PILLARS are slender, vertical columns that support heavy loads
or serve display purposes. Every building has pillars. Some of the
pillars are visible, while others are invisible. A building is as strong
and solid as its pillars. The stronger the pillar, the more solid the
building; the longer the pillar, the taller the building. If there is
any crack or weakness in any of the pillars carrying a building,
the integrity of that structure would be compromised.
Pillars add to the beauty and aesthetics of a building. Good archi-
tects pay special attention to the design and integrity of pillars. As
aptly captured by Claire Johnson, in structural engineering, pillars
support heavy loads above them. They often sit under beams or
arches on which walls or ceilings rest. A pillar transmits the weight
of structures above it to other structures below it through com-
pression. As a result, pillars have played a large role in allowing
mankind to build higher structures and taller buildings that do
not collapse under their own weight.
The world is earnestly waiting for you to manifest the fullness of
beauty and strength depotisted in you. You can reach the sky!
However, just as in a building, the quality of your life cannot be
higher or greater than the quality of the pillars upon which your
life is built. Whether you achieve and live a life of excellence or
you fail and wallow in mediocrity will be highly dependent on
the strength of your pillars. In other words, the quality of your
life is to a large extent a function of the pillars that carry your
aspirations and pursuits in life.
In this book therefore, we have identified some of the critical
pillars that you should design, build and maintain to achieve and
sustain excellence in your career, business and life. Sustained good
success is a function and product of diligence and commitment
in identifying, erecting and reinforcing the pillars that form the
framework for the pursuit of excellence.
Table of Contents
Dedication | Viii |
Preface | Viv |
Chapter One: Purpose – Why are You Here? | 1 |
How to Discover and Decide Your Purpose | 6 |
Chapter Two: Where are You Going and How Would You Get There? | 16 |
Bring the Future to the Present | 18 |
Identify and Decide Vacuum to Fill | 19 |
What and When | 20 |
Chapter 3: Personality – Who are You? What Do You Stand For? | 25 |
Principles | 28 |
Aura | 29 |
Ethics | 32 |
Choices | 33 |
Habits | 35 |
Chapter 5: Promotion: How Do You Want to be Seen? How Do You Sell You? | 57 |
Packaging You | 61 |
Developing Your Personal Brand | 63 |
Your Appearance | 65 |
Your Communication | 67 |
Cultural Humility | 68 |
Self-Marketing | 70 |
Creativity | 70 |
Solve Problems | 71 |
Chapter 6: People: Who Do You Need? | 73 |
You Need More than Yourself to Excel in Life | 76 |
Who Do You Need to Meet to Achieve Purpose? | 80 |
Understanding Business and Social Networking | 81 |
Places to Look for and Meet the People You Need to Excel in Life | 110 |
Chapter 7: Patience – Can You Wait for It? | 125 |
What are You Doing While You are Waiting? | 135 |
Chapter 9: Philanthropy – What Have You Done for Them Lately? | 143 |
Chapter 10:Play – How Do You Unwind | 152 |
Chapter 11: Pray – Do You Access to the One Who Gives Access? | 157 |