Success: A Game of Chance?

Dear lovely people,

“Anyone who wants to sell you overnight success or wealth is not interested in your success; they are interested in your money.” – Bo Bennett

Binta stood in front of the kiosk ready with his numbers. He was so confident of his choices that nobody could talk him to changing them. He had studied the performance of the horses for the last one year that he’s been playing the game and though he failed most of the times than won, he was sure of this particular day. “Today is going to be a jackpot” He murmured to himself all along and so had composed what is commonly called ‘an enlarged combination’ within the ranks of betting. That meant more stakes involving a huge amount of money but he was happy because he was so certain that the news in the evening after the horse race will speak for itself.

He showed his game-selection to the guy in the kiosk and he smiled, shock Binta’s hand and reassured him that he had just nailed it because that was the same selection he had. Binta staked, left for home feeling on top of the world and ready for the long wait that will announce his millions. The media for the past days had been announcing a hundred thousand dollar jackpot. Binta was certain he will bite deep into that amount after the winning horses would have been announced.

Evening came and went, it was another morning and nobody heard from Binta. In his usual manner after a win, he would have been chattering in the bars, singing and insulting. What could have happen this day with no sign of Binta? Simply put, he lost the bet and his huge sum of money was gone like the wind.  

If a person were fully mindful of the true odds of winning in a bet, they might not buy a ticket. Yet, millions of people continue to play, convinced not only that they will ultimately win but that they will accomplish that goal using their personal lucky numbers that repeatedly failed them in the past.

Becoming a success in life is not a game of chance.  To become successful, I mean to be counted among those who make it to the upper circles of achievement whether one has innate qualities as compared to his/her entrepreneurial experiences you have to pay the price through hard work, dedication, resoluteness and decency. I can for always say that entrepreneurs are made going by Andrea Bocelli who said “My life experience has taught me nothing happens by chance. Even the idea of the ball in a roulette game: it's not chance it ends up in a certain place. It's forces that are at play.”

Decide today to stop counting on chance like Binta and settle down to facing reality, being prepared to face the odds and to wade the turbulent waters to the other side of success with all its greener pastures.

Be Yourself vs Be On Your Guard

Dear lovely people,

 

“Through hard work, perseverance and a faith in God, you can live your dreams” Says Ben Carson and I strongly agree with him.

Franka had all the signals indicating the job was hers. She endured two hours of interview and was at the moment, standing in front of the receptionist's desk with a potential colleague, engaging in harmless chitchat. The topic turned to her current job, and she said she couldn’t wait to ditch her bedeviled supervisor and somehow deranged CEO. She was so buried in her chatter that she did not notice the receptionist whined in shock neither did she notice the well-tailored executive who came up beside her.

Bensa is the name of the Executive who stood beside her and had followed her conversation all along. He greeted and Franka could not control herself when she realized it was him. Bensa was Franka’s classmate, they shared a lot in common about their dreams in life. Both of them wanted to own insurance companies. They separated after the university and had never seen each other again before that morning. Bensa had gone on to create his successful life insurance company while Franka who along the line engaged in blind-rocking became a job hunter, moving from one job to the other. On her way home that afternoon, Franka was not only ruminating over the fact that Bensa was already living his dream but she could tell a lot had changed about him. She was not convinced by his assurances, something deep told her he sent her off politely. 

In actual fact, Franka shot herself in the leg. The seemingly harmless exchange she had with the receptionist, categorized her as belonging to the ever growing family of disgruntled complainers who most often are part of the problem within organizations than a solution. No employer wants to higher such. It was evident that when things start feeling good she easily lets her guard down. You can't afford to let your guard down at any instant. Interviews are fraught with opportunities to ruin your chances of landing an offer. Unless you're vigilant, you may sabotage yourself beyond repairs. 

Whether as a job seeker or employer, NEVER ever buy into the myth that you should just be yourself during an interview or business negotiation. A job interview especially is a highly ritualized form of interaction and if you think you're not under the strictest scrutiny, you're going to slip up.

Perhaps more than any other mistake, Franka got too comfortable and failed to remember that it was an interview, a delicate situation requiring a careful mixing between the job seeker and interviewer. If you appear too relaxed, you may unintentionally create the impression you don't really care whether you get the job.

One other solid lesson that comes out of Franka’s experience is that: It’s not enough to dream, it’s more important to transform your dreams to a physical reality despite all odds where you can live them and that if you don’t work to realize your dream, others will higher you to realize theirs.

Lawson’s Boat

 Dear lovely people,

Lawson got to his boat that early morning with all what he had prepared during the last three weeks for the journey. He was elated to see his boat still tied at the same position he left it five months earlier. Lawson got fade up with fishing and decided to take a break, he wanted to focus his attention on something else, something new and more rewarding. That’s how the idea of sailing out to the West Island came about.

The West Island was known widely for its wealthy king and beautiful daughters. Lawson told himself if only he could brave the turbulent waters and sail across to the island, he would marry one of the king’s daughters and comeback a wealthy man. The particular lady he had in mind was Julia, the king’s third daughter and the one who always stopped by in her motor-powered boat to say hi and always went home with a generous gift of fish from Lawson.

Lawson was so excited with the desire to meet her, he was dreaming along the way about what will happen after their eventual marriage that he did not notice a hole had developed in his boat. It dawned on him midway at high-water that the boat was filling up with water at an unprecedented speed. Time was running out and the waves were getting crazier. Lawson’s conclusion at that moment was that he will never live to see his dream come true.

Lawson’s story underlines the fact that: a boat will never sink because of the water around it. A boat sinks because of the water that gets into it. I equally belief in the age-old saying that proper preparation prevents poor performance and let me add that it equally saves lives.

In the world today are many Lawson-like people who think that just because they have great dreams, things will just work out like that in their favor. No way! Your dreams and goals are not enough, you need methodical planning, informed decision-making, concise action and above all, you’ve got to put your bones and brains together in order to make your dreams come true.

In life irrespective of your dreams, we are continually sailing in a sea of difficulties of all nature some self-imposed and others imposed on you. If you can block all the holes on your boat through action and focus and thoughtful action, then the waters of thoughtless courage and blind risk taking will not claim you like it did to Lawson.