Day 7 of 30-Day Gratitude Challenge

Famous people: together, we go places!

The main five people you surround yourself with often determine how far you go in life.

Seven days of thankfulness online feels terrific! Today was a good day, and I think that my desire to focus on gratitude in the past seven days has influenced how I felt throughout the day. 

Although I felt the urge to go back to some of my old ways, being consistent with thankfulness, even when I didn't feel inspired, allowed me to reap positive results. 

To bring out the best version of yourself, you need to be surrounded by the right kind of people. Not perfect people, but individuals who can encourage, teach, inspire and stretch you so that you can reach for the stars. The kind of people who understand your journey because they too have been through what you're going through. You'll need people who will keep you topped up with motivation, knowledge, and inspiration so that your success or achievements remain sustainable without destroying who you are. Do you always have such kind of people in your life? Most of us want to learn, sharpen skills, and stay informed, but the sort of people I've mentioned aren't always in our networks. Most of our friends are pursuing different careers or experiencing other challenges at any given time. They could even be experts in their field, but not ours. ​

What do you do? The truth is, if you want to excel in everything you do, you need knowledge. They say the prominent five people you surround yourself with often determine how far you go in life. In my experience, you don't always have that perfect number of people around you. Does it mean that the dreamers are doomed? I think not. 

Today, I'd like to be thankful for some world-class teachers, knowledge distributors, experts, encouragers, motivators, eye-openers and leaders who have inspired me to get to where I am today. I'm talking about famous people who have helped me rediscover what I thought I'd lost, thanks to their inspiration. 

Almost all of them have written books, produced videos, films or written music that has opened my eyes or even shape my thinking. Information is now widely available to millions of people across the globe. I am thankful that I have access to the right kind of information when I need it. 
 
Here are just a few of the people who impacted my life, without even realising it. It's not an exhaustive list at all and certainly not in order of importance. 

The celebrity list in my book!

1. Brendon Burchard: I first came across his videos in 2015. He's been my personal coach for almost four years! When I was trying to make the right choices, he taught me important life lessons about evaluating opportunities. I used to think that every opportunity offered was a good thing and would react to 'morsels' thrown at me with enthusiasm! This typically happens when you don't know your worth, and some people will take advantage of your desperation. I'm thankful that I came across someone to teach me that I had to look at factors such as return-on-investment, future value, personal development, lifestyle implications and emotional well-being when evaluating opportunities that will come your way as you seek to discover who you are. He taught me about adding value to my community and never be afraid to set boundaries. I've learnt to say NO to specific projects to stay on my path. He's encouraged me to dig deeper into my goals and analyse 'make or break' areas such as productivity, clarity, and courage, courtesy of High-Performance Habits. It's one of his best-selling books, accompanied by lots of freebie information online! Yes, you can pay for top-level one-on-one coaching. Let's not even go there. I do not doubt that his programmes are worth every penny, but he also gives a lot of information for free.
   
   For that, I am thankful. Most of us can't afford expensive coaching, but you will find amazing people who can 'coach' you for free if you look well. Find them and use them as your mentors. Buy their books if you can. Utilise your time well and watch their videos online. There are many 'so-called experts' out there; be careful as you negotiate growth waters. His other book, Life's Golden Ticket, helped me believe in the power of second chances. He schooled me at the most critical time when I was transitioning from being a follower to someone with dreams. I am genuinely grateful that he continues to be one of my cheerleaders as I continue to grow. 
2. Tyrese Gibson: For the record, I haven't even been following him for a while, and some people would be surprised that I even mentioned his name. In 2014, I bought his book called How to Get Out Your Own Way. I've read quite a few books in my lifetime to know that it isn't your typical novel. However, when I grabbed a copy, I didn't realise that I'd found a brother who would drop pearls of wisdom in a no-nonsense approach. He didn't mince his words, nor did he gloss over issues such as relationships and self-sabotage. His book made me see where I made the wrong choices and inspired me to take a hard look at my life and the people I'd entertained along the way. My Amazon history will show that I bought five more copies for my friends. Some of the things he wrote have become 'common knowledge' because I've grown, but at the time, it was like having scales taken off my eyes. Although it will not be everyone's cup of tea, I did find it quite refreshing. ​
3. T.D. Jakes: I can't even begin to tell you the number of times I've watched his sermons. When T.D. Jakes is in the house - it's going down! From teaching me about the power of forgiveness to spiritual warfare, he's been there. From going through rugged valleys to getting out of comfort zones to soaring, T.D. Jakes has been a father, mentor, teacher, and someone who keeps it real. He's fuelled my journey spiritually and mentally. I still go to church and listen to other preachers, but T.D. Jakes has set a tone that I readily embrace. His messages have a funny way of reaching my ears when I need them. ​
4. Nicholas Sparks: Of course, I love romance, believe it or not! As I write this, I'm in the process of reviewing a love story by Nicholas Sparks, can't wait to share it with you. I'm also now a proud owner of most of his bestseller novels, including movies. It was back in 2012 when I came across his book by chance. There was so much uncertainty at the time, but I remember how I'd look forward to the end of the day so I could have a read before bedtime. Nicholas Sparks allowed me to escape the harsh reality and made a problematic patch bearable. It's so true that you can find peace during storms. His writings and films allowed me to do just that. Things got better, of course, but he remains a gifted author who can transport remote love stories and make them meaningful in our own lives. 
5. Paulo Coelho: If you've read a few articles on this website, you would have come across Paulo Coelho's quotes on more than one occasion. He's one of my top mentors! When I first read the Alchemist, I didn't see Santiago as just a boy who was the main character. I pictured myself in the story; his journey of self-discovery, trials and tribulations resonated with me. I'm so thankful for his inspirational story-telling and have gone on to read The Pilgrimage, Warrior of Light, and By the River Piedra, I cried. Paulo Coelho has led me on a pilgrimage of finding the secret to success and happiness. It starts and ends with us!​
6. Dr Caroline Leaf: Finally, a woman on the list, some people might say! I've never been the sort of person who finds inspiration from someone based on their gender. If someone touches my soul, I will listen regardless of who they are or where they come from. I'm so grateful that I came across her teachings and learnt about the true meaning of letting go and forgiveness. She made me see how my thoughts affect emotions and quality of life. To this day, I still refer to notes written in 2017 while I was going through the 21-Day-Brain-Detox Programme. I managed to get to the bottom of my fears and went on a forgiveness journey of myself and others. I stopped blaming and started gently focusing on myself. I want to think that I am a better person because of her teachings.​
7. Dale Carnegie: This is one man who has left a legacy in showing people how to build good relationships and lead better lives. He may be gone, but his books remain classics. I can tell you that some of the famous people we know derive inspiration from his old teachings. I still have a long way to go before I can master some of his wisdom, but I know that no matter how much the world changes and adapts to modern changes, his words will always be relevant and meaningful.​
8. Lewis Hamilton:He is a regular guest in our household, on TV of course! You may have read my son’s article as he looked at Life Lessons from a Formula 1 Perspective. He didn’t have to try too hard because he genuinely finds Lewis Hamilton such an inspirational being. Every boy needs someone to look up to, and Lewis Hamilton is one of them. Prayers have been said in our household while Lewis Hamilton was on track. We’ve gone on emotional rollercoaster rides with him as he travelled around the world. He’s not just a Formula 1 driver; his journey has inspired me from around 2007/2008. All my friends who see the star in him have forged some relationship with him (in their minds). When he hurts, we feel the pain. When he’s winning, we walk with a spring in our step over the following few days. Thankfully, he’s been on a winning streak for a while, and some of us are riding on his accomplishments. Because of his journey, I now understand what it takes to be successful. I bet you all have sports personalities or teams who make you feel like you’re part of something bigger.​
9. Nico and Vinz: A friend of mine always says he can visualise me playing Am I Wrong to get attendees excited before I deliver a mind-blowing speech! OK, I did exaggerate, but this is one of my go-to songs when I need a little bit of inspiration. Sometimes, you have to run with your vision despite what others may say. We've all come across people who voice concerns over what we're trying to achieve, not because they want to discourage us for the sake of it, but because they know what they know and will be trying to help. But their corrections have the potential to derail our dreams and visions. Experts have told so many people that they were utterly lost, but those who were once doubted progressed to achieve incredible feats despite the negative reviews. Sometimes, you have to believe in your abilities, not what others think. "Am I tripping for having a vision? If you tell me I'm wrong, I don't want to be right!" I was lucky to watch Nico and Vinz perform live in concert back in 2015. I don't even know what they're up to these days, but they've featured in my work environment when I need a boost.​
10. Sarah Jakes Roberts: Yes, she made it to the list, mainly because I can relate to some of her experiences and what she went through to get to where she is. I've listened to her preach on numerous occasions, but her life story is the real inspiration behind her teaching. When I read her book Lost and Found, I'd found a sister who understood me. Her story gave me hope and learn about the true meaning of grace and redemption. I believe so many people are stuck in hopeless situations because they are surrounded by people who make them feel forever condemned. Bible quotes are plucked and thrown their way to 'stone the sinners with the real truth'. I'm so thankful that because of people like Sarah Jakes Roberts, I know and believe that I can turn around my life, despite my mistakes and what I've been through.​ ​

Conclusion

I certainly wasn't expecting to write this much when I started working on this article as part of my 30-Day Gratitude Challenge. I thought I'd acknowledge some of the people who have been influential in my life, although from a distance. I'm lucky that I have people who serve different roles in my day-to-day existence, but sometimes, you need a different outlook to get to another level. The people we know may not always be the best people to help us achieve our dreams; they too have their paths to follow. Personally, I thrive on good information and knowledge and hope that my gratitude list will be meaningful to you, in some way or another.

I have an even longer list of people to be thankful for, such as natural hair sisters on YouTube, website designers who share tips and tutorials, content creators, leaders from different religions and backgrounds, movie producers, musicians, actors and many others continue to enlighten me. Without their knowledge and experiences, I don't know where I'd be. I am grateful that sometimes, even strangers and famous people can be a part of our journeys and help us see the way.

​Are there any famous people who have touched you and inspired you along the way? I hope you can take a moment to be thankful for everything they do. Remember, it's not just about watching or reading what they say, it's about putting it into practice. 

​The end.

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