October 19, 2013 · 9:56 am

Success Secrets From Jesus – Day 6 – Innovation

INNOVATION

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom,and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.
—Matthew 4:23

Jesus spent at least 18 years getting ready for His calling (age 12 – age 30). He spent that time learning and growing. He grew in wisdom, boldness, and self-control – three essential starting qualities that well must develop if we are going to achieve to anything noteworthy in our life.

Light-bulb moment: An overnight success takes years of dedication and preparation.

Jesus did not go about fulfilling His purpose until He was adequately prepared and tested in the wilderness. His purpose was to fill the relationship gap between man and God – a gap which had existed since the fall of man.

Analogous to Jesus, God created each of us for a special purpose: to meet a need or to fill a gap that exists in this world. The Scripture reveals this to us in many places, including Ephesians 2:10. In this verse, we are told that God prepared good works (a purpose) for us before we were born so that we may walk in and fulfill them.

What stands out about Jesus is the way he went about fulfilling his purpose. He did things that no one before him had ever done—healing people en masse through the power of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 4:23). Jesus brought something new to the table, and his fame grew as a result (Matt. 4:24). His fame was essential to make people aware of the kingdom that he was going to make freely available to all through his death and resurrection.

Light-bulb moment: Our fame will grow only if we bring something new to the table.

Bring Something New to the Table
Like Jesus, we have been empowered to innovate. We must engage the gift of innovation and creativity as we walk in our purpose and carry out the task that has been assigned to us. First, we have to make sure that our activities (our jobs, ventures, or businesses) address a need and fill a gap. Second, we simply cannot do what everyone before us has done and expect a high level of success or recognition; we cannot simply take the well-worn path without adding something new into the melting pot. It is when we innovate to meet a long-standing need that people take notice; consequently, our fame grows. It is then that we are likely to have good success.

Food for Thought:

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” – The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Check out Looking to Superman – The secret to success in life on superchampinc for more practical tips the experience of Jesus teaches us on being successful.

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October 14, 2013 · 9:52 pm

Success Secrets From Jesus – Day 5 – Boldness

BOLDNESS

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him,“All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
—Matthew 4:8–10

Desperate people do desperate thing! Satan was desperate to hold on to the power he knew Jesus would eventually wrestle away from him on the cross. How absurd the deal Satan presented to Jesus! He was saying to Jesus: Jesus, I will give you the very things that you created and originally possessed if you bow down to me. How about it?

Let me explain how silly this proposition is:  Imagine you are a potter who created a bunch of pots and someone tricked it away from your servants hand. Then that person says they will give you all the pots back as long as you work for them! No one is their right-mind would take that deal.

Light-bulb moment: Someone in their wrong-mind – shortsighted and greedy for gain – will always take a bad deal.

So we see that Satan was trying to see if Jesus was greedy for gain, to see if Jesus was in a hurry, to see if Jesus would yield to self-preservation rather than suffer on the cross.

To reiterate, how could the kingdoms being “offered” to Jesus really belong to him when the condition was for Jesus to worship him (Satan)? Jesus understood that it could not. So Jesus passed the test and rightfully told Satan to get lost.

Be Bold and Get Ghost

We have to boldly tell our stinking thinking to get lost if we are to be successful. Furthermore, better than telling our stinking thinking to get lost is telling whatever is filling our mind with useless thoughts to get lost. While many believers have no problems telling Satan to get lost, many people still find it difficult to extricate themselves from people and situations that take away from their lives.

Light-bulb moment: We must pass the test of boldness if we are ever to succeed in life

The Scriptures tell us that evil company corrupts good habits (1 Corinthians 10:33). Any relationship that does not lead to success is not of God; godly relationships (done God’s way) are always successful. This is because God has never failed and is not about to start now. This relationship can be someone or something. Whichever the case, we must be bold enough to get rid of it if it is ungodly!

To get ghost means to disappear something. Success requires that we get ghost those influences that should not be in our circle of influence.

Jesus had enough of Satan after 40-days encounter with Him. The question is this: What are you holding onto or who are you holding onto that you should not be entertaining? Today, be bold and get ghost of them from your life.

Check out Looking to Superman – The secret to success in life on superchampinc for more practical tips the experience of Jesus teaches us on being successful.

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October 12, 2013 · 10:10 am

Success Secrets From Jesus – Day 4 – Wisdom and Understanding

WISDOM

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ And, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
—Matthew 4:5–7

The first thing to point our here is that Satan knows the scripture! He would not have been able to quote it to Jesus otherwise! Yet, Jesus would not listen to Satan’s words because He understood that Satan had no wisdom.

Jesus knew Satan had no wisdom for two reasons:

  • He knew that it is the Holy Spirit who gives life (John 6:63)
  • He understood that the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it – Ecclesiastes 7:12 (NKJV).

Putting it together, He understood that wisdom can only come from the words spoken by the Holy Spirit. So Jesus neglected the words of Satan and focused on the life bringing words of the Holy Spirit.

Light-bulb moment: Just because the ‘right’ words are being used does not mean the words are ‘right’ for the specific circumstance/situation

Build Your Understanding of People and the Subject Matter
While knowledge start us on the road to success, it by no means guarantees success. Success requires that we build our understanding of any subject matter. Only then can we apply the knowledge we do have in such a way to bring success.

The same principle applies to people. It is important to know the underlined motivation behind the advice people are giving us. If the heart behind the advice is evil, then it is likely that the planned effects of following the advice will be evil – even if the advice sounds good.

The way to understand a person is by placing close attention to them – examining their heart and seeing if their life generally matches up with their words. Of course, if the person speaking to you is Satan, there is nothing to examine, rebuke him instantly.

Today, too many people know people but do not understand them!

Light-bulb moment: While knowledge can explain past and present behavior, only understanding can go the extra mile to explain that behavior and predict future behavior.

Here is the key takeaway: Knowledge – Wisdom  = Failure and Defeat!

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding – Proverbs 4:7

Check out Looking to Superman – The secret to success in life on superchampinc for more practical tips the experience of Jesus teaches us on being successful.

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October 10, 2013 · 7:31 pm

Success Secrets From Jesus – Day 3 – Discipline

On day 2, we discussed how preparation is key to be able to stand the test which decides whether we are promoted or we spend more time in the wilderness. Now, we must examine the traits required while being tested.

SELF-CONTROL

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
—Matthew 4:3–4

The test Satan uses to confront Jesus after 40-days of fasting is brilliant in its simplicity. Satan knew that Jesus must have been hungry after 40-days of no food. He knew that Jesus’ flesh was crying out for some nourishment. So he asked Jesus if to use His power to turn stones into bread. In other words, He wanted to see if Jesus was going to use His powers to gratify His human desire (flesh) at His point of weakness or if He could practice self-denial.

Here is why this is test is so important: Satan knew if Jesus could not deny himself food (his human wants) at the beginning of His ministry, He would not be able to deny himself the human want of running away from the pain and suffering which was to come on the cross at the end of His ministry.

The first test was to see if Jesus was prone to self-gratification; it is was to see if Jesus would satisfy His fleshly desire.

Destiny Requires Self-Control
Just as Jesus exercised control over His flesh, we must stay self-controlled in order to stay on course toward our goal. We cannot give our attention to every whim. We must discipline ourselves so we do not allow our penchant for instant gratification to derail us. Discipline is necessary to achieve progress in life.

Imagine what would happen if we denied ourselves an extra hour of sleep and instead used it to workout? How about we cut out an hour of television in order to spend it with our loved ones? What if we all took the time to build ourselves up spiritually in the morning prior to tackling the day’s duties—how great would the our world be?

There is no success without constancy of purpose, and there is no consistency without self-control. 

Check out Looking to Superman – The secret to success in life on superchampinc for more practical tips the life of Jesus teaches us on being successful.

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October 8, 2013 · 10:29 pm

Success Secrets From Jesus – Day 2 – Preparation

PREPARATION

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry —Matthew 4:1–2

The Holy Spirit led into the wilderness to be tempted. It was not Satan. Indeed, for Satan to have led Jesus means that Jesus would have had to respond to the leading of Satan; it means Jesus’ actions would have been controlled by Satan! Why did the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness? It was to test His faith! In other words, God wanted to know if Jesus the man was ready for His assignment.

Our faith (believe) cannot be trusted until it is first tested.

For his part, Jesus did not back down and shy away from the challenge to come. He instead prepared himself for three final big tests by starting and finishing forty-days of fasting. Jesus was not released onto His purpose until He passed the test.

Do Not Despise Your Wilderness
The wilderness can be described as our place of preparation and the place where our readiness is tested. No one likes the wilderness BUT everyone must successfully navigate it. We must prepare for our purpose just as Jesus prepared in the wilderness. Why is the wilderness important? It is because preparation is the key ingredient we need to overcome any challenge we face. We must undergo a period of preparation if we are to be ready to tackle our purpose in life. We not only have to good starters but we have to finish our preparation to ensure we do not stumble when the big tests come. There are simply no shortcuts. We must start and finish our preparation just as Jesus did.

The wilderness is the gulf between barely good enough and excellent. Preparation is what allows us to successfully navigate it.

Prior preparation prevents pitiful performance.

That Jesus was not released onto His purpose (Matt. 4:17) until He first passed the test in the wilderness lets us know this: Promotion in life requires that we pass the tests of life. Since preparation is the key to passing tests, we can say the following:

The key to promotion in life is thorough preparation.

Lastly, that Jesus was hungry after forty-days of preparation (fasting) lets us know that preparation will always cost us something. While it was food for Jesus, it may very well be our denial of daily pleasure or the sacrifice of time and resources. But while preparation can have a bitter cost, its reward of success is exceedingly sweet.

Check out Looking to Superman – The secret to success in life on superchampinc for more practical tips the life of Jesus teaches us on being successful.

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October 7, 2013 · 9:45 pm

Success Secrets From Jesus – Day 1 – Devotion

DEVOTION

Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions – Luke 2:46

Jesus was already devoted to His calling when he was twelve years old. He was so devoted that He lost track of his parents. He was so devoted that He spent His time listening to and asking questions about the things of God while other boys His age may have been found playing whatever games were common in those times. Why did Jesus do this?  Here is why:

  • As God, He did it so that He could impart knowledge to the teachers of the temple as well as gauge their level of understanding (Luke 2:47).
  • As man, He did it so that He could grow in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52).

Devote Yourself and Learn

If Jesus had to devote Himself to his calling at an early age, then we have to devote ourselves to our craft, our calling, our God-given vision. The sooner we devote ourselves, the better!

The amount of time we spend honing our skill will determine our future success!

If Jesus (the Son of God) spent His time listening and was teachable, to think we know it all is foolishness! We end of making avoidable mistakes when we fail to heed the advice of knowledgeable others.

We have to remain teachable – no matter how much we think we know.

Know Your Terrain

Just as Jesus gauged the understanding of the teachers in the temple, we have to know what we are dealing with in all things.

We have to do our homework (due diligence) before embarking on any mission.

Failure to do this will leave us blind-sighted and cause us unnecessary pain. Doing our homework is what allows us to tailor our message to our audience. An example of someone who does not know his/her terrain is someone who brings a very wordy presentation (with no pictures) to teach a bunch of 5-year old kids.

Check out Looking to Superman – The secret to success in life on superchampinc for all the practical tips the life of Jesus teaches us on being successful

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October 3, 2013 · 6:57 am

What Women Want from Men (Part IV)

The fourth thing women want from men is to be TREASURED as a pearl.

If you are wondering why a woman is a pearl, consider this: A fisher who desires a pearl must first dive the depths of the ocean in search for oysters. In other words, He must put in EFFORT and BRAVE an environment to which he is not accustomed.

When the diver sees the oyster, he is not taking aback by the shabby look of the oyster but he is filled with ANTICIPATION about the PRECIOUS gem that lies within it. In other words, the diver must not be dismayed by the hard protective shell he sees.  He must understand that the protective shell is there to keep the oyster safe from predators.

When he finally opens up the oyster, he discovers his prize. He discovers the object of his affection. Even then, he must polish the pearl to ensure that the fullness of its radiant beauty is revealed.

What does this have to do with a woman? Everything! Men, a woman wants a man to put in the effort to get to know her. She wants him to be brave and intentionally pursue her as a diver would a pearl. And when he finds her, she does not want him to stop at what he sees but she wants him to discover who she truly is (internally and externally).  In other words, she wants him to navigate her walls (shell) to unsheathe her beauty. Moreover, when he finds who she truly is, she does not want him to be disappointed that she may still need some polishing. She wants him to be PATIENT with her in this process.

A woman wants to know she is a pearl of great prize

Now, a woman does not simply want to be regarded as a pearl but desires to be a pearl of great prize.  In other words, every woman want to know that she is different from all the other women (pearls) in the world in the eyes of her man. She wants to know that there is something uniquely special about her that draws her to him.

Light-bulb moment:  A woman needs to know that she is highly prized by the man to whom she has decided to give herself. She needs to know that she has given herself to a person who will cherish her – not just at the beginning of the relationship BUT continually.

The way a man lets a woman know she is a pearl of great prize is by continually showing her AFFECTION. She wants to be surprised from time to time; she wants you to write those little notes of affirmation to her. Going out of your way to do those things you do not care too much about shows her that she made a good decision when she chose you.

A woman wants to treated as a pearl of great prize

If you go to a jewelry store, you will find that the jewel of great prize probably has its own special box with a spotlight shone on it. Depending on the store and location, there may even be guard ropes that restrict access to the jewel. Moreover, there may be a special viewing area for the most prized jewels.   

What this is saying to men is this: Do not ‘rough-handle’ your woman but treat her with a spirit of care and gentleness.

Light-bulb moment: Love waits! If you love her, you will wait for her AND you will not pressure her into making a decision she is not willing to make! You will treat her with a spirit of understanding.

Just like the jewels, shine a light on your woman! Do this by complimenting her often – in public and private – whenever your heart moves you. Do this by taking note and keeping track of those things that you admire about her daily. Be her strength and shield her away from danger!

Oh but how too few men treasure their women today! Men, if you cannot treasure you woman out of a sincere heart of love, then it may very well be that you do not regard her as a pearl of great prize. If this is where you are; if you do not consider her shiny enough to put on display, I want to encourage you NOT to go looking for another oyster! No, every single pearl needs polishing!

Polish her with the balm of love and affection using the glove of God. When you do this, you will find that her beauty comes forth. You will find yourself treating her as a pearl of great prize!

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” – Matthew 1345-46

Food for Thought: Just a we are pearls of great prizes to Jesus, so should a woman be to her man.

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September 30, 2013 · 9:50 pm

What Women Want from Men (Part III)

In the first two parts of this series, we have seen that it is important for a woman to feel secure in her relationship and to have true companionship.

The third thing women want from men is to know she is SIGNIFICANT

Put another way, a woman wants to know that she is valuable and important in the life of her man. She wants to know that she occupies first place in his life (apart from God). She wants to know that those things she considers important are also important to the man in her life.

Take for example anniversaries and birthdays. Should a man forget an anniversary, it communicates to her that he does not hold the occasion important AND in turn communicates to her that he does not hold her important.

Men, she needs to know that she is a significant part of your life. Simple things such as involving her in the decision making process (and truly listening to her) makes her know that she is valued. Letting her know what she brings to your life will go a long way in making her feel loved.  Complimenting her on her new hairstyle shows her that you care about her.

A woman wants to feel significant as a woman

While men and women are equal, we are not the same. God has made the woman different from the man so that she may complement man. This is why the wife is called a ‘helper’ in the bible. Women bring wonderful qualities such as undying and unyielding love, empathy, care, softness, and incredible resilience (just to name a few) to the table.

A woman needs to know that these qualities are significant and appreciated by the man in her life.

Light-bulb moment: Men, if you do not appreciate the natural qualities of a woman, then you are saying that God made a mistake in the way He made her!

Unfortunately, the world has lied to many men and women that many of the qualities women possess make them weak. This is why many women do not feel comfortable in their own skin because they feel that they need to be ‘manly’ and exhibit ‘manly qualities’ to be significant and to be taken seriously.

Light-bulb moment: While a woman is a weaker vessel physically, there is nothing weak about who she is and the qualities that she possesses.  

The key point is this: A woman wants to know that she is valuable because of who she is and NOT because of what she does. She does not want to have to prove her worth to her man by doing what he does.

A woman who does not feel significant will start to compete with the man in one form or the other. If she feels she cannot compete, she either become overly submissive or will become overly combative – always pointing out what is wrong in her man.

Light-bulb moment: If a woman is tearing you down all the time for no reason, it is likely because she feels valueless (her opinion does not count). It is likely because this is the only way she knows to even the playing field.

Men, please do not fall into the trap of trying to get a woman to become like you. After all, we need softness to complement our hardness. After all, every beast needs a beauty. When you show your woman that she is significant, you are validating her femininity and womanhood. This way, she knows that she is a pearl of great prize instead of a pearl that has been cast into a pit

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September 29, 2013 · 9:08 pm

What Women Want from Men (Part II)

The second thing women want is COMPANIONSHIP

Note: Read Part I of this series to discover the first thing women want

Women want conversational companionship

Many women feel lonely despite being in relationships. This loneliness is often expressed as one of the biggest complaints women have when it comes to the men in their lives. They say, ‘He will not speak to me’! Most of the time, this comes as a shocker to many men who feel they are speaking to their women all the time.

What these men do not understand is this: ‘He will not speak to me’ complaint from a woman goes beyond shallow conversation. Women want to have deep, intimate, heart-felt conversations with their partners!

They want to know their partners hopes and dreams and want to share their own hopes and dreams with their partners. They want a man who can bare his soul – a man who can show passion and vulnerability. In a sense, women want a man they can CONNECT with on a deep level.

To women, lack of vulnerability and lack of passion in conversation shows lack of connection and may even evoke feelings that the man does not trust her or care about her. So she feels neglected. She feels that she is going along with the ride but not truly connected to the ride.

Men, women do not want a ‘roommate’ or a ‘housemate’. Women truly want a connection of heart and soul – they want a soul mate. They truly want two to become one.

Men, if a woman lacks this connection, she may try to get involved in your day and your dealings. If she is doing this, it is not because she does not trust you to lead. It is because she simply wants to be involved in your world

Light-bulb moment: Conversational companionship goes a long in ensuring ‘two truly become one’.

Women want physical companionship

I can just see many men jumping for joy just at the mention of physical companionship. While sex is part of what this means ONLY IF married, physical companionship goes much beyond sex.

Physical companionship is all about physical intimacy. In turn, intimacy goes beyond action but touches the emotions and heart behind what is being done.

A little brush of the hand, a knowing smile, a longing stare into each others eyes, or a heart-felt hug all count as physical companionship. In reality, physical companionship is about the man being PRESENT IN THE MOMENT and being SENSITIVE to the emotional needs of a woman in a physical way. For example, physical companionship can even be cutting short a conversation that you sense that your wife does not feel comfortable having with another person. By doing this, she feels protected and loved by you through your action. 

In truth, it is easier to have this physical chemistry when conversational chemistry has been developed. This physical chemistry is the way people speak without speaking!   

Tip for Men

The best way to develop true companionship with your woman is to read the bible with her and to pray with her. The word of God, which naturally deals with the heart, will open up heart issues that both you and your partner can pray about (after allowing the word of God to have the final say on it). The key for this to work is to focus on your own lives. Do not make a mockery of this process by always talking about how the word of God applies to other people.

Light-bulb moment: Vertical companionship with God will always lead to horizontal companionship with your partner.   

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September 28, 2013 · 7:57 pm

What Women Want from Men (Part I)

Men are often clueless when it comes to what women want! The lack of skill in handling women has left many men frustrated in their relationships.  The movie What Women Want highlights this dilemma. In it, ladies man Mel Gibson had absolutely no idea what women really thought about him. He thought he had women figured out but he had no clue!

He had no idea how far off base he was when it came to women until an accident gave him the ability to hear women’s thoughts. But even after this, he did not know what to do what the thoughts he heard for they differed from woman to woman!

The last point brings me to this disclaimer: No one can say they have mastered what women want. To think this would be ignorance at best. Even so, the things that I am about to share is likely to help any man in his relationship. Of course, women will ultimately be the best judge of this.

So, what do women want? The first thing women want is SECURITY

Women want a secure man

Women feel secure with men who are secure in who they are and what they want in life. It brings a sense of stability and security. Indeed, how can a woman be secure that she can be led by a man if the man does not show that he can lead himself?

Nothing fills a woman more with insecurity than a secretly insecure man. It makes the woman feel as if the man is trying to hide something. This in itself makes women feel very uncomfortable.  The discomfort and insecurity that the lack of manly security evokes in women often shows up as the woman wanting to control the relationship. It may also show up as a power struggle in the relationship.

Men, if women are not showing you the respect you want, it is likely because there is something about you she is insecure about.

Light bulb moment: A secure man is one who finds his security in God. A secure man is one who can share his insecurity with his woman.

Women want to feel secure in the relationship   

Honesty is the key for a woman to feel secure in any relationship. The key advice for men is this: Be honest and truthful with her every time and all the time. Do not hide the truth even if you know she will be disappointed with you.

The lack of honesty and truthfulness in a man is a deal breaker for most women. She will think: If he is lying to me about this, I wonder how many other things he is lying about? Once this thought starts to enter into the mind of a woman, it is nigh impossible for her to get rid of them. Conversely, when a man is honest, the woman feels secure that she knows what she has – even if it is not the best thing.

Many women leave relationships not because of what was done but because their men were unable to tell the truth about it. In other words, while what was done may sink your relationship to the bottom, the bottom of truth and honesty can be the bedrock to rebuild the relationship.

Light-bulb moment: A woman who is secure in her relationship will feel free to focus on all that God has called her to be because she does not have to worry about her future. 

Women want to feel secure financially   

Financial security for a woman does not necessarily mean that she wants the man to be the bread winner of the house. It does mean that she wants to be secure in the knowledge that the man can take care of her if the need arises. This is especially true when she starts to bear children.

Many women secretly carry ‘momma guilt’ for leaving their kids and having to go to work. Moreover, many women resent needing to work. They want the option to work but need to know they have the option to stay home if they so choose.

Today, too many women choose to work despite not having to do so because they are insecure in their relationship. This comes across as ‘I do not want to depend on a man’. This saying normally comes from a woman who is fearful and insecure in her relationship or who has been deeply hurt.

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever – 1 Timothy 5:8

Light-bulb moment: Nothing unleashes the full potential of a woman than a secure man who provides financial and relationship security.

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