Our environment has a lot to do with our success. Our thought on success most times is regulated by the socio-economic and political conditions that are prevalent in where we live. And often, especially if you come from places where these conditions aren’t palatable, you see your dreams greatly restricted and the extent of your success hampered. So, unconsciously, our environment attempts to cage us to see life and think in a certain way.

But for you to achieve that big dream you must think beyond the real and virtual barriers your environment has imposed on you. 

It was not my choice to be born in a small town, east of the Niger River, though I thank who (God) made that choice. But we know that a child born in a remote rural area of Nigeria has limited chances of survival, not to talk of becoming successful on the world stage.

He lives in poverty, breathes a decayed sociopolitical system, sees poor sanitary conditions and hears death knocking. His highest aspiration is to become a palm wine tapper, a shoe repairer, a local vendor on the streets or at most a local headmaster (only village boys and girls like me will understand these aspirations). Not that these jobs aren’t dignifying, but your environment tends to limit the scope of your imagination.

If that child grew up in an environment where he saw doctors, astronauts, engineers, IT personnel, researchers of all fields, and the country’s socio-economic situation is clement, certainly his dreams and aspirations will be different.

You may come from a poor home, where no one has a formal education; you were born out of wedlock; your Dad/Mom abandoned you; you live in an unsafe neighbourhood; you were diagnosed with a rare disease; your country’s economy is a mess etc.

True, all these factors can place both real and artificial ceilings on your imagination. But you can’t and shouldn’t allow it. You need to both unroof and destroy those ceilings and think beyond those physical, social, political, economic/financial limitations.

“Yes, I’ll be rich someday; I’ll have a formal education; I’ll marry right and be a great parent; I’ll be an agent of hope to millions someday” These should be your thoughts.

Derive motivation from your humble background; let the difficulties you live and respire daily be your drive. You owe it to yourself and to your generation to be better than what you were given.

Please I want you to always remember this: Money is not the problem. The moment you think that money is the problem you’ll get stuck.

I came to this understanding a couple of months ago and it changed my perspective on things: Every day there are billions of euros/dollars/pounds exchanging hands on your street, in your city or country. You might not have seen them but that’s what happens. You just need to be at the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing, and of course with God’s favour, to receive your portion.

The money will come to you while you’re chasing your dreams not while you’re chasing money. Nobody wants to pay you for nothing, but people are willing to support a credible idea.

Also, don’t ever think that your skin colour is a limitation, no matter the story you’ve heard or read. Those stories might be true but always remind yourself that there are people with your skin colour who made it to great heights. And by the way, when you have what others don’t have, no matter how they try to neglect you, you’ll stand out someday.

Furthermore, your marital status should be seen as an added advantage – whether as a single because you’re free to fly or as married because two heads are better than one. See the positive side of things.

As you think beyond the limits of your environment, you must watch the company you keep. The company you keep plays a fundamental role in who you become.

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