Dunstan Ayodele Stober's Blog, page 4

Giving Starts the Receiving Process

A profound lesson from a little kid with a big heart

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto

Dad took ill. I was a godparent at a grandiose wedding. I reunited with some childhood friends I had not seen in over two decades. I attended the funeral of a very close friend’s mum. Then we had a fabulous beach outing. I listened to a sobering message at church. And I was not on vacation.

But, nothing in that emotional roller coaster was close to the climax of my three-week visit to Freetown.

My five-year-old niece reenacted Mama’s 5th lesson from my book — Joy Has Come Home. She is my mother’s granddaughter, after all.

The joy and excitement that follow my every unannounced visit is always a treat. Mama would wear a big grin saying, “you always get us with your tricks, thanks to your brother.” Dad’s eyes would light up as he musters the strength to give me a warm hug. Then my nieces would echo chorus-like chants of “uncle Ayo don cam” (Uncle Ayo has come). The youngest of the four, Vanya, would sit on my lap, bombarding me with requestions reminiscence of my young self. On this occasion, after interrogating me, she declared she had money and was going back to Dubai with me. Not that one had anything to do with the other.

Vanya and I settled into our routine of having meals together, sharing chocolates and my aunty’s homemade cookies. I get total entertainment value from Vanya’s company. She goes from being the judge and jury over how we share the meat to telling me her father is not my brother. I cannot convince her that her grandpapa is my father. If not for the chocolates I bring, Vanya would be bossing me around my parents’ house. But, amidst our high-energy engagements, Vanya acted on her discovery that shocked everyone at home, including her mum.

One afternoon, Vanya’s mom narrated their unexpected conversation:

Vanya: Mama, give me the money I gave you for safekeeping.

Vanya’s mum: What do you want to do with it?

Vanya: I want to buy cookies for my uncle.

Vanya’s mum: Which cookies?

Vanya: The coconut cake he likes to buy from Aunty Cecilia.

With no words to respond, her mum gave her the money. Money in hand, Vanya raced to Aunty Cecilia’s flat to buy the coconut cake.

Vanya: Aunty Cecilia, I want to buy coconut cake.

Aunty Cecilia: I don’t have any now, Vanya.

Vanya: Keep the money. I will come back when you have the cake.

Later that evening, Vanya handed me a packet containing five pieces of my favourite cookie. My heart melted, my lips smiled, and my eyes filled with joy. I collected the packet, hugged and thanked her. Then we ate the five pieces together.

Everyone was surprised that Vanya was observant to notice the cookie I bought the most. But more surprisingly, she used up all her savings to buy the cookies.

Vanya’s gesture was the highlight of my three weeks in Freetown. I get goosebumps writing about it now. The cookie was fifty US cents, but it was all Vanya’s savings. Yet, she did not hesitate. It was like emptying one’s bank account to buy a gift for a friend.

I will never forget Vanya’s innocent yet genuine act of kindness which reminded me of the joys of giving.

“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” — Amy Carmichael

Learn these five habits from my little niece, Vanya, to help you experience the joys of giving so that you can freely receive what you seek.

1. Look for opportunities to give. Vanya was alert, aware and observant to pick a gift I would appreciate. She was deliberate about looking for a chance to give me something. If you look close enough, you will find opportunities to give. And when you see them, please act.

2. Count your blessings. I believe my niece saw that I always had something to share when she came to see me. Recognising how much she has received made her want to give in return. “Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process.” — Jim Rohn. Take inventory of how much you have received, and you will realise how blessed you are.

3. Have an attitude of gratitude. I know this is an overused cliché. But, true nonetheless. Vanya was content with what I was offering. She never demanded more from me. Instead, she was grateful and moved to give in return. Sometimes, we focus on what we do not have or could have had instead of what we have. Gratitude will open more doors for us than greed and discontentment ever would.

4. Give genuinely and from the heart. Vanya used all her savings to buy me my favourite cookie. You cannot get more genuine than that. She wore a broad smile on her face as she handed me the coconut cake. She gave, expecting nothing in return. Okay, Vanya ate a third of the cake. But you get the point.

5. Give your best. Vanya gave more than her best. She gave all she had. When you give, don’t give what you do not need or what is surplus to your requirement. Do not give anything that is not good enough for you. Vanya gave me the cake and waited to partake of it. The cake was fresh and hot from the oven, crunchy as freshly-baked chocolate chips. Simply the best cookie in its class. Sorry, I got carried away there. All I am saying here is to give your best and nothing less.

So go on, be like my little niece. Be the reason someone is happy. Go ahead and make somebody’s day. Start practising the above five giving habits, and I promise you that you will start experiencing more peace, feeling more joy and fulfilment, clearing the way for you to receive.

“It seemed to me that the people who were genuinely thriving in their lives were the ones who had made room for well-being, wisdom, wonder and giving.” — Arianna Huffington

Book Recommendations

Photo by Tom Hermans on Unsplash

Here are two recommended reading from Good2 Give about giving that I believe will inspire you.

a) A Kids Guide to Giving — by Freddi Zeiler

Here is another kid’s view about giving. Their innocence shows how simple and easy it is to understand why we give. This book is by a kid for kids from which adults can learn a great deal about making a difference in the world.

b) Simple giving: Easy ways to give every day — Jennifer Lacovelli

Jennifer shares an interesting perspective about giving and the divide she observed between givers and receivers while working with nonprofit organisations.

I encourage you to read stories that will inspire you. And learn how you can brighten others’ lives through your giving.

Citations

Photo by AbsolutVision on Unsplash

Here are three quotes to cultivate the habit of giving.

“Only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have.” —  Jim Rohn

“If you’re in the luckiest one per cent of humanity, you owe it to the rest of humanity to think about the other 99 per cent..” —  Warren Buffet

“Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting.” —  Brian Tracy

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How The F Word Gave My Daugther The Courage to Stand Up

Lessons from my 13-year-old that could help us at work

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  — Phil 4:6

Photo by Kasuma: kids playing at the beach

“Let your daughter tell you what she did today.”

“Okaaay?” I replied ending the brief phone call with my wife that Sunday afternoon.

“Let her tell you how she did it, but I am shocked,” my wife continued. There was radio silence before I assured her I would call my daughter.

The development was shocking because, to us, Maya is the shiest, most self-conscious and reserved of our kids. We did not see it coming, not from a million miles away. I needed to compose myself to ask the right questions if I was to get to the bottom of things.

But, a WhatsApp message from Maya botched my procrastination gimmicks. Ready or not, here we go. In the forty or so years since I knew what a telephone is, I have never waited so long to hear hello from the other end of a phone call.

Without any hint of panic or anxiety in my voice to avoid scaring her into her shell, I exchanged pleasantries. Then she said the F word that no adult would use to answer the question I posed to my 13-year-old daughter.

“Maya?” I started. “Of all the things you could choose to do, why public speaking?” believe me, this is her response.

“Because it is fun, Dad.”

“Wait, what, Maya? Did you just say FUN? How can public speaking be fun? I quizzed.

“Did you know that some statistics say as high as 75% of people are afraid of public speaking? And did you know some people fear it more than death? What makes it fun for you?”

As if with total disregard for the stats I just blurted out to her, she went on. “Well, I like presenting the logic of my argument. I like it when I do the pauses and the lowering and raising of my voice to create effect and draw attention. And I enjoy the applause.

By all accounts, it was brave of her to choose public speaking and debating as her extracurricular activity.

“I will be going for the gold next time, Dad,” while explaining the WhatsApp message, which made me call her right away. Below the certificate photo, she wrote, “Look, daddy, I got a silver for public speaking.

“How would you achieve a gold rating?” I asked. She answered me by paraphrasing the adjudicator’s remarks. “I will add more facts and data to increase my content and support my argument. I will apply what I learned about ethos, logos and pathos. And, I will practice my breathing.”

I think we have a public speaker in the making. Please drop me a note if you know from where she picked that up because I am still wondering.

The adjudicator noted that Maya’s “opening was profound.” And I would say the same about our conversation. The unsolicited advice she gave about work was genuinely profound, reminding me of my favourite Wayner Dyer’s quote.

“When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at will change.” — Wayne Dyer

Maya changed from looking at public speaking as an act to fear to a fun activity. She thrived by that simple flip of the F word — from fear to fun. As I reflected on this principle, I realised the five things I learned from discussing my 13-year-old’s approach to public speaking I can apply to my work, business and daily living.

1) Don’t overthink

“I didn’t think much about it. I figured it was the best of the options available.” She answered when asked why public speaking.

No facts! No data! No calculations! She went with her gut feel.

Sometimes, we should go with what our gut tells us.

2) Face the challenge

Once you decide to do it, go all in and give it your best shot. Maya stepped a country mile out of her comfort zone to overcome one of the biggest phobias known to man.

Your growth lies outside your comfort zone. Step out and face the challenge.

3) Prepare well

“I practised with my brother and sister as my audience. I rehearsed my speech a few times. And I had my cue cards.” She explained her preparation.

Preparing well instils confidence.

4) Strive to best your better performance

Silver is Maya’s first rating from her first attempt at public speaking. But, she already has a plan of how to do better.

Celebrate your wins, but don’t live in the past. You can always go one notch up. Or at least aim for it.

5) Don’t forget the F word — Have Fun!

The best lesson of all is to enjoy what you do. We cannot mix work and play, but work does not have to feel like a life sentence.

Make room to enjoy what you do and find pleasure in it.

Introduce your high and low pitch and pause to “create effect and draw attention.” Then enjoy the applause.

I believe if you can’t find fun and joy in what you do, fear will set it. And fear cripples performance.

The next time you step up to work, or your business or embark on a new project, remember to relax, reframe your focus and have fun.

Book Recommendations

Photo by Devon Divine on Unsplash

I choose the following as my top two of the “Eight books that will boost your happiness and your career” featured by Creative Boom.

a) Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness — by Kerry Hannon (NR)

According to Creative Boom, Love Your Job presents the idea that changing the way you approach your job can be one way of starting to find happiness and work. If you are looking for a guide on how to find fulfilment from your work and make work fun, then this book is your reference. Find out what attitude can get people to notice you.

b) Love Your Work: 4 Practical Ways You Can Pivot to Your Best Career — Robert Dickie (NR)

If you feel stuck, unsatisfied and unfulfilled about your, Robert’s book is here to help you out of that feeling. Let Robert show you how to up your engagement at work.

Love Your Work is a guide to help you find work that fits your desires and ambitions, leaving you satisfied. If doing so requires a career change, you will benefit from Ar Force Officer’s transition.

Citations

Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash

Here are three to help you think about loving and enjoying what you do.

“If you do not enjoy what you are doing, you will never be good at it.” —  Luke Parker

“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you..” —  Maya Angelou

“When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at will change.” —  Wayne Dyer

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The Unlikely Path to Purpose

Find your red bicycle moment; it will lead to your purpose

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” — Prov 19:21

Photo by Sergei A from Pexels

I recently got a thoughtful gift from a friend who visited me from London. “You love books, and you love cycling. So, I guessed a book about cycling would be a good present for you.” She was right. On the first introductory page of the Black Champions in Cycling, I found one of the profound sports stories that can help you discover your purpose.

Whose story best to start a book about “Desire, Discrimination and Determination,” than that of the “greatest, former boxing heavyweight world champion, Muhammad Ali.

At 12 years of age, Cassius Clay proudly cruised around in his prized red Schwinn bicycle. One day, returning from the annual Louisville Home Show, the young Clay found his bike was missing from where he had left it. The weeping Clay told a police officer that he would “whup” the thief when he discovered who it was.

The policeman, Joe Martin, who happened to be a boxing trainer, told Clay he should learn how to fight before finding the thief. From that day and for the next six years, Joe Martin trained Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) to become a professional boxer. And the rest, as they say, was history.

Muhammad Ali became arguably the greatest boxer of all time and used his passion for serving his purpose of advocating for social justice.

“Over the years, I’ve learned that the first idea you have is irrelevant. It’s just a catalyst for you to get started. Then you figure out what’s wrong with it, and you go through phases of denial, panic, and regret. And then you finally have a better idea, and the second idea is always the important one.”  — Arthur van Hoff (Founders at Work)

I was fond of the sciences during my early high school years, which made my parents believe I would become an engineer or a doctor. During the summer holidays of my third year of high school, I was furious at the thought of my parents not being able to pay for my “science education.” That was my “red bicycle moment.”

I asked what field of study is best for preparing me on how to manage money. Over that three-month-long holiday, I immersed myself in the recommended introductory accounting and bookkeeping text. About ten years later, I completed my chartered accountancy exams in Nigeria.

While working in Myanmar, I used writing as my pass-time activity during my morning commute with a driver. After a few months, I realised my writing aptitude was growing, and I was enjoying it. Today, I have published my first book, and the newsletter you are reading is my medium for sharing my experiences and learnings to inspire you in your journey to discovering your highest potential.

The following five attributes from Muhammad Ali’s story resonate with me, and I believe they will help you find your purpose.

1) Find your passion. Find something you are good at and that you love. Muhammad Ali’s passion was boxing. It is the most crucial part of finding your purpose.

“Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.” — Jon Bon Jovi

2) Discover, and believe in yourself. Know what you are good at, know what excites you and believe in yourself. Muhammad Ali called himself the greatest and became so.

“You don’t know what you need in your life until you figure out who you are.” — Jay Shetty

3) Have a resilient attitude. Adversity and misfortune usually reveal the path to our purpose if we find the strength to persevere.

“It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.” — Dieter F. Uchtdorf

4) Be alert to, and make the best of opportunities. Muhammad Ali made the best of the chance Joe Martin presented to him.

“Luck is when an opportunity comes along, and you are ready for it.” — Denzel Washington

5) Focus on serving others. Service is the one-word definition of purpose. Always look for opportunities to help others.

“We find ourselves when we lose ourselves in the service of others.” — Gandhi

Operating in our purpose will unlock our authentic self, making us more fulfilled and engaged, leading to higher productivity. And in the end, we contribute to making society better.

So, if the thing you are doing now does not feel like your purpose, I encourage you to:

“Open yourself to the world around you and to the world within you and see new opportunities arise.” — Sir Ken Robinson

Today, take the first step in the quest of finding your most authentic self that will unleash your passion and purpose.

Book Recommendations

Photo by Devon Divine on Unsplash

These two books helped me understand the difference between passion and purpose, the relationship between the two and how to find both.

a) The Last Lecture: Lessons in Living — by Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow (Rating: 5 stars)

Randy Pausch flipped the script at Carnegie Mellon when he delivered his talk about “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” instead of the traditional theme of the “last lecture” — mull over death and what matters most to him.

Randy’s lecture was about the “importance of overcoming obstacles, enabling the dreams of others, and seizing every moment.”

b) The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything — by Ken Robinson, Lou Aronica (Rating: 5 stars)

“Being good at something is not a good reason to spend your life doing it.”

The Element is Sir Robinson’s almost definitive strategy guide on how we can find our passion. Sir Robinson gleaned stories of well-known artists, entrepreneurs and innovators to provide a blueprint of how we can find our element.

I recommend this book if you want to know to find what you have an aptitude for and that you love to do — “your element.”

Citations

Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash

These three quotes explain the link between passion and purpose and how the former leads to the latter.

“Your passion becomes purpose when you use it to serve others.” —  Jay Shetty

“If you can’t figure your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose” —  Bishop T D Jakes

“If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original.” —  Sir Ken Robinson (TED Talk, 2006)

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How Going From Flabby to Fit Increased My Productivity

My 5 Habits of Highly Productive People

“An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”  — 2 Tim 2:5

Photo is Courtesy of Spinneys’92

How did I go from a flabby, 100+kg 30something young man who could not cycle 1KM to save his life to a 47-year-old fit enough to complete 62KMs in 1.7 hours and have my photo selected as the poster image for a high profile cycling event in Dubai?

In April 2021, I finished 8th place in the shorter distance (62KMs) of one of Dubai’s most-advertised amateur cycling races — Spinneys’92. I got to reminisce about the emotions and excitement of that achievement when posters for the 2023 event started circulating on social media. When I checked WhatsApp to enter the roll for our DXB Riders’ Monday ride, I noticed someone had tagged me on his post of the event poster.

“Our own model! @DAS” was his caption on the shared photo. I was the poster boy, or should I say, poster man.

I started my weight loss journey about five years ago, taking up cycling and “dieting.” I have gone through the fat to fit cycle more than I can count while trying many fad diets, exercise regimes and sports. At some point, I consoled myself that I had a big bone structure. While at other times, I convinced myself I wasn’t losing the fat because of my age and stage in life.

But I consistently maintained my average weight at 85KM in the last two years, give or take. I have increased my muscle mass, become fitter, and feel much stronger.

Below are the top five habits that helped me along my fitness transformation journey and ensured I am at my productive best.

Habit One — Eat right

I signed up for my first quick-fix diet in 2016 — no sugars, no bread, no rice, more fruits, boiled not fried protein and no food after 7 PM. Newsflash! It worked. I lost almost 10kgs in three weeks.

But it was so harsh and painful that I craved all the “no-foods” as soon as I finished the program. And the weight crept back up as fast as I had lost it.

Although I do not follow any “dieting” prescription, I do my best to eat right. Psst! I still struggle with my sweet tooth.

Habit Two — Exercise regularly

After joining the workforce, you can not find Dunstan and gym in a sentence. I took up cycling and squash as fitness substitutes.

Although cycling was a big help in my journey, it was not enough because work, travelling, or weather conditions frequently broke my streak.

I would probably go for a run if a million US (not Zimbabwean) Dollars were at stake. Until then, I exercise at least four days a week with one or more of cycling, gym, squash or tennis.

Habit Three — Sleep well

I proudly wore the “not-much-of-a-sleeper” badge for a long time, believing it was a super-power. First off, the lack of sleep robbed me of the time and energy to exercise. Then I will start feeling edgy and stressed. And the unhealthy snacking will kick in at odd times at night.

The nights I go to bed after 10 PM, I would wake up late or early but lethargic the following day. And to make up for lost hours, I would work late into the night again, creating a vicious cycle.

I still struggle with this habit. But, I have my best, most energetic and most productive days when I go to bed before 10 PM, have at least eight hours of sleep and am up bright and early to seize the day.

“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” — African proverb

Habit Four — Get support

Alone, I struggled to complete two laps of the 5KM paved perimeter road in the estate I lived in Yangon. But when I found another cyclist, we put in 10 loop shifts in a breeze. The comrade was great, and we held each other accountable for consistency.

A coach, a trainer, an accountability partner, a group or in any capacity, you need a support system to help you be productive.

Habit Five — Be Consistent

The overarching habit is consistency; it gets you over the finish line. Taking your career, fitness, or business requires consistent action.

My cycling stamina, strength and speed improve tremendously during any prolonged period of consistent cycling. It doesn’t get easier; I get better at it.

And any time I take a break, I lose it all. But, I always find the courage to get back on.

To be highly productive, I recommend that you take care of yourself by eating right, sleeping well and keeping your body in shape.

Do not try to go alone; get support; it builds the resilience you need to be productive. More importantly, take consistent, focused action and never give up.

Book Recommendations

Photo by Devon Divine on Unsplash

I have always seen most fitness books or programs presenting more fads than fundamentals. But, the following books changed my perspective.

a) Muscle For Life: Get Lean, Strong, and Healthy at Any Age! — by Michael Matthews (Rating: 5 stars)

Michael practically connected the dots between diet, exercise and rest, making it easy to understand and implement. Muscle for life is a health and fitness blueprint for the young, adolescent and adult.

b) Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers — by Tim Ferriss (Rating: 5 stars)

Tim outlines some unusual and extreme body conditioning routines that will make you cringe or crack up, but the achievements of the proponents speak for themselves. Lay hold to some of the best advice on health, wealth and wisdom from 101 highly productive individuals at the peak of the field.

Citations

Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash

Here are three quotes to ponder.

“Without commitment, you’ll never start, but more importantly, without consistency, you’ll never finish.” —  Denzel Washington

“Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before.” —  Franz Kafka

“The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.” —  Oprah Winfrey

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Six Steps to Creating Order that Will Unleash Your Creativity

Avoid the “attraction of distraction” trap

“Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.”  — Prov 24:27

Photo by Vlada Karpovich from  Pexels

People always ask how I manage to occupy myself, living alone for so long. It does get tricky, challenging and lonely sometimes. I have two choices. Sit back, feel depressed and sorry. Or use my time creatively.

My writing has been the most consistent it has ever been. I am so physically active; I don’t feel 47. I play squash, cycle, hit the gym and play tennis. And earlier this year, my daughter inspired me into a new hobby.

I started painting! My impatience would not let me complete the online course I enrolled in, so I winged it as I went along. The sketch of my fourth painting looked promising until I hit a dilemma. My failure to follow the correct order of layering colours threatens to ruin what could be a good painting for a beginner.

But does it have to be in only one sequence? Or is it the consistency of steps that creates order? Until a few years ago, I believed the correct order was fruits after meals. Seeing a fellow passenger on a flight four years have fruits before his meal made me learn a new way, which had its benefits. Fruits before a meal, it turns out, is great for weight management because you eat less “food” after the fruits.

Some tasks we can do front to back or back to front. Others we must do the conventional way only. So, here are six things we can do, which I gleaned from Sage and Bloom, that will help us establish the proper order of goals, dreams and ambitions to unleash our potential.

1) Do a mind dump. Write down everything we want to do. Mind dump is like laying out all the colours you want to use in your painting.

2) Make a plan. Prioritise, preferably, “eat the ugliest frog” first. What will be your background colour? And what will be the colour of the lines?

3) Avoid multitasking. Focus on one thing at a time. Or practice what Brian Tracy calls “creative procrastination — deliberately deciding upon the exact things you are not going to do right now.” You complete a painting one colour at a time.

4) Block all distractions. Avoid the “attraction of distraction” trap. Social media, TV, and electronics all lead to the diffusion of attention.

5) Create systems instead of focusing on goals. Goals are short-term fixes, while systems will keep us consistent. I am focusing on understanding a painting system, not a goal of the number of paintings a month.

6) No shortcuts. Learn the system, trust the process and be consistent. I may have ruined the fourth piece of my new hobby because I decided to take a shortcut and winged it.

Beaumont Health, Michigan, suggested the following five benefits of doing things in order.

1) Stress relief. Having a plan of action will reduce anxiety

2) Better sleep. Being organised means you will manage your time well and have enough time to rest, recuperation and sleep.

3) Increased time for self. Organising my day helps me to have time for my passion projects, fitness and fun.

4) Healthier lifestyle. Reduced stress, better sleep, time for exercise are components of a healthier lifestyle.

5) Increased productivity. The seemingly simple habit of keeping a clean and organised desk helps me focus, stay motivated and energetic.

While we may want to believe creative people are disorganised, multitasks, and have a limited attention span, the above shows we can be more productive if we get organised.

According to Brian Tracy, the number one reason some people get more done faster is because they are absolutely clear about their goals and objectives and they don’t deviate from them.

So, decide what you want, prioritise, get organised and take action.

Book Recommendations

Photo by Devon Divine on Unsplash

These two books will help you plan your goals, focus on your most important tasks and be effective.

a) Seven Habits of Highly Effective People — by Stephen R Covey (Rating: 5 stars)

This book is a timeless self-help manual for effective living in work, business, family, health, or life. There is a good reason why it has sold more than 25 million copies. Let Stephen Covey’s book help you find your “true north.”

b) Eat That Frog- by Brian Tracy (Rating: 5 stars)

This text is a simple, easy-to-read book about getting more done in less time, starting with the most important things. Brian’s creative procrastination concept was novel and liberating. We can deliberately procrastinate to bring order and do the most important tasks first.

Citations

Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash

Here are three quotes on focus, order and productivity.

“Good order is the foundation of all things.” —  Edmund Burke

“All of life is the study of attention; where your attention goes, your life follows.” —  Jiddu Krishnamurti

“The ability to concentrate single-mindedly on your most important task, to do it well and to finish it completely, is the key to great success, achievement, respect, status, and happiness in life.” —  Brian Tracy, Eat That Frog

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This Act Will Define True Success For You

Do this one thing to earn the promise of success and longevity

“Honor your father and mother” — which is the first commandment with a promise — so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”  — Eph 6:2–3

[image error]Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

A couple of days ago, I was chatting with my son to check on his school, extracurricular activities, and how he was. He was very upbeat, telling me about his hat-trick that set up the win for his football team coming from two goals down. “I was frustrated missing some chances in the first half. But in the end, I got my hat-trick, and we won 6–2. Listening to him sound like me while talking about his maths and accounts assignment put a smile on my face. The closing exchanges of our conversation made me reflect on my interactions with my parents.

“Love you, dad.” And I replied, “I love you too, Champ.”

After that conversation, I realised I could not recall moments when I told my parents I loved them and vice versa. I have vowed to change that.

“I think sometimes that had I known she would not survive her illness, I might have written a different book — less a meditation on the absent parent, more a celebration of the one who was the single constant in my life….I know that she was the kindest, most generous spirit I have ever known and that what is best in me I owe to her.”  — Barak Obama, Dreams from My Father

We should not miss any opportunity to honour our parents. I took my chance by writing my first book, celebrating the values my mama instilled in me. And International Women’s Day is a timely reminder for us to honour our mothers — the sacrifices they made for us, the seeds they sowed in us and their selfless service to society.

I watched mama persevere through one high school teaching job and waited for almost 40 years despite all the challenges along the way. She went for months without pay, walked about 5KM under 30+ °C five days a week and hardly complained. To my youthful mind, this was unnecessary pain and suffering. So, I naively offered to pay mama’s salary for her to resign and stay home instead of “killing herself for no reward or recognition.” Her response has defined how I approach work and business.

“Ayo, it is not about the money. I will do it for free if I have to. It is my calling. I feel peace, satisfaction and fulfilment seeing my students graduate. And I will do it until I achieve my dream of becoming the principal.”

She waited for 33 years to realise that now. I retired happily a few years later with a sense of accomplishment that money cannot give.

My parents’ lessons and example have shaped the professional I am today, helped define my values and inculcated my work ethic. If we sincerely reflect, we will see we owe more to our parents than we may be crediting them for. And whether we accept it or not, I believe honouring our parents is the beginning of success.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” — John F Kennedy

Here are five ways I suggest we can honour our parents.

1) Tell them you love them. It may sound simple but is yet profound. Although I do this with my kids, it does not come naturally with my parents. But, I am making conscious efforts to tell them as much as possible.

2) Seek their counsel. My dad might be a high school dropout, but I have never underrated his experience and wise counsel. I honour him by seeking his advice when I face critical decisions in life, career or business.

3) Honour them with your substance. The little things will mean the most. We must provide for our parents financially.

4) Support and care for them. This is not financial. Show genuine interest — call, listen and talk to them. Recently, a friend told me how excited she was to be visiting her 100 years old nana. We can honour our parents with the value of our presence and attention.

5) Make them proud. We may say some parents are hard to please. And it does not mean we have to pursue the path they want for us. But, I am sure giving our best with consistency, commitment and character in what we do will make any parent proud.

The act of honouring our parents is good, and Godly teaches us to recognise authority and makes us humble.

If you have a rocky relationship with your parents, I encourage you to repair it. Learn from the late Maya Angelo. If you have a great relationship with them, make it even better.

“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.” — Prov 1:8–9

Whatever is the state of your relationship with your parents, invest in it. Honour them. It is the one act that will define true success for you.

Book recommendations

Photo by Devon Divine on Unsplash

I recommend these two books as guides and examples of how to honour our parents.

a) Mom, Me and Mom — by Maya Angelou (Rating: 5 stars)

If you need an example of how to transform your relationship with your parents positively, Maya Angelou’s third memoir is your go-to guide. Maya Angelou takes us through the transformational journey of a woman who abandoned her to the mother who became the most significant influence in her life. Expect some incredible poetic gymnastics.

b) The Hidden Promise, Honoring Your Parents — by Gregory B Grinstead (Rating: 5 stars)

Gregory gives a perspective to the subject that we can all learn from through the illustrations of his real-life stories. It is a practical manual of “how, why and when to honour your parents.”

Citations

Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash

Here are three quotes that will show us why and how to honour our parents.

“It’s respect for parents that is the basis for every other kind of respect and every other kind of authority.” —  Tim Keller

“If you build a society in which children honour their parents, your society will long survive. And the corollary is: A society in which children do not honour their parents is doomed to self-destruction.” —  Dennis Prager, A Dark Time in America

“Today, I celebrate my mother. Strong, passionate, stubborn and proud. An educator and a wife. She was both fearless and vulnerable, unashamed of either. She demanded the best, especially of me. I dedicate my life to exceeding her highest expectations. This is how I honour my mother, my friend, my inspiration. In spirit, she forever guides me. Thank you, momma, for I am never lost..” —  Carlos Wallace

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“You Don’t Reap What You Sow”

Learn these 7 Principles and Practices of the Harvest to Help you get What you Want

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”  — Gal 6:9

Photo by Rattasat from  Pexels

A close friend told me that her activity level with her clients does not match her revenue because most of her work has been pro bono. “I am busy, but it is not translating to Dollars and Cents.” I encouraged her to look at it as sowing, and she will not reap what she is sowing. The base in her voice went up a notch as she asked, “what do you mean?”

Let me explain, I said.

Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting a wonderful couple who have become family to me. Their stay made my “marringle” house feel like a home. Although our food was always ordered in or dined out, we had the most fun moments over meals. During our first breakfast on a Saturday, they asked if I get Sierra Leonean dishes in Dubai for them to try. I was sad to disappoint them. But the question reminded me of my childhood experience of sharing Mama’s cooking with my friends. I told them that a story of one of my after-school meal experiences with my friends made it to my book.

Having sparked their curiosity, they asked which of the six lessons was my favourite? I took a long pause, flipped through the pages and stopped at page 103, chapter 16. It was my first and deeply engrained lesson about giving and receiving. One day, I asked Mama why she was making me share the little food we had, depriving of food for the rest of the day. I felt she was punishing me for bringing my friends home, while I knew they followed me home because of her cooking.

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” ­ – Luke 6:38

Mama said that whatever you are willing to give to others will increase your life — tangible or intangible. If you want to be happy, make others happy. If you’re going to feel love, show love to others. To make money, you must be willing to give money.

Chapter 16 of my book is titled, Empower Others To Be Empowered. This principle has become the core of my philosophy.

“You don’t reap what you sow; you reap much more.” — Jim Rohn

Jim Rohn’s view about the harvest made this lesson even more profound to me.

I believe you can also benefit from understanding the seven principles and practices I have learnt about sowing and reaping.

1) You reap the product you sow. You don’t get mangoes if you plant oranges; you get mangoes. If you share knowledge, you learn.

Lesson: Sow what you want to reap. If you sow good, you reap good. If you sow bad, you reap bad.

2) You reap much more than you sow. If you plant a handful of maise, you harvest a field.

Lesson: You get more than you put it.

3) There are many ways of sowing.

Lesson: If you want to do something, you will find a way. And if you don’t, you will find an excuse.

4) The law of sowing and reaping is universal and permanent. Anyone who sows will reap.

Lesson: the law applies to everyone at every time; don’t try to circumvent it.

5) Sow in fertile grounds. If a farmer sows on rocky ground, the crops will die.

Lesson: Give your time, energy or money to people or causes that are deserving and not for your gain or glory.

6) You can lose what you sow. A storm or flood can wipe out a farmer’s field of crops, but he will plant in the next session.

Lesson: You will sometimes fail not by any fault of yours. But you must get up and try again, learning to “discipline your disappointments.”

7) If you don’t sow, you don’t reap. The farmer has to put his seeds on the soil to reap a harvest.

Lesson: Whatever you desire but do not have is something you have not sown. There is no receiving without giving.

The law of sowing and reaping can be positive and negative; you can make it work for or against you. But most important, it is the foundation for accountability. So, if you do not like what you are getting, check what you are planting.

Invest your time, money and energy wisely because how and where you invest will determine the outcomes in your life.

Book recommendations

Photo by Devon Divine on Unsplash

I recommend these two books to help you understand the principles, laws and benefits of sowing and reaping.

a) Sowing and Reaping — by Dwight L Moody (Rating: 5 stars)

The illustrations in this book will challenge you to reflect on what is dictating the outcomes you are getting in your life — what are you sowing?

b) How To Be Accountable — by Joe Beil and Faith G Harper (Rating: 4.5 stars)

Accountability is our responsibility. We must choose to hold ourselves accountable. The authors help us understand the meaning, principles and practices of accountability through their personal and professional journeys to help us live the life we want.

Citations

Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash

These three quotes will keep you accountable.

“Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.” —  Charles Reade

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” —  Robert Louis Stevenson

“There would be no advantage to be gained by sowing a field of wheat if the harvest did not return more than was sown.” —  Napoleon Hill

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Your IQ is Letting you Down. Master this New Q for Improved Job Performance

These soft skills make a hard case for promotion at work

“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” – Prov 27:17

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Did you know that chameleons do not change their colour to match their surroundings? Or that tomato is not a vegetable?

How do you react when you find out something you have believed was not true for the best part of your life? Do you accept the new fact, be in denial or remain indifferent?

While you might be indifferent to busted myths like the ones above, the fact I am about to share will have career-defining implications that you cannot afford to ignore.

“No emotions, Dunstan, no emotions.”

Those were the words of advice I received from my line manager about 13 years ago as a young financial controller in Kenya. I was fuming about the persistent budget overruns on the list of purchase orders I was reviewing at the time. The volume of my voice was up a few decibels while lamenting the need for stricter budgetary controls, given the significant cash pressures we were experiencing. Seeing that I was getting worked up, my manager advised that I should not let the work pressure get to me and act rationally. It is good advice not to make decisions when one is too happy, too sad or too angry.

So, I carried on my job for the next ten years, consciously ignoring and suppressing my emotions. My stress level dropped initially, as I constantly reminded myself to have “no emotions.” But then, I noticed I was not enjoying my work as I used to, and my performance was dipping. I also started questioning my commitment. Within the next year, I moved on to another job. The “no emotions” advice had now become my work mantra. Feeling unfulfilled, I left that job only after a year. But I still felt my performance had stalled; work felt mundane and unengaging.

But I blamed every possible external factor without questioning my approach because I believed I was technically competent and well experienced at my job. That was until I came across Daniel Goleman’s book — “Working with Emotional Intelligence. I realised I had taken the advice too literally. Being emotional at work is not wrong. Making that shift from “no emotions” to recognising and managing my emotions set me on a higher level of performance and job satisfaction.

“Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and those of the people around you.” — Mind Tools

If like me, you think your technical experience, intellectual ability and educational qualification are all you need to advance your career, you would be as wrong as thinking that chameleons change their colour to match their environment.

“IQ takes second place to EQ in determining outstanding job performance,” according to Daniel Goleman. EQ is the “new yardstick” for measuring employees capacity to excel at work. In the October 1995 edition of Time magazine, Nancy Gibbs stated that “the ability to delay gratification is a master skill” and a sign of EQ. And the magazine’s cover quoted Gibbs saying that EQ “may be the best predictor of success in life, redefining what it means to be smart.”

“Emotional intelligence, more than any other factor, more than IQ or expertise, accounts for 85% to 90% of success at work. IQ is a threshold of competence. You need it, but it doesn’t make you a star. Emotional intelligence can.” — Warren G Bennis

While science suggests that IQ is fixed, we can learn, develop and improve our EQ by internalising the five elements in Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Competency Framework: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills. I find the following six strategies proposed by Mind Tools to be effective in developing EQ:

1. Reaction to others. Observing how you react to others helps to improve empathy. Try not to judge others, avoid stereotyping, and be open to the needs and views of others.

2. Observe how your actions (and reactions) affect others. You shouting when you are angry, for example, may cause others to make mistakes or become withdrawn and disengaged.

3. Practice humility. Be self-confident but do not gloat or go after accomplishment for attention. Genuinely lookout for and celebrate the achievement of others. Humility will develop empathy and social skills.

4. Introspection and self-evaluation. Know thyself! Recognise your strengths and accept your weakness. Be honest with yourself. This strategy will improve your self-awareness.

5. Manage stress and negative emotions. Know your emotional triggers to manage how you react in stressful situations. Keep your emotions under control when things don’t go as you want or expect. This strategy will help you to self-regulate and be sociable.

6. Take responsibility for your actions. Accept your mistakes, admit when you are wrong. You will become a better team player and motivate you to learn and try new things.

The above strategies will ensure you develop the seven qualities of highly emotionally intelligent people, the essential traits of star performers. Star performers:

1) Have self-control

2) Use appropriate language

3) Know their emotional triggers

4) Empathise with others

5) Are approachable; and

6) Resolve conflicts

Embrace the paradigm shift from head skills to heart skills to help you build meaningful, lasting relationships and advance your career.

Go on lead with your heart, become a star!

Book Recommendations

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

I recommend these two books for developing your emotional agility and intelligence for building better relationships, and improving your job performance.

a) Working with Emotional Intelligence — by Daniel Goleman (Rating: 5 stars)

Nancy Gibbs summarised this book well in her 1995 Time magazine article — Emotional Intelligence: The EQ Factor.

“Goleman is looking for antidotes to restore “civility to our streets and caring to our communal life.” He sees practical applications everywhere for how companies should decide whom to hire, how couples can increase the odds that their marriages will last, how parents should raise their children and how schools should teach them.”

b) Emotional Agility — by Susan David (Rating: 4 stars)

Being emotional agile helps us find fulfilment in our life, work and relationships. This agility allows us to recognise negative emotions, so we step back from them and create room to find meaningful solutions to the problems we face.

Citations

Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash

These three quotes will motivate you to become more emotionally intelligent.

“There is an old-fashioned word for the body of skills that emotional intelligence represents: character .” —  Daniel Goleman

“Emotional intelligence is the ability to sense, understand, and effectively apply the power and acumen of emotions as a source of human energy, information, connection, and influence” —  Robert K. Cooper. Ph.D

“Emotional competence is the single most important personal quality that each of us must develop and access to experience a breakthrough. Only through managing our emotions can we access our intellect and our technical competence. An emotionally competent person performs better under pressure.” —  Dave Lennick

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A Critical Career Success Factor Endorsed by 80% of LinkedIn Professionals

A career lesson I learnt from a bike crash

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” – Prov 27:17

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

As I picked myself up from the asphalt, I realised why 80% of professionals on LinkedIn agree this one factor is critical for career success.

I paused my Garmin, examined my bike for damage and checked for any bodily injuries. Trust me, every cyclist can relate to that order of events after a “non-hospital” crash. My solid helmet prevented a trip to the hospital after a rookie mistake saw me slam the right side of my head on the tarmac. I shivered at the sight of the engraved marks on the helmet. Thankfully, I suffered only minor bruises to my knee and shoulder.

Despite the chaotic and unfriendly vehicular traffic, I always enjoy cycling in Freetown during my holiday visits. The fantastic group of young cyclists who are always on hand to ride with me give me the courage to dare the treacherous conditions on Freetown roads. The captain organises the group based on riders dexterity and experience. He is always looking out for my safety, pointing out road hazards, shouting at unscrupulous motorists and making sure experienced riders flank me along busy roads. I enjoy rides of more than 100KMs because of this team around me. But, disaster struck during the last ride of my January holiday trip.

“Never cross your front wheel against the front rider’s back wheel”.

I paid the price with a crash for not adhering to this important, unspoken rule of group cycling. An inexperienced rider slowed down immediately after overtaking me. I saw the impact coming but was helpless to avoid it. The thumping sound of my 86Kg frame hitting the tarmac drew attention and sympathy from pedestrians. After going through the post-fall ritual, I reflected on why and how the crash happened.

I concluded that the crash would not have happened if the group captain had been present.

Photo by Julia Larson from Pexels

“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” — Steve Jobs

“Who you know” than “what you know” may be more important for your career growth than you think.

“Almost 80 per cent of professionals consider professional networking to be important to career success”, — according to a 2017 online LinkedIn survey of almost 16,000 members from 17 countries.

“70 per cent of people in 2016 were hired at a company where they had a connection”, — according to a June 2017 LinkedIn publication.

I have found that a vital component of your network is the team you build to support your career growth and success. And in my experience, you need the following team players. I call it you MC3 (emcee cube)

1) Mentor

It would help if you had someone more experienced to walk “alongside” you, being a sounding board for your thoughts and questions. A mentor will provide varying and new perspectives from his superior experience.

“Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” — John Crosby

2) Cheerleader

When you go through an unavoidable period of self-doubt, you need reassurance from a trusted ally.

“Sometimes you’ve got to believe in someone else’s belief in you until your belief kicks in.” — Les Brown

3) Critic

You cannot grow without rejection because it unconsciously pushes you to discover your limit.

In 2018, Dragon’s Den investors labelled their idea ‘pasta le disaster’. Three years later, Alessandro Savelli, Chris Rennoldson, and Finn Lagun sold their business for GBP 40,000,000, according to a Sky News report.

4) Coach

As the captain in my cycling group rides, a career coach will help you avoid crashes and push you to go the distance in your career. In my experience, having a career coach is vital to accelerating your career growth.

I believe the meeting of my coach in 2014 changed my career trajectory. He painted a vivid picture of the CFO I wanted to become, and he guided me on a clear roadmap of how to get there. Our interactions helped me avoid some common career pitfalls, showed me how to leverage my strengths and identified a career development plan.

Are you looking for a career coach? Find a specialist in your field of interest who likely shares your goals.

Like in my Freetown rides, the cycling group captain can direct and guide the group to ensure the safest ride possible; it is up to the riders to pedal their bikes through hills and hazards on the road.

A coach will guide, challenge and motivate, but it is up to you to take charge and act to achieve your career growth objectives.

Book Recommendations

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

I recommend the following books as valuable resources in helping you build the right team to support your career growth.

a) The Start-Up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career — by Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha (Rating: 4 stars)

In this book, Reid and Ben suggest that you adopt the start-up mentality to succeed in today’s volatile and fast-paced corporate landscape. Entrepreneurs often invest in themselves, build a network, are resilient and take risks.

“Find your competitive advantage in the intersection of your assets, aspirations and market realities.”

b) The Long View: Career Strategies to Start Strong. Reach High and Go Far — by Brian Fetherstonhaugh (Rating: 4 stars)

During an era of shorter career spans, it helps to understand the average length of your career, the different stages and learning appropriate strategies to succeed at each step of the journey. What makes you happy? How do you achieve work-life integration? And what is your long-term view of success are some of the questions Brian tackles in this book.

The Long View is your go-to career strategy guide.

Citations

Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash

Here are three quotes to reframe your mindset about career coaching.

“Each person holds so much power within themselves that needs to be let out. Sometimes they just need a little nudge, a little direction, a little support, a little coaching, and the greatest things can happen.” —  Pete Carroll

“A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, who has you see what you don’t want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be.” —  Tom Landry

“Who, exactly, seeks out a coach? If you ask a coach, the answer is usually the same: Winners who want even more out of life.” —  Abigail Pickus

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Does Career Planning Feel Like Gymnastics to You?

Here is How To Design a Solid Career Plan

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” – Luke 14:28

Photo by Tim Mossholder from  Pexels

Most of us would have completed the ritual of making resolutions for the New Year. The problem with such resolutions is that they are wishful thinking in mind made under the euphoria of the ticking of the clock’s hand past midnight.

Such spur of the moment resolutions will not lead to any tangible achievements in life, business and certainly not in your career. A fleeting verbal statement will not resolve the confusion you have about growing your career. You must do better than a few resolutions if you are serious about growing your career.

One of the first people to coach me before I knew about career coaching gave me the most sincere advice that changed how I viewed my career in the last 15 years. Back then, part of me felt he said that to get me off his back. But, in quiet reflection, I realised it was the best thing he said to me in the four years we worked together.

“Dunstan, no one will take care of your career more than you.”

I took that advice to heart and went to work on my career. Two years of conscious, deliberate actions led me to my first ex-pat role in 2008. And seven countries and five telecommunications multinationals later, I realised my career goal of becoming a CFO. But, years of fiddling in the dark before I discovered the critical first step.

“Plan your work and work you plan” — Napoleon Hill

Photo by RODNAE Productions from  Pexels

The foundation of my career development journey was the robust plan I developed I developed in 2016. A working plan on paper which I updated every year to take the place of verbal resolutions.

The framework proposed by renowned brain coach, Jim Kwik, is the ideal three-part “Limitless model” for putting together a solid and robust career plan.

1) Mindset — discover yourself to develop the belief that your career goal is not out of reach. Finding what makes me happy, proud, and fulfilled helped me believe it was possible to become a CFO. According to Jim Kwik, our “mindset is made up of beliefs, assumptions and attitudes.”

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.  — Mark Twain

2) Motivation — finding your WHY? Your purpose will give you the drive and energy to pursue your career target. What are your values and needs? Why do you want to pursue your career goal? To paraphrase Simon Sinek, you need to know why you do what you do if you are to experience career growth. Knowing your purpose will help you work with integrity.

Jim Kwik motivation formula:

Motivation = Purpose x Energy x S3 (S3 = small simple steps)

“Reasons reap results.”  — Jim Kwik

3) Methods — the tools and techniques bring it all together. This step is your HOW? I selected the Life Workbook from Mind Tools, an online career learning hub. This tool covered all areas of life, including career planning. I find it practical, relevant and easy to use and update. It is focused on setting SMART goals — Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and Time-based.

I am sure you can find many other tools out there. The important thing is to get a tool that will force you to write your goals down.

Then create a system of habits and not a list of outcomes. I always asked my coach what a CFO would do in every given circumstance because I wanted to develop the system CFO adopted. For example, I created a daily reading system to better present, speak and coach. Also, to be an author, I created a system of consistently writing these newsletters you are reading now. The goal is to be an author. The system is to write consistently.

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”  — James Clear

You are more than likely to have forgotten your New Year resolutions by now if you made them on the 1st of January. And if you are confused about growing your career, start by accepting it is your responsibility.

1) Take inventory of where you are, determine where you want to go and the gap between the two.

2) Develop the right mindset, not doubting yourself.

3) Find your motivation, your WHY. Answer the question of why are you pursuing your chosen career goal? Why do you do what you do?

4) Deploy proven methods, tools and techniques to help you build the system to reach your goal.

I believe if you apply these steps, you will develop a solid and robust career plan that will help you achieve your career goals the way they helped me become a CFO and an author.

Book Recommendations

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

The two books below will help you find the tools, techniques and motivation to grow your career.

a) Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance — by Angela Duckworth

b) Your Career: How To Make It Happen — by Lauri Harwood, Lisa M.D. Owens and Crystal Kadakia

Citations

Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash

Here are three quotes to help change how you think about and approach career growth.

“If an egg is broken by an outside force, life ends. If broken by an inside force, life begins. Great things always begin from the inside.” —  Jim Kwik

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” —  Albert Einstein

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” —  Mark Twain

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