| One thing that most people grapple with in life is | | | | everything around you. Be selfish for a moment. |
| the idea of how to live a life which is balanced. | | | | What are you passionate about? Take time to |
| Some usually lean in one direction and are found | | | | understand your own temperaments. You cannot |
| wanting in other very important areas of life. No | | | | master others before you take time to master |
| one area supersedes the other. They are all | | | | yourself. A good leader is one that knows his/her |
| important. I am also not saying that you are | | | | own character flaws and works on them to get |
| supposed to spend the same amount of time in | | | | the best out. Do a SWOT analysis of yourself. |
| every aspect of life. It would be folly to eat into | | | | What are your Strengths? Improve on those, |
| your business life and business time because you | | | | maintain them. Sharpen them. What are your |
| feel obligated to relate with your friends. In this | | | | Weaknesses? Work on them to convert them to |
| article my main objective is to bring to light some | | | | strengths. Eliminate them totally. What |
| areas which when you look into you can be | | | | Opportunities exist for your personally which you |
| effective and fruitful. | | | | may not be exploiting now? Discover those and |
| Areas to look at | | | | start working towards them. Lastly what are |
| 1. Family & Home - You are born into a | | | | your Threats? What seeks to decimate your |
| family, you grow in it until you stand on your own | | | | destiny? Beware of those. Live your life knowing |
| to start your own family with the one you love. | | | | that there are enemies to your greatness. |
| Family is the institution we get most of our life | | | | 7. Health - Physical & Mental - Are you in the |
| lessons. How much time are you spending with | | | | right frame of mind. What makes you go sad, |
| your children, teaching them the ways of life? | | | | glad or mad? What makes you tick or sick? Your |
| Showing them your life testimony. Showing them | | | | health is actually your responsibility not for the |
| how to live a good honorable life. Parents are | | | | Minister of Health's. Take care of your body and it |
| sometimes too busy to even spend an hour a | | | | surely pays back by taking care of you. Your |
| day of the twenty four available just listening and | | | | mental health is important. Avoid stress at all cost. |
| coaching their own children. Children catch more | | | | Stress comes when expectations are not met. |
| from parents than from any other institution | | | | Frustrations are therefore the gap between what |
| hence the need to walk the talk and live a life of | | | | has been promised and what has been delivered. |
| integrity and righteousness. It is vital for parents | | | | Endeavour to deliver what you promise and if you |
| to hide their own wars and personal fights from | | | | can no longer do it then communicate. It is a sure |
| their children lest they duplicate that in their future. | | | | way to reduce your stress levels. Your health can |
| 2. Mental or Educational - This is in reference to | | | | be maintained when you monitor what you take |
| the Psychological and cognitive aspects of your | | | | in, whether it is real food or the information your |
| life. What are your mental patterns like? How | | | | mind absorbs. Negative information can only |
| much control do you have over your own mind? | | | | produce negativity in you. Find positive information |
| Sometimes people watch and envy those making | | | | to feed your mind. Whatever goes in is what you |
| progress in life as a result of their unwavering | | | | bring out just like in the banking system, |
| desire to keep educating the most vital muscle in | | | | Sometimes it comes back with interest. The |
| the body, the brain. You can only go as far as the | | | | same concept of sowing and reaping works with |
| mind takes you. Expose the mind to good things | | | | how you sow thoughts into your mind. You |
| and soon enough you will live to see yourself | | | | certainly reap more than what you sow; If you |
| enjoy those good things. Increase the mind's level | | | | sow anger and bitterness, sometimes you reap |
| of awareness and exposure to the areas of your | | | | murder. Sow seeds of happiness and joy and see |
| passion. If you enjoy cars, buy car magazines, | | | | how viral that can be, everyone will want to be |
| study on different models that exist. Develop | | | | around you all the time. |
| your mental appreciation of cars and become a | | | | 8. Spiritual - Cultural and Ethical - I usually do not |
| true master in the area. You will gather credibility | | | | write much about the spiritual aspect of one's life |
| and respect from your peers. | | | | but this time I know it is relevant to do so. Every |
| 3. Recreation/Leisure & Sports - The body | | | | human being is a spiritual being. You are a spirit, |
| you use for all the very busy things of life | | | | you live in a body (frame) and you certainly have |
| deserves to be treated to leisure and soothing | | | | a soul (mind, thoughts, emotions). I know there |
| times. You will lose that which you do not invest | | | | are diverse faiths reading this or in some cases, |
| in. Having spent the large part of your year | | | | no faith whatsoever. You are what you worship |
| working hard, please consider a vacation where | | | | or believe strongly in. You gravitate towards your |
| the body is revitalized and prepared for the next | | | | beliefs. I am of the Christian Faith. I invest time in |
| busy period. Playing a sport or watching one can | | | | what I believe in. I am sold out in my Christian |
| be a good way to treat oneself. I am concerned | | | | Cultural beliefs. My ancestors had a different belief |
| with people who believe in spending all their lives | | | | system. One thing is fair to say that you have |
| serious about chasing the dollar or whatever | | | | been given a myriad of choices. Choose the one |
| currency. You can never quench the desire for | | | | that values life. Choose the one that values love |
| money. It is a never ending chase like a dog | | | | for one another and that for your Creator. Spend |
| seeking to bite its own tail. It is however sad that | | | | time thinking about the ethical things of your life. |
| people sometimes do not find enough time to | | | | 9. Community Service & Social Issues - In |
| enjoy the money they were chasing even after | | | | what way are you of benefit to the community |
| finding substantial volumes. Don't be guilty about | | | | or society as a whole. You did not get the talents |
| spending your money. Spend it the way you see | | | | and gifts just for you and your family. The |
| fit with no regrets attached. | | | | moment you realize you can be of benefit to |
| 4. Career/Job/Vocation & Skill - This refers | | | | humanity then you begin to make an impact on |
| to your Career path and what you need to get | | | | others. Just like a cup was created to meet the |
| where you are going. Are you doing what you | | | | needs of those who touch and use it, to drink |
| have always wanted to do all your life? Are you | | | | water etc, you were created for a unique plan |
| passionate about your job or area of study? It is | | | | and purpose which is of benefit to those around |
| never too late to make an about turn on your | | | | you. It goes beyond just your family. Way |
| career. Develop and sharpen the skills and talents | | | | beyond. Your community and nation need you. I |
| you have. You can only excel to the degree that | | | | am intrigued by people who claim "I have no |
| you are willing to practice and rehearse and | | | | interest in politics of this world, I have no |
| sharpen your talents. For many, talents become | | | | involvement in constitution making..." What we do |
| dormant because they are not used regularly. The | | | | not realize is that politics and constitutional issues |
| mentality that academic achievements are the | | | | affect how your bread is buttered and if ever |
| only recognizable achievements in life has to go. | | | | you can access the bread. In a way there is no |
| Look around and see the areas where people are | | | | politics without you. You do not need a title to |
| earning a lot of money. Check the pay cheques | | | | make a difference in your nation. Be the light in |
| of soccer players in Europe, Basketball players in | | | | your domain and your name becomes great. |
| USA, Hollywood Star budgets, modeling contracts, | | | | 10. Relationships/Friends & Networks - |
| formula 1 drivers. Most of those people are not | | | | Networking is one aspect that every being always |
| academics. They realized their area of passion and | | | | seeks to do given the opportunity. A human being |
| ability and worked on it. Caution to parents - work | | | | is a relational being. That is why you have |
| with your child on areas you see they are | | | | relatives. You are linked to the people who were |
| gravitating towards and not force a career on | | | | conduits to bring you to earth, your mother and |
| them. You can live a good life doing just about | | | | father. They too are linked to their fathers and it |
| anything positive as long as there is excellence in | | | | creates a family tree or family history. In society, |
| it. | | | | you begin to create relationships with community |
| 5. Financial and Business - It is always important to | | | | leaders, business associates, customers and all the |
| reflect daily on your financial needs and how to | | | | relevant stakeholders. Your power to network will |
| meet them. It does not matter where your | | | | propel your financial, social, psychological status in |
| money is coming from; you still need to plan for | | | | a big way. The bigger your network, the bigger |
| its expenditure and usage. Monitor your spending | | | | the pool of human resources you can benefit |
| habits and shy away from living outside your | | | | from materially, physically and otherwise. Spend |
| means. Own what you have to reduce the strain | | | | some time building mutually beneficial support |
| of debt. Create a business vision that outlasts | | | | systems around you. Who will miss you the day |
| your generation. Have goals that are | | | | you die? For how much longer will people talk |
| trans-generational. Until you set financial and | | | | about you after you are gone or it ends when |
| business goals you will never work towards them. | | | | dust meets dust? Who do you lean on in great |
| You will easily become comfortable with your | | | | times of need for counsel, financial assistance or |
| present achievements. Not everyone is a business | | | | emotional support? Do not be a parasite; be fair |
| person but almost everyone has some degree of | | | | on the networks you have built by oiling them |
| access to money for livelihood. Be conscious that | | | | with your own contributions. It does not mean |
| you need to earn your finances. Ill-gotten riches | | | | simply paying your way into relationships with |
| have wings. They fly away faster than you can | | | | cash. It may mean creating time for others. Do |
| ever imagine. | | | | unto others what you expect them to do unto |
| 6. Personal & Character Issues - These are | | | | you. It is a principle that works in any nation, |
| things that concern you in isolation from | | | | culture or environment. |