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Did you wake up today looking forward to something? Do
you have challenging expectations that make you forget
yesterday’s success and inspire you do your best to
reach new heights? Are you performing whatever you do
at higher level than in the past? Have you turned your
yesterday’s goals to your today’s routine? There is no
substitute for higher expectations for yourself and
the organization you work for.
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In December 22, 2006 I gave Boise State football team
a presentation on the power of unfinished business as
they prepared to play against the heavily favored
Oklahoma Sooners. As usual, I shared a story of a
disturbing reality on what happens when we have no
unfinished business. I adjusted the story in chapter
28 of the
Overcoming Buffaloes at Work & in Life for
professional and personal endeavors.
Here it is: |
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Why people succeed and then don’t remain successful is a
phenomenon that has crossed my mind since my days of youth
in Kangundo, Kenya as I painfully witnessed talented and
successful students fail in exams after spectacular
performance in previous testing.
To be admitted to government high school during my days,
seventh grade students had to complete three exams:
mathematics, English and general paper (this included
geography, history, civics and general sciences). In the
year I passed (I had failed in the previous year), only
about ten students in a class of 120 received passing
grades on the high school admission exam.
My high school class had 120 students who were there on
academic merits. After four years only about 15 students
passed another exam to qualify for the final two years of
high school. Out of the 15 talented students, three of us
went to university after passing an exam that forced our
classmates to be left behind.
There are many parameters one can examine to determine
what happened to the otherwise brilliant after being
successful. Adjustments to living away from our parents,
the freedom of making decisions about one’s life, or the
subjects we studied are some factors that might have
affected how these students thrived. Some students didn’t
have time to study because they were preoccupied with
family matters.
Yet that is what you see with teams, businesses, and
individuals that were once a success story. You see the
efforts, the focus, the exceptional customer service and
the attention paid to details that helped them climb to
the top. You see the fruits when the team, business or an
individual is at the top. Then you see that yesterday’s
success disappear into the unknown with unbelievable
speed. You are then left with one question, “What went
wrong?”
A team, business or an individual without unfinished
business is a finished business—until some serious
re-thinking, re-focusing and re-determining of what
brought success and how to stay successful, is done and
then followed by action.
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Loss of the initial vision, focus and
determination.
Think of the vision you had. How focused were you when you began? Is your
determination the same?
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Relishing the success of the moment for too long.
In my school, this was sad. Some of my fellow students relished their flying
colors in past exams, but took no time to focus and prepare for what was
ahead.
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Not adjusting soon enough for the challenges of
new circumstances.
Today’s world is different from that of our parents, whether in workplaces
or at home. You have to evaluate where you are and what you must do to stay
on top and adapt to the new challenges.
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Assuming that what got you there will keep you
there.
This is the fastest way to fall back faster than you climbed up. Competitors
were also “climbing.” New methods of doing things are constantly being
developed. Be in-tune with what’s new.
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Pride, arrogance and I-know-it-all attitude.
I rest my case. But I must share one observation. It seemed like joining
high school made some students forget that they still belonged to the Kamba
tribe. Some came home, after just three months in a boarding school,
pronouncing Kamba words with the same accent as European missionaries. Their
walking style and their manners, too, had changed. It was hard to watch
these students humbled back to the Kamba way of life by the next exam—when
they failed.
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Forgetting that you have to keep growing to stay
on top. When you don’t grow, you go.
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Inability to develop a new vision that creates
new challenges to overcome, new territories to conquer, and new heights to
attain.
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The fastest way for an achiever to revert to mediocrity in
any endeavor of their calling or profession, is to have no
unfinished business. Competitive edge, continuous growth
and success, are loosely tied to achieving established
goals. The key is to turn yesterday’s goals into today’s
routine. Then make it the platform you need to set goals
that are more challenging, the ones you didn’t think of
yesterday. You must see and set yourself up for a life
beyond today’s goals.
You know where you are. You know how you got there. You
know what is not working. How can you “pass” the next
exam?
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Adapted and used with permission
from
Overcoming Buffaloes at Work & in Life
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- Dwight D. Eisenhower |
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Authority: An effective leader
empowers people by giving them authority that matches the responsibility he
assigns to them. A leader has more power to achieve his goals when the
people he leads have the authority they need to accomplish their
responsibilities.
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Responsibility: People are more
likely to succeed in what they do when their responsibilities are clear. An
effective leader makes sure that people know how their job responsibilities
relate to the goals, objectives and their organization’s vision. This
creates a sense of purpose.
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Training: There is no substitute for
skills and abilities. An effective leader empowers his people by making sure
that they have the tools they need to make failing a non-option.
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Information: When a leader does not
share information, his people create their own (which is not necessarily the
right information). An effective leader provides information that empowers
his people to focus on their responsibilities.
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High Expectations: No one achieves
higher results with low expectations. An effective leader sets high
expectations that challenge and inspire people to reach their full
potential. High expectations unchain people from their self imposed
limitations, thus discovering productivity assets they never knew they had.
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Feedback: One of the pitfalls of the
traditional teacher-parent conferences is that they occur once a semester,
sometimes too late to rectify a situation. An effective leader provides
continuous feedback on performance. People are more likely to focus on one
or two areas they need to improve in. Feedbacks allow a leader an
opportunity to counsel, challenge and inspire people to grow.
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Recognition: Recognition is not only
a self-confidence booster, it is also a motivator. In Toastmasters Club
meetings, winning members are given ribbons or something each week. An
effective leader recognizes the performance of his people constantly.
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Trust: Trust is what people need to
believe in themselves. An effective leader creates trust so that his people
achieve success with or without his presence.
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Permission to take risks: Most people
would exceed expectations if only they could take risks. It is important for
a leader to empower his people to take risks without fear of retribution if
they fail.
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Respect: Treating people with dignity
and respect inspires them to reach new heights of productivity, focus and
appreciation. A leader who inspires the team can expect top performance any
time.
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Example: That’s it.
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BONUS:
Storytelling: All known effective
teachers, leaders and coaches and preachers were/are great storytellers.
They connect the human mind and soul with stories that creates ownership of
organization/community’s vision at individual level. When story achieves its
goal, results tell the rest of the story.
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Bring colleagues and save more! Space is limited.
Registration will be closed immediately space is filled.
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Guest Keynote speaker: |
Ian Johnson,
Former Star Running Back, BSU Football
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Instructor: |
Dr. Vincent Muli
Kituku, author and international speaker
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Other Speakers: |
Dale Dixon,
AlejAndro Anastasio; Kathy McIntosh and Robert
Detwiler
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WHEN: |
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May 10th, 2011 at 8:00
a.m-1:30 p.m. |
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Were: |
Courtyard by Marriot, Meridian
1789 South Eagle Road, Meridian, ID 83642 |
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The Future is here but there is a problem. It won’t last as we know it. Are you
ready? Are the people who drive your organization’s bottom line equipped with
the mental attitude needed in chaotic times? This seminar will provide you the
tools to not only survive an unpredictable workplace, but also to thrive as the
CEO of your life (you can’t afford to play a supporting role in your own life),
create the work/life balance you need to grow and live a life with no regrets.
Dr. Kituku's work and life strategies help people bring balance back to their
lives. They learn how to develop and leverage a personal vision that takes their
work performance to new heights and also discover important strategies for
creating an extraordinary quality of life.
Here is a sample of some of the key tools you will learn in this seminar and use
immediately in major aspects of your work and life:
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What is wrong with yesterday’s victories and how
you can
make them count
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9 actions you need as the CEO of all you do
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Instant ways to discover your strengths and
priorities
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How to increase your productivity, stay
motivated and focused
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5 proven way to overcome obstacles and turn
adversities
into opportunities
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7 must know strategies of balancing work and life
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Involvements that give you more than a
paycheck
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BONUS:
All attendees will
receive a FREE workbook ($39 value) with strategies
for success beyond what is covered in the seminar, a
poster of the Top 45 Must Know Life Lessons for Top
Achievers (priceless),
and refreshments.
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ACT NOW: |
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$89.00 |
When you register BEFORE
April 23rd |
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$159.00 |
When you register AFTER
April 23rd |
For group discounts:
$79/person in groups of 3 or 4 if paid
by April 23rd and $69/person in groups of 5 or more if paid
by April 23rd).
Please call our office at (208) 376-8724 for
special discounts that are available for non-profit
organizations.* |
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Note: Kituku &
Associates with provide lunch.
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To register and for more information: |
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WHEN: |
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May 26th -
5:30 p.m. -
9:00 p.m.
(Thursday) |
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May 27th -
5:00 p.m. -
9:00 p.m.
(Friday) |
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May 28th -
8:00 a.m. 3:30 p.m.
(Saturday) |
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Were: |
Towneplace Suites by Marriott
1415 S. Eagle Road
Meridian, ID |
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 If
I went back to college again, I’d concentrate on two
areas: learning to write and to speak before an audience.
Nothing in life is more important than the ability to
communicate effectively.
- Gerald R. Ford. U.S. President. |
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To register and for more information: |
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A business man was asked the secret of his success
by one aspiring young entrepreneur. He said, “Jump
at the moment you have an opportunity.” The
youngster then asked him, “How can I know when
the opportunity comes?” The sage replied him, “It’s
not possible. That is why you must keep jumping so
that when it comes, it finds you ready for it.” |
My mother used to tell me, “In life, opportunities knock, but
sometimes they knock silently.” Years ago I read a story of
how two men, Arthur and Walter, who were close friends took a
ride through acres of orange trees to explore an undeveloped
piece of land about twenty-five miles from the city. Walter
wanted to build on the land and he invited Arthur to go with him
to look the property over. He explained to Arthur what he
planned on the site, and asked him to buy part of the land
because the project would require more money than he, Walter,
could afford. “I want you to have first chance at this
surrounding acreage,” he told Arthur. “In five years it will
increase in value several hundred times.”
Arthur thought Walter’s dream was too big, it had no basis. He
talked about tight economic situation and said he would think
about it another time. Walter explained that “another time”
would be too late, but Arthur declined. Thus Art Linkletter
missed the opportunity of owning the land, now adorned with
swank hotels and world-class convention center surrounding what
we know today as Disneyland. It was a silent opportunity and
Walt Disney wanted his friend to be the beneficiary.
Arthur was not the last first or last person to miss a great
opportunity. Look at your passed. Sometimes an opportunity is
disguised as work or a little sacrifice. I guess you and I have
to keep jumping.
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Native of Kenya, Africa, and resident of Idaho since
1992, Vincent has been a featured speaker and
trainer at numerous Real Estate conferences and
training programs. An award winning speaker and
writer, he is one of the less than 7% of all
professional speakers to earn a CSP (Certified
Speaking Professional), the highest award for
professional speakers. Dr. Kituku has worked with
championship sports teams and trained leaders on how
to inspire productivity all the time. What sets
Vincent apart is his ability to weave life
experiences in Africa with corporate America and
culture in providing solutions for personal and
professional growth.
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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.
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