BORN AND STRUGGLED AS A LOSER BUT DIED A CHAMPION

There is a common saying, "No condition is permanent", which I find to be absolute truth. We have seen great people fall and lowly people rise. The struggle of life is inevitable but it is convertible.

Rev. R. W. Shambach stated on the radio this afternoon that caught my attention, "you may be knocked down but you are not knocked out." We nave seen in boxing tournaments, person who were knocked down on few occasions and at the count of three or four and even nine, they got up to continue the fight. Eventually, they turned out as winners. The way you are rated counts a lot. Your end must be better than your beginning. Someone once said, "you may be losing the battle but you will win the war."

I would mention a few people in life who began woefully but ended praisefully. As someone puts it, "I have come into this world too silently, but I will leave with a loud noise." This is true of many renowned people. It was at their departure that they received the loudest ovation of the lives. There were either political, civil or religious figures.

Ayo-Born to idol worshippers, his early life was turbulent that he fled from school to start farming. Later returning to school, he passed a few examinations but failed the others which made him leave school for apprenticeship appointment. He tried blacksmithing and graduated without work tools which made him seek job as a caterpillar driver. He later was called to preaching he became one of the leading fathers of Pentecostalism and faith in Nigeria. He died as a father of nations.

Abraham Lincoln- Born in a cabin. Lost his mother an early age. Had little formal education. Fought in wars. Lost his wife. Had unsuccessful ventures. Defeated in state legislature race. Remarried and only one out of four children reached adulthood. Disappointed in a quest for Federal office, and also lost bid for U.S.Senate. He later won Presidential election but fought wars to survive. Many Army Generals disappointed him. Threatened all around, yet he was re-elected as President. He steered the Union to victory in the American Civil War and Abolished Slavery. The sixteenth American President was Assassinated.

Rubin "Hurricane" Cater- A man who, in the prime of his boxing career finds himself wrongfully convicted of murder. sentenced to life in prison Cater's published memoir, the Sixteenth round, inspired a teenager (Vicellous Rean Shannon) from Brooklyn and three Canadian activists (Deborah Kara Unger, John Hannah, Liev Schreiber) who believed in the truth, to join forces with Cater to prove his innocence. Their extraordinary efforts ultimately secure his release, leaving "Hurricane" to sum up his 20 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit by simply stating, "Hate got me into this place, love got me out."

What more shall I say of Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr., Bishop Benson Idahosa and lots more. These people and many others made history adorable. You must not suffer in vain. You must attain championship and make posterity admirable.

OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING

I was listening to the radio today and there was a guest speaker on talk radio, I believe he was from Atlanta Georgia, and the guest speaker used this statement, "it is easier to obtain than to maintain".

These words penetrated my inner self, because I knew that most of us do not still have all we got along our life journey. Things (personal possesions) do not last long in our hands. We do not even stay long enough in positions. Most of us are perambulators, we are into rigmaroling or better put as ragman rolling. We are not set for a course.

Ask yourself, for how long you kept letters from peers, gifts from buddies, notes from school, books from school grades/levels, sermons heard from pulpits and so on. You must not wear out before what you hold withers. THis is what makes a champion remain a champion. He has to hold on to the title to remain an undisputed champion. Someone may say, "I could not help it. "THis is rubbish! Things that leave you sprawling are the same that make others stand." Nobody would blame you for a situation you could not handle, they only blame you for situations you failed to handle. You let it happen by failing to follow instructions or laid down principals.

Principals makes you a principal. If you move without instruction you head for destruction. You can only maintian what you obtain by observing rules and putting them into play. If you go free-lance and out of range, you will get missed.

The longer you stay up there, the more respect you earn. It is better to rise and fall a hundred times before you attain the top than to get up there and fall once. THe higher you go the fatal the fall would be, so hold on. Just "keep on keeping on." Retirement is honourable, resignation is acceptable, but falling is terrible trust me. There is no time for Jack and Jill because once you fall everyone sees you rolling down the hill and they will never try to let you forget it.

As I shared with a longtime friend today, "I do not need your permission to change!" The last time we saw each other you still viewed me in that light. I guess, the problem is not me but you because you haven't even changed your mindset.

You don't need anybodys permission to change! When you change most people don't and sometimes they will pass that feeling onto you. Don't fall for it you are not the same.

THE CHAMPION AND THE CHALLENGER

THE CREATION OF A CHAMP



I do not think all who became recognized champions just started as champions. They "BECAME" champions. They rose to the place of championship, this is what you must not take away from whatever you define in your mind.The champion today was the amateur of yesterday. He once lacked experience and competence. He pursued without proficiency. One who showed talents but was a mere tyro. A blunderer who struggled hard without professionalism. The champion today was the trainee yesterday. He took pains to arrive where he is today. He learnt bearable and unbearable lessons from the lovable and unlovable.



The champion today was a servant yesterday. he served a champion or superior to know that path to superiority. In boxing, he could be the sparring partner to a champion. He is used to correcting the mistakes of the reigning champ. All the skills of the reigning one are tested on him. This is why I personally do not run from assignments, because every tested blow on me makes me skillful and knowledgeable on how to deal with a situation in live.The champion today was at one time left to fend for himself. He once had no one to depend upon. He struggled all alone. But today he fights for the rights and interests of others who need help. The champion is the one who came from the back position to take the first prize.

Creating A Champion

I say that champions are made. You do not inherit championship because it come with contest, and there are may contenders. Your father may pass his properties over to you but not championship. You can ask your father for money and he will issue a cheque, but if you ask him for championship, he will mold you. He will make it out of you. The undermentioned can help you become a champion.

• DESIRE - This is to long for something. You must have a strong intention for the top before you get there. I even think there is some action desire, which make it stronger than a 'wish.'

• WILL - This is the expression of determination and insistence. It is the positive aspect of your mind. It is your choice due to capability

• COMMITMENT- This is a deliberate action. When you believe in something and you crave for it, you have to put in efforts riding on the wings of purpose. It may be the last thing you have that will be committed.

• MOTIVATION- This is the force or stimulant within you. You may not feel excitement but you can imagine it the during the testing period. Know that reason for every step you take in life, then it will be difficult for anything to drive you backwards.

• DISCIPLINE- This is self-control. You must live with rules or system of rules that will govern your conduct. This will make you abstain from pleasures that may cost you your championship even if you get it.

• TRAINING- This is the formation process. It takes you through drilling that makes you capable of handling issues leading to success. Many people avoid this, yet they desire success. This is the stage of building the mind, spirit and body against all odds.

• FITNESS- This is the state of being could physically and mentally. You must be put in a suitable state to suffer anything and yet survive. Wimps can be CHAMPIONS but champions are no WIMPS!

• FEAR- This is part which may not necessarily be visible. A champion breaths heavily not because of exhaustion or exertion of energy but because of the desire to retain his valuable position. A champion may not fear to die but he fears to lose. It is this aspect that makes him work harder.

• FEARSOMENESS- This is the state that keeps opponents afar off. A champion must cause panic and fear in the minds of opponents. The way you talk on one opponent must scare others on the queue.

• Leaping into the realm of Championship terrifies some people. But you must know that you still live in fear even if you do not step up for exploits in life. It is better to step up in fear than to sit down in worries. I do not see anything work with trying your hands on the good thoughts passing through your mind. There is no sin in trying. Someone once said, "it is risky not taking risks." Winston Churchill says, "the price of greatness is responsibility."