Sleep, Sacrifice, and the True Cost of Success
Consider wealth, fame, success, and maintaining good health as part of our work output, while working only 40 hours and sleeping 70 hours a week. In that case, sleeping 10 hours daily for 7 days will not elevate us to the status of those successful individuals we view as role models.
When I mention sleep, I imply that a life lacking meaningful, value-added activities for hours each day equates to “sleepiness”; we may be awake but unresponsive to our surroundings.
Consider the dedication of a doctoral student, who invests years of hard work to earn a PhD. Their understanding that without groundbreaking research and journal publications, they cannot ascend to the esteemed position of a professor, is truly awe-inspiring. The sheer dedication and perseverance they exhibit in this journey is a testament to the heights we can reach with commitment and hard work.
Think of the sacrifice and commitment of Opia Oji Peter Bonnyface, the inventor of Opializer. He has dedicated countless years to his invention, sacrificing leisure time and social opportunities. His story is a testament to the fact that success often requires significant sacrifice and commitment.
Imagine getting closer to the faithful servants of God, those who are genuinely called to serve in the Lord’s vineyard. In that case, you’ll be amazed by the countless hours they dedicate daily to reading and meditation, which may not be immediately evident to you.
When you examine the profiles of billionaires, you’ll notice that they don’t adopt a fire brigade approach in their pursuits. Instead, they embody a strong work ethic, often putting in over 80 hours weekly to maintain their competitive edge instead of the average 40 hours we put in. During the planning stages of their projects—before reaching millionaire and billionaire status—they typically sleep less than 6 hours a night, concentrating on designing, networking, and committing themselves to their goals. They seldom make time to binge-watch television shows or sports.
However, they sleep six to eight hours each night after achieving breakthroughs. Many of us find adopting these vital life ethics and structures challenging.
As I’ve often said, it’s never too late to start anything. First, seek guidance from God to discover the roadmap that will serve you well. This reassurance that we are not alone in our journey, and that we have divine support, can provide a sense of comfort and confidence.
Next, embrace the kingdom ethics of obedience, diligence, walking with God, honesty, accountability, and respecting people, processes, and procedures. You’ll be amazed at how these principles can transform our lives, bringing hope and optimism for the positive changes we can make.
As I write this post, I reflect on the past two months and consider the areas where I can improve in March. Let’s remember that personal development and progressive habits can transform our lives.
Let us be deliberate on enhancing our skills from now on. For example, I have decided to go back to reading other books outside my specialty of conflict resolution. I bought two books—one by David Goggins, “Can’t Hurt Me”, and the other by Cal Newport, “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World”, which I intend to read in the next few weeks.
Let’s use these moments of reflection to better ourselves and our households, with the hope and belief that positive change is possible.
So help us, God.
Grace and peace!!!
