This and that

November 23, 2009

Its one hundred and ninety-nine days to the World Cup in South Africa.  I can really feel the buzz and excitement over 2010. The countdown to the 2010 spectacle fills me with great hope about what this tournament could do not only for South Africa but the continent as a whole. I am very optimistic about the future.  I will not wait for tomorrow to be positive. I start today. In fact I start right now and I am helping to spread the positive vibe. It’s a great time to be in Africa.

I recently changed departments at work. I am now in a much bigger team which means more relationship building and more dynamics and I am already enjoying it. It was sad to leave my old team but I take all the lessons with me and  look forward to the new challenges that await me. With the new area and space come new frontiers and  new possibilities! There is no progress without change. If we must change let’s do so in progress.

I also signed up for the “Dynamics of Personal Goal Setting” programme last month with the Success Motivation Institute. I hope to have completed this in a few months time.  For a long time I was unsure about which programme but eventually settled on this one.There are a number of products in the market.   However, success in either my personal life or work life is not enough.  I need it in both areas of my life.  The two areas must be complementary and not working against each other. I need not choose one over the other! Both areas are critical. Going forward I will be re looking at what this success really is and reduce it to goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reliable and Time-bound. The goals need  to be SMART.

I am currently reading former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov’s “How Life imitates chess.” I hope to share some insights from this book in the coming weeks. Each day I am trying to cover at least at a chapter. I have also  found a bit of time to catch up on chess. I am not too happy with my standard of chess and am working on getting a decent rating. I am using an old version of the chess program Fritz.  I saw little need to upgrade to a recent program.

Interestingly I am trying to achieve all these things while spending less time online. This has been a big challenge but I am already realising the benefits. It means more time for family and other things I would otherwise not be able to do. In this day and age when we are inundated with so much information, maybe we need to draw the line somewhere. I had to. BTM (Shortly before posting this blog, the article had simply disappeare. I had not realised that my modem had disconnected from the internet and attempts to update were unsucessful. I had just about given up on blogging for today. Fortunately WordPress saves drafts every now and I was able to pick off from a draft.)

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Commit! Follow through! The pain!

November 10, 2009

I made the commitment some months ago regarding a number of goals in my life. The commitment would have far reaching implications in my working and personal life. The goals stretch beyond the current circumstances of my life.

I realised that no one was  going to set the goals for me. No one was going to push me to achieve these goals for me.  I had to do it, not for anyone else but for me.  It was not about conforming to or fulfilling some external standard or requirement. I set the standard that I had to meet myself.   I knew the potential I had but this was not enough and never has been. I needed the reality!

After the decision regarding the goal was made, after I committed,  I acknowledged the sacrifices that would have to be made. In return for the progress I sought, I needed to step out of my comfort zone. To get out there and convert uncertainties.  Unless we are willing to till and cultivate the land, it will not bear any fruit for us. To go beyond what I have known into a new terrain, new environment, new world but also one of  great promise and prospects. To have my views challenged, to learn new things, to be in a different space. All these come with the territory I seek to gain.

Because I had the dream only I really knew about the dream.  No one could deny my dream. I saw everything clearly and vividly as if it were right before my eyes.  I did not need to convince anyone I had the dream.  There is no evidence of the dream for anyone to see and no need to give any evidence of the dream. There was no need to tell anyone about the dream, except he that cared to listen and who could help in realising the  dream, even though it was my very own.  There is neither any evidence of the dream for anyone to see nor the need to provide any evidence to anyone.  The dream was mine to cherish but more crucially it was mine to take forward and mine to live. What I do might appear meaningless but daily my thoughts, words and actions are directed and focused on and aligned to  my dream.

To say that I had the chance in my life and I made the most of it. To say that I had a dream, woke up and actively worked towards that dream.  I started working on the dream before I forgot what the dream was about. I wrote down the details of the dream and every day I stopped to think about the dream. I followed that which I saw in the dream. I followed my heart. I followed through on the dream.

Now I feel the pain of following the dream.  The pain is necessary. Without this pain there is no gain. For me the dream will remain in the main. Every day towards the dream my eyes and body will train, my efforts not to be in vain. Even if I must go through the rain, and risk a coat with stain.  In my mind there is no doubt, not even a grain. From this goal I will not refrain even if my strength should drain.  I committed, made the follow-through and I will deal with the pain.  In time it is no longer the dream I long for but the reality I experience. BTM

http://journeysinlife.com

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Life, chess, strategy, tactics!

November 4, 2009

A few days ago I  picked up Garry Kasparov’s “How Life Imitates Chess.”  I have had the book for months now but just could not find time to read it. I have decided that no matter how busy I am, I need to find time to read every day, even if it’s just one page.

Chess is one of my favourite hobbies and over the years I have noticed how many things  in chess apply to life and vice versa. Two common things that we find both in life and chess are tactics and strategy. The same could be said of other sports. Before we embark on the execution by way of tactics which are short term, we need to be guided by a long term plan, the strategy.

The long term plan is brought to life by executing  small shorter term plans which are aligned to that overall strategy.  Without short term plans it would be impossible to achieve our long term plans or strategy. The long term plan is too big to fully implement in one go. The short term plans make it digestible.  It is achievable after all but one step at a time!

The tactics we use each step today will be guided by the strategy in mind. The strategy is fairly dynamic and living. As the circumstances change so will our strategy. An old strategy can only be sufficient for old situations. If things change we must upgrade our strategy. As we upgrade our strategy there will be impact on the kinds of tactics we use.  Sticking rigidly to one strategy without any enhancements along the way is a recipe for disaster. As the facts change, we must change our views and assessments.

Most of us have long term plans regarding our working and personal lives. Sometimes we even plan for future generations. However, each day gives us a chance to take a step towards that vision. Each day we are required to carry out a short term plan. The sum total of our short term plans is the long term plan. The short term plans we carry out bring to life our long term plans but it’s a gradual process. It’s a journey! BTM

http://journeysinlife.com/

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The rocky road on the journey

November 3, 2009

A few days ago I had the distinct  feeling that my train had derailed. Instead of being keen to motivate and inspire others, I found myself badly needing some inspiration to keep going. Could I heed and implement the advice which I had given so liberally?  Could I swallow the bitter medicine I had so enthusiastically prescribed to others.  Someone once said that I always have something to say. What was I saying now? I was deadly silent trying to figure out what had just happened. I had nothing to say and didn’t need anyone to say anything to me.

It was life that had happened and life was continuing. I sat trying to piece words and ideas together but nothing would come. I was just blank. I wondered how I could have been in this situation when everything looked so rosy before. I had been making  projections of various sorts and pondering my next move.  Had I counted my chicks before they were hatched? Had I gone ahead of myself preparing for a future which had not come to be. Well the reality and the present are very much here.

This happens during the journey. You think you have almost arrived but you realise you have just taken a wrong turn that gets you back to square one.  The gains are reversed. Instead of trying to add to our gains we find ourselves fighting to limit the losses and the damage.  Don’t forget the experience that you are gaining in the process.  Is there a better teacher in this world than experience? It’s not entire back to scratch because you have the hindsight and little  wealth of experience gained. Things are not always going to be so difficult. It may be dark and windy today but tomorrow the sun will be shining again. If only you can endure the storm you will experience the beautiful calm that follows.

Obstacles will come your way but there is way around them if not over them. Dodge them if you have to. Do what it takes to move forward.  The current hardships are only temporary. Tomorrow it’s a different situation.  But for now deal with it. Let’s continue with the journey. BTM

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Quotes and tweets

October 30, 2009

Its been a long day. I have spent the past few hours on the computer doing all sorts of things. One of the last things I do before I retire from the computer is tweet. Today the theme was on the vision.  I have tried to play around with words to generate my own quotes I send out to friends and followers on Twitter. I also touched briefly on legacy.

When I generate my own quotes I generally come up with a theme I would like to focus on and try and play around with words.  The words need to have impact and it must not be someone else’s quote. I also try to avoid quotes I have done before. This is quite a challenge but it’s something I love. Some years ago I used to send short text messages to friends in the mornings. Blogging and sending tweets make it so much easier now.

Yesterday the theme on twitter was on the Journey. I thought the quotes I came up with were rather flat and long winded. Well today I try again! I always want to better what I have done the previous day.  Generally I come up with the themes when I get home and sit on the computer.

Sometimes this process of coming up with quotes can take a few minutes or even hours before I can come up with something reasonable.  Before I finalise quotes I will often look up meanings of words, expressions and idioms on the internet just to make sure I am on the right track.  The freedictionary and wikipedia are my favourites but I am always on the lookout for other sources of information as well. If I just can’t come up with anything original on the day, I look up other quotes on the internet.

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No need to be a panic mechanic!

October 23, 2009

How often do we panic when we are lost in life?  Lost in the journey of life, lost at work, lost on the road, lost in relationships.  Panic seriously affects our ability to make sound decisions.

We are anxious to get somewhere  in a mad rush, anxious to meet some deadlines at work, anxious to resolve personal issues and to compound matters we are in completely unfamiliar territory.  We are dealing with a new problem.

In fact  the panic  probably increases risk of costly mistakes because instead of focussing on the important thing which is finding our way out, getting the correct solution and making the right decision we are worrying about all kinds of things. 

What  if we don’t make the deadline,  What if we can’t solve all the problems, What if we can’t find the right road out.

You are not the first to be confronted with such situation and certainly not the last. You will get through this. Indeed you will live!

One of the problems with panic is that it’s quite contagious. Panic spreads alarm quickly. When everyone is in a state of panic, there is no hope for anyone. When people panic they are preoccupied with the problem and the impending doom and gloom instead of the solution that is needed and could be found, if only someone could have time for it.

Panic is not going to improve matters. It never has and never will.  Panic leads us deeper into the wilderness of the problem and it’s complications. We need to get back to the road of reason and rationality.

If we dealing with a new problem, we probably need a new solution. Old solutions worked for old problems. With new challenges we also need a new way of thinking and approaching the challenges.

While you are lost take the opportunity to discover new routes that may come in handy at a later stage. You would probably not have discovered these routes if you had not been lost. In the midst of your problems at work, your familiarity with the situation and its dynamics improve. In the personal space you are explorations new depths and breadths of the relationship.

You will find a way out, eventually. How many people do you know who have lost forever? Minimise the time between your getting lost and redemption. Minimise the downtime and work steadily towards the uptime.

Focus on arriving in one peice. Don’t endanger the lives of others as you drive recklessly. Don’t ruin precious relationships with colleages.  Don’t burn bridges with loved ones.

Even when you are lost keep a cool head. Eventually you will find your way. When you keep a cool head it’s so much easier to co-ordinate the ideas. Chances are someone outside the situation could have a fresh perspective that saves the day!

Panic wastes energy. Instead of screaming at everyone, biting out all our nails, walking around aimlessly BE STILL and FOCUS. Concentrate your energy on the problem at hand.  What’s done is done! You can’t change the past but you can certainly do something in the present. You can impact positively on the future. You can change the course of events for the better. If only you can stop being a panic mechanic! BTM

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KQS!

October 21, 2009

What are you going to KEEP (K)doing?
What are you going to QUIT (Q) doing?
What are you going to START (S) doing?
There are some things you are doing right surely.
There are things you excel in,
KEEP doing them.
KEEP at it!
Look and find ways to maintain your staying power.
You know what they say, If you got a good thing, KEEP it going!
KEEP it real!
KEEP it!

QUIT the bad stuff,
QUIT the bad habits.
These take you nowhere.
It might hurt a little, a lot even but think of the long term.
You know you are going to get better if you QUIT now.
QUIT while you can,
QUIT the nonsense.
QUIT it!

START now.
START doing those things that have been on your mind for some time.
You know you need to do those things.
What are you waiting for? When are you going to get STARTed.
You won’t believe how could good it will feel once you are STARTed.
What a difference you’re going to make.
So get STARTed!
On your marks, get set, START!
If you ain’t KEEPing anything,
And you ain’t QUITing anything,
And you ain’t STARTing anything,
Then we got a problem for sure!!
We need to check for a pulse.

Bruce Tendai Mubayiwa (BTM) ©

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Blogging

October 18, 2009

I have been blogging for a little while now but actually had no idea how this whole thing started or where the term blogging came from. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogging

For many years now I enjoyed writing things down whether in a diary, little pieces of paper anything I could get my hands on.  One of the biggest challenges I faced was maintaining records of all the material. Sadly a good deal of it was lost or destroyed. I have tried to reproduce some of it from memory. While the actual words may differ, I think I have been able to capture the same underlying ideas as before.

The breakthroughs in technology (including social network websites and micro-blogging included)  make it so much easier than before to readily capture and share our thoughts and ideas. We can do this on the go. I often wonder how prolific writers and authors in the centuries gone by  would have fared in the 21st Century.  With much less at their disposal they were able to write so much. How much more would they have done with the same tools today? Who knows.

Time will tell whether blogging is here to stay or just a fad.  There are thousands of blogs in the cyberspace graveyard for blogs. This is the least of my worries though. BTM

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The wrong game, the game to avoid! BTM

October 13, 2009

What is the right game? I have no idea what that game is for you. However, here  are some tell tale signs that you could be playing the wrong game.

1)  You don’t actually enjoy playing this game. Playing the game has become an obligation. You spend a good deal of the term thinking about things outside the game. It is not uncommon for you to spend considerable amounts of time looking at the stands. You envy those who are not playing the game with you.

2) You feel trapped in the game. You feel that you have to keep playing no matter what. You feel like a hamster running in the wheel There is no stopping. The game has become a critical part of your life. You can’t imagine your life without the game. But you know even if you stop playing, the game will go on.

3) Your game and your life have become interchangeable. The game is an important part of your life but like any game you play, you put away the playkit at the end of the day and start again tomorrow. You cannot live the game twenty four seven. There needs to be a start and stop regarding the game.

4) You don’t feel you are making any difference to anyone anything. Some people you play with don’t actually know what position you play in the game. You are a mystery man in the game.

5) The game adds to your stress each day. Each day there are more problems coming out of the game. You wonder and ask yourself, what will it take to enjoy the game.

6) The greatest moments are when you are not playing. This is very sad! The time spent away from the game should be a time to get much needed rest, regroup and refocus. However, being away from the game itself should be a great cause for celebration. While we are out of the game, we should ponder and reflect on how we are playing the game and see if anything else can be done.

7) The minute you start playing the game, you wish you could take a time out and you do anything to delay the game. You become known for being a slow player. No one can count on you when you are playing.

8 ) You are playing for the wrong reasons. During the first days the game was great fun. You wanted to win so badly and you thought it would make you happy for as long as you played. Now you are just one miserable player in the game!

9) Mention of the game brings bad memories. Mention of the game to you is enough to spoil the day. The game is anything but fun for you. The game is drudgery. The game is discomfort.

Are you playing the right game? No one can really know the right game for you.

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Apostle Paul

October 10, 2009

Apostle Paul
Whose portrait is on the wall,
In this great hall,
Was once a man call Saul,
Then to Christ he was gall.

One out to maul,
On a roll,
Ready for all to fall,
Then he had his call,
Which took its great toll,
On him as a whole,
And His soul,
And just about all.
He had his fall
He had to crawl

What a light,
So bright,
At that site,
For a while lost his sight,
Something he would always cite,
The experience would bite,
How could he fight,
When not he was right,
But the Lord who said his plight,
Yes Saul in His might,
Like one high up a kite,
Was cut down in height,
Maybe not quite,
But now he’s so pure, in the great light!
- Bruce Tendai Mubayiwa (BTM)

(I wrote this around January 2006)

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