FOUNDATION FOR GREATNESS: Understanding the benefits of laying a solid foundation. - Softcover

UZOMA, Victor

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1481707787 ISBN 13: 9781481707787

Publisher: AuthorHouse, 2013

Synopsis

Foundation for Greatness helps you to discover the secrets that were hidden in every foundation that determines the outcome of every venture. The primary assignment of this laudable book is to show you; How to discover the power and indispensability of foundation on every embarked journey; either for a glorious life or a lifetime project. How to constitute an impactful foundation that enthrones one as a celebrated figure through the generations. It provides an ample safe exit for a regrettable life by helping you create new wills and dispel the old ones. It thoroughly furnishes you with the techniques on how to establish an enviable destiny. It answers most of your boggling questions that concerns your journey to success, fulfillment, great accomplishment, fame and generational legacy. The revealed secrets are loaded with wisdom fit for exceeding results, which are unmatchable and inevitable in our race for a fully fulfilled life with positive generational legacy as a back-up.

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

FOUNDATION for GREATNESS

Understanding the benefits of laying a solid foundation.

By VICTOR UZOMA

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2013 Victor Uzoma
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4817-0778-7

Contents

I. Endorsements............................................................
v
II. Dedication.............................................................
xi
III. Foreword..............................................................
xiii
IV. Acknowledgments........................................................
xv
V. Introduction............................................................
xxi
1. Understanding Foundation................................................
1
2. Types of Foundations....................................................
9
3. Ingredients of a Solid Foundation.......................................
27
4. Limitations to a Solid Foundation.......................................
46
5. Foundation Essentials...................................................
72
6. Factors That Influencing Foundation Choice..............................
101
7. The Cost Of Negligence..................................................
123
8. Signs Of An Incorrectly Laid Foundation.................................
133
9. Foundation-Strengthening System.........................................
140
10. The Ladder to Greatness................................................
157
11. The Finishing Line.....................................................
197
VI. Epilogue...............................................................
209
VII. Tribute To My Father, Raphael Alamezie Uzoma, Chief...................
215

Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

Understanding Foundation

The product of one's ending is a function of one'sbeginning. In life, nothing ever happens withouta beginning; neither will you see anything coming intoexistence by chance. The finishing line will always bedetermined by the starting point. However, everythingthat ever existed on the surface of this earth has its roots.It is these roots that I am referring to in this book as the"foundation."

It is therefore important for us to know thatfoundations are necessary if an impactful or a fulfilledlife is the aim. They are what fix the strength, height,weight, and durability of any structure. All these greatedifices we see today are products of their foundations,which must be deeply rooted and solid in their natureif they are to function properly. The first signpost to aglorious destiny is a quality foundation.

If every great edifice is determined by its foundation,then greatness and excellent results are traceable totheir very beginnings. Likewise, great men and womenemerge out of the foundations they have laid out from theonset. It is not a responsibility you entrust to anyone, noteven your parents. There are countless individuals who,by dint of hard work, excelled to the top of "destiny'ssuccess ladder" by taking personal responsibilities. Someexamples are Thomas Edison, Barack Obama, Dr. DavidOyedepo, Benjamin Franklin, and many others.

These people's achievements originated from the verytime they personally took charge of their own destinyby consciously supervising their foundation. The endproduct, whether great or not, is determined solely bythe settings and structure of its beginning. This bookis consequently fashioned to unfold to us the secrets oflaying a foundation that sustains great achievements,and also admonishes us to carefully pattern our earliestgoal setting. This work will be revealed later in ourproductivity.

It is interesting to discover that, in the school ofsuccessful accomplishment, knowledge is a fundamentaltool for every great result. It gives anyone a fifty/fiftychance for the good performance that will preventdiscredit in the future. Application of acquired knowledgeis ultimately what guarantees complete total deliveryfrom poor outcome and establishes excellent results. It istherefore the application that guarantees the distinction of100 percent of the outcome.

I would like you also to understand that wisdom isthe first important factor to establish on the road to greatachievements. It first starts with acquisition of facts,runs through digestion of what is acquired, and becomesfull wisdom as it is applied. Wisdom is defined to beapplication of knowledge. When you apply what youknow to better your chances of excelling in your race,you are demonstrating wisdom.

In your action lies the invisible wisdom that becomesvisible in your result. So, wisdom is not meant for elderlypeople or the genius alone, but it is the birthright of everysingle person who chooses to be counted among the wise.For wisdom to shine forth there must be acquisition ofknowledge. It is for this reason we need to understandwhat foundation stands for, and its place in our personalaccomplishments.

What is Foundation?

What, then, is foundation you may ask? How doesit relate to my life? How significant is foundation inachieving my pursuits? Well, based on the definitionsderived from dictionaries, foundation is defined as:

• The basis or groundwork of anything

• The natural or prepared ground or base on whichsome structure rests

• The act of finding, setting up, establishing

• A cosmetic, as a cream or liquid used as a base forfacial makeup

• The lowest division of a building, wall or the like,usually of masonry

Friend, before reading further, may you pause for awhile and take a second look at these definitions. I wouldlike you to critically examine each word and visualizeyourself as the structure described in the second line.

According to the aforementioned definitions,foundation refers to founding, fixing, establishing,or beginning to erect. It simply means to give form.Therefore, at foundation you give form to youranticipated greatness. You therein find the direction youwant to go in life, the kind of "edifice of destiny" youwant to erect, or the legacy you want to leave behind.It is a well-known fact that the foundation stage is notthe most exciting phase, because it does not always lookpromising, but it can't be skipped.

Whatever structure you want to erect—whateverpursuit you are destined to engage in—it is at this stagethat you gather all the vital information and materialsnecessary to get you to your "actuality point." There mustbe an architectural design and plan before the buildingcan even begin to take form. Your actions determine theshape and form of the building. Foundation is the periodof preparation for the actual erection of any structure.

Foundation: The Race Starting Line

Have you ever considered why, at childbirth, babiescome out head first? The reason may be very simple. Thehuman head is considered the "supreme" part of the body,as it serves as the foundation, which can be comparedto the foundations that sustain all buildings. All thefunctionalities that keep humans alive are coded in thebrain, which is situated in the head. Chemical messagesare passed to the brain for interpretation. After the braininterprets these messages, it sends new messages back,and these messages trigger various reactions.

Without the head, it becomes impossible for otherparts of the body to function effectively. If the braininterprets the information incorrectly, the results may bedangerous, even disastrous. The incorrectly interpretedsignals, for instance, that might be sent out to the body'sreflexes from the brain could actually endanger life.The same also goes for any foundation of any pursuityou might embark upon. In the same vein, withoutfoundation, life is just like a mirage in the desert, andsuccesses will perpetually remain in the dark. Foundationis what gives life and hope to every structure—and everyendeavor.

Since the head is the "control room" for eachhuman's existence, at birth, it must come out first to givesignals and life to the other parts of the body. I realizedpersonally that heads come first to prepare the way forthe entire body. The head also comes first to supervisethe new environment and convey the information to otherparts before their arrival. Anything less than the headcoming first will jeopardize the life of the child and willbe regarded as a malfunction. More so, it will be viewedas an alteration to the nature and principle of childdelivery.

A life without a foundation is not only seen as threatto our successes, but also will be referred as deviant.Such a life will possibly not function well, or evenmay not function at all. Show me any superstructureanywhere, and I will show you a corresponding strongand sound foundation. They didn't appear by magic;neither do they exist by guesswork. Each such structure isa function of preparation that started in the foundationalphase.

Looking at the lives of most of the influential people,you will discover that foundation stage is not alwayspalatable or visible. In fact, it might even look awkward,dirty, and undesirable. But the inevitable fact is that itcan't be left out. Usually, when laying a foundation forany structure, builders cover the work from the publiceyes. Similarly, in the design stages of your future, youmay look out of fashion, foolish, and displaced. Peoplemay not like to associate with you because there is novisible proof of attraction. But when towers are finished,their beauty and glamour attracts the public eye. Inalmost every case, they become centers of attraction.Tourists travel from far and near to admire theirincredible existence.

The same is applicable when a bride is being madebeautiful for her wedding. The earliest application ofcreams may not be charming, but at the final stage,when she is dressed and her makeup and hair are perfect,the elegance and aura she displays make her a beautyto behold. Our lives are likened to these two kindsof scenarios as we complete the stages on our way tosuccess, greatness, fame, and admirable accomplishmentby laying a solid foundation at the outset of our work.Construction engineers see foundation as the base ofa building that supports the weight of the structure andconnects it to the ground. In law, the foundation is thepreliminary evidence that establishes president for theadmitting of further evidence. What does that imply?It clearly shows that the base, or the beginning, is whatgives birth to the ending. How you begin the pursuit ofyour destiny determines the level of reward you willreceive.

To learn how to reap a full dose of excellent outcomefrom the foundations you build, turn to Chapter Twowhere I unveil two types of foundations and provideexamples of their success.

CHAPTER 2

Types of Foundations

There are two types of foundations; each yieldsdifferent results. Each of these foundationshas its own uniqueness that is dependent on the soil onwhich it is constructed and the nature of the structure tobe erected. How dedicated you are to your foundationdetermines the future you hope to see. These two kinds offoundations have parallel endings—they will never meetat any given point.

The design of your foundation is the unfolding ofyour path before you that will lead you to your futureaccomplishments. The building structure is what dictatesthe type of foundation that will sustain it. It is evident thatthe foundations that carry all the magnificent towers wesee in our metropolitan cities today are totally differentfrom the foundations of bungalows or duplexes we see inthe cities and downtown areas. These two diverse types ofstructures don't have the same foundation, either in style,pattern, or depth.

The ultimate goal of this chapter is to summarizethe two types of foundations that are responsible fordifferent destinies and finishing lines. It also offers aninsight on how our concrete decisions and actions atthe earliest stage will either mar or make our destiny. Itfurther presents my personal records and experiencesas a case study over the last fifteen years as part of mycommitment in seeing a better tomorrow.

In these two different kinds of foundations, the moreuncommon is the foundation that is built by all the greatand renowned people in the world—a solid foundation.This sort of foundation is widely known and referred to,but has little or no impact on the lives of many. The morecommon foundation is known as the shallow foundation.It is not often mentioned, but it is used by the majorityof people today and creates the most devastating results.Let's take a look at both foundation types and see howthey are constructed and how we can think of them interms of our own lives.

Firm Foundation

A firm foundation could be referred as a deepfoundation in construction terms, but it can also bereferred to as a solid foundation. Look at the highesttowers in the world today. Stand with the millionsof tourists who throng to glimpse their outstanding,incredible, record-setting existence. For instance, BurjKhalifa in Dubai is the tallest freestanding structure inthe world. It has about 162 floors and stands 828 meters(2716.5 feet) tall. The KVLY-TV mast in Blanchard,North Dakota, in the United States is 628.8 meters tall,and is the tallest man-made structure in the westernhemisphere. The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia, are 457.2 meters tall. These are but a fewamong the most historic skyscrapers around the world.These architectural masterpieces didn't just happen.They hold secrets that maintain their ever-shining heightand durability, and those secrets can be found in theirfoundations.

The kind of foundation that sustains these towerscannot be compared with those of village thatch housesor other forms of bungalow. We can say the same thingof people: foundations of the most influential figureswho have affected our world positively and left lastinglegacies cannot be compared to the foundations of lesserpeople. Too many people neglect this foundational phaseand still expect to build a life that is packed with successand that will leave a legacy. Without a good foundation, itis impossible for such destiny to be achieved.

Years ago, I undertook case studies of a fewindividuals. I discovered one incredible fact: there isa secret that sustains them and is responsible for theirimpactful destinies. It has become a norm in the partof world where I come from to leave the country andjoin forces with wealthy men—to emulate their success.Unfortunately, contrary to their dreams, many realize thatlife isn't what it seems "out there" as the image has beencreated.

In contrast to the dreams of these people, it dawnson them, as soon as they leave the shores of their nation,that they have engaged in a desperate effort to go intoexile. Out of desperation, disappointment, and despaircomes the resolution to participate in all manner of illegalactivities that originally were against their will, wishes,values, morals, and believes. Why? Their expectationshave been cut short. The foundations of most of thesepeople—their prime beginning—was laid on a sandy soil.

In the middle of the 1990s, I knew several youths wholeft Nigeria and traveled to western nations in search ofgreener pastures. There is a particular scenario that I willever remember. One of my close relatives went to TheNetherlands. He stayed for several years and actuallymade money. At the same time, other people I knewbecame wealthy likewise while staying in other nations ofthe world. What my close relation did created a positivemental revolution in me as a person, and also nurturedthe desire that gave birth to this book. He decided to paythe price of birthing a solid foundation, and that is whatrefined his life.

He particularly put aside the pleasure of the momentand the temptation of engaging in bogus expenditures.It has become a touchstone of people who leavetheir countries to make their fortune, that upon theirreturn home they resort to buying exotic cars, involvein womanizing, drinking, partying, and lodging inexpensive hotels around town. Some of them even startto build mansions in their village without a properfinancial foundation and no source of income, hopingthat opportunities will present themselves as needed. Itdoesn't work that way.

In the midst of what was in vogue among the youngmen who came across money while staying in thosewestern countries, my relative singled himself out. Hedecided to build his foundation and lay it strong anddeep while others I knew during that time were busysquandering the money they had made. When this personcame back, despite the volume of money he had made, hedecided to stay in a two-room apartment with his youngerbrothers and his elder brother and his family. Manythought he should lodge in a good hotel and live large,but surprisingly, he acted otherwise. It seemed crazy inthe eyes of many people, but his decision blessed himrichly afterwards.

My relative was denying himself the essential thingsof now in order to get tomorrow right. "Right foundation"is doing the right things now even when they don't seemcomfortable in order to have a perfect tomorrow. Hedidn't buy a car; that is not to say that a car is overlyexpensive, but with the amount of money he made, heprobably could have bought any car he chose. He did notbuild a mansion in the village; instead, he went to thetown to invest for his future. Too many people saw himas a person out of his senses. He bought a modest house,renovated it, and rented it out. Fortunately for him, theproperty was situated in a very good location. It not onlyattracted tenants, it attracted quality tenants.

I remembered also a very good friend of his. He camehome from Germany shortly after my relative, havingalso earned money in the same type of business. Thisfriend, upon his return, bought an exotic car and installedhuge speakers. As he drove around the entire localityand its neighboring environs, everyone was aware of hisreturn as the music blasting out of the car's sound systemwas quite ear bursting. He changed women as often asmost men change their clothes. Looking at this youngman's life, one could hardly predict that his ending wouldbe pitiable.

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Excerpted from FOUNDATION for GREATNESS by VICTOR UZOMA. Copyright © 2013 by Victor Uzoma. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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Edition details

• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1481707787
• ISBN 13: 9781481707787
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 246