“Anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.” – Carl Bard
Twenty-five years ago, the dawn of the millennium found me in Nigeria, navigating the uncharted waters of facilitation and public speaking. Back then, the field lacked the glamour it enjoys today, but the hunger to inspire and transform lives with my mission to “Inspire and inform individuals and groups so they can get involved in life and living” burned brightly within me. I founded the Motivational Speakers Network, a community that included visionaries like Fela Durotoye and Lanre Olusola. Together, we laid the groundwork for personal development in Africa’s most populous country.
The journey was anything but ordinary. My efforts culminated in creating the first personal development TV shows on Silverbird Television and the Nigerian Television Authority. These programmes, such as Monday Morning Motivation — also the title of my first book — helped uplift a nation grappling with grief after multiple plane crashes, even drawing a request from former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Yet, the pivotal moment came when I asked myself a daring question: What must I do to grow my career? The answer was both startling and exhilarating — disrupt yourself.
This revelation led me to South Africa in pursuit of greater heights. In Cape Town, I attended the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA) convention, a transformative event that shaped my dreams. I envisioned myself facilitating a session at the International Coaching Federation (ICF) convention. That dream materialised, yet I soon realised that true growth demanded sacrifices. I made the audacious decision to leave behind my burgeoning career in Nigeria to learn, explore, and evolve.
Fast forward to 2024, life came full circle. I returned to Cape Town to deliver the opening keynote at Africa’s largest healthcare professionals’ gathering of over 10,000 visitors at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and 500 healthcare workers at the Tools for Healthcare Resilience, Invigoration, Vitality, and Empowerment (T.H.R.I.V.E MD) Mental Health Track. The experience underscored the timeless truth of Carl Bard’s words: “Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.”
5 Behavioural science-backed goal hacks for personal growth
Drawing from my journey, here are five evidence-based strategies for setting and achieving transformative goals:
- Disrupt your comfort zone
Growth requires stepping into the unknown. Behavioural science suggests that novelty stimulates neuroplasticity, enhancing your ability to learn and adapt. For me, leaving Nigeria for South Africa was a deliberate leap into uncertainty.
Actionable step: Identify one area in your life where you feel stuck. Set a goal to challenge yourself — whether it’s attending a conference, learning a new skill, or starting a side project.
- Visualise success through specific goals
Research by neuroscientist Dr. Alvaro Pascual-Leone reveals that mental visualisation activates the brain in ways similar to physical practice. When I envisioned facilitating an ICF session, it propelled me toward actionable steps to achieve it.
Actionable step: Spend five minutes daily visualising your goals in vivid detail. Imagine the sights, sounds, and emotions associated with success.
- Invest in continuous learning
Psychologist Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset emphasises the importance of embracing challenges and learning from failures. My decision to pause my career was rooted in the belief that learning more would enable me to become more.
Actionable step: Enroll in a course, read industry-relevant books, or join a professional network to expand your knowledge base.
- Leverage social connections
Behavioural science highlights the role of social reinforcement in achieving goals. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals amplifies motivation. The Motivational Speakers Network was instrumental in my early success.
Actionable step: Identify a mentor, join a mastermind group, or reconnect with peers who inspire and challenge you.
- Celebrate milestones, big or small
Research by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer shows that recognising progress boosts intrinsic motivation. My keynote address in Cape Town was not just an achievement but a celebration of a 25-year journey.
Actionable step: Break your goals into smaller milestones. Celebrate each accomplishment, whether it’s completing a task or receiving positive feedback.
Lessons from the Journey
- Embrace reinvention: Personal and professional growth demands that you reinvent yourself, often at the cost of temporary discomfort.
- Stay persistent: Dreams don’t materialise overnight. They require consistent effort, adaptation, and resilience.
- Honour your beginnings: Never forget where you started. Your roots provide the foundation for your growth.
- Give back: Use your achievements to uplift others. My return to Cape Town was a testament to the power of paying it forward.
- Dream bigger: Growth is a continuous process. As one dream is realised, another should take its place.
A new beginning
As I reflect on my 25-year career, I’m reminded that the journey is far from over. Carl Bard’s words resonate deeply: “Anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.” No matter where you are in your life, the opportunity to redefine your narrative is always within reach.
Start today. Take the leap. Your new ending awaits.
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