Nigerian artist and author Fortune Ileleji has shed light on why sheer intelligence, talent, and hard work often fall short of delivering success, pointing out that true achievement depends heavily on how seamlessly people, ideas, and systems align.
In his new book, The Law of Cohesion, Ileleji examines how relationships between different elements influence success or failure, arguing that even the best individuals and ideas can fall short when they are not effectively aligned.
According to Ileleji, the idea behind the book emerged from questions about why talented people sometimes struggle to build successful organisations, why relationships between people who love one another become dysfunctional, and why intelligent, ambitious and hardworking individuals occasionally fail to achieve their goals.
Through these questions, the author explores cohesion, contradiction and the conditions required for people and institutions to work towards a common goal.
The Law of Cohesion examines the importance of alignment and cooperation in achieving meaningful and sustainable results, arguing that seemingly good elements can fail when they do not work together effectively.
“I became interested in the relationships between the parts. We tend to examine things individually, but a good part does not automatically produce a good whole,” he said. He explained that the Law of Cohesion grew out of his effort to understand what enables different elements to strengthen one another rather than work at cross-purposes.
The book reflects Ileleji’s broader interest in making reality more intelligible by identifying connections that may not be immediately apparent.
He said the same approach informs his work across painting, writing and his observations of business and everyday situations. “Sometimes the problem is not hidden at all. Every piece of information is already there. What is missing is the relationship between the pieces. Once that relationship becomes visible, something that seemed complicated can suddenly become obvious,” he said. Ileleji believes decisions that seem reasonable in isolation can collectively lead people toward lives they never consciously intended to build.
“You can make sensible decisions about your career, relationships, ambitions, money, health and time, yet discover that together they are constructing a life you never consciously chose,” he said. He hopes the book will encourage readers to examine whether the different aspects of their lives support one another and contribute to a coherent whole. “The Law of Cohesion gives you a way to see those relationships and ask whether the different parts of your life are actually strengthening the whole,” he added.
Ileleji’s interest in creative expression dates to childhood, when he watched his father sketch with a pen. He recalls being fascinated by how an image could emerge from a blank surface, transforming an idea into something tangible. Although he does not regard the experience as the sole explanation for his artistic development, he considers it an early introduction to the possibility of giving form to something internal.
What You Should Know
In his new book, The Law of Cohesion, author Fortune Ileleji explores why hardworking and ambitious individuals sometimes struggle to achieve their goals. He notes that having great individual elements is not enough if they do not work together effectively.
- Positive Impact: The book offers a fresh perspective that helps readers evaluate their daily choices, career paths, and personal relationships to build a more harmonious and purposeful life.
- Potential Concerns: Without realizing it, people can make sensible choices in isolation that ultimately lead them into unexpected or dysfunctional life situations due to poor alignment.
