Execution

Wow! It’s been a while! First things first, Happy New Year and Happy New Month!

Away from the niceties and into the central theme of this article. So, today I would like to handle a critical matter, that is, execution. I felt the urge to begin my writing this year with an important subject that really separates leaders from followers, the successful from the unsuccessful, the rich from the poor, and the wise from fools. In one way or the other, execution is one of the most significant elements to success in any field. Time and again, we have heard that “procrastination is the thief of time.” Also, we know that procrastination is the silent killer of man’s deepest dreams yet we still find ourselves pushing forward a significant activity. How many times have we backed out of important but not urgent matters? In any case, what often makes us fail to spring into action may be fear, paralysis by analysis, or the discouragement concerning the effort that we need to put into attaining the success. At other times, it may be the lack of enthusiasm or drive to just get it done.

Image Credits: Board of Wisdom

On a lighter note, I read someone’s post on social media where he had written that the year often begins in March; January and February serve as a period of reminiscing the past year and also as a grace period for preparing to enter into the new year. Funny weird, isn’t it? It is easy to conclude that such comments come from a lack of enthusiasm and motivation to seize the day. In effect, inaction breeds immobility and yet time and tide wait for no man! We ought to be in action, but this does not mean that we just move around aimlessly without a purpose. We need to have a purpose and to attain this purpose, we ought to set goals. To accomplish the goals, we need to execute the steps necessary to achieve them. Ever heard of the quote which says, “Dreams without goals are just dreams…and they fuel disappointments.” We hate disappointments, right?

Image Credits: Quotefacny

The Good Book tells us that, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” [Proverbs 4:7, KJV]. So, in the above scripture, we have two elements – Wisdom and Understanding. The latter is gotten as people gain knowledge. We know that wisdom and knowledge go hand in hand. However, there is an important factor that connects the two. This factor is execution. Even as man searches for knowledge, there is the need for them to appreciate that the wisdom is in the execution! If you cannot put into practice (execute) what you learn, then the knowledge becomes useless.

Image Credits: Highland Park Baptist Church

Imagine you are an archer and you have really prepared well for a particular global tournament. When you win the competition, you get to walk home with a fortune. So, the tournament is held in an arena as large as the Wembley Stadium and is being broadcasted worldwide. It is your turn to march on to the field and take your shots. The only challenge is that there is no target! What! After all the preparations you walk into a competition, and there is no target? Well, that’s madness, isn’t it? Well, that’s how a large portion of the world is today! Shocked? Yes, we have many people with all the knowledge in the world, but they do not know where to apply it! It is said that the greatest tragedy in life is not death but a life without purpose.

Image Credits: InspireCast

Knowing one’s purpose is the first step to living a great life. However, we also have individuals who know their purpose, but they have a rough time living their destiny. They have all the knowledge concerning the direction they should take but are still unsuccessful. In essence, their outward life does not portray who they are on the inside. On the inside, they may be having all the knowledge concerning their specialization, but on the outside, they are unsuccessful in their profession. Mercy! One of the challenges could be that they are poor in applying the knowledge they possess. Yes, we all desire to be wise. However, in our pursuit for wisdom, we face a lot of hurdles that at times make us play low in the name of sparing ourselves the blushes. However, there is a remedy for all that. The power lies in the execution. Simply put, “gaining knowledge is good, but wisdom is in the execution/application of whatever one has learned.” Also, “Knowledge is power but knowledge without action is useless.”

Image Credits: Brainy Quote

Indeed, wisdom is the principal thing. We could go on and on expounding on the subject, but I choose to leave it at this point. Well, wisdom is knowing your strengths and weaknesses and taking the necessary actions to improve further. So, for a long time, I have been battling with execution. It has been a struggle not only in business but also in life. From time to time, I was wondering why my life was not improving despite all the effort I put in gaining knowledge only to know that I was poor when it came to execution. However, now I have a clear picture of my weakness.
For a start, I have begun reading Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan’s book titled, “Execution – The Discipline of Getting Things Done.” I have not gone past chapter one, and I am already learning a lot. In the book, Bossidy and Charan investigate how great leaders are masters of execution. In essence, they state that most companies struggle to make great strides because they are weak at execution. My reason for reading the book is to help revive my side-hustle which is in the negative zone despite having a great strategy and a grand master plan.

Image Credits: Amazon

Even you today, you can identify areas in your life where you have failed to take appropriate action and begin to move. Remember, wisdom and power lie in the execution. Also, remember that the knowing is in the doing. And when you are overwhelmed, remember to seek assistance. Indeed, there is no shame in asking for help.

Happy Execution folks!

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Bonus Thought

We have a lot of self-improvement books, and we also have a lot of motivational speakers. In the present age where technology is transforming the way we live, we also have motivational channels and accounts. So, we are well equipped with the knowledge we need to live a great life. However, the challenge lies in the execution. Yes, the information we get from all the books, channels, accounts, and the people around us would not work unless we apply it, period! Even the reading of the scripture and listening to sermons would not work unless you work it out! At times, the results may take longer to manifest, but one thing is for sure, the right execution techniques will yield the desired results.

Image Credits: Pinterest

Mind shift during crisis…

On a day like this last week, fuel supply stations across the country increased their fuel prices owing to the retention of 16% VAT on fuel tax by the government. This would then lead to a significant rise in the price of commodities and services across various sectors of our economy. Essentially, the transport sector was the first to raise the fare prices because they are primarily dependent on fuel to conduct their errands. If at all the president is to assent to the Finance Bill 2018 which also includes the 16% VAT fuel tax, then we would witness the continued rise in the price of other commodities and rates. One week later and we are still yet to come to terms with the new way of life. We are anticipating the return of our President from his foreign trip hoping that indeed he will save a nation by rejecting the bill. Indeed, tough times call for new measures.

There is one thing that has become unique among Kenyans – creating humor out of just anything! Every time we are undergoing a particular crisis, we cannot fail to find jokes associated with it. In this case, we hear individuals saying that there is one specific region that hasn’t complained about the recent rise of the fuel prices only because they are waiting on the jet fuel prices to rise before they start throwing stones (hehe!). Many memes have been generated in relation to our current fuel crisis.

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Away from the fuel crisis and onto the main agenda of this post. Well, today I want to focus on how this crisis is a blessing in disguise. In the past, before bodabodas became common in our suburbs, we used to trek to our homes without taking into various factors into consideration. Our main agenda was to reach home – period! These days, you cannot walk in any suburb without hearing the irritating beeps of a speeding motorcycle or even spotting some riders riding past you without an ounce of care. We have gotten accustomed to riding home merely because the price they charge is within our means. However, with the current fuel crisis, this is bound to change. We are about to witness a situation where some individuals would prefer walking rather than hopping on a motorcycle because of a fare rise. It is at this point that I feel like bubbling, “Brethren, count it all joy as you get used to this new lifestyle of walking, as each step shapes you up and brings you out of lifestyle diseases!” Indeed, walking is a simple form of exercise that we do subconsciously. It would be of great help to the society to see more people embracing walking out of the current fuel crisis.

In more developed suburban areas, we have feeder roads that are tarmacked or fitted with cabro works. Essentially, this could present one with a chance to learn a new skill – skating. Yes! You could embrace skating as a new skill. I have a friend who set skating as one of his 2018 resolutions and true to it, he has moved from knocking knees to amateur status. I am sure most of us dream of skating one day yet we often find excuses for not engaging in it. However, this crisis could present you with the opportunity to begin skating classes. Hurry up! What are you waiting for?

Skating at Aga Khan Walk / Kenyanstar.co.ke

Besides skating, there is also cycling. In Kenya, cycling to work is seen as a lower income class activity while in the developed nations such as the Netherlands, it is regarded to be nobler to cycle rather than drive a car! (Well, two worlds apart there!) In fact, last year in October, Netherlands Prime Minister rode a bicycle to the Royal Palace for a high profile meeting with the King of Netherlands! Is that even possible in Kenya? Picture this, Governors riding bicycles to meet with the President, huh? or Parliamenterians riding bicycles to the National Assembly and the Senate, really? Ahem! I am looking forward to that day when cycling to work would be the new in-thing.  A time when we would not be pressured to acquire the latest Mercedes or Subaru model; a moment in time when we would all be glad to cycle to work together not minding how the day will turn out to be but just enjoying the ride to work (tour de job eh!). Well, as of now, these visions remain to be just a fairy tale.

Netherlands Prime Minister, Mark Rutte rides bicycle to Royal Palace! / Premium Times

New Zealands Minister for Women rode to hospital to give birth to her first child. / MPR News

Nevertheless, if the fuel crisis is to persist, we are likely to witness more individuals walking to cover short distances that they would have been glad to board a matatu or hop on a bodaboda before. As they walk, it would be prudent that they use that time wisely by engaging in constructive activities such as listening to informative podcasts or even an audio book. Essentially, they would be killing two birds with one stone (Oh no! Not even two but three birds – exercise for the body as they walk, building up of their mind as they listen to the podcast or audiobook, and accomplishing their main goal that is, reaching their destination).

 

 

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Various individuals listening to podcasts and audiobooks while on the move.

 

Indeed, the fuel crisis is laden with blessings in disguise only if we choose to take a look at the bigger picture. Taking up skating is an opportunity to tick off one of the activities found in the bucket lists of many individuals while walking is a great chance to exercise and hence overcome lifestyle diseases in the long run. On the other hand, embracing cycling as a mode of transport could see a revolution in the transport sector in that we would not worry about air pollution. Nonetheless, listening to audiobooks during walks would lead to the birth of healthy and wise individuals. So, what’s your point of view?

Your mind’s power is LIMITLESS….

I am an avid follower of TED Talks. This ritual was enhanced more recently due to the fact that Capital FM Kenya airs TED Talks Radio edition each Thursday from 10p.m to 11p.m with repeats on Sunday at the same time.

 

As I was making a follow up on past episodes, I happened to come across one where a young boy by the name Richard Turere from the Maasai community came up with an invention to outsmart lions which had been a nuisance to his community.

 

His invention was born when one morning he woke up and found that their only bull had been killed by a lion. He hated lions to death. At first, he used fire to scare away the lions at night only to find out that it aided them on their mission to attack the livestock in the shed. Secondly, he tried using a scarecrow but the lions were clever since they realized that it was stationary. Then one night he decided to take a walk around the cow shed using a torch and to his surprise, the lions did not come.

              

 

 

It was on that night that he made the discovery that lions are afraid of moving light. Using an old car battery, an indicator box from a motorcycle, a solar panel, and bulbs from obsolete flashlights he implemented his idea. The working mechanism is as follows: The solar panel charges the car battery from which the indicator box is connected. The light bulbs are connected from the indicator box. The indicator box enables the light bulbs to flash on and off. He then set up the system at his home and since then, his family has known peace.

As a result of this simple invention, he was lucky to get a scholarship to study at Brookhouse International School which is among the best and most prestigious schools in Kenya. As a young boy grazing livestock in the fields, he used to watch planes fly high up in the sky and he used to tell himself that one day he will board one. His chance to board one came when he was invited to give a talk about his invention on TED. You can have a look at his talk in the video below:

 

Richard’s amazing story serves to remind us that there is always an opportunity in the midst of our challenges. We should always make it a point to try and discover what is hidden within the challenges that we encounter. Many inventions and success stories around the world were born out of a problem. Your mind’s power is indeed LIMITLESS.