Motivation and Inspiration by Peter Mbada: They are as normal as the guy next door

They are as normal as the guy next door

Even the great people are humans too!

In the past week I had the privilege of being part of the executive team that hosted our organisation’s Board of Directors for lunch and dinner. The board members had come for a board meeting from far and wide; some had flown in from as far as London; and some had flown from South Africa on their personal choppers and jets. It was a high-powered delegation with people like Nicky Oppenheimer, arguably Africa’s richest man; Gareth Penny the MD for De Beers Consolidated Mines (the world over) and some local heavy-weights like the Attorney-General for Botswana, just to name a few. It was interesting and refreshing interacting on a personal level with these great men and women who undoubtedly have made remarkable achievements in their lifetime. Knowing me, I had my mental pen ready to pick up any lesson that I can learn from the networking and also finding opportunity to sow a seed and make a difference in somebody’s life at that level. Those are the kind of people that you don’t always meet down the road; so if you get an opportunity to interact with them on a professional level then don’t lose the opportunity to plant an eternal seed. However, the greatest lesson I learnt from the interaction was that, great as they are on the world’s standards, they are just human beings too!

They are as simple as the guy next door

Over the years, I have had great privileges to meet in person and talk to presidents; to meet and dine with the movers and pushers of the global marketplace and the ‘who’s who’ in the business world; I have closely associated with people blessed with great minds, who have made magnificent inventions; and with people blessed with great financial resources. After each meeting, I have never seized to be amazed at their simplicity. They all looked to me like real, normal human beings; simple people. The kind of people you have as the guy next door: plain simple. They don’t have anything that looks superhuman in their physique. They are plain simple human beings. This simple revelation gives me the courage to believe that if they look as normal as I do then, for sure, I can do what they can do; if only I dare to dream. If only you dare to dream and have the discipline to put your dreams into practice then there is no limit to what you can achieve with your life. There are no limitations to the mind except those that are acknowledged!

Rise to your potential

The men and women who made the greatest discoveries in the history of mankind did it without any previous ideas that they were inventors. They were persons with plain, straightforward commonsense, who saw a need in the world and immediately applied themselves to supply the need. They were not great men or women from Mars, but simple men and women who unleashed their minds to produce great ideas; men and women who dared to dream and determined to see their dreams come to life. You don’t need to be superhuman to make an impact; you don’t need to have royal blood; or to have a genealogy that links you to the Oppenheimers’, Bill Gates, Billy Graham or the TD Jake’s of this world. You just need to be you and believe in your capabilities.

Unleash your mind!

Robots have pre-programmed minds and are designed a specific purpose; but you have a free unrestricted mind; you are the programmer of your own mind. Thomas A. Edison who invented the light bulb had only an equivalent of 3 months ‘schooling’ his entire life. He did not blame his parents for not sending him to school. He made use of what he had – the mind – to provide the greatest of the human needs – light. Abraham Lincoln had a maximum of 18 months of formal schooling his entire life. He did not blame the system; he did not blame his poor peasant parents. He took control of his destiny and embarked on self-education until he became a lawyer. He lost in two elections but that did not keep him down until finally he rose up to power to become one of the most effective presidents in American history. Unleash the power of your mind.

My encouragement this week is ‘God hath not given you the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind’’ (2 Timothy 1 v 7). Get that mind to work!

Safe in His Hands

By the way, last weekend I had an accident while driving with my family on Saturday evening, at dusk. We were from encouraging some close friends of ours and while driving home on a highway we hit a big black cow. I know the enemy intended it for the worst but we saw the hand of the Lord. It’s the umpteenth time but the Lord keeps on rising to the occasion. As usual He wrapped us in His arms and kept us safe from the fiery darts of the enemy. None of us was injured but the vehicle was damaged. He reminded us that ‘Surely he will save us from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover us with his feathers, and under his wings we will find refuge; his faithfulness will be our shield and rampart’ (Psalm 91 v 3 & 4). The devil never gives up; but we will never give in either!

Calvary love

Peter Mbada

I am sincerely grateful to all those that supported and encouraged me and the work by purchasing a copy of ‘Destined to Succeed’. It means a lot. May the Lord bless you abundantly.