Always Talk & See Progress

By Victor Odiong

Wow!!! I can't believe we are in the month of May already. Here is a piece of advice as we get into the new month, ALWAYS TALK AND SEE PROGRESS. It matters how you see. If you light a room with a red bulb, everything in the room will tend to appear red. Now, change the bulb to a green one and the same stuff that appeared red a few seconds ago suddenly appears green. My question is, what kind of light are you using to view your life? Do you see yourself as a victim or a Victor?  Victims whine and complain all the time. They are always telling everyone what they are going through. No matter how life blesses them, they always find something to complain about and they are always so eager to tell the world about it.

A Victor, on the other hand may be going through the same experience, but he never concentrates on the process. Rather, he is excited about his outcome, his end. You see, whatever you may think you are going through, it is just a process. It isn't the end. Joseph was sold by his brothers. Unknown to him, it was the process to the throne. It wasn't a thrilling experience, the process never is. When Jesus hung on the cross, that was the process not the end. The victory was not on the cross but at the resurrection. You never heard Joseph or Jesus complaining about how badly they had been mistreated by people they trusted. Winners never do. Winners understand that the process is part of the journey. 

So, quit complaining about the process. Be excited about the end. The Bible says that Jesus, because of the joy that was set before him endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). People who complain about the process often miss out on opportunities.

My friend, it matters how you look. Look with hope. The devil wants you to whine and complain about how unfairly life has treated you. He wants you to talk about your pain and misery. Funny enough,  God isn't moved by such.

Enjoy the process. Even in prison, Joseph was still in charge. You couldn't keep him down. You didn't find him in a corner wallowing in self-pity, waiting for payback day on his brothers. He knew that wouldn't change anything.  That's one important fact complainers seem to forget, that complaining doesn't change anything. If you don't like where you are right now, then change it. If Joseph never went to jail, he would never have met the guy, who would later tell the king Joseph could interpret dreams. It was that single reference that made him prime minister over Egypt. That's why I said earlier that the process is part of the journey.

Never stay down.........even while in the process, you too can make the difference.

See you @ the top.

In The Name Of The Father?! (Victor Odiong Library)

In The Name Of The Father?!

A couple of years back, I heard this story about a woman who was going through depression because she had lived many years in the United States without being able to obtain legal residency and her husband lived faraway in Nigeria. She was growing increasingly unhappy because she wanted children but this was out rightly impossible as she lived continents away from her husband and he could not visit her either. So, she started sowing seeds in church. Her friend who was telling me the story was trying to teach me the power of seeds. She believed that because of the money the lady was giving in church, God was going to give her children.  Please let me state plainly that I have nothing against sowing seeds (money) in church, but certain folks have rather abused this principle.  I was shocked that she really believed her friend’s giving could make her pregnant. How?! By what mode of conception? “Harvest time” conception? Or an immaculate one? “Abeg,” I must confess that until then, I had never seen foolishness displayed in such majestic grandeur.

I am tired of seeing folks who have stopped thinking but rather prefer to put the responsibility of everything they do on God. I heard another story of a woman who was always busy in church that she hardly attended to her husband’s needs. He had gone months without sex and anytime he complained, her answer was that “she was serving the Lord.”  She was shocked when he filed for divorce a few years later and then she started asking “God, why?”  Well, my answer was “God, why not”.

You see, there are spiritual laws as well as physical laws. Spiritual laws do not always negate physical laws. There is a physical law called the law of gravity. If you jump up praying in tongues, you will come down praying in tongues. If you run into the rain without an umbrella holding a Bible and a Koran, you will get wet with your Bible and Koran. God is not responsible for every decision you make. God did not decide what you ate or wore this morning. YOU DID. Certain things will not happen for you until YOU DO something. I don’t understand when I see couples having challenges with conception refusing to carry out medical test, but preferring to “trust God.” Having a medical test does not mean you trust God less, it simple means you know exactly what to trust him for.  People, please let’s wake up and drop this notion that certain things will only happen if God permits it and if God does not permit it, it won’t happen. THAT’S A LIE.

There is a cousin of mine with six children and no income. Yet, when I asked him why he had so many children with little or no income, his reply was that God is the giver of children. Really?! When my cousin brought out his penis in the heat of passion and had “hot steamy sex” with his wife, it probably wasn't him. IT WAS GOD, right?!

Please forgive my sarcasms but I am tired of Christians, Muslims or any other religion blaming God for everything.  Nobody wants to be responsible anymore. The Boko Haram group that recently kidnapped over 250 Nigerian girls claim they are fighting God’s cause. And also, when Former President George W. Bush invaded Iraq a few years ago, he claimed God told him to end the tyranny in Iraq. It is always God, God, and God.

You are responsible for your actions. Some folks believe that to be led of God means to fold their hands, wait and do nothing. Abraham was led of God to a foreign land - not knowing where he was going, yet when he got there he did what he knew best. He was a farmer, so he started to irrigated, cultivated and planted. He did not get there, fold his hands and say to himself, ”Well, er… since God brought me here. I’ll just sit and wait for him to make me what he promised.” Nah!  He did something physical; he stayed in the center of his expertise. So, how was he able to reap a 100% increase in the time of drought?  He sure didn't do it counting the stars!

I heard this story about a woman whose restaurant business wasn't doing so well. She didn't understand why she had such low patronage because not only was she a fabulous cook, the restaurant was located in a very busy part of town. So, she called her Bishop to come anoint the place, that it could attract customers. The Bishop came as arranged but before he prayed, asked if he could give some suggestions and she obliged him.  He suggested that the restaurant needed fresh colorful curtains for the windows, a couple of air fresheners on the wall, flat screen TV with probably cable service, staff in uniform and a menu list for the guests. He advised her to get these items as soon as possible, and then he prayed and left.

In the weeks that followed, the business picked up remarkably.  The once empty room was now constantly packed with customers into the late hours of the night.  The owner was ecstatic; so she called her Bishop to thank him. She told him his prayers had turned her fortunes around. She was rather surprised when the Bishop explained to her that the change would never have been effected if she did nothing to create a welcoming and excellent atmosphere to attract what she wanted.

Stop playing safe!!! Dare to take risks, dare to step out, dare even to fail too. Then you will finally realize that failure is never an option but a pointer to the right direction.

STOP WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN, MAKE IT HAPPEN!

"LIFE SUCKS"

...extracted from Victor Odiong's Library

I am sure that you've probably heard that expression a million times over. It is the ultimate expression of empathy. But then, what is your definition of "SUCK"? I have often discovered most folks’ definition of SUCK wasn't quite proper. Why do good people die and the wicked seem to live forever? Why are many good, kindhearted folks so poor that they can barely make ends meet? Why is it that the folks who need money for good never have it and those who seem to waste it have in abundance? Why? Why?? Why??? The questions never stop.

But we so often forget that life is a theater of seed and consequences. You are the consequence of the seed planted in your mother. Even, the good book declares that as long as the earth remains, seed time and harvest shall not cease. I have seen many kindhearted folks suffer and good men never seeming to have enough. I was almost forced to agree that life sucks, but then the bitter truth is that wealth is not necessarily the reward for kindness. Please, don't get me wrong. I am in no way undermining the virtue of having a good and kind heart. That has her rewards too. Kindness will give you goodwill towards man and God, which may or may not necessity result in wealth. I emphasize this because I have often seen many kind hearted folks do nothing but hope fortune will someday smile that way. But that day never comes. Why? Because NOTHING JUST HAPPENS. My friend, if you must remember anything from this piece, please remember this. NOTHING JUST HAPPENS. THERE MUST BE A SEED TIME AND HARVEST. Success is the result of deliberate, intentional planning, education, discipline and courage. I am not necessarily referring to the formal education you gain in college, which is good to have. I am rather referring to the education of understanding and mastering your art. It doesn't matter if you a rapper, singer, doctor, engineer sculptor, teacher, preacher or mechanic. You must have a detailed knowledge of your art and stamp your signature on it. Find out what gives you the edge over your competitors and exploit it to your advantage. NOTHING JUST HAPPENS.

You must be hungry and passionate about your dream. Your life is your art piece. Design it the way you want. You are your Michelangelo and your life is your Sistine chapel. Paint it. As an IT consultant, I am always hungry for new stuff. I refuse to remain stagnant. Be obsessed about adding value to yourself. Get on the internet, on Google, on YouTube and find out ways you can get better, rap better, sing better, talk better or preach better. Folks, NOTHING JUST HAPPENS. Until you start planting seeds in this direction, your life will only be a daydream filled with wishes. Things you wished you could do but can't.

Be excited and adventurous about you. Gosh! If only you knew your potential. Your are your only limitation. Stop giving excuses. Money is not the problem. Provision always follows vision. YES, start with nothing. I will never forget the story a story a good friend of mine told me before his wedding. “I was talking to the Lord about my wedding and how much I needed money to make it happen. Then, I heard him reply. He told me money wasn't the hindering factor, that the fact that I hadn't fixed a date was the issue. I was shocked because like many folks, I believed I needed the money first before I could do anything. But God was asking me to start with nothing. I fixed a date and six months after I was married on the date I fixed. On the wedding day, we had more than enough.  It was huge a wedding and everybody had more than enough" Remember, Provision always follows vision.

Life is not fair and it never will be. But thank God seed time and harvest will never cease. I have a friend who came to America three years ago. He was unemployed and couldn't speak English. Today, he heads a research team in a multinational company in New York.

Just the other day he told me, "Victor, I refuse to blame anybody if a project fails. I take responsibility and make it work. No excuses. I make it work and I don't give up until it does" Whoa!!! No wonder in three years he has risen so fast. You can't fail with that kind of attitude. Take responsibility for your dream and make it work. MAKE IT WORK. Don't wish it was working, make it work. Don't just be kind hearted, be kind hearted with a winning attitude.

Life may suck for others....but be in charge of yours. HAVE A GOOD DAY!!!

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INSPIRATIONAL: A MUST READ - DELIBERATE ACTS OF KINDNESS

DELIBERATE ACTS OF KINDNESS

  She stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.   It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.   He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself.  She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.   Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume.   But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."

After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive.   The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets.."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

 The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.   Of course, Mrs.

Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

 

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you." (For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.

Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? Tomorrow? Just "do it".

Deliberate acts of kindness, I think they call it!

If this blessed you, share it with someone else. REMEMBER - SPREAD LOVE...

Strictly Motivational: SUPREME INTELLIGENCE – GOD!

Strictly Motivational: SUPREME INTELLIGENCE – GOD!

Dr Russell V. DeLong, who earned his M.A. and Ph.D from Boston University, has properly said that indisputable scientific evidence demands Intelligence.  He shows that “chance” is an irrational explanation when he says: “All about us is an awe-inspiring, orderly, law abiding, colossal, and intricate universe.

Did it all just happen?

1.      Our sun is ninety-three (93) million miles from the earth.  If it were ten million miles farther away, we would freeze up. The sun is just the correct distance from us to make human life possible.

2.      Did it just happen that our earth in its whirling from the so-called ‘fire-mist’ hit an orbit just the right distance from the sun to make man a possibility.  Or were the earth and sun related to each other on purpose so that man could exist on this planet?

    3. Other planets are unsuitable for human life.  Mercury turns on one side to the sun, so that this side is a burning furnace and the reverse side a frozen waste.  Venus has a dense vapor for atmosphere, making life impossible. Mars has no water and the temperatures are too low for vegetation or human life.  The moon has no atmosphere and this could support no life.  A great scientist says, ‘It is now generally agreed that there has never been, and can never be, life in any form on any planet except on earth.’  Did these favorable atmospheric conditions on our planet for the production and existence of man just happen or is this an evidence of purpose?

4.      The earth has a circumference of twenty-five thousand (25,000) miles.  It rotates on its axis once in each twenty-four (24) hours, traveling at a speed of approximately one thousand miles per hour.  Because it rotates and is not stationary, like Mercury, we have day and night.  The part of the earth facing the sun has day and the rest night.  As the earth revolves, night turns to day and day to night.

5.      Suppose the earth revolved one-hundred miles per hour instead of one-thousand. Instead of taking 24 hours to make one complete revolution it would take two hundred and forty hours.  What would this mean?  Days would be ten (10) times longer so that the continued excessive heat for twelve hours would extend to one hundred and twenty hours, burning everything up and making life impossible.  Also, nights would be one hundred and twenty hours long instead of twelve, and this extended dark and cold would freeze thing up, making life impossible.  So how did it come that our earth revolves at just the right speed to make human life possible?  Did it just happen that way?

To be continued…

STRICTLY MOTIVATIONAL: THE MIRACLE OF SELF DISCIPLINE - BY BRIAN TRACY

THE MIRACLE OF SELF DISCIPLINE - BY BRIAN TRACY

"Your ability to make yourself do, what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not, is the key to success." Brian Tracy

Information is the key to transformation.

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Motivational Leadership

Strictly Motivational

Motivational Leadership

Motivational leadership is based on The Law of Indirect Effort. According to this law, most things in life are achieved more easily by indirect means than they are by direct means.

You more easily become a leader to others by demonstrating that you have the qualities of leadership than you do by ordering others to follow your directions.

Instead of trying to get people to emulate you, you concentrate on living a life that is so admirable that others want to be like you without your saying a word.

The Most Powerful Motivational Leaders
Perhaps the most powerful motivational leader is the person who practices what is called "servant leadership."

Jesus said, "He who would be master must be servant of all." (Mt. 10:27; Mk. 10:45)

The person who sees himself or herself as a servant to others and who does everything possible to help them perform at their best is practicing the highest form of servant leadership.

The Leader of Today
Today's leaders are the ones who ask questions, listen carefully, plan diligently, and then build consensus among all those who are necessary for achieving the goals.

The leader does not try to do it all alone. The leader gets things done by helping others do them.

Qualities of Leaders
The following are important qualities of motivational leaders. These are qualities that you already have to a certain degree and that you can develop further to stand out from the people around you in a very short period of time.

Vision
The first quality is vision.

This is the only single quality that, more than anything separates leaders from followers.

Leaders have vision. Followers do not. Leaders have the ability to stand back and see the big picture.

Leaders have developed the ability to fix their eyes on the horizon and see greater possibilities.

 
Motivate Others
The best way for you to motivate others is to be motivated yourself.

The fastest way to get others excited about a project is to get excited yourself.

The way to get others committed to achieving a goal or a result is to be totally committed yourself.

The way to build loyalty to your organization, and to other people, is to be an example of loyalty in everything you say and do.

The Ability to Choose
One requirement of leaders is the ability to choose an area of excellence.

Just as a good general chooses the terrain on which to do battle, an excellent leader chooses the area in which he and others are going to do an outstanding job.

The commitment to excellence is one of the most powerful of all motivators.

All leaders who effect change in people and organizations are enthusiastic about achieving excellence in a particular area.

Action Exercise
Try a new attitude toward your job/work; show up on Monday morning and be positive and cheerful.
If you are motivational, your attitude will rub off on your colleague/others and they will work more efficiently.