Do you know what I love about my teacher? He spends his precious time teaching me. Sometimes, he sends me a few minute clip that I may get understanding from it. Believe me, he knows why he is sending it.
It was one of the videos that he sent me that blessed me. It was about Folorunsho Alakija, a Nigerian businessperson. TD Jakes was interviewing her and there were some points in which she shared, that I considered it worthy to be shared in this platform. The clip is attached below this article, so you can have a look later on.
Stay focused on what you want to do.
This word of her kicked into my mind. Let’s see her background. She comes from a Muslim background. Both her parents were doing a business, and that is one of the beginning point for her interest in business fields. She recalls that her mother taught her to be extremely hard-working, and being able to multi-task.
Mrs Alakija is a born-again Christian, and both her mother and father were saved before their death. Before getting on that side, I’d like to jot in some notes regarding her personality. I believe what we can learn from her is this: Where we are coming from does not matter at all. In other words, our backgrounds can be used as our future testimony.
I saw the way she honoured her parents, especially her mom. We can see something here- you may not like your parents but you must love them and honor (respect) them. Simply, the reason behind this can be summarized in one universal truth:
Honor [esteem, value as precious] your father and your mother [and be respectful to them]—this is the first commandment with a promise— so that it may be well with you, and that you may have a long life on the earth.
Ephesians 6:2-3
Though briefly having mentioned earlier, I was fascinated by her work ethic. She put an emphasis on staying focused. This can be applicable in a variety of areas in this life. If we want to get things done, we got to fix our eyes to that particular object alone, not looking right and left. Actually, I can relate to what she said. Remembering my journey getting into university, it was focused apart from God’s mercies and favour that led me along the way. Indeed, concentration matters!!!
Being asked by TD Jakes about the secrets of her achievements, she answered with the abbreviation ‘SUCCESS’. The following is what each letter represents:
- S- Sacrificing daily to make a difference in the latter days.
- U- Utilizing talents.
- C- Consistently focus on goals.
- C- Credibility and Reliability.
- E- Education.
- S- Say no to discouragement.
- S- Seek first the kingdom of God.
Having heard this, I was amazed. Her method is crystal clear!! Later on, I took some time to interpret it in my own way:
S- Cut the amount of time for Facebook (and other social networks) and read more books.
U- Serve other people’s needs making use of one’s talent.
C- Curtail daily activities depending on daily/ weekly/ monthly goals.
C- Meet people and stay in touch. Do what I want others to do for me.
E- Be serious about the way I learn at school. Do not joke with lectures.
S- Learn to control my reaction to negative happenings.
S- Do not claim glory to oneself. Acknowledge God in all my doings (put God first).
She said during the interview that one has to be ready to face challenges. I could not do anything but agree with her. Of course, speaking positively is important. My favorite word is “It is well” and the impact of that phrase is of no joke. Nevertheless, it does not mean that the challenges we face in this life disappears instantly. If so, how do we grow? Our character can not be shaped when the going is easy.
Our suffering isn’t caused by the failure of crops; it’s all part of life, like sparks shooting skyward.
Job 5:6-7
Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
Education gets us geared up and be ready to face the world. The kind of information acquired in the process of our formal learning is pivotal. Myself being a college student, her interview made me realize that I must make the very use of this time to plan and prioritize based on the blueprints of my future. It is highly rational that sacrifice is prominent.
Finally, I would like to close this article with an amazing question which I found her asking in the video:
Do you want to improve yourself?
Indeed, we need to be willing to succeed. It takes desires to move forward sometimes. We all know that tenacity is crucial to advance, not taking no for an answer. The point is that we identify the motive behind our goal-setting. If we are willing to be better, inevitably we make efforts day and night.
Planning the course of my journey on this earth, the interview gave me an inspiration to become a person who will encourage others to manifest his or her dormant want to grow. Let us always remember this thing, yes, we are more than champions! The sky’s the limit.
Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
Romans 8:37
Fin.
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