The Masterpiece Interview

“Money Is Everything in the World Now, Although Some Won’t Agree With Me” ~ Emmanuel A. Anderson

There was nothing like love for me in the house.

Hello and welcome everyone to The Masterpiece Interview.

Today we have Emmanuel A. Anderson with us. Emmanuel is a writer who loves to explore the arena of self-improvement. As his early life was full of struggles, he is now committed to helping other people find their life purpose and happiness. Today, we will talk about Emmanuel’s incredible journey of life in detail.

So, let’s talk to him right away.

We are very happy to have you with us. How are you doing?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: I’m doing wonderful. Thanks.

Emmanuel, first tell us where are you living right now? And what do you do for a living?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: I’m in Spain right now. It’s my fourth year here. And I work in the hospitality industry as a Chef.

As we know that due to the pandemic tourism and hospitality industry got affected badly, what’s the situation in Spain?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: Well, as you said, over here in Spain, it’s been the same but the industry is bouncing back as everything is been controlled and unlike last year, things are a bit ok now.

That’s great news. Now, if we ask you to introduce yourself to our readers, what will you say about yourself. Who is Emmanual A. Anderson?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: That’s a great question! Well, whenever I’m asked that question, what I tell people is I’m a redeemer. I came to the world to redeem people. And my reason is that as a child growing up, I didn’t have anyone to teach the way to this life. I didn’t have any direction and life was always a struggle for me. So, discovering what this life is all about through my struggles and realizing why most people are also suffering, having no idea why they are here, I’ve made it my assignment to help people discover themselves and why they are here on the planet to have meaningful experiences while here.

That’s great and a bit ambitious too. So, tell us about your struggle that made you decide to become a redeemer. When did that start?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: Well, it started say 3 years ago, after I cross the Mediterranean sea from Africa to Europe. At the time, I had been so fed up with life. I didn’t succeed at anything I set my mind to. Life was a struggle. And it’s all because I didn’t know who I was and why I was on the planet. So, been in Spain for some time and securing myself a legal document to reside in the country, I asked myself the question; what’s next for my life? I have been struggling all my life and now I’m in Europe. What do I do to take my life to the next level?

While I was looking for an answer to my question, I came across a youtube audio by Les Brown and Dr. Myles Munroe. In that audio, they talked about life and success and how if one wants to be successful in life, he has to discover himself and what he wants and works to get it. Listening to that audio for some time, I realized that the reason for my failure and struggle in life was because I didn’t know myself and the right thing to pursue. I also realized that most people like myself are struggling in life because they have no idea about who they are. So, I decided if that’s the case, then I’m going to dedicate the rest of my life to help people discover themselves to overcome struggles and have beautiful lives. This is how I decided to become a redeemer.

That’s lovely. It suggests that you went through a very tough time during your early years in your life. Can you tell us about how was your childhood, your parents and the country you belong to?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: I come from Ghana, West- Africa. My parents were fishermen and fishmongers. In Africa, when we say someone is a fisherman or a fishmonger, it means they are extremely poor people. Unlike Europe for example, where when we say, someone is a fisherman, they are rich because of the technologies they use for fishing and they do the fishing on a corporate scale, it’s never like that in Africa.

I grew up with an auntie because, during my formative years in school, a teacher suggested I was a brilliant pupil and it would be best if my mother took me to the city for a better education than being in the little town. So, my mother took me to her sister’s house in the city. And what was to be a great experience for me turned out to be a horrible one. My auntie didn’t give me the care I needed as a child. She abused me all the time, used me to do her petty trade, selling broom, soap to sachet water, etc. all the time.

That experience affected my academic life, leading me to fail in my basic school exam to the high school. And not being able to attend a better high school because I didn’t qualify.

My mum took me back to the little town where she was and found me a school over there. But, life there also became like hell because the man she had gotten married to didn’t love me as a stepchild. There was nothing like love for me in the house, especially when my mum wasn’t around. It’s also affected my studies, which led me to fail. And failing at the final exams, which meant, I couldn’t continue to the university, life became terrible for me.

That was when I started using drugs and became a drug addict. Thus my struggle in life started.

May we know what happened to your father?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: Nothing happened to him. He was a Muslim and my mum was a Christian. So, their families didn’t allow them to marry. However, he abandoned me when I was growing up. It’s because he didn’t want me as a child. He was struggling with life and by that, he disappeared.

We see that you had almost no one to love you that time. Is that the sole reason you got addicted to drugs? Did you feel so lonely and neglected?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: Absolutely. Because at the time, the only place I could find love was in the street. Hanging with other boys whose stories were just like mine. Most of them were coming from broken homes, had their parents abandoned them, etc.

So, in those times, hanging with kids like those was fun. Drugs and alcohol were everywhere and being a child without any idea about those things and it’s what you saw everyone doing every day, you would do it, too. And that was how the drug life started with me.

In which grade you were reading that time?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: In Ghana, unlike other countries, there’s nothing grade. It’s the basic school, high school, and the university. At the time, I was in high school.

Can you share your age when you became addicted to drugs? Just to get an idea of how young you were at that time.

Emmanuel A. Anderson: I was 17.

That’s a very young age. Then what happened? How many years did you continue to hang out with your guys and drugs?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: That’s close to 10 years — using and selling until one day someone called me and said I have a different life than the one I was living and needed to go back to school. So I followed the advice and went to a private school to pursue Journalism and Media Studies. That was where the idea of putting my life back started.

10 years is a long time. It’s great that someone helped you get back your life on track. Anyway, we are curious — what type of drug business you were involved in?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: I was selling weed. Both on a large scale and small scale. More or less like a supplier.

Then, one day someone told you that you have a different life and you left all that? I mean how did he/she motivate you?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: Yeah! The thing was, I had a space where I was selling. And to identify myself from other sellers at the corner where we were selling, I used to offer entertainment. Most of the people who were coming to buy from were students from a tertiary institution in the city. This time, I was in the city where I grew up with my auntie. And Although I failed my exams and didn’t bother to resit for it or continue my education, I was intellectually good. So, most of the students from the tertiary institution who came to my corner to buy from me liked me. We always had discussions. And that was how the one who inspired came into the picture.

So, the obvious question — who inspired you to come back to the track. Your near ones or just a random person? We are actually curious about the person who helped you transform your life. Is it possible for you to share about that person a little more?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: He was a random person. He was schooling at the university at that time. Though he used to smoke, I believe he didn’t like engaging in that act much. And the reason I’m saying he didn’t like the act much is — because he was, all the time, telling me — even though we are all smoking and living a street life — that some of us are meant for something great in this life and we must not leave that to chance. He was insisting and always telling me to go back to school.

That’s really great. He was indeed a man with a good heart. Anyway, how was your Journalism and Media Studies journey? Did you do well in the study?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: The school was actually an affiliate body to the institute of commercial management in the UK. At that time, I went to that school, the story I heard was that most of the students who went there to study journalism passed with average grades due to the difficult nature of the UK exams, and it went on for years. But I was the only student who broke that paradigm. I passed with flying colors. It’s all because this time around, I was extremely hungry to pass in order to realize my dream of practicing radio journalism.

Brilliant! You worked hard for that, no doubt. Then after finishing your study, what did you do? Tried to get a job?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: I joined the newsroom of a radio station to work for close to two years. But it didn’t start right away. I stayed home for over a year before getting the opportunity to join the radio station. And when I joined them, I wasn’t been paid. I worked for free until later, I had a job contract to work with them.

But after some time, new management took over the station and some of us were laid off because the station's broadcasting style was changed and they were in crisis too, financially.

That was when I became fed up and decided to travel across the Saharan desert to cross the Mediterranean sea to Europe.

That was indeed a tough time in your life. You chose to study hard leaving your old addict life, but later you found it difficult to get a good job. Now tell us with what expectation have you decided to travel to Europe?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: Yeah! Because I couldn’t cope with the struggle anymore. So, I wanted to turn my life around. That was the expectation.

For the journey, I will say it was a tough one. One which when you start there’s no turning back. It is either you survive or die due to the risk and danger involved. I can’t go much into the detail because it’s a long story on its own. I did it via Libya at the time of their political uprising to oust their dictator, Gaddafi. So, you imagine it for yourself…It’s was a deadly journey.

My goodness! It was indeed a very risky endeavor. We know while crossing the Mediterranean, many boats get sunk and people die, even they die on boats because of hunger and seasickness. We can imagine the hardship you went through.

Emmanuel A. Anderson: Yeah! I’m glad you know about it.

How many days the journey had taken and in which country you arrived first?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: It took me a month and that was by grace because per people’s story and what they go through, I was fortunate.

I first landed in Italy but upon getting there what I saw hurt me. I also didn’t like the idea of a refugee status conferred on me. So, I left for Spain.

Now, what is your status in Spain? Were you offered citizenship?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: No! I haven’t been offered citizenship but I’m not considered a refugee. I’m a resident. And I could apply for citizenship later.

That’s great to know. We see that you suffered a lot throughout your entire life and risked your own life as well at the time of your deadly journey from Africa to Europe. Now, when you look back, how do you feel? Does all that seem like a bad dream or you still feel that deep pain inside?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: No! And thanks to personal development. It’s shaped my mindset and personality in general. I don’t feel any pain and I’m thankful for all of it. And if I’m asked what I will do if I go back in time, I will say I won’t change anything because those experiences have molded and made me the person I am today. So, I’m grateful for it.

You are a wonderful man, Emmanuel. And we are curious about one thing. We have heard a lot of stories about racism in Europe. Did you ever experience anything like that with yourself? Or, it’s common and you have become used to it?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: It’s common and I’m used to it. The thing is — you will feel bad about yourself when you don’t know who you are. l know who l am now, so racism isn’t a big deal for me. Although it’s a problem.

That’s a great way to put it. So, how many months/days it took for you to settle down in Spain? Share your first few years’ experiences in Spain. Did you feel alone in a foreign land, or you got help from others like you?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: God stood in for me. I met some incredible people who helped me secure my stay here. So, I didn’t feel lonely. It’s been great with me right from day one although life sometimes gets crazy.

That’s lovely. You deserved it for sure. Anyway, give us an idea about your daily life. How is your day look like from morning to evening? And when writing has become a part of you too?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: Well, it used to be writing or reading first thing in the morning. Then I exercise, retrain my brain, listen to podcasts and meditate.

But with the pandemic setting in and our lives economically getting messed up in one way or the other and we needed to adjust ourselves. I needed to come up with a plan to move from surviving (that’s working at a job and making a living) to thriving (that’s creating a business to make an income), where I wouldn’t have to work at a job to focus on my writing and I will be able to work on myself to start my assignment in life, which is to help people discover themselves why they are here.

So, I have put everything I have set my mind on and working at a job to raise my start-up capital. By that, I don’t go by my routine anymore. I wake up at dawn and go to work right away. No routine, nothing. Just hustling gorgeous now and God is doing good. I hope, by summer, I will be done to come back to myself again.

And for writing — it started last year when I started personal development.

That is the time you started writing on Medium?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: Yeah. With no idea how to write. So, it’s through Medium I got to know how to write and still learning.

You are doing great, no worries.

Now, we want to ask you more about your life assignment. You said that you want to help people realize their life purposes. Do you think we all have a common purpose on earth, or each individual has his/her own purpose in life? What is your take on that?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: We don’t have a common purpose. Each and every one of us and our assignment in life is different. Just as our natural gifts are different, the same is our purpose.

When you discover your gift, you’ll discover your purpose. And when you discover your purpose, you will discover your gift. The two are in line with each other.

So, what do you think is your ‘gift’? Can you tell us something about it?

Emmanuel A. Anderson: I’m gifted in speaking to turn lives around. I’m good with music but I couldn’t do it over the years because of drugs. For now, speaking is what am taking on and when I have fulfilled that assignment and there is time, I will do the music. That purpose is the reason I am writing as well. I fact, I have started work on my first book.

That’s great. We believe that you have so much to offer as you experienced a lot in life. We wish you all the best. Now, let’s ask you some quick questions.

How happy you are with life now, despite all the tough years you went through? Emmanuel A. Anderson: I’m always happy irrespective of my tough years and the reason is that l have learned to happy even when I’m lonely. So I am really happy especially now that I have discovered myself and am getting my life back on track.

Name a few of your favorite writers Emmanuel A. Anderson: First, I will say Dr. Myles Munroe. May his soul rest in peace. He changed my life. After reading some of his books, I loved his message. Malcolm Gladwell is another one and I love his works due to the research he puts behind them. Then I will say, Robert Greene. I love his works too.

Name 3 of your favorite books. Emmanuel A. Anderson: The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday, and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.

Tell us about a few of your weaknesses. Emmanuel A. Anderson: I care enough for people even when they don’t care about me. I give more than I am supposed to and put in my all for people even when they don’t do the same for me.

What characteristics of yours do you want to change? Emmanuel A. Anderson: Stop caring about people who don’t care about me and over humility. These characteristics always go against me.

Tell us your perception of money Emmanuel A. Anderson: Money is everything in the world now, although some won’t agree with me. But trust me, without it, you cannot do anything. So it’s a big deal.

What you dislike the most about Spain? Emmanuel A. Anderson: I don’t find them ambitious enough. They are lazy people.

If you are in a situation where you are allowed to talk to just one person, who will that person be? Emmanuel A. Anderson: My mum. The reason? She’s been there for me all the time.

What does love mean to you? Emmanuel A. Anderson: Everything. It’s the light that always brightens the dark.

What is your favorite food? Emmanuel A. Anderson: Salad and chicken.

Favorite color? Emmanuel A. Anderson: White

Are you a friendly person? Emmanuel A. Anderson: I am more than friendly. In fact, I am able to survive everywhere I go because of my friendly nature.

What do you do when you feel stressed? Emmanuel A. Anderson: Sleep. And by the time I wake up, I feel okay. Are you are a religious person? Emmanuel A. Anderson: No! Spiritual actually. What is your biggest regret in life? Emmanuel A. Anderson: Not been there for my grandma when I needed to, at the time she was sick and dying. What characteristics do you love to see in a woman? Emmanuel A. Anderson: Hardworking and industrious, respectful and honest. Do you believe in luck? Emmanuel A. Anderson: Well, I don’t call it luck. I call it favor. It exists and I believe in it.

Okay, That’s all. Thank you, Emmanuel. You are such a wonderful person with amazing stories. We wish you all the very best for your coming days.

Emmanuel A. Anderson: Thanks for the opportunity.

Dear readers, We hope you enjoyed the conversation with Emmanuel A. Anderson. You may read his writings by visiting his Medium profile.

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