The Foolishness of Great Ideas

My welcome address at The Patriarch Convention 2021 held in October at American Corner, Calabar, Cross-River State.

Dear reader, 

What has now become, perhaps, the greatest thing my name is attached to wasn’t always what people have come to know it to be.

July 2021. While the rest of the world was coming out of lockdown, I was coming out of a relationship as well. I knew it would end even before it started but I had gotten used to it to let go. It has become convenient, almost bespoke, if you may, and beautifully so. Borrowed items always are. 

In this state of mind, I wanted to get back into the world and by July 2021 I was ready. What would follow were Facebook posts about the mental emancipation of the man. Then a post about men who loved arse. These men I’d frequently refer to as Arsemen. Certain members of a popular cult group in Nigeria are known as axemen. I would like to stress that I’m not a member. I would then make a post about a gathering of these arsemen; basically, a brotherhood built on love for the backside. 

Group photo from The Patriarch Convention 2021

Between July and October 15th, 2021, that idea would metamorphose into what we know today to be The Patriarch Convention, an annual gathering of men from all walks of life to talk about life issues as they affect them. That is the foolishness of great ideas: that they start out to be so ridiculous that they’re mostly trashed. Not until you stay on them anyway. From The Patriarch Convention, The Patriarch Front was born.

Photo excerpts from The Patriarch Convention 2023

Group photo from The Patriarch Convention 2022

The Patriarch Front caters to the mentorship needs of young men and boys while providing men a chance to better their quality of life through healthy, therapeutic interactions and activities. We gave out scholarships in 2023 and sponsored various human development causes as well as society betterment campaigns. The Patriarch Convention has played host to over one hundred (100) men in the last three years without active and conscious promotions.

Again, the foolishness of great ideas. Idea refining is always necessary, and I achieve mine via sharing with other brilliant minds.  And boy, am I blessed with the gift of great minds and active hands! We never truly know what’s possible till we turn up the heat and burn an idea in search of what might remain. Do not be afraid to share your ideas with people, it’s not new anyway. Besides, no one steals their idea hence, let those you share it with see themselves in your idea: what part of them comes alive through the execution of your idea?

In the event you can’t figure this out, go on anyway, most people don’t have the discipline to see things through. They may start but most will never finish. You can check out Rita Gunther McGrath: a professor at Columbia Business School, she focuses on competitive strategy and innovation. (https://ritamcgrath.com/) In all, refine your ideas however best you can. You can develop your idea refining process. If you have any, you can share. I’ll be glad to read and try them. 

I would like to state, however, that not all silly ideas are great ideas because great ideas are silly. Daniel Pink, author of “Drive: The Surprising Truth Behind What Motivates Us,” offers insights into human behavior and the workplace. (https://www.danpink.com/) When you begin the enterprise of refining ideas, you want to refine everything. But don’t fall for that temptation. You don’t have enough resources(time). Hence, refine only those ideas that seem to house your calling. The ideas that are laced with your gifts and talents. I have the gift of gathering people and getting them to do things. Say, I have the grace of assembling the right team to get a task done. I also know I get things done.

So, I ask, how does this serve humanity? I equally ask, how does this serve the greater good? Know this, an idea can serve humanity yet fail to serve the greater good. Great ideas outlive their progenitors. Get to work; your world awaits!

The chief patriarch.