Faith-based NGO Backtobaze held the second edition of the Mindshift Conference on September 16, 2023, at the Nathan Quao Auditorium, (Clossag Hall, Ministries) in Accra - providing participants with a thought-provoking afternoon of self-reflection.

The conference's overarching objective, articulated by Prince Kofi Oyelaran at the start of the event, was to catalyse a profound transformation, steering individuals away from stagnant, constraining, and failure-prone religious mindsets, and guiding them toward dynamic, productive, forward-thinking, and spiritually progressive perspectives.

It sought to offer valuable insights and practical wisdom derived from the Word of God, with a strong emphasis on applying these teachings in the context of everyday life, thus facilitating a journey of seeking understanding and enlightenment.

This year's edition was themed, "Helping You Shape Your Thinking for a Successful Living," which perfectly encapsulated the conference's mission to empower and reshape thinking patterns for a more prosperous and fulfilling life.

The first session of the conference was led by Peak Performance Coach, Dr. Shogo Oyeniyi. He spoke on the topic "Winning in Life with Disruptive Thinking." He emphasised that to succeed, one must become a disruptive thinker because God created us to be disruptors. He described a disruptor as a change agent who should influence every area of life they find themselves.

"Joseph was a disruptor; put him anywhere, and he would emerge on top. In prison, he was in charge of all the other prisoners because he was a solution carrier. There are people who are wired to always see solutions. Joseph became relevant in Egypt because he could solve the problems of Pharaoh, a man who had a dream he did not understand. Joseph had perfected that skill in the back corner, interpreting dreams for his fellow prisoners. He could have looked down on them, but he did not. The reason some Christians are not successful is because they look down on the little they have, always searching for something bigger, forgetting that they need to grow their capacity."

He ended his session on how individuals can win with disruptive thinking, using the acronym “T.H.I.N.K.”

"T - TALENT: Your talent is not your decision; it is your discovery. Many people don't benefit from their talent because they look down on it. Skill is refined talent, and people will pay for your skill, not just your raw talent. Talent without skill is of limited value.

H - HARD WORK: Hard work refines your abilities. You need to work hard before you can work smart. Diligence and effort are essential for success.

I - INSIGHT: It's very important to read books and conduct research to help you acquire the necessary knowledge to excel. Gaining insights from various sources can be a game-changer in your journey toward success. He concluded this with a strong statement “talent without training is trash”.

N - NETWORK: Your associations define your destination. You owe it to yourself to put yourself in the right associations. Building a strong network of like-minded individuals can open up opportunities and support your goals.

K - KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge is not power in itself; applied and relevant knowledge is power. It's not just about what you know but how you apply that knowledge in real-life situations."

The Convener of Backtobaze and the Mindshift Conference, George Babafemi, a strong advocate for business integrity at the marketplace and the Executive Director of eTranzact Ghana Ltd, a leading Fintech in Ghana, led the second session admirably.

He emphasised the crucial significance of financial management, a major ingredient that many Christians are oblivion of in their quest for financial stability. He explained that man’s major assignment after the creation was management of all that God created and that it is only an effective and efficient management that can guarantee increases in whatever we manage – finance, children, career, people, business, characters, etc. 

He further emphasised that our management skills directly influence what we receive in life. He is firmly convinced that God will not entrust growth to anything when there is no one responsible for managing what is available.

"God gives what are to manage, humans are the managers or stewards, but God will not entrust more than what you can effectively manage, not necessarily what you may be fervently praying for."

He also underscored the importance of proactive preparation, emphasising that instead of merely waiting for opportunities, it's crucial to utilise your present moments effectively to adequately prepare for the opportunities ahead. Many Christians pray for what they never prepared for and wonder why their prayers are not being answered.

"Chronos refers to sequential time, while Kairos, on the other hand, is an opportune time. You must prepare for Kairos in Chronos, to be ready for opportunities. God wouldn't necessarily tell you to take certification courses; instead, you recognize your need for them, pay for them, and then you take them." Don’t pray for international exposure when you don’t even have a passport”

Playwright and author Uncle Ebo Whyte provided a comprehensive perspective on achieving success by dissecting it into the acronym S.U.C.C.E.S.S.F.U.L.

"S-SCARED: Success is a sacred responsibility; it comes from sources beyond us. That is why those who are truly successful are humble because they know this truth. There is always an aspect to any real success that nobody can take credit for because it is a sacred trust given to us. Therefore, when God answers all your prayers and you become successful, don't forget this and hold yourself as a steward of what God has given you because it is from him.

U-UNDERSTANDING LIFE: There are a lot of people who are just going through life; they will die without any landmarks, and nobody will remember them. There are a few things you need to understand if you want your life to be full and significant:

i) Life is not easy, and life does not make it easy. Life is not fair; don't expect it to be. So never take what life throws at you personally; it has nothing to do with you; life is just happening.

ii) No matter what you set yourself to do, life will always challenge you and ask how badly you want this. It will challenge you and put you through the mill to see how badly you want this. Today, I am celebrated as Ghana's leading playwright, but my first three commercial plays were failures. You must be willing to pay the cost for success.

C-COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS: When things are going against you, always look at the brighter side. We often think of what is going against us, but we never think of what is going for us. I am telling you this: at any point in time, there is more going for you than against you. Let this energize you to take on life again.

C-COURAGE: Life is only for the courageous. Courage is not the absence of fear but the fact that you do it anyway, despite the fear.

E-ENTHUSIASM: Enthusiasm is power; it makes you unforgettable. You could be doing things right, but if you are not enthusiastic, you will be forgotten. It makes people pay attention to you.

S-SACRIFICE THE NORMAL LIFE: If you want a normal life, don't expect to be successful. If you want to make it in any field, the normal life is not for you. You must choose between a normal and a successful life; you can't eat your cake and have it. You must be ready to pay the price for success.

S-SERVICE: Service makes leaders. Excellent service makes you memorable. In service, your goal should be to deliver satisfaction and exceed expectations. That is the kind of service that matters. Your service will determine how you are valued.

F-FAITH: Faith overcomes all odds. Faith in God, faith in yourself, and faith in life. Faith is fuel to the soul. Faith to believe that there is a hand in our affairs none of us can predict. No matter how wonderful you are, without faith, you are going nowhere.

U-UNIQUENESS: Life has no room for photocopies because when you are a photocopy, you can never make it to the top. How does a photocopy make it to the top? Be comfortable in your uniqueness.

L-LOVE: To lead a successful life, you have got to have love. Love is caring for others; love is your ability to put yourself in the shoes of others. This will make you deliver better service. Taking advantage of your customers is the most stupid thing to do. Make it your target that whoever you do business with should walk away thinking they have received more value than they paid for. That is the only reason the person will come back."

Indeed the second edition of the Mindshift Conference was a profound journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. Participants were empowered to reshape their thinking patterns and embark on a path towards more prosperous and fulfilling lives. From disruptive thinking and financial management to the keys to success, the conference provided a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for a Mindshift required for living an excellent and impactful life.

Notably, the conference recognised and honoured individuals and corporate organizations who have made significant contributions to Backtobaze, presenting them with awards and citations in appreciation of their outstanding dedication to the growth of the movement.