided to go. It was “Made in Warri”, and it was extremely hilarious.

I discovered something interesting however. I discovered that the unknown comedians obviously prepared a lot for their part and dazzled the audience. They were not known, hence they had to create a name for themselves, and in all honesty, they were really good. I could however not say the same for those who had seemed to have arrived – The people whose names where used to sell the tickets, came and performed at levels lower than the standards set for the day in my opinion. “I go die”, came on stage, obviously without adequate preparation and was litterally booed off the stage. The same for some of the other popular artists. What happened? They arrived! The got to limelight, and somehow are gradually losing the same habits that got them there. The skill that required nights and days of honing, now seems to them like inborn. They entered into Samson’s cast, and said like he did, “I will rise up like old times”. The day you arrive is the day you begin to go obscure, because there are many unknown people out there, who are willing to do twice as much to take your spot. It’s easier to get ahead than it is to stay ahead. Growth requires stretch, to stop to stretch is to stop to grow. Give yourself stretch benchmarks, seek to be like the best globally. Refuse to Arrive!

Be Patient

We had a meeting over the weekend with some property consultants and developers from Dubai. We hosted them to a few meetings over the weekend, and had the opportunity to chat together after the meetings. As Malawi citizens by birth and Indians by origin, they were really impressed with the New Nigeria Club Concept, can volunteered their help and support in any way we needed it.

While we discussed the similarities between countries, Nigeria and Pakistan for example, and the similarities between Asia and Africa, the CEO of the company asked us all a question. He asked us what we thought the beginning of wisdom was. We all told him directly – the fear of God. But he went on to share a story with us that I will share later. A very very interesting story. Do you want me to share it now? If you do, you need patience. Patience, my dear, is critical to success.

Adeolu Akinyemi

Adeolu Akinyemi

18 thoughts on “Up Your Game!”

  1. Freelance
    July 1, 2008 at 2:44 pm

    All I can say is God bless u richly.

    I have been thinking of getting a coach or a mentor. I sure would

    get one soon and would be able to learn from the person.

    Take care and am very grateful for this timely article.

    Cheers!
    http://faithfulsnetwork.com/index.php

    Reply
  2. Peter Oluokun
    July 1, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    I’m inspired and encouraged also, a right piece at the right time as usual. Deolu you are just a kind of model for me, i wonder sometimes maybe you have more than the same 24hours that i have too, you are just an inspiration.

    The major point is that i have to up my game, thanks so much for this charge, cheers.

    Reply
  3. wale
    July 1, 2008 at 4:16 pm

    ……thanks for the piece Oga Deolu!
    this month is significant too being the seventh….perfection or conclusion u put it. Perfecting the process that needs to take individuals away from same old procrastination or ‘am-just-comfortable-here’ or ‘shift-blaming-others’ mindset…..

    but taking responsibility for MY circumstances! Though easier said than done, Oga Deolu put it well……..GOD and Prayers! BUT that’s only effective WHEN you get MAD at your self!!!!!!!!!!!! not govt or others!

    HAPPY HARD-ThiNking +Hard-Working Half-year to ALLto ALL!

    Reply
  4. Dennis J Etiwe
    July 1, 2008 at 5:49 pm

    Hello Mr Akinyemi,
    This is a great piece and very motivated and encouraged by it.I can wait till you conclude but as you say, ‘ patience,patience…’
    Awaiting your conclusion ‘coach’.

    Reply
  5. bukola
    July 1, 2008 at 5:51 pm

    well done,God bless.you are a shiny example of hardwork in this generation

    Reply
  6. ikenna
    July 1, 2008 at 6:08 pm

    Deolu, thank you very much.
    I refuse to comfy
    I refuse to be termed “I have arrived”

    Thanks again

    Reply
  7. Royal_Prince
    July 2, 2008 at 9:34 am

    A master piece indeed!

    “The day you arrive is the day you begin to go obscure, because there are many unknown people out there, who are willing to do twice as much to take your spot.Itโ€™s easier to get ahead than it is to stay ahead”. Enough said!
    The case of “I-go-die” and co mentioned above reminds me of the saying of Prof Pat Utomi that “the reward for success is more work”. Oh! how truthful is this saying. An axiom indeed!

    Luv U!

    Reply
  8. Cyril
    July 2, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    Deolu,

    I guess each topic sentence speaks for itself.

    From “Do a little more!” to “Be patient”, all carries a unique and timely message.

    More so, I appreciate the getting a Coach stuff, I guess I need one.

    The Lord is your muscle.

    Reply
  9. dlecturer
    July 2, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    Simply thought provoking!Very insightful!thankyou.

    Reply
  10. ifeoluwa
    July 3, 2008 at 11:31 am

    Thank you sir and God bless.
    would be patient enough to hear that story o!!!

    Reply
  11. ifeoluwa
    July 3, 2008 at 11:44 am

    Thank you so much Sir and God bless.
    I’d be patient indeed for the story o! (lol)

    Reply
  12. Al
    July 3, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    Improvement is constant and hope we reach the best that we can!

    Reply
  13. Dele
    July 6, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    Deolu,
    Once again, i’m inspired by your motivational post! Thank God for people like you in this country who never cease to jolt us on a continuos journey of self development. You are a great guy. May God reward you bountifully.
    Thanks.

    Reply
  14. Ifeoluwa adeyemi
    July 8, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    Timely message,You have helped me in realizing the need for a coach.Great.kip it up.

    Reply
  15. Ifeoluwa
    July 8, 2008 at 1:33 pm

    I am blessed and inspired as usual. May God bless you richly.

    Waiting really for the story!

    Reply
  16. Adesoji Adegbulu
    July 9, 2008 at 7:21 am

    hank you sir for this basic truth. Parying to God is faith, doing what is required is work. Our Faith in God + Our Works for God = Achievement of our desires…And, about the movie centered on the spelling
    bee – Akeelah and the Bee (hope you love the quote on “our deepest fear” from the movie), i watched it some few years back and learnt the importance of an instructor, no matter how good we think we are.
    Thanks for bringing that out once again…

    Sir, i’m stating it again – you have been my coach and instructor and i want you to still be

    Reply
  17. OMOZELE
    May 20, 2009 at 4:55 pm

    you are right sir. anyone aspiring greatness needs the backing of a greater force which in all cases is God.whatever your religion is.when he(God) is all you have, he is all you need.i have dreams and i know i cannot do without him because it is him who has helped me thus far.

    Reply
  18. IKOTUN ADEBISI
    May 27, 2009 at 1:38 pm

    greatness achieved in isolation tastes sour. the reason why we have coaches in a football team is to see what the players can’t see on the pitch and the day a football player grows to the height he claims he doesn’t need a coach, he starts falling. this is insightful Baba u are too much

    Reply

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Many hold their audience spell bound with motivational speeches but few care to hold the audience by the hand and help them walk their way to financial freedom like he does. Many have failed at everything they have tried to do but everything he does turns to gold. Read more…

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