News
The Power of “Zero”!
By Tolulope A. Adegoke
“Don’t ever say somebody is useless. You are not even insulting the person; you are insulting the God that created the person.” – Chris Imafidon
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron made an odd bet with Chris Imafidon, a Nigerian-born professor at Oxford University, a few years ago. At the age of six, Imafidon’s kid had recently completed the UK’s General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) test. Because GCSE is mostly taken by teens in secondary school, Imafidon’s daughter’s performance was a magnificent feat that surprised the whole country and the globe at large.
The Prime Minister, on the other hand, saw the youngster’s accomplishment as not entirely surprising — after all, her father had been a highly clever scholar himself. However, Imafidon made it plain to the Prime Minister that his daughter’s success was due to excellent care and mentorship rather than genetics. Still, the Prime Minister was skeptical; in his opinion, those who excelled in academics or in life did so because they were born to be exceptional.
However, in order to demonstrate to the Prime Minister that everyone has the potential to succeed with the right attitude and motivation, Imafidon asked the British leader to allow him to work on the worst performing students in the worst performing schools in the UK for just nine months to see the difference. Cameron, of course, brushed it off as a joke, and hence the bet – 25 million dollars for whomever was correct.
To the Prime Minister’s surprise, the chosen kids had been changed from appearing slackers and never-do-wells to geniuses and go-getters nine months later!
Life-Changing Secrets
What was the seasoned professor’s secret that gave him such confidence, to the point of placing such a massive bet? And how did he become so skilled at changing “dullards” into “prodigies”? In fact, when everyone’s attention was focused on the highest performing students at the University of Ilorin (Nigeria) convocation event in 2014, Imafidon purposely requested the so-called lowest performing students so he could grant them scholarships — much to everyone’s surprise. Why, once again, did he have to do so?
The following is an answer he provided in a recent interview, and I want you to pay close attention to it because it lays the groundwork for the life-changing truths you will find throughout this write-up (leadership manual):
“Shakespeare claimed that some individuals are born great, while others earn greatness, and yet others have greatness implanted in them, implying that when God creates people, He creates some one way and others another.” God is not idle to create humans with half brains. Never, ever call someone worthless. You’re not even attacking the individual; you’re insulting the God who created the individual.”
That is the primary point conveyed in this article (leadership manual). Nobody was born with the intention of living and dying as nobody (without fulfilling purpose). According to psychologists and educationists, every kid enters the world with a blank mind (tabula rasa) that is hungry to be nourished and grown into something extraordinary. Unfortunately, very few individuals take the time to work on themselves so that they may live and die as heroes. Why is this the case? Because they are the ‘few’ who choose to be empowered and encouraged to make a mark on earth in order to leave their footprints in the sky, while the remaining majority are frequently too uneducated or careless about their latent potentials to take the required measures that will release their greatness.
A Pleasant Surprise
Contrary to popular belief, zero may be compared to a number (0) (i.e. pregnant with aspirations and ambitions, or an endeavor); it does not indicate ‘nothing.’ The reason for this is that, while the number ‘nothing’ may have no hope or represent hopelessness, the number ‘zero’ has hope because it is a feminine number (i.e. having a tendency to become greater or better, which, when empowered by applying some strategic principles, has the power to reproduce other greater numbers until infinity!
This indicates that, as a feminine number, zero has the intrinsic ability to mother and multiply other numbers when empowered! In other words, zero is a latently loaded entity that, when properly enabled, is capable of surpassing expectations.
You may be asking how this relates to you. It’s right here. It’s probable that others around you are making fun of you in certain parts of your life. They see you as a zero, believing that you are worthless and can achieve nothing major in life. The good news is that you are not nothing as long as you have God’s breath of life in you. Yes, it may look that you are a zero since you have not accomplished anything big in your life; nonetheless, I repeat – you are not nothing!
Nothing signifies “nothing at all.” But you are here! God created you in a specific manner to exist for a reason. This is the secret you must uncover and awaken to.
Here’s what I mean: A zero can only be worthless for as long as it stays unchanged. That zero, with the correct efforts and connections, may, however, transcend other numbers. Only when you stop striving to succeed, when you stop arming yourself with the appropriate information and abilities, and interacting with the right people, can you genuinely be called a failure. I tell you that no matter what others have said about you or how many times you have failed or “messed up,” you can nevertheless, like the historical Jabez, who was labeled as a zero in life, become much more “honorable” than everyone else (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).
Rejoice, my buddy. Whatever label of negativity has been assigned to you, you must simply refuse to accept it. You must not stay on the floor, no matter how many times you have failed! Only zeros that are not enabled by ‘additions and multiplications’ will stay fixed. Don’t stay stuck in obscurity, defeat, regret, and humiliation. Rise up and take charge!
Thank you all for reading. I trust that you have been activated!
Watch out for the Book titled: “The Power of an Empowered Zero” (Awakening the Giant Within You) by Tolulope A. Adegoke. Foreword by Dr Yomi Garnett (CEO/Chancellor, Royal Biographical Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania U.SA., U.K., Abuja, Nigeria.) Edited by Ola Aboderin.
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
A federal judge in the United States, on Thursday, put a temporary block on President Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict birthright citizenship.
The ruling imposes a 14-day halt on the enforcement of one of the most controversial executive orders Trump signed hours after being sworn into office for a second term.
It comes after lawsuits were filed by a total of 22 states, two cities and numerous civil rights groups.
“This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” senior US District Judge John Coughenour was reported as saying during the hearing in Washington State.
“I’ve been on the bench for over four decades, I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one is,” said Coughenour, who was appointed to the bench by a Republican president, Ronald Reagan.
Birthright citizenship is fundamental to America’s national identity, with the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution decreeing that anyone born on US soil is a citizen.
It says, in part: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
Trump’s order was premised on the idea that anyone in the US illegally, or on a visa, was not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the country, and therefore excluded from this category.
AFP
The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital has upheld the death sentence of Ramon Adedoyin, a prominent businessman and hotelier, for his involvement in the murder of one Timothy Adegoke, a former postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, the court affirmed the earlier verdict of the Osun State High Court, which had sentenced Adedoyin to death.
“The judgment of the High Court of Osun State stands. Adedoyin’s appeal is dismissed in part,” the court declared in part.
The Court of Appeal, however, set aside some aspects of the lower court’s orders, including the forfeiture of the Hilton Hotel and the order for Adedoyin to pay for the education of Adegoke’s children.
Furthermore, the court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to impose penalties outside the statutory provisions
Adegoke’s death was reported in November 2021 after his corpse was found at the Hilton Honours Hotel in Ile-Ife, Osun State, where he had lodged.
The hotelier had travelled from Abuja for an examination at a distance learning centre in Moro, Osun State on November 5 of that year.
He had checked into the hotel but was reported missing after two days. However, Adegoke’s body was found days later, leading to a probe that linked his death to Adedoyin and others.
In May 2023, Adedoyin and others were sentenced to death after they were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to murder.
But dissatisfied with the judgement, Adedoyin approached the Appeal court to dismiss the sentence and conviction.
The court of appeal, on Thursday, however, upheld the conviction and death sentence of the hotelier.
