How to Become an Authority in 3 Proven Steps

In Orisa Lifestyle seniority is of the utmost importance. The Yoruba say, the youth know how to cut the tree, but the elder knows where it will fall. Similarly, the youth know the road, but the elder knows how to travel it. Likewise, what the youth cannot see standing up, the elder can see sitting down. Consequently, young practitioners - age forty and under - struggle to find a place for themselves.

Ultimately, becoming an authority in this tradition as a goal sought by many, but attained by few. With just a cursory glance at the amount of content being generated on social media every day, you can clearly see that orisa practitioners of all ages recognize the fact that becoming an authority is a great way to stand out from the competition and position themselves as go-to thought leaders.

Admittedly, once you're recognized as an authority you are free to tap into opportunities you would never imagined. You can gain access to levels of success you wouldn't necessarily reach otherwise. So, what's the secret to becoming an authority?

Here are three tried-and-true methods of becoming influential in Orisa Lifestyle:

Power is the ability to have one’s will carried out despite the resistance of others.  The immature practitioner believes that power is attained through acquiring beads, pots and titles. As you mature, however, you will learn to accept the inevitable fact that power is the ability to conduct energy through a system. 

Ifa teaches us in the Holy Odu OfunIrete that it was ORI who defeated all of the orisa in heaven and sent them to earth as masters of various disciplines and power systems. It was ori who sent Obatala to Iranje and made him the master of clay. It was ori who sent Ogun to Ire and made him the master of iron. It was ori who send Orunmila to Oke Itase and made him the master of Ifa. 

And so, each orisa has his or her domain and its corresponding power system, which he or she manages without fail. 

Highly effective systems consistently generate and distribute controlled volumes of energy over long periods of time. No system, no power. No power, no authority. ​​

Ask yourself a question, Who knows about your natural gifts and talents? Who knows your dreams and aspirations? Who knows your story and what you're made of? Now, follow that up with an even more penetrating question, Who NEEDS to know?

The Holy Odu EjiOgbe reveals how ori rejects false humility and the imposter syndrome: 

I tried in vain to hide myself
But my Ori said it will not allow me to hide myself
I tried to take the backstreets
But my Eda refused to allow me to take the backstreets

In this verse, those who were naturally endowed with positions refused to sacrifice to maintain authority. One by one, they were all overcome until, ultimately it was the lowly fly who sacrificed and was able to dine with kings. 

Let me cut to the chase here. Stop hiding out in the little pond of your comfort zone and get in front of the experts. Identify the heaviest hitters and IMPRESS them with your ability to serve with poise and precision. ​

Nobody likes a showoff. Everybody - especially people who have already achieved success - will appreciate your ability to help them solve problems and improve conditions. 

If you want to be recognized as an authority, show and prove your ability to add value in the most influential circes. 

Authority is never associated with being a scatterbrain. Ever. The best way to fail is to try to be everything to everybody. If you're serious about being recognized as an authority, you need to commit to a single, visionary goal and stick with it, season after season. 

In the Holy Odu OyekuObara teaches us of the idere monkey, who wanted desperately to become human, but lacked the focus necessary to complete the rituals that would enable total transformation: 

A rough dance is the dance of an Insane
Exhibition of overjoy is the joy of a fool
Ifa divination was casted for Idere Monkey
He was instructed to make ebo so  enjoyment
Would not destroy his body

Idere went to Ifa one day. He wanted Obatala to elevate him to human status. He was told what to gather and what sacrifice to perform. He gathered the materials and the medicine was made for Idere. 

Idere was told to remain focused and composed. He must not get caught up and start to count his eggs before they hatched. Idere managed to follow the instructions for a time. He began to evolve miraculously. But, as he could feel the difference and see himself elevating, Idere lost concentration. He started to enjoy his progress and forgot about the ultimate goal, which was to become fully human. 

One day before the ritual was complete, Idere's jubilation made him spill the remaining medicine. He tried desperately to apply it to his body, but to no avail. And so, Idere only managed to evolve partially. 

So, ask yourself, If you could only do ONE thing with your life, what would it be? That is where you need to focus. Let everything else either support that single ambition or fall away, like autumn leaves. 

I am looking for leaders, who want to improve the word through positive influence. Is that you? If so, find out how Obafemi Origunwa and the Orisa Lifestyle Academy can take your life to the next level.