11 valuable lessons I learned in the hard way. I hope our young professionals can learn from others and spare themselves the pain

1. 11 Valuable Life Lessons I Learned through Pain
Dr Joe Molete
PAIN
Avoid some of these mistakes if you can

2. Leaders need to strengthen their voice and then help
others strengthen their own voices
Steven Covey says as leaders we need to
strengthen our voice and then help others
strengthen their voices.
I am sharing my stories, good and bad, with the
hope that someone will learn from my real life
experiences. Nothing is as fulfilling as being
able to breath life into life.
Joe Molete

3. As professionals we get caught up in chasing career and
financial success while afraid of failure….

4. We spent most of our valuable time at school and/or at
work. We ignore many things that are more important such
as …getting to know OURSELVES?
I spent 14 years in 5 different Universities
I spent 16 years in 6 different Companies
I started asking myself… SO WHAT?

5. While chasing success do not ignore voices from within.
Do not neglect advices. Do not close your hear and ears.
Voice from GOD Ears blocked
I ignored voices within and I got a painful wake up call!

6. Sister’s
DEATH
Property
SOLD
Went through
DIVORCE
MOBBED
at WORK
Car, Computer,
IPAD STOLEN
When you are destined for GREATNESS you will experience
CRUCIBLES that will awake you to your potential
Black Money SCAM
I was caged by crucibles and they all happened within a space of
one year.
Business
BREAK-IN

7. Even Man of GOD had their share of crucibles. Apparently
God cannot use a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.
So, embrace your pain but allow it to propel you towards your greatness.
Jesus needed to be
made perfect through
sufferings, how much
more do we the sinful
people need suffering to
help purify, sanctify, and
perfect us as gold being
purified in the crucible of
fire.
Hebrews 2:10
Joseph was messed
up by his jealous
brothers to be sold
into Egypt, then
falsely accused by
Potiphar's wife. He
had his share of
crucibles….
Genesis 37:18-36
The man called Job
who was blameless
and upright, he
feared God and
shunned evil. He had
his share of
crucibles…..
Job 1:1-21

8. Here are the 11 things I learned

9. Listen to the voices within. Slow down and pay attention.
God tries to talk to us all the time but we are too busy to
hear Him. Never neglect your creator.
I prayed to God because I was in trouble.
Dear God. Why me? Why now?
Lesson 1....
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he
will lift you up in honor.
James 4:10
God replied

10. Change starts with you. Don’t look for external factors to
blame. Don’t point fingers. Take responsibility sometimes
for other people’s mess. Once you change, everything
around you will change
Lesson 2....
START…..looking in
the mirror
STOP Complaining,
Blaming,
Accusing ......

11. Spent time with your family. You will miss them once they
are gone.
X?
Lesson 3....
My Father, Sister, Brother, Grandmothers and many relatives died. I was busy
studying in the USA and could not afford to come for some of the funerals. I wish I
had spent more time with them. I miss them dearly. RIP family.

12. Raising kids is our primary responsibility. Work – Life
balance is very difficult but you have to do your best
I use to be too busy to play with the kids. Now I appreciate every minute with them.
Lesson 4....

13. Inject some sense of URGENCY and stop procrastinating.
Life is too short and unpredictable
X?
I had two near-death
experiences. I survived. I
promised to sing my music
loud while still on this
planet.
Lesson 5....
Life is short, it cant be bought, mmm
And time is a very precious thing
I want to go to where I have never been
And see what’s never been seen
In the midst of the morning I wont take for granted
There’ll always be another new day
Got to live for each moment
Never let time slip away
Dream in colour - Regina Belle
I sing this song every morning
so that I can remain on purpose

14. Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be
trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s
thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner
voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and
intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.
Everything else is secondary.”
Steve Jobs

15. Some dreams will not happen as you planned. Don’t be
stuck too long, PASS and dream again
I wanted to be a soccer star but I
spent more time chasing the ball
than kicking it. I PASSED
I wanted to be a guitarist but I
could not even stand listening
to my own music. I PASSED
I wanted to be a world-
renowned DJ. I ended up
being a kitchen dj.
I PASSED
Lesson 6....

16. Enjoying ice cream PhD Graduation at Penn State 2001
EDUCATION can make you became SOMEBODY. You can
make your parents proud. But put it in perspective
My parents flew only once in their lifetime. They came to my graduation in the USA to
thank my supervisor Prof Ross Hardison. He bought them Ben and Jerrey’s ice cream.
Lesson 7....

17. I saw a laboratory the first time when I went to Wits as a 1st year student. I failed my
first year and was almost excluded. Despite the challenging beginning I was invited to
address the graduates 25 years later. Determination not Genius!
Don’t be discouraged by FAILURE. It is temporary. It
prepares us for greater things yet to come.
Lesson 8....

18. Focus on serving others. You will only get what you want if
you help as many people get what they want
As a speaker and coach I inspire others to live their dreams. I am more fulfilled
Lesson 9....

19. "When you work only for yourself, or for your own
personal gain, your mind will seldom rise above the
limitations of an undeveloped personal life. But when
you are inspired by some great purpose, some
extraordinary project, all your thoughts break your
bonds: your mind transcends limitations, your
consciousness expands in every direction, and find
yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant
forces, faculties and talents become alive and you
discover yourself to be a greater person by far than
you ever dreamed yourself to be."
-Patanjali, founder of Yoga sutras, 2nd century b.c

20. Do whatever it takes to advance your dreams and never
make excuses.
When my car was stolen I had to make some means to get from A to B.
Lesson 10....

21. Integrate and nurture your portfolio of passions. It increases
your chances and choices to advance your career. There is
no security in your current job
Companies that do not care about your personal development must be watched.
They will dump you immediately they are done with you.
My portfolio of passions
Science
Leadership
Music
Lesson 11....

22. I hope my story has inspired you to live your dreams, learn
from your failures and share your lessons.

23. website: www.joemolete.com
www.facebook.com/drjoehpa
email: drjoe@joemolete.com
Twitter: @drjoemolete
Dr Joe Molete
Inspiring, Nurturing and Connecting
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