How to Avoid 'Unnecessary' Mistakes in Your Life

Some know-it-all fellows may reason that there is no justification for proceeding in error in the first instance, and as such one shouldn’t qualify some mistakes as necessary and tag others as unnecessary.  Agreed, this could be right to some extent.  However, my question to such people is: can we truly point to any great man or woman who does not have some life challenges to deal with or has already dealt with that could be traced to his/her past malpractices?  I can’t think of any.  But if you know a successful person who claims not to have some blemishes whatsoever, either past or present, just take it from me that such a person isn’t natural - he/she is probably a spirit in human form.

With all the advancement in technology, life still remains a mystery to man. Irrespective of how meticulous we are or strive to be, there are times when all our carefulness equals stupidity and before we regain balance from what might have struck our path, the deed would have been done and all we have to do is nurse the wounds. That is life for you! It doesn’t deal with humans on sentiments. It doesn’t give us what we think we deserve; only that which we are ready to fight for and possess through the application of spiritual, mental and physical efforts. It has been this way right from the days of John the Baptist and will most likely tarry till the end of time.

Nevertheless, the intent of this piece is not to encourage mistakes, rather it is meant to assert its reality in the affairs of humans and possibly proffer reliable methods of navigating through. I will also try to touch on some cogent steps that could be adopted to break loose from the few mistakes that have held many spell-bound thus far. One Tuesday afternoon in mid-2009, a friend of mine (sorry colleague) walked into my office wearing a long face. He sat down quietly without uttering a word until a point that I was no longer at ease. So I entreated him to tell me what his problem was. As if anxiously waiting for me to ask, he retorted: “Have you ever taken time to study your income and expenses?” Sincerely I wasn’t impressed because I immediately sensed what he was driving at, so I simply asked him to “forget that issue.” The guy zeroed in on me as if to throw a punch, but the next thing I heard was: “We are in trouble o!... Just go check your payslip and you will understand what I’m talking about,” he stressed as he walked away.

Gosh! I was bitten below the belt. It wasn’t as if I am oblivious of the facts he wanted to unearth; far from it. I knew the true state of my financial health but I’d struggled to conceal same, hoping that I’ll one day come out of the mess and begin a new chapter without anyone getting to know what I went through. But it took the “frightening” looks on that guy’s face and his heart-smashing words for me to regain ‘sanity’ and come to terms with reality. The more I had tried to pretend as though all was well and lead on in the atmosphere of business-as-usual, the more I descended into financial crisis. My past mistakes were catching up with me faster than I could imagine.

At that juncture, it became obvious to me that I must beat a retreat if my desire of making appreciable impact in life is to be fulfilled. I had to change course swiftly, not minding the “inconveniences”. I went back to the books that couldn’t change me initially; I bought some more on recommendation; attended few relevant seminars and joined a ministry where financial skills (amongst others) are taught in its crude form every Sunday morning. I learnt the difference between Real Life and Leisure very fast, and I’m still acquiring more knowledge in this regards till date. I now have a sound understanding of life and its intricacies. I’m presently horning my skills and developing my identified talents. I’m now equipped and determined to challenge as many folks as possible to effectively engage the complexities and opportunities inherent in today’s marketplace with a view to carving a niche for themselves, (more on this in my coming book titled: Eternal Vigilance).  


Now that you’ve gotten a glimpse of where I’m coming from, I wish to ask: Where are you coming from? How has your journey being? What lessons have you learnt from life? What would you do differently if given another opportunity? Where are you going now? What are you doing right that needs to be consolidated? What should you start doing afresh? I can go on and on. But the message, however, is that you mustn’t advance in error, irrespective of how far you’ve gone on the wrong part. You too can beat a retreat, start all over again and still make it. Find out your ‘real thing’, start it small and learn the techniques to turn it into a springboard that will usher your next level. Begin by understanding the path you should thread. Follow it up with building your self-confidence (very important). Take responsibility for your life and move to the stage of acquiring practical knowledge in your identified field. Don’t spend all you earn, no matter how small it is.  Learn and inculcate the habit of savings, (more on saving and investing later).

Do not peg yourself to what you studied in school; success and greatness depend largely on 'informal' education. Expand your scope and your coast will respond automatically. Fraternize with people of character, reduce your mistakes by thinking through and calculating all decisions and actions before making any move. These and a lot more that I'll be sharing subsequently will go a long way in facilitating your transition from survival to success... Wishing you goodluck as you navigate your path through the mucky waters of life from your part of the world.