Monthly Archives: September 2021

It is not uncommon to see an individual excel more in a field than another despite both giving their best to achieve a goal. Coming down to the academic setting, a student may marvel at why another student always receives literary prizes even though they both learned under the same set of teachers, in the same classroom, and at the same time. Many ask the simple but essential question: What exactly differentiates the successful from the unsuccessful?

You may have noticed that some people put in their best effort and yet fail. Unsuccessful people may be hardworking. Belief is a certain quality that successful people cultivate, nurture, and display. In the conversation on success, we cannot overemphasize belief. Belief is a feeling of being optimistic about succeeding in a journey one is about to take, or a journey one is in already. According to Gordan A. Eadie, “If you do not stand for something, you will fall for anything.” He points out that there is an inner driving force that propels an individual to take a step. That force is the force of belief. 

Ben Carson is a perfect example that comes to mind when we think about belief leading to success. Ben believed that he could improve in his academics and make an impact in the world. As a result, Ben always went to the library to read, shunning frequent viewing of TV programs. If he did not believe in the first instance, he would not have taken the step to improve himself and get to the point he is now. 

No successful man reaches that point of success without belief. The road to success is not smooth but filled with obstacles. It is the belief that gives one the determination to overcome these obstacles. When you believe, you have the motivation to make sacrifices. No man ever ventures into an investment he knows will be fruitless. However, belief in excellence gives an individual the positive mindset that all struggles would pay off sooner or later. 

In conclusion, belief will pay off because it propels an individual to take a step towards the journey of success. It also enables one to cultivate the qualities that are essential to success, such as hard work, persistence, and determination, etc. So, it is indeed not fictional to say that belief pays.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emmanuel Ajah is a Secondary School student in Nigeria. He is dedicated to success in his academics and future career. He is a member of B2SL Success Hub.

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right” – Henry Ford.

On the way to success, your belief in your abilities will determine whether you succeed or not. Every successful person must challenge the inherent fear of feeling inadequate or incompetent. You can become more anxious because of people who have done so well in an area where you have been trying to excel. For example, if you are going to win a boxing competition, you must fight against the current champion—that’ scary. But then, if you don’t fight, there is no championship for you.

18-year-old Emma Raducanu from Britain won the recent Women’s single at the US Open grand slam, coming into the tournament as a qualifier. She had to play prequalifying games before participating in the competition because, in tennis, the top-ranked players are seeded first in big rounds before others. She was not a favorite to play in the tournament talk less of winning. According to world ranking, Raducanu was number 150 at the start of the US Open at the end of July 2021. She made history as the first person to win a tennis grand slam as a qualifier in both men’s and women’s tennis less than three weeks later. Her victory has been called one of the greatest underdog stories in the history of sports. 

Raducanu had booked her flight back home after the qualifying tournament because she never was doubtful of herself. However, she won ten straight matches during the tournament, meaning she could not return home because she had qualified for the main grand slam. In the final game against 19-year-old Leyland Fernandez from Canada, Raducanu won straights sets to make history. But had she not believed in herself, she would not have left her house, not to talk of competing in a significant competition and winning.

You may be thinking that you don’t have what it takes to overcome that complex topic in a subject. You may also be thinking that if you attempt to do something new, you will fail. But as Raducanu’s success story shows, you too can succeed if you believe in yourself and put yourself in the race. You never know what you can achieve until you try, and you never try unless you think that winning is possible.

You may not be a tennis star like Raducanu. However, there are areas of your life where you can put in the effort to become better. Ignore the fear and push yourself to start, and who knows what medals await you. 

I will be happy to read your comments and questions in the comments section below.

I wish you all the best.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Besidone Ebule is the Project Director at B2SL, where he works to encourage personal development and build success networks. You can contact him at bessy.ebule@b2sl.org.

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“Belief in oneself and knowing who you are, I mean, that’s the foundation for everything great.” – Jay-Z

If you can answer the question why accurately, you will be an influential person. There will always be one or more things that will make you doubt yourself so much wherever you are now. But the moment you see why you should believe in yourself, everything changes. Asking yourself this question and getting the correct answer is the foundation to achieving greatness.

Les Brown (born 1945) is an American motivational speaker. Born into poverty and abandoned as a child, Brown was overactive and mischievous. He struggled in school, finding it impossible to concentrate. Most people labeled him as mentally disabled in the fifth grade. It was a label that made him not believe in himself. 

However, a dedicated teacher called LeRoy Washington believed in his potential. When Brown once told Washington in class that he couldn’t perform a task because he was educable mentally disabled, he responded by saying, “Do not ever say that again! “Someone’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.” These words made Brown start believing in himself and free himself from the negative label of others. Fast forward to the present, Les Brown is one of America’s best-known and highest-paid motivational speakers. His company, Les Brown Unlimited Inc., has made millions of dollars from selling motivational materials.

When you don’t believe in yourself, you will accept any negative opinion from anyone or society. You start doubting yourself if you can do anything significant, leading you to a place of doubt where all you see are reasons why you cannot pursue your dreams. You start counting yourself out when you could lead people to achieve something because you think you cannot teach yourself not to talk of leading others.

But just like Les Brown, who started believing himself at one point, before his life started taking the right path to the success he now has. It would help if you also started believing in yourself, throw away those negative opinions of people about you, stop doubting yourself and start thinking about your ability to become whoever you want to become. Without this, you won’t achieve much in the future, as believing in yourself is the foundation to your greatness.

I look forward to hearing from you in the comment section. Let me know what you learned from this article and ask questions for clarity or reach out to us if you need any assistance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charles Adimah is an entrepreneur and the Project Manager of B2SL INITIATIVE, where he manages the vision. He is a great believer that a prosperous Nigeria is a product of successful Nigerians. You can reach him via email at charles@b2sl.org.

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“Miracles happen to those who believe in them” – Bernard Berenson

It’s a new month and we are looking at belief, which is an important mental aspect of an individual’s life. One thing is sure, the power of belief and thought, will move reality in the direction of what we believe and conceive of it. The popular saying is true: If you believe that you can do something, then you can. 

When you envision a victorious outcome, engrave it in your heart, and are firmly convinced that you will attain it, your brain makes every effort to bring the mental image you have created to life. And then, through your unceasing effort, that victory is finally made a reality.

Mohammed Ali comes to mind whenever we talk about belief. Over fifty years after he burst upon the scene as a gold-medal winner at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, he remains a magical figure, known and loved worldwide. It is the repetition of affirmation that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen. This was probably one of the most prominent success tips from Mohammed Ali.

At the beginning of every match, Ali will claim that he was “the greatest.” And he did become the greatest. One of Ali’s famous sayings is, “It is not the mountain ahead to climb that wears you out; it is the pebble in your shoe.” Whenever you have a significant challenge to confront, be it in your academics or any field of endeavor in life, your lack of self-belief will hinder you more than the challenge itself. 

An old African proverb says: “If there is no enemy within, the enemy without does us no harm.” It means that what you think affects your belief system, and your thinking can also make you believe it. Ignore negative and impossible thoughts and dwell on the positive ones because those thoughts you entertain and dwell on in your mind will grow to make you or mar you. Every accomplishment in life begins with a belief and a decision to try. Success itself generally starts with an attitude and ends with a lifestyle. Start believing in your dreams, and you will sooner or later be living in the reality of those dreams.

I will be eager to hear your comments and questions in the comments section below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Henry Ibrahim is the Content Creator at B2SL. He loves working with young people to help them discover their purpose in life. You can contact him at Ibrahim@b2sl.org.

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