BUILDING SYNERGY BY MARTIN BECK NWORAH

A friend of mine recently gave me the opportunity to help him in
co-editing a campus magazine for the students community. I vehemently
refused the offer, stating that I write for newspapers and some big
corporations; so what's the need in "wasting" my time for a campus
mag? My friend smiled, looked me straight in the eyes and said,"Beck,
I perfectly comprehend your reasons and I don't want to change your
decision either. But you must understand that in as much as you're
securing a not-so-distant future,you're still a student here and you
need to conquer your environment as well. These young students like
you will be captains of industries tomorrow, many will be top
politicians and industrialists; if you don't build that synergy
amongst yourselves now,you may find it difficult in future".
Suffice it to say that his words made great sense to me and I took up
the role. But what I want to point out here is very clear. Now that
you are in school and have all the time in the world for exploration
of your talents, do well to invest in people with a master plan of
their own future. Build a very strong synergy with people who are
focused and know where they're heading in life. You may live in your
small world and think you're the only one serious and hard-working,
that may not often be the case. I'm using the word "people" and not
"friends" because building your synergy around friends means
limitation. Don't get me wrong, but when you're in school or even
after that, you continue to move with the same set of people who are
more interested in owning Chelsea Football club and waking up in a new
buggati; you may end up walking into the offices of those people you
referred to as "jew guys" back in the days to "beg" for employment.
There is a big difference between building personal relationships and
building business synergy. I'm talking about the future business
synergy here and it has nothing to do with emotions or affections or
even tears. Work hard,yes! But when you don't know the right
people,you "may" not succeed. That dirty intelligent girl in your
class now, who many of you refuse to associate with may be the one to
sign the cheque that will save your entire generation. I've seen it
happen to someone and I'm talking from a true life perspective. Never
under estimate the power of grace in anyone's life. While you may be
running after the sweet girls and handsome boys now, make sure you
synergize the ugly ones. It's called "Investment in the unknown
future". And when next you think of belittling your immediate
environment and writing everyone off as a low lifer, make sure you
won't bit your finger in future when you need just the signature of
that poor street boy, who you refused to give pure water in order to
ink your contracts.
It's hard to believe that we will need the help of others especially
when it seems we're not in the same "class" with them. In as much I
enjoy your beliefs now, I pray that my friend's words will make
meaning to you,so that when we must've succeeded in getting to the
promised land,you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the
gift of grace for the race.