Successful people see all obstacles as opportunities and they believe that one has to fight and win a battle to be called a conqueror or a winner. Steve Jobs, of Apple, likes to say that had he not dropped out of college, the Macintosh computer would not have been as great a machine. He also credits his current success at Apple to having been fired by the company 14 years ago. And facing the possibility of death from pancreatic cancer has helped him focus on the things he has wanted most to achieve in life, he says. Many people give up in life because they only see the bad times and never keep their focus fixed on the potential end result. Usain Bolt is the fastest sprinter in human history. He set three world records at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and he followed up last year by breaking his own world records in 100-meter and 200-meter races. Reaching such heights has required exceptional motivation, critical thinking and focus. Bolt turned early setbacks into advantages, overcame all his relevant weaknesses and developed outstanding drive. Any person can benefit from working to do the same in his own life. He was perceptive enough about his own abilities to know when to accept feedback and when to ignore it. Can you say the same about yourself?

In management training, you often find heavy emphasis on gap analysis, encouraging executives to focus on improving their weak points, or gaps, in their performance. That is almost always the wrong advice because it make you do things you don’t want to do. Peter Drunker said, to be successful you must do what you enjoy doing. Often the things we are bad at are the things we don't really want to do. A recipe for success is to do fewer of the things you don't like and concentrate on what you are good at. Very few people can do it all. And where they get into trouble is when they try to do it all. Think about the writer who really can't put up a great looking web site but still goes and sinks a good chunk of money into Adobe Photoshop thinking that maybe a great tool will turn him into a graphic artist. Guess what? It's highly unlikely that it's going to happen. But here is what happens when they try to do it all. They end up with a site that is either lacking in content or design and the end result is that they have a failed business because their weaknesses destroy whatever strengths they have. It's sad, but it's true and it happens way too often. -“Success will never be a big step in the future, success is a small step taken just now.” -- Jonathan Martensson. Okay, so how do you maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses? Work on your strength making them even stronger. If you are a good writer, work on becoming a great writer. There is always room for improvement. In the meantime, concentrate on those strengths for running your business. That's where the majority of your time should be spent...not doing things that you're poor at or fair at best. Your weaknesses? Let somebody else do them. If you can't design a web site to save your life, hire somebody to do it for you. The money you spend will ultimately pay you back in the profits you make from a really great looking site. If you can't write, outsource your writing. Get a professional article writer to write your articles. Most business and organizations fail because managers don’t take time to collect adequate data to support their decision. With limited information or facts, managers are likely to make wrong choices and hence putting the organization in a risky position.

To avoid making hasty decisions, Dr Randy Carlson, a radio presenter on intentional living, recommends people to ask the following questions before making very important decisions; 1. The MISSION question: Does this decision support my life mission? 2. The VISION question: Will this decision move me toward a life goal or toward solving a problem? 3. The INTEGRITY question: Will this decision affect any commitment or vow I have made? 4. God's REVEALED WORD question: Does the Bible speak to this decision or a potential consequence? 5. The COMMON SENSE question: Do the results of this decision make sense? 6. OTHERS FIRST question: How will others be affected by this decision? 7. The LEGAL question: Is it legal? 8. The COST question: What will this decision cost me? 9. The MOTIVE question: What do I get out of this decision? 10. The TIMING question: Is this the best time to make this decision? 11. The KNOWLEDGE question: Do I have enough information to make this decision? 12. The COMMITMENT question: Do I plan to commit to my decision?

After going through all questions, chances are that one will make the right choices because throughout the process, both long term and short term effects are considered and one is also prepared for the challenges that may try to divert his/her focus. Many people get frustrated because they spend too much time and resources fixing problems they could have avoided if only they took their time before rushing into decisions. The decisions that you make today will determine the life you’ll live tomorrow. The three key factors for a successful life are patience, consistency and integrity.

By Nicholas Mawira,
There is that old rickety chair in your garage that you would not mind disposing; or that shirt that you have not worn for years and it sits in the darkest corner of your wardrobe, you’ve even forgotten you had it.
You would most definitely do anything to rid your wardrobe of it anyway.
When I bought a new set of coffee stools, I had to make space in my house by removing an old coffee table and putting it at the waiting bay of my house. If I was to wake up one morning and found it gone, it most definitely would not be a police case.
While we would not mind losing or throwing away that piece of furniture or clothing item, we would readily offer it for “charity” to one we think may need it. What would you call that; charity or disposing?

I remember the biblical story of Cain and his brother Abel. When the two went to offer sacrifice to God, Abel, who reared livestock offered to God his the first born of each of his flock; the cleanest and healthiest of them all, unlike Cain his brother who was a farmer, who offered the worst of his crop and fruits.
We are called to give to God by way of giving to the least of the “brothers”. – Mathew 25:40.
The widow who offered her all in the synagogue offers a great challenge to the contemporary Christian - Mark 12:42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury;”
Let us offer to God, not what we would be better of disposing or discarding as it were. Would you for instance offer stale food to the hungry? No, for that belongs to the bin. On the same breath thus, do not offer to others what you have declared worthless and unfit, for you shall be taking after Cain. Do and give unto others what you wish done or given to you. That is how you shall receive the ultimate blessing that comes with the act and art of giving, of charity.
Make this Lenten season a season of giving and reaching out to the needy. It may not just be giving in material form but even in ideas and time that may leave that other person feeling the warmth and goodness of Christ.

- Mawira Nicholas is a renown author and writer for connection33

Adam Bender

Since the story of 8-year old cancer survivor Adam Bender was published in the Lexington Herald-Leader, and on www.Kentucky.com, on June 1, 2008, the one-legged catcher has been invited to throw out first pitches at a Chicago White Sox game, a Cincinnati Reds game, a Houston Astros game, and has been invited to a Garth Brooks benefit in Las Vegas. He is also being profiled for a story that will air on ESPN. On Sunday June 6, 2008, Adam threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Adam Dunn of the Reds. Because of cancer, Adam Bender had his left leg amputated when he was one but that hasn't’t stopped him from playing baseball for the Astros in the Southeastern Rookie League at Veterans Park.