“America’s environment is what makes achievements like Richie Parker’s possible”.
That’s a paraphrased version of the comment made on Facebook, by someone who watched the ESPN profile video (on this facebook profile) of the armless 30 year old vehicle engineer’s life.
I believe that statement to be quite right.
No society is perfect, and America (and Americans!) certainly has its shortcomings.
However America (and Americans!) have a long history of giving ANYONE a chance to prove his/her worth.
They were not always like that.
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Is this email not displaying correctly? Publication: Tayo Solagbade’s Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Page (PSIP) Newsletter Date: Monday 21st October 2013 No:112 Title: Change Your Environment to Succeed – If Necessary Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [Tel: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) ] Blog URL: http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/blog Archive (For E-mail only version started 14th May 2012): Click here to view Archive (For Blog version started 24th September 2011): Click here Hi, Please find below the latest issue of my Speaking IDEAS newsletter.
No. 112: Change Your Environment to Succeed – If Necessary**** ********** NB: If you ever find yourself wondering what else I’ve written, some days after you’ve read THIS Speaking Ideas newsletter I send out on a Monday, here’s what you can do to find out: Point your browser to www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/sdnuggets to read at least ONE new post added to my SD Nuggets blog on a different category from Tuesday till Saturday (sometimes even Sundays) in line with this publishing schedule **********
That’s a paraphrased version of the comment made on Facebook, by someone who watched the ESPN profile video (on this facebook profile) of the armless 30 year old vehicle engineer’s life. I believe that statement to be quite right. No society is perfect, and America (and Americans!) certainly has its shortcomings. However America (and Americans!) have a long history of giving ANYONE a chance to prove his/her worth. They were not always like that. It took them time to “evolve” to this level (more on “evolving”, later on). But today, in America, probably more than anywhere else on earth, anyone can aspire to succeed authentically.And it will rarely matter who you are or what you look like. If Richie had been a Nigerian living in Nigeria, it’s very unlikely he would have “made it”. If anything, he would probably have had to “travel out” of Nigeria, to succeed at anything close to this level! That’s a statement of FACT. And I make it – without apology – as a full blooded Nigerian. It’s why I relocated from Nigeria to Benin Republic in April 2013. The environment of erratic power supply, and some other issues made it difficult for me to function optimally in Nigeria. Since arriving here in Benin, I’ve been much – MUCH!! – better off. And it shows in both the quality and volume of work I’m getting done daily. And in the results I’m reaping as well!! Like Nana Arnaud Franklin rightly noted in a facebook discussion we had, Rex Stump, the Hendrick Engineering Manager who employed Richie gave him a chance. In many other cultures, it’s possible this may not have happened. Many people get denied “fair and impartial” opportunities to succeed in my part of the world every day. And those are people who come complete with the right numbers of body parts. Imagine therefore a person coming without arms – like Richie? His/her problems really get compounded! If Richie Had Been UNPREPARED, When Given That Chance, He Would Have Failed!
One could argue that Richie got a lucky break, but here’s one more thought to ponder. Rex Stump said he picked out Richie’s resume, from amongst about 20 others.
That means Richie’s resume featured some attractive qualities that interested the Engineering Manager in the first place. In other words, Richie had credentials that matched – even exceeded – those of others. Considering that he has no arms, that must have taken him lots of effort to do. Keep in mind that “car racing” is a delicate business, with people’s lives sometimes at stake. So the “vehicle designer” position would not be one to take lightly!Richie obviously did NOT wait for the day to come, when he would meet “a Rex Stump” to give him a chance. What he did instead, was to take daily intelligent and focussed action to make things happen for himself. ESPN showed video clips from his teenage years, in which he demonstrated how he rode a bike specially built by him and his parents. And another showing how he kept a rope around a fridge’s door handle, to open it with his armless shoulder! He learnt (with the help of his parents) to believe he could do anything he wanted to do. That mental attitude got him to/through college, and helped him win the job at Hendrick.
But here’s another perspective to consider on this matter of being “given a chance” to prove yourself:Back in their time, people like Mahatma Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr. were not really given a “chance”, to prove themselves. They basically fought to get what they did, in most cases. And only afterwards did useful “opportunities” open up for them – or their people. Life’s not always fair. Each one of us will have to deal with what we’re given. That’s why we must constantly strive to IMPROVE, and never be SATISFIED with where we are. That’s what Richie Parkers says drives him. And look where it got him. Wow! Many of Us Are Living Below Our Full PotentialsIt’s so simple that we keep doing it daily. Just look – possibly even at yourself. I’ve found areas of my life where I’m just as guilty. So, no one’s trying to look superior here When you avoid “striving” to do MORE than you’re currently able, you’d be living below your full potential. I believe adults should live exemplary lives, to act as good role models for the impressionable minds of children – who CAN change this world (like Richie’s parents are helping him do). One way to do that would be to constantly strive to make the most of ourselves. As Abel Folaranmi pointed out in our discussion on Facebook, we need to EVOLVE as human beings. The process of evolving requires that we become better than we are, or were. To do that, we must refuse to recognise ANY limitations in our abilities…because in truth, there are NONE. Final Words: Your Abilities Have NO Limits, But The Wrong Environment Can Limit You…So Don’t Hesitate to Change It!Let me end by pointing out, that even as we recognise no limitations in ourselves, we must intelligently seek environments most conducive to achieving our goals. I had to do that, to make better progress towards my goals – by relocating to Benin Republic. In other words, if making the most of ourselves requires relocating to another environment – even another country – we owe ourselves a duty to do so! Need More Ideas on How to Use The Above Information?If you need more specific details of how to make use of the ideas I’ve shared in this newsletter, send me a message using this request form – with “Re: No. 112: Change Your Environment to Succeed – If Necessary” in the subject line.
Have a lovely week!
Tayo K. Solagbade* Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist *Sole Agent For Burt Dubin’s Speaker Mentoring Service In Africa Mobile: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade – works as a multipreneurial freelance writer providing zero risk article and report writing support for website owners, while travelling slowly across West Africa as a Location Independent Entrepreneur. He’s presently based in Benin Republic, where he’s preparing an English-French Language Guide, City Travel Guides, and a Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide. In a previous life, before leaving to become self-employed, Tayo served for seven years as a high performing manager in Guinness Nigeria. He rose from Shift Brewer, to Training & Technical Development Manager, then later acted in senior management roles as Production Manager and Technical Manager. When he’s not amazing clients with his superhuman skills (wink), Tayo works as the creative force behind his Self-Development Nuggets™ blog, and Public Speaking IDEAS newsletter (which he publishes to promote Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring service to experts working across the African continent). For a limited time, Tayo is available to speak to your group or organization for a moderate fee. Send e-mail to tayo at tksola dot com. You can also visit www.tksola.com to learn more. Connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook. ================== Have you been undecided about whether or not to become a paid speaker? Or have you been trying to get your speaking career off the ground with little success?Here’s a tip: Burt Dubin works with people who want to be speakers, and with speakers who want to be masters. Click here to visit his website NOW and submit a contact form message telling him what challenges you’re facing, and how you’d like him to help you. Tell him I sent you, and you’ll get a pleasant surprise offer from him. Comments?What do you think of the above message? Do you have any personal experience to share on this subject? Are there some other points you feel can be added, to help persons looking for answers? Please share your thoughts! Share this issue!Do you know anyone who might benefit from reading this newsletter issue? Why not hit the forward button now, and send it to him/her with a short recommendation. You can also use share it via your social media channels. Thanks in advance.
What fears or doubts are keeping you from (a) taking up Burt Dubin’s monthly speaker mentoring, or (b) buying his products?You can choose to purchase Burt’s mentoring at any of the three (3) levels listed below:1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here]Burt’s three mentoring packages can be likened to the seating options offered by airlines: Budget Delight (Economy); Mid Range (Business); and Top Shelf (First Class). At least that’s how I like to think of them! All three will get you to your desired destination of “speaking success-ville” – so long as you meet the requirements/play your part well (your fare, abide by the set guidelines etc). During the “flight”, the seat you have will determine how much personal service attention and preference the provider will accord you. It’s that simple So, make your choice:1. Top Shelf [Click here] | 2. Mid Range [Click here] | 3. Budget Delight [Click here] Send me an e-mail with your questions via tayo at tksola dot com. In the meantime, why not get started by subscribing here to get his 7-Part Course (How To Succeed And Get Paid As A Professional Speaker) . . . and receive his monthly newsletter (Speaking Biz Strategies Letter) at no cost.
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