Celebrity Blogger Gbenga Dan Asabe and Co-Blogger, Dr. Chris Kehinde Nwandu-CKN |
As my
Mentor continued to pour out his heart, explaining each of the principles he
listed, I noticed a deep sense of relief on Dele’s face. Although, he
was recording the entire conversation, he was still busy making copious notes.
I was happy as well. Only on few occasions had my Mentor been in such a state
of complete absorption. I was startled by few of the insights he shared.
Mentor continued to pour out his heart, explaining each of the principles he
listed, I noticed a deep sense of relief on Dele’s face. Although, he
was recording the entire conversation, he was still busy making copious notes.
I was happy as well. Only on few occasions had my Mentor been in such a state
of complete absorption. I was startled by few of the insights he shared.
After a while,
he stopped talking and asked for Dele’s comments. Dele
responded at once.
he stopped talking and asked for Dele’s comments. Dele
responded at once.
“Sir, I must thank you immensely for these deep
insights. I have been richly blessed by everything that has come from your
mouth in the past few days. But I have a concern. I have lost my job, but that
is not a big deal as you have said. The problem is where do I start? Is it
possible to make enough money from composing music, which is an area I have
discovered I am gifted in? Where else can I make money? I need to get out of
this financial embarrassment quickly. I am not getting any younger. That is my
dilemma, sir and I know God has given you an unusual insight into these
problems”.
insights. I have been richly blessed by everything that has come from your
mouth in the past few days. But I have a concern. I have lost my job, but that
is not a big deal as you have said. The problem is where do I start? Is it
possible to make enough money from composing music, which is an area I have
discovered I am gifted in? Where else can I make money? I need to get out of
this financial embarrassment quickly. I am not getting any younger. That is my
dilemma, sir and I know God has given you an unusual insight into these
problems”.
“Your concerns are reasonable, my brother”, my Mentor
responded, “but they are for a wrong reason. And many people have fallen into
the same trap of allowing money to drive their career decisions. I thought you
got my message.
responded, “but they are for a wrong reason. And many people have fallen into
the same trap of allowing money to drive their career decisions. I thought you
got my message.
Let me drive the
point home the more with this powerful line from Rick Warren: Nothing matters more than knowing God’s
purposes for your life, and nothing compensates for not knowing them not
success, wealth, fame, or pleasure. Without a purpose, life is motion without
meaning, activity without direction and events
without reason. Without a purpose, life is trivial, petty, and pointless. . .’
point home the more with this powerful line from Rick Warren: Nothing matters more than knowing God’s
purposes for your life, and nothing compensates for not knowing them not
success, wealth, fame, or pleasure. Without a purpose, life is motion without
meaning, activity without direction and events
without reason. Without a purpose, life is trivial, petty, and pointless. . .’
“That is powerful, isn’t it? The starting
point is to take inventory of your skills and begin to use them for the glory
of God. Let service, not money; be at the center of everything you do and
before long, God will single out some skills He wants to use in you. That is
when money comes. If you go into business solely for the money you can make,
you may end up chasing shadows. But if you go into any business for the purpose
of service, for the purpose of blessing humanity, as long as you are dedicated
to that service, money will flow in your direction sooner or later. Remember Henry Ford did not start out to
make money. He wanted to solve transportation problems for the lowly placed and
in doing that extremely well, money came in torrents”.
point is to take inventory of your skills and begin to use them for the glory
of God. Let service, not money; be at the center of everything you do and
before long, God will single out some skills He wants to use in you. That is
when money comes. If you go into business solely for the money you can make,
you may end up chasing shadows. But if you go into any business for the purpose
of service, for the purpose of blessing humanity, as long as you are dedicated
to that service, money will flow in your direction sooner or later. Remember Henry Ford did not start out to
make money. He wanted to solve transportation problems for the lowly placed and
in doing that extremely well, money came in torrents”.
“I was at the high table with the Head
of Department for Economics, a lady. It was my turn to speak and the problem
started again. I was shivering. The HOD noticed it. She did what I did not
expect. Before handing over the microphone to me, she asked everybody in the
hall to stand up. She requested everybody to point in my direction and pray for
me, so God could use me to speak to them. She asked them to pray for all traces
of anxiety to disappear”.
“The question of which skill to develop should not
arise. God said you are “fearfully and wonderfully made. That is a powerful
message. If only you knew, you are a living miracle and a bundle of talents.
God is waiting for you to bring them out. Let me shock you with this: Did you
know that as you are sitting now, you have between 500 and 700 skills you can
develop and use in your lifetime for the glory of God? Now let me ask you, how
many of the skills have you used?”
arise. God said you are “fearfully and wonderfully made. That is a powerful
message. If only you knew, you are a living miracle and a bundle of talents.
God is waiting for you to bring them out. Let me shock you with this: Did you
know that as you are sitting now, you have between 500 and 700 skills you can
develop and use in your lifetime for the glory of God? Now let me ask you, how
many of the skills have you used?”
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“My friend told
me only last week how he discovered a new skill and I suggest that he shares
his experience with us again so that you can appreciate what I am saying. You
are capable of doing far more than you are doing at present. Over to you”, my
Mentor said as he nodded in my direction.
me only last week how he discovered a new skill and I suggest that he shares
his experience with us again so that you can appreciate what I am saying. You
are capable of doing far more than you are doing at present. Over to you”, my
Mentor said as he nodded in my direction.
Day I was disgraced in Abuja!
“One thing I have learnt from my Mentor is that if
you want God to use you in more areas, you have to develop the habit of sharing
your experiences with people, no matter how embarrassing you think they are.
you want God to use you in more areas, you have to develop the habit of sharing
your experiences with people, no matter how embarrassing you think they are.
God can use your most embarrassing problem as a step
to lift you up. What I had shared with my Mentor was how I stumbled on public
speaking. Here is my story”.
to lift you up. What I had shared with my Mentor was how I stumbled on public
speaking. Here is my story”.
“Naturally, I am an introvert: I like to withdraw to
myself either reading or writing. Facing people to speak was unthinkable. As I
grew in status in my profession, however, I discovered that I had to solve that
problem, but there was no solution in sight. I creatively rejected all the
invitations to either review a book or to address an audience. But I was boxed
into a tight corner on one occasion and there was no way I could dodge”
myself either reading or writing. Facing people to speak was unthinkable. As I
grew in status in my profession, however, I discovered that I had to solve that
problem, but there was no solution in sight. I creatively rejected all the
invitations to either review a book or to address an audience. But I was boxed
into a tight corner on one occasion and there was no way I could dodge”
“In 2000, shortly after we started a national
financial newspaper, I was invited by a Federal Parastatal, in Abuja, to speak
on how to report privatization. .
financial newspaper, I was invited by a Federal Parastatal, in Abuja, to speak
on how to report privatization. .
The event which was well-attended by journalists
from all over the country, was at the Hilton
Hotel, Abuja. Besides, so many
important dignitaries were in attendance. I was at the high table with them.
The night before, in my hotel room, I had memorized everything I was going to
say and I recited it to myself standing in front of the mirror. I was to speak
immediately after the Director-General
(DG) of the organization had given his opening ‘address. As his speech drew to
a close, I was already visibly shivering. As a matter of fact, I had to excuse
myself to the toilet. The anxiety still did not go away.
from all over the country, was at the Hilton
Hotel, Abuja. Besides, so many
important dignitaries were in attendance. I was at the high table with them.
The night before, in my hotel room, I had memorized everything I was going to
say and I recited it to myself standing in front of the mirror. I was to speak
immediately after the Director-General
(DG) of the organization had given his opening ‘address. As his speech drew to
a close, I was already visibly shivering. As a matter of fact, I had to excuse
myself to the toilet. The anxiety still did not go away.
Eventually, I was called to the podium after a
flattering introduction by the host. It was the most embarrassing moment of my
life and I prayed at that moment that the ground would just open and swallow me
up. I feared the moment more than death. For more than three minutes after the
microphone was handed over to me, I could not say a word. I just drew blank. I
could not retrieve a single word from what I thought I had memorized. I had to
quickly pull out my jottings, read them quickly and in less than ten minutes, I
was through. My talk was to last for an hour! The hall was silent. There was no
comment, no applause as I managed to drag myself to my seat. I could sense that
my colleagues were embarrassed beyond words. As
soon as the event was over, I dashed to my room. I did not participate in the
lunch. Alone, I vowed never to accept any public invitation to speak again. I
travelled back to Lagos the same day instead of the following day as scheduled”. .
flattering introduction by the host. It was the most embarrassing moment of my
life and I prayed at that moment that the ground would just open and swallow me
up. I feared the moment more than death. For more than three minutes after the
microphone was handed over to me, I could not say a word. I just drew blank. I
could not retrieve a single word from what I thought I had memorized. I had to
quickly pull out my jottings, read them quickly and in less than ten minutes, I
was through. My talk was to last for an hour! The hall was silent. There was no
comment, no applause as I managed to drag myself to my seat. I could sense that
my colleagues were embarrassed beyond words. As
soon as the event was over, I dashed to my room. I did not participate in the
lunch. Alone, I vowed never to accept any public invitation to speak again. I
travelled back to Lagos the same day instead of the following day as scheduled”. .
“Six months after, I was boxed into another corner
again. The Nigerian Economics Students’ Association, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife,
invited me to give a speech during one of their programmes. I could not dodge
it. I had also prepared and memorized what I was going to say. I was at the
high table with the Head of Department for Economics, a lady. It was my turn to
speak and the problem started again. I was shivering. The HOD noticed it. She
did what I did not expect. Before handing over the microphone to me, she asked
everybody in the hall to stand up. She requested everybody to point in my
direction and pray for me, so God could use me to speak to them. She asked them
to pray for all traces of anxiety to disappear. The students and lecturers
prayed loudly for me. While they were praying, some speaking in tongues, it
appeared as if I heard a voice asking me to ignore what I had prepared and
instead I should share my experience while I was on the campus. Instantly, I
felt unspeakable calmness come over me. The nervousness disappeared and
suddenly I started to speak without looking at my notes. I spoke for approximately
an hour thirty minutes. I shared the experience of how I missed my final exam
and how God used what I considered to be a problem to reconnect me to His plan
for me. The hall erupted. I got a standing ovation from everybody. Students
rushed after me to autograph books for them. A miracle had just happened. I
withdrew quietly to a hotel in town to meditate on that experience. I analyzed
what happened, what I got right and what went wrong in my Abuja encounter. A sentence came to me; “To be a great speaker, you have to speak to your audience’s heart and
you have to share your experience” I put it down in my diary and there and
then, I reversed my earlier decision not to speak in public again. I continued
to accept invitations to speak. And they kept coming from different sources:
churches, companies, student groups, coppers, clubs, and associations.
again. The Nigerian Economics Students’ Association, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife,
invited me to give a speech during one of their programmes. I could not dodge
it. I had also prepared and memorized what I was going to say. I was at the
high table with the Head of Department for Economics, a lady. It was my turn to
speak and the problem started again. I was shivering. The HOD noticed it. She
did what I did not expect. Before handing over the microphone to me, she asked
everybody in the hall to stand up. She requested everybody to point in my
direction and pray for me, so God could use me to speak to them. She asked them
to pray for all traces of anxiety to disappear. The students and lecturers
prayed loudly for me. While they were praying, some speaking in tongues, it
appeared as if I heard a voice asking me to ignore what I had prepared and
instead I should share my experience while I was on the campus. Instantly, I
felt unspeakable calmness come over me. The nervousness disappeared and
suddenly I started to speak without looking at my notes. I spoke for approximately
an hour thirty minutes. I shared the experience of how I missed my final exam
and how God used what I considered to be a problem to reconnect me to His plan
for me. The hall erupted. I got a standing ovation from everybody. Students
rushed after me to autograph books for them. A miracle had just happened. I
withdrew quietly to a hotel in town to meditate on that experience. I analyzed
what happened, what I got right and what went wrong in my Abuja encounter. A sentence came to me; “To be a great speaker, you have to speak to your audience’s heart and
you have to share your experience” I put it down in my diary and there and
then, I reversed my earlier decision not to speak in public again. I continued
to accept invitations to speak. And they kept coming from different sources:
churches, companies, student groups, coppers, clubs, and associations.
Surprisingly, I have also received a few invitations
to speak outside the country. I received a very fat cheque a month ago from an organization
at whose function I had spoken. I couldn’t resist the tears of joy that rolled
down my cheeks, I am not yet a powerful speaker, but at least the stage fright
is gone forever. Surprisingly, I also discovered five other talents I did not
know I had. God is good”. I concluded.
to speak outside the country. I received a very fat cheque a month ago from an organization
at whose function I had spoken. I couldn’t resist the tears of joy that rolled
down my cheeks, I am not yet a powerful speaker, but at least the stage fright
is gone forever. Surprisingly, I also discovered five other talents I did not
know I had. God is good”. I concluded.
“That is incredible”. Dele said. “Then what am I waiting for?”
“That is the point”, my Mentor
interjected.
interjected.
“As Rick Warren puts it; God can do
amazing things with the rest of your life, too. God specializes
in giving people a fresh start”.
amazing things with the rest of your life, too. God specializes
in giving people a fresh start”.
“I
am very sure you have heard of Kentucky
Fried Chicken (KFC) founded by Colonel
Sanders. He had retired from the army before he discovered that he had a
unique culinary skill. He became a multi-millionaire shortly after introducing KFC. So my brother, it is never too
late to start. A thousand years is like a year in the eyes of the Lord. So, I
encourage you to wake up, use whatever gift you discover and God will bless you
through it”. He stopped speaking to sip some orange juice.
am very sure you have heard of Kentucky
Fried Chicken (KFC) founded by Colonel
Sanders. He had retired from the army before he discovered that he had a
unique culinary skill. He became a multi-millionaire shortly after introducing KFC. So my brother, it is never too
late to start. A thousand years is like a year in the eyes of the Lord. So, I
encourage you to wake up, use whatever gift you discover and God will bless you
through it”. He stopped speaking to sip some orange juice.
Ayo Arowolo, Publisher The Millionaires’ Capsules |
(Excerpts from
the book: “THE MILLIONAIRES CAPSULES” by AYO AROWOLO. Read “How to separate yourself for
breakthrough” tomorrow on this blog)