What do you want?
It is amazing how simple, but hard this question can be for some people.
About 13 years ago, I set up a small group of masterminds. We used to meet together to encourage each other, challenge each other, rub minds and read books together. Today, most of these guys are all excelling in various fields.
I remember a discussion that took place between me and a guy who wanted to join the mastermind group. On a cool Saturday morning, at about 10am, he approached me to discuss something. As I listened patiently, as my manner is, I noticed that several minutes, he hadn’t defined what the issue was, so I asked him, “what do you want?” He carried on talking, without defining the problem. I asked him a second time, “so what do you want?” When he carried on talking, I had to direct him to someone else.
When he left, I paused to reflect on what just happened, then it dawned on me that if anyone had asked me the same question at that point, I wouldn’t have had a ready answer too.
This experience changed something in me because I went further to reflect on my life and what I truly wanted out of life at that point. A few weeks after I did this, something strange happened to me.
What do you want?
…after reflecting on our discussion, I made up my mind to prepare my response if and when someone asks me the same question.
A few weeks later, I was in my church, serving as a member of the media group, when a man beckoned. A short while before then, a young lady gave a testimony and he wanted to meet with her. After the service, I helped him find the lady.
Meanwhile, in that same service was a top business man in the country where I lived at the time. While on campus, I used to read this man’s column in the leading finance newspaper. I was so fascinated about him that I used to tell my friends that I will work with this man. I was an undergraduate at the time, I hadn’t done my compulsory one year national service, but I didn’t see these obstacles, I saw only goals. I wanted to work with him because I knew I would have in him, not just a boss, but a mentor.
Back to the scenerio in the church. After helping the other man who wanted to meet the young lady, I heard my pastor announcing that the business expert I said I wanted to work with was in church with his business partners from the Republic of Ireland. Immediately the service ended, I stepped out to meet him. On seeing him I told him I had a book to give to him, but that I would bring it the following week because I didn’t know he would be coming. I learned that when you meet someone wealthier – a king, a customer, a mentor,… always give something of value. This would differentiate you from other people because the average person comes to take from them.
What do you want?
While I was talking to him, the other man turned up again and was surprised to see me talking to someone I later found out was his business partner. When he heard I offered his partner a book on finance, he was alarmed because coincidentally they were starting a unique personal finance coaching and training business. Immediately, he wrote down his numbers and asked me to call him – a call that led to a job with my mentor.
From hindsight, I observed that fine-tuning what I wanted helped me clarify it with intensity.
Victor Akunna
Intimacy Builder Program
Be the first to comment on "What do you want? By Victor Akunna"