09/09/2020
"Leadership is influence". -John Maxwell.
Friends, as we journey in the " pathway to leadership" using the leadership definition of one of the great writers on leadership. Permit me to share the schooling of the richest African- Aliko Dangote MFR, GCON.
He was born in 1957, Dangote grew up in an entrepreneurial household in Kano State, Nigeria. He was raised Muslim and lived an upper-class life. Dangote's grandfather, Sanusi Dantata, was once named one of the wealthiest people living in Kano. He made his fortune selling commodities like Oats and Rice. Dantata became Dangote's guardian("mentor" in my own words) in 1965 after the death of his father.
Having spent much of his childhood with his grandfather(mentor), Dangote quickly became interested in the world of business.
You may ask, why the story? Simple, Nobody in life rises to a place of influence(leadership) without been led by another person at one point of his or her life. The holy bible says that, a child though he is an heir is not different from a servant, he must be under tutors and governors(in summary).
Can you imagine a Dangote without tutor Sanusi Dantata?
Can you imagine a Bishop Abioye without tutor Bishop David Oyedepo?
Can you imagine a Frank Edward without tutor Sinach or a Phil Thompson without JJ Hairston?
Can you imagine the great "Baba of Africa" Chief Olusegun Obasanjo without been under a General Yakubu Gowon and General Murtala Muhammed.
The list continues.
NOTE: Authority is not given, it is earn.
The pathway to leadership is "service". The great Jewish Rabbi(Jesus) of all times, said to his newly admitted students "follow me, i will make you". He was saying:
1)I will cause a paradigm shift in your mind.
When a man is in service, he goes through a paradigm shift(i.e a change in the way you think) unknowingly to him. He shifts from an "I" mentality to a "We" mentality. Love for people becomes his obsession.
2) I will cause an increase in your capacity.
Jesus was telling them to follow him, that he will build in them an Apostolic capacity for a pentecostal movement that will spread like a wildfire all over the world. The dept of your submission in service determines the size of your capacity and height of your influence. Selah.
3)I will cause you to discover your Real Identity.
Who you follow in life determines what you discover about yourself. Mentorship reveals your real you. It is like a mirror that aid you to discover your identity. Little did Frank Edward know that following Sinach to rehearsals and playing keyboard for her will oneday make him a world class Rock musician.
Who are you following?
4)I will cause you to discover the untapped and unhidden abilities in you.
A lion that is in the midst of chickens will always manifest the abilities of chickens. Tiger Woods cannot be your mentor and you will not see the ability of a golf player in you. Dangote by following his grandfather at his tender age started manifesting the marketing ability in him.
5)I will cause you to see and deal with your weaknesses.
Serving an authority in any field of endeavour helps you to see your weaknesses and reduces your mistake margin. You need somebody to rebuke you and tell you that you talk too much, you eat too much, you spend too much, you womanize too much, you chat too much etc.
Friends, before i draw the curtain, let me inform you that by the year 2030, the Millennials(people born within 1980-2001) will represent 75% of the global workforce according to Benjamin Windle.
Question:
-Will you be among the world leaders by then?
-What are you doing now and where or who are you serving now?
See you at the TOP.
Thanks.
Brother Kelechi Korie(Bishop)
