SEVEN ARENAS OF SUCCESS

To win or to become successful, we must decisively embrace these arenas; with all determination, competency, willpower and great focus, at all times and in any circumstances. To operate in any arena, one has to decide. Vow to yourself, "success is for my taking" and nothing can stop me. Remember success comes in different forms; promotions, graduation, growth in business, career growth, accomplishment (like marriage, better and stronger relationship etc.). Our success could be measured by our satisfaction or goal accomplished.

THE ARENA OF VALUES (I AM)

Anything one prefers seem to be of great importance. Preference is always attached to value. It's always what is important, be it in an individual’s life, a group objective or an organizational goal. Every person, organization or business has values. Sometimes one may not have a clear definition of it, which could be as a result of inadequate information or insufficient knowledge about a thing, which does not mean they got no value. In a group for instant; one may not be able to articulate clearly what these values are without a holistic understanding of the group and what the group considers to be important. Understanding a set of objective helps individual or members of a group or organization to clearly articulate its values. Understanding is clarity of purpose and in return defines values. Values are those things you deem necessary as an individual and thus consider very important. But before values can be defined there is certain question that needed to be asked: What do we believe in? What do we truly hope to accomplish? Where are we really going? With these questions in mind; individuals, organizations or groups can practically set themselves to truly define their values. Once these questions are answered, values are automatically defined. In our work place, at home, business and career; once our values are define there is always an indication of proves. Understanding and setting priorities helps to define our true values. "I am" or "We are" is a product of understanding of what is vital or important at very point in our life, business and career. Now the big question is; can we undoubtedly say "I am" or "We are"?

THE ARENA OF RESPONSIBILITY (I SHOULD)

Integrity is the platform to ascertain ones level of responsibility. Fortunately one is only a success to the degree of his responsibilities. This means that we are noble to our degree of engagement into what truly matters. Our honesty, our hardworking ability, decisions, discipline, integrity and diligence to the things that matters makes us responsible. It doesn't matter how much money one earns or accumulate right now. Money flows highest to a man with greater responsibilities than the one with less. Money responses to factors that can grow it. Money is a visitor that requires a great deal of entertainment. Financial figure changes at one's level of responsiveness, and these changes with time either positive or negative. Responsibility has a clear define track, with question like; "What are the responsibilities that I or we must live by? Responsibility is a task, or a duty set above all other things. It’s what one must do. It has priority over all other things. For instant a student responsibility is to learn; (read study and pass examination). Same could be applicable to a business man or a career person to do what their duty or business requires adequately. But funny enough they are some responsibility that nature or life impose on everyone, "Family"! Family is everyone responsibility and it has great priority. This is the only thing you have when all is gone, family is the only people you can continue to count on even until death, in sickness and in health family is always there. Another responsibility majority of people takes for granted is "Charity". Charity is giving. Giving to less opportune. Giving is divine responsibility given to man by God. Only the wise take advantage of this responsibility to better their lots. Giving comes in different ways; One can give financially, emotionally (Compassionately), mentally e.t.c. Giving naturally make a giver happy and in return increase ones level of joy and freedom to life. It takes sickness away from one’s life and opens financial doors. Giving is like lending to God. God is never and will never be a debtor. The more you give the better your freedom in every works of life. Giving breaks chains of limitations and clear part for success. Giving as easy as it sounds is not a way to show pride or abundance, but only a way to show appreciation to God. Giving is not in words, its practical and it precedes actions. Giving is a responsibility that only the compassionate enjoys. So it very important to build a compassionate life style that will make room for one to give. Giving is not a way to show that you have it all. It’s just a way to show appreciation to God. Giving is a sacrifices and its necessary to make a budget out of your very little (time and money) and make it a habit. Because giving is divine responsibility and should have priority over all other responsibilities.

THE ARENA OF POSSIBILITY ( I COULD)

Often times due to some complexities or the hectic nature of life or challenges before men, many individuals, groups or even organization falls to dream. They totally conform to a routine of life or a style to approach situations. Their enthusiasm or zest for life dies naturally, they stop seeing the possibilities that surround them. They stop asking questions like; how could this be done? What could be done? Their sense of creativity is put on hold, due to what they are passing through or that negative result they got in the pass. So they stop thinking of possibility and just conform to fate, whatever life bring their way is what they consider then to be their life. Conformity is limitation in disguise. Challenges are temporal, is like pain; every pain subsides. Don't be wiped out because of those challenges, create ways that will string up your hidden unknown. Every human have their unknown within them called ideas. Only your zest or enthusiasm will make it see the light of the day, be it in your individual life, career or business there is always more to do from where you are now. Life is a continuous process for those that have the zest to live their dreams. Possibilities are limitless once there is continuous day break. Everyday carries a possibility of a new invention. As beautiful as the world is right now a lot still need to be done. A lot can happen from where you are right now, you can make that change to happen if only you believe is possible. Your enthusiasm builds your ability to initiate, to create and to make things happen. Without innovation life will be static, business will be boring, even careers will be Obsolete. Imagine a businessman that don't think of growth, or a student that don't device means to answer a question in an examination, Imagine an organization that don't consider competitors strength or the needs of their customers. Definitely there will be no innovation or growth in such scenario, before time the company could back down. One is limitless to a lot of possibilities if he chooses to think beyond the challenge flag. Greatness comes through great challenges. Great people look for challenges, why small minds avoid them. The only different between the successful and failure is in their thinking and their ability to conform or control. Failures conform why successful people control. Their thoughts of possibility even in the mist of challenges enable them to succeed. Successful people failed more times than the people the world consider failure or those that assume they are failures in life, because they try more things. It takes nothing for someone on the ground to remain on the ground. But if he must get up he needs to be determined to look-up and stand up. If you can see possibility from where you are or what you do, i don't care what people think about you. You can make it happen. Just see a possibility within you, every great invention on earth today was once an idea in someone’s mind. Every idea has a high tendency of becoming innovations if only accompany with the sense of possibility. Enthusiasm keeps you going even in mist of opposition. Without the sense of possibilities everything that has been today could have never been. Yes is possible for many that ask "What could be done?”

THE ARENA OF NEGOTIATION ( I WOULD)

There is this popular saying; "Nothing goes for Nothing". A lot of people believe in it and they apply it in their day to day life when dealing with others in business and in live. They believe you have to give in something in other to get or have something. Just as every goods has it price tag; no goods leaves the store of a shop keeper without it being paid for. Price is like sacrifice to life. There is always something you will have to foregone for another; there is always something that would be done to get somewhere or something out of anything. But all prizes are not the same; the price a student will pay to pass an examination is different from the price a businessman will pay to gain the loyalty of a costumer. But in all cases it will cost both of them time. Time to think of it, prepare and accomplish it. Negotiations only take place where there are options of things to do and not to. There will be no negotiation if there is no option. For instant a student can choose to sleep all night, not even attend classes or clubbing around and then fail as his option; or prepare to study hard, sleepless nights and then come out with flying colors, the options are always there to choose. For the student to be successful there are things he or she need to negotiate within himself or herself, deny those things even why those things are popular in the campus, he just choose to stay away of them. That his sacrifices for success while at school, same goes to the business man. There is truly no shortcut in life or fast lane. Really, shortcut is the longest root in life if you ask any wise man. What you avoid today will come chasing you tomorrow if it has anything to do with your future. Its better you do what is necessary now no matter how difficult it gets, you can negotiate it than avoid it. A lot of students deprive themselves of social life to get good grades. Negotiation is a form of decision made after thinking through a situation. Negotiation can be done between two individuals, groups or organization; even in the mind of a man, to abide by a rule or a life style. Negotiation requires discipline to be enforced. Discipline in life is as important as water to life. It nourishes you with time, though could be tough at the point of decision but with time it’s always beneficial. Discipline is a price upon decision to see things come through. Discipline helps to grow talent to maturity. Talent is natural, Talent is not skill. Talent fails without skill. Skills are developed out of continuous training of talent. Skill is obtained out of continuous hard work (diligence). For instant a boxer or a footballer could be talented, but if he refuses to train very hard to develop his skills, his talent will fail him. That he fails does not mean he got no talent but he simply refuses to train his talents to become skillful. So, there is always something to negotiate. Greatness is not a wish, it require commitment and time, decision and discipline to stand out. Don't always seek for shortcuts rather choose to be skillful and prepared for every task by asking these questions; what would be the cost for this? Is it worth it? As a business man ask yourself; if this come about, How will it affect my business or other products? What other adjustment would i had made, are they worth it? Take your time to think through, measure the cost of your possibilities and then fine the best option for you. Ensure you do what grows you and make you happy.

THE ARENA OF DEDICATION ( I WILL)

Perseverance is the prime factor for success and it requires great commitment or dedication even in the face of challenges. Dedication is having undivided attention towards a particular goal or objective. Dedication requires absolute focus. Some people often say is good to have plan B. But in the case of dedication no plan B required. It’s being concise to that particular thing. Plan B is a huge distraction when it comes to a dedicated mind. What dedication requires is discipline, determination and continuous hard work (diligence). Diligence is a great virtue in the race of success. Even why courage is good or vital it weaken when constantly interrupted with challenges. There are some situations when courage fails, due to constant failure or a continuing failure. That is when perseverance wins; successful people failed the most, but because they persevere a lot their failures are hardly noticed. Successful people are not the brightest; they don't have the best grades in college. They simply have one attitude never to give up. They continue to push even in the face of obstacles. I have come to believe that much of what separate the successful and the unsuccessful is simply determination and perseverance. One can be so courageous in starting a thing, but when encountered three or more challenges you notice all the initial courage will just meltdown. He may not even think of continuation. Hard work is good, but working hard is a day thing. One can work very hard today and will be very tired to work the next day. Dedication is diligence to work, it requires continuity until the objective is achieved. Dedication with the right decision and discipline is a perfect path to achieving great success in life. In most cases or in everything there are challenges. But planning ahead of time makes it rosy. Nothing great comes easy. Precious stones are not found on the surface of the earth. Smart people plans with the following question: What are the obstacles we will face? How are we going to over those Obstacles? Even before they venture anything these question rings loudest in their mind that they become very conscious of everything in the process. So they succeed because they were far much prepared before they begin. If they encounter obstacle that are not presumable they re-adjust to solve the challenge. This attitude makes them successful. Dedication is a will that does not consider other options. If the mind is set to go from Point A to Point B. All a dedicated mind thinks is how to go from Point A to Point B, no matter what is before him or behind him, he is so committed to do just what is required and never to back down.

 THE ARENA OF ACCOMPLISHMENT ( I DO)

Satisfaction is a product of accomplishment of purpose or desire. The sense of accomplishment brings joy; Joy is an invoking of emotion that brings about satisfaction, appreciation and pleasure. Appreciations often accompany success; often sometimes it calls for celebration. Everyone wish for it and rejoice with you when you are accomplished. Accomplishment comes when the job is complete. Success is attained when satisfaction is obtained. Luck they say is for the bravest; the brave are surely those who have the clearest vision of what before them, glory and danger alike and yet not withstanding they go all out to accomplish their goals. Fortune favor the brave and only the brave have the tendency to succeed. But in the field of observation chances favors the prepared mind. Positive actions perceive victory and action is a product of the qualities inherent in nature. At the level of accomplishment few things are important; one could ask, what are those things? Well; a little rest, a little celebration with family, friends or colleagues. The essence of hard work could be useless if there is no celebration after accomplishment. Accomplishment gives one the sense of fulfillment and every fulfillment of purpose attracts celebration. The greatest reward is, as the old saying goes "the satisfaction of a job well done" not many people make it to accomplishment arena very often. Celebrate in accomplishment of desire because after the pace of pursuing your dreams or desire your body and mind needs some well deserve rest. But why having rest remember; it is true greatness to have the frailty of a man and the security of a god. Because after your first victory, if you fail in the second, more lips are waiting to say your first victory was only a luck even those that celebrate with you at first. To whom much is given much is expected, have limits and be in control of yourself even why celebrating. The greatest key to happiness is to reduce your desires. Don't be blinded by the celebration of one accomplishment. Successful people have chains of accomplishment before they are regarded successful, so don't divert your focal point. Every success has traces. It is necessary you begin to imagine the next level and begin plans to step ahead from that very first accomplishment. One level of success makes room for another if only you can see beyond the appreciations and celebration.

THE ARENA OF VISION (I WANT TO)

Apart from the revealing glory of nature, everything we see around us today where someone imagination, dreams or vision of yesterday. In order for something to happen, someone has to see them happening before they actually does. Every invention today was only an idea of yesterday in someone mind. The picture of the future you see today has the ability to come through if only it will be accompany with the right drive and discipline to see it happen. Visions remain only pictures until passion is applied to make it happen. Dreams are mere fantasy without the willpower to propel it for men to see. You are the only person that knows what you are thinking now; until you act in line with that thought or say it to someone else nobody will ever have its clue. Every action a man carries out today has been long conceived. Nothing actually happens suddenly, it could be sudden to others but not to the man with the vision. Ideas or vision back up with the sense of possibility inert the passion to pursue. Until reality rest on a vision the willpower to chase it is never be enforced. The visionary must see the vision happening, that will push him out of his comfort zone to chase it and ensure it really does. Everyone that sees reality in their vision natural generate the required passion to pursue their dream. Passion is a vital tool in the pursuit of purpose in life. Passion stirs up positive believe that can withstand any obstacle in the quest of vision. Every vision has the tendency to come to pass if one can hold on tenaciously through all odds. Is not enough to dream, dreams are mere picture that one sees. An ordinary snake a man saw is always like a python. Because the man was afraid when he saw the snake he can assume it to be a python. Most people have got great vision or ideas, but they allow the fear of unknown to kill their dreams. Some think the vision is bigger than them or too small to chase. Some believed it, but could not withstand the challenges therein. Dreams or vision remains a wish until passion is applied to stir it. Seeing a picture does not make it a good image, a photographer must be sure of the image he sees through his lens before he can snap a shot. You don't just chase a dream or vision because it appears nice. You have to be sure you are ready and the time is ripe for it. There is time for everything; nursing mothers don't feed their babies with heavy dinner twice in one night. You need to study the present situation if it is right for the vision or not. Though vision needs to be vigorously pursuit to see it to reality, but it must be what majority needs at the moment for them to appreciate it. If you ever believe that the vision is possible, then study intensely if it is what people really needs at the moment or not. You are the first person to believe that your dreams or vision is possible. When believe for it is not strong enough you can't stand the challenges on the path to accomplishment. A lot of things oppose motion, including gravity. Same is applied to vision. A lot will come on its way, a lot of challenges and trying times, believe me there will be a moment you may doubt yourself. If self believe is not strong, people will try to convince you against the vision or dream. Situation may make you want to back down; but believe in yourself, if you believed in your dreams. Nobody said it will be easy. Your never giving up attitude will help you drive through all odds. One thing is certain; if you don't believe in your dreams or vision nobody will ever believe it. You have to see it and believe it, and then preach it. Until people see light in it, they can't believe. You have to make them see light shining through the vision by preaching about it or acting upon it. You are the apostle with the message that carries the dream, so pursue it with all determination and see it to accomplishment.