There is a Swahili proverb that says, “Heshima si utumwa” meaning respect is not slavery. My father taught me about respect in an uncommon way.

I was admitted to the University of Nairobi in early September 1981.When I received the admission forms, I noticed that I was required to get a signature from a government officer from my community. The official was to confirm that the admission forms were filled and signed by the right person. It was not a problem for me to get an officer because my father knew the magistrate.

After filling out the forms, my father took me to the magistrate’s office. When permitted to enter his office, I led as my father followed. There were two seats across the table from the magistrate. I took one seat after handing my admission forms to him. My dad faced the magistrate, bowed to him, then proceeded to sit down. We were not inside the courtroom, so I figured there was no need to bow.

The magistrate exchanged brief greetings with my father and went through my forms without looking at me or saying anything. After signing my forms, he handed them to me, again without a word. I thanked him and stood up to leave.

My father, who was sitting near the door, also stood up. But, instead of leaving the office, he turned to me, held my neck and bent it. I got the message. I had to bow. He bowed, too, and we left the office. I was humiliated. I felt angry. I wondered why I didn’t do it before I was forced to. BUT I LEARNED A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON.

Joe Marshall, the retired CEO/President of Idaho Power demonstrated respect in way I can’t describe with words. I was hired as a Riparian Ecologist by Idaho Power in 1992 when Mr. Marshall was the president. Just to put our positions in perspectives, using a chain of command system, a message from either of us would have to go through five steps.

However, out of curiosity and a desire to learn from my elders and leaders, something I have done over the years, I called Joe’s secretary and asked her to set up a lunch meeting with him. The next phone call was from Mr. Marshall himself asking if we could meet at the Red Lion-Downtown. In that lunch hour and another one later, not only did I learn about his background, relationship with his wife and children, but also how they cared for their ailing parents in their sunset days.

When I completed the first draft of the East African Folktales book, I gave Mr. Marshall a copy to read and requested him to make a comment. Two weeks later, he took the pains of bringing it to me from his ninth floor office to mine that was on the first floor.

Bewildered by his presence in my disorganized office, Joe surprised me with his level of comfort. He took a chair and spent a substantial amount of time encouraging me and appreciating my heritage. He mentioned that it took him longer to get back to me because he shared the folktales and their morals with his sons and their families. His last words as he left my messy office were, “Vincent, keep writing. There is so much we can learn from Africa.”
 

• There is no solution for this situation—it’s overwhelming.
• Why change from what we are already doing?
• I am not the manager or CEO, why ask me?
• This is not my business, I just work here.
• No one told me what I was expected to do.
• We don’t have the resources and talents to do that.
• I wish I had more time for my children.
 

One of my childhood memories in my native Kamba community of Kenya, Africa was the process of preparing the bed at night. A source of light was needed. The source of light was made from discarded tin cans. The wick was made from a strip of worn pieces of blanket or clothes. Kerosene was used for fuel.

My mother would say, "Ngwatia nalanie." It means, “Hold it for me so that I can make the bed.” The source of light wasn’t placed on a table or any other structure because huts were made of vegetation materials that could easily burn. Neither could she hold the light with one hand and make the bed with the other. The light would be blown out when shaking the blanket. She needed someone else to hold the source of light. Once the bed was made, people slept on it comfortably.

This basic exercise has for years been a point of reference in many aspects of my professional and personal endeavors. As a leader, parent, customer service representative or whatever title you have, you hold some kind of light that others use to make their “social” beds. Someone will watch you and learn lessons that will either build them up or keep him from reaching their stars.
 

What would you pay for tips on how turn a $2,500 speaking engagement into more than $10,000/day?

Did you know you could increase your speaking income by 33% every year with products that you didn't produce?
 

Speaking is the most fulfilling and financially rewarding career (forgive me speaking cannot be defined as a career or job, it is a calling) that I have known.

When you learn how to inspire, train, and motivate people to achieve their best in whatever endeavor they choose, you don't have to work for another day in your life yet, you get paid what millions can never fathom.
 

Did you know that if you do something that improves the quality of your life—whether professional or personal, you influence and empower others to follow your lead?

Jumping high and forward is an inborn talent for survival of the African impala. The impala is known to jump about ten feet high. This high jump propels the impala to land about thirty feet from the spot where it starts. With this ability of vertical and horizontal jumping, the impala survives and thrives in the carnivore-infested savannas of Africa.

What is amazing is to see one impala jump and as it starts to descend, another impala jump from another part of the herd. Another impala starts to jump as the second one is descending. This process continues until a pursuing lion is disillusioned, frustrated and left behind.

This analogy may, to a large extend apply to the decisions, choices and actions that face daily. Co-workers who are motivated, don’t blame others, provide exceptional customer service and are not procrastinators have impact on others. Leaders who have integrity, lead by example and value the contribution of the people they lead inspires others to want to be like them. Parents who jump—get an education or quit a detrimental habit influence and empower their children to do the same.

Years ago, I wrote that, “Remember, when we “jump”, we may suffer pain or failure. However, it is a tragedy for one to never live up to his potential because he didn’t jump. By not jumping, you may avoid pain or the experience of failure. But you won’t learn, change, or experience self-love and growth. And the pain that you are stuck in your situation and the regret that you did nothing about it when you could is more scathing. It is only by jumping, that we liberate ourselves and others to jump higher and further.”
 

Dr. Vincent Muli Wa Kituku is known as a research-based motivational speaker. He presents motivational keynotes and training programs on leadership, employee motivation, overcoming buffaloes at work (change), customer service and living and working with cultural differences. Vincent is the founder and president of Kituku & Associates, LLC, a business that is dedicated to developing leaders and employees in business and in life.

What has set Dr. Kituku apart is the ability to use his experience in research to evaluate/assess client needs and then tailor his keynotes/training presentation to meet their objectives. Harold G. Delamarter, President/CEO,

Prestige Care Inc. said, "Before the Retreat, Dr. Kituku gained as much information as possible about our company and the industry we are involved in. He made telephone calls to management team members to tailor his seminar very closely to the needs of our employees and the circumstances they face each day in the present economy. Dr. Kituku was so widely received in July, the decision was made to ask him to return to again present to our company in October."

Vincent's clients list includes Cisco Systems, Micron, Hewlett Packard, Genworth Financial, US Fish and Wildlife, US Air Force, Women Council of Realtors and National Association of Mental Health. He has been the motivational speaker for the successful Boise State Football Team since 1998. Dr. Kituku works have been featured by numerous publications including the Presentations Magazine, SkyWest Magazine, National Speakers Association Magazine and many newspapers which publish his weekly columns. Vincent holds the Certified Speaking Professional designation that is earned by fewer than 7% of all speakers worldwide.
 

If results are important to you, then
Dr Vincent Muli Kituku is the speaker/trainer for your group.
Call (208) 376-8724, or email Vincent directly at Vincent@kituku.com

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