Thought For The Day

Hook Yourself Up

It is a popular view that it is difficult to score if you have no goal post.

Let’s take an example of a football pitch and a soccer match. Remove all the goal posts and all the makings outlining the pitch. Now let the two teams start to play their soccer game. We all know that it will be difficult to determine whether any team has scored or not, as there are no goal posts.

It will be equally difficult to know when the ball is off side as there is no pitch. This is also true of our real life situations.

In our day to day lives, we endeavor to set our dreams and time to achieve them. It is only then that we can evaluate our performance. Then, we are able to know if we have scored or not.

Without goals or pitch there is no parameter to rate ourselves. We could be going round in circles yet deluding ourselves that we are making some progress.

To reach our goals we need mentors. Just as in a game of soccer, we need coaches, referees and lines men.

Mentors are personal life coaches. They are our guides, counselors, positive critics, morale boosters and best allies. They know our weaknesses, strengths, potentialities and aspirations. They push and pull us and help us, get the best out of ourselves.

Mentors are men and women of integrity and great reputation. They are great achievers. They may be simple ordinary people who have excelled in what they do e.g. a builder ,fisherman, farmer , baker etc , or they may be any successful scientist , scholar, leader , business man or any other professional etc .

A mentor can be anyone who excels in his industry and who is willing to part some of his knowledge and skills to anyone willing (mentee) to learn from him. The mentee, on the other hand, must be ready to be taught and adhere to the terms and conditions set by the mentor, besides maintaining the rules and regulations that is demanded by the given profession or trade.

Normally, a mentor is someone greatly admired and respected by all the mentees. He is a star among all those around him. Mentors are the heart and brain of any industry or profession. They are the ones who ensure that the skill and values are mastered, maintained and entrenched in the hearts of the upcoming masters who would in turn pass on the skills to those coming after them. They are normally great teachers and counselors. While they must be patient, and tolerant, they should be firm and particular about the set goals and time limits too.

We can liken mentors to cranes picking heavy loads from the ground, and lifting and loading them up on roof tops, ships or trailers etc. In this case, a lot of calculation, care and accuracy are involved. There is no room for mistakes as the damages made could be extensive even tragic.

It is for this reason why it is almost suicidal for you to fail to have a mentor if you want to achieve anything great and worthwhile.

You must find a mentor and then hook yourself up. Mentors will always guide, shape, sharpen and polish you.

Admittedly, there are those who have apparently stumbled into success and greatness without mentors. But the truth is that there could have been other people in their lives who could have influenced their work, even if they don't acknowledge it.

As human beings, we have our strengths and weaknesses. We can be discouraged and withdraw in fear of failure. We can also procrastinate, and yet find a justifiable excuse to appease ourselves.

However, this kind of behavior cannot escape the attention of a mentor. You would easily be found out, the error pointed out and remedial action precisely recommended. No short cut. You would be forced to face yourself. There would be no room for quitting either, as all the loop holes would have been sealed .You would be left with no other option but to 'Do or Die’ . The only option left would be submission and picking yourself up to try again and again until the task is accomplished.

That is the wisdom of having a mentor. Not that all find it a smooth sailing but it is the one wise decision that you could ever make, because no one can see his back without a mirror.

Dare to hook yourself to a star if you have great goals and dreams.

It is therefore crucial that you set great goals and have big dreams. Then surround yourself with the best people in the industry, Men and women of integrity, wisdom with proven track records. Those who have been tested and have come triumphant. People who have risen above the self and are working for a common good: selfless and detached. They are those who see and work for much more than silver or gold or earthly possessions.

Follow them. Hook yourself up and you are likely to succeed and touch another star.

Dare yourself. Never settle for mediocrity .Dare to follow your heart. .Be prepared to be turned round, twisted and beaten until you are remolded and become anew. Never fear. Start all over again if need be. The only thing to fear is fear itself. Just do what need to be done again and again until you get what you set out to find.

It has been repeatedly said that 'you will not pass this way again.’

Then why not leave footprints for those coming after you?
Why not light a candle to illuminate their paths?
Why not hook yourself up and throw a rope down for those behind you to come up too?

Will you?