What you need to get everything else

You have probably heard the saying, “you don’t know what you don’t know”. I have always known that equal opportunities do not translate to equal outcomes. If you give two people the same opportunities, life has taught us that one will eventually turn out better than the other. It is just a matter of time. I also know that having a better head-start in life is a great thing, but it does not always mean that the one who started better will necessarily end better. I observed a common attribute of those who do very well for themselves. This attribute is always present irrespective of their level of education, family antecedent, previous or present opportunities or even whether they are currently successful or not. It is a fact that those who get ahead usually know what an average person does not know and do what an average person does not do.

As simple as it sounds, one of the key components of success in life is the ability to know what you need to know when you need to know it. Many people live in ignorance, and we know that ignorance is not a virtue. Let me tell you a secret; a secret that I discovered and have consistently applied in my own life. What you need to become a successful person is not as big as you think. If you can understand this secret, it will transform everything you do and you will have the ability to take charge of your success. Having knowledge is not enough. What you need to get everything else is to know slightly more and do slightly more than the average person in your area of endeavour. The key is being above average, having something beyond the regular.
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In my book, “Pursuit of Personal Leadership”, I mentioned that you do not need the genius of Albert Einstein or the artistry of Beethoven to get ahead in life. What you need is a little more than the average person. It is a push beyond what everyone else is doing. In fact, having better information than the majority will start you off. Then doing a little extra will take you far. It is the little extra that makes you extraordinary. I have seen people who do not appear talented or sophisticated lead and succeed in big undertakings. It is about standing out from the crowd to become outstanding.

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Actions for the week

1. Evaluate your level of knowledge. Do you have more than average knowledge in your endeavour? Determine to know more. Seek more knowledge.
2. Start pushing the boundaries, doing more than average, and committing more time and effort in whatsoever you do. The result will surprise you.
3. Share this message with those in your network.

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A quote to remember
Knowledge and courage take turns at greatness. – Baltasar Gracian

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Until another time,
Dele Ola, Award-Winning Author of Be A Change Agent
​Click HERE to learn about and get copies of Dele’s Books