An Outstanding Person
The term Outstanding connotes a state of Prominence, Eminence, Excellence, and the possession of a Striking quality.
An outstanding person is one whose feats and ideas make a difference. His contributions, whether physical, mental or spiritual to a situation are extra ordinary.
He is a man who is prone to excellence and his acts and results will always excel.
As the term implies an outstanding fellow always stands out from the crowd. He does not jump on the band wagon just because every other person is doing so.
He is outstanding because he is different and he is different because he is outstanding.
Good people do things right
Great people do good things right, while
Outstanding people right things greatly
To be outstanding, every thing you do must be result orientated and EXCEPTIONAL.
For a person to be regarded or described as outstanding therefore he must possess the following prominent qualities and virtues.
HONESTY Such a fellow must display sincerity, integrity and candor in all actions and as much as possible at all times
COMPETENCE This is one who bases his actions on reason and moral principles. One who does not make decisions based on child like emotional feelings and desires
VISIONARY/FORWARD LOOKING He must set and have goals. He is therefore one who can set goals and operate on set vision
The vision is usually far reaching and in a lot of cases global
He is a person who can prioritize and make decisions based on valued priorities
INSPIRING A person who displays confidence in all he does is an outstanding. This is a person who displays endurance in mental, physical and spiritual stamina be it in work or play.
LEADERSHIP This is a person who can and will take charge when necessary or called upon to take up such a mantle.
INTELLIGENCE This is one who reads and studies constantly to continuously expand his or her mind and horizon.
It is a person who is willing and ready to seek and undertake challenging test and hone his abilities.
FAIR IN DECISIONS Outstanding people are willing to treat all persons they meet in the rugged walk of life fairly. They are persons who are not prejudiced be it in the treatment of friend or foe. They have a fair sense of JUSTICE. They display EMPATHY by being SENSITIVE to the feelings, values, interests and well being of others.
FEARLESS An outstanding person is not afraid of making adverse decisions and does not buckle in the face of diversity or adversity.
COURAGEOUS He displays boldness and strength of spirit in demanding and even risky situations. He is CALM and CONFIDENT when under stress.
IMAGINATIVE An outstanding person is ready to make mental adjustments to challenging situations and conditions to suit the well being of the collective.
CREATIVE and INVENTIVE This is a person who possess creativity and is innovative at all times, be it in times of comfort or in adverse times. This is with a view too steer the ship to safe havens.
SACRIFICIAL He places the well being of others even before his. The success of the collective gives him joy.
PACE SETTER Any person who is willing and ready to be in front and lead no matter the opposition or odds is outstanding.
ACHIEVER Attain set and unset goal. Go beyond and above the call of duty and accomplish that which is to be done, even against all odds.
ADVENTUROUS He or she is willing and ready to delve into the unknown so as to discover, create and achieve what no other person has done.
All these attributes could compressed into two words; ATTITUDE and INTEGRITY
Any one you relate with who lack these above listed life characteristics, please do you best to limit your relationship with them.
On the other flip of the coin, a person who could be regarded as outstanding –
He or she on the other hand is not afraid of failure.
He or she is therefore not intimidated by problems no matter the magnitude or how daunting. He must attempt to proffer a workable solution.
The question here is therefore thus
Is a person born outstanding or is it an achieved state of existence?
Jesus Christ told us a parable in the Bible (Matthew 25: 14) about three men who were given talents, in other words opportunity in life to be outstanding. The story revealed that while two went on to achieve their potentials one buried his and treated it with disdain and scorn. Of course it was taken away from and those who know and appreciate the value inherited it.
What the parable teaches us is that though you may be born with these qualities, if you do not work on it, if you do not strive towards perfecting that which has been put in your care, you will likely lose it (to another person) for the Bible further say ‘Your office let another take’ in reference to one who has been careless with his chances of being outstanding in life.
On the other hand, one could be of lowly birth but by
-Sitting at the feet of outstanding personalities and learning from them –‘Learn to make yourself — worthy —.
-Learning of outstanding people and their works – ‘Learn of me —’
Cultivating relationships with folks who possess these outstanding qualities, relating, interacting and constantly associating with them, for sure some of these qualities will rub off on you, for in truth Iron sharpens iron and the Deep calls unto the deep —.
By practicing these qualities and living the sort of sacrificial and selfless lives of outstanding persons one could achieve this state of being —‘Meditate on it day and night ( Psalm 1)
