Dear Destiny Friends,
If you are asked what your foundation is, what would you say? If you are wondering what kind of foundation I mean, consider the following.
Foundation means different things to different people and even different organizations. A student’s foundation may be linked to how their parents trained them, through elementary, High school, and college. A Christian foundation might be linked to their knowledge of the Bible and their encounter with God. The formidability of a house or structure is traceable to its foundation, just as an employee’s or a Chief Executive Officer’s work ethic can be linked to their foundational years in service.
Foundations are very critical in life. When the foundation is not right, there is bound to be a problem. It is rightly said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step in the right direction. Did you know that foundation can affect one’s business, education, faith, career, and development if success, if not properly aligned.
Let’s take a case study of an entrepreneur who is trying to develop or market a product. Initially, there will be challenges, especially when he has not been able to do his background check very well, in addition to adding value to his life. But when he finally gets it right, it will be easy for him to sell the product. Even at that, most people will be concerned to know what inspired the person to develop the product and their trajectory in life, and that’s where the foundation comes in.
Furthermore, if anyone wants to contest for an elective position, the electorate will be concerned about what their track record in leadership is, and emphasis will be placed on the relative professional experience that will make anyone vote for them. The same principle applies to anyone interested in furthering their education.
Let’s take another case study of anyone interested in earning a Ph.D. The student would have had a background in bachelor’s and master’s degrees, which is relevant to the Ph.D. Failure to do this might pose a challenge to the admission process. When a student lacks the requisite educational training, they will be advised to get a postgraduate diploma.
When it relates to friends, family, and business associates, the ability to select the right people will set the right tone for success. For example, if you have a business, your ability to hire the right people who are more knowledgeable, in addition to having expertise, will be a great asset to your business. When you hire the wrong people, you are setting yourself up for failure.
It’s instructive to note that every family has a secret they are built on. Yes, every family has a secret which only the family knows. These family secrets serve as the nucleus and foundation upon which the family is built. A family built with a strong value system, like prayer, love, patience, and respect, stands stronger than families without a value system. That alone is a recipe for disaster in society.
For married couples to work together, they must share similar values, interests, goals, and religion, in addition to other related alignments, to make the marriage work. Amidst all these interests, it’s instructive to note that what binds them together is more than what separates them. One may be wondering what that means. Well, one of the hallmarks that has sustained a good marriage/relationship is friendship. When two good friends marry, the union is literally blissful because what binds them together is more than what separates them. Imagine where two friends dated for about three or five years, they would have understood each other very well, and that would be a strong basis for both to always look back on how they started when friction arises.
Every business has an ideology, values, and a mission they hold in high esteem. These ideologies serve as the foundation and inspiration for the business. In some cases, these foundations serve as the stories of why the organization was established by her founding fathers. The same principle is applicable when it comes to picking a business partner. Both parties must share similar interests and alignments in the business.
Do you have a foundation? If yes, what is it? On a personal note, I am bold to tell anyone who cares to know, God is my foundation. I am very unapologetic about it. Most people believe in other powers, humans, or even themselves, but that’s not me. My help comes from God who made the heavens and earth. I can’t take the glory of God.
Sometimes, when I look at the trajectory of my life, and how far I have come in life, all I can say is glory be to God because I literally know my foundation, strength, and limitations. To have reached this stage in life can be attributed to nothing else but God. Yes, I worked hard, I networked well with the right people in addition to being in the right places at the right times because of strategic relationships. I can go on and on, but I know some people have done a hundred times more than me and yet can’t get the level of result I have produced over time.
If not for the grace and mercy of God, I don’t know what I would say. For the sake of clarity, let me share a few instances. I have been humbled to be interviewed by the New York Times, interviewed at least three times on television by News12, published two books with the third one in view, partnered with the United Nations Development Programme in addition to having one of the best talented minds on earth to work with in my organization. I can go on and on. But as a sage will say, a word is enough for the wise.
What’s interesting about these achievements is that none is a result of human factors. They all happened in a way that one will attribute the feat to God. So, why will I be ashamed of giving God the glory?
Some may not have the right foundation in life, but that is not a problem. Foundation can be learned. When you meet people or work in a certain environment, please pay attention to their values, lifestyle, and, more importantly, the culture, and pick the right information.
In conclusion, as you journey through life, please note that foundations are critical in life. They can either mar or make you. So, please pay attention to the foundation you are laying down because, at the end of the day, the way you make your bed is the way you will lie on it.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
