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Issue Number: Volume VI. No. 9
Publisher: Kituku & Associates
Date of Issue: September 2007. © 2007—Overcoming Buffaloes in Our Lives.
All Rights Reserved. |
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. |
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WWW.KITUKU.COM (208) 376-8724 or
(888) 685-1621 |
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My mother gave me a small plot to garden when I was ten—long
before she bought me my first underwear and shoes. It was mine
to cultivate, plant and care for my crops before harvesting
them. Sugarcane was my crop of choice. I could harvest one at
a time without asking for my parent’s permission.
At that tender age, I discovered a source of tranquility and
moments for creative thinking that are rarely experienced in
our fast paced world. Up to 1985, I gardened whenever schools
were closed. What many consider manual labor was an
interconnection of mental, physical, and spiritual aspects
that always left a sense of significance words cannot
describe.
That interconnection was interrupted when I left Kenya for
graduate studies in Wyoming early 1986. Ten years later, I was
out school and had the time to till my backyard in Eagle,
Idaho in the summer of 1995. It was something beautiful.
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Once again, the old time stories my mother
taught me as we gardened re-surfaced with the same
meaningfulness. This was the summer I decided to teach
African Folktales at Boise State University and wrote my
first book, Wasya Wa Mukamba: The Voice of Mukamba-African
Motivational Folktales for All Ages (visit
www.kituku.com). |
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All the years of schooling, with emphasis on science subjects,
had not erased the thrill that comes with helping a seed live
to be a plant when planted and cared for. Little did I know
gardening would be my classroom for parenting lessons and the
incubation site for many speeches and workshops in addition to
inspiring several other books.
Gardening has tips that can be applied in leadership
strategies, parenting and spiritual issues. Here are some
lessons for leaders (please note that if you are a parent, you
are a leader):
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Prepare the ground.
Unless the ground is cultivated, rocks
and unwanted plants
eliminated, your harvest may not
be as it could be. The seeds many never have a chance
of surviving. Employees need an environment
that is
prepared and to be nurtured and challenged for
professional, personal and/or mental growth. Sometimes
gardens are prepared months before the onset of the
planting season. You never go wrong by learning what
you need to know about leadership skills before you
are in position of leadership.
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Plant early in the season.
Midseason planting may or may not yield what you
expect. You
need to stipulate your expectations from
the onset of employer-employee relationship—your
organization’s mission, core values and
the role of
the employee in the overall success of everyone. Don’t
wait until things go for you to teach employees their
responsibilities. You can only straighten a piece of
wood when it’s green. When it’s
dry, you may break it
when you try to straighten it.
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Know the landscape of your garden.
Even with a small piece of garden you would be
surprised by how different parts are better for
different crops. A tomato plant can succumb due to
excess water or an attack from insects while the
next
plant is thriving. Keep leading, whether all is well
or not.
Different employees, like children from the
same father and mother, have different requirements
and perspectives about life—hence productivity.
Knowing the differences helps in presenting them with
tools that prepare them to use their uniqueness.
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When plants are not doing well, don’t blame them.
You want to find out whether they lack water or manure
or if there
are worms and/or insects. Is the problem
affecting all plants or just
few plants of the same
species? And in what side of the garden is
the
problem? When employees are not doing well, you want
to know whether it’s something you can control. Is it
the lack of a two-way flow of information? Are there
aspects that are due to their out-of work activities
that are interfering with their at work
responsibilities? Most of the time, the employee is
not the problem…the issue of concern is.
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Prepare for the unexpected.
Farmers have done their best only to see locusts,
worms, drought
or others natural disturbances bring
their labor to nothing. Today’s employees are faced
with a myriad of unexpected challenges,
constant
change, stiff competition and attractive reasons to be
self-employed. Even well paid employees leave for what
seems promising for the life they envision.
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Forgive yourself.
A farmer must learn to leave past disappointments
behind in order to prepare his garden for future
planting and, hopefully harvest. When mistakes happen,
you cannot blame yourself forever. There is a tomorrow
that needs your renewed hope.
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Learn from others.
Farmers exchange valuable information including best
planting times
of the season, best crops for certain
areas and weeding strategies. Other leaders might be
your best source of practical tips on how to address
some concerns about your employees.
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Caution: Plants
can’t explain their concerns and can’t talk back either. |
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How to Grow and Bear Fruits |
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For most
plants to grow and bear fruits, they
must be green.
For you grow and be productive in your personal and
professional life: |
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Make a conscious decision to be a
lifelong learner |
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Never wait to do what is good--be
self-initiating |
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Don’t limit your potential because
of job description |
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Ask questions and listen to
understand |
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Grow spiritually, mentally and
physically on a daily basis |
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What, why and when to use props and
other visuals for maximum presentation impact |
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Know the solutions to your
challenges are with other people-network constantly |
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Be an expert in turning obstacles into opportunities
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Now is the time to plant seeds for your professional and
personal future growth
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We deeply appreciate the following organizations for providing us the
opportunity to serve them in during the first part of 2007:
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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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“…The
lessons that you spoke of are priceless when it
comes to building a championship team. As
veterans in this business we know that championships
are not won by athletic ability and schemes alone,
having the correct state of mind is what separates
individuals from the crowd; we feel you have
helped us with that edge…”
Chris Petersen,
Head Football Coach, Boise State University
(note Dr. Kituku has been BSU’s football
motivational speaker since
1998 and the school’s Alumni selected him the 2003
Homecoming
Grand Marshal).
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“ Hi my
name is Jordan… and you have been a big inspiration
to me and a big influence in my life since I first
heard you speak when I was a little girl. I have
heard you speak several times over the years and
your word of inspiration have stayed with me all the
years …Thank you.”
Jordan
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“ What a
powerful two-day Seminar! You are amazing and
one of those "minute miracles" that has happened to
me. Once again my spirit was filled. You give so
much of yourself and it is felt by those who come
within the reach of your voice. You are one of my
life's precious gifts! After being in your company,
you can rest assured, I will never be the same. The
speakers that you were so blessed to gather for our
seminar are magnificent. The messages were so
timely, inspiring and powerful for all of us who
were present and fortunate to hear. The two days
were miraculous … My continued best wishes.”
Ruth
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Just think of it. What comes to mind when you think of your
job? Do think of it as an activity you are involved in from
8am-5pm, Monday to Friday that pays your bills? Do you see
your involvement in that job as a means for you to accomplish
a personal purpose for which you think or know you are making
a difference? Or would you rather be doing something else?
After the end of the day, after you have been involved for
hours in what you may call your job, what kind of thoughts
does your mind entertain? Do you feel a sense of
accomplishment and can't wait to be back or you are glad the
day is over?
I have been astonished, since 1997 when I started interviewing
people before my presentations, by how some professionals,
leaders and business owners have redefined what we call jobs
and work-related success. These people have factored a
critical element in their jobs or success in what they do—they
understand how, at the end of the day, another individual's
life is made better by their involvement.
They rarely see what they do as just a job, but a mission.
Success for them in not based on the material returns for
their involvement, but the fulfillment that is only
experienced when one is consciously committed to making a
difference.
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What I have observed over the years is
that the people who see their jobs as a personal mission
generally have a better sense of belonging, create great
work-related relationships, don't limit their contribution
to a job description, own their decisions and actions and
thus receive more than a paycheck from a job. |
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Here are some responses from individuals who see their jobs as
a means to help others:
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The late Paul Reynolds, was a successful businessman
(owned and operated a funeral home in Twin Falls),
who became a dear friend. Just before he died in
March 2003, I asked him what he thought made him
successful. His response was, "Think
of the help-line first as you serve people and the
bottom-line will not be a problem."
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I asked a man, who worked for Community Partnership
in Boise, what he considered a successful day at
work as I was preparing to keynote address for a
conference organized by his organization. "When
I have taught an adult the difference between a
quarter and a dime" was his response. He
worked with adults with mental and physical
developmental challenges.
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Dr. Mark Smith of Smileworks is well known for his
natural smile and genuine love for people. Before
speaking at the annual conference of Idaho Dentists,
I asked him if there was a piece of wisdom he had
learned from his years of dental work. Without
hesitation, he said, "We
should never forget that the teeth we work on are
attached to people. They have families, plans,
challenges and hope—learn their story."
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A lady, a college graduate with an accounting
degree, is a school bus driver in Kent School
District, Washington. I was surprised as to why an
accountant would rather settle for dealing with the
challenges, less pay, and dealing with tough road
conditions, of driving school buses. "When
you drive young people to school, you are preparing
the future. I am happy to be the first and the last
person from the school district who they come to
contact with."
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In the same school district I interviewed a man in
the maintenance department (what other places call
custodian), who called his place of work, "My
building." He was one of the most
articulate individuals I have ever spoken to with an
unbelievable sense of pride for his contribution.
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One of the Vice Presidents of Williams Northwest
Pipeline told me that they don't look at what they
do as selling gas but “providing
people with means of survival.” Think of
life without heating systems in winter or cooling in
summer. What about life without cooking gas?
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The question then is do you have a job or a mission? How do
you define your work-related success?
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Suzi Boyle
(formerly with American Home Mortgage) |
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Dwayne Speegle
Vice President
6220 N. Discovery Way
Ste 100
Boise, ID 83713
Ph. 208.375.9199, 208.658.1951 fax
dwayne-speegle@leavitt.com
www.lgbinsurance.com
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Cherno "CJ" Jagne
President
CNV Cleaning Services, Inc
Office
(208) 322 -9441
Cell Phone
(208) 941-3434
Fax
(208) 498-5998
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SPEAKER: |
| Dr. Vincent Muli Kituku |
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WHERE: |
| Doubletree
Hotel Riverside, Garden City |
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8:00
a.m-12:00 (noon) |
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(Approved by the State of Idaho Real Estate
Commission and Education Council—4-hours and also qualifies
for 4 hours educational credits Idaho dentists and dental
assistants) |
The wise have said, “Every morning in Africa, a gazelle
wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest
lion, or it will die. Every morning in Africa, a lion
wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest
gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter
whether you are a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes
up, you’d better be running.” If you want to thrive in
professional and personal endeavors, this seminar is for
you.
What you will learn:
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1:00
p.m-5:00 p.m. |
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Approved by the State of Idaho Real Estate
Commission and Education Council—4-hours |
This workshop will provide participants with practical
steps on marketing with a zero or shoestring budget.
Topics discussed include:
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Your investment for the TWO seminars: |
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$99 Early Bird Registration
BEFORE October 1st - you save $60 |
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$159
AFTER October 1st 2007 |
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$79/Participant
in groups of 20 or more if registered BEFORE October 1st. |
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$99/Participant
in groups of 20 or more if registered AFTER October 1st |
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Your investment for a SINGLE 4 hour seminar: |
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$89 or $99 for
a single 4-hours seminar AFTER October 1st |
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Your investment includes a program workbook and refreshments but
not lunch.
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TO REGISTER: |
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Call Toll free
1-888-685-1621 or
(208) 376-8724 |
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Mail a check or money
order to:
KITUKU & ASSOCIATES
P.O. Box 7152
Boise, Idaho 83707
You can also use your credit card to
register when you call our office |
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Each participant who has attended and participated in the entire
course will receive
a certificate that includes student name, course title, delivery
method, dates, classroom hours, course approval number, signature of
school representative,
school name.
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“This was a turning point for my professional growth and
balance in life.”
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“I wish I had heard Dr.
Kituku when I was in my 40s.”
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“Vincent changed the
attitude of our employees. No one is afraid of
change anymore.”
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“I am glad I came with
my teammates. We came back reading from the same page.”
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“It’s amazing to
discover that I have what I need to succeed.”
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“Everything, Focus on
98% of good not 2% of bad.”
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“Wonderful speaker -
excellent thought processes to get started.”
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“Ability to give
analogies that help change our way of thinking.”
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“All of it was
helpful-there was nothing I couldn't use; will be useful
in both private and professional life.”
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“Thoroughly enjoyed the
speaker – I listen to him on the radio - wonderfully
inspirational; could have listened to him all day.”
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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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To unsubscribe (and Dr. Kituku is sorry to see you go), please visit [list_unsubscribe_link]
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WWW.KITUKU.COM.
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have enjoyed our newsletter. Please check with family and friends
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remove your email. Or write to us at
Kituku & Associates, 220 S. Cole Road, Bldg 6, Ste 220,
Boise, Idaho 83709 |
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