Some weeks ago, I was preparing to run a coaching session with a particular client in the Oil & Gas industry and in developing my content, I stumbled on a picture that captured the essence of what I want to share today).

Looking at this picture, it seems pretty obvious; a guy doing his best to get away from the cops.

He’s determined to get away, but they look pretty determined to catch him.

But here’s the question.

Who has the greater compelling reason for running?

It’s like the age old question; which came first? The chicken or the egg?

Who has the more compelling reason to run?

Is it the cops, determined to catch this perpetrator and finally put him behind bars where he belongs? 

Or is it the felon, the underdog (no pun intended) who knows that if he gets caught, he’s looking at a 3 to 5 stay in a maximum security penitentiary, rent free?

Who’s got the greater compelling reason?

To capture or to...

I've got a confession.

I GET SCARED... A lot.

Now, I know I've got this whole tough guy image locked down, but sometimes, I get scared.

Scared you wouldn't read my messages.

Scared that I wasn't making any sense.

Scared that I should just focus on my Consulting practice and stop creating all these products

But I've never let fear stop me.

What most people never get to see are the countless hours that I put in daily to get life to work in my favour (and all the times it doesn't work)

But the reason I'm becoming a "success" is that I've worked harder than you.

Now, I know you're thinking; "what a jerk!

That's such an arrogant statement".

Hold on a sec.

I'm not discounting your time, effort or sweat equity.

All I'm saying is that I'm willing to fail more times than you're willing to try.

I'M WILLING TO FAIL MORE TIMES THAN YOU'RE WILLING TO TRY

It's a numbers game.

If I fail more times than you try, it means that my odds of succeeding are far higher than yours.

I'm not as smart as...

Now,

I know what you're thinking... what do you mean Visualize Failure?

Allow me to explain.

Every Tom, Dick and Sheila (let me guess... Still expecting Harry, right? What's my name?) SMH

Where was I? Ah yes... Every Tom .. You know the rest, tells you to visualize success to achieve your goal. 

• Think of the holidays you can have..
• Think of the nice cars...
• Think of the freedom...

I have a different opinion.

Visualize Failure.

Success is a harder proposition for most people because many haven't actually lived very successful lives.

It's like saying "visualize St. Tropez, Venice or Ibiza". You might have read online about them as tourist destinations, but it doesn't mean you're familiar with them.

Instead, I'd rather you visualize something you might be familiar with and that is ... FAILURE.

• Think about ... Never getting out of debt.
• Living an eternally average life
• Going through the motions of a relatively mundane existence
• Having more bills than money
• Working that dead...

Yeah,

Read that again.

You just might not be good enough... And it's #TheUglyTruth

There are certain opportunities that are time bound, that once lost, can never be regained.

Like being passionate about playing football and having a dream to play for Man United, but you're 43.

That's not gonna happen.

Lebron James may be living your dream, but you might never live it, why?

Well, for one, you probably don't have his talent, his work ethic, his self denial, the time he's put into it since he was a kid and time and chance just didn't collide in your favor.

Or maybe you're lazy, undisciplined, distracted, don't want it bad enough or just living in denial.

It takes a great deal of self awareness to admit that, and perhaps you can't.

Does that mean you should stop trying to be great?

No. Strive to be the BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF and realize It's gonna take time!

It's not gonna happen in a year, two or even five.

It takes 37 years to become a 37 year old.

Success isn't a lottery that you...

IT'S TAKE YOUR BRAIN TO CHURCH DAY!

In a couple of hours, we'll be "CROSSING OVER" into 2017.

In a couple of hours, you're gonna be singing, dancing and clapping that YOU MADE IT into 2017, (like you weren't expecting to?)

In a couple of hours, your spiritual coach (Pastor or Imam) will be declaring a blessing over you. And that's cool too.

But even though like Abraham, you've got a blessing on you, you're still not gonna be able to put it into perspective until you're EXPOSED, INFORMED and hang out with the RIGHT ASSOCIATIONS who make your biggest dreams look like child's play.

That's why God (THE NEW ASSOCIATION) said.. "I need you to have a FRAME OF REFERENCE for this PROMISE since you ain't never experienced this before. You see those stars in the sky, in the milky way and the galaxies? (EXPOSURE) Do you think you can count them? You see the sand we're walking on, do you think you can count them? As innumerable as they are, that's how innumerable your progeny will be"...

Dear Protege …

My heart is heavy and I’d like to get a few things off my mind.

You might not like what I’m about to tell you, but you know me, I’m gonna keep it real.

I know it’s not easy. The economy seems to be going in one direction and people younger than you seem to be hammering; I know you look at mentors and role models like Alibaba, Leke Alder, Fela Durotoye and want their stuff, but hold on a second, don’t be in a hurry to drive their cars and earn their pay checks.

Can you pay the price of their success?

I know what you’re thinking, ‘it’s easy for you to say, Steve. I’ve heard your gist too’.

Dear Protege,

I know you've seen the successes of GenerationNOW like Bankole Williams, Jimi Tewe, John Obidi, Steph Obi, Paul Foh, Remi Owadokun and Maureen Iyasele, but can you pay their price?

Do you know that Bankole Williams left his well paying job at GTbank and took a 50% pay cut to pursue his dreams? Can you...