Extraordinary People Have VISION

What is the difference between ordinary and extraordinary people?

Leadership Series #1: EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE HAVE VISION- A PICTURE OF A DESIRED FUTURE!

Born in January 1943, to a family of tenant farmers, she started working at age 3, as she joined the family on the cotton fields with her own sack(pillowcase)! “This would be the first in a long series of ‘impossible jobs’ at which the little girl would excel, despite being told you can’t...  She had always idolized her older brother, a navy man, and hoped that she would find a way to follow in his footsteps. “

Please meet, Brigadier General Sherian Grace Cadoria, first Black female non-traditional line general, first female Africa-American General in the history of the US Army, first woman to command an all-male battalion in Vietnam, first to lead a criminal investigation brigade, first woman director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first woman admitted to the elite army schools, the Command and General Staff College and the US Army War College and inductee of the Horatio  Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, breaking all barriers of race, colour and sex on her way!  Just because she wanted to be like her idol!

Vision separates ordinary from extraordinary people! After almost 20 years of leadership study and research, I have come to the irrevocable conclusion that Africa and indeed Nigeria’s major problem is leadership, especially VISIONLESS Leadership. There is no greater disease than this in Africa!

Africa is the only continent of the world with an average of 9 months of rain per year,  yet we are hungry! 70% of the world’s mineral resources are mined in Africa, yet we live with and celebrate fake products! 774 local government and 37 state administrators in Nigeria receive monthly huge allocations for which they did not work, yet their people lament every month! Until we have and develop leaders with Vision, this lamentation will continue, but this needs not be so!

Assignment: Stop whatever you are doing for ten minutes!

a.      Get a plain sheet of paper and write ten things you would like to do!

b.      Before you go to bed look at that list and cross out seven that is not too compelling!

c.       The next day look at your list, cross out two that you really can’t be bothered about.

d.      The last on your list is your current vision. Develop a picture of it and hang it around your home and office/school. Carry it with you everywhere you go!

A man/woman with a vision is very dangerous person. NOTHING on earth can stop such a person! With your vision in your heart, you are on your way to becoming an EXTRAORDINARY person!

Bankole Olubamise, Aug 9, 2012.