INSPIRATIONAL MUSINGS 32 Earn Your Stripes And Distinguish Yourself In The Process

Methods are the master of masters."

— Charles Maurice de Talleyrand

What I was taught about success when I was much younger remains with me today, I was taught that the only way to the top regardless of the profession or trade was hard work, that I should work so hard that I can look back and say to myself that every award, every accolade I received, I got them on merit.

This I was also made to believe shouldn't be limited to my career or trade alone but including every other aspect of my life. All has to be on merit, no shortcuts, no treachery, not through any form of craftiness.

Success I was told had to be worked for, that was the only path to the top, any other isn't honourable and I must look away from the lure or attraction of any other means. I thank G.o.d that despite all the tempest and nail biting challenges I get confronted with in my chosen career, these teachings abide with me till today.

In fact, it doesn't stop there, provision was also made in the process for the generation after me that if there's any possession of mine I will not be proud to hand over or if there's any craft or trade I am into that I wouldn't be proud to introduce my children into that I shouldn't bother going into it in the first place, no matter the attraction. Again, this counsel I hold onto very firmly till date.

There's no greater honour in one's career I believe than earning the respect of your peers and superiors alike, it is a great thing to be seen as deserving of praises or promotion for the efforts and hard work you have put into what you do. Also, when your equals believe you are worthy to be called the best because of what you have achieved over a period of time, then you have done well. It is even more beautiful when you earn the respect of all on merit.
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To distinguish oneself in life is a very tough thing to do, you must put in a lot of work, you have to be extra diligent and tough. My mum used to tell me to brace up because even the very hardworking ones struggle in life not to talk of a lazy or dull person. Many people want to earn the respect of their colleagues at the workplace but they don't want to put in the required efforts to achieve that, so they begin to scheme to get some people yanked off or laid off so they can take their place. The interesting thing about someone who does a thing like this is it's just a matter of time before he or she is found out, you can scheme all you can for a while but you won't fool everybody for too long, it will be better you concentrate on efforts required to get to the top.

My advice to anyone aspiring to get to the top is never to cheat your way to get there, there's a feeling of flatness when you get the honour you do not deserve, well maybe I am speaking for myself because a lot of people have their conscience seared nowadays. This trend isn't limited to offi billsces alone, youths of today do not want to put in the work at all, they want to enjoy life to the fullest at a young age, they have forgotten that the young billionaires we have today are very few in number, even the billionaires work twice as much to stay at the top. It's a rule of nature, you won't escape the work you need to put in, you can only differ it, you can't avoid it. The surest formula to having great success remains hard work, diligence and patience. You have to put in hours and years to get there.

There are just so many distractions and contradictions these days for an average youth, it takes a lot of strict guidance and protection from elderly ones to keep the youths on track. Unfortunately, the internet revolution isn't helping matters, they tend to follow the lifestyle of many supposed role models, they see these people on social media living in so much opulence, also they watch a lot of them on satellite TV as well, there are a lot of songs and movies these days that give youths the impression that they can get to the top easily without doing much, they give youths the impression that stars party all day and night and yet earn so much money regardless.

The danger in this is nothing can be farther from the truth, most of these celebrities spend hours in the studio, several have been on the streets at a tender age trying to get a contract from a reputable record label, they spend time rehearsing songs and dance steps for days. An example is Jay Z, born Shawn Carter in New York, he had a very tough childhood, his dad left him at the age of 11, he grew up in a drug infested area of Brooklyn New York, he turned to rap at an early stage to give his life a meaning, he started recording songs at age 20, but he didn't hit it big till he formed a record label along with his friends in 1996, he finally found success and fame in 1998 with his greatest hit single "hard knock life," then a lot of other stories of breakthroughs followed till he married Beyonce. Now, let's do a quick a.n.a.lysis on Jay Z, he was in the rap game from 1982 or thereabout till he found success in 1998, 16 years of hard work and near death experiences, but when youths see him they just want to be like Jay-Z right now!

Thesamecanbesaidoftwoprominentstarsin Nigeria, TuFace Idibia and Richard Mofe Damijo, these men earned their stripes through hard work, focus and commitment, they continue to be legends in their chosen fields. I read RMD's posts on Instagram every other time, he is always admonis.h.i.+ng the youths, giving them counsel on how to be a greater RMD, he tells them to ignore the fame and clothes, that they didn't come in a day, they came through hard work and discipline. Ali Baba as well, the father of stand-up comedy in Nigeria does that all the time too, trying to whip the youths into line with words of wisdom. I pray they listen. Now this is year 2017, I know a lot of us have new year resolutions well written out somewhere, but what we actually need this year isn't much of plenty principles to adhere to, what is urgently required is a change of mindset and a change of att.i.tude especially for an average Nigerian.

Your energy has to be re channelled to more important things, I spoke at the national career fair 2016 at the Unilag auditorium Lagos to students and young entrepreneurs. I, along with other speakers were asked to inspire them so they can aspire to achieve through hard work and diligence. What I hammered on mostly was focus and re-orientation. I told them about my journey and insisted that the only way to earn the respect of your peers and a.s.sociates or even people you look up to is to put in the work, nothing else.

I also advised them to get the needed education in line with their plans and aspirations, acquire the necessary skills, fight till victory is guaranteed, never move at anyone's pace, keep your eye on the goal, before long you will be noticed, once you are noticed, the next thing is to be honoured as long as the little fame or publicity do not distract you. Above all, achieve everything on merit.

This message isn't for youths alone, it is for everybody, nothing is satisfying and fulfilling like the award/honour or wealth you got on merit, it helps to pa.s.s on the torch to the next generation easily, you won't be pa.s.sing on material possessions alone, you will also be pa.s.sing on a culture worth imbibing with all grace and determination.