THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE | 'Kayode Oyero

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s members of the human race, our bodies offer us two choices whenever we are in danger or faced by complexity or adversity. These alternatives are either to run away or stand and fight tooth and nail. These reactions are almost impulsive and spontaneous in homo-sapiens. Psychologists call it the fight or flight response. But while those who absconds end up with the identity: failure, the courageous ones who put up a good fight emerge success having been crowned with victory. The operation of success and failure is quite simple: fight and you may win or leave and automatically lose!

Let’s get deep!

In my submission, disappointments take precedence before desired appointments. Disappointments share similarities with the attitude of most office secretaries in today’s corporate world. The analogy is this: for guests to be allowed into a boss’ office, such must receive favor and empathy of the secretary. You will agree with me that this type of empathy or compassion is either bought or divine in most cases.

However sarcastic the above picture doubtlessly seems, the fact is that this phenomenon is commonplace in today’s corporate world. The sorry tales of contractors being lied to by some secretaries about the absence of their boss suffices. “Ha! S/he just zoomed out to catch an appointment.” “S/he is inside but in the middle of a judgment-day meeting and it doesn’t appear s/he would be through anytime soon,” they often excuse, tongue flailing with tacit deception.

Ironically, though, the supposed boss may just be as ignorant of this denial as the folk being denied. In some cases, the secretary may just be acting on his or her prejudice (you can trust female secretaries for that, especially). And as an upshot, those who understand the business landscape are often swift and proactive about the situation. In nick of seconds, they oft-tame it, overcoming such indifference as greeted them by the secretary by subscribing to the popular phrase: doing the needful.

To this set of individuals who do the needful, creaming palms or palm-greasing is an act of motivation and not corruption. I wouldn’t say this is a justification for illegality.

“Those creatures called personal secretaries are better tamed if one cherishes his or her time,” a job applicant had once told me, matter-of-factly. “They are gods and indefatigable kings and queens once seated in their miniature palace. Not even the minutest oxygen has the permission to go in to their principal without their endorsement,” he had added.

The phenomenon is quite simple: if you do want an audience with oga at the top, you need the assent of his or her secretary or personal assistant. This, however is subject to the latter’s discretion in most cases. Indeed, no one access a willing boss if the personal secretary or assistant is unwilling. Let me explain this statement:though the boss may be willing to offer assistance to a visitor but should the secretary be unwilling or perceive such visitor (whether invited or not) as loathsome, then, it is ‘case closed’. End of discussion unless such guest is ready to do the needful or providence beam a smile on him or her.

What’s the point here? Let’s bring the grist to the mill!

Dear friend, you see, in life, obstacles, challenges, shortcomings, disappointments, difficulties, vicissitudes and adversities are just like some office secretaries - as portrayed above. Of course, they are hindrances, obstructions, frustrations and deterrents ready and willing to shake, dissuade and even discourage the lily-livered, the undetermined and the feeble-minded from attaining success. Challenges and its blood brothers are unflinching sentinels; gatekeepers of fulfillment and accomplishment. What do I mean by this? I’ll explain.

Just as it is inborn, instinctive and almost natural for humans to hold dear their lives, that of their loved ones and cherish their valuables and properties, hence, their subscription to all manner of protections: sturdy burglary proofs and security doors, barbed wire fences, remote controlled gates with intruder-detection alarm, bulletproof vehicles and other prevents that the Cyber Age has given to man. So also, success and victory, being a treasure island and an Eldorado of cozy comfort installs protective apparatus as restriction for potential invaders and burglars alike.

Dear friend, gold, silver, money, property and other trinkets of human materialism can be burgled (forget all the centurions of technology. There are living testimonies of hi-tech robbers who invaded the ‘most secured of the secured fortresses’). But enduring wealth and success cannot be robbed or impoverished. Abiku(born-to-die or shortcut) success however takes an exception. You want to know why? Shortcuts have inherent gun shots that cut life short.

Frankly speaking my friend, everything worthwhile (if truly you desire it) must be fought for, sweat for, and in fact, paid for; desire the prize? Pay the price! It’s a rule! And in case you don’t know, the golden rule states that he who has gold makes the rule. Fleeing from challenges and towing the line of least resistance brings nothing but mediocrity out of any one.

The fact that there is no monopoly of ambition in life makes success cost a fee; it’s not free. Persons who forge ahead even when chances go thinner emerge winners. Be dogged and radical at the pursuit of your lofty dreams. Sturdy strength lies not in physical mightiness, but in willingness to triumph. No one on planet earth, whether born or unborn attain victory without confrontation. Growth comes through pain. No fight, no defeat. No battle, no mantle. No attack, no defense! Remember the maxim: the best form of defense is attack? Yeah! The biblical story of David and Goliath is no fable after all.

Dear friend, I challenge you to challenge your challenges today. Rise-up! Don’t give-up! Don’t break-up from the pursuit of your dreams and aspirations. Put up a good fight. You are a combatant. Don’t be a coward on the battlefield of life. You are a victor not a victim, an overcomer not a failure if only you can try more. You have the tenacity to defeat adversity, I assure you. Ẹni bá maa jẹ oyin inú àpáta kò gbọdọ̀ wẹnu àáké – he who desires a gemstone must be ready to be an unrelenting stone-cutter; his persistence must be greater than the resistance of the rock – he must be stronger that the rock goes a wise saying of the Yorùbá of South-west Nigeria.

Thanks for the read dear friend. Kindly share your thoughts with me. My Twitter handle is @Imodoye_1. Enjoy your day.

…Kip da Optimism Alive!

© ‘Káyọ̀dé Oyèró, 2014