POINT OF NO RETURN

The point of no return is the point beyond which someone, or some group of people, must continue on their current course of action, either because turning back is physically impossible, or because to do so would be prohibitively expensive or dangerous. It is also used when the distance or effort required to get back would be greater than the remainder of the journey or task as yet undertaken.
Nigeria as a nation historically speaking has a Lagos location in badagry called “Point of no return” where I remember taking an American friend of mine who visited after a medical mission 250 Americans flew into our great country for about a decade ago.
One part of the historical location I will never forget is the “point of no return” my friend I recall began to cry upon seeing photos of the experience millions-men, women both young and old possibly went through as they were sold and shipped away all because turning back was dangerous “as swimming simply meant death on the high seas” sadly in that case they had to continue on their course.
Exactly eleven days away am scheduled to touch down “Kilimanjaro International Airport” sadly a platinum and or gold partner pulled back sponsoring the expedition up Kilimanjaro one opportunity as a ‘brand or business leader’ my business won’t miss for anything regardless of our recent challenge(s) since this is my mindset, the exit of a prospective sponsor really won’t stop “Summit Up Kilimanjaro” come march haven reached the point of no return.
Nigeria’s national flag goes up with GTAssurance (our insurance partner); Golden Tulip Festac, Lagos providing hospitality support; GNLD (supplement partner); Laterna Ventures (literature resource centre) and “Businesday” our official print partner. Retreating isn’t an option now.
When you have a goal, dream; make effort to treasure every moment as they are all-important.
Finally my performance coaching, compeer, columnist and adventurer career has shown me when the distance or effort required in getting back would be greater than remainder of the journey or task as yet undertaken the only way to go is forward.

FIT AND FOCUSED!

Its some 20days to commence expedition up Africa’s highest freestanding mountain and a special interview with Nigeria’s Channel Network News (NN24) has just been done which will be broadcast this week. With my sports physician conducting routine checks on me again and was asked; Doctor is he fit to climb Kilimanjaro? Original definition of the world fit is “to be the proper size and shape”, which was why my fitness physician whose International Olympic Committee (IOC) Certified possibly was asked by lady who interviewed me.
My valentine’s day was spent at the exercise and fitness sports club of Golden Tulip, Festac Lagos as I had to give up an invitation by the hotel to their special valentine event that I declined giving up pleasure-fun so as to stay fit-preparing for a minimum of 2hours.
Someone once said: focus is been blind to other things so one’s eyes, mind and body gets less attention not allowing for distractions.
So for me making my mental and physical fitness goal priority puts me on the path where am able to remain fit and focused on my mountain climbing goal. What simple action could you take today, this week and the remaining part of this month and year that could produce new momentum toward success in your life dreams-personal, physical, spiritual, emotional and otherwise?
A study conducted revealed when you do something consistently for about twenty one days it turns out to become a part of your daily life what we all refer to as a habit. This simply means staying fit and focused definitely can become a choice for as long as we want this to be. Begin now with one goal; live by it, that after twenty one days it turns out to become a law or an ideal in your life as you possibly know ideals are called philosophies. A philosophy is a product of a belief system which comes from law. What have you been focused on that has made you unfit thus far? If you were weighed and measured will you be found wanting? Get fit and focused. To Your Success

LIGHT THE WAY

Thomas Edison was a strange child, from the beginning as seventh child of the family, he remained silent, for which his parents may have later been grateful. Not until age four, did Edison speak something that may or may not have been caused by a partial hearing loss which worsened before he was out of his teens.
However, he did something in common with other children; his most frequently asked question was "Why?" For Edison soon became interested in the working of things that caught his attention. That interest would end his formal education at age seven, after three months. His teacher, frustrated at the constant questioning, sent Edison home, observing that his broad head and jaw indicated a mental defect. When in fact, Edison looked just like his mother.
From that time on, Edison was home-schooled, which wasn’t a new idea in 1854, was certainly not the norm. His mother taught the Bible, and the three Rs, while his somewhat undependable father rewarded him with a dime, for every literary classic he read. By age12, Edison became a mini entrepreneur, running his own printing press and putting out a newspaper he sold on local train runs, while using an empty car for his laboratory, a freewheeling and independent education.
Scarlet fever at 14, and or a cuff on the head from an irate conductor when his experiments set fire to a rail car, robbed Edison of most of his hearing, leaving him with only about 20% in his right ear. Historians surmised that lack of noise-distractions actually helped Edison's mind focus on his theories and premises as he ploughed his way towards fame.
After spending his youth as a traveling telegrapher, Edison's first success as an inventor was a "repeating" telegraph device. Fame swirled around him, but Edison seemed to set himself apart from it. When asked once if he were afraid of anything he replied "I am afraid of the dark." Thomas Edison died Oct.18, 1931, with all the lights burning in his New Jersey home.
Moral of his story: “there’s always light at the end of the tunnel”

HEALTHY YOU

World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
Your health is your very first wealth. Without our health we won’t be able to enjoy our wealth which is why we need to take our own health seriously.
Some days ago as part of my Mount Kilimanjaro expedition requirements-spent two hours at the gym giving half of it to tests conducted by my International Olympics committee (IOC) certified sports physician: Dr. Dayo Osholowu, that turned out right ending with a handshake as he certified me fit for the expedition up Kilimanjaro.
One of the questions he asked me as I exercised on the treadmill prior to the tests. He said: “Joshua, how are you getting yourself mentally prepared for the expedition?” Excitedly I responded Doc. Every day I start the exercise, my mind journeys as if am at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro’s rain forest, through Mweka gate geared up in my mountain gear.
I guess my fitness physician asked that question with the World Health Organization’s definition in mind. My mental wellness and hike up in my mind is important towards successfully summiting Africa’s highest mountain.
No one, expedition is complete without a healthy you-complete physical, mental and social wellbeing which are as important as the absence of disease or infirmity.
It was John F.Kennedy that asserted: physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body; it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity. You undoubtedly can create, experience and also advance in life especially when your wellness is in motion never static, continuously creating room for your rise.
Enjoy your February; your health should benefit from you more attention this week, month and also this year twenty elevation. Ensure you make room for your wellbeing; towards a healthy you. Your vitality and daily energy can only come through having a healthier you: physically, mentally and socially.
You

PEBBLES ON MY PATHWAY!

Pebbles are small stones, especially one smooth by erosion.
Every day, week, month and year; as we travel in life we walk into or over rock like pebbles. Someone puts it in these words: “Nobody trips over mountains; it is the small pebbles that make you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.”
Let me share with you an experience I had recently after leaving a dinner my Mount Kilimanjaro expedition supplement partner “Golden Neo-Life Diamite (GNLD)” had invited me to as a special guest of the Vice-President, Africa; Mr. Johan Fourie where I met the Chief Executive Officer of GNLD International; Royer Uys.
Under normal circumstances I won’t take any invite eating into my evening due to the expedition exercise regimen I have been following over the last 3months, so in a bid to honor the event invite I attended and departed immediately afterwards so as to take the exercise schedule for the day.
Upon arrival at the gym that night to my amazement the doors were closed. It then occurred to me as I was walking towards the lifts the instructor and gym may be closed but the staircases are never closed. Immediately I went to change to my exercise gear and started from the ground floor to the topmost floor as it has eight floors. Step by step; slowly I successfully went back and forth five times.
That evening a valuable lesson, experience and the moral of the story was learnt. In life, been pro-active enables us to succeed. Simply by responding to our situation as against reacting, like some would do opened my mind making me see some place within the same building. Guess what? The expedition exercise regimen included climbing up and down staircases which I had never really done for long as I did and also invested good time that day.
I sweated it out on the staircases. Sweat truly is the cologne of accomplishments and small stones or pebbles on our pathway shouldn’t stop us on the pathway

POWER OF PREPARATION

Having a dream is important. Taking time to prepare powerfully pours life into whatever dream you possess.
Sure you are aware am climbing Mount Kilimanjaro only less than 50days time; though have hiked a South African Mountain successfully as a part of the expedition up Kilimanjaro regimen nothing good happens without taking time to prepare.
Preparation is defined in the English dictionary as a preliminary measure that serves to make ready for something or state of having been made ready before hand.
As part of my “preliminary measure serving to make myself ready before hand, had a brand you can “Guaranty, Trust and Assured(GTA)” for life and living endorsed expedition Kilimanjaro one step at a time.
The Executive head(Managing Director-GTAssur) rang my mobile making a long distance call only a day after I successfully hiked a South African mountain.
Many mountains sincerely can, will and must be surmounted this year through preparation a prerequisite towards success. Someone I respect in America a tax consultant Tim Redmond asserts; Proper preparation produces powerful performances.
Spending or investing time in preparing gives strength towards a successful performance. Ever wondered why we perform less on this side of the divide at football, Olympics or reaching the best possible peak? Poor preparation produces poor performances.
Preparation time is never wasted time as it becomes obvious only in time through success a journey you, me, we all need to take everyday every way positively possible.Enjoy your preparation time and definitely you undoubtedly will look back with a broad smile on your face and or the face of your team that the time invested in preparing wasn’t wasted.
With GTAssur endorsing my Mount Kilimanjaro expedition as insurance brand partner raising or hoisting the Nigerian national flag at the top of the highest free standing mountain in the world at 19,341 feet truly feels closer, conquered as I step on the treadmill daily at a gradient of 7.5% uphill, mentally; making it to the top come March 2011 will happen, haven put time towards the expedition exercise regimen over the last 3months.To our summit success

PATHWAY TO THE TOP

Pathway according to the original English dictionary has its root from the combination of the words “path+way” dated back to 1530-40.
It could also mean a course or route to the top. There are footpaths to the top of every dream, desire, and destiny. You are aware a new decade’s dawned on us?
Sit, script, see, and seize everything positively possible. Experiencing elevation this year requires some effort from you. Undoubtedly someone somehow somewhere has succeeded at the career, call, assignment, dream or destiny your heart resonates towards.
Some fifty four days from today the journey up the world’s highest free standing mountain shall start. Since no one ever reached the top without the encouragement, endorsement, support of one, two or more persons.
South African executive of GNLD who made it to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in the year 2007 was at their office the day I went to pick up partnership products supplements an expedition he made at the age of 55years successfully.
Yes slowly, slowly “Pole, Pole” as the Tanzanians say it in Swahili he explained to me carefully communicating that to summit to the top of Kilimanjaro one shouldn’t climb or hike in a hurry.
He then took a good look at me in their board room and said; “If I can Make It to the Top, Then You Can.” Nothing inspired me more like hearing those words which handed me the words of Little Richard; “I try to be a guide for people, to make their darkness bright and to make the pathway light, and never to condemn or control or criticize.”
Every photograph he showed me on his laptop pulled me closer to the expedition route, even though I was still at the GNLD boardroom my mind made exciting progress successfully through to the top.
This week keep in mind the pathway you desire up has successfully been used by your mentor, mother, father, role model, life coach. Consult, climb up their shoulders if you will, learning so one step at a time you can and will succeed.