Self-Devpt. Nuggets™

Preview: I once read a piece Joe Girard wrote about the importance of following the right route to achieve success. In my language (Yoruba), we have a saying that “Ona kan o gba oja”. Literal translation: “There are different routes that can be taken to get to the market”. For people going to the market, the route they choose to follow is unlikely to really matter. BUT…and this is a BIG BUT, for someone trying to achieve authentic, lasting success, there are routes should NEVER be taken.

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One of the things I love about reading is that it helps learn so many things from highly successful people, that I would otherwise NEVER have access to.

But what gives me the greatest satisfaction, is that when I apply the ideas I get from reading stuff written by such people, I frequently earn the rewards they assured would come. And that makes it all worthwhile.

Sometimes it takes a while. Often times it takes a “loooong” while…as well as plenty of faith, perseverance and re-invention of myself. But as many who have passed the same road before will tell you, as long as one does not quit, success eventually shows up.

I’ll also say this: Every single time I have successfully done the above, I have found – without fail – that my self-confidence and competence have always increased tremendously. In other words, when you diligently pursue your goals in this manner(with honesty and integrity), you always come away better than when you started out.

Joe Girard (listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the World’s Greatest Salesperson) is one of those whose ideas have helped me greatly.

Another is Burt Dubin (whose mentoring service I now promote as Sole Agent, to Africa based experts, who want to get paid to speak internationally). Others include Philip Emeagwali, Robert Kiyosaki, Michael Angier, Philip Humbert, Mary Kay Ash, Robert Schuller, Zig Ziglar, Ben Murray Bruce, Sunny Obazu Ojeagbase, Abiodun Toki, Jeffery Meyer, Dan Kennedy, James R. Cook, Michael Masterson, David Riklan, Napoleon Hill, Norman Vincent Peale, and so on. I owe these guys a debt of gratitude.

I believe strongly, that it is important to follow the right route to achieve success. And this belief always guides me in my daily interactions and endeavours. Up till this moment, I have never had cause to regret living this way.

In my language (Yoruba), we have a saying that “Ona kan o gba oja”.

Literal translation: “There are different routes that can be taken to get to the market”. For people going to the market, the route they choose to follow is unlikely to really matter. BUT…and this is a BIG BUT, for someone trying to achieve authentic, lasting success, there are routes should NEVER be taken.

In sports, regulatory bodies communicate this message by imposing sanctions (fines, bans etc) on sports persons found wanting e.g. for using performance enhancing drugs. Same applies in schools, where students who cheat in exams are punished etc.

Unfortunately, some people believe the end ALWAYS justifies the means. And they act in line with that belief. So, when they want to get to the top, they find it easy to compromise. In essence, they settle for any way out – regardless of whether or not there are anti-ethical or other negative implications.

Joe Girard cited striking certain examples in one of his books, in a section titled “How Not To Get To The Top”.

Basically, he pointed out that some people scheme their way to the top, by cleverly positioning themselves to get rewards that they do not qualify for, or have not earned.

In this regard, Joe referred to the person who gets to the top “because he’s the boss’ nephew or she’s the boss’ daughter.” Then there are those who get pushed to the top, by their lodge or fraternity “brethren”, even though they are not competent to be there.

At a point, he offered what he called “the Girard” advice, which is that “God and networking do a better job of helping those who help themselves…” and that “…Nothing beats the success achieved on your own.”

And that’s so true. Nothing is better than success achieved on merit. But some people keep looking for short cuts to the top. They refuse to accept that taking short cuts rarely yields lasting positive benefits. And it NEVER makes the person guilty of it capable of demonstrating competence once s/he gets there!

The inevitable outcome of taking short cuts to the top, is often failure due to ineptitude…

Except, if by some miracle, s/he can be so well “propped up” by “aides and assistants” that his/her goof ups are not exposed. Apart from being difficult to achieve, that would be a very expensive arrangement to sustain. Sooner than later, it will fail. So, better not start it in the first place!

As we say in Yoruba land…

“Abo oro ni a ma nso fun omoluwabi. Ti o ba de inu re, a di odindi”. Literal translation: “A word is enough for the wise”.

PS: This article was first published online on Submitted On August 24, 2011