You 2008! The Race for Your Destiny!

Presidential politics have always been interesting. I think the thrill comes from the many dynamics of watching the race - personalities, philosophies, partnerships, passions, perspectives, promises, peculiarities, prejudices and people are all developed, exposed, shaped and redefined in so many different ways. This year's race for the White House is a very unique one. So many interesting dynamics come into the 2008 race for the White House - we have an African American among the leading contenders, we have a woman in the mix, religion might be a huge factor since there’s a Mormon running as a republican, then there's former New York mayor with quite a history of big moments and little moments in his life and so many other factors.

The other day one of the contenders came to Cincinnati - senator Barrack Obama - to meet the people. I like Senator Obama - not just because his heritage is from my birth country of Kenya - but because he is a sound leader. As a compelling public figure in America, I think he brings a lot of hope to many in the country. He is very thoughtful and has America at the center of his heart. While it is great to root for someone and champion their ideals, I think it is also essential we understand that we have our own race to run. How about championing your own passions and purposes every single day! I want you to consider campaigning for yourself in the greatest race of all time - the race to fulfill your potential and live your very best life! Seek for materials and products that will empower YOU with knowledge, skills, wisdom and resources that will enlighten, encourage, equip, embolden and enable YOU to embody the better life. I encourage you to focus on your own personal growth and development. Discover your true potential and unleash your maximum capabilities! Find what you were born to do and give it your very best shot.

What Leaders Should Follow

A few weeks ago I found myself stuck in traffic really close to a bakery. I wasn’t thinking of anything specific and allowed myself the pleasure of having my eyes roam about the neighborhood. Within a short time I learnt what had caused the traffic to build up. A bunch of people were standing in front of the bakery getting free bread for the holiday season. I could hear from the noise that they were excited. The smell of baked bread filled the area. I could easily see a crowd in the area right in front of the bakery and my gut feeling was that the bread was being given for free. Right at that moment I decided to be creative and use my time in traffic in developing some thoughts on leadership, based on what I was seeing in front of me. I was able to come up with the following four things that leaders should follow:

1. Follow your ear (I heard the noise)

Learn to act on what you hear your followers whisper. If you can act on the whispers, you won’t have to react to the screams later on. Sensitize your ear to the imperceptible cries of your people. Your ear should be able to vibrate with what is resounding from the lives of your followers. A leader should always have his ear on the ground but not all the time because if you are always bent on the ground and listening you can’t be able to see ahead. There must be a balance. The leaders ear must ring with the voices of the people.

2. Follow your nose (Oh the smell of bread!)

Strive to perfect your ability to smell what is coming. I learnt this from watching leopards hunt back home in the plains of Kenya. Their main advantage is that they can smell their prey from very far. Let us endeavor to smell the future before it arrives. The better your leadership smell buds, the more accurate you will be in anticipating inevitable happenings. The leadership nose is able to determine what is good and what is bad. We like what smells good isn’t it? Leaders should be able to sense the flavor before serving their followers. That’s the key to winning their hearts.

3. Follow your eyes (I saw the crowd)

This is where many leaders lose it. They leap before they look. In more adverse situations, they think before they look. I would like to change a very popular saying. They say “Look before you leap” but I say, “Look before you think and then think before you leap.” As a leader, you must be able to first analyse a situation, synthesise it and then pounce on it. Because leaders possess the big picture and see the whole view before their followers, they can easily be enticed by what looks appealing. Leaders should be able to see, then use their minds and determine the right course of action.

4. Follow your gut (I sensed they were getting free bread)

Intution is a leader’s best friend. This is something that many leaders have yet to fully grasp. You can’t teach anyone how to listen to the gut. It’s something that is cultivated personally. Just a little wisdom to help you as you do this: THE GUT SIGNAL is like red lights flashing within you. Leaders should be able to sense things so that they are not caught unawares.

Ear, nose, eyes and gut - the anatomy of leadership!