“We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” – Confucius

What is the trigger? It is the mechanism that sets things in motion, according to the Le Robert dictionary. In everyday life, we refer to an event that marks a significant before and after. For an airplane to take off, a gradual acceleration is required. For a car or motorcycle to reach its maximum speed, gradual acceleration is necessary. But none of these devices can initiate the process without a triggering element. First, the device must be started.

The problem I had, which many young people face, is believing that starting out is synonymous with success or glory, when it’s just the beginning. The Bible talks about a woman who begged Jesus Christ to pray for her, but he replied that you don’t give children’s bread to little dogs. She responded that little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table. This means there is bread on the table.

Why settle for crumbs when you can have the bread itself? When we discover a talent, we think of ourselves as stars, but talent alone is not enough. We must work to grow in our talent and do something significant that will leave a mark on our generation and those to come. It’s not about just appearing to be, but about truly being. This requires a trigger. The trigger can come from anywhere; it can be intrinsic or extrinsic.

The most important thing is to encounter this triggering element as early as possible. Those who benefit from it early are those who become aware of life’s challenges early on, or who carry ambitions in their hearts stemming from pure motivation and altruistic interest. It is this burden that is the vector of this book in your hands. I think it is important to share with you what was the trigger for my acceleration. Many people need a concrete illustration of what a trigger and a trigger vector can represent.

I will also talk about the triggers experienced by several influential young people who have distinguished themselves in our generation. It was in 2011; I was repeating the 6th grade, while all my friends and playmates had moved on to the 7th grade. They frequently made fun of me. I was so hurt that I resolved not to be mediocre anymore. I did everything to master my courses and remain brilliant in high school.

The second trigger happened when I was a new student. It was difficult for me to eat and get to school. I lacked everything and was overwhelmed. While at church, as usual, the pastor said that what happens to us is the result of our own choices and that we have the power to change things. From that day on, I applied myself to seeking wisdom. How could I change my life?

Wisdom taught me that most of the prayers we make can disappear if we have money. So, I started a business with many difficulties. This initiative was part of a resolution made after leaving the church. I told myself that my age should never be a hindrance, that I didn’t need to wait to grow old to marry, work, and start a family. I needed to be in a church, but I also needed to face difficulties.

Later, I learned that times of suffering determine whether or not we will succeed in life. It depends on each person’s strength to get up after falling, to start over after failing. This is undoubtedly one of the subjects we are not encouraged to study, although it is crucial for life.

Failures take the form we give them. Failing is like a step on a staircase; either we use it to go higher, or it remains an obstacle that makes us fall and retreat each time. I have a friend who wasn’t bad at her studies, as in our society, a child’s brilliance is often measured by their grades. She always had ten or twenty. After her high school diploma, she left Gabon to study in Senegal. In that country, she was very well surrounded by people with a positive mindset, as author T. Harv Eker says, “a millionaire mind.”

In this environment, she started a business by investing significantly. This was followed by a failure that led my friend into depression. To move forward and regain happiness and bounce back, she turned to reading, making it her passion. Today, she stands out as a brilliant and dynamic young woman. She is now a source of hope for those around her and for me in particular.

Another friend, Dr. Emmanuel MENIE, faced great challenges within his family that he had to overcome. He wasn’t always brilliant, but these family challenges became a vector of his dynamism. He is now a writer, and speaker of the podcast channel TRANSFORMATION. He is a reference today, an example of discipline and organization to follow. His arrival in my life dispelled fears and reduced my limiting beliefs.

With his help, I was able to expand into a new form of documentation, a new form of presence during my public interventions. Many did not expect him, but he used obstacles to shine to the point of inspiring me as well. By extension, I would never have developed so much if he had given up the fight. What you need to know is that each of us has a mission, which engenders a vision. The truth is that God does not give the entire vision to one individual.

Very often, he gives the vision to several people so that they come together and complement each other. This is why the realization of your dreams will always pass through the satisfaction of others’ interests. Man is a social animal, depriving ourselves of human relationships frequently closes the doors to progress. Indeed, our peers can be our mirror, a trigger of destiny, like an angel sent by God. Your environment can provide the trigger in your life.

Every environment has a guideline in how to be and act. Every community has a way of functioning, and an individual’s success usually depends on our position. Our living environment must align with our personality, dreams, and projects.

Glenn Josaphat MOUAMINI, shortly after obtaining his high school diploma, received a scholarship to study finance in Russia. In that country, he spent five years studying and graduated in banking and finance. As a student, he lived well, then he returned to Gabon. Gabon is a beautiful country, but nothing he undertook flourished. All doors were closed to him. He had to return to Russia to finally find the path to success.

I am not advocating for immigration here; I simply want to show that the environment can be the trigger for our growth. This can also play out between different cities within the same country…

This text is an excerpt from the book “HOW TO GOVERN THE WORLD” written by N’GOUARAKA Cris Brendan.

We invite you to read the following article “VISION IS A SYSTEM“.