SUCCESS means many things to many people. What one person may regard as success may mean so little to the next man. Yet everyone deplores everything in their power to be successful in life, sometimes to their hurt. But as Dr. Cosmas Ilechukwu explains in his book, success follows after a particular model that God establishes for man.ILECHUKWU in his new book Total Success: Becoming all you are designed to be (Cannif Trust Ltd, 2010; Owerri) rightly asserts that every human being desires success. However, the usual attributes that are associated with success may be far from what it means to attain total success. So that the picture of wealth, power, good education and fame that are equated with success may actually be ephemeral, and of little value, and so do not necessarily lead to the happiness that success ought to bring. History is replete with men and women who achieved extraordinary successes but committed suicide nonetheless and died in ignominy. Total success, Ilechukwu argues, is one that is in accord with Gods plan for human beings, and which is fully expressed in the three-dimensions of human existencespirit, soul and body. These three dimensions of existence, he states, also operate under the guidance of Gods grace through which man is empowered to act in accordance with His will. Ilechukwus book is divided into eight parts that distinctly treat various aspects that relate to success that leads to lasting happiness under Gods divine will for mankind. So, theres Total Success Concept, Mind Management for Total Success, Principles for Total Success, Leadership Principles for Total Success, Total Success Lifestyles, Principles of Personal Effectiveness, Enemies of Total Success and Stories of Total Success. In Mind Management for Total Success, Ilechukwu, a bible scholar and church overseer, explains that Charles Darwins big bang evolution theory that seeks to replace or diminish Gods influence in mans life is inadequate to explain mans ingenuity in relation to his creative vision that is in line with Gods creation story of man. With apt biblical quotes that surprisingly explain mans continuing failure to attain success, the author examines the power of paradigm shift as a way of moving away from old vision to new ones established under Gods guidance. So, he states, Your paradigm influences the way you think and interpret life. What is considered possible and what is considered impossible in life are all determined by ones paradigm. Every major breakthrough in science, technology, business, religion and in life in general has always been as a result of a paradigm shift The foundation of total success is laid with a Holy Spirit engendered paradigm shift. Until we begin to see as God sees we will not receive what he offers The behaviours and customs that created our problems will not be able to solve them. We must think differently, live differently if we must achieve the total success that we are designed to be We must construct new maps from the word of God if we must arrive at our destiny. From paradigm, Ilecukwu goes on to explore the mind and how its sound management provides a powerful tool for total success. The biblical quote, For as he thinks in his heart, so is he, Ilechukwu writes, provides a powerful insight how important the mind is in enabling man to achieve success. He states, The quality of the mind determines the quality of the person, and the quality of the mind is determined by the thought it contains. So, what thoughts do you think about at once provides a challenge for the discerning mind. Debugging your mind and reprogramming it for total success entails a deliberate exposure of your mind to the mind of God as conveyed in His Word, the author writes. The mind of God is always positive and admits no impossibility. It always seeks the best in every circumstance and for everybody concerned. The mind of God dwells on things that are excellent and translates itself in good works. God usually sees the best side of any issue. This is how one can begin to develop a total success mindset. He then explores the realm of imagination, which dovetails into creativity as an attribute whereby man approximates God. He states, Everything God made first lived in His mind. God employed imagination in creation. One of the most powerful endowments of God on human beings is the ability of imagination. This is our creative faculty. We create according to our imagination. Ilechukwu also outlines the principles of total success to include initiative, commitment, enthusiasm, perseverance, service, faith, hope, prayer and gumption. These along with many other precepts stated in the book, he assures, will aid his readers to total success when practised within the ambit of Gods divine will for mankind. He cautions against certain factors that are dream-killers to include negative societal reaction to your dreams, and urges steadfastness in this regard. Ilechukwu concludes his book with total success stories of local entrepreneurs that have already harnessed most or part of the Godly principles he has outlined in his book. These examples, he hopes, will help to inspire a generation of Nigerians and others to achieving total successes in their lives. Like many other bible-based motivational books, Ilechukwus Total Success encourages individuals to chart their success paths alongside Gods divine plan for mankind. This is so that whatever success they achieve will assure them lasting happiness and peace devoid of sorrow.
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