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Showing posts with the label Principles of Life

How Ibrahim Mahama went from college dropout to billionaire entrepreneur

By Abdul-Latif Ahmed - January 30, 2021

You don't always need an Ivy League education to become a billionaire. As a teenager, Ibrahim Mahama never imagined he would be where he is today. “God has been good to me,” said Mahama.

Extraordinary leaders!

By AlatiphA - July 09, 2012

Great leaders are extraordinary but were they born that way? No. I think they started out as ordinary people and made cumulative choices (perspectives to take, lessons to learn paths to take etc) that over time snowballed into the realm of "extraordinariness". The person also may have had opportunities that other leaders did not have. But not everyone can lead and certainly not all leaders can be great leaders. Therefore, it is possible that "great leaders" have some "inherent extraordinariness" in them that just wasn't mature enough in their ordinary days and simply got developed over the course of their "ascent to greatness". If everyone can be a great leader then it is a major indictment for all ordinary and lousy leaders out there. Are they just lazy or did they lack opportunities to develop the greatness in them? Is ordinary the "normal" or is it the "abnormal"? Great Leaders must be EXTRA- ordinary and move awa...

Does ethnic trappings as propagated by the likes of Nii Lamptey, Ken Agyapong, etc define how you connect with Ghanaians?

By AlatiphA - June 05, 2012

I have an acquintance who recently asked me why I love across the 'ethnic' line. I told him it's the spiritual connection that matters more to me than the tribalist or so-called racial classification, including common interests. Without dismissing the value or validity of the question, I was a bit surprised, considering that the person professes to believe that we are all made in the image of God. We've mostly become enlightened enough to understand that we are all one, apart from the cultural, tribal or religious trappings that emphasise superficial differences more than our common humanity and divinity. I go through the Bible, Zen & Buddhist & 'New Thought' etc teachings, as I do the Islamic teachings of which I was raised as a child. In the same vein, I share my love with who-so-ever I deeply connect with. Does ethnic & religious trappings or so called 'racial purity' as propagated by the likes of Nii Lamtey, Ken Agyapong, etc define...

Principles of life!

By AlatiphA - February 13, 2012

Dream big. Don't be a follower but a leader. Don't be easily convinced until proven wrong. Don't do things just because everyone is. Have principles which does not only guide you but reflects on your life. Chose who to make friendship with not them chosing you. Live a day at a time because life can't be rushed. Chose to stay happy and don't make other peoples business yours but show concern towards others. Life is like an egg when you fall you may get a crack, so hold onto yourself to never fall. Sometimes in life one goes through certain challenges to wake him/her up. One must understand that in life every one is on their own. You make or unmake yourself by your choices. Every mistake made should be a lesson learnt. You have all the opportunities to correct or makeup all lost or wasted times but only if one is up to the task of responsibility. No one is born lucky till you play life's game of chance. Your chances of failing is the same as your winnings, s...

Mencken's Creed!

By AlatiphA - February 08, 2012

I believe that no discovery of fact, however trivial, can be wholly useless to the race, and that no trumpeting of falsehood, however virtuous in intent, can be anything but vicious. I believe that all government is evil, in that all government must necessarily make war upon liberty... I believe that the evidence for immortality is no better than the evidence of witches, and deserves no more respect. I believe in the complete freedom of thought and speech... I believe in the capacity of man to conquer his world, and to find out what it is made of, and how it is run. I believe in the reality of progress. I - But the whole thing, after all, may be put very simply. I believe that it is better to tell the truth than to lie. I believe that it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe that it is better to know than be ignorant.

Reality can be harsh!

By AlatiphA - November 14, 2011

"Reality can be rather harsh. Your days are numbered. It takes constant effort to carve a place for yourself in this ruthlessly competitive world and hold on to it. People can be treacherous. They bring endless battles into your life. Your task is to resist the temptation to wish it were all different; instead you must fearlessly accept these circumstances, even embrace them. By focusing your attention on what is going on around you, you will gain a sharp appreciation for what makes some people advance and others fall behind. By seeing through people's manipulations, you can turn them around. The firmer your grasp on reality, the more power you will have to alter it for your purposes". Robert Green

Turn Shit into Sugar - Opportunism!

By AlatiphA - November 14, 2011

Every negative situation contains the possibility for something positive, an opportunity. It is how you look at it that matters. Your lack of resources can be an advantage, forcing you to be more inventive with the little that you have. Losing a battle can allow you to frame yourself as the sympathetic underdog. Do not let fears make you wait for a better moment or become conservative. If there are circumstances you cannot control, make the best of them. It is the ultimate alchemy to transform all such negatives into advantages and power" Robert Green

Make Everything Your Own - Self- Reliance!

By AlatiphA - November 14, 2011

"When you work for others, you are at their mercy. They own your work; they own you. Your creative spirit is squashed. What keeps you in such positions is a fear of having to sink or swim on your own. Instead you should have a greater fear of what will happen to you if you remain dependent on others for power. Your goal in every maneuver in life must be ownership, working the corner for yourself. When it is yours, it is yours to lose - you are more motivated, more creative, more alive. The ultimate power in life is to be completely self-reliant, completely yourself"

Keep Moving - Calculated Momentum!

By AlatiphA - November 14, 2011

In the present there is constant change and so much we cannot control. If you try to micromanage it all, you lose even greater control in the long run. The answer is to let go and move with the chaos that presents itself to you - from within it, you will find endless opportunities that elude most people. Don't give others the chance to pin you down; keep moving and changing your appearances to fit the environment. If you encounter walls or boundaries, slip around them. Do not let anything disrupt your flow.

Lead from the Front - Authority!

By AlatiphA - November 14, 2011

In any group, the person on top consciously or unconsciously sets the tone. If leaders are fearful, hesitant to take any risks, or overly concerned for their ego and reputation, then this invariably filters its way through the entire group and makes effective action impossible. Complaining and haranguing people to work harder has a counterproductive effect. You must adopt the opposite style: imbue your troops with the proper spirit through your actions, not words. They see you working harder than anyone, holding yourself to the highest standards, taking risks with confidence, and making tough decisions. This inspires and binds the group together. In these a democratic times, you must practice what you preach.

Know Your Environment from the Inside Out - Connection!

By AlatiphA - November 14, 2011

Most people think first of what they want to express or make, then find the audience for their idea. You must work the opposite angle, thinking first of the public. You need to keep your focus on their changing needs, the trends that are washing through them. beginning with their demand, you create the appropriate supply. Do not be afraid of people's criticisms - without such feedback your work will be too personal and delusional. You must maintain as close a relationship to your environment as possible, getting an inside "feel" for what is happening around you. Never lose touch with your base.

Respect the Process - Mastery!

By AlatiphA - November 14, 2011

The fools in life want things fast and easy - money, success, attention. Boredom is their great enemy and fear. Whatever they manage to get slips through their hands as fast as it comes in. You, on the other hand, want to outlast your rivals. You are building the foundation for something that can continue to expand. To make this happen, you will have to serve an apprenticeship. You must learn early on to endure the hours of practice and drudgery, knowing that in the end all of that time will translate into a higher pleasure - mastery of a craft and of yourself. Your goal is to reach the ultimate skill level - an intuitive feel for what must come next.

Confront Your Mortality - the Sublime!

By AlatiphA - November 14, 2011

In the face of our inevitable mortality we can do one of two things. we can attempt to avoid the thought at all costs, clinging to the illusion that we have all the time in the world. Or we can confront this reality, accept andeven embrace it, converting our consciousness of death into something positive and active. In adopting such a fearless philosophy, we gain a sense of proportion, become able to separate what is petty from what is truly important. Knowing our days to be numbered, we have a sense of urgency and mission. We can appreciate life all the more for its impermanence. If we can overcome the fear of death, then there is nothing left to fear.

Push Beyond Your Limits - Self- Belief!

By AlatiphA - November 14, 2011

Your sense of who you are will determine your actions and what you end up getting in life. If you see your reach as limited, that you are mostly helpless in the face of so many difficulties, that it is best to keep your ambitions low, then you will receive the little that you expect. knowing this dynamic, you must train yourself for the opposite - ask for more, aim high, and believe that you are destined forsomething great. Your sense of self-worth comes from you alone - never the opinion of others. With a rising confidence in your abilities, you will take risks that will increase your chances of success. People follow those who know where they are going, so cultivate an air of certainty and boldness.