You must have seen it or heard about it. Probably the ‘hottest news’ in town at the moment. Yes I am talking about the N500 million plus mansion acquired by Linda Ikeji on Banana Island, Lagos.

I was inspired by her story and decided to draw some lessons from it. I reproduce an excerpt from the article:

Start thinking big. Believe in yourself. Be creative and start working. Realize that your dreams are valid…….and nobody will make your dreams come true except you. Find what you are good at. Find some thing that you are passionate about. Work hard at it. Be consistent. Be patient. Start young. Even if you are not young, it’s never too late.

I was excited to read this because of my firm belief in the pursuit of dreams. I love to encourage everyone I meet to dare to pursue their dreams. There is a treasure inside you, a jewel in the depths of your being.

Jewels are not found on the surface of the earth. You have to go to the depths of rocks to find them. They are precious stones and precious items are found ‘in the deep.’

Dig deep to find the treasure inside you. Find and fulfil your destiny. Pursue your passion and find prosperity. It would be sad to go through life without discovering what you were ‘born to do.’

For years I wasted away, working at jobs I had no passion for. I just wanted to work so that when workers are being counted, I would raise my hand. I knew my passion but I did not pursue it.

But God had been preparing me for my calling. I wanted to study Law at the university but it did not work out. My parents did all they could. The Dean of Law was a member of the church where my father was a reverend but she could not help. At that point, I continued with my course of study, English and Literature.

I worked in a bank for years till a ‘downsizing’ exercise made me jobless. I ran to God in prayer. He directed me to a sheet of paper where I wrote my goals for the year. I looked at it and he told me what to do. I was to use my talents to make a living and ‘touch lives’ in the process.

Today, Touch of Gold Media Limited is providing book editing, speaking (English Grammar Training, Seminars) and writing services. I am a writer (have written fivebooks with others still ‘booting’) speaker (teaching English Grammar, writing, speaking skills, also a performance poet) and book editor.

And guess what? I use English for ALL of them.

Linda Ikeji has discovered her jewel and is swimming in prosperity.

I have discovered mine.

What about you?