In this issue I use a very interesting interview of a millionaire entrepreneur as a basis for explaining WHY and HOW having what I prefer to call (as some others do) a - MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION can make you totally immune to frustration in any form.

(To learn more about what it means to have a magnificent obsession, read my ebook titled "Ten Ways You Can Use Self-Development To Create The Future You Want". If you have not yet downloaded it, click http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/free_resources.htm to learn how you can!)

If you really want to be able to achieve the goals you set for yourself in life INSPITE OF the obstacles you encouter - like I am currently doing. If you want to be able to repeatedly surprise the "doubting thomases" who question your ability to achieve your seemingly impossible goals, then you NEED to become OBSESSED with it!

This was the main thrust of the message given by Simon Woodroffe OBE, a billionaire entrepreneur/co-founder of the Yo! Sushi restaurant chain in the UK, in an interview text I read reproduced on page 36 of The Nations Newspaper of Wednesday 19th December 2007. By way of interest I will mention that I came across this interview because I chose to "find something for my eyes to do" while waiting in the reception of the Lagos Country Club to see if I would be fortunate to be granted audience by the Club President.

I did not get to see the Club President then (and have not done so till now) but by borrowing a newspaper from the person seated next to me and reading through it, I discovered this extremely valuable interview of Simon Woodroffe that made the time I spent in that club's reception worthwhile.

Below I reproduce some of the questions he was asked with paraphrased versions of his answers:

Question 1: How important is it to take risks? Simon answered that he has found that there is no right way or wrong way. He added that one thing he found common to all successful people is that they (to quote him) "do not go around succeeding all the time". Simon explained that successful people are always prepared to make mistakes, or get it wrong (i.e. fail) and as suffer the consequences - which frequently will include being "rejected".

This by implication means that successful people don't mind taking risk and sticking out their necks to venture into uncharted territory - trying to do what has not been done before. They adopt this attitude and approach knowing that if they fail, they can always get back up and try again.

Question 2: How did the Yo! brand begin? Simon started by stating that he left school without passing his certification exams at the age of 16 (see details via this wiki encyclopedia link : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Woodroffe ), pointing out that this lack of any formal high school leaving qualification made him adopt a "serious" approach to life early on. He painted an accurate picture of this situation by explaining that people do difficult things when they have no choice. They do not do difficult things because they want pleasure.

I think this is very powerfully insightful - and YOU should ruminate over it a while, calling to mind the lives and experiences of any successful persons you know. It is instructive to note that Napoleon Hill described this aspect in his success philosophy by asking the success seeker to "burn all bridges" so as to be able to maintain the "burning desire" to succeed inspite of the inevitable adversity s/he will encounter.

Question 3: How did you go about building something that was quite small to a multi-million pound business? Simon answered that a significant factor is the willingness of a person to let him/her self be in the right place to make things happen, in addition to being able to identify the specific things that are holding him/her back. He added that business does not really require a person to prove him/herself to be "clever" and also that life is not as complicated as many people make it.

One more thing he said which I feel compelled to highlight is that he does not think anyone - including himself - is really "very clever". He pointed out that the problem is that many people are just "lazy and stupid", and if a person can "get obsessed with something" s/he can do anything. He ended by saying that he never woke up with a desire to be wealthy - instead he always woke up in the morning because he was obsessed with making his dream or goal a reality or afraid that all his plans were going to fail.

In essence what Simon meant was that a person who is truly driven to achieve his/her valued life goal will ACT IT because that DRIVE to achieve it will manifest as an obsession that will see him/her "hit the ground running" every morning, to continue working towards it from where s/he stopped the day before.

Now, I'll end as follows: That you had a setback does not mean you're finished. That you're moving slowly does not mean you will not get there. You must NOT let others tell you it's taking too long. They cannot possibly know how long it should take because they are NOT from the future!!!

Your path to success will be unique. Pursue it - with passion and determination, and entertain no doubts along the way. Believe me when I tell you that soon, you WILL begin to LIVE the life you dream of. I am doing EXACTLY that already, and sometimes when I think about it, I am still amazed at myself and what I am achieving DAILY.

Your story can be the same too - just get OBESESSED today, and YOU WILL become immune to frustration. I should know - my entire life, especially in the past seven (7) years makes me LIVING PROOF that this is true - and soon many people will be able to hear my stories in the seminars/talks and other learning events I plan to run in 2008 and beyond!

1. Some introductory information about Simon Woodroffe:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Woodroffe

2. "Be Yo! Self" by Simon Woodroffe

Click HERE to read full article

3. The official company website

http://www.yocompany.biz/

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In this issue I introduce successnet.org located at http://www.successnet.org. Michael Angier's SuccessNet newsletter is one of the first I subscribed to when I began using the net some eight years ago in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The good quality stuff coming from Michael made me encourage many others I cared for to subscribe as well. I invite you to check out Michael's site and see for yourself many useful resources.

Yours in Self-Development!

Tayo K. Solagbade
Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist