Walk in 2018 with Boldness

Welcome to 2018!It promises to be an exciting year (not minding the fuel queues and any other inconveniences that you may face now). Many of us have big and audacious plans but in order bring those plans to fruition we need to work on our internal dialogue. Nothing sabotages our progress like negative internal dialogues. My two personal examples below will help put things in perspective.

August 7, 2017, Piedmont Triad International Airport, Greensboro North Carolina: I was seated with my wife at the departure wing of the airport waiting for a friend to pick us up. Whiles waiting, we decided to get something to eat. I also needed a place to plug my laptop to do some quick work, I could not find any space (the closest was one of those restaurants (a Steak House) but the suitable tables were occupied and the only one that was free was not convenient).

In the open section of the departure was a well-furnished transparent room labelled “Executive Centre” inside I could see 2 people seated and working on their laptops and an elderly business executive reading the Washington Post. I had a few emails to catch up and respond to, therefore I badly wanted to go into the lounge but I restrained myself for very “obvious” reasons:

• I felt since it was written Executive Centre, it meant for only a special set of people and as such only, the only qualifying members were allowed in and even if I was allowed to pay for it, it would cost me an arm and a leg (so without giving it much thought I disqualified myself)
• Everyone in that room was white except one young India guy (so for some strange reasons I thought to myself what would a ‘black guy” who did not have business class ticket or held a previous membership be doing lurking around a room clearly marked “Executive Centre”

Being the Nigerian that I am, my curiosity got the better of me, I steeled myself, opened the glass door and asked the young Indian chap, if the lounge allowed no members to use the facility and he said yes, I asked him how much it would cost? To my greatest surprise, the two other guests in unison said there was no membership fee to be paid and that the access to the room was free. I immediately asked packed my bag and asked my wife to take my picture once am settled in the lounge.

The second example, October 1, 2017, Kempinski Hotel Dubai: We were staying in a hotel (Signature Hotel Al Bashar) not far from the Mall of Emirates, which is about 10 to 15 minutes walk. In order to get to the Mall, you need to wall past the Kempinski Hotel (a five-star prestigious hotel) to get into the Mall (There is a walkway through the hotel lobby that connects the Hotel and the Mall). Every day we walked to the Mall, we usually walk in front the hotel to get into the mall, but this evening, the weather was hot and sticky and even though Mall was just walking the distance, the heat was discomforting, we could not wait to get to Mall (to cool off).

My wife was already complaining about trekking. Yes, the temptation was strong for us to enter the mall through the thoroughfare connecting the Kempinski Hotel and the Mall since it will save us time. I was reluctant to take the route because I did not want security at the entrance to turn us back (I felt the embarrassment would be too much to bear if were to be turned back by the security in front of those hotel guests or dignitaries – you just need to see the type of luxury cars parked in front of the hotel you will understand the reluctance).

For some reason, the security sensed our uneasiness, beckoned to us and showed us the side entrance to the hotel leading into the mall. You cannot imagine how relieved we were when we were offered that lifeline: so much so, I took several photo shots at the entrance just to remind myself why I not second myself and not entertain negative internal dialogue of this type.

The two experiences left an indelible mark on me. It made me question some my personal beliefs and the validity of some of my internal dialogue. I told myself never again will I say NO to myself before other people do, but rather I will muster the boldness to ask for things even though I stand the risk of rejection. Better to try and fail than no try at all then live in perpetual regret if only I have taken a bold step of asking. Now we are finally in 2018, my charge to you is that You Must Walk in 2018 with boldness. The choice is before you: there is only one person that can stop you from achieving your dreams in 2018, that person is the person you see in the mirror!

Check and get hold of your Internal dialogue, if you don’t you may be sabotaging your own efforts unknowingly. If your internal communication with yourself is not empowering, please discard it and embrace a more empowering truth. 2018 is for yours for the taking; go forth boldly and do great things.

Happy New Year to you and your family.