If you think you know this popular city, well, think again!! 1. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport handles one of the highest numbers of aircraft takeoffs and landings in the world, making it one of the busiest aviation hubs on Earth. 2. Chicago is the birthplace of the modern skyscraper—the 1885 Home Insurance Building, widely recognized as the world’s first skyscraper, was built here. 3. Chicago is America’s largest rail and freight hub, where most major U.S. rail networks connect, making it the nation’s logistics capital. 4. Chicago made engineering history by reversing the flow of the Chicago River in 1900 to protect its drinking water—one of the greatest civil engineering feats ever accomplished. 5. Chicago boasts 26 miles (42 km) of uninterrupted public shoreline along Lake Michigan, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world. 6. Chicago is home to more than 100 distinct ethnic communities, making it one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States. 7. The Chicago Park District manages over 600 parks across more than 8,800 acres, making it one of the largest urban park systems in America. 8. If Chicago were its own country, its metropolitan economy would rank among the world’s 25 largest economies, larger than the economies of many nations. 9. More than 180 languages are spoken in Chicago, reflecting one of the richest concentrations of cultures anywhere in North America. 10. From rebuilding after the Great Chicago Fire to pioneering the skyscraper and modern transportation, Chicago has repeatedly turned challenges into world-changing innovation. Well, as for me the Obama presidential center crowns it all. Also, they have one of the finest mayors in the world, @Mayor Brandon Johnson. I have been here more than 10 times over the years and can say that Chicago is more than a city. It is where the skyscraper was born, where a river was reversed, where a president was shaped, where aviation connects the world, and where innovation transformed history.

We often shout, “Thank God it’s Friday!” Yet how often do we wake up on Monday with the same gratitude and excitement? Pause for a moment and think about this: Between last Friday and this Monday, statistically, well over a million people around the world never got the opportunity to see this new week. Sadly, one of my own childhood friends was among them. Life is a gift, not a guarantee. So today, don’t drag yourself into Monday—step into it with gratitude. Let today be fueled by purpose, driven by excellence, and filled with kindness. Be intentional about showing compassion, extending grace, encouraging someone, and leaving every place better than you found it. And remember: Don’t confuse what you do for a living with what you were created to do. Your profession may provide comfort, but your purpose demands your soul. Let’s make this not just a great Monday, but the beginning of a remarkable week, a productive month, and an extraordinary year. 🎓 Grab your FREE course on Greatness, Leadership & Business at: https://www.skool.com/school-of-greatness-8685/about Have a purposeful Monday… because every Monday is another opportunity to become the person you were created to be. — Nosakhare Alex Ihama Author, Welcome to Greatness | Global Strategist | Executive Coach | Professional Speaker | President/CEO, International School of Greatness www.alexihama.com or [email protected] #MondayMotivation #MotivationMonday #PurposeDrivenLife #PurposeOverProfession #SchoolOfGreatness #WelcomeToGreatness #LeadershipMatters #GreatnessWithin #PersonalGrowth #SuccessMindset #LiveWithPurpose #BeTheDifference #InspireOthers #LeadWithPurpose #FaithAndPurpose #TransformationJourney #GlobalLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #AlexIhama #NosakhareAlexIhama #ChooseGreatness

Over the weekend, a young couple invited me to their home after watching my video about the launch of our Punta Cana School of Leadership & Business They welcomed me with one of the finest homemade Dominican meals I’ve ever had -sancocho - a traditional rich, hearty stew made with a variety of meats, root vegetables, plantains, & local seasonings. Then I discovered this painting that was so extraordinary it touched my soul. Watch this video and you will be AMAZED. Are you one of those out there with extraordinary gifts, but trapped in a mundane career? How can I help you to discover, develop, maximize, and globalize your talent, passion and purpose?

Clint Eastwood once said: "Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power." I'd like to add this: Life is like a horse. It is fast, powerful, intelligent, determined, and capable of running off at any moment. The key is not to fear it, but to master it—to appreciate its strength and ride it with elegance, poise, purpose, and grace. Your life will either carry you toward your destiny or drag you away from it. The choice lies in how well you learn to lead it. My name is Nosakhare Alex Ihama, and I have been learning to ride mine since birth. Life has taken me into the valleys many times, but I have always ridden my horse back to the mountaintop. I belong wherever I find myself. I deserve peace as long as I help others find theirs. As I wrote in my book, Welcome to Greatness: “We are wiser than we know, stronger than we think, more beautiful than any mirror can ever reveal, and destined for greatness.” The journey of life continues every single day. Sitting still and wishing is one of the greatest forms of laziness. Dreams without movement remain dreams. Like the horse, life is meant to be ridden. It is time to ride yours gallantly—with courage, poise, grace, brilliance, and unwavering purpose. Make this new week powerful. Because YOU are powerful. If you're ready to invest in your personal and professional growth, gain access to hundreds of transformational courses in leadership, entrepreneurship, sales, wealth creation, and personal development. Register for one of the courses right here!!

Happy July 1st everyone! Today starts the second half of 2026. If you had a fantastic first half, then repeat! If the first half was not what you expected it to be, you have lots of time to course correct. It's not how you start, it's how you finish. Many failures and setbacks are often rooted in how we think and the thought patterns we allow. Listen to the podcast below where I discuss with Dr. Sade Iriah how we can stop those patterns. The Neuroscience of Thriving Through Life's Hard Moments - A Conversation with Dr. Sade Iriah Happy second half of 2026!