Program Your Preferred Destination
By: Lawrence Sarkodie
(LAWSARKO)
Introduction
The very best way to predict the future is to create it. (Peter
Drucker)
Most people have alighted at the
wrong destinations in their lives just because they never programmed their
current destination from yesterday. As a result of this they don’t enjoy their
jobs, relationships, health and almost every current condition around them. At
the end of this article you will know how to create your own future so that you
will alight at a destination you prefer most.
Most of us are products of our
environments. Our lives are not self made but made by our environments and the
thoughts of others. At my first year at the university, I once sat on my bed somewhere
@ Independence Hall, KNUST contemplating my future. The question was “where do
I want to be 5 years after School?” Trying to come out with an answer to my
question, another question came up “what profession do I really have interest
for?” I then realised I was studying a Program that I even didn’t know whether
I have interest in or not. I was studying this Program just because my high
school grades qualified me for and because of the goodwill the program had both
internationally and locally. But as to whether the course aligns to my interest
was another question to answer. I realised I was just a product of my environment.
I know most people have this same
problem. Are you studying a course or have an occupation you don’t have
interest for or don’t know where it is taking you? Are you not enjoying your
health? If you said yes to any of this question then it means you never
programmed this destination. But is never too late, you can enjoy tomorrow by
programming it now. Familiarity with the environment and the challenges of life
can influence your future, but a person with the right mindset can create his
own environment mentally and it will manifest physically.
Now the question is ‘how do I
create my future destination?’ These steps are well tested approaches of
programming your future.
Have a vision
Ones you board a taxi, it means you really know your destination or
where to alight. You can never allow the taxi driver to create a destination
for you. Most people start life without knowing where to end it. If you don’t
know your destination, then you can take any route to any place. Am very sure
you will never board a bus that is heading to Kumasi from Accra whiles you know
you will alight at Akim Oda. (Kumasi, Accra and Akim Oda are cities in Ghana)
These roots are different. Your vision in life determines the route to
take. After examining your environment and
your area of interest you can create a vision for yourself. Your vision becomes
easily achievable when is in line with your interest. The implementation of
your vision becomes a hobby when it aligns to your interest. Set a vision that
is specific, realistic, achievable and time bound. Set a time frame for
yourself. Picture yourself like 5 years from now. A day in your life 5 years from
now where do you want to be? This means the vision needs to be implemented
within 5 years. Never expect to have
good health, good relationship and job if you don’t have vision for them,
because living with expectation is living with vision. Vision can change your occupation,
health and relationship. Most people even pray to God for blessings without
knowing the type of blessings they want. To them God has his own will in their
lives so no need to direct God as to what they need. I don’t doubt the will of
God, but we must have a vision so that we can tell God what we really want in
life. Let’s take a lesson from King Hezekiah in the holy Bible (Isaiah 38:1-8).
God sent prophet Isaiah to tell Hezekiah that he should put his house to order
because he was going to die. Was this the will of God? Hezekiah pleaded for
extra years and it was granted. Maybe Hezekiah knew he had something to achieve
before his death. Do you really know what you want to do with your life? If no,
then get one now so you can ask for extra blessings. Vision is the container
into which God poor His blessings.
Walk the Vision
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole
staircase. Just take the first step.” (Dr Martin Luther King Jnr.) The right
time to take the first step to your vision is now. Remember that today is the
tomorrow you talked about yesterday. The opportunities available today are the
best ever to exist. Some people have been overshadowed by the current economic conditions
because they think some opportunities are no more. But do you know that despite
pockets of economical turmoil, the number of billionaires around the world 2015
expanded to record of 1,826 including 290 new comers? (www.forbes.com/billionnares).
Do these new billionaires have different environment from ours? The only magic
they do is to get their ideas done despite the challenges. You will agree with
me that the average person who implements his ideas is better than a genius
with thousands of great unexecuted ideas. Successful people in any field are action
oriented whiles failures are talk oriented. Just try and do something that
directs you to your vision every day. Sometimes the journey will become tough
but personal motivation will see you through. Your vision could either be on
making money from your talent or an opportunity you want to take advantage of.
But in all these you will need manpower, machine and money. Manpower includes your
mindset, knowledge, skills, physical strength and relationships. Your pen can
be your machine. With money, there are hundreds of jobs you can start with just
GH800 but these jobs demands mental and physical capital rather than the
financial capital. You will require sweat equity to make it successful. I know
“how to save GH800?” is not a question you want me to go deep into. Just
remember to “cut your coat according to your material”. We sometimes want to
start from step two because that stage looks more lucrative than step one. You
can start small but aim for the sky. Don’t be too much concern about the
benefits you will get today. It may cost you much with little or no benefits
but never give up. Now, to those who wait on the Lord, remember to do that in
service not in idleness. Take action now.
Always See Yourself At Your Destination.
See yourself alighting at your preferred destination and you will
surely attract it. Think of yourself as a magnet. You become what you think
about most. Create with your mind’s eye where you want to be in future. What kind
of feelings would you have when you get that job, relationship and health you
dream of? Enjoy those feelings now, feel like that CEO you dream of and act
like that now. As far as you continue to feel and think about your vision the
law of attraction will draw it closer to you. Your thoughts determine your
actions and your actions make your future, so never lose concentration of your
vision.
Never live your life by the “law
of accident” because for every effect there is a “cause”.
