HUBRIS?

Rich men want more riches! Why?

Why do you think people ask for more after a sumptuous meal? Anything that is pleasant to the taste buds and to the soul enjoys much patronage. Success is sweet so it is natural to yearn for more levels of success. This is the reason people who have tasted success yearn for more.

However, it is easy to get contented when you attain a particular level of success. When you succeed at something, please celebrate yourself. On the other hand, be careful not to lay a blueprint of bankruptcy by taking your mind off the lane of management of your success. If Samuel Peters had paid more attention to this fact, he would have avoided the mess he drifted into at the latter part of his career. He got too sure of himself to his detriment. He had achieved success with the likes of Iron Mike Tyson. He believed himself infallible.

His career became a nightmare after his encounter with Vitali Klitschko. Samuel Peters, who had been dubbed the “Nigerian Nightmare”, realized that he had lost the WBC heavyweight title, and it wasn’t a nightmare but a reality. Klitschko pounded him heavily to a point where he had to give up on the match, after enduring eight of twelve rounds. Perhaps he should have yielded to Jerry Okorodudu’s call for him to quit the ring when the ovation was loud.

Vitali trained under extreme conditions and was set for Peters, who didn’t create ample time to train due to his multiple “success show” trips.  While Peters was meant to return to the training room, he travelled across the world on his victory tour. On the fateful day of the fight, successful Peters failed! He fell into the hands of the Ukrainian giant who pounded him mercilessly. He assumed he would chew Vitali but the deadly blows he received proved him wrong!

 “Most mistakes men have made came after some great victory. It’s called hubris, the over confidence that comes from your success. Always keep your eye on the ball.” Poju Oyemade

Three things to note:

•           Past success is not a guarantee for future success. Peters must have made baseless assumptions about Vitali Klitschko; falsely assuming his own level of fitness. He must have thought “at least, a WBC Heavy weight champion should swallow a guy who’s been off the ring for four years”.
•           Capacity building is essential at every stage in life. The fact that he was the champion didn’t forbid preparation efforts for the match. He was ill prepared!
•           When you are at the peak, be careful so you won’t fall and crash.  

No more words. Sit down and do a self appraisal. Perhaps you are basking in the glory of past successes.