My Inspiration

It was three days to my 20th birthday. At the time, I was working with Deloitte, the accounting firm. After work, I boarded a trotro (bus) heading home. Halfway through the journey, I heard a strange voice say, ‘You have three days to live.’ To my surprise, my immediate reaction was to burst out with unspeakable joy. I recalled how, from the age of 18, I had been organizing leadership conferences for the youth and pouring out my young life in service to others. With that memory, I was ready to accept God’s will if it meant my time was up.

That night, I wrote my Will and a love letter to my family, sealed them in an envelope, and placed it in the corner of my room without telling anyone. Strangely enough, three days later, on my 20th birthday, around 6 pm, I was involved in a terrible accident. A Mercedes Benz we were driving in collided with a heavily loaded timber truck. Miraculously, I emerged safe and well.

This experience taught me a valuable lesson about life: it’s not about how long you live, but how well you serve. When you live purposefully and serve others, you can find joy even in the face of death threats. Since then, my greatest motivator in life has been DEATH. Yes, you read that right! Death reminds me to live each day as if it were my last, filling me with inspiration and energy. I’ve come to realize that life is a precious gift, bound by time, and every day must count. Thinking about this drives me to pour out my best in service of others, to make a meaningful impact, and to leave a lasting legacy.

Motivation
My Greatest Motivator in Life
Death is my greatest motivator in life. It drives me to pour out my best in what I do, knowing any day could be my last.
Motivation
Aspiration
My Aspiration
To find innovative ways to serve and add value to the lives and work of leaders.
Aspiration
Commitment
My Commitment
My commitment is to serve my nation, the African continent and the world with excellence.
Commitment
Gratitude
Gratitude
To God, my wife and children, my team members and staff, partners and donors, parents, Advisory Board and Governing Council members, mentors, friends and well-wishers.
Gratitude

Wise Saying by Kofi Osei-Kusi

“How you respond to attacks from an enemy is proof of your present level of wisdom.”

“Your biggest natural asset to win over the obstacles in your life is your ‘mouth’. You will get what you repeatedly say.”

“Wise people speak because they have something sensible to say, not because they own a mouth.” 

“To take time to understand all sides of a matter before taking action is evidence of one’s wisdom.”

“You can hardly tell the difference between an angel and a human being, so treat everyone you meet as if they were angels.” 

“I like sleeping; yes, indeed I want to be a poor person.”

“Nothing teaches how to live than continually reminding yourself that you are going to die someday, any day.”

A Collection of My Favorite African Proverbs

I love proverbs. Here are some of my favorite proverbs from around the African continent.

“Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” Chinua Achebe” – African Proverb

“The forest was shrinking, but the trees kept voting for the axe because its handle was made of wood and they thought it was one of them.” – African Proverb 

“However far a stream flows, it doesn’t forget its origin.” – African Proverb 

“If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try spending the night with a mosquito.” – African Proverb 

“No person is born great. Great people become great when others are sleeping.” – African Proverb 

“A fish and bird may fall in love but the two cannot build a home together.” – African Proverb 

“The earth is a beehive, we all enter by the same door.” – African Proverb 

“You know who you love but you can’t know who loves you.” – African Proverb 

 “Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it.” – African Proverb 

 “The fool speaks, the wise man listens.” – African Proverb 

“Wisdom is like fire. People take it from others.” – African Proverb 

“Knowledge without wisdom is like water in the sand.” – African Proverb

“A fool cannot untie the knot tied by a wise man.” – African Proverb 

“Other people’s wisdom prevents the king from being called a fool.” – African Proverb 

“Just because the lizard nods his head, doesn’t mean he’s in agreement.” – African Proverb 

“Your body is a temple of knowledge.” – African Proverb

“A fool has to say something. A wise person has something to say.” – African Proverb 

“Give advice, if people don’t listen let adversity teach them.” – African Proverb 

“We desire to bequeath two things to our children; the first one is roots, the other one is wings.” – African Proverb 

 “Every beetle is a gazelle in the eyes of its mother.” – African Proverb 

“It takes a village to raise a child.” – African Proverb 

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb 

“The old woman looks after the child to grow its teeth and the young one in turn looks after the old woman when she loses her teeth.” – African Proverb 

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” – African Proverb 

“A man who pays respect to the great paves his own way for greatness.” – African Proverb 

“When you marry a monkey for his wealth, the money goes but the monkey remains.” – African Proverb 

“A roaring lion kills no game.” – African Proverb 

“Only a fool tests the depth of a river with both feet.” – African Proverb 

“No matter how hot your anger is it cannot cook yams.” – African Proverb 

Which of these is your favorite proverb and why?
Share your favorite proverbs from your culture with me

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When you decide to look for the good in everything that comes your way, you will be surprised at how peaceful your life will become.

– Kofi Osei-Kusi

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