Thanks very much for taking the time to read this article today. I am excited to be writing this article because I will be using this article to affect Nigerians youths lives positively and as well teach them about some massive lessons to learn from this great manager called Sir Alex Ferguson.

We will be looking at the lessons we can take from this great leader in history and how he achieved his success.

The Sir Alex Ferguson’s book was believed to be a controversial book but there are more lessons to learn in the book as well as in the main man himself.

And to be candid, i believe Nigerian Youths have a lots to learn in this great man called Sir Alex Ferguson.

I will choose 5 MASSIVE key lessons from Sir Alex Ferguson’s career and condense these lessons for you so you can take them and apply them in your life to achieve greater success.(WE CAN MAKE IT).

An extraordinary leader and regarded by many as the greatest football manager of all time. I don’t have time to list all his achievements but he led Manchester United to be the most successful team in Premier League History since it began back in 1992. Sir Alex won 20 league titles, 2 champions leagues and total of 38 trophies including capital one cups and community shields. The difference is clear for anybody to see.

So let’s now have a look at what we can learn from Sir Alex Ferguson;


LESSON 1: WORK ETHIC

Sir Alex Ferguson made Manchester United his life work. He was reported to work 18 hour days on a regular basis (which ordinary Nigerian youth will sleep for those hours). He is the first one at the club in the morning and the last one to leave at night. He lives and breathes football.

He does this because he loves the game so much (can WE youth find our passion and follow it?). He has passion in bucket loads and this is reflected in the amount of time he devotes to his work. No wonder he has achieved so much. JUST NO WONDER!

It was not handed to him on a plate though, he has faced many struggles in his time in charge but his hard working attitude has never wavered. It is one thing every single player, coach and member of staff who has ever known or worked with Sir Alex has said about him – he is a WORKAHOLIC.

He may not see it that way. He sees it as something he loves so much that it doesn't feel like work. He wants to put the hours in, he wants to be the best and he is prepared to do whatever it takes to consistently be the best.

If you want to achieve great success in your life particular in this nation called Nigeria, in whatever you want to do – be prepared to put in the hours. Too many people chase instant success and it doesn't work that way. ABSOLUTELY, IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY! Learn from a seasoned pro and take a leaf out of Sir Alex’s book.

N.B - Do you want to be the best in your field? If so, the standard 8 hours per day will not cut it. Be prepared to add at least 50% to that figure and you have a chance


LESSON 2: VISION

When Sir Alex took charge at Manchester United he had a very distinct and clear vision, something most youths are lacking because of their instant eyes for success. It wasn’t one that many people would have expected but it was BOLD and AMBITIOUS.

On his arrival at Old Trafford, he told the media “My greatest challenge is not what’s happening at the moment, my greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f*****g perch”. (THIS WAS A MASSIVE VISION STATEMENT).

Liverpool was the most successful football club in English football at the time when he took over and he envisioned taking Manchester United beyond that.
He could see past the immediate present of the club being way behind Liverpool at the time when he arrived. Alex Ferguson equalled Liverpool’s 18 league titles in 2010. He has therefore made massive progress towards his vision already and had additional records that he left behind to be broken.

Do you have a compelling vision that stirs you up and gets you motivated?

.......................................If not, why not?

When we are young we are constantly dreaming and thinking about what we want to do with our lives. We get excited by the thoughts we conjure up in our minds, we are limitless in what we believe we can do.

Unfortunately, as we grow older we lose sight of that vision and get caught up in the mundane day to day tasks such as paying the bills.

Well......... without a VISION you will forever be caught up in the day to day “stuff” and end up wasting a whole lot of your life there too.

Start by devoting some quality time to recapturing your imagination, thinking about what you want to do and achieve in your life and write down all your ideas.

Every great achievement first starts with a THOUGHT. Don’t ever forget that.


LESSON 3: TEAM WORK

Sir Alex Ferguson is the master of building winning teams. He built the winning team even while most of the players were average. He has always made it very clear that at Manchester United no single player is bigger or more important than the club. We have the examples of Wayne Rooney, David Bechkam and Roy Keane to mention a few. He emphasises a strong team ethic which has often been referred to as a “FAMILY”.

Each player who belongs to this family at Manchester United has this mentality ingrained in them from a young age.

It is this collective spirit and belief which contributes to the great success Manchester United have achieved during Sir Alex’s reign. It doesn’t matter what set of players takes the field, they all go on the field with the same winning attitude and team spirit as any other 11 players would.

Sir Alex Ferguson understands the importance of building a strong team culture for his players and the club on the whole. This culture runs through the veins of every player and every member of staff at the club and accounts largely for the impressive “aura” which is so famously talked about at Manchester United.

Who do you surround yourself with?

...................Do you expect the best from your team?

Do you do everything in your power to establish a strong team ethic in your close relationships?

There is an old saying that says you become the average of the 5 people you spend most of your time with. Make sure the people you spend time with have a positive spirit and a winning attitude and it will certainly rub off on you just like it has rubbed off on every player at Manchester United.


LESSON 4: BELIEF

In the season of 1998-99, Manchester United achieved the greatest achievement possible in club football – The Treble. #Massive. That is winning the top league in your home country, the European Cup and the National Cup.

This is huge and massive right.
This is an achievement which has only been achieved by a few top clubs.

During the 98-99 season, Manchester United came very close to missing out on the treble on several occasions. In fact they were inches (penalty save and injury time winner in the FA cup against Arsenal) and seconds (2 injury time goals to come back from 2-1 down in the European Cup Final against Bayern Munich) away several times.

What was it that made the players keep on going when it looked odds on that they were going to lose on more than one occasion?

It was nothing other than sheer BELIEF.

The players at Manchester United are taught from a very young age to believe in themselves and believe in the spirit of the players. To fight until the final whistle because there is always a chance of victory.

So many times have Manchester United been written off to come back and win games and championships. It has happened too many times to be a “stroke of luck”. They believe they always have a chance and as a result, they have achieved amazing success when everybody else has written them off.

This is something that Sir Alex has instilled in each one of his players and it has just become a norm at Manchester United. It doesnt matter what group of players take the field, they are all armed with this same belief. This attitude, of believing in themselves, can be seen in many of Sir Alex’s different teams during his 26 years in charge of Manchester United.

Belief is the foundation of all achievement. You must start by having belief in yourself because if you dont then you will only give up when you face your first real challenge.

Believing in you is a choice. Make this one of yours.


LESSON 5: MASTERY

If you want to be great at something, then it is going to take a lot of time and a lot of commitment to learning.

Sir Alex Ferguson has devoted most of his life to football, to knowing everything there is to know about football. Many refer to him as the “godfather” of football. He has been around and seen it all. There is probably very little you could tell him that he doesn't already know.

Many say knowledge is power. Personally I believe applied knowledge is power but if you follow lesson 1 then that won’t be a problem! The more you know the more power you have to make better decisions, better plans and the less that will surprise you and knock you off your path.

Have an open mind and always be willing to learn. Be a keen reader. Learn from others who have done what you want to do. Never think you know it all.

Mastery takes a long time but if you want to be the best you can be you should have a desire to keep learning, to keep improving and to know as much as you possibly can about the things you want to excel in.

With these 5 MASSIVE Lessons, it’s evident that there are more POSITIVES to learn in the book than all the massive CRITICISMS.

Kindly leave a comment and share your own best lesson(s) in all.

ARTICLE BY SULAIMAN LUKMAN ADEBAYO (POOJA)....

http:///XgOSX1

nicely written

Food 4 thought. Bravo!