LIFE MADE EASIER

Life isn't easy. The more we live the more we realise this is true. However, there is something that most people never realise about the 'hard life' they are living. If they could figure it out, it would change their whole lives. The thing that most people do not realize about the 'hard' parts of living is that they get easier if you do them on the right time. The dishes in the sink are easier to wash before the food dries. The floors are easier to clean up spills before you walk on them. It's easier to make the bed every day than it is to find the lost possessions you tossed on the crumpled up bed linens while wasn't made.
  You can probably think of lots of things that are easier to do around the house if you do them when they need to be done rather than waiting until waiting until they become such a gigantic task to do. Lots of other sectors in life are also easier when we avoid procrastination of the jobs that need to be done. Its easier to afford the timely oil change than it is to acquire another car. It is easier to pay your utility bills befor they track down defaulters. You can afford to rent more movies if you never lose them, break them or fail to return them. Thats could help manage the 'hardness' in life.I Hope you now have the idea. A little more examples:
  Its easier to fix the loose carpet on the stair than to walk up and down it for six weeks on crunches(cheaper too) Its easier to find a new job or keep the one you have a negotiation for showing up on time and mastering up your area of specialization - a reputation you of course acquire by dedication and sacrifice over time. That is the magic formula!!! To make your life easier,do what needs to be done now!!! It's that simple.
If you are not a practitioner of this magic, I hope you try it out right away.

A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR LIFE

Go placidly amid noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others-even the dull and ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons- they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is. Many people strive for high ideas and everywhere life is full of heroism, be yourself.
Do not feign affection, neither be cynic about love. For in the face of aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the council of the years , gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune, but do not distress yourself with imaginings - many fears are borne of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. Your are a child of the universe placed here by God. No less than trees and the stars, you have a right to be there. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God. Whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful and strive to be happy.

• http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/177071.Max_Ehrmann
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Skyring
• http://sharingthejourney.co.uk/desiderata/

DOCTORATE OF FISHOLOGY – A SERIOUS INERTIA TO ACTION

I read a challenging story about people with “Doctorates of Fishology”. Let me share it with you: Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, the fish were hungry week after week, month after month and year after year to be fished, those who called themselves fishermen met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish and how they might go about fishing. Year after year, they carefully defined what fishing means, defended fishing as an occupation and declared that fishing is always to be the prime task of fishermen. These fishermen built large beautiful buildings for fishing headquarters. The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fisherman should fish!! One thing they didn’t do however, they didn’t fish. In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a board to send out fishermen to other places where there were many fish. Over the years courses were offered on the needs of fish, the nature of fish, how to define fish, the psychological reactions of fish and how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in “fishology” but did not fish. After one stirring meeting on “The Necessity of Fishing”, one young fellow left the meeting and went fishing. The next he reported that he had caught two outstanding fish. He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to tell how he did it. And so, he quit his fishing in order to have time to tell others about his experience. Imagine how hurt some when one day, a person suggested that those who don’t fish aren’t really fishermen, no matter how much they claim to be! All the time spent scheming, planning, detailing and research is useless unless an action is taken. The inertia to act is the biggest impediment to success. As one writer wrote “Instead of contemplating jumping off a cliff, it’s better to jump off the cliff and build wings along the way.’’ The entire theoretical hypothesis must be tested in real life. The time to act on your dreams is now!!!This is unless you are just building castles in the air. I have been inspired severally as I read about the attitude of one of the world’s greatest inventor. At age 67, Thomas Edison watched as fire destroyed much of his work and equipment. Time to retire? Time to hang up the lab coat? No way!! Not this man. “All our mistakes are burned up,” the inventor said.”Now we can start anew.” There may be a time to retire, but Edison knew his time had not come. The fire that consumed his work did not destroy the fire that burned within him to move on and continue. My friends, we have a long way to go, don’t retire now! If you have made mistakes don’t cry too long. Move on! The only man who never makes mistakes is the one who does nothing. Yea, he is only exempt from failures he who makes no efforts. When everything shouts, you can’t make it! Get stubborn, and go ahead. Purpose to move on. Seize the moment. Change or die! Move! A bucket with a small hole in the bottom gets just as empty as a bucket that is deliberately emptied. There is but one life for each of us: our own. Watch the watch. The ant preaches so much yet says nothing. The main reason is he/she is always moving towards accomplishment. Ura!!!
 http://www.bible.ca/evangelism/e-brent-hunters-evangelism-101.htm

GOAL SETTING 101... UNLEASH THE POWER OF GOAL SETTING

The power of goal setting cannot be over emphasized. There are countless books and resources that enlighten on the same. It unleashes the power to set one in motion. To be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes. It should be big enough to motivate and force one to act. Let’s look at some basic facts on goal setting;

• Write it out in detail.

Break down the goal in small executable tasks.This is the skeleton of the goal. Start implementing now!!! Keep a record of tasks done and whats left to do. "Eat that frog" Start with harder tasks and later the simple ones to build morale.

• You need goals that stretch you.

Goals that are easily achieved  do not spur action. Ensure you think out of our current environment. Make sure that its achievement entails considerable effort and resources. You will realize that the higher the mark, the better you become on the way.

• Create a breakthrough goal.

Have a master goal with smaller goals under it. Interrelate them in that they are all in line to achieving the ultimate goal. Purpose to achieve your ultimate destiny.

• Reread your goals three times a day.

Create a book on your goals. Carry them around. Memorise them. Be crazy. Daydream about them.In the process, you will realise that you attract people and resources that are a requisite to achieving your goals.

• One goal isn't enough.

Have several related goals. Set each goal in a way that it improves you. Make a list and swing into action.Channel your efforts into achieving them. Tick each goal out once  done.

• Write yourself a cheque

Act as if you've achieved your goal. If its a business goal,maybe maximise profits.(most goals are always centred around money, fame and wealth.)Write the amount you would like to have in dummy cheque and put it a strategic location e.g. your desk, bed room ceiling to constantly see it. 

GOOD!!! HAVE A WONDERFUL GOAL SETTING EXPERIENCE.

INCREDIBLE EAGLE LIVING

Over the last weekend I have been at my rural home away from the noise and pollution in the city. The place is quiet with humming from the birds on the rooftops and trees. I raise a few chicks and sometimes I let them out into the open when its sunny. I keep watch lest they are taken away by birds of prey. I got engrossed in a book that I was reading and forgot the chicks(am not good at multitasking).
Out of the skies an eagle swooped down on one of the chicks and disappeared at break neck speed leaving the rest scampering for safety  underneath a rack. That was pretty fast!! ha  and interesting.(although I lost a chick which is sad). Later, I decided to do a little research on the eagle.

• It has a powerful sight,a great vision with which its able to spot prey miles down.

A great vision helps one see the targeted end. One cannot get what they don't have a mental picture of. It prevents one from deviating from the primary task. It also acts as a measure of progress towards a predetermined goal. What you see is what you get.... Write you vision in broad colours,review it daily. Break it down to specific courses of action and get working to make it happen. It might be hard but make a move. In China they say"A journey of 1000 miles start with one step".

• It moves to the prey at high speed. Extremely swift.

Acting fast makes one optimise the amount of time spent versus the cost. Procrastination is a killer disease as it wastes opportunities. Delay dallying is laziness. Don't wait act now!!! That opportunity might not be there tomorrow. Be organised and have a schedule and deadlines. It increases efficiency.

• It eats fresh prey not carcasses.

It takes hot blood ,sweet fresh flesh. Vultures and other scavengers follow the carnivorous. Eat the dead and decaying. Be a go getter and take initiative avoid camouflaging behind others. Opportunities will befall the initiators.

• When teaching its young ones to fly, it drops them at high attitude and then moves swiftly to get hold of those that are not able to spread their wings and fly.

This is a serious risk and some of the birds will fall to the ground and die. Most of the highest paying tasks carry the greatest risk. Do you have an appetite for risk or do you want to live in a save haven. Learn from the school of hard knocks. A challenge overcomed is some muscle built.

• They fly high  and live high up in the trees and hills. 

This differentiates the eagle from the rest of low flying sparrows and woodpeckers. Differentiation creates room for expansion whether the differentiation is real or imagined. Create a difference between what you do and persons doing similar tasks. Get everyone to appreciate the difference and you will be set apart making you better.

REWARDING INCOMPETENCE

I was in West lands last week and could not help notice that the place has become dirtier and disorganised. Taking a walk round the centre, I realised that there were no dustbins but so many signs reading,"usimwage takataka hapa. By order from city clerk". Take a look at many of city council maintained roads, big pot holes, uncovered manholes and unattended bus parks that are muddy. Most of benches and sitting racks were sold off long ago as scrap metal. Most of the traffic lights don't work. Where dustbins are provided, they are overrunning with trash. It is an organisation famed for collecting revenue for services not delivered. Take a look at their website, they only remembered it after the certification. A recent survey by PriceWaterhouse Coopers showed that over 90% of their staff is incompetent. Imagine!!! Their officers on the ground are very rude and are only interested in running after petty crime with so much vigour!!!
Taking a tour to the houses they manage, you will notice that they have not been refurbished for long to an extent that the tenants have to repair the houses themselves. Grass has overgrown in many of these places making the place a health hazard. They always come to their own defence when buildings collapse yet they approved their plans. Too much for that. We (city dwellers) are amazed that with all this they still get an ISO Certification. Funny that incompetence is also rewarded.

Purpose driven life

I have been thinking of my purpose in this life. There is nothing as bad as living each day being directionless and purposeless. Get a purpose for which to spend life fulfilling. As one man said, "If you have nothing to die for, then you are not worth living". It has been proven through history that most of the people that aggressively charged towards their purposes in life, did not die until they got what they wanted in life. Sadly, there are so many that died without ever realising why they were born. Its not a wonder that graves hold up most of the answers to the problems that we are currently struggling with. Reason being most of the people died with the potential underutilised.
Let have a look at some basic facts on purpose.

• It is the assignment you allow to obsess your life.
• Its also the end by which the means exist.
• Its also the enemy you decide to overcome in life.
• Its the aspiration for inspiration.
• Its the reason for existence of a thing.

Where the purpose isn't known,abuse is inevitable.
Everything in life has a purpose
Purpose gives one focus and lets one concentrate his efforts to an identified goal.
Napoleon Hill once said"An aim in life is the only fortune worth finding and is not to be found in foreign lands but in the heart itself.
It is always said that one should not put all his/her eggs in one basket,but figure this; The sun with all its mighty heat doesn't burn anything on the face of the earth or boil waters of the seas because it spreads its rays generously. It actually burns if it rays are directed to a point. Put the eggs in one basket and then watch that basket.
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours. So, live life with a goal and experience the following;

1. Goals determine necessary steps to desired end.
2. Goals predict the choices.
3. Goals determine decisions in life.
4. Goals create priorities in life.
5. Goals provide a measure for success

study and know your purpose in life and devote all your efforts in pursuing the dream. You will notice that purpose;

• Brings confidence.
• Provides protection.
• Empowers perseverance and resistance
• Maintains objectivity and focus.
• Maintains contentment.
• It declares independence from other people's opinions.

Have a purposeful day.

FEAR OF FAILURE

There are so many people that never make an attempt to do anything reason being they are afraid to fail.But looking at failure on the brighter side, you will notice it does more good than harm. It is thus NECESSARY TO  FAIL at some point in life BEFORE success  sets in.
Robert Schuller, an American Televangelist, composed a poem on failure that I would like to go though.
Failure doesn't mean you are a failure----------------------it does mean you haven't succeeded yet.
failure doesn't mean you have accomplished nothing-------it does mean you have learnt something.
Failure doesn't mean you have been a fool----------------it does mean you had a lot of courage.
Failure doesn't mean you have been disgraced------------it does mean you were willing to try.
Failure doesn't mean you don't have it----------------it does mean you have to do something in a different way.
Failure doesn't mean you are inferior-----------------it does mean that you are not perfect.
Failure doesn't mean you have wasted your life-------it does mean you have a reason to start afresh.
Failure doesn't mean you should give up------------it does mean you must try harder.
Failure doesn't mean you will never make it-------it does mean it will take a bit longer.
Failure doesn't mean God has abandoned you----it does mean God has a better idea.
Remember;
Thomas Edison who invented the light bulb, failed 1000 times.People asked him "Aren't you discouraged that you have failed these 1000 times?" He replied "no, because I know 1000 ways that don't work".
Wake up! start it all over again, for success is just around the corner. Infact, its just out of your comfort zone.

Thanks for  having found time to read yesterdays blog. Invite your friends to read too.
Back to yesterdays story from the sage.Remember? if not please read yesterday's post.
The stone in Joe's bag could figuratively represent disorganisation. There are people who are not in control of their lives. They allow others to gain access to their lives and plant in them with seeds of defeat, hatred , grumbling and sabotage their plans to success.
As for the briefcase,holding on to what one has too much that it becomes a burden and prevents one to reach for more is unfortunate. In the road to success,some of the highest rewarding tasks carry the biggest risk.
European Union flags denotes the spirit of dependence. There are people that think there are others holding their lives together and without them them life will not goon normally.
You need to get rid unnecessary burden to make it to the top

FROM THE SAGE

A group of four men decided to go for a hike up mount kenya(Mt kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya). They sat down and planned the journey including what they were to carry and what to wear. They also set strict time to meet at the foot of the mountain.
On the material day, all them were on time except Joe*.Thirty minutes later, he had not yet arrived. They decided to move on without him but not after reporting to the sentry at the foot of the mountain. There was no way one could be allowed to climb the mountain alone. Thus, the guard at the entry point was instructed to send Joe back if he came.
No sooner had they left than Joe came panting and sweating profusely, confused with a heavy load on his back. It was only after catching his breath that he was informed that he had to cancel his trip as he could not walk in the forest alone. He had just lost an opportunity of a lifetime.  He stood bewildered, cursing himself for being late. The guard got interested with the luggage he was carrying and requested that Joe show him the contents. He had only been amused at the thought that Joe was to climb the mountain with such a heavy load on his back.
The bag had the following,a sleeping and two blankets, a British flag, portraits of Museveni and Garang',a very huge stone,a briefcase and European Union flag. These were too much  for a hiker to carry.When asked the use of all that, he had some funny explanation.
The blanket was an alternative in case the felt uncomfortable encased in a sleeping bag. The British flag was to thank the British for bringing formal education to Kenya by having their flag at the highest peak of the mountain. He decried that the blacks had ran down the system and was longing for colonial days. He was also planning to show his appreciation to Museveni and Garang' for liberating their countries from civil war by putting their portraits at Batiani peak.He doubted if there were Kenyans that could stand out in modern Kenya. As for the stone, he suspected that his younger wife had put it there as she was skeptical of his plans. The briefcase had his most precious items; the land title deed and his certificates. He always left with them in case anyone damaged or stole them out of malice.
Finally, he was was grateful for the European Union Development partnership with Kenya and thus decided to honour them by having their flag on the snow up the mountain.
Nevertheless, he had to go back home.
 
All said and done,we are all in the hike to success.Many are times that we carry what we don't need to succeed. In the above scenario, blankets and sleeping bag serve the same purpose. People duplicate efforts instead of excelling in one. The British flag denotes people living in the past, they only talk of those good days when things were good glorifying the past rather than accept the reality. Portraits of Museveni and Guarang denotes people who only see  good in others and are always complaining using others as an example.  Check this blog for more of this advice from the sage.
Joe* has been used for illustrative purposes.

KNOW IT ALL

Am officially in and welcome all of you for a daily dose of the very best in the world of technology,politics and any thing of interest. They call me James. Check this blog each day.