St.
Peter’s was a great place to be. It was in this school that my journey of
self-discovery began in a conscious way. There were so many experiences and
occurrences that helped me to glean many lessons to guide my life.
In
the second term of my first year in the school, I was named among the top ten
students in the General Arts class. I remember that morning so well. Our
headmaster acknowledged all the top students with what we used to call the
golden handshake. That acknowledgement and handshake were highly coveted. The
average St. Peter’s boy dreamed to be called forward for the handshake in the
presence of the entire student body. We prayed for it. We studied for it. We
hoped for it. So you can imagine how my head ballooned when I was called
forward for that handshake. It was a moment of pride and joy.
By
the third term of the same year, my ranking in the top ten had improved. I
became a schoolwide sensation. I gained visibility, respect and admiration. It
was awesome.
This
went on until middle of the second year. My ranking in the league of
extraordinary Arts students begin to slide. That was when I realized I had
waned in the intensity with which I used to study. In no time I was out of the
top ten. Although I never went beyond number 20, the fact of the matter was
that I had lost my glory.
My
sliding experience typifies how we can back-track through a sense of
satisfaction. Sometimes, we become so satisfied and glorify ourselves in our
achievements that we lose sight of the work we must do to preserve or improve
them. In no time, we begin to retrogress.
It
is great to achieve something but it is challenging to sustain what we achieve.
The joy of success could be the trap of failure. When you allow the joy of
success to get into your head, you will slip downwards.
At
the point of success, more than merely celebrating, we must think carefully
about how we can keep our achievements up there. At the point of success, the
prolific Christian apostle Paul did not suffocate in his achievements. He still
felt that there was more to achieve. His declaration that “Not that I have already attained, or am
already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ
Jesus has also laid hold of me” (Philippians 3:12, NKJV).
Even
though Paul had achieved a lot, he did not lose focus on his destination. In St
Peter’s, my destination was not the headmaster’s handshake. My destination was
the final exam administered by the West African Examinations Council. However,
I nearly got suffocated midway.
How
do we avoid suffocation? How do we continue in the way of success? How can we
escape retrogression? In Philippians 3:16, Paul’s
suggestion gives an indication of what we should do. He says, “… to the degree
that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the
same mind.” Paul points to us that no matter what we achieve we must not shed off
the principles and posture that grant us success.
Principles
Principles
are laws. They are laws that govern what we do. If you repudiate principles,
you will suffer the penalty of carelessness. If you respect principles, you
will secure the prize of compliance. When I got careless at St Peter’s, I paid
for it. To the degree that you achieve, you must keep to the principles. The
practices may change but the principles must not change. For instance, a
football coach will operate differently from when he was a coach, although the
same principles of discipline and fitness apply.
Posture
Attitude
is everything. Your posture at the point of success would determine how far you
go. When you do well, be thankful. By all means, celebrate but while doing that
be on the lookout for pride and laxity. When you succeed at something, don’t
lose your posture. Maintain diligence. Be consistent. Be of the same mind.
THE
greatest success is success that endures; it is success that lasts. True
success is not temporary. It evolves. It grows. Don’t allow complacency to lead
you downhill.
© 2014 Terry Mante
CEO, Personal Development Network (PEDNET)
Accra, Ghana
Tel: +233.267.186.420
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