012002

Dr. Vincent Muli Wa Kituku Overcoming Buffaloes in Our Lives WWW.KITUKU.COM 1-888 685-1621 or (208) 376-8724

Informative and captivating FREE electronic newsletter that brings you timely information designed to equip you with powerful tools to achieve new heights in your professional and personal skills both on and off the job.

Issue Number:	Volume 1 No. 1
Publisher:	Dr. Vincent Muli Wa Kituku
Date of Issue:	December 26, 2001
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What Satisfied Subscribers and Those Who Read Dr. Kituku Articles Are Sayings,
“Hope u've been doing fine n healthy, This is RAFI here from Hyderabad/India. I've just begun my career as a professional trainer. I've gone through some your articles and I'm really moved and found myself more inspired N motivated…sir, In future when I can afford I'd definitely like to meet you in person N attend at least one of your sessions…" RAFI ”Again, I just wanted to say thank you for such an inspiring conference yesterday. I can honestly say that I have never gotten so much inspiration and motivation from anyone. I am looking forward to reading the books that I bought and having my husband read them as well. Again, thank you Vincent and I look forward to someday hearing you speak again. Take care.” Diane Garcia, Fredriksen Health Insurance “Thank you so much for your excellent article, "Even chance encounters can change your life," published in The Idaho Statesman. It's very winsome, moving, and compelling.” David Sanford, Vice President of Publishing and Internet Ministries. Luis Palau Evangelistic Association For your upcoming Business conference and training, Martin Luther King, Black History, or customized Programs consider Dr. Vincent Muli Wa Kituku your FIRST CHOICE for keynote presentations, workshops, breakout sessions, seminars or facilitation services during your 2002 program year. Call Vincente at (208) 376-8724, or visit Kituku & Associates website at www.KITUKU.com

IN THIS ISSUE
1. Dr. Kituku’s Commentary: Leaving the Past Behind
2. Top Tips on How to Overcome the Lion’s Claws and Teeth of Your Success
3. Set Attainable Goals
4. Top Tips You Can Use to Stop Procrastination
5. How To Motivate and Inspire Others
6. Points to Ponder: How to Grow and Bear Fruits
7. Stay Tune With Dr. Vincent Muli Wa Kituku
8. Did You Miss It? Dr. Kituku was featured in the Presentations Magazine


Leaving the Past Behind Another year is going to oblivion. Perhaps you are reflecting on what the past year brought you. You had dreams that didn’t materialize. You stumbled in your spiritual walk. Your health might have been a bother. A loved one suddenly passed on. You were downsized by the company you had been loyal to. Your career was made obsolete by technology. Your soul mate left you. Your child started associating with the wrong crowd. Your business didn’t bring the fruits you had anticipated. Then you wonder, what does the New Year hold? How will you do things differently in order to grow spiritually, professionally and socially? How will you ease the emotional pain suffered from a broken relationship or the loss of a loved one? Maanzoni, in literal translation, is a “place of the past.” Kamba people of Kenya are not traditional nomads. However, after using an area for a period of time, a family moved to another area with unused resources for their livestock and family needs. The move might have been initiated by misfortunes like disease, hunger or war with a neighboring tribe. They took some material from Maanzoni with them to construct new huts and structures to protect their cattle a night. They also used the experience acquired while in Maanzaoni to survive and thrive in the new place. The past is our social “Maanzoni.” All our experiences, knowledge and abilities are valuable tools for the future. But, in order to survive and thrive spiritually, professionally and socially in the coming year, one must consciously leave the downfalls of the past behind. Walking into the future with the downfalls of the past as guides is detrimental. It is like rising from your chair with the intention of going outside, but after standing up, you pick up your chair and put it in front on your path to the door. The chair becomes your obstacle and affects how and when you will reach your destination. Time spent reminiscing on past disappointing experiences is time stolen from the present and the future. Time spent looking back at a closed window is time not spent looking for the gates of opportunity that might be open. Time spent observing the clouds of life is time not spent enjoying the rainbow behind the clouds and smelling the flowers that are a byproduct of the clouds. Residing in the past, instead of using it as a reference source, curtails our efforts at enriching our lives and those of our loved ones. The Apostle Paul says, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians (3:13-14). Paul emphasizes the importance of leaving our “spiritual Maanzoni” behind and “pressing on” toward the purpose God created us for. The battles of the ending year might have been tough. Isaiah teaches us to re-group as we face the future. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Top Tips on How to Overcome the Lion’s Claws and Teeth of Your Success What would you do if, before your proposal to marry was approved, you had to kill a lion? Could you search for and overcome a lion with only a spear and a sword? Like many people, I tell my beloved wife if that was the prerequisite, I would probably have remained single. Traditional knowledge has it that for a Masai man to marry, he had to kill a lion. This act was proof of his manhood and ability to protect his future wife. After this act of courage, his future in-laws would give their daughter to this warrior. A wife was one aspect of the social “package of marriage.” In many African cultures, one could own property after marriage. He or she could participate in the decision-making process that oversees the welfare of the entire community. One could be considered and probably elected to leadership status. Perpetuation of the family name was the most significant reason for marriage. With unimpaired vision of life after marriage, a Masai man paid no attention to the claws and gnarling teeth of a 400-lb. lion. The thought of being pounced on was substituted with thoughts of taking the dead lion’s parts to in-laws and being received ceremoniously. In life there are “personal and professional lions” that curtail growth and fulfillment for individuals and social groups. The “lions” face people regardless of economic status, gender, beliefs, ethnic background, or age. They face organizations regardless of their size and longevity. These lions have to be identified and addressed if one or any organization is to up to their potential. Here are Top Tips on to How Overcome the Lion’s Claws and Teeth of Your Success. Vision. Clear vision overshadows inadequacies related to skills, resources and abilities. If vision is lacking people perish (the Bible tells us). Vision is the seed of prosperity, personal or professional. Decision. A firm decision to make your vision a reality gives the universe a go-ahead to equip you with the necessary tools. Action. Act on your decision. Faith without works is dead. Three frogs sat on a branch. One decided to jump. How many were left? If your answer is 2, remember there is a difference between decision and action. Thinking of jumping does not mean the frog jumped. Persistence. Persist with your vision. At times, you will be at the “bottom of the valley” of your dream project. Let go of yesterday’s “lions.” Do not let the “lion’s claws and teeth” of yesterday detour you from your vision. Change in life is inevitable except from a vending machine (Modern wisdom). Beware of vision busters. 6 hours/day watching TV translates into 15 years of your life in front of a tube by the time you turn 60. Remember Nelson Mandela’s words of wisdom. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…Your playing small does not serve the world… As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Excerpted and adopted from Slices of Hope and Inspiration. 1998. By Dr. Vincent Muli Wa Kituku

Set Attainable Goals Dr. Benjamin Mays said, “It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of life lies in not having a goal to reach for. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal. It is a disaster to have no ideal to capture. It is not a disgrace not to reach your stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for…” Common sense that we do not commonly understand is: “Involvement with routine work, to the point that all you do is routine, is a sure blow that kills creativity, planning, and growth.” Dr. Vincent Muli Wa Kituku When we are involved with routine work, day in, day out, it’s easy to get trapped by routines because they are inheritably easier to handle as opposed to the time and efforts needed for creativity, planning and carrying out growth-oriented projects. But each individual today must learn to develop attainable goals that are measurable and with contributions from all parties that will bring the goals into fruition. Steps on How to Set Attainable Goals Agreement and Commitment Define and set goals with others Formulate action plans Before final decision and implementation, consult others Reduce your goals to manageable size Make your goals specific Visualize the end result (how life will be like after your goals are accomplished) KISS-keep It Short and Simple Make your goal measurable Can you or others recognize your results? What date or time will your goals be completed? What's is the cost (hours and/or money)? Start action plans Identify and initiate specific activities that you must do to achieve your goal Identify obstacles you must overcome. Develop and implement solutions Come up with short-time smaller manageable goals.

Top Tips You Can Use to Stop Procrastination Everything, including setting goals and acting on them seems like it can to be done tomorrow. This is procrastination. But you know the relief and thrill of accomplishing something of importance to you. You have renewed inspiration and determination to conquer another task. If it is important to you and others, why wait? Here are top ways to stop waiting for a favorable time: What's your big picture of life, the vision that determines what you do, why, where and how you do it? Without vision there is no focus. Write your vision down…the wise have said that, "The faintest ink is far better than the clearest memory.” Find what motivates you - those projects that make you lose track of time. Whatever you love doing, you can be certain that you will find time do it. Quiet time may be the most important moment. You need this to harmonize your soul, mind and expected actions. Prayer and meditation is a project, when accomplished daily that provides the faith and hope to begin and complete other projects. Check on your belief. If you don't believe in yourself, why should others believe in you? At the end of the day, reflect on these things. What have you accomplished? What didn't get done? Why didn't it get done? If it's important, let it be the first thing to do the next day. Remember 3 minutes of planning may save you thirty minutes of confusion/crisis. Planning helps you engage in productive processes instead of being involved with activities. Learn to live with less than perfect results. If you can't accept imperfection, you may become a victim of procrastination because you want to wait until you have all the resources (time, funds, people) required for 100% returns. Keep personal, spiritual and professional projects in balance. Keep them simple. Don't let your professional goals take away your relationships. Whatever can be done by others while you do what they cannot do, pass it on. Exchange services or products. Ask family members and friends to help before you hire someone. If you have to, hire someone who wants to grow and you can easily measure their productivity. Let someone else know what, when, and how you will execute your plans. Plan to meet regularly and update him or her. “The thing that really keeps people where they are, even though they don’t like it, is never giving up on being perfect. Just begin the work of becoming yourself and see how much you grow.” Dr. Vincent Muli Kituku

To motivate and inspire others, learn how to: Connect people with purpose Build competence Encourage individual ownership Channel efforts toward smart and measurable work Respect the individual Recognize progress and achievement Build a workplace that is rich in trust, fairness and fun

Points to Ponder How to Grow and Bear Fruits For most plants to grow and bear fruits, they must be green. For you grow and be productive in your personal and professional life: Become a lifelong learner Be self-initiating Forget job description, do what needs to be done Learn to Look, Ask and Listen Always have something to live up to Take time to nurture your soul, body and mind Tap the richness of other people as a contributor and team player Learn to turn obstacles to opportunities Plant seeds for your professional and personal future growth NOW

Stay In Tune With Dr. Vincent Muli Wa Kituku, host of “Buffaloes in Our Lives" a TWO hours weekly radio program, aired in the Northwest area on KBOI 670 AM, Saturdays at 7:00 a.m. Read Dr. Kituku’s newest articles in, Zidaho.com, Idahopress.com, Idahostatesman.com, Argusobserver.com, Times-News Magic Valley.

Did You Miss It? Dr. Kituku was featured in the Presentations Magazine, September 2001 Dr. Kituku’s work was included in the same book, Families Can Bounce Back, Compiled by Diana James, with Tim LaHaye, Co-author of Left Behind. Dr. Kituku was recognized by National Youth Storytelling, November 2001 in the area of “Young Tellers” for his Book East African Folktales For All Ages From the Voice of Mukamba (August House publisher, inc). WATCH! WATCH! WATCH February, 2002 Special Issue Bits and Pieces will included Dr. Kituku’s story The Date Is Set: May 23^rd-24^th at Boise Double Tree Riverside Hotel: Dr. Kituku’s Popular Seminar: Thriving in the 21^st Century:How to Bring Success, Balance and Customers into Your Organization. Don’t miss the early bird’s discounts and benefits. For more information visit WWW.KITUKU.COM or call (208) 376-8724