The price of the prize

by Livy-Elcon Emereonye

The momentous pursuit of an ambition, oftentimes, is triggered by its value. This vital force often comes with an undistracted focus fed and sustained by myopic concentration – and here persistence marries resilience. With this, nothing can discourage or hinder the conquest of such pursuit by the owner or initiator.

The ownership of ideas or the visualization of a mission comes with some degree of conviction that will in turn provide reasons for perseverance. This is why copycats or imitators rarely complete any project with beauty. They lack originality. Imitation leads to limitation.

It’s always the case that the man who wears the shoe knows where it pinches. The one on the hot seat feels the real heat. He who owns an idea can modify it to suit its purpose – and this comes along at extra cost and pains that must be endured for meaningful results.

Being the head comes with a lot of responsibility; the understanding and execution depend more on the state of the head. A sound mind would most likely come up with sound ideas. This is where perception and approach make the difference. It pays to protect what we value.

It is the golden rule that those with the gold make the rule. No man can give what he lacks. No one can go beyond his vision for what we see is what we can get. Our achievement is a function of our imagination backed up with preparation which is dependent on time and space.

Where value is not known, abuse is inevitable. Conversely, the knowledge of value leads to its appreciation, and with appreciation comes preservation. Be thankful for the gift of life. Do things that promote a healthy lifestyle so that you will be fit to work and pay the price for that prize.

Even in the dictionary, price precedes prize. Therefore to get the prize the price must be known and paid and in time.

Preparation and practice lead to good work and excellent results. Success comes when preparation meets opportunity. Prepare very well. Regardless of the cost and pain, train yourself.

Stretching beyond the limit is one of the things that can make one the best among equals. To get a different result, do things differently but positively.

To get things done, turn the table. Provoke discussion if you need more knowledge and enlightenment. Ask questions if you need answers and clarity. If you want to learn more, teach.

Going the extra mile often produces extraordinary results. Endure the pains for the gains ahead.

To receive, give. Release leads to increase. To have something, you must give another thing in exchange. Everything has a price. In other words, a clinched finger rarely experiences abundance. It rather suffers from lack.

Every development occurs at a cost. Growth takes a lot of resources. Invest time and other resources where they matter. Make meaningful investments and avoid every form of waste.

Life is all about giving and taking. To get something, something must be given or exchanged for it. As long as the covenant of day and night remains, the seedtime and harvest time will surely come. Life is more of give and get – and the measure with which we give is the measure with which we will get but most times in more measures. The extent to which we go will determine the result we will get.

There must be a balance in equilibrium for life to go on. Without night, there will be no day. Tall and short define height. Loss and gain are interwoven, and lack adds meaning to abundance and affluence.

Having discovered yourself and realized your dream, sit down and analyze the cost. How much time, money, talent, and other resources will it take to actualize the dream? With the resources available, what are the things that are to be done, when, where, and how for this to happen? This is where planning precedes action.

Since structure governs function, do you have the structure for meaningful execution? Do a thorough SWOT Analysis.

The next is action. Right and timely action for the right place and purpose make the difference. The things we do but more importantly how we do them count.

To act right, the reason for the season must be sought and with this, the purpose for the action would be known and appreciated. This way abuse would be prevented or minimized. With this, no price could be seen to be too much towards the actualization of noble ambition.

The first step in this direction is to have a proper plan and budget. Assign cost and timeline to everything you want to do. It may not be absolute but it will serve as a good guide, giving room for adjustment and modification. Plan the work and work the plan.

Play around with things and if possible make mistakes and learn from them. Experience is indeed the best teacher.

To live and enjoy life without let or hindrance, do away with the competition. See no one’s success as a threat to you; instead discover a niche where you can excel, as there are opportunities everywhere for everyone. Be free in your soul and embrace things positively in the beauty of totality.

Own noble ambition and pursue it to a logical conclusion but within the framework of the law. Do all you can to exercise and enjoy your rights but in doing so be mindful of others for where your right ends begins that of another. Human beings are interconnected and interrelated so we can do best in an atmosphere of love and mutual respect. Treat people with dignity and you will have no cause to worry about many imaginary things. Be conscious of yourself and cautious of your actions. In pursuit of your ambitions and goals don’t be a clog in another person’s wheel of progress. Never pull someone just to climb up the ladder.

The best way to success is smart-hard work done out of creativity and passion. This way you can play around with things and create unlimited wealth without stepping on toes. This is the right and best price for the prize. Do it.