Author... Professor... Consultant... Trainer...

These attributes fail to capture the essence of this positive, uplifting, intelligent, natural-born leader who has declared war on mediocrity and works tirelessly to improve the human condition through his development and growth philosophy called
The Significant Life®.

0

“Stones & Strength” by Edna Gwen Makai (Guest Blogger)

by Kozhi on February 22, 2012

On your journey to do better, you are going to find obstacles. The obstacles in your path are there to make you stronger. Building a new life is hard work and you need big, strong muscles of all kinds. On the path to empowerment, you are going to be challenged. Challenges make you quick on your feet. In 1965 I was given the responsibility of being a Register Supervisor by a British lady named Miss Squel. This work was new for me, but I wanted to perfect it; something I accomplished through hard work. It helped me a great deal when Miss Squel told me: “Edna, if you want progress in life, you must have quick feet.”

I did not understand what she meant at that time, but I used her words and am still using her words today. I want you to know that moving into your power is going to make people nervous. Just remember that challenges will teach you new ideas and give you a new approach; all the while, the new you will be emerging. Challenges make you think and rethink about what you are doing. Thinking exercises and strengthens the mind. The strong mind has nothing to fear when challenged because a strong mind can weave together an answer for whatever the challenge is.

On your climb to the top, people are going to throw stones at you. Don’t you worry about it; you are strong, you can bob and weave, and get out of the way. The stones they throw may be very big, and they will come at you from the most unlikely places…at the most inopportune moments. Don’t stop climbing! Don’t look back on your losses!

(c) 2011, Edna Gwen Makai. No part of this blog post may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the copyright holder.

0

Becoming our Habits

by Kozhi on February 20, 2012

Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken – Warren Buffett

I find it rather curious that much of the mundane and significant aspects of who we are results from that which flows naturally out of us…that which we practice daily. Many of us fail to realize that we are a conundrum; a life of opposing forces. Daily, we get to choose which force will rule the day; in essence, what fruits we will have.

I have heard it said: “that’s just who I am” or “that’s just me” or, my favorite, “it is, what it is.” Each of these is used as an equivocation, justification, or, worse, rationalization for a life lived without discipline or self-control. All along, the real issue is never dealt with: we have bad habits. Habits that flow so naturally and insidiously mar our fortunes. Habits that, unless curbed, serve to only undermine our inherent goodness and eclipse our potential.

Until we recognize that our habits (good and bad) work behind the scenes with little mental effort, they continue to rule us to ruin (or, in the case of good habits, breed success). The challenge then is evaluating ourselves to remove bad habits and replacing them with good ones – exchanging weeds for good seeds.

Let is be known, however, that weeds (bad habits) are persistent; if we are lazy, they will overrun our field. This means we ought to be focused, diligent, and alert. As the weeds continue their efforts to reign supreme, we must cash in on our courage and exhibit greater fortitude. An example of how? Set accountability in our lives. For some, a dirty mouth or quick tongue is their bad habit; having honest relationships will ensure that the person is reminded to bring their better self out when given the opportunity to use foul language or words that shred others to pieces. There IS help, and hope; we simply need to reach out for it…

(c) 2011, Dr. Kozhi Sidney Makai. No part of this blog post may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the copyright holder.

0

Impassioned! by Dr. Alexander Phiri (Guest Blogger)

by Kozhi on February 15, 2012

“I have…determined to do his will.” Isaiah 50:7 NLT

Isaiah said, “I have set my face like a stone, determined to do His will.” You’ll never have real success with anything until you become passionate about it. The Psalmist wrote, “My heart is steadfast” (Psalm 57:7). The word “steadfast” means to have a commitment that is as strong as rock. Henry Ford was passionate about automobiles. Thomas Edison was passionate about light. The Wright Brothers were passionate about flying. Paul was passionate about evangelism. You will only be remembered in life for what you were passionate about.

You may feel insignificant. You may have to start out small. But when what you love begins to consume your mind, your thoughts, your conversation and your schedule—then you are headed for success. Do you dread going to work? Do you watch the clock? Does your mind wander to other places and things you would rather be doing? Then you won’t succeed. Find something you feel passionate about, something that energizes you, something worthy of building your life around.

(c) 2012, Dr. Alexander Phiri. No part of this blog post may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the copyright holder.

0

Habitual Growth

by Kozhi on February 10, 2012

Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best – Tim Duncan

I have always enjoyed watching the San Antonio Spurs play. There is very little flash, but one is sure to see some very fundamental basketball. Having won NBA Championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, and 2007, they remain a force to reckon with as they maintain a focus on fundamentals.

Tim Duncan, their center, is simply one of the most fundamentally sound players in the NBA. He may be at the tail end of his career, but remains all too clear about his focus on consistently keeping things simple.

You and I will never reach the heights of our full potential until we devote ourselves to “keeping the main thing, the main thing” as John Maxwell puts it. In my work and experience, I find that energy is wasted and/or dissipated on one specific exercise in futility: trying to take weaknesses and make them strengths.

Sadly, it is not until we focus on our strength, our good thing, that we realize our full potential. Our weaknesses will NEVER become our strengths! EVER! If anything, they will only become average. However, when we take our strengths and pour greater energies into them, we flourish! Michael Jordan tried it; his weakness was baseball. While I am happy he got to live out his childhood dream and fantasy of playing baseball, it never was, nor will it ever be, his strength. He never excelled. At basketball, however, he is the undisputed king of the hill. Why? Because he took his good and made it better…

So…what good do you have that is begging to be let out?

(c) 2012, Dr. Kozhi Sidney Makai. No part of this blog post may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the copyright holder.

To Be or To Get: That is the Question

February 6, 2012

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals – Zig Ziglar My students and I had a healthy debate this week contrasting “being” versus “doing.” We talked about how, in social settings, we often ask what someone does before we ask who they are. [...]

Read the full article →

Is Management Leadership?

February 2, 2012

Because the term management has been widely mistaken to be connotative with leadership, it is critical to clear this misnomer. Leadership is certainly different from management; however, not for the reasons many think. One leads people; one manages things (Schneider, 2003). Often, organizations have too much management and employees feel as though they are just [...]

Read the full article →

THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE II by Dr. Alexander Phiri (Guest Blogger)

January 9, 2012

“We shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9 There’s a legend about a soldier being court-martialed before Alexander the Great. Believing the verdict was unjust, the soldier asked to appeal it. The conqueror informed him that there was no one higher to whom he could plead his case. “In that case,” the [...]

Read the full article →

THE POWER OF PERSEVERENCE by Dr. Alexander Phiri (Guest Blogger)

January 3, 2012

One of the great themes of the Bible is—perseverance. The Apostle Paul, who refused to quit, wrote: “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The great majority of men are bundles of beginnings.” Are you merely a [...]

Read the full article →

Are You Being Celebrated or Tolerated?

December 13, 2011

I recently picked up Tyrese Gibson’s book, “How to Get Out of Your Own Way,” and must admit my initial skepticism. I was certain this would be another self-edifying ghostwritten rant with the sole purpose of increasing publicity. I was wrong… Mr. Gibson, whose stage number is simply Tyrese, and has starred in movies such [...]

Read the full article →

Home is where the heart is…

December 2, 2011

If your heart is not moving you, your behaviors will only be an act of compliance rather than one of joyful commitment – Dr. Alexander Phiri I find it amazing (sometimes, amusing) that many roam the earth with so much indifference. No passion. No love. No real hunger. Living each day and carrying on with [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries