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Planning actually begins before 2017 hits not on the 1st. Β I see that happen too often where everything shuts down and people wait till January 1st – like January 1st comes with some major changes or something. Β But guess what I discovered over the years…
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a. Β The sun will still rise – the same way it rose all through the year;
b. Β The sun will still set – the same way it set all through the year; and
c. Β You will still be YOU!
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Not a brand new You like you have always promised yourself you will become once the clock strikes 12 on the 1st of each year. Β Not a different you! Β Still the same fabulous YOU! Β SO why must you wait till the 1st to live your dreams or do what you’ve always wanted to do?! Β As my favorite quote goes… Β
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“You are the You that Makes You the You that You are!”Β
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Besides many people seem to have forgotten that 2017 is just next week! Β So why waste another minute hoping to change this in the New Year when you can start NOW. Β AND guess what?! Β You still have (what today is 23rd right?!) 8 WHOLE DAYS to make things work before the New Year hits!
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It has been a really tough year for a lot of us! Β The economy, the crime rate, the lack of power, the people who have duped you (oh yes – I have been through it at least three times this year – the Wajus, the Oluokuns and the Johns of this world who were paid to do a job but never delivered) BUT despite all, I still somehow, managed to make it work. Β And we are still trying to make it work! Β NOW is the time to learn from past mistakes and have a concrete plan (well as concrete as can be) for the New Year.
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So how do YOU make a plan for 2017? Β Well… without sounding like aΒ motivational speaker or anything – that’s not what this is about. Β I am merely speaking to those who have asked me this particular question relating how to start off something in 2017!
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This is what I’m doing so maybe it can work for you!
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http://emilysquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/EmilysQuotes.Com-visions-desire-need-reason-Audre-Lorde.jpg
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1. Β Start with this: – your desires! Β As this image says, it shapes your vision. Β
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What do you hope to achieve in the near future?! Β Not 2017! Β Think about yourself NOW. Β What do you wish you were doing? Β What have you always wanted to do?! Β Remember, we still have 9 days to make it work! Β Is it to learn fashion? Β Is it to start a business? Β Is it to leave your job or that abusive relationship – be it work, spouse or friend. Β Be specific! Β
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BecauseΒ it didn’t happen before nowΒ shouldn’t depress you. Β 2 projects that I was working on thatΒ looked so bleakΒ earlier in the YearΒ suddenly all came together in the last week or 2! Β Imagine if I had told myself “oh nothing happens in December, I’ll wait till 2017”, I would not have made those huge milestones. Β And 9 days is just a few days short of 2 weeks! Β Plenty of time to still make things happen!
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2. Β Pick Your Catchphrase for the Year NOW!
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You don’t have to wait till 31st December crossover service or wait till what the church tells you your phrase for the year should be. Β That’s living in a Fool’s Paradise in my opinion. Β Those things are too general in nature. Β Pick yours NOW based on No. 1 and stick to it! Β I already have mine and I bet you’re dying to know what it is! Β Haha! Β
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Well, I’ll tell you! Β Actually, I have 2 (whoever said I had to have 1) but I’ll share just 1! Β
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2017 is my “Year of Praise & Thanksgiving”Β
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It might seem very abstract to you but it makes too much sense to me and it ties in directly into No 1! Β I already know the exact things I want to achieve so all it takes for me is to work towards it.Β
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And based on that, I did No 3!
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3. Β Changed my phone’s ringtone!Β
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Haha! Β WhatΒ better way to create a “neural pathway” (a la Pastor Poju’sΒ favorite term) of your vision than to listen to it every single time! Β It gets imprinted in your memory!
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Praise comes when you hit a milestone or when you WIN! Β So based on my specific goals for 2017, I plan to WIN at each of them. Β Of course, it takes a lot of prayers but I know God has my back so… I just have to do my part.
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Truth be told, changing my ringtoneΒ happened by accident but that’s just the way God works right?! Β But remember it all stemmed from 1. Β
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So I went for a wedding, [fab wedding by the way] and the DJ kept playing only the intro of one of my FAVOURITE SONGS of all time – “All I Do is Win” by DJ Khalid & LudacrisΒ
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As I was leaving, and I was already at the gate, he played the intro again. Β Excited, I literally ran back into theΒ hall thinking he would finally play the whole song but alas, he broke my heart. Β There and then, I had my Eureka moment! Β Why not make it my ringtone alsoΒ because it tied perfectly into my upcoming goals! Β Β
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And that was how I spent 3 PAINFULLY LONG HOURS till like 3am in the morning trying to figure out how to make it my ringtone! Β I finally aced it!
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So now,Β anytime people call me, it simply reinforces my goal to WIN every single time! Β And when you win, you have no choice but to praise and give thanks to He who made Β it happen. Β
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So my advice to you is to find something that will continue to reinforce your own specific catchphrase for the year! Β It could be a typed one-liner or quote or something someone said that you will have no choice but to see or read wherever you go! Β It could be a welcome message on your phone or laptop screen or even a typed piece of paper on your ceiling. Β It will help to reinforce that vision!
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4. Β Use this break to study!
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It’s called research! Β By now, you should know what exactly you want to achieve so asking the rightΒ questions should notΒ really be an issue. Β Now you need to find out everything you need to know about how to actualize that vision. Β It doesn’t have to be like some serious jacking or anything or making an “outright effort”. Β That will bore you out soon enough. Β
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An easy way to do this is to simply take your phone and run a quick search on your specific vision or goal on Google. Β Click on one or two of those links. Β What you have just done is store whatever your vision or goal is on your phone. Β Chances are the next time you visit Facebook or Instagram, a lot of content about what you searched for will jump out at you! Β They willΒ literally stalk you! And the best part is, most of that content is free! Β Β
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Also read through… okay actually “scan through” people’s broadcasts and emails that manage to pop into your box. Β IΒ know it can be annoying but you just might find some hidden gem of information in there somewhere. Β I alwaysΒ scan through every broadcast I receive and have learnt over time how to sift between the serious ones and the unserious ones. Β If it is not relevant, I just move on! Β Besides, some broadcasts even force you to do research and you learn even more from there. Β You will also find that someone right there on your contact list may have the information you have been searching for for ages!
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5. Β Share Your Vision with Everyone and Don’t be Afraid to Collaborate!Β
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TheΒ whole “what if they steal my idea is sooooooooo old-school”! Β If you have doneΒ No.s 1 – 4, you will eventuallyΒ discover that people with like minds will suddenly begin to gravitate towards you! Β That’s just the way it works! Β It has happened to me several times. Β Β I guess that’s what the book, “The Secret” was talking about, though to be honest, I haven’t read it. Β But I do know what my Bible says in Isaiah 55: 11:
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“So shall my word be that goeth forth outΒ of myΒ mouth:Β
it shall not return unto me void,Β
but it shall accomplish that which I please,Β
and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”Β
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When you live, eat and breathe your vision and talk about it every single minute, it reaffirms the vision! Β And you even begin to believe it, even when the evidence on the outside contradicts your vision! Β Trust me, you will be shocked when things begin to fall into place.Β
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And look for partners that can help you achieve that vision – even if it meansΒ collaborating with them. Β Look.. money is tough to come by these days, so if you want to make it work without moneyΒ stoppingΒ you, thenΒ find like minds to work with. Β I am BIG on collaboration! Β Why be a lone ranger when you can be part of something bigger and greater?! Β There is strength in numbers so work with people and you all can own part of something than all of nothing!
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And I am speaking from my own direct experience. Β The projects that somehow suddenly tool shape out of nowhere, trust me when I tell you that I had no clue how it was going to materialize. Β I kept telling people categorically that I would do it without having a clue how it would happen. Β But now, I can safely say myΒ willingness to collaborate with 2 of my students has moved us from 0% to 65% in just 2 weeks! Β And there is no stopping us by God’s grace! Β So don’t feel the need to do it on your own. Β Put aside your egos and fears and find people to work with. Β What’s the worst that canΒ happen? Β It does not work out and everyone goes their separate ways. Dasall!
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And FINALLY… I know I said 5 tips but I’ll throw in a freebie! Β
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6. Β TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH!
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It will never be perfect! Β You just have to continue tweaking it as you go along! Β But what is important ifΒ ofΒ you to just do it! Β Don’tΒ overplan. Β A time comes when you just let go and and let God. Β Call into existence those things which do not exist as though they did (Romans 4: 17b). Β Remember your words will never return to you void if you truly believe in it. Β And take action! Β No matter how little! Β
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Remember, the only thing that’s worse than fear is the REGRET you will feel knowing another year – notΒ even year – another DAY has passed you by, a day you will NEVER get back!
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Left Image:Β https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d1/20/1f/d1201f8f0e713a96e93d8ded840b0891.jpg
Right Image:Β http://www.courtneyluv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/quotes-about-your-vision.jpegΒ Β
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SO WHAT’S NEXT YOU ASK?! Β
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Simply start from No 1 and you’ll be fine!
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I’ll leave you with this AMAZING Quote from one of my MOST FAVOURITE PEOPLE of all time who wrote a book with one of the best titles a book can ever have ” The Audacity of Hope” – which…oh… I also haven’t read by the way… π
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http://www.stmartinsuc.com/images/hope-obama.jpg
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Have a FAB day ahead and enjoy the looooooong weekend ahead! Β
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Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!
Oh PS!
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I have not forgotten the audio series or podcasts. Β Keeping my fingers crossed it goes live sooner than later! It is work in progress!
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