The Habit Of Highly Motivated People

On The Path Of Winners

BY BAYO OGUNMUPE

The Habit Of Highly Motivated People

EXRAORDINARY achievers are driven to go above and beyond; they are trusted by others, they are focused and confident of their own abilities. They dream of endless possibilities and are extremely satisfied with their lives. They often raise a dream project, maintain longer relationships and they get recruited more often than their unmotivated peers. The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential are the keys that unlock the door to personal excellence and fulfillment.

  Seeking and achieving your dreams means you are really living your dream. So, to get motivated and become all you can be, try these habits of extraordinarily motivated people. Soon you too will find the courage to live the life of fulfilled dreams. One, achievers are internally motivated. It is their intrinsic desire to succeed, the urge to be their best selves drives their motivation, driving them toward new adventures, the unfolding journey and possible outcomes, which they relish, challenging themselves with new avenues for learning and exploration.

  Two, they don’t waste time judging where to go. They objectify the success and failure of others, instead of judging or comparing themselves with others. They don’t waste their time being judgmental and gossipy. Winners are humble, willing to admit their mistakes and apologize. They encourage feedback from others and use it to take steps in the right direction.

  Four, winners focus on what is working rather than bad experiences which many mediocre tend to focus on. They often focus on what others are doing right. Five, they are authentic, true to themselves in spite of what others may think. They don’t live their lives to please others. Six, they push beyond their comfort zones by facing discomfort head on in the pursuit of their dreams. They never choose the easy route in order to get what they want. They trust their abilities to gain success by shunning annoying internal voices that say, ‘‘you are going beyond your powers.”

  Seven, extraordinary people are lifelong learners. They read a lot and are brilliant observers. They are always searching for new, more efficient and faster ways to achieve their goals. They understand that in order for them to grow, as a person, they must always continue to learn.

  Eight, they know what they want because they have a clear vision of what they want to be at the end of their lives. This clarity of vision grants them the wisdom to know what things to harness and what to avoid. Their motto is ‘‘All things are possible to him that believeth.” They believe anything is possible. Nine, they don’t give-up. When they stumble over a problem, they come up with a plan to solve it, take action and surmount it. They never quit because they understand quitting is the surest way to lose a battle.

  Ten, they don’t blame others or create scapegoats for their failures. They believe that ultimately they alone are in charge of their lives, actions and choices. Eleven, they take time for themselves. They know that in order to stay motivated, they have to carve out niches for themselves. They believe taking care of their persons are more important to them than material possessions. Finally, they surround themselves with highly motivated people. Their friends are those who are trustworthy, positive and supportive of bringing out the best in others. They make friends with helpers who help them to take on the world side by side and help them to get back on their feet again, when needed.

  The hallmark of winners is to believe while others are doubting. Plan while others are playing. Act while others are delaying. Prepare while others are day-dreaming. Begin while others are procrastinating. Work while others are wishing. Save while others are wasting. Listen while others are talking. Persist while others are quitting. To win in life requires three things. One, you must start immediately that seems obvious, but many of us are stuck in the starting blocks, waiting for something to propel us on. What has God called or equipped you to do? Step out and do it, and He will empower you.

  Two, you must give your ambition your all. Divers in the Olympics don’t save any of their efforts for their final dive. They concentrate on nailing every single one, increasing their chances for a gold medal. Don’t settle for mediocrity at any stage of your life. You must never quit. In the 1992 Olympics, Derek Redmond of Britain was in the 400 metre race when he suffered a torn hamstring and fell. As the other runners breezed past him, he began struggling to his feet. His father in tears, suddenly ran down from the stands to help him. Slowly, agonizingly, they made their way to the finish line as the stadium in Barcelona burst into thunderous applause. Redmond didn’t win a medal, but he won something greater, he won the respect of the world. The scriptures say, ‘‘Run in such a way as to get the prize,” 1 Corinthians 9:24.

  Our champion this week is Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister from May 1937 to May 1940, whose name is linked with the policy of appeasement toward Adolf Hitler’s Germany in the period preceding World War II. Neville was the son of Joseph Chamberlain, British  businessman and former secretary of state for the colonies, Neville was also the younger half brother of the 1925 Nobel peace prize winner, Sir Austen Chamberlain – who was British foreign secretary from 1924 to 1929.

  Neville Chamberlain was born in Birmingham in March 1869, elected lord mayor of the city in 1915 and elected a conservative member of Parliament from 1919. He served as postmaster general (1922-23), Minister of Health (1923, 1924-29, 1931) and chancellor of the exchequer (1923-24, 1931-37). He became prime minister in 1937. In a futile attempt to sway Benito Mussolini’s Italy from German influence, Chamberlain barred British ships from the Mediterranean, recognizing Italian supremacy in Ethiopia.

  In an effort to prevent the outbreak of World War II, he acceded to Hitler’s demands which left Czechoslovakia defenceless. When Hitler seized Czechoslovakia in 1939, Chamberlain had to repudiate the Munich Agreement of 1938. He started peacetime military conscription for the first time in British history. Then Chamberlain took into his war cabinet his foremost critic – Winston Churchill as first lord of the admiralty, that is, the minister responsible for the imperial navy.

  After British defeat in Norway in 1940, Chamberlain lost the support of his party in Parliament and was forced to resign in May 1940. For his background as a soldier, the Queen appointed Winston Churchill as prime Minister to help her return peace to Europe. Chamberlain served Churchill loyally as lord president of the council till he died a few weeks later. My choice of Chamberlain is meant to rebut the Presidential Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe who said no leader ever resigned during war. Medical doctor Okupe is an example of putting square pegs in round holes, which has bedeviled public administration in Nigeria.