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Food for Living: Go the Extra Mile
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
“One of the most important principles of success is developing the habit of going the extra mile” – Napoleon Hill
“Going the extra mile is the habit of champions…it’s the key behavior that separates the professionals from the amateurs, and the champs form the chumps” – Gary Ryan Blair
The journey to greatness is not a joke. It’s not for the faint hearted because it takes a lot to be great. Whoever wishes to achieve success must dare to succeed. It’s either one dies trying to succeed or they don’t try at all, and still die. So, why not take the risk to succeed by going the extra mile.
Did you know that giving success a try is like wooing a lady. The worst one will get is a no, which is an indication to restrategise and start again, and apply the principle of going the extra mile. Going the extra mile is a strategic step in business, and a risk worth taking for the unfolding of maximum success.
If you ask a thousand and one persons, their desires in life, you will be surprised at the responses you will get. But if you ask them what they are willing to do to get to their desired destination, you will also be shocked to know that some of them, if not the majority of them, are not willing to go the extra mile. It’s sad to note that most people want to go to heaven, but they are not willing to die. How ironic can that be?
It’s sad to see promising people settling for less than they deserve. It’s pertinent to note that the top is scanty while the bottom is crowded. If you want to associate with the top 1%, you must distinguish yourself by going the extra mile. Per Gary Ryan Blair, “Average is over. Mediocrity is a death sentence. You must embrace the fact that for you to remain competitive, relevant and of value…you have no choice but to go the extra mile and always exceed expectations.”
Most of the successful people we celebrate today dared to succeed by going the extra mile. They didn’t succeed because they were lucky, though luck contributed to some extent, but the greater part of their success can be attributed to the extra work they did because the more they explored opportunities, the luckier they got.
If you truly want to succeed in life, you must be intentional in going the extra mile. Nothing happens in life if there’s no action. Every action comes with a corresponding reaction. When you go the extra mile, most people will see and reward you generously in due time.
On a personal note, I have taken the extra steps in the pursuit of success. Writing a weekly article is not a joke. Being an author of two books and a co-author is quite tasking, being interviewed by New York Times, being on television several times, partnering with the United Nations Development Programme amongst others did not come easy. All these acts didn’t happen overnight; they happened because I went the extra mile, and my extra work attracted the opportunities.
So, if you are interested in succeeding, you must be intentional in going the extra mile.
It’s instructive to note that your success in life will come because of the corresponding effort you are willing to put into your work. This is called going the extra mile. It should be noted that, on this extra mile journey, there are usually no traffic jams. It is a lonely stretch, and takes so much effort.
According to Gary Ryan Blair “The distance between those who achieve their goals consistently and those who spend their lives and careers merely following has everything to do with one’s ability to go the extra mile.” So, for those, who work in a corporate environment, the fastest way to get the attention of your boss is to go the extra mile. When you go the extra mile, management will notice you, your boss will notice you.
Gary Blair further stated that “It’s simply not enough to just show up and do your work. Superior performance is not, never has been, nor will it ever be, the by-product of ordinary efforts.” He further stated that “The masses are always foolishly on the lookout for a new gimmick, a shiny new performance hack, a shortcut…but the truth is, the quickest way to advance your career, earn trust, persuade people to buy from you and to be first in line for new opportunity is by developing the habit of going the extra mile.” — Gary Ryan Blair
Going the extra mile does not entail working extremely hard, but what it really means is doing just a little bit more strategically. So, if you are advised to work eight hours a day and you work ten hours, that’s extra mile; if you are supposed to resume work 9am and you resume 8am that’s extra mile; if you are supposed to leave 5pm and you leave 6 or 7pm, that’s extra time you can use to do some work. In all of these, your boss and management will notice you are investing in the company and in yourself and you might be surprised when you are rewarded with financial and managerial position.
Going the extra mile also means showing people you care. For instance, sometimes, people care less about your money, they need your presence and attention. In customer service, the extra mile means asking a customer if there’s any other thing you can help the person with. You can give your clients a little more to show appreciation. This helps to set you apart from them. According to Nelson Boswell, “Here is the simple but powerful rule… always give people more than they expect to get.” – Nelson Boswell
Going the extra mile in life and in your career, endeavor is not about fantasy. It takes love to go the extra mile for what you like. It’s on a few occasions some progressive minds engage in careers they don’t really like just to pay the bills. In some situations, when they get what they want, they tend to follow their passion. Gary Blair was right when he stated “Going the extra mile is about love; it’s a passionate obsession with excellence. It is the result of good intention, uncompromising standards, sincere effort, intelligent design, attention to detail and skillful execution.” — Gary Ryan Blair.
It is easy for one to say he’s passionate about a cause, but one might not be involved in any activity. It may surprise you to note that people see those that participate. The easiest way to show people you are interested or passionate about a cause is by showing your work.
Let me share a practical experience with you. In 2019, I was invited by Harvard University for an information session to study master’s in public administration program, from my understanding during the interview session, my trajectory path played a critical role in considering me for the admission because I have worked as a Case Manager, written articles, published a book, and had videos which portray my interest in leadership and human capacity development. Why is this important, despite studying taxation in New York Law School, I wasn’t passionate about the tax major.
Assuming I settled for a Taxation job, it will be hard for me to align my profession, vocation, and ministry. As a matter of fact, I turned down a good paying job by the New York City Department of Finance to work as a Tax Associate for a low paying Case Manager job which offered almost three times less pay compared to the New York City Department of Finance.
In retrospect, do I regret my decision, no, as a matter fact the Case Manager job has continued to serve as a litmus test to my passion for humanity. So, I’m going to ask you a question by Gary Blair, “What is the one thing you can do to persuade people that you are the one for the job, the one thing you can do to earn someone’s vote, the one thing you can do to persuade people to open the doors of opportunity? The answer is as simple as it is profound. Develop a reputation for going the extra mile.” The moral here is that whenever you go the extra mile, there’s this feeling one normally gets knowing fully, they have done their part for posterity to judge.
I will conclude with a quote from Gary Ryan Blair to assist you in going the extra mile. “To win big in life, the solution is simple. Go overboard…do everything you can to overwhelm, over-deliver and overcompensate, and you will overcome any obstacle that stands between you and the goal you desire.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design Your and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Each delay is perfectly fine, for we are within the safe hands of God – Madame Guyon
Many principles, other than perception, govern life and living, and they include, no pain, no gain; seed time and harvest time; Karma and gravity. There’s however, another principle called delayed gratification. A thorough understanding, and successful application of these principles will yield positive results.
But uniformed minds are still at sea as regards how the principles of life work. They feel and think life is a function of chance, connections, forces of the universe and divine providence. Yes, all these acts play a role in influencing how life operates, but the ultimate and universal truth is that, apart from God, life is governed by principles. Even nature made it possible for a woman to conceive for nine months all things being equal, before she is delivered of her child.
It is worthy of note that there are principles that are endearing to the heart. They are the principles of honesty, integrity, courage, humility, love, responsibility, service, and discipline; all these make one to be unique. People will respect and work with you when they know you, and what you represent. They will adjust to suit you.
Here are a few examples that illustrate life as governed by principles:
Spiritual Growth Principle:
This principle refers to a belief in something greater than oneself. It involves finding purpose, meaning, and inner strength through connecting with a higher power or connecting with one’s own inner wisdom. It is what you believe that will work for you. If you keep thinking about lack, the spirit of lack will gradually come to you without knowing. But if you are thinking about wealth, riches, abundance, the spirit of greatness will gradually attract opportunities that will usher you into the reign you desire and deserve.
Did you know one can have spiritual delays? You may be wondering how spiritual delay can affect you. You may have received a prophecy or proclamation from someone in authority, revelation via dream or even parental blessing; that’s very okay, but its manifestations will come through if you abide by the rules governing the revelations or proclamations. But when you decide to do otherwise, the blessings and opportunities will be delayed.
Spiritual principles work with the mindset. It attracts what it likes. Spiritual growth encourages individuals to cultivate gratitude, find peace within, and seek guidance and support in their recovery process.
The Principle of Service:
One of the best ways to get an opportunity is through service. Sometimes, opportunities come to you when you decide to intern, volunteer or even within communities. Trust me, people see people who participate. This principle works with leadership. You can’t be a great leader without being a good servant.
Through service, individuals not only assist others in their own recovery journey but also experience personal growth and fulfillment. By extending a helping hand, individuals create a sense of community, find inspiration, and reinforce their own commitment to sobriety. Service can take various forms, such as sharing experiences, providing support, or volunteering organizations.
These principles serve as guiding lights for individuals navigating the path of addiction recovery, emphasizing self-reflection, spiritual growth, and helping others.
One of the principles of life that is not properly understood is the principle of delayed success. As human beings, we sometimes experience delays in our business, academic, marriage, career or vocation. We may be thinking it’s over, but it’s not yet over, rather, it’s been packaged for a better time. One may be thinking life, and circumstances may be working against their interest, but that’s not the true position of things. According to Joel Osteen, it’s a setup for success. When life doesn’t go as planned, instead of questioning the moment, learn to appreciate the moment, especially when you have done what you are supposed to do.
To understand the relativity of destiny and delayed success, one’s destiny can’t be denied, at most, it can be delayed, and if it’s delayed, it’s for your own interest. One may be exploring an opportunity which is yet to manifest, rather than become anxious and desperate, be happy it didn’t happen yet because you may not know what would have happened assuming it happened.
Furthermore, to appreciate how delayed success works, as human beings, sometimes, waiting can be traumatic. This is because delays can make one to be unnecessarily anxious, impatient, and annoying. If it is not properly managed, it can cause more harm than good. Sometimes, we may ask ourselves, for how long will this suffering end, we fail to understand that delay can be orchestrated by the creator or universe to teach us humility, serenity, strength, and patience.
Did you know that delayed success if not properly managed can affect future opportunities especially when one is concerned about the past as opposed to enjoying the present? If you live in the past, you are likely to be stuck in the “why” mode. That means you always think about why things happened. That’s a recipe for unhappiness.
If you live in the future, you live in the “what if” mode. That state of mind causes anxiety about everything that might happen in the future. Again, that’s a recipe for living a timid life. How about living in the present mode and enjoying the vicissitudes life is bringing to you? You may stand a chance to learn one or two things.
In conclusion, as you journey towards life, endeavor to learn the associated principles, and one you experience delay, also learn the associated lessons because, above all, the principles will help you to relate with any situation.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design Your and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
The much awaited annual National Security Conference and Awards of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), has finally arrived with the who is who in the Nigerian Security, cybersecurity, media and technology sector headlining the all important intellectual discourse.
Scheduled to hold at the Ballroom of the prestigious Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, the Conference, with the theme, CONNECTING THE DOT BETWEEN IDENTITY TRACKING AND NATIONAL SECURITY, has been described by the Association’s national president, Mr. Oki O. Samson, as the mother of all Security discourses in recent times.
Speaking in a statement signed by the Association’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Eric Elezuo, the president noted that security giants in the Nigerian body polity are expected to grace the event. Some of them are the Honourable Minister of State for Police Affairs, Hajia Imaam Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who will be the Distinguished Keynote Speaker, having dedicated her service years to projection of intelligence gathering and extraordinary policing, and the hardworking and he for she Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
Others are the Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, Board Member of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, who has remained a Security giant, leading Lagos State to the forefront of perfect safety and funding of agencies through provision of apparatuses and equipment required for excellent policing; the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida and Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Aare Dele Momodu.
Also making the list of notable personalities expected at the meet are Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed A. Audi; Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun; the Managing Director, Executive Trainers Ltd, Dr. Mrs. Ajoke Ogunsan; Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs, CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NASENI, Engr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu and Senator Aliyu Ahmed Wadada.
Also confirmed among the attendees are Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), CM Shehu Mohammed; GMD/Chairman of Adron Homes and Properties, Aare (Dr.) Adetola Emmanuel-King; Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Zone 2, AIG Adegoke Fayoade; Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (Retd); Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Ishola Olarenwaju Olawale; MD/CEO, Lagos State Bus Service Limited, Mr. Idowu Oguntona; CEO, Lagos Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service, (LACVIS), Prince Segun Obayendo; Board Member of Abia State Security Trust Fund, ASSTF, Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoma; and Commander, TRACE Ogun State, Commander (Dr.) Abdulfatai Olaseni Ogunyemi.
The statement hinted that the 2024 National Conference, which is in its 5th edition, is an avenue for the stakeholders in the private and public security sectors to brainstorm, and proffer solutions to the perennial security challenges that have bedeviled the nation across the regions.
“This is going to be a total shutdown in security conferences as an array of security giants are scheduled to attend and lend their professional opinions to the rising insecurity in the country, and provide sustainable solutions.
“The Association has put in so much in organizing the conference, and the impact is expected to arouse a new consciousness in safety, and a redefinition in security awareness.
“It is about connecting the severance dots that exists between identity tracking and national security towards ensuring that diverse security agencies synergise to protect the security architecture of the nation,” the statement noted.
Other personalities expected at the annual fiesta are GMD/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji; MD/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna; GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Oliver Alawuba; GMD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; Founder, Mountain of Fire Ministries (MFM), Prof. Daniel K. Olukoya; Head of National Office, WAEC Nigeria, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut; Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, Special Adviser to the Senate President on Legal Matters; Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN.
Executive Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Mayor Hon. Dele Osinowo; Commandant, NSCDC, FCT Command, Commandant (Dr.) Olusola Odumosu; General Manager, LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki. Evangelist Ebuka Obi of Zion Movement, CEO, Badinson Security Services, Dr. Matthew Ibadin and Force PRO, Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The event starts at 10am prompt.
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has granted a N150 million bail to a former governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku.
Ishaku was arraigned on Monday alongside Bello Yero, former permanent secretary, bureau for local government and chieftaincy affairs.
Both men are being prosecuted on a 15-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds.
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” when all the charges were read to them.
At the court session on Thursday, the defendants’ respective counsels moved their bail applications.
Rotimi Jacobs, prosecution counsel, said he would not object since the defendants have been granted administrative bail.
Sylvanus Oriji, presiding judge, granted the bail application.
He held that the defendants must produce two sureties each in like sum. The two sureties must be responsible citizens of Nigeria and must be residents within the FCT, with verifiable office and residential addresses.
One of the sureties produced by each defendant must be a director in the civil service.
The defendants must not travel outside the country without the court’s permission and must deposit their travel documents to the court.
Ishaku, 70, was governor of Taraba from 2015 to 2023.
In July 2023, the EFCC invited the former governor over some financial transactions conducted during his spell in office. He was later released on bail.
On September 27, 2024, Ishaku and Yero were arrested and detained by the commission.
