Pursuing Excellence

In our world today we have plenty of gold and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel. Are your lips adorned as rare jewels or are they filled with the poison of an Asp?

Many people have refused to take total control of their own personal development. They have no clearly defined written values, vision or strategy. They are trapped in chains as in Fig 1.1, barely getting by, they are what I call triple D's, discouraged, dissatisfied and distressed.

I wish to help you establish the real truth about yourself and assist you to unleash your maximum potential. These simple tips, if applied, will change your life. It has changed mine and thousands of other people. Especially people who were disadvantaged and underprivileged.

When I lived in Jamaica, I used to take the donkey to the river for water, but no matter what I did, the donkey would not drink. I would kick, push and scream at the donkey, but he still would not drink until he wanted to! Your development is in your hands, it is your responsibility. If you refuse to drink, there is not anything anyone in the world can do until you are ready. We could kick, push and scream at you as much as we like, it is still when you are ready. I believe that you have read this far because you are more than ready. I am about to share with you thirteen of the most powerful secrets to power and self development. If you obey these fundamental principles, I promise you that your life will never be the same.

The more crystal clear your values and visions are, the more powerful you become within yourself. The opposite is also true. Without values and vision you are powerless and at the mercy of others. Self development begins when you set clearly defined values and visions for yourself. Without them you will be shooting in the dark, watch out for the rebound.

Once you have chosen your career or the thing you wish to spend most or all of your life doing, become an expert at it. Is it not true that over 90% of the people who receive the highest wages are the experts? In sports and entertainments who are the highest paid people? I submit to you that they are the experts. In any organisation, the highest paid people are the experts. If you do not believe me check it out. We pay footballers millions for their expertise. Bill Gates (the computer giant) has become one of the richest and most powerful men in the world because of his expertise. The more you become an expert in your organisation or chosen field, the more powerful you will become.

What is it that makes Michael Jackson so popular? Results. What is it that makes Bill Gates so rich and famous? Results. Why is Martin Luther King Jnr so loved? Results. Why is Jesus of Nazareth followed by millions around the world? Results. Results are the key to becoming popular, whether the result is positive or negative. If you want to be powerful, produce positive results.

If your employer was to reduce the number of staff on the payroll, would your name be the first or the last on the list? The fact that your name ever appeared on the list means that you are dispensable. An indispensable person is one who thinks, talks and behaves like the chairperson, chief executive and the boss. They go beyond the call of duty by doing more than what is expected of them. They know the current status of the organisation, where it is going and how to get there. More importantly, they are one of the key players, helping the organisation survive in the market place. Think, think and think again of ways that you could become indispensable in your family or organisation and do them. Indispensable people are confident and powerful.

The police, judges, bailiffs, social workers, leaders, directors, school governors and parents, etc., all have formal authority. If you are in a position where authority was formally given to you, then you have power. Please remember that misused power can ruin your life and corrupt you.

The more information you have or the more knowledgeable you are, the more you are worth. Write down your skills and areas of knowledge. I believe this list will blow your mind. I did this with a lady in one of our SCHOLAR training programmes and she could not believe how much she had stored up in her computer - her mind. Are you hiding all or some of your skills and knowledge in a secret safe when it could all be working for you? Share what you know with others, some would love to pay for it. In addition to what you already know, continue to store more information into your mind daily and do not forget it no matter what. As in Fig 1.2, why waste time when you can look after spirit, soul and body together.

Design the above to suit your specific needs and remember, information rightly applied is wisdom and power.

Centrality is being at the centre or the heart of things. If every decision at home or work has to go through you, then you have power. If every cheque that goes out of your home or office needs your decision or signature, then you have power. If you control and dominate the centre of the squash court or most sports or board games, then your chances of winning is greatly increased. Centrality is power.

Are you known as a procrastinator, hearer only or a doer? Many have great values, visions and strategies but no action. If you do not get up and do, you will not have power. Remember my friend, "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man." There is no magic wand I can give you to enable you to get up and do! other than to say, get up and go because action is power. No one who falls in love with their values and vision need any persuasion in order to take action. They are driven by an internal force, spirit or power that appears to have a life of its own. It's time to fall in love!

If you are in control of the resources and systems in your home or organisation, then you have power. I heard about a doorman who worked in a very large office building. The company he worked for decided to make some staff redundant and one of the first staff to go was the doorman. Several weeks later, the company was in chaos. Therefore the bosses sat down to identify the root of their problems. After a little while, they discovered that the system the doorman used to direct suppliers, visitors and others was not in place. Therefore they quickly reinstated the doorman at the same wage. If only he knew how much power he had.

One of the most important skills that I have developed and mastered over the years, is the ability to deal with people effectively. I live with my beautiful wife and five daughters. I teach hundreds of people each year. I attend a church organisation with a UK membership of around 5,000 people. I communicate with people every day of my life, through letters, the telephone, the internet or face to face. Because I generally love to meet people, I must master my people skills. The ability to get on with people is priceless and powerful, I would never give it up. Take my money but leave me with this priceless and powerful skill. "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

Interpersonal skills are the skills that you need to enable you to deal with others effectively. The most commonly used are:

Listening
Communication
Negotiation
Assertiveness
Body language

Being open simply means that you are willing to share and listen to understand others, without a judgemental attitude. The more confident you are about yourself the more open you will be with others. I have found much power and pleasure in being open with my family, friends and even with strangers. Having an open mind promotes learning.

If you wish to be successful, you must live your life in the company of extraordinary men and women. I am well informed that, "in the multitude of counsellors there is safety", therefore I have lived in the presence of individuals that I regard as some of the greatest human beings on the planet. Some of these individuals I have never met, but their influence on my life has been extraordinary. I have listened to their tapes, read their books, watched their videos and attended their seminars. To these men and women I pay tribute.

We hear so much talk about love almost everywhere, but most of it is not sacrificial love. Sacrificial love states, "I love you no matter who you are, or what you have done." I am very aware of some of the evils that are performed by one human being upon another. My family and I are the victims of such callous wickedness. Sacrificial love is the ability to rise above or surpass anything ever done to you. It goes beyond an emotional affection and reaches into a redemptive understanding of good will to all men, women and children.

For me sacrificial love is the most powerful weapon on the face of the earth, for it cannot fail if used properly. Make no mistake my friend, this type of love is also the hardest thing on the planet to sacrifice, and only a few people can.

"This love:

1. is patient and kind.

2. It does not envy,

3. it does not boast,

4. it is not proud.

5. It is not rude,

6. it is not self-seeking,

7. it is not easily angered,

8. it keeps no record of wrongs.

9. It does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

10. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

11. It never fails."

I used to carry cigarettes, a lighter and a pack of playing cards to gamble with anyone who dared to challenge me, any time and anywhere. Now that I am free as in Fig 1.3, I carry my dictionary, thesaurus and my Franklin Quest Day Planner, with my values, visions and daily priorities. My friend, what do you carry around with you every day?