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Food for Living: The Need to Add Value to Yourself
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friend,
No one likes a liability. No one wishes to be a liability. These are undisputable facts in our contemporary society. As a result, anyone without a value is considered an anathema in the scheme of affairs. He can neither help himself nor someone else.
Regardless of how one sees life, value is at the centre of any assistance programmed to or fro any productive mind. Most persons, who need assistance, however, find it difficult to show a genuine reason such assistance should be rendered to them. It is worthy of note that most resourceful and selfless leaders who empower entrepreneurs, donate to Non-Government Organizations and support worthy causes, do it because they see value in the work. The reason is not farfetched: it is easy to build on existing foundation as opposed to breaking new ground without any track record.
Without a iota of doubt, free lunch is not guaranteed anywhere, and a good number of generally put their mouths where their money is, except one percent of the most celebrated people. Only selfless people who can support without any form of attachment are on rare occasions open to valueless adventure. These set of people can support someone who can’t pay them for the service or opportunity. It is pro bono opportunity.
Even at that, anyone who wishes to assist another generally has a reason for doing so; if for nothing else, at least they believe the creator will reward and favour them.
What therefore, is value? Value can be defined as the importance, worth, or usefulness of something. It can also be seen as a person’s principles or standards of behaviour. From another angle, it can also be the monetary worth of a commodity or property. Just like we all have different taste buds, value means different things to different people. What Mr. A appreciates might be what Mr. Be detests. Value is indeed priceless and, in some cases, it cannot be estimated.
However, Value in this context, means offering a service or selling a product.
As a Human Capacity coach with expertise on self-discovery, most times I come across youths and career professionals who need opportunity to thrive. Sometimes, I see people begging for money, sometimes, I see people who would like to meet their idol (mentor, celebrity, benefactor, etc.), but they don’t know how to navigate the process.
Each time I come across such people, I ask them several questions like, who are you? What’s your talent/gift? What can you do with relative ease? What makes you happy? If you are told, don’t work again in your life, what will you do with your time? What kind of causes are you passionate about? All these questions are targeted at knowing what the person likes to do, and what brings fulfilment to him.
What uninformed minds don’t understand is that one can literally get anything he wants in life if he know hows to cultivate his value.
For instance, anyone, who wishes to meet an influential person, must in the first step know what that person likes. He must come to terms with the fact that the person supports any of the causes relating to education, good governance, youth, health, women empowerment, sports, etc. It will be wise to know how your value can play a role in alleviating the problem or challenges that sector or cause is experiencing and see how you can solve the problem by adding value to the sector.
Hear this:
When you know the value you offer, and how to present the value to the desired people, the world will resonate with your service. The reason most people are poor is simply because they are not solving the right problem for the right people. One of the major reasons most people are neglected is because they don’t have any substantial value to offer. When you have value, people will generally be attracted to you.
In my personal relationship with the high and mighty in the society, I have discovered that nobody is too busy to pick your call or respond to your message. If they don’t pick your call instantly or respond to your message, they always find time to revert when you are a person of value to them. Your goal is to be sugar that ants will naturally be attracted to.
Proper use of value can attract wealth, opportunities, and relevance. When you know your value, you won’t be priced cheap. Most of the great people the world has celebrated have either been able to make a great impact in the world or solved a problem with their value. It should be noted that no value is higher or has more relative importance than another.
If you can sing, dance, teach, write, act or draw, you can literally use it and get whatever you need. I strongly believe that any day you discover your gift, that’s the day you become a millionaire. It should be noted that talent is not enough to make one valuable; hard work should also play a role. In addition, a progressive mind must endeavour to hone their talents by seeking ways to improve themselves because we live in a competitive world.
If you are in the academic space, continuous education should be your friend. If you are in the training space, taking certification classes should be your friend. If you are in the entertainment industries, getting theoretical knowledge should be your ally. All these added benefits help to add value to your life. Sometimes, it’s the extra work you do that adds value to your life or craft that makes you valuable and priceless because of the experience you have acquired.
Value can either be in the form of a product or service. A cursory look at the Forbes list of billionaires, will reveal that all the billionaires on the list either have a product or service they are offering to the world.
Sometimes, price is used to know the value a commodity possesses. The price of a Toyota Camry is different from a Mercedes Benz, Lamborghini, Tesla, Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Porsche, etc.
Do you know your value can be used to determine your expertise in a particular field? Your expertise does not have to be related to a degree or years of experience. Your expertise can come from your unique perspective or approach to your craft, your knowledge of your industry or a particular field career due to your gift or talent you pose.
When you know your value, your next big target will be to use your value to solve a problem in order to be compensated. Your value is not meant to be a hobby, rather, it should be horned for the service of humanity. You must understand the market to know how to market your value.
In conclusion, as you sojourn through life, endeavour to seek ways to add value to your life. Whether you are single, married, an entrepreneur, career professional, skilled or worker, the more value you have, the more opportunities, resources and relevance you will attract. This is simply because we live in a competitive economy. Nobody is indispensable in life. Never believe you are the best because somebody somewhere is competing for your position.
Isn’t it true therefore, that it’s easier to get first position, but it’s more difficult to remain in first position? Hence the reason one should endeavour to continually improve himself by getting additional value
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 and Unleash Your Destiny. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
Impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has described the corruption allegations against him as “fictitious and unsubstantiated”.
Speaking during a welcome rally at his residence in GRA, Ikeja on Saturday, Obasa maintained that he was not afraid of being impeached but emphasised that due process was not followed.
The former Speaker alleged that his removal was orchestrated while he was away, and accused the state commissioner of police of aiding the process.
He claimed security agents, led by the police commissioner, invaded the assembly complex and his homes in Agege and Ikeja, locking his family indoors with over 200 officers present.
Obasa dismissed allegations of misappropriation.
He mocked claims that a gate construction had cost N16 billion, saying, “Is it the wall of Jericho?”
He said: “I am not afraid of being removed, after all, it is not my father’s chieftaincy title. I am representing my people and they have returned me six times. If you want to do anything, do it well.
“They did the removal all because I was out of the country. Lagos is a special place, we cannot denigrate the state.
The former Speaker cited the case of the former speaker, Rt. Hon Jokotola Pelumi.
He said when Pelumi was removed, he was in the assembly and “we did not invite policemen.
“When my sister, former deputy speaker of the House, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho was removed, we did not invite the police.”
Obasa said an innocent person should not be discredited, and there must be proof of allegations showing exactly what he has done.
“The Lagos State House of Assembly is above common standard of excellence.
“I appreciate the members of the governance advisory council and Governor Babajide Olusola Aanwo-Olu of the state. He is my brother and he always calls me his younger brother.”
Obasa was impeached on January 13 by more than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative house over alleged misconduct and sundry offences.
His Deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately elected the new speaker, becoming the first female to take charge of the legislative body in the State.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed that 38 persons, including seven crew members, were injured when a United Airlines plane made an emergency landing in Lagos on Friday morning.
The Boeing 787-8 flight with 245 passengers was en route to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), in the United States, from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, when it developed problems midair and was forced to return to the airport.
There were also 11 crew members – eight attendants and three pilots – on the plane.
The FAAN Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, who confirmed the incident through a statement, said all passengers and crew disembarked safely.
She, however, said four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries.
According to her, 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries.
The statement read: “The United Airlines Boeing 787-800 departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, at 11:59pm on Thursday, but made air return and landed safely at 3.22am on Friday.
“On board were 245 adults and 11 crew members.
“The team of Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services, Aviation Medical, and Aviation Security were already at the gate when the aeroplane parked for deboarding at D31 without incident, and the door was opened at 3:37am.
“While all passengers and crew disembarked safely, four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries, and an additional 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries.
“The rescue team responded swiftly and effectively, having been on alert and standby.
“Aviation medical ambulances transported the injured passengers, some to the MMA Clinic and others to the headquarters clinic.”
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
There’s no doubt that human beings by nature are insatiable. When we get one opportunity, we always look for another. When we attain one height, we always look for another accomplishment. Isn’t it true that the end of one mountain is the beginning of another.
However, I don’t think it’s selfish for anyone to dare to succeed.
Being ambitious doesn’t make one an opportunist or disloyal. It all depends on one’s perception or outlook to life. It’s just natural for one to dream big. It’s only ugly when the process one chooses to achieve his desires becomes dirty and nasty.
According to a former Nigerian presidential candidate and seasoned Economist, Mr. Peter Obi, “if you must be referred to as “Your Excellency”, then the process through which you arrived in office must be excellent”.
If you desire to be reckoned with on the journey of existence, you must be legitimately hungry for success. One’s hunger for success will facilitate the drive to accomplish great tasks despite daunting obstacles posing as challenges.
When one has this mindset, one will not be bothered by the noise which serves as obstacles and challenges along the way. Negative and weak minds are always concerned on why something won’t work. They tend to focus their energy and reasons on the obstacles facing them. But great and productive minds always focus their energy on the reasons why it will work. This is the spirit of an insatiable mind who is a goal- getter.
It’s instructive to note that we can’t please everyone. According to Bill Cosby, a famous actor, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.” Isn’t it true that when you talk, people will still talk about you, when you don’t talk, people will talk about you, so whether you talk or not, people will still judge you, so, do what’s best for you. There’s nothing you can do to please human beings. Your best option is to live your best life.
To understand how the insatiable nature of man works, one must be oneself. You don’t have to “please” anyone. Be yourself, and don’t try to be like anyone just to curry favour. It’s important to note that when you are yourself, the people that matter will come through for you, and the people that don’t matter will gradually find the bearing in another space because those that truly care don’t bother and those that bother don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.
Life has truly taught me to focus on the important things of life as opposed to the mundane things. It’s truly sad to see people spending more time on the little things of life, and spending little time on the important things of life. That’s just a misplaced priority.
When you are yourself, the best people can do is to copy or imitate your style. They can never imitate your creativity nor can take your originality from you.
We live in a world or society where people don’t generally care or show empathy. Most people tend to live around themselves, their family, and close associates. They generally find it hard to lift a finger to assist others for reasons best known to them. Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka once said, “we live in a wicked generation”, re-echoing the voices of a lot of people of the world. Some people in authority just have criminal expertise in amassing wealth of opportunities meant for the citizens without thinking of the citizens they are meant to serve.
It’s worthy of note that not everyone will like you nor support your work, but when you find people who truly care about you; please hold them tight. This is because despite having family members you have shown love and compassion, they might not still appreciate you even if you lay your life for them, they will still find something to say. Again, this is the insatiable nature of man.
It’s okay for everyone not to like you, normalize living your life for God, yourself, family and those that care about you. If everyone likes you, you have a problem.
Did you know that you can get a new family from friends, strangers, and acquaintances? These sets of people might appreciate you more than your own family members. They might not demand or under appreciate you like your family members and close friends or associates. Any little support you give them will be highly appreciated. Their focus is to see you do better.
In conclusion, as you desire to succeed in life, never give in to failure until you have made your last attempt, and never make your last attempt until you succeed. This literally means whatever you desire, dream it, think it, say it, and believe you can achieve it. This principle is generally applicable to relationships, businesses, family, personal and professional development.
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
