Of late, I noticed people embracing a new type of success; success that carries others along; the success that gives back and uplifts others.

[image error]I haven’t posted any musings in a while.  These are usually unconnected sporadic thoughts, flashes, rants, eureka moments. I have spared you these.  :-)

 I’m happy to report that in my quiet moments, I’ve done a bit.  I completed the draft of my collection of contemporary short stories.  The exercise has taught me the discipline that brevity warrants.  There’s a skill to being brief while getting the message across. One of the short stories was featured in Brittle Paper http://brittlepaper.com/2015/08/appointment-nike-campbellfatoki/. I hope to bring you more exciting news about the short story collection soon.

 The French e- copy of Thread of Gold Beads – Un Fil De Perle d’Or – is coming out this August via World Reader.  It’s been many months coming and I can’t wait to share it with French readers, especially my Francophone Africans.  I fell in love with the cover, made by Victor Ehikhamenor.  He made the process effortless.  Is there any competition for best book cover, anyone?

Recently, I’ve had the pleasure of taking on a new project. This came about when I began to ask myself what really is success? Meaningful success, that is. The popular definition always has monetary value associated with it – the top ten richest people on a magazine’s list, the top 100 most influential people in the world, the 100 Most Beautiful People (how this is determined, I don’t know). To others, it’s being infamous, having their names out there for any reason.  Of late, I noticed people embracing a new type of success; success that carries others along; the success that gives back and uplifts others. I wanted to celebrate these ones. Especially the ones who look like me, and make me proud to be African.  The media doesn’t go out of it’s way to do this.

Our Paths to Greatness was created to celebrate the accomplishments of Africans, dispelling the myths of our great continent and inspiring many to go after their dreams (be you white, black, brown).  It’s time to tell our stories, shout it from the roof tops. If we don’t, no one else will.  A Facebook group and page was created and it continues to grow daily. It is also on twitter @OptgAfrica and Instagram @OptgAfrica

 Leading Africans – Archibishop Desmond Tutu, Buchi Emecheta, Flora Nwapa, Stateman, Kofi Ananan, Angelique Kidjo, to name a few, have been featured- with great feeback.  Young leading Africans like Ishay Sesay, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Qudus Onikeku, Ola Ojewunmi, Akon, Malebo Gololo, Kimberly Anyadike (youngest black female pilot), Abisoye Jemiyo – are not left out. Visit the page to catch up – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Our-Paths-to-Greatness/788904837871778

  OPTG’s vision is clear. OPTG will continue to bring the message that Africa is made up of bright, articulate minds, with one goal in mind – advancing Africa.

Thanks to all those I’ve reached out to, to become a part of this movement. In the next few months more information on the organization’s activities and how you can be a part of it wherever you are hill be shared.

 Meaningful success to me is contagious. It has to affect another’s life positively.  It’s the barber who goes on the streets to give free haircuts to the homeless, it’s the volunteers at the homeless shelter serving others, it’s the rapper equipping African towns and villages with electricity, it’s the teacher using his/her hard-earned money to buy school supplies for students who don’t have.

What’s meaningful success to you?