Attaining Success Intentionally: A Roadmap to a Life You Design   Success isn’t accidental. It’s deliberate. Personal. Strategic, it's intentional. And above all, it’s different for each one of us. In a world buzzing with pressure to “make it,” and “make mama proud” this article offers you something better: clarity. Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder, launching your own business, or figuring out where you fit, here’s how to pursue success on purpose.   What Is Success, Really? Success is one of the most misunderstood words in modern life. For some, it’s financial stability. For others, it’s freedom, peace of mind, or creative expression.   Defining what success looks like for you is the first step to living intentionally. If you don't define it, the world will, and you'll spend your life chasing someone else's dream, or on a wild goose chase.   White Collar Jobs vs. Entrepreneurship There’s no universal path to success. Traditional employment offers structure, a defined growth path, and security. Entrepreneurship offers freedom, creativity, and the power to build something that reflects your vision. Neither is better, the real question is: Which suits your nature, your values, and your long-term vision? If you value stability, predictable growth, and climbing an established ladder, a white collar career might be ideal. But if you're fueled by ideas, willing to take calculated risks, and eager to create your own rules, entrepreneurship could be your calling.    The Power of SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) Small and Medium Enterprises are the hidden giants of global economies. They create jobs, solve local problems, and fuel innovation from the ground up. Supporting or building an SME means you're not just chasing profit, you're creating impact. And in today's world, impact is currency.    Steps to Build a Thriving Career 1. Know Your Strengths; Identify your talents and passions. Your career should reflect both. 2. Gain Relevant Skills; Formal education, online courses, workshops. Keep learning. 3. Network Intentionally; Build real relationships. Seek mentors. Add value. 4. Stay Visible; Build your personal brand online. Let your work speak loudly. 5. Be Consistent; Growth comes from showing up every day, even when it’s hard.    Steps to Build a Business 1. Start with a Problem; Businesses that solve real problems last. 2. Validate Your Idea; Talk to people. Get feedback. Test small. 3. Build a Business Plan; Vision, finances, marketing, goals. Clarity beats chaos. 4. Create a Relatable Brand; Make your message emotional, simple, and human. 5. Launch Lean, Learn Fast; Don't wait for perfect. Start smart, refine quickly.   Continuous Improvement: The Growth Mindset The world is evolving faster than ever. What worked five years ago may be outdated today. That’s why intentional success requires a growth mindset.   Read. Listen. Watch. Ask. Reflect. Invest in knowledge like it’s fuel, because it is.    Your Success, Your Way Success is deeply personal. It isn’t about the corner office or going viral. It’s about impact, fulfillment, and meaningful progress on your own terms. So ask yourself: - What does success mean to me? - What does it look like day to day? - And what am I doing today to get closer intentionally? Your answers shape your future.   Now go build it.

“The Chair Isn’t Real”   They say we are our own biggest enemy But that saying isn’t the whole equation We tell tales of our own shortcomings And forget, we already hold the solution   A stallion, in all of his might Yet enslaved in the kennels of his own mind A coward, defeated by his own sight Still, a champion among his kind   I see a mind with so much room Yet crowded by thoughts of doom A match too easy for him to lose But he only wins in dreams he’ll never choose   A horse tied to a plastic chair With strength to crush, but trapped by fear The rope is weak and the chair very light Still he stays, refusing flight   He isn't held by force or chain But by a loud whisper in his brain Echoing "you can't", though born to run A prisoner of a race already won   GMG

     Measuring Myself with Someone Else’s Yardstick   At one point in my life, I measured myself with other people’s yardsticks.   I tried to act the way they expected me to.   Speak like them. Dress like them.   I even learned their gestures, like throwing fingers in the air while talking, just to belong. Just to be seen. Just to be enough. But I soon realized I could never measure up. Every time I thought I had gotten the hang of it, the benchmark moved further.   The goalposts kept shifting. The rules kept changing.   And I was exhausted, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.   There were rules written in invisible ink:   A man should do this. A man should not do that.   I was chasing shadows, mimicking illusions. And somewhere in the midst of that wild goose chase, I almost lost my authenticity.   I couldn’t even remember what I truly sounded like before I started trying to be everyone else.      The Epiphany   Then one day, I had an epiphany. In a quiet moment—while meditating, trying to figure out how to wear the next mask—I heard a voice. My inner child.   Gentle but firm, calling me back to myself. And in that pin-drop silence, I had a long conversation with me.       Becoming, Not Performing   I realized I didn’t need another script or performance.   I didn’t need a new act.   What I needed was to stop performing and start becoming. Because the world isn’t a random fashion runway.   It’s a blank canvas, and I could paint it with my truth.    Blazing My Own Trail I saw clearly: I could be the influencer, and not the influenced.   I could blaze my own path, not get tangled in the web of someone else’s trail.   I didn’t need permission to stand tall in my own lane. That moment changed everything. It wasn’t some “aspire to perspire” hype.   It was a parallel shift, a new axis to spin on. I realized I could become the very person I used to read about in books and magazines.   I could embody the change I wanted to see. And I didn’t have to water myself down to do it.    Owning My Standard   I could be undeniably me. And it only started when I decided I can be the yardstick.

  In the Spirit of Holy Week: Grief Turned to Joy   “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” John 16:20 (NIV)   These words from Jesus still echo through the ages, soft but steady, for anyone carrying pain, loss, or unanswered questions.   A Promise in the Midst of Pain   Jesus spoke these words to His disciples during a quiet, intimate moment on Thursday night, the night before everything changed. He knew what was coming. He knew the cross was hours away. Yet in the middle of it all, He gave them a promise: “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”   By Friday, Jesus was crucified. The same people who once cheered Him on now celebrated His death. The world rejoiced while His followers stood in shock, watching the one they loved hang on a cross. Then came Saturday.   The Silence of Saturday   Saturday must have been unbearable. Confusion. Heartbreak. Silence. Maybe the disciples were back in that same Upper Room, sitting with their grief, questioning everything. Maybe one of them whispered those words again: “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” But how do you hold on to a promise when it feels like hope has died?   God’s Track Record   The thing is, Jesus wasn’t offering a comforting line to help them cope. He was speaking truth, the kind that’s been proven over and over in the story of God. From Abraham's long wait for a promise to Israel’s cries for deliverance in Egypt, God has always shown up. He has always turned sorrow into joy, even when it didn’t make sense. Even when it took time. And He still does.   For Anyone in a Saturday Season   Maybe today feels like a “Saturday” in your life. A day or season of waiting, heartbreak, or unanswered questions. You’ve prayed, but nothing’s moved. You’ve cried, but the silence feels louder than ever. If that’s you, hold on to this: “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” Not because life is predictable. But because God is faithful.   The Empty Tomb Still Speaks   That Upper Room didn’t stay quiet. The grave didn’t stay filled. And the grief didn’t last forever. Sunday came. Jesus rose. And joy flooded every space where sorrow once lived. So breathe. Rest. Hold on. Because the One who spoke those words is the same One who overcame death. And He’s still turning mourning into dancing, sorrow into songs, and grief into joy.    

  A Love Like No Other    I woke up this morning with a simple thought: I just want to thank God for His goodness over my life. Sometimes we forget how powerful thanksgiving is. It may seem small, but expressing gratitude, especially to the One who’s been consistently good,is never something we should take lightly. Today, we pause to reflect and celebrate a moment that changed everything: the death of Jesus on the cross. He paid the ultimate price for our lives. We hear stories in movies, books, or even real life, people going above and beyond for the ones they love. Some risk everything, even their own lives. It’s noble, inspiring, and it always tugs at the heart. But the truth is, Jesus set the first and greatest example of that kind of love.   "Greater love has no man than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends."(John 15:13 – paraphrased)   He didn’t just speak about love. He became love. And not when we had it all together, but while we were still messy, still broken, still figuring it out. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us..." (Romans 5:8)   He didn’t deserve to die. He didn’t deserve the betrayal, the mockery, or the cruel death on the cross. Blameless, pure, sinless, yet He chose to bear the weight of our wrongs. “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)   That’s the kind of love that words will never fully capture. So today, let’s just take a moment. Let’s reflect on these truths. On the sacrifice. On the grace. On the healing that comes from His pain. On the peace that came through His suffering. And most importantly, on the pure, unstoppable love that held Him on that cross. May our hearts never grow numb to this truth.