Distinguished with Distinctions

Copyright © 2011 by Anslem M. Diayi.

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Author’s Contact Details:

Name: Anslem Madulosie Diayi

Contact Address: The Chair Centre Limited, Block 94, Plot 18, Lekki Phase I, Lagos.

Telephone Number: +2348063517259, +2347029583163

E-Mail: [email protected]

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ISBN: 978-1-4620-5275-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-5276-9 (ebk)

iUniverse rev. date: 04/13/2012

Contents

DEDICATION

FORWARD

PREFACE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

STRATEGIC PLANNING

HARD WORK/PRODUCTIVITY

PERSEVERANCE

JOB’S STORY

DISCIPLINE

POSITIVE THINKING

TRUST/BELIVE IN GOD’S WORD

MEDITATION

THE ANOINTING

DIVINE REVELATION

A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD

CHAPTER THREE

LAZINESS/PROCRASTINATION

COMPROMISE

LOW AIM

NEGATIVE INFLUENCE

DISOBEDIENCE

WRONG/NEGATIVE LIFE STYLE

REGRET

FEAR

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

WISDOM

INFORMATION

DIVINE REVELATION

RIGHT ATTITUDE/ GOOD HUMAN

RELATIONSHIP

THE HOLY SPIRIT

DIVINE FAVOR

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

Glossary

About The Author

Author’s Picture

DEDICATION

To my parents Emmanuel Okafor and Benedette Diayi for all the love, care and support you gave me in life.

FORWARD

Distinguished with Distinctions is a destiny provoking book that brings to light time/life proven secrets to greatness (distinction); it also exposes some hidden road blocks to distinction which have denied many of greatness. Written passionately from a depth of personal experience, this book would provoke you, challenge you and inspire you to the end that you would be distinguished with distinctions.

—Pastor David Usman,

Senior Pastor, Vine International Gospel Ministry Inc.

PREFACE

This book has been put together to bring hope to the hopeless and to encourage all to believe that no matter what, distinction is sure in life.

The book begins with my academic failure experiences having had weak passes in Mathematics on two occasions, which were too low to secure a University admission but with determination, hard work, purpose and faith in God, the story changed to an A3 at the third attempt. This first chapter teaches us how to hold on even in the face of imminent defeat.

The second chapter speaks on the secrets of distinction such as hardwork, strategic planning, perseverance, discipline, positive thinking/mindset, meditation, the anointing and a divine revelation from God. These hidden treasures are great fuels that are needed for spectacular distinctions in life.

Knowing very well that there could be some hindrances to distinction, some eight chronic stumbling blocks to distinctions namely; laziness/procrastination, compromise, low aim, negative influence, disobedience, wrong/negative lifestyle, regret and fear were exposed in the third chapter to let men know how they can inhibit distinctions and the aftermath effect they present in the lives of those who make them their life time companion.

In Chapter four, areas where an individual can be distinguished such as career, investment and potential exploitation shows us that distinction is sure in anything that we lay our hands on.

To be distinguished in life, there are catalysts that can propel an individual to greatness. Such catalysts like wisdom, information, good human relationship, the presence of the Holy Spirit and divine favour and their ability to make a man different from his peers have been discussed in the fifth chapter. This is followed by the essential tips that are needed for distinction like forgetting about past achievements and forging ahead for greater heights, living a life of humility and acknowledging God for every success you make life.

The book comes to an end with a passionate plea which invites all to the ultimate distinction in life that begins with the acceptance of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Lord and saviour. After all the cash, cars, family, medals and laurels have been gotten, we will still give account of how we spent our lives here on earth. Where you spend eternity is vey key. Only two destinations are possible namely Heaven and Hell. This plea enjoins us to embrace Christ and walk in his ways so that the ultimate distinction of making Heaven can be achieved.

CHAPTER ONE

MY EXPERIENCE

3rd of December, 1997 remains a very important day in my life. It was a day that ushered in the beginning of an entirely new experience that I can’t forget in a hurry. I woke up as early as 6.00a.m. to say my morning prayers before embarking on my usual daily chores. The sun was very bright and everywhere was calm as the whole world waited anxiously for Christmas. Having finished my W.A.E.C S.S.C.E. (West African Certificate Examination), I was enjoying my long holiday. I wasn’t idle all the while because I usually helped my dad out in his business.

As noon day approached, I decided to take my bath. Hot bath was generally preferred because the weather was cold and every one needed something for warmth. Immediately after I came out from the bathroom, my senior brother Pascal entered the room and said guess what! Your result has just been released. At that point in time, I was taken unawares because I was expecting the result at the middle of the month. How was it? I asked. Well, you had P7 (pass) in Mathematics but the other subjects were okay. Immediately, I felt like the ground should open and swallow me up but I tried to summon courage by running down the stairs to see my mum in order to have a firsthand information about the entire situation. Mum confirmed it and she asked me to get ready to travel to Makurdi (Benue State) to get my statement of result. I hurriedly prepared myself and I boarded a vehicle to the motor park from where I got a vehicle (almost immediately) to Makurdi.

The impact of my inability to make at least a credit in Mathematics at S.S.C.E. level weighed me down seriously and I thought about it all through the journey. I wondered how I would face my friends particularly those at the junior levels who had great hope and confidence in me. Then I thought of my parent, how disappointed they would be owing to the enormous investments they made in my studies but above all I felt like I’ve disappointed my entire generation because prior to that time, I had made seven distinctions and two credits in my junior WAEC and four distinctions and four credits in my Mock SSCE. Although, my SSCE was not entirely bad because I made three distinctions, three credits and a pass (according to the grading at that time) while I had a C5 in Economics. There is a popular Nigerian proverb which says a little piece of yam can spoil the whole pounded yam. This little piece of yam (P7 in mathematics), spoilt the testimony of my results. I also thought of all the midnight candles I burnt as well as the extra efforts and sacrifices I made in order to have a clean slate victory in my WAEC but all seemed to be in vein as I would have to go through the rigours of preparing for another exam if my GCE result didn’t work out as planned.

Depression took hold of me and I felt bad with myself. Looking into the sky through the window I asked God this question Father, if you truly love me, why did you allow me to go through this entire trauma at such a crucial stage of my life. I searched myself through and through and discovered I’ve always tried to have a closer relationship with God and I’ve never joked with my studies. So what went wrong? I asked. Then, I tried to comfort myself but the more I did, the more I saw the picture of defeat.

As soon as I alighted from the vehicle, I made my way straight to see Mrs Ikwuagu, who is a family friend of ours and under whose care my result was entrusted. She’s always been a very wonderful person, likewise her husband and children. After collecting my result, I went straight to my former school to collect my testimonial but I was asked to come back the following day.

On the next day, I woke up quite early and made my way straight to the school where I met me former principal in person of Rev. Fr. Angus Fraser. Father as he was rightfully called has handled the affairs of the school since 1972 till date. He came into the Nigerian shores in 1959 or there about and I doubt if he has ever visited his native country Trinidad and Tobago since then.

I couldn’t get the testimonial after a long time of waiting because the official date for issuance was to commence on the 10th of December. Obviously tired, worn out and down cast, I had to board a vehicle to the motor park in order to pick up another vehicle to Abuja. The vehicle I entered was very slow and unknown to us, it wasn’t even in good shape before we left the park.

In spite of the cool fresh air that breezed into the vehicle, I still had some unquenchable heat as a result of my P7 grade in Mathematics but after a little while, I tried to encourage myself. After all, my GCE result would soon be out and I just believe I would make it, I said. I arrived Abuja at night and I got home at 9.00 pm. Life goes on, I said to myself but its only time that could tell how long the storm was going to last.

MY G.C.E. RESULT

After my ordeal in Mathematics, I still had great hope of excelling in my WAEC GCE (general certificate examination) since I wrote it under a conducive atmosphere that could help even the dullest individual to make it. Feasting on some delicious meals from Mum’s cooking pot, no doubt was part of what constituted the conducive atmosphere. I could remember that in those days in school, we had to depend on what was prepared by the school cook.

The news of the release of our GCE result reached me and I received it with gladness because I had an awesome feeling in my heart that it was my turn to shine.

Saturday the 4th of April, 1998 was another date with history as I had to battle the well respected Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board [JAMB] exam. This exam when passed, qualifies an individual for admission into any Nigerian university at that time since we had no private universities. Mum advised me to wait until the Monday after my exam before going to check my result. On Monday morning (6th April, 1998), I boarded a vehicle to Gwagwalada (a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria) where the West African Examination Council [WAEC] is situated. As I alighted from the 911 Mercedes bus, I climbed a motor bike which is popularly referred to as Okada in Nigeria. On my arrival at the WAEC office, I saw an unprecedented number of individuals mainly youths, who wrote the exam the previous year. A quick look at their faces revealed that all was not well at all. Some hissed and murmured while others could not contain themselves as they grew emotional.

Having seen it all, I just concluded that the predicaments of others would not be my portion and I declared that affliction shall not arise a second time. I made my way straight to the notice board where my result was pasted. I looked through my result but guess what! It was yet another disappointing one. Instead of improving, I made just 1 distinction, 2 credits, 5 passes and I F9. In Mathematics, I had P8. This was worse off than my WAEC SSCE result. For good 10 minutes, I was completely dazed and could not put myself together because that was more or less like my only golden opportunity to prove that the WAEC SSCE was just an underestimation of my academic potentials.

In spite of all the frustrations, I still summoned courage to go back to the park. In any case, I had no option order than to leave the WAEC premises. On getting home, I met my younger sister Linda and I broke the news to her almost immediately. Just like any other person, she felt very sorry for me and wished it never happened at all. Dad came in afterwards and he received the news but did not take much action. He only wished I had made the first SSCE Mathematics and according to him, that would have saved me a lot of trouble.

Evening time came and mum inquired of my result after work. On seeing the breakdown of