How to Grow Where You Are Planted (1)

For the tiny acorn to grow into the mighty Oak, it must first fall into the soil or be planted. A seed that doesn’t have contact with the soil cannot hope to germinate, not even to talk of growing into a mature plant.

The soil plays a significant role in the growth and development of seeds. The soil holds the nutrients and water needed to nurture seeds that fall into it or that are planted in it. A combination of the seed and the right soil brings about a fruitful plant.

Now, taking a cue from the seed principle, it is crystal clear that we are meant for growth. From cradle to the grave and from “nobody” to “somebody” we are meant for growth. For us to grow into greatness, there are several truth we must grasp and take seriously. In this article, we shall be taking a look at the essential ingredients for growing into greatness:

1.   You are a Seed

A seed is a tiny substance destined to be great if properly planted on the right soil. A seed contains the potentials for growth. Like the seed, you have the potentials for growing into greatness.  God did not create you empty. When God created you, He deposited within you unlimited potentials with which you can utilize for greatness.

God’s goal for your life is that you should grow and become great. When God says “Let them have dominion over the earth”, what He means is that we should grow strong and become great on earth. God’s command also means that He has given us the wherewithal to grow from a tiny seed to a mighty tree.

Having been equipped with unlimited potentials for greatness, it now behoves us to harness these potentials for our greatness. You can’t exercise dominion if you have not been equipped with what it takes to dominate.

You are made to dominate. You are born to be more than a conqueror. You are born to achieve greatness. NOTHING CAN HINDER YOU FROM ACHIEVING GREATNESS IF YOU DEPLOY THE UNLIMITED POTENTIALS THAT GOD HAS DEPOSITED IN YOU.

2.   Locate the Right  Soil

For a seed to be productive and fruitful, it must fall into the right soil. In this context, your right soil is your area of specialization, your area of greatest strength and greatest passion. And this must first be identified before planting

It is true that you are loaded with unlimited potentials to achieve all-round greatness. But it is also true that you cannot be everything at the same time. While it is possible to achieve success in anything you set out to do, it may not be possible to become everything at the same time.

You cannot, for instance, be an engineer, doctor, lawyer, accountant, nurse, footballer and musician at the same time. You actually have the potential for becoming any of those, but the difficulty is trying to become all at the same time.

This is why you must locate the right soil that will enable you to grow and be the best that God wants you to be. The nutrients for your growth can be found in the soil that is meant only for you. The right soil for you may not be the right soil for everyone.

In locating the right soil for your growth into greatness, there are three things you must take into consideration. Let us take a look at them:

a.   Function in Your Area of Greatest Strength

An acorn that is expected to grow into a mighty oak cannot grow into its full potential on an adverse soil. Similarly, you cannot grow into your full greatness if you plant yourself in an area that you cannot perform above average.

In locating the right soil, it is important to note that THE RIGHT SOIL IS YOUR AREA OF GREATEST STRENGTH. THE BEST PLACE TO FUNCTION IS IN YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE. There is always something you know best to do.

If you want to be great in life, don’t be a charlatan. DON’T BE A QUACK. Resist the temptation to plant yourself in the area of your greatest weakness. If you choose to function in your area of your weakness, you may never be able to excel in life. THE SECRET OF SUCCESS IN LIFE IS TO FUNCTION IN YOUR AREA OF GREATEST STRENGTH.  The right soil for you is your area of greatest strength. You need to sit down and figure out the particular thing you are most gifted to do.

b.   Discover Your Passion

Denis Diderot said: “Only passion, great passion, can elevate the human soul to achieve great things.”

In locating your right soil, you should figure out what you are most passionate about. Passion drives you to achieve great success in life. When you are passionate in a particular field, it is possible to draw on the unlimited potentials within you to achieve greatness in life.

The acid-test of the right soil is the passion to stick to what you are good at and what you love doing. What is that thing you are most passionate about? It is what you are passionate about that you must stick to.

Abraham John Ejiofor noted: “When you do the work you love, the result will be visible.” If you want to grow into greatness, discover your passion. Your passion will elevate you. Your passion will make you to perform optimally. Find your passion for it is the very soil you must plant yourself  before you can grow into greatness.

c.   Fulfilment

In locating the right soil for your growth into greatness, you must also consider the area you are most fulfilled. Normally, when you function in your area of greatest strength and you are passionate about it, then, you will find the fulfillment. FULFILLMENT COMES FROM DOING WHAT YOU LOVE MOST AND FROM DOING WHAT YOU KNOW BEST TO DO.

A musician that is passionate about his music career is more fulfilled than an accountant that is unhappy in his profession. In the final analysis, the area of your greatest strength and passion as well as your area of fulfillment is the right soil for you to grow bigger and stronger.

3.   Be Planted

A seed will remain a seed as long as it remains unplanted. And until it is planted, it cannot hope to grow into a great plant. Similarly, you will remain as you are – loaded with unlimited potentials – yet without gravitating towards greatness if you have not got yourself planted in readiness for growth.

You can grow only when have been planted. Being planted implies harnessing your unlimited potentials for growth. After you have located the right soil, then get planted there. And once you have planted yourself there, do not uproot yourself. Remain planted.

If you are convinced you are on the right soil, then, you shouldn’t move away from the soil. Remain planted. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

4.   Don’t Be a Rolling Stone

For a seed to be productive and fruitful, it must fall into the right soil. Like the tree, to grow into greatness, you must not only be planted on the soil that is suitable for you, you must also REMAIN PLANTED on the soil.

Many a time, we are faced with the decision to abandon the worthwhile project we are embarking upon when we see that our rate of success is too slow. We keep moving from one field of endeavour to another hoping to find a field in which we can achieve success overnight.

We fail to realize that by jumping from one field to another, we end up achieving nothing. It takes a while to grow into greatness. Just as a seed cannot be planted today and germinate and grow into full grown plant overnight, so also you cannot venture into your chosen field of endeavour and succeed overnight.

To be great in life, we must exercise patience. There is the saying: “Rome was not built in a day.” Success won’t come as fast as you expect.

It takes time to grow. Instant success goes against the principle of the seed. It takes time for a seed to grow into a plant. To succeed, you must apply the seed principle. For a seed to grow into a plant overnight is abnormal. True greatness is not attained overnight.

Once you have planted yourself on the soil that is suitable for your growth, don’t uproot yourself. Even if you are not seeing any meaningful growth, remain where you have planted yourself. It takes time to germinate. It takes time to bud. It takes time to bear fruits and it takes time for the fruit to ripen. If you expect otherwise, you may be disappointed.

In your career, when the going gets tough, constantly remind yourself of the principle of the seed. Learn to operate by the principle of the seed. When you are operating by the principle of the seed, you have no cause for impatience. TRUE GREATNESS REQUIRES PATIENCE. All super successful people have this sterling quality of patience in abundance. And this is what puts them ahead of the pack.

It is a mark of impatience to uproot yourself from the right soil because you are not seeing any meaningful progress. Stop running around looking for easier soil where you can grow faster. No soil (career, profession, area of specialisation) can earn you overnight success. Every soil must comply with the principle of nature (seed principle).

Success is a function of principle. Don’t be a rolling stone. A rolling stone gathers no moss. THE WAY TO GROW INTO GREATNESS IS TO COMPLY WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SEED.

It takes time to grow into greatness. Patience is what you need to grow. This is the secret of greatness. As you apply the seed principle, it is my hope that you will surely grow into greatness.

Until I come your way soon, go and live victoriously!

NB: Watch out for part 2 of this article which shall be coming your way soon. Don't miss it!

The Challenge to Be Good

One practice I observed in the political, public and private life of our country is that when it comes to election of leaders, appointment of government functionaries and employment of people, we always try to make sure that only those who have ‘clean record’ so to say, will get to those posts. 

We don’t want people who have proven record of corrupt practices to come to power because we believe that when corrupt people get to power, they will steal our money.

This is a very good practice and it is advisable we keep to it. As it is said, you cannot give what you don’t have. It is what you have that you can give.

Hmm, dear reader, it is gratifying to note that in a world where sin is glorified and righteousness is no longer fashionable, we still believe that only good people can provide good leadership. This goes to show the importance of choosing to be good.

Be Inspired to Be Good

I am really inspired by this revelation. Being good is still recognized in a world where iniquity is the order of the day.

The implication of this revelation is this: to enjoy peace, progress and prosperity, we need more good people. We need more good people to make the world a better place to live in.

No wonder, the Bible says: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to all people.” (Prov. 14:34)

Dear reader, IF, IN SPITE OF OUR DEPRAVED MIND, WE STILL REALIZE THAT IT IS GOOD TO BE GOOD, THEN, THE CHALLENGE BEFORE US IS THAT WE SHOULD STRIVE TO BE GOOD.

When the worse comes to the worst, it is only people of proven character, integrity and good reputation that will stand tall and high.

The challenge before us, therefore, is the challenge to be good. It is true we can never be perfect. We all have our weaknesses and shortcomings. We may even be worse than those we are criticizing. Nevertheless, we can be better than we are now. 

There is always room for improvement. We don’t have to remain in our sinful ways. If we make up our mind to change positively, we will actually turn over a new leaf.

WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BY TRYING TO BE GOOD; RATHER WE HAVE A LOT TO GAIN FROM BEING GOOD. We have heard of the saying times without number: “HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.”

I tell you, nothing is truer than this. I HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT IN OUR MOMENT OF CRISIS, IT IS ONLY HONEST MEN AND WOMEN THAT WE TURN TO.

Again, it is worthy of note that when it comes to choosing a person to man a position of trust, leadership or position to deliver great dividend, it is only a honest and trustworthy fellow that people will choose.

Dear reader, at all times, be inspired to be good. It is better to be good than to be bad.

One challenge you will face when striving to be good is that you will end up displeasing others. A man was criticized by his other colleague that he was always doing things to please their boss. The man replied that he was not only trying to please their boss, he was doing those things because he felt it was the right thing to do.

In trying to be good, you may offend others. Some people may not be happy seeing you do the right thing. Don’t let that stop you from striving to be good. It is good to be good. If you do good, you are doing it for yourself, not for anyone.

So, regardless of what anyone says or how anyone feels, it is better to be good than to be bad. There is a reward to every of our actions. There is a reward to every good act and every bad act.

Anything that is good is good and anything that is bad is bad. No matter how colourful or attractive we make a bad thing to look like, it can never be a good thing. And no matter how ugly or horrible we make a good thing to look like, it can never be a bad thing.

WE MAY NOT BE PERFECT, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS BE BETTER WHEN WE MAKE UP OUR MIND TO BE BETTER. REMEMBER, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. LET THE BENEFIT OF BEING GOOD INSPIRE YOU TO BE BETTER.

The Bigger Challenge

The big challenge is not having a ‘clean record’ but maintaining the clean record. Our clean record may earn us enviable positions in life, but the big challenge is maintaining that clean record. It is really bad how a reputation that takes a person many years to build can be destroyed in a moment.

We have seen this happened to people many a time. These people were selected to positions of trust based on their record of proven character, integrity and reputation. They vowed to maintain their excellent records.

But no sooner had they manned these positions than they got their hands soiled. We are not condemning anybody here, it is not in our habit to do so. One reason we should not condemn anyone is because when one is coming into a system that is already corrupt, you must take heed lest you fall into the very corruption you are dealing with.

It is even more difficult to maintain clean record when you try to fight the same corrupt system that puts you into the position you are occupying. You don’t bite the finger that feeds you, or do you?

What we are saying is: you may not have to fight a corrupt system headlong. Only God can do that. On your part, you should try your best to maintain your clean record in the midst of others.

Don’t allow unpleasant situation to influence you to be bad. Don’t allow the corrupt system of the world to influence you negatively.

It is easier said than done, you may say. O yes, I am quite aware of the fact that we can never be perfect no matter how hard we try. But I do know that if you are quite determined to live a positive life, and you ask God to help you, God will give you the grace to do so.

THE EXTENT TO WHICH YOU TRIUMPH OVER EVIL IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH YOU REMAIN IN TUNE WITH GOD. THERE IS NO WAY GOD WILL ALLOW EVIL TO TRIUMPH OVER GOOD. NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES, GOOD WILL EVENTUALLY TRIUMPH OVER EVIL.

The only way we can triumph over evil is to strive to be good. This is the challenge before all of us. You should aspire to be good. Always strive to be better and you will be victorious now and always!

Think Big

Thinking is one of the greatest assets given to us by God. With our ability to think, we can change our fortune. We can think our way out of poverty and into prosperity. We can think our way from defeat to victory.

God gave us the brain so that we can use it to solve problems. Our brain is for creativity, success, achievement, happiness and fulfillment.

The major problem we have is not really the problems confronting us or the unpleasant condition we are in, but our reluctance to think our way out of those problems.

In their book, Success Through Positive Mental Attitude, William Clementstone and Napoleon Hill narrated the story of a man who was paralysed from the top to the bottom and was bedridden.

In this difficult condition that the man was, he called members of his family for an important discuss. He then explained to them that considering his condition, he could not walk or do anything anymore, but he could think. 

He told them that they should be his hands and legs while he would be the brain. He would be doing all the thinking while they would be implementing his plans and strategies. Right in his sick bed, he hatched a great business plan and started dishing out instructions to members of his family. They carried out the instructions to the letter and in a short while, they built a large business empire!

Think Prosperity Thoughts

Dear reader, as long as you have a sound mind and you are willing to sit down and think, there is no limit to what you can achieve in life. Research conducted some time ago reveals that successful people think about what they want to achieve all the time; while unsuccessful people always think about their problems and everything that is going wrong with their lives.

The Book of Success, the Bible says, “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he (Prov 23:7).” Dear reader what thoughts are you thinking right now? As you think in your heart, so you are. You are what you think all day long. NOTE THAT THE QUALITY OF YOUR THOUGHTS DETERMINES HOW FAR YOU CAN GO IN LIFE.

The paralysed man in the story above did not, in his sick bed, continue to dwell on the worse condition he was in, rather, he thought positively and thought prosperity thought. In his thought, he rose bigger and higher than his bedridden condition.

YOU ARE NOT YET A BREADWINNER UNTIL YOU BECOME A GREAT THINKER. THE STARTING POINT TO BEING A RESPECTABLE FAMILY MAN IS THE ABILITY TO GENERATE GREAT IDEAS NECESSARY FOR THE COMFORT AND WELL BEING OF MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY.

Plan Big

More often than not, we allow unpleasant situation to limit our thinking and planning. We need to learn from the paralysed man.  Although he was paralysed and could do nothing, yet he could think. As long as he could think, he was still productive. He thought big and planned big and as such, he became super successful.

Dear reader, NO MATTER THE CONDITION YOU ARE IN, IF YOU CAN THINK BIG AND PLAN BIG, YOU WILL NEVER REMAIN A BURDEN TO ANYONE. RATHER THAN BEING A BURDEN, YOU WILL BECOME JOB CREATOR ON WHOM A SIZABLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WILL DEPEND.

IF YOU WANT TO BE BIG, PLAN BIG. Don’t plan small. Don’t let unpleasant circumstances to paralyse your ability to plan big. Don’t let fear make you think small thoughts. Refuse to be overwhelmed by your emotion. Uncontrolled emotion is a destroyer of destiny. When negative feelings show up, don’t let them influence you to make small plans. Plan bigger, plan higher!

Like the paralysed man, SO FAR YOU ARE OF A SOUND MIND AND YOU ARE WILLING TO THINK BIG AND PLAN BIG, YOU WILL RISE ABOVE ALL UNFAVOURABLE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CONFRONT YOU.

Think Bigger Than the Present Condition

No condition can limit you in this world unless you permit it to limit you. It is not circumstances that limit people mostly; the main thing that is holding people down in defeat is their unwillingness to think beyond their present condition. All they think and worry about is the unpleasant condition they are undergoing.

But you know what? You can never rise above any unpleasant condition by continuing to worry about it. Don’t drown yourself in self-pity. IF YOUR CONDITION DOES NOT AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO THINK AND YOU ARE READY TO THINK POSITIVELY, YOU WILL GENERATE BIG IDEAS NECESSARY FOR YOUR VICTORY OVER THE UNFAVOURABLE CON DITION.

So, what you need do to rise above unfavourable condition is to THINK. Think big. Think great thoughts. The greater your thought, the higher you go in life. IF YOU WANT TO BE BIG, THINK BIG THOUGHT.

Also think victory all the time and as you do so, you will generate ideas that will make you live a victorious life all your life!