MANUP—Let Winning be your Goal
Men, God never made you failures. He designed you with the potential to be winners. I have watched bright and intelligent men who allowed their lives to fade away into the darkness of lethargy and slothfulness and died with nothing meaningful to show for the years they lived on planet earth. I also know men who grew up in dire poverty and never attended an institution of higher learning, and others with physical, emotional, and social disadvantages who decided that the word “never” would not be a part of their vocabulary. With diligence and dogged determination, they applied themselves and rose admirably to places of excellence. Men, no matter your station in life, you can rise from the ashes of your circumstances and see yourself a winner. Such a goal, however, can only materialize if you develop a mindset where you see endless possibilities in every legitimate thing you put your hands or minds to do.
Born of Bahamian parents, Sir Sidney Poitier, actor, film director and author, is an outstanding example of a man whose life reflects the winning mantra. Growing up in deep poverty and having to leave school at age 12, he ended up in the USA struggling to stay alive. As a black man, he suffered many indignities, but was bent on breaking through the negative barriers, even after a casting director told him: “Why don’t you stop wasting people’s time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?” That comment motivated Poitier and with a tunneled vision purposed to show to the director he was going to assertively reach the top. He did. Some of his outstanding achievements include winning two Oscars, being knighted in 1974 by Queen Elizabeth II, and presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, by US President Barack Obama in 2009.
At age 65, Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC received a social security cheque of $105 and was hopping mad. Eventually, he stopped murmuring and complaining and explored the possibilities of making a special brand of fried chicken, thinking restaurant owners would jump for joy and he would live happily ever after. Unfortunately, it did not work. But he did not give up. Walking around in his white suit knocking on doors and sleeping in his car, he tried 1009 times before he finally got one “yes”. The rest is now history. At the time of his death twenty-five years later, the Colonel as he was affectionately called, had over 6000 KFC outlets across 48 countries in the world, with annual sales of over 2 billion US dollars. What a success story! Never give up. Let winning be your goal.
It is my observation that the theater of foolishness seems to have many faithful followers, while a watchful walk in wisdom appears to be a waste of time for wanderers who believe the world owes them several favors.
George Kirkpatrick once said, “Nature gave men two ends - one to sit on and one to think with. Ever since then man's success or failure has depended on the one he used most.”
If you keep on saying to yourself that it can’t be done, you will accomplish nothing worthy of acclamation. Let winning be your goal.
One insightful writer said, “Never give up, and be confident in what you do. There may be tough times, but the difficulties which you face will make you more determined to achieve your objectives and to win against all the odds.”
My counsel to all men is to step out of the doldrums of indecisiveness and see the capabilities with which God has blessed you. Never underestimate the innate power in you to accomplish great things. Let winning be your goal and never see losing as an option. You are winners and allow no one to convince you otherwise.
Born of Bahamian parents, Sir Sidney Poitier, actor, film director and author, is an outstanding example of a man whose life reflects the winning mantra. Growing up in deep poverty and having to leave school at age 12, he ended up in the USA struggling to stay alive. As a black man, he suffered many indignities, but was bent on breaking through the negative barriers, even after a casting director told him: “Why don’t you stop wasting people’s time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?” That comment motivated Poitier and with a tunneled vision purposed to show to the director he was going to assertively reach the top. He did. Some of his outstanding achievements include winning two Oscars, being knighted in 1974 by Queen Elizabeth II, and presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, by US President Barack Obama in 2009.
At age 65, Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC received a social security cheque of $105 and was hopping mad. Eventually, he stopped murmuring and complaining and explored the possibilities of making a special brand of fried chicken, thinking restaurant owners would jump for joy and he would live happily ever after. Unfortunately, it did not work. But he did not give up. Walking around in his white suit knocking on doors and sleeping in his car, he tried 1009 times before he finally got one “yes”. The rest is now history. At the time of his death twenty-five years later, the Colonel as he was affectionately called, had over 6000 KFC outlets across 48 countries in the world, with annual sales of over 2 billion US dollars. What a success story! Never give up. Let winning be your goal.
It is my observation that the theater of foolishness seems to have many faithful followers, while a watchful walk in wisdom appears to be a waste of time for wanderers who believe the world owes them several favors.
George Kirkpatrick once said, “Nature gave men two ends - one to sit on and one to think with. Ever since then man's success or failure has depended on the one he used most.”
If you keep on saying to yourself that it can’t be done, you will accomplish nothing worthy of acclamation. Let winning be your goal.
One insightful writer said, “Never give up, and be confident in what you do. There may be tough times, but the difficulties which you face will make you more determined to achieve your objectives and to win against all the odds.”
My counsel to all men is to step out of the doldrums of indecisiveness and see the capabilities with which God has blessed you. Never underestimate the innate power in you to accomplish great things. Let winning be your goal and never see losing as an option. You are winners and allow no one to convince you otherwise.