@SolomonOchucks

@SolomonOchucks
Audio Book

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

SUCCEEDING AGAINST ALL ODDS

SUCCEEDING AGAINST ALL ODDS

I once heard the story of a great French general named La Variere who made the decision to attack, even though his troops were largely outnumbered. He was certain of victory, but he felt his men's fear and wanted to do something to cut short their protestations.

On a country road he stopped before an isolated chapel and declared, "I am
going inside and I will ask for God's help. Then I will come out and flip
this gold coin. If our Emperor's face appears we will win. If the other side
comes up heads, then we will lose. And so, my companions, our fate is in the hands of destiny."

After a few moments in the chapel, La Variere came out and flipped the coin.
Napoleon's head appeared. The soldiers shouted and acclaimed their destiny,
and the entire company's moral was lifted. Convinced that they would be
victorious, they fought with such bravery that they rapidly won the battle.

After the victory Vermont, one of La Variere's adjutants, said, "Oh Sir, no
one can change the course of Destiny. This unexpected victory is yet another
Proof of that."

"Who knows, my dear Vermont, who knows," replied the General, and he
Showed him the coin on which Napoleon's head appeared... on both sides!

The simple lesson from this story is that, if you truly desire to succeed in life, you can indeed succeed against all odds.

Today I am not here to belabor your mind with the story of how Thomas Edison Invented the Incandescent Electric Bulb after over 10,000 failures, neither I my here to give you the history of how Christopher Columbus discovered the great country, call United States of America and all the obstacles he was confronted with. I am not here either to give you the details of the struggles and incarceration that Nelson Mandela one of the greatest men of our generation went through before South Africa became free from apartheid.

But I might be tempted to tell you a little bit of how a Black young man called Barrack Hussein Obama rose from the dust of obscurity of being segregated in a country to become the first black President of the United States of America. We all know the struggles he went through, and the great obstacles and hurdles he had to scale through before succeeding in his quest and he indeed represent a life called “The Audacity of Hope” fulfilling the dream of Martin Luther King Jnr. of blessed memory.

But my core business for today is to tell you of how your kinsmen and my kinsmen, I mean your countrymen and my countrymen succeeded against all odds despite the harsh, unfriendly and inconsiderate conditions they were subjected to.

Many of our nation’s outstanding examples of success weren’t born rich, in fact most of them began life from a humble background, no one gave them the opportunity to succeed, but they succeeded against all odds.
Your “Background” is not enough reason why you should allow your back to still be on the ground.

Prof. Philip Emeagwali is not from a rich background. At some stage in his life, he served as a steward to a Biafran Army officer during the civil war. He was out of school, studied for his A – level at home. He could not go to bed without solving 100 mathematical problems as a teenager. He almost achieved a perfect score in the subjects he registered for.

He got a scholarship to study abroad and today, we know him as the pioneer of the internet, Emeagwali invented a formula that allows computers to perform the fastest computation. His work led to the re- invention of super computer. Prof. Philip Emeagwali is a mathematician, Engineer and Computer Scientist. If he can succeed, then you don’t have any excuse not to succeed.

Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye born by a poor farmer from Ifewara in Osun State Nigeria wore his first pair of shoes at age seventeen. He went on hunger strike before he was given the opportunity to go to school. He did not allow those setbacks to stop his quest for success.

He rose from obscurity to become a professor of mathematics. Today we know him as the General Overseer of the fastest growing Pentecostal church in the world, the Redeem Christian Church of God. In 1999, he went down on records to be the first man that has ever gathered the largest number of human in one place at the same time. If he can succeed, then you can as well.

We all celebrate him; He is a Playwright, Poet, Novelist, Social Critic, Activist and Wine Connoisseur. His name is Prof Wole Soyinka. He wrote WAEC several times before he could pass English language. In 1986, he won the World’s most prestigious award, the Noble Prize (for Literature). Today we know him as an authority in English language. If he can succeed, then we can as well.

Rev. Sam Adeyemi is not born from a wealthy parentage. He is an introvert by nature. He struggled financially to pass through the higher institution where he trained as a Civil Engineer. As a fresher in the Polytechnic, the pocket money he had with him was just twenty naira. At some point he had to go through the day with just one square meal.

I remember when he told us that he only came into Lagos with just a traveling bag and the determination to succeed. Today we know him as one of the pioneer of motivational speaking in Nigeria. He is the Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, popularly known as the “Home of Stars”. If an introvert can become a speaker per excellence, then you can be what you want to be.

He is a Social Critics, a Foremost Civil Rights Crusader. Fighting for the poor and underprivileged, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). His name is Gani Fawehimi. He publishes most of the law books and journals used by many Legal Practitioners in Nigeria. He is a philanthropist extraordinaire. As a Lawyer, he has handled over 5,000 cases. Hardly would you believe that he was not the best graduating student in is class.

Remember Arch. Bishop Benson Idahosa of blessed memory. Nobody gave him a chance to live. He struggled to equip himself. He became the pioneer of the Pentecostal Movement in Nigeria. He went ahead to establish Benson Idahosa University Benin. If he can do it, then you can as well.

Dr. Emma S. Etuk is a foremost Motivational Speaker, A member of the National Speakers Association USA. He was born and bred in Nigeria where he worked as a civil Servant after graduating from the Polytechnic Calabar. He traveled to the United States where he obtained PhD in the United States History, with minors in Africa History and International Relations. In 1999 he and His family were honored at the US Congress as “Parents of the Year.” If a foreigner can achieve this feat in United States where the competition is much, then you can as well. Success is not restricted to just a geographical location.

I was in a seminar when he said “I sold coconuts and everything sellable on my head all around the streets of Ife. But I was determined to go to the University of Lagos” he became a graduate of the University of Lagos. He is the Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, His name is Erastus Akingbola. He was not born rich. If he can succeed, then you can.

He Pastors the largest church in Western Europe, Kingsway International Christian Centre London (KICC). He was born by a soldier. He grew up in the Barracks, where they had to trek some distance before they could watch Television. Today, he is watched all over the world on satellite. His name his Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo. If he can succeed, then you can as well.

Her father sold his shoes before they could pay the medical bill when she was born. She became the pioneer of private orphanage in Nigeria. She is the founder of Little Saint Orphanage. Her name is Rev Dele George. If she can go ahead to succeed in life, then you can as well.

Austin Jay Jay Okocha sold oranges on the streets of Enugu. Today the world celebrates him as a great footballer. Kanu Nwankwo and most of Nigeria Sportsmen are from humble background. They are world celebrities. If they can succeed, then you can as well.

They call her the Winfrey Oprah of Nigeria, her name is Funmi Iyanda. She is a celebrity and the host of a TV Talk show. She is from a humble background; she sold shoes and bags to pay her way through the University. If she can succeed, then you can as well.

The Obafemi Awolowo of this life, the MKO Abiola, the Larry Izamoje, the Dora Akunyili are not from wealthy background but they became successful in their chosen profession.

The list is inexhaustible, all around you; you will see people who succeeded against all odds. If you study their lives carefully, you will realize that the more successful they are, the less they make excuses.

My Mentor Dr Chris Williams once said and I quote, “It’s not a must to be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth. If you realize that you weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth, you can deliberately and consciously put a golden spoon or even a diamond spoon in your mouth if you so wish. The choice is yours!”

Remember, Difficulty is the excuse that history never accepts, so I challenge you to make Success out of your life, because you have all what it takes to succeed and be a role model for your generation and the generation unborn.

Thank you for listening.

God Bless You, and God Bless Nigeria!!

Presented By,
Solomon O’chucks Nwokoro
Motivational cum Inspirational Speaker.
The 2nd Annual Nigeria Youth Leadership Conference @ Lekki Waterside Hotel, Lekki Lagos, Nigeria. On 23rd December, 2008. www.top100ourgeneration.com