🌱The Small Wins Count

Like flowers opening to morning light, growth begins quietly before it’s seen.

This morning, on my way to the gym, I found myself reflecting on how the little things truly make the difference.

Last year, I set a modest goal: to walk daily, reach at least 10,000 steps, and eat a little healthier. It wasn’t about drastic transformations or rigid routines; just intentional, consistent habits. Within the first quarter of the year, I had lost 10 pounds. But what made me happiest wasn’t the number on the scale; it was how I felt.

My body listened to me. It responded to care, discipline, and nourishment. I noticed my skin looked healthier, my energy was higher, and my confidence returned. I felt happier—like I was finally working with my body instead of against it. And that’s when it hit me: the small things truly count.

Sometimes we underestimate the value of the small, consistent steps we take toward becoming better. We think progress must always look intense, loud, or visible to others. People might say, “Walking isn’t enough—you should lift weights, run miles, or do more.” Sure, those things help, but what truly moves us forward is consistency. Even a simple walk, done faithfully, carries power.

Each step, however ordinary, carries the quiet rhythm of progress.

Earlier this week, a few moments made me think about other “small wins” in my life—those quiet decisions that seem insignificant at first but slowly shape who I am becoming. Volunteering. Submitting that application. Showing up for an opportunity, even when unsure. These acts are rarely celebrated, but they are the seeds of growth.

Every choice to keep going adds up. Each time you choose courage over comfort, you are rewriting your story. And here’s the beautiful thing: people notice. The world notices. You may think your little achievements are invisible, but they aren’t. People see your courage, your perseverance, and your quiet pursuit of excellence.

So here’s a gentle reminder—for you, and for me:
The small wins count.

Keep showing up. Be consistent. Keep doing the small things that align with the person you want to become. Even when it feels slow, even when no one claps. Because one day, you’ll look back and realize that you didn’t just arrive somewhere—you became someone.

A green sprout emerging from soil under morning light, symbolizing steady personal growth — Every small win is a seed that grows into who you are becoming.

Don’t be discouraged if the accolades haven’t come yet. They will. In the meantime, keep walking, keep building, keep believing.
Do it scared. Do it tired. Do it consistently.

Because every step counts, and one day, all those small wins will tell a bigger story—
one of becoming, one of growth, one of you. 🌿

PLANNING AND EXECUTION: TWO INDISPENSABLE THINGS YOU NEED IN 2021

Over the years, I’ve come to realize the importance and relevance of Planning and Execution, as I have seen it produce results. Reminiscing through my undergraduate days, no semester came without me planning about what I would like to achieve in various aspects of my life and luckily for me,I was able to achieve about 80% or more of my goals after each semester. Similarly, I plan also for the year and I want you to do so too. I have written out my goals for this year already and I have started executing them, one of which is blogging which I am doing now.

What is Planning?
Wikipedia defined planning as the process of thinking about the activities required to achieve the desired goal. It is the first and foremost activity to achieve the desired result. To achieve results in 2021, it is important to plan. Ensure to pen down whatever your thoughts and desires are. Don’t let your mind deceive you that you know them. The more you write, the more you remember things you needed to achieve. It helps you to recall your goal as much as it is imperative to review your goals often.

Ensure your goals are SMART- Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. Make it simple, have a deadline, use figures, for example, Save 150,000 naira at the end of June, Add 2kg of weight by the end of March. As important as planning is, you can’t achieve your goals when you don’t execute.

What is Execution?

Execution is carrying out a plan, order, or course of action. Without execution, “vision” is just another word for hallucination, said Mark V. Hurd. Planning is different from execution and it is easier compared to executing. There is a price to pay.

To execute, you need to be disciplined, dogged, committed, and unrelenting. For example, cutting down on your budget list to save more might not be an easy thing to do. There is a need to do more, it could be uncomfortable or painful but it is worth it. Planning only is not enough, things happen when you execute.

I believe having done these two things, it will be a fulfilling and fantastic 2021. I wish you a Happy New Year.

CAREER AND STUDENTS

Career is a job or profession that someone does for a long time.
Student is a person who attends a school, college or university.

Growing up, I had a desire to be an accountant and knowing that I ought to be in the commercial department. I joined the department and later switched to science department as a result of parental influence.

There are a lot of influence that determines the choice of career of students:
1. Parent
2. Peers
3. Environment

– Parent have a big role to play in the life of their children and most of them believe and trust their parent choice to be the best which may really at times not be the best for them

– Friends: Some students find themselves in a department because his/her friend is in that department and because they do not want to part with their friend they chose the same department with them.

-Environment: Our society is filled with an orientation that certain career are tagged successful career such as being a Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Accountant and so on. And children grew up with that mentality with an interest in mind which they may not be good at.

Now the question is: What should be the right way of choice of career?..watch out for the next post

What would you have done if you knew better? share your thoughts with us on the comment box below.

Stay tuned and Have a great week!

IMPORTANT TOOLS NEEDED IN ACHIEVING PURPOSE

As much as it is important in discovering purpose, so also it is important to know what it takes to keep one on the track of achieving purpose. Here are some tools that is needed in achieving purpose:

1. Courage: In setting out in achieving purpose, one needs courage. You need to be confident and sure about what you are set to do and have courage to start. This is indispensable because it is the first step taken to achieving purpose.

2. Strength: There is a little that can be achieve without strength. I do not mean the physical strength but the inner strength that can withstand criticism. Stepping out in purpose comes with criticism and discouragement to give up. I remember when I started Mary Soetan Initiative. I was sharing with one of my lecturer in my department about my first school outreach, there was another lecturer also in my department that heard all and responded by saying that I should face my academic courses and stop what I was doing. There was way he put it then. I felt bad and also because he almost discourage the other lecturer in supporting. I had to learn not to let that discourage me. I did and kept with my plans for the first outreach.

3. Persistency: Anything in life that is a success was birth through persistency. Challenges would come, there would be a lot of reasons to quit. There would be no one to support, there would be no one to gear you, all inspiration might have gone. It is in persistency, not giving up, not letting go, no more matter what that would help in achieving purpose.

4. Knowledge: It is important to be knowledgeable about what you are set to do. We operate only in the circle of what we know. It is needful to increase in learning to know more either by reading, networking, attending workshops, trainings and conferences. Seek to know more, learn more, it will help to achieve more.

5. Prayer: True success and purpose is achieved through prayer. There is a lot prayer has helped me to achieve. Cultivate the attitude of praying. It is simply putting your plans and steps in God’s hand for direction. And when God who made you direct your steps then you’re sure of getting to the right destination and achieve success in purpose. It is in the place of prayer, one get strength, courage, and other tools needed in achieving purpose.

6. Strive for mastery: Don’t stay in the same level for a long time. Ensure to do something differently. Be strategic, innovative. Read more and learn more about your purpose. The sky is your starting point on the journey in achieving purpose.

Do share your thought on attributes that has helped you in achieving your purpose or how this has been helpful on the comment section below.

Thanks for staying tune
Next post on a story of a young surgical doctor named…..?……

Stay put!

DISCOVERING AND ACHIEVING PURPOSE: ESSENTIAL TO A MEANINGFUL LIFE

Purpose is a Journey. It is a lifetime occupation, where you’re made to solve a problem only you can.

How Do I Discover Purpose?

1. Have a burning desire: It means to be hungry. It also means to have a quest and in search of filling them. When we’re desirous, we’re in the process of identifying our purpose.

2. Connect to your maker: We cannot know much of ourselves without having a true connection with the one who made us. Seek time to connect to your maker and be sincere about it.

3. Have a quality time to yourself: This is the time we hear ourselves and know ourselves more. You can’t be noisy and hear deep things. Think about yourselves, seek to know yourselves more. Think about what you’ve gone through in life and want others to avoid. Our thought leads to our actions and our actions leads to our behaviour and our behaviour leads to our habit.

4. Talk to people and Ask questions: In the quest for search, it comes along with so many questions you need to answer. Ask questions from friends and family about what they think you’re good at.

5. Have a mentor: We operate within the amount of knowledge we have. Having a mentor is very important to guide and expose us to things we do not know.

6. Act: When all has been said and done. There would be something impressed upon your heart, do not remain in that state. Take actions. You don’t know how to go about it, ask those who have done what you want to do and how they went about it. Don’t let fear has its grip on you. Break loose. It is just a false evidence appearing real, which will want to hinder you from achieving them.

Hope this has been helpful?

Stay tuned with us

Don’t forget to comment ..

Next post on: Important tools needed in achieving purpose

MYTH ABOUT PURPOSE

“Purpose is the reason you exist. It is finding out what your life is made to answer. There is a question you are created to answer. There is a problem you are wired to solve. This is purpose.”

Myth is an idea or story that is believed by many people but that is not true. It is a common misconception.

There are several misconceptions people have about the word ‘Purpose’.

Majority of people think:
– Purpose is an achievement
-Purpose is career
-Purpose is to become rich
-Purpose is Affluence or Influence
-Purpose is talent
-Purpose is skill acquired
-Purpose is about having an NGO
And a lot more.

Let’s look into some of these;
1. Achievement are goals set and attained. It is a result of hard work, something that has been done or achieved through effort.

2. Career is a job or profession someone does for a long time.

3. Affluence is an abundant flow or supply.

4. Talent is the ability that allows someone to do something well.

These are not purpose. Also, Purpose is not just having an NGO. This could be after you have identified your purpose.

” You need to figure out “what on earth am I here for” Purpose is not looking good, feeling good and having the good.”

Purpose is the reason you exist. It is finding out what your life is made to answer. There is a question you are created to answer. There is a problem you are wired to solve. This is purpose. It is an emptiness you feel inside you. It is not to get up in the morning, go to work, return, watch movies and then to bed. That is just existence.

Purpose is living. You need to figure out “what on earth am I here for? “Purpose is not looking good, feeling good and having the good. It is not the influence or affluence. It is in giving our life’s away that we find meaning and significance. It is to impact, to bless others. The purpose of influence is to speak out for those who don’t have influence. Living purposeful is true living and true living is in giving. Purpose is not about you, its about making the world a better place.

Thank you for staying tune with us. Share your thought with us in the comment box below.

Next post would be on:

How do I discover my purpose?

How do I fuel my purpose?

HOW TO CULTIVATE A DAILY READING HABIT

“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”—Frederick Douglas

Now that you are convinced of the benefits of reading, let’s consider something as important.

There is no other way to learn something than to start doing it. Here are some tips from people who can proudly and deservedly call themselves ” avid readers”, without crossing their fingers behind their back.

1. Read because you want to.

This is the best way to cultivate habit of reading. I started reading because I know the importance of being a reader. It is not enough to know the benefits of reading. Instead, what is more important is getting all the benefits as you read. I know of a story about Cristina Chipuiri.
Cristina Chipuiri taught herself to read when she was four years old. But something happened, she stopped when she started primary school when reading became mandatory. This aversion to books lasted until her 20’s. When Chipurici slowly began to realise what she had been missing and how far ahead people who did read had gone, and how it would have made a difference in her career, she learned to love reading again and eventually set up THE CEO library.
If there’s a moral to this story, it’s to read and never allow it to become a chore.

2. Find a reading pattern that works for you.

Be flexible and at the same time be disciplined. It doesn’t have to be a rigid thing. You can read when travelling to and from work. It’s much more convenient to read on a screen, such as your phone rather than lugging a book around all the time.

3. Don’t set intimidating or unrealistic goals

First, start small. Start by reading one or two pages per day. I read chapter by chapter. At times I can decide to read a chapter at a spot. I do not have to fix 3 or 4hours per day if it won’t be realistic for me. You can grow as time goes by. When reading becomes a habit, you would enjoy spending more time and you would become a fast reader the more you read.

4. Start reading a book in your line of interest.

I get more interested in books about marriages, purpose and God. I read other books too. Know what interests you and start reading a book in that line. Then you can progress to read other books. That way you are building a reading habit.

Prising your phone out of your hand for just an hour a day and placing a book in your texting claw instead, could boost your empathy levels and make you more productive.

If the world’s most busy and successful people can manage to read, you too can.
Who knows what you’ll do with all that extra knowledge and inspiration. You might even end up with your own space venture.

Hope these have been helpful?
Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

Stay tuned on the blog.

Upcoming post: MYTHS ABOUT PURPOSE!

See you…

READING: IS IT A TOOL FOR BEING SUCCESSFUL?

Books donated to a school in Port Harcourt by MSI

The love for reading started when I was 14years old. I was influenced by one of my teachers and a friend. They gave me books to read. I read some and some I could’nt finish. But it helped me develop the reading habit as I grew up. I began to dedicate myself to reading and in the process, found out the importance of reading which is inexhaustible.

Many of the world’s most powerful people today attest to their love for reading. Former US president Barack Obama said that reading made him who he is and taught him what he believes in. There is a level you operate in when you read. Reading has boost my self esteem and relationship with people to mention a few. Reading expands your knowledge, takes you beyond your horizon and makes you to relate better with people. Reading habit has been shown to reduce stress, boost brain functioning and even improve empathy.

Reading is the process of interpreting written language. Like the Adage that says “Knowledge is Power, what you know gives you an edge. You gain knowledge either by what you see(reading) or by what you hear(listening), but most of the vital information that might change your life might not be said for you to listen, you’ve got to read or dig deep by searching through the pages of a book.
” The more you read, the more things you will know, the more you’ll learn and the more places you’ll go. Now that you know some of the benefits of reading.

How does it help to improve relationship?
How does it help to reduce stress?
How does it improve our memory
How do I cultivate the habit of reading?

Next post. Stay tuned.
Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comment section below.

The Birth of Mary Soetan Initiative

Mary Soetan Initiative kicked off in April, 2018. The Initiative was birthed in December 2016 after attending a programme organised by Kiyeseni Foundation ‘A visit to the slum’. we sang choral songs to the children for them to have a taste of joy and to make them happy. The programme was a success. I was moved with compassion for the children. After the programme, I became burdened and unsatisfied about myself. I felt there was a purpose why I am created, I felt empty. While thinking through, I began to feel the urge to impact younger ones by encouraging them to inculcate reading habit which has helped me personally. Also, for them to discover their purpose early in life.

Personally, my Dad wanted me to be a civil engineer but I ended up studying Aquaculture and Fisheries Management. I wish I knew my purpose early enough to follow the path. Though I am still pursuing my career. I am making out time to fulfilling my purpose. I got to know about my purpose was when I was in my third year in school. I knew God wanted me to counsel and mentor youth. If I had I known early, I would rather have studied guardiance and counselling or a related course. I tried sharing this with people around me but no one understood. I kept it all to myself but eventually it bursted out.

The initiative seeks to achieve it’s goal, by having outreaches in schools. The first outreach was held at Rising Field College. I had little or no idea of how it will turn out to be but to my amazement it was great. You can check on our facebook page and IG page Mary Soetan Initiative for more pictures.

Students of Comfort Field College excited about the programme

Discovering purpose and achieving them is sweet. I’m glad I started this and we’ve had two outreaches after the first lauching and we’ve also been able to partner with other foundations. We are growing and want to expand in our capacity of impact. We are also using this platform as a means of impact to achieve our aim. Stay tuned for stories, tips about reading, enjoying career and achieving purpose along side updates from the Initiative.