Many years ago, there lived a boy of humble parentage in Britain. This boy had only 4 years of schooling, because his parents could not sponsor him any further.
The family sold their properties in order to find money to survive.
In the course of time, he was employed to paste label on bottles. Out of the money he was paid, he rented a room. In spite of the little education he had, he opted to educate himself. He therefore worked hard to achieve the goal he set for himself. He bought lots and lots of books.
The enlightenment and inspiration he received from this self-education led him into the world of writing. However, his writing career was not a smooth sale. Initially, the popular magazines and newspapers in his country rejected his articles, but he kept on writing and polishing his writing skills.
A day came when one of the magazines published an article of his. He was not paid for the article, but he was excited because they acceptance of his article gave him the impetus. His first 8 articles were published, though he was not paid a penny. His 9th article, however, fetched him one pound.
Waxing stronger and stronger, the boy published a booklet titled: Christmas Carol. The booklet was an instant success. He sold 15, 000 copies within two weeks. His fortune changed overnight when J.P. Morgan, a multi-millionaire, bought the manuscript with huge sums of money.
The writer wrote17 novels before he died and all the novels were best sellers. He became the most highly paid author to have walked on the face of the earth.
With his writing, he rewrote the story of his life. This author is no other person than the one and only Charles Dickens.
Dear reader, do you know that you too can rewrite the story of your life? Do you understand what it takes to rewrite your own story?
Background is not Relevant
The first thing to note if you want to rewrite your own story is that your background does not determine your success in life. Charles Dickens came from a humble background. He had little education, but this did not stop him from achieving fame and fortune.
There is a great deception among our youths and even some adults today. Many of them believe that because of the humble family they came from, they are not successful and cannot succeed in life. Others believe that because of the little education they have, they can never amount to anything in life. Some hold the belief that because of their past, they cannot succeed in life.
I have had someone say: “If my father were alive, my life would not have been like this.” I don’t think this is completely true. Although the death of a person’s father may seriously affect that person, it cannot stop the person from reaching the height he has set for himself. The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) lost his father while studying Law in London. This affected him seriously to the point that he had to wash plates to earn money to continue his education.
Although his father’s death seriously affected his life and academics, he did not allow it to stop him from becoming what he planned to become.
The point being made here is: the family you come from, your level of education, your little experience, or your “ugly” past does not determine your success in life, unless you allow them to.
A Sorneo proverb says: “Where the heart is unwilling, it will find a thousand excuses; but where the heart is willing, it will find a thousand ways.”
Self-development: Your Best Education
The second thing to take note and practise is self-education. Charles had only 4 years schooling, but he embarked on self-study. It is self-study that made Charles great. Herbert Spencer said: “The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action.” In life, the certificates, degrees, or knowledge a person possesses does not guarantee the person great success. What guarantees great success in life is action. It is what you do with the knowledge or skill you have that determine your level of success.
In Charles’ case, not having the money or any assistance to finance his education, he used the little money he had to buy books and study on his own. That took him a lot of hard work, but it paid off eventually.
Self-development is the foundation for your success in life. Your present level of education is enough for a good start in life. J.C. Roberts said: “No one needs despair of receiving an education as long as books and magazines are available.”
Unlike in the past era, we have more facilities and more resources which we can use to develop and educate ourselves. The Internet is fast becoming a primary source of information; we have more libraries today than we have in the past; we have wider media coverage than before- more TV and radio stations, more magazines and newspapers.
But it is, however, unfortunate that our youths have failed to avail themselves of these means of self-development. You need to move around to observe what I am saying. Our youths are more interested in playing video games, watching European soccer league matches, and movies. Though it is not a crime engaging in any of these, they are merely for entertainment, and as such, they tend to waste time, resources, and life generally.
What a success seeker needs to do to advance in life is maximisation of time. Time is money. Use your time to educate and develop yourself. Many people are not aware of what is happening around them, not even to talk of what is happening in the world. “To be uninformed is to be deformed and to be informed is to be transformed.”
In what areas do you want to develop yourself? The Internet is there; the media is there; we have libraries around as well as skill acquisition training centres. There is no information or type of education you wish to acquire that you cannot get from these sources. You can also buy books which deal with the area of your interest and read. That is the way to develop yourself. As Dr. Mrs. Obi Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education said: “A society that does not read is a society that does not develop.”
Begin to read now!
Find Your Passion
One of the benefits of self-development is that by exposing your mind to various fields of human endeavour, you begin to find your passion. For Charles, he exposed his mind to reading lots of books. In the process, he found his passion, which is writing.
Have you found your passion? If you have, I say “congratulations!” but if you have not, I urge you to embark on self education today. Passion is what builds a successful career. Passion is what builds an enviable home. Passion is what you need to rewrite your own story.
Handle Rejection
More often than not, life will say “no”. But how you react to it goes a long way in determining your destiny.
It was in the news sometime ago that a man committed suicide because his wife divorced him. In the Bible, Ahitophel, the wisest counsellor in Israel, committed suicide after his counsel was ignored.
From time immemorial, rejection has always been the major peril causing casualty on the road to stardom.
In Charles’ case, the story is not different. He encountered lots and lots of rejections from magazines and newspapers, which refused to publish his articles. He was sorrowful, he experienced the feeling of hopelessness, helplessness, despair, but he did not allow these to discourage him. He kept on writing and sending his articles to magazines and newspapers until one of the magazines finally started publishing his articles. That was the breakthrough which inspired him to make an indelible mark on the planet.
Dear reader, always remember that on your way to stardom, people will say “no”, you will encounter rejection; but never give up. Keep on ploughing and keep on sowing. The Good Lord will send the rain in its season. Wait patiently and you will have a bumper harvest.
Never Settle for Less
We all have the tendency to remain in our comfort zone. We don’t want to stir the hornet’s nest. We don’t want to take risks. But if we must rewrite our own story, we should never try to settle for less.
Charles Dickens moved himself from the state of scarcity to state of abundance. He started life in penury; he began his writing career as a freelancer; and later went into book writing, churning out 17 bestselling novels before he died.
Life is not meant to be static. We should move ourselves from the state of scarcity to the state of abundance. By doing so, we are rewriting our own story.
In conclusion, I must reiterate that regardless of your background or present situation, you can rewrite your story. What it takes to do so are:
Don’t use your background as an excuse for not succeeding in life. Your background has nothing to do with your success in life;
Embark on self-development and self-education;
Find your passion;
Handle rejection; and
Never settle for less.
You are a victor!
Monday 10 October 2011
Sunday 9 October 2011
Triumph of the Indomitable: The Coscharis Inspiration
In a world where most people remain at the lowest rung of the ladder because of the flimsy excuse of lack of capital, the super achievers are bracing the odds and climbing the ladder to the pinnacle of success, using the very little at their disposal.
I bring to you today one Nigerian who has demonstrated practically that anyone can rise from any seemingly worst situation to become a super successful person, provided such a person is determined to fight his way through.
He is no other person than Dr. Cosmas Maduka, the Chief Executive Officer of Coscharis Motors Group, a conglomerate with over 15 billion naira in shareholders’ fund.
Cosmas began life as an apprentice with the aim of becoming an auto parts dealer. The beauty of the apprenticeship agreement is that on completion of the apprenticeship, apprentices were rewarded with hundreds of thousands of naira. This enables them to take off their auto parts business on a sound note.
However, when Cosmas completed his apprenticeship, he was given only #200 (two hundred naira).
It was a big blow, a big disappointment. What could #200 naira do? Well, instead of throwing his hands up in despair and quit, he boldly decided to launch his auto parts business with the #200.
Within six months, he was able to grow his capital to the point of renting his own shop.
His transaction with Leventis Motors (the giant in the automobile business at that time), fired his vision of the type of enterprise he hoped to build.
He caught the vision, held on to it, kept working hard towards actualising the vision. Today, he sits atop Coscharis Group of companies.
With just #200, Cosmas started a one-man auto parts business and turned it into a large conglomerate!
How did he manage to accomplish this feat and how can you apply the same technique to achieve your own goal in life?
Learn the Rope
The major step you need to take in order to accomplish great things in life is to learn and study to become an authority in your area of pursuit. Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
Once you have identified your specialty or area of interest, endeavour to give it all you have got. Humble yourself to learn the rope. Go for the necessary training. The reason we have many quacks in various fields of human endeavour is that people are impatient. They are not patient enough to complete or undergo thorough training. Cosmas began as an apprentice and took time to learn all he needed to know about auto parts trade. He knew everything about auto parts business like the back of his hands, and this gave him the leverage.
To aspire to greater height in your chosen field, you must learn and keep learning. Master all you need to know. Don’t be a quack, be a professional. Be competent so that you can be relevant in your field.
Become indomitable
Chris Kwakpovwe, the writer and publisher of the devotional booklet: Our Daily Manna said: “The same adversity that causes some people to break down causes others to break record.”
In life, the unexpected happens often, but how do you react to it?
Your ability to handle disappointment, despair, and discouragement is the determining factor for your success in life. In times of adversity, some people chose to remain on wheel chair or take to crutches; while others develop wings.
Marshal Foch said: “There are no hopeless situations. There are only men and women who have grown hopeless about them.”
After completing his apprenticeship, Cosmas was paid only #200 instead of hundreds of thousands of naira. Though disappointed, he refused to break down. Instead of using the disappointment as an excuse for his failure in life, he rose from the ashes of disappointment and worked his way gradually into greatness.
You need strength to become indomitable. That strength is your determination. Resolve that regardless of any circumstances, you will work your way to the top. A man who is determined to succeed is indomitable. He is ready to confront anything that stands on his way to success, and he is ready to do all that is necessary to guarantee his success.
Be a Man of Vision
A man of vision is a person who sees what others cannot see. Learn to see opportunities in every situation no matter how ugly it may be. Be an optimist. Sir Winston Churchill said: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
In any situation, there are opportunities. It is these opportunities that you should be looking for.
In their book, From Trial to Triumph, co-written by Dr. Maduka and his wife, Dr Cosmas Maduka said: “The way one does business in this 21st Century is by seeing things before they happen. You must visualise the business; you must see what others are not seeing.”
Dear reader, in your own chosen field, can you see what others cannot see? Can you see great opportunities in your field? Be a man of action. If you see what others cannot see, you will get to the height that others cannot get to.
Be Known for Quality
Quality should be your watchword. Whether you are rendering service, producing or supplying product, ensure that it is the best quality. This is one of the success secrets of Dr. Maduka. Coscharis is a popular brand in the automobile industry because of the best quality products they deal with.
According to Cosmas, “it is impossible to sell an inferior product and hope for substantial success.”
Aggressive Marketing
Whether you are a business man or a professional, your ability to market yourself, business or service goes a long way towards enhancing your business.
If your products or service are meant for the masses, then the masses must be informed and educated about it. In his word Maduka said: “To have revenues and profits, you first need to have customers. To get customers, you must be able to successfully market your business.”
I bring to you today one Nigerian who has demonstrated practically that anyone can rise from any seemingly worst situation to become a super successful person, provided such a person is determined to fight his way through.
He is no other person than Dr. Cosmas Maduka, the Chief Executive Officer of Coscharis Motors Group, a conglomerate with over 15 billion naira in shareholders’ fund.
Cosmas began life as an apprentice with the aim of becoming an auto parts dealer. The beauty of the apprenticeship agreement is that on completion of the apprenticeship, apprentices were rewarded with hundreds of thousands of naira. This enables them to take off their auto parts business on a sound note.
However, when Cosmas completed his apprenticeship, he was given only #200 (two hundred naira).
It was a big blow, a big disappointment. What could #200 naira do? Well, instead of throwing his hands up in despair and quit, he boldly decided to launch his auto parts business with the #200.
Within six months, he was able to grow his capital to the point of renting his own shop.
His transaction with Leventis Motors (the giant in the automobile business at that time), fired his vision of the type of enterprise he hoped to build.
He caught the vision, held on to it, kept working hard towards actualising the vision. Today, he sits atop Coscharis Group of companies.
With just #200, Cosmas started a one-man auto parts business and turned it into a large conglomerate!
How did he manage to accomplish this feat and how can you apply the same technique to achieve your own goal in life?
Learn the Rope
The major step you need to take in order to accomplish great things in life is to learn and study to become an authority in your area of pursuit. Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
Once you have identified your specialty or area of interest, endeavour to give it all you have got. Humble yourself to learn the rope. Go for the necessary training. The reason we have many quacks in various fields of human endeavour is that people are impatient. They are not patient enough to complete or undergo thorough training. Cosmas began as an apprentice and took time to learn all he needed to know about auto parts trade. He knew everything about auto parts business like the back of his hands, and this gave him the leverage.
To aspire to greater height in your chosen field, you must learn and keep learning. Master all you need to know. Don’t be a quack, be a professional. Be competent so that you can be relevant in your field.
Become indomitable
Chris Kwakpovwe, the writer and publisher of the devotional booklet: Our Daily Manna said: “The same adversity that causes some people to break down causes others to break record.”
In life, the unexpected happens often, but how do you react to it?
Your ability to handle disappointment, despair, and discouragement is the determining factor for your success in life. In times of adversity, some people chose to remain on wheel chair or take to crutches; while others develop wings.
Marshal Foch said: “There are no hopeless situations. There are only men and women who have grown hopeless about them.”
After completing his apprenticeship, Cosmas was paid only #200 instead of hundreds of thousands of naira. Though disappointed, he refused to break down. Instead of using the disappointment as an excuse for his failure in life, he rose from the ashes of disappointment and worked his way gradually into greatness.
You need strength to become indomitable. That strength is your determination. Resolve that regardless of any circumstances, you will work your way to the top. A man who is determined to succeed is indomitable. He is ready to confront anything that stands on his way to success, and he is ready to do all that is necessary to guarantee his success.
Be a Man of Vision
A man of vision is a person who sees what others cannot see. Learn to see opportunities in every situation no matter how ugly it may be. Be an optimist. Sir Winston Churchill said: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
In any situation, there are opportunities. It is these opportunities that you should be looking for.
In their book, From Trial to Triumph, co-written by Dr. Maduka and his wife, Dr Cosmas Maduka said: “The way one does business in this 21st Century is by seeing things before they happen. You must visualise the business; you must see what others are not seeing.”
Dear reader, in your own chosen field, can you see what others cannot see? Can you see great opportunities in your field? Be a man of action. If you see what others cannot see, you will get to the height that others cannot get to.
Be Known for Quality
Quality should be your watchword. Whether you are rendering service, producing or supplying product, ensure that it is the best quality. This is one of the success secrets of Dr. Maduka. Coscharis is a popular brand in the automobile industry because of the best quality products they deal with.
According to Cosmas, “it is impossible to sell an inferior product and hope for substantial success.”
Aggressive Marketing
Whether you are a business man or a professional, your ability to market yourself, business or service goes a long way towards enhancing your business.
If your products or service are meant for the masses, then the masses must be informed and educated about it. In his word Maduka said: “To have revenues and profits, you first need to have customers. To get customers, you must be able to successfully market your business.”
In Search of a Role Model
Who is your role model? This is a question that has generated a lot of response among cross sections of people. I have a friend who even says he does not have a role model. Well, I wonder whether he is actually being honest.
However, for me, I have a role model. I found my role model way back in my secondary school days. He has been an inspiration to me and will always be.
Before I proceed, let us first examine what a role model means. A role model is any person you admire or try to copy.
Who then is my role model and what is his profile?
Well, I will give you his profile first, and thereafter, I will give you his name.
My model enrolled at Holborn College of Law, University of London, to study Law in 1961.
While there, his father died. This greatly affected his financial and academic life. To survive and to ensure he completed his course of study, he did menial jobs like washing of plates in a hotel. This was his first-hand encounter with poverty, and probably what gingered him to venture into the “life-threatening human rights activism, pro-democracy struggles,” and philanthropy, fighting for the welfare of the poor masses.
When he completed his course of study and returned to Nigeria, he came with only a pair of suit, two pairs of shoes, and a small luggage.
He started his legal practice from the scratch and commenced his one-man rioting squad, in defence of the underprivileged, the weak, the poor, and the oppressed. For oppressing the corrupt, oppressive, and tyrannical regimes, he was jailed several times. But these did not deter him. All his life, he stood for a pure and just course.
His practice of philanthropy was also aimed at empowering the poor and the underprivileged. He has been awarding scholarship to indigent students for over 35 years. In 2009, his university scholarship went to 39 indigent students, male and female, Christians and Muslims from all over the country.
In 2001, he was awarded the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a rank given only to lawyers who have distinguished themselves as advocates and have made significant contribution to the development of legal profession in Nigeria.
In 1984 alone, he handled over 5, 000 cases in court free of charge for the indigent people who could not afford to pay legal practitioner’s fee.
His law office is one of the most successful law offices in the country. In addition, he has a flourishing publishing company called Nigerian Law Publication Ltd. Established in 1985, his company publishes Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR), a very popular law report in the country. He splashed about 600 million naira building his new premises at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.
He went into human rights activism not because he wanted to make money. In fact, at the time he started his human rights struggle, it was not lucrative, but a dangerous venture. It is even on record that if he had none gone into human rights activism, he would have been richer.
He made his money not from government contracts, appointments, or politics. He even hated having contact with the evil and oppressive regimes of the past. He made his money from his legal practice and from his publishing company.
Public money meant little to him; what matters to him is social reform for the welfare of the poor masses. In 2008, he rejected an award of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), the highest award in the land.
On the international scene, he has been accorded great recognition for his commitment to fighting social injustice, corruption, maladministration, and all vices. Bernard Simmons’ award to him in Canada is one of such recognition.
My role model passed on Saturday September 5, 2009, at a time I was writing my project as an undergraduate. I had earlier hoped I would, one day, do my Chamber Attachment or work directly under him, to acquire more practical experience in legal practice.
I pay glowing tribute to this legal icon, human rights activist, and philanthropist.
To me and millions of his of his fans, he is not dead but lives. As Shakespeare said, “Those who live in the hearts of men never die.”
My role model is no other person than Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who is not only a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), but also the Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM).
Are you looking for a role model?
For anyone looking for a role model, Gani’s life is a shining example of what you should expect of your own role model.
In your search for a role model, look for the following qualities:
Quality of Greatness
A great man is not necessarily one who amasses millions for himself; many do so at the expense of others.
Francis Bacon defines a great man as “one who makes great opportunities out of the commonest situations.” Gani built his wealth from the scratch. He took his legal practice from relative obscurity to a super successful one. True greatness lies not in corruption and embezzlement of public funds, but in the ability to transform commonest situation into great opportunities
A true role model should be one whose life inspires noble deeds. Do you draw positive inspiration from your role model?
Selflessness
One major aspect of Gani’s life that is worthy of emulation is the selfless life he lived. All he stood and fought for was not for his own interest, but for the interest of the masses.
In the course of his struggle for the welfare of the underprivileged, the poor, and the downtrodden, he was imprisoned several times. His legal practice was flourishing enough to sustain him and his family, but his consuming passion was the enthronement of an egalitarian society where the poor masses are adequately and equally catered for.
Gani used his legal practice as a weapon of social transformation, it is on record that in 1984 alone, he handled over 5 000 cases in court free of charge for the indigent. And for over 35 years, he kept awarding scholarships to the underprivileged.
I think a true role model should be one who lives a selfless life. We live in a world where many people strive to grab everything for themselves. Some people cheat, steal, lie, and kill in order to be rich. Thank God, there are still people who do none of these to get rich. And these are the people we should look up to as our role model.
Think about it. If everybody is to be selfish, the world would be a terrible place to live in. The poor around us are our responsibility. God will not give us wealth if we are selfish. Wealth is given to those who will use it to better the lives of others and theirs.
Worrying about wealth is not the issue; the issue is using the little you have at the moment to better the lives of others. That is the way to trigger wealth. And that is the way a true role model should go about getting true wealth.
Indefatigability
Gani remained an indefatigable defender of human rights. He was jailed several times, his life was threatened. They did all these to him in order to silence him, but he remained undaunted. Others could be silenced, but not Gani fawehinmi.
A true role model should be one who is committed to fighting a pure and just cause.
Industry
Gani was a hardworking professional and did not tolerate laziness in his law office. Lawyers who have worked under him admitted that he does not tolerate laziness.
On the secret of his success in the legal profession, Gani said: “To succeed, you must work hard. You must read and read. That is what I do. When money comes, I plough it back into buying books. 80% of the money we make will be ploughed back into enlarging the Chambers. I do not take loans from anybody. My management style is: work hard and suffer hard. Why should a person who aspires to be a future leader report to work at 9am and leave at 5pm? You can’t face the challenge of the future that way. My staff must resume 7am or 7.30am and cannot leave until late in the evening. How they make it at 7am is their business. If you like, live your house at 4am, but in our Chambers, there is no room for laziness.
Hard work is one essential quality you should be looking for in a role model. True success comes by dint of hard work. Hard work does not kill; it is laziness that kills.
These are the qualities I admire in Chief Gani Fawehinmi, and that is why I say, he is my role model.
I also think these are the qualities you should be looking for in your own role model.
Look for a role model. Draw inspiration from him and start making your own contribution to the betterment of the society.
You too can also become a role model for the coming generation.
You are a victor!
However, for me, I have a role model. I found my role model way back in my secondary school days. He has been an inspiration to me and will always be.
Before I proceed, let us first examine what a role model means. A role model is any person you admire or try to copy.
Who then is my role model and what is his profile?
Well, I will give you his profile first, and thereafter, I will give you his name.
My model enrolled at Holborn College of Law, University of London, to study Law in 1961.
While there, his father died. This greatly affected his financial and academic life. To survive and to ensure he completed his course of study, he did menial jobs like washing of plates in a hotel. This was his first-hand encounter with poverty, and probably what gingered him to venture into the “life-threatening human rights activism, pro-democracy struggles,” and philanthropy, fighting for the welfare of the poor masses.
When he completed his course of study and returned to Nigeria, he came with only a pair of suit, two pairs of shoes, and a small luggage.
He started his legal practice from the scratch and commenced his one-man rioting squad, in defence of the underprivileged, the weak, the poor, and the oppressed. For oppressing the corrupt, oppressive, and tyrannical regimes, he was jailed several times. But these did not deter him. All his life, he stood for a pure and just course.
His practice of philanthropy was also aimed at empowering the poor and the underprivileged. He has been awarding scholarship to indigent students for over 35 years. In 2009, his university scholarship went to 39 indigent students, male and female, Christians and Muslims from all over the country.
In 2001, he was awarded the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a rank given only to lawyers who have distinguished themselves as advocates and have made significant contribution to the development of legal profession in Nigeria.
In 1984 alone, he handled over 5, 000 cases in court free of charge for the indigent people who could not afford to pay legal practitioner’s fee.
His law office is one of the most successful law offices in the country. In addition, he has a flourishing publishing company called Nigerian Law Publication Ltd. Established in 1985, his company publishes Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR), a very popular law report in the country. He splashed about 600 million naira building his new premises at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.
He went into human rights activism not because he wanted to make money. In fact, at the time he started his human rights struggle, it was not lucrative, but a dangerous venture. It is even on record that if he had none gone into human rights activism, he would have been richer.
He made his money not from government contracts, appointments, or politics. He even hated having contact with the evil and oppressive regimes of the past. He made his money from his legal practice and from his publishing company.
Public money meant little to him; what matters to him is social reform for the welfare of the poor masses. In 2008, he rejected an award of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), the highest award in the land.
On the international scene, he has been accorded great recognition for his commitment to fighting social injustice, corruption, maladministration, and all vices. Bernard Simmons’ award to him in Canada is one of such recognition.
My role model passed on Saturday September 5, 2009, at a time I was writing my project as an undergraduate. I had earlier hoped I would, one day, do my Chamber Attachment or work directly under him, to acquire more practical experience in legal practice.
I pay glowing tribute to this legal icon, human rights activist, and philanthropist.
To me and millions of his of his fans, he is not dead but lives. As Shakespeare said, “Those who live in the hearts of men never die.”
My role model is no other person than Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who is not only a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), but also the Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM).
Are you looking for a role model?
For anyone looking for a role model, Gani’s life is a shining example of what you should expect of your own role model.
In your search for a role model, look for the following qualities:
Quality of Greatness
A great man is not necessarily one who amasses millions for himself; many do so at the expense of others.
Francis Bacon defines a great man as “one who makes great opportunities out of the commonest situations.” Gani built his wealth from the scratch. He took his legal practice from relative obscurity to a super successful one. True greatness lies not in corruption and embezzlement of public funds, but in the ability to transform commonest situation into great opportunities
A true role model should be one whose life inspires noble deeds. Do you draw positive inspiration from your role model?
Selflessness
One major aspect of Gani’s life that is worthy of emulation is the selfless life he lived. All he stood and fought for was not for his own interest, but for the interest of the masses.
In the course of his struggle for the welfare of the underprivileged, the poor, and the downtrodden, he was imprisoned several times. His legal practice was flourishing enough to sustain him and his family, but his consuming passion was the enthronement of an egalitarian society where the poor masses are adequately and equally catered for.
Gani used his legal practice as a weapon of social transformation, it is on record that in 1984 alone, he handled over 5 000 cases in court free of charge for the indigent. And for over 35 years, he kept awarding scholarships to the underprivileged.
I think a true role model should be one who lives a selfless life. We live in a world where many people strive to grab everything for themselves. Some people cheat, steal, lie, and kill in order to be rich. Thank God, there are still people who do none of these to get rich. And these are the people we should look up to as our role model.
Think about it. If everybody is to be selfish, the world would be a terrible place to live in. The poor around us are our responsibility. God will not give us wealth if we are selfish. Wealth is given to those who will use it to better the lives of others and theirs.
Worrying about wealth is not the issue; the issue is using the little you have at the moment to better the lives of others. That is the way to trigger wealth. And that is the way a true role model should go about getting true wealth.
Indefatigability
Gani remained an indefatigable defender of human rights. He was jailed several times, his life was threatened. They did all these to him in order to silence him, but he remained undaunted. Others could be silenced, but not Gani fawehinmi.
A true role model should be one who is committed to fighting a pure and just cause.
Industry
Gani was a hardworking professional and did not tolerate laziness in his law office. Lawyers who have worked under him admitted that he does not tolerate laziness.
On the secret of his success in the legal profession, Gani said: “To succeed, you must work hard. You must read and read. That is what I do. When money comes, I plough it back into buying books. 80% of the money we make will be ploughed back into enlarging the Chambers. I do not take loans from anybody. My management style is: work hard and suffer hard. Why should a person who aspires to be a future leader report to work at 9am and leave at 5pm? You can’t face the challenge of the future that way. My staff must resume 7am or 7.30am and cannot leave until late in the evening. How they make it at 7am is their business. If you like, live your house at 4am, but in our Chambers, there is no room for laziness.
Hard work is one essential quality you should be looking for in a role model. True success comes by dint of hard work. Hard work does not kill; it is laziness that kills.
These are the qualities I admire in Chief Gani Fawehinmi, and that is why I say, he is my role model.
I also think these are the qualities you should be looking for in your own role model.
Look for a role model. Draw inspiration from him and start making your own contribution to the betterment of the society.
You too can also become a role model for the coming generation.
You are a victor!
Hope: Your Anchor in the Storms of Life
Sometime in February 2011, I had the privilege of listening to an interview programme conducted by Kapital FM Radio Station, Abuja, in which Infinity, a popular group of Nigerian singers were featured.
In the course of the interview, they revealed how they sang their way from relative obscurity to stardom. When they started, life was very difficult for them. There was no producer to sponsor them. They were on their own, struggling to make both ends meet.
Things were so bad for them that on a Christmas day, they drank only Gari (a staple African food), but they never lost hope. They kept hoping that things will change, that the situation will not remain the same.
They also said they knew they were going somewhere greater. They kept their hope alive and eventually they released their block-buster album titled: “Olori Oko”. The album was shut with #1.5 million naira.
Talk about success, this group of singers has made their mark on Nigeria’s landscape.
Life is not Static
Do you desire great success in life? Then you must understand this basic fact: life is not static. Every problem has a lifespan. There is nothing that has a beginning that does not have an end. Things will change. There is a classic saying: “the only thing that is constant is change.” The earth and the other planetary bodies are not static; they revolve and rotate round and round the sun, non-stop. You are not expected to be static in life. Similarly, the unpleasant situation of your life is not meant to last forever. The unpleasant situation is just a phase in your life. The tide will turn.
But often, before you experience the turn-around, things may get worse; life may become more difficult; feeling of hopelessness may make you to throw your hands up in despair; you may experience excruciating pain of disappointments, etc. nevertheless, know for sure that no condition is permanent. Things often get worse before they get better.
Hope, Your Anchor
Will your anchor hold in the time of storm?
Tough times can be compared to life on a stormy sea. Every ship on the sea has anchors. Anchors are meant to keep the ship from drifting away. To safeguard ships, anchors are let down.
However, the weight or strength of the anchor matters. A light or weak anchor cannot guarantee safety of the ship. For safety of the ship and of the passengers on board, the anchor must be strong enough to keep the ship from drifting.
Similarly, in the storms of life, you need an anchor. That anchor must be strong enough to keep you from drifting away into oblivion. That anchor is hope, and that is what you need not only to survive but to triumph over life’s storms.
In the time of storm, some fall by the wayside because their anchor (hope) cannot hold; while others don’t even have the anchor, so they are tossed mercilessly by the storm to nowhere in particular.
Dear reader, the storm will come. There is nothing you can do to prevent the storm from reaching you. But the important question is: “Do you have the anchor that will safeguard you in the storms of life? Will your anchor holds in the time of storms”.
The Bible says: “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” Hope is the anchor you need to survive and triumph over adversity. Hope is the strength you need to live a victorious life. Like the Infinity, whose story you read above, you must keep hope alive. Never lose hope in life, never despair. Things may get worse before they get better.
Hold unto your belief and sooner than later your dream will come true.
Know Where You are Going
In the midst of the storm it is very easy to lose focus. It is easier to quit when the wind is contrary, but when you know where you are going, the storm will give way for you to pass. There is a saying: “The world will stand aside to let you pass, if you know where you are going.”
The Infinity had no problem keeping their hope alive, because they knew where they were going. According to them: “We kept hoping that things would change; and that, the situation would not remain the same. We knew we were going somewhere greater.”
If you know where you are going, you will keep your hope aglow, and soon, the storm will pass, ushering you into a richer, more fulfilling life.
Great Idea Attracts Money
Attracting big money is easy, if you know how. The infinity has revealed the secret of attracting big money, and this secret is: have a great idea. If you need big money, you must have a great idea. Great idea attracts big money. For these struggling artistes then, earning a million naira is a mirage, but they had a great idea. That idea is their debut album: “Olori Oko.” It is this album that attracted the sum of #1.5 million naira, which was used to shoot the album. It is this album that catapulted them to stardom.
In a country where up and coming artistes are finding it difficult to make an impact, what the Infinity needed to come to limelight was a great album.
Do you need big money? Then you need to have a great idea. The quality or greatness of the idea is what will attract the big money you need. Get an idea. Make sure it is a great idea. Polish the idea. Package it well. Then go and look for reliable sponsors who will buy into the idea. It is the greatness of your idea that will attract the big money you desire.
You are a victor!
In the course of the interview, they revealed how they sang their way from relative obscurity to stardom. When they started, life was very difficult for them. There was no producer to sponsor them. They were on their own, struggling to make both ends meet.
Things were so bad for them that on a Christmas day, they drank only Gari (a staple African food), but they never lost hope. They kept hoping that things will change, that the situation will not remain the same.
They also said they knew they were going somewhere greater. They kept their hope alive and eventually they released their block-buster album titled: “Olori Oko”. The album was shut with #1.5 million naira.
Talk about success, this group of singers has made their mark on Nigeria’s landscape.
Life is not Static
Do you desire great success in life? Then you must understand this basic fact: life is not static. Every problem has a lifespan. There is nothing that has a beginning that does not have an end. Things will change. There is a classic saying: “the only thing that is constant is change.” The earth and the other planetary bodies are not static; they revolve and rotate round and round the sun, non-stop. You are not expected to be static in life. Similarly, the unpleasant situation of your life is not meant to last forever. The unpleasant situation is just a phase in your life. The tide will turn.
But often, before you experience the turn-around, things may get worse; life may become more difficult; feeling of hopelessness may make you to throw your hands up in despair; you may experience excruciating pain of disappointments, etc. nevertheless, know for sure that no condition is permanent. Things often get worse before they get better.
Hope, Your Anchor
Will your anchor hold in the time of storm?
Tough times can be compared to life on a stormy sea. Every ship on the sea has anchors. Anchors are meant to keep the ship from drifting away. To safeguard ships, anchors are let down.
However, the weight or strength of the anchor matters. A light or weak anchor cannot guarantee safety of the ship. For safety of the ship and of the passengers on board, the anchor must be strong enough to keep the ship from drifting.
Similarly, in the storms of life, you need an anchor. That anchor must be strong enough to keep you from drifting away into oblivion. That anchor is hope, and that is what you need not only to survive but to triumph over life’s storms.
In the time of storm, some fall by the wayside because their anchor (hope) cannot hold; while others don’t even have the anchor, so they are tossed mercilessly by the storm to nowhere in particular.
Dear reader, the storm will come. There is nothing you can do to prevent the storm from reaching you. But the important question is: “Do you have the anchor that will safeguard you in the storms of life? Will your anchor holds in the time of storms”.
The Bible says: “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” Hope is the anchor you need to survive and triumph over adversity. Hope is the strength you need to live a victorious life. Like the Infinity, whose story you read above, you must keep hope alive. Never lose hope in life, never despair. Things may get worse before they get better.
Hold unto your belief and sooner than later your dream will come true.
Know Where You are Going
In the midst of the storm it is very easy to lose focus. It is easier to quit when the wind is contrary, but when you know where you are going, the storm will give way for you to pass. There is a saying: “The world will stand aside to let you pass, if you know where you are going.”
The Infinity had no problem keeping their hope alive, because they knew where they were going. According to them: “We kept hoping that things would change; and that, the situation would not remain the same. We knew we were going somewhere greater.”
If you know where you are going, you will keep your hope aglow, and soon, the storm will pass, ushering you into a richer, more fulfilling life.
Great Idea Attracts Money
Attracting big money is easy, if you know how. The infinity has revealed the secret of attracting big money, and this secret is: have a great idea. If you need big money, you must have a great idea. Great idea attracts big money. For these struggling artistes then, earning a million naira is a mirage, but they had a great idea. That idea is their debut album: “Olori Oko.” It is this album that attracted the sum of #1.5 million naira, which was used to shoot the album. It is this album that catapulted them to stardom.
In a country where up and coming artistes are finding it difficult to make an impact, what the Infinity needed to come to limelight was a great album.
Do you need big money? Then you need to have a great idea. The quality or greatness of the idea is what will attract the big money you need. Get an idea. Make sure it is a great idea. Polish the idea. Package it well. Then go and look for reliable sponsors who will buy into the idea. It is the greatness of your idea that will attract the big money you desire.
You are a victor!
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