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You have been there. It’s time to go
home. You are exhausted. You have neither desire nor
the energy to do anything else. But you can’t show
what you accomplished. Yes, for eight hours you were
involved in some activities. Yet there was no
productivity. Soon a routine of activities followed by
exhaustion and burnouts develops. |
Within a short time the youthful energetic
professional who had the potential to impact his or
her world joins the over 75% of employees in
industrial nations who dislike their jobs and end up
just doing the basics to get by. No new ideas or new
challenges or new adventures. Life is just work,
boredom, self-pity and involvement with trivialities
that don’t necessarily require clear purpose.
That is what Zig Ziglar’s explanation of a
processionary caterpillar, in his See You at the Top
book, means to me. The lead caterpillar places its
tail on the head of the second caterpillar, which
places its tail on the head of the third caterpillar.
This pattern goes on and allows the caterpillars to
eat as they move forward. Zig Ziglar says if the
caterpillars are arranged in a circle, with the last
caterpillar placing its tail on the head of the first
one, they go in a circle until they die of hunger even
when there is food at the center of the circle.
The creatures are involved in an activity but not in
productivity! Aimless efforts lead to lost
opportunities, lack of enthusiasm, stress and
cynicism.
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An informative and captivating FREE electronic newsletter
designed to equip you with powerful tools and timely
information to achieve new heights in your professional
and personal life.
Privacy Statement:
Kituku & Associates will not distribute your
address to
anyone in anyway. Period!
WWW.KITUKU.COM
(208) 376-8724 or
(888) 685-1621 |
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How do you avoid suffering from
a personal caterpillar syndrome? |
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Face Reality.
A Kamba proverbs says, “He who doesn’t leave his home
thinks that only his mother knows how to cook.” You limit
your ability to succeed when you don’t learn new ways of
life. If you have kept the same non-visionary associates,
never read new books or attended professional/personal
development workshops and you don’t try new things, you have
developed a “syndrome” only you can break from. New friends,
new knowledge and adventure open opportunities you never
knew existed.
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Analyze your
situation. Why are you unfulfilled? What happened
to your dreams? Are you using your creativity to the
fullest? Is what you are doing the best you can? You can
start the process to better your habits and/or way of life
by honestly analyzing why you are not experiencing
fulfillment.
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Take Time to Think.
The advice I give new college students is to do everything
possible to graduate from school with the ability to think.
It is one thing to have a certificate hanging on the wall
but totally another thing to think. Ability to think allows
you to adjust the application of your skills, knowledge and
career as circumstances change. It provides you the
background for questioning status quo—a crucial element for
growth. It is alarming to have a degree, skills and
knowledge but be stuck in thinking that can only be used in
one way.
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Take Time to Plan.
A few minutes of planning can save you hours, even days of
frustration. Lack of planning results in non-productive
activities, hence wasted time and resources. Go to the store
without a clear idea or a list of what you need. You are
likely to waste time, purchase something you do not need and
feel bad about both. Yet two minutes taken to list what you
want will save you time and resources and eliminate
frustration.
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Ask for Help.
Here is another Kamba wisdom — “One finger cannot kill
lice.” Always know that there is someone with the
knowledge, skills and/or resources that you need to overcome
your challenges and grow. Most people fail to succeed
because of trying to kill their lice alone.
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Small Steps are
Fine. In 1998, a newspaper offered to pay
$10/week for my articles. I called my wife and said, “Honey,
things are looking up. I will be paid weekly for my
writing.” Other newspapers started printing and paying for
the same articles (I give first rights only—meaning my
articles can be printed by whomever I permit). In 2000, a
$10 article led to $13,000 project. Small steps are better
than standing still, when you have a journey ahead of
you—and life is a journey.
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Be in the present.
Yesterday is gone. And tomorrow may never be yours. You have
to learn to be in the present. Develop life purpose that
starts with the tools (skills, knowledge, influence and
material resources) that you have NOW. It is easy to fall
into the trap of looking back to good old times and/or
looking forward to a better tomorrow. However, even in the
good old times, you were probably looking to a better
tomorrow (maybe because you lacked what you thought was
necessary for your dreams). Waiting for tomorrow (after
retirement or when the children are grown or when you get a
new boss) is a gamble. Just know that if you only have 70%
productivity today, you can never do 130% tomorrow to cover
your today’s missing 30%. |
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It is with deep
pleasure I announce the addition of five experts to Kituku &
Associates. Our mission is to continue with our commitment to
top quality professional/personal services and products tailored
for today’s challenging workplace. Each expert has been a part
of our program in one way or another
over the years.
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Julie Levitt,
prolific nationally published author, is highly experienced in
professional writing instruction and development for
international and domestic corporate, private, and governmental
organizations. In addition, she provides training in job search,
career development, professional proofreading and editing
services ...
(read
more)
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Ed Boyce has
blended his experiences and skills as a coach to become an
accomplished motivational speaker. His natural dynamic speaking
ability, coupled with the successes of those he has touched, has
afforded Ed the opportunity to inspire even greater numbers
through public speaking. His message of building a dream,
unwavering belief and perseverance, continue to inspire people
from all walks of life... (read
more)
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Ruth Romero
- Fashion and style have always been important in Ruth’s life.
She has an innate ability to provide beauty, wardrobe and career
advice that reflect a man or woman’s unique strengths and
characteristics. She honed these skills while working in New
York City in the men and women’s fashion industry, as well as
during the many years she traveled the globe as the personal
adviser for numerous Miss USAs and Miss Universes … (read
more)
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Kathy McIntosh
brings her unique, energetic and humorous perspective on life to
every presentation. She combines her knack for interactive and
entertaining presentations with practical, usable tips that help
people improve their personal and professional lives. As
founder/owner of A Well-Placed Word, Kathy works with
individuals and organizations to increase the effectiveness of
their messages by using the right word, every time. She writes
comic mystery fiction and non-fiction … (read
more)
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Gregory Deitchler
is a results-oriented professional and personal growth expert.
He provides tools to organizations, individuals, and families
who want to learn how to tap into internal motivation and
increase productivity with clarity of focus…With his inspiring
background as a cancer survivor and his extensive education he
not only inspires but educates his audiences. In addition to his
private practice, Greg is well known in the adolescent mental
health field for his work designing school based day treatment
programs for at risk/emotionally disturbed youth. He trains
educators and educational officials on the complexity of issues
in adolescent mental health, group dynamics, and team building.
(read
more)
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We have been blessed, since January, with the
opportunity to work with Kaye L. Campbell, founder and
owner of
KNJ Event Support Services LLC of Boise, as the promoter
of Kituku & Associates’ services. |
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Kaye has been instrumental in coordinating our
PR efforts, planning conferences and development of
clients-oriented tools that help clients continue providing
motivational and training opportunities for their employees in
these chaotic times. Ms. Campbell was senior vice president of
the International Festivals & Events Association for the past
seven years, where she managed the association's crucial
relationships with sponsors and others, as well as assisting
with overseeing the
day-to-day operations of the association.
Kaye can be contacted at (208) 514-1985 and
kaye@knjeventsupportservices.com. Visit
www.knjeventsupportservices.com to learn more.
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The purpose of your story for a workplace audience is to improve
the bottom line. Even in those employee appreciation programs
where entertainment may seem the focus, there is an undeniable
expectation of increased productivity after your story is heard.
The three questions to ask yourself when using your story are:
(A) How does the story improve a client’s bottom line?
(B) Can a story have multiple applications? (C) How
can a story be tailored to address a specific client’s needs?
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(A) How does the story improve a client’s bottom line? |
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To make a positive impact on your audiences’
professional and/personal endeavors and generate repeat
engagements, consider the essentials below. If addressed well
within your story, a small positive change in any of these
aspects will create a huge improvement in your client’s bottom
line.
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Your story must inspire people to act now
and be creative with limited resources, especially in these
times of unprecedented uncertainties in workplaces. Your
story must evoke the emotional cord that moves people to
action beyond awareness, to change even when it’s painful,
to let go of the past and believe in and focus on a future
that is not necessarily clear.
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Your clients, just like you, work for
customers. Customers pay salaries. Your story’s goal must be
to help clients improve customer service by providing better
products and/or services, staying close to customers so that
they can monitor their needs and expectations and deliver
better products and/or services than anyone else so that
they won't have to worry about competition.
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Personal accountability/ownership of an
individual’s decisions and actions is a key element often
missing in struggling teams and organizations. Here is where
your story must put an entire organization’s success on the
shoulders of each employee or team player. From the
receptionist to the top officers, each employee must act as
the CEO of his or her decisions and actions—knowing that a
simple mishandling of a situation by a single employee can
bring a great company down.
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Team dynamics is a crucial element that
clients want addressed in your story. Your story has be the
foundation of effective communication, coordination,
collaboration and conflict resolution. It has to point out
that the success of any team, like that of a wolf pack,
depends on individuals’ commitment and contribution, while
the success of an individual depends on the strength of the
team and its ability to function with inherent differences.
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People change when they overcome any form of
challenge. Tailor your story to challenge them to focus on:
opportunities instead of obstacles, what can be achieved as
opposed to why failing is possible, a future they can
possibly achieve instead of a past that has gone to oblivion
and the talents, skills and experiences they already have
instead of those they might lack.
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The ultimate call to action is the
understanding, belief and willingness to be involved in
something bigger than a job/career. When your story inspires
people to think and act beyond self, you have not only
changed lives, you have also changed the world for your
audiences. Their bottom line is never the same again |
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(B) Can a story have multiple applications? |
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A story is like a Bible verse—it has different
applications for different times and different groups. Your
job is to tell your story in a way that your audience receives
it as their own—based on their challenges, expectations and
the world they know or don’t know. If they can’t see how your
story relates to what is going on in their world, your story
is meaningless and in such a case, their world remains
unchanged.
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(C) How can a
story be tailored to address a specific client’s needs?
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There is only one way to make your story
address any of your clients’ needs—your dedication to learn
their challenges, concerns and expectations. Spending the time
to interview 6-12 members of an organization will provide you
enough information to help tailor your story to that
organization’s needs.
The mechanisms of how you tell your story matters. Your
pauses, gestures, vocal variations and all other aspects of
public speaking are necessary. The most important one,
however, is how you care for your audience. The way you
prepare and deliver your story is the barometer your audience
reads on how you care about their concerns and the time they
are investing to listen to you. Make your story their stepping
stone to a rewarding tomorrow.
© By Dr. Vincent Muli Wa Kituku, motivational speaker and
author of Overcoming Buffaloes at Work & in Life
is an expert who works with organizations to increase
productivity through leadership and employee development
programs.
Contact him at
www.overcomingbuffaloes.com or (208) 376-8724
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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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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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Read Dr.
Kituku’s newest articles online at:
www.kituku.com,
Idahopress.com,
Casper Star Tribune
Idahostatesman.com, Argus Observer, Business IQ, Post Register,
Idaho Catholic Register, Idaho Press Tribune, Idaho Senior Citizen
News, and Presentations Magazine.
You can order Dr. Kituku’s books and tapes by any of the following
methods:
Telephone:
Call Toll free 1-888 685 1621 or (208)
376-8724.
Orders are mailed within 24 hours.
(Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted)
Mail order:
Send check or money order to:
KITUKU & ASSOCIATES
P.O. Box 7152
Boise, Idaho 83707.
Electronic Orders:
Order directly from
WWW.KITUKU.COM
while you are here.
Your information is confidential. Orders are mailed within 24 hours
after your information has been processed.
You can also order from
www.Amazon.com
(Note: not all books and tapes are sold at
www.Amazon.com).
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