How to “Obamanize” yourself against the temptations to quit your goal.

By Ilobi, Austin Dominic.

Only a few being around the world can at this moment proclaim from the floor of their heart that they are not enthralled by the incomparable achievement- Unlike most African Americans, he is the direct progeny of the migrant father, of President-elect Barack Obama of the United States.

His unwavering commitment to his goal in the midst of mountainous opposition- race, shallow pockets and plentiful of the so-called “inexperience”-a lawyer in the midst of global economic turmoil, would have been an unquestionable alibi for some to throw in the towel, but not Obama, so why? Simple! He followed the rules of engagements; which states that:

1. All big goals have smaller components: there is no dream or vision or by whatever name called, that does not come with bits and pieces-milestones, that are suppose to be achieved, or actuated , on daily, weekly or monthly basis. All endeavour worth pursuing, are reducible to chapters. Obama’s ultimate goal was to lead men, that is, inspire them. And consequently, He started out by leading men at different rung of life: as a community activist, lecturer and then, senator. He did not seek to start from the presidency downward. Trees do not grow leaves before the root to hold them firmly in place. Whatever is your goal, break it down into day(s), week(s), month(s), quarterly or yearly projects or target and then bench mark yourself as you implement, correcting variations.

2. You must reward yourself for any milestone successfully pulled off and reproach yourself for any uncompleted task while critically analysing adverse variance: life it too short for one to wait till the completion or attainment of ones goal(s) before eating the fruit of ones labour. It is very important that tangible reward follows any milestones achieved. Obama did not wait to get to the height of his dreams to get married nor raise a family. Get a home. Yours should not be different: Don’t be too hard on yourself.

There is nearly, if not absolutely, no good enough excuse, for you not to have achieved your God ordained mission here on earth. Find a way round your challenges, if you cannot climb over them; don’t wait to use all your challenges as spring boards, some have got no spring in them. Ask my personal hero of the Obasanjo’s era, the Turakin Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar. I still believe that but for him, there would not have been President Yaradua, and after all the intensive and extensive investigation of his activities as the “most active VP”, no ground breaking discovery has been made. That is more than you can say for most politicians in Nigeria.

When a milestone is not achieved after carrying out the task associated with it, review the process checking for deviation. It is the great Chief Awolowo who once asserted that any thing good on paper must be good in practice unless there is a deviation between both. Who can argue with him?

3. You must Give yourself time to succeed: “you must develop the farmers’ mindset, if you must succeed” (visit my blog, check “as the leaders would say”) there is time for sowing and time for reaping. If you reap prematurely, you will reap mostly useless crops. A simple illustration is the “interest rate” payable on deposits and some class of investments.


A simple interest rate is payable as at when due and is calculated or obtained by multiplying the amount involved by the interest percent or rate and then paid out to the holder of the interest yielding investment.

The compound interest is computed the same way as the simple interest but is not paid out immediately like the simple interest to the beneficiary. The amount obtained is added back to the principal, that is, the initial investment and then interest due next is calculated on the new figure. Do this for six months and analyse the difference. Do not be in hurry to cash your entire cheques or goodwill. Give it time. Give your effort time to compound.

Pray: why worry when you can pray and tell it all to the man up stairs and he would act promptly. Yes! Prompt. Three ways he answers your prayer

• Son I have confirmed your prayers;
• I will confirm that prayer at the appropriate time;
• No. that prayer request is not yours.
THANK YOU JESUS. Have you said that prayer today?

Remember this; the biggest and toughest challenge is also the biggest and toughest temptation to quit. Don’t quit; Obamanize yourself to the top.

Ilobi Austin, an event analyst and commentator writes from Warri. You can read or download any of his articles for free @ www.vibratingaustin.blogspot.com

This article was inspitred by Pastor Vera orhobo’s message on a radio station in warri.