THE MOTIVATOR’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE

The greatest problem that we are experiencing in our country is failing to believe in ourselves. Our universities produce engineers who are annoyed if you don’t call them so, doctors who we lack faith in, professionals, who we always underrate. But again, I ask, why do we believe in foreign?

We travel abroad in suits and ties like Britons instead of being African and dress in vitenges. The orange juice that we find in our supermarkets is imported from the valley of Sherry in South Africa because we believe Oranges from Coast are not quality. We import fruits from Egypt, a desert, which buys soil from us. We want to import the latest Mercedes and Rangerovers when we have never exported even a needle from our country. 

Are we children of a lesser God or we have decided to burn our abilities in the “WE CAN’T MAKE IT” notion?

Maybe, this is the reason Motivators are born. to ignite reason to transform bring a change. It pains me to see desperate youths across the country who lack even a role model. Even a passive one. I have seen students who have accepted to fail. I have encountered prematurely expired minds. But in the motivator's element, I'm doing all I can to change a thing or two. I will not be cowed or intimidated by whatever challenge. Soon, I will be the motivational speaking “face” of Africa.

Seeing people change is my spiritual fulfillment. Seeing minds amplified is my earnest wish. It’s my life’s biggest ambition apart from calculating sums which I even don’t know answers.

A story is told in Achinua Achebe's ' Things fall Apart' of how Unoka plants but then realises that his farm does not produce much fruits as his neighbours does. So he move to the god and asks him" how comes I plant the same seeds as my neighbour but his produces much yield than mine? " The god looking at him told him, everyone knows that you have been planting in the same land for more than twenty years. So in the same way, we have to change our tactics.

WHO LOCKED OUR MIND?

Since the year began, I have been to many educational institutions across the country and beyond in an endeavor anchored that can be summarized as "Transforming Africa, A Mind after Another". But is it true that transformation will be seen in Africa very soon? No, I don't think so.

I have visited many High Schools, ranging alphabetically from Alliance Girls in Kiambu to Tartara Girls in Kapenguria ( and more still lined up) armed with a message of Transformation and utmost exploitation of the powers that are bestowed in the mind of an African Child. But as I traveled, I came to realize that the Chinese can build the Superhighway to Thika and a Standard Gauge Railway to the Capital City but no highways of intellectual discourse and transformation have been constructed. That means, as much as we can change in lifestyle and move places, we have no highway to access mental transformation.

Look here, when you find a person who "throws" his son in school and never bothers to know the progress, you see a person with a plastic idea of education. When a student is in school to finish, not to learn and replace stupidity with wit, because your parent is in the payroll, or business, you see a product nearing expiry.

When you see teachers who abscond classes to operate Probox and motorcycle businesses during their work time, you see an unethical professionalism. When church sponsored schools see the institution as a source of tithes and free schooling for their kids, you see a parasitic parentage. And ironically, when results show the dark side of the coin, these are the first ones to cast stones of blame.

It may sound like Juvenalian satire but there are issues. Back in my home place,my team is facing a chang'aa problem that is slowly eating into the success of the innocent school children. And surprisingly, the administration, instead of being part of the solution, it joins thugs of development and transformation, in the populist endeavor to be liked. And again, no inspiration from anyone, even those you expect it from in coming forth. Have we accepted to die the sorry death of "Intellectual and transformational death"

If the mind is not changed, we are still in the dark times where transformation is regarded as poison. And so, will The Ignition Talks save a thing or two, if not minds? Will my Actuarial Studies be useful in any mitigating this Risks? Will my Life Contingencies formulas make me relevant to the problem in this society? Is there any other mind that is inspired to change the world? If so, where are you? Can u stand up and be counted? Hey, the world will expire if we motivators sleep?

‪#‎ConcernedThoughts‬

IT IS NOT ENOUGH (This is an excerpt of my latest paper, "A Call for Intellectual Hygiene" )

Bertrand Russell was a great Mathematician and Philosopher. Though his 1927 book "Why I am not a Christian" is not a good read for staunch Christians, it communicates a value that cannot be seen in many intellectuals (or non intellectuals) today. He could not just follow what he did not understand. His 1927 Papers also assert why intellectuals have to stand by their own. No wonder, when he won his Nobel Peace price, he was uneasy why the people who could not comprehend his mathematics could find a reason to believe he was the winner.

Bertrand said, "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wise people so full of doubts." And the same can be seen in Kenya, and especially in the young minds in universities who are supposed to inject clarity of though and reason to the ideals of the country and the thinking of its people. Poor minds!!

Albert Einstein could tell you that any fool can know, the point is to understand! But my problem is that the so called intellectuals cannot give you an ear. They will instead employ their intellect to demean you, abuse you, and direct all manner of vendetta and vengeance for seeing a fault in them. And especially if you are a young man, or woman.That is why Abigail Van Buren said that “The best index to a person's character is how he treats people who can't do him any good, and how he treats people who can't fight back.” Oh, Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish, so said the legendary Euripides Bacchae!!

Look here good people. An intellectual who uses his intellect to defend the corrupt, manouvre through laws, manipulate policies for the wrong, and even ensure that generations are weakened is as good as evil. When intellectuals do not stand firm, then we fail. They are like mothers of destiny. A gaze down the memory lane tells me that it was the likes of Willy Mutunga, Prof. Micere Mugo, Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong'o, James Orengo among other intellectuals who stood firm and the result was the democracy that Kenya enjoys. I do not want to explore the sorry side of the politics in it but the point is that intellectuals were the solid backbone of the transformation. Look at the US, the civil rights movement was inspired by intellectuals who were not compromised at all. King himself had several degrees!!

When you study Mathematics, don't study to know it, understand it and be a better person because you are a guru in Math. If you cannot be better, freer or wiser when you know or get educated, you are as good as a deadly and poisonous concotion.

(The paper will be discussed in the Africa Leadership Academy Annual Convention in October)

HOW THE JOURNEY BEGAN

The year was 2011. It was January. 17th January to be precise. That is when I received my very first engagement as an Inspirational speaker. It was at St. Paul’s High school. And they paid me 2000. The principal had seen me present at the Bomas of Kenya during the annual student leaders’ conference and gave me her number. I didn’t know that was to be the debut of my speaking career.

So, with all the tools of the trade, I headed to the school that afternoon and passed the fire, a point at a time. Many clapped, some wondered, some reflected, some wrote. I was only 18 then. Come the second term, the students requested I come again. I did. But before they sat for their KCSE, I was there again. In fact, by then, I had known almost all finalist students. But in March 2, 2012, while seated at a conference in Kisumu, I received an unusual call. Since I was keen on following the proceedings, I ignored the call. But it came again and again. I sprang from my seat, and found my way out. It was Madam Rebecca, the principal. The school has moved from a MSS of 5.92 to 7.7851, she said on phone. “I think you did a good job”, she added. We will invite you again. 

But since I was not keen on what she was saying, I rushed back to catch up with the Mathematics Models conference. That is when something came to my mind. Why could a whole principal call me hat much? Why did she say I had a hand in their progress? Why invite me again? Was I that impactful? It was then that I realized what motivation can do. Frankly, they inivited me to their prize award but I didn’t go. They sent me the gift. 

One evening in August 2012, walking in Keroka, I met a couple of students from the school. They recognized me. I had forgotten their names. “You really made us become better people. Where can we get your book?” they asked. I have some copies. I was now 400 shillings richer after handing hem two books. It was then that I realized how a word well aimed at somebody can change a life. I decided to pursue the goal and to date. I have never regretted. I have earned it. I am a speaker, an inspirational one. And God’s grace has been sufficient.

I CAN’T WAIT !!

The last four weeks have had tribulation coming, one after the other. It was a dark time. But one thing was for sure. It is only in darkness that one can see the stars. Thoughts are clearest then. And so, I beat on, boat against current, borne back ceaselessly into the past as Scott Fitzgerald interjected. I have learnt a lot and now, I just cant wait. I miss inspirational speaking. Thank heavens, now I am loaded with tonnes of it.

Have this in mind. Its by losing that you gain. If you happen to have lost your parent, remember you have gained an angel in heaven to fight for you. If you lose money, it will give an extraordinanry resolve and way to make more. If you get sick, it gives you immunity and resilience to face adversity. If you die, it gives you the opportunity to go to heaven. Don’t care that you lost and it pained. It’s how doors to greatness are opened!!

I will be back with a hot package. I will not mince words with it. And the topic will be “DEMYSTIFYING BEST: LIFE’S BLUEPRINT”. And the venue shall be at the BSSC building.

Don’t just set out to do a good job. Set out to do such a good job that the living, the dead or the unborn couldn’t do it any better.

If it falls upon you to do something in life, do it so good like Beethoven composed music, like Leontyne Price sang before the Metropolitan Opera, like Michaelangelo carved marble or as Raphael painted. Do it that even hosts of heaven and earth, the dead, living and the unborn shall all pause and say, here lived a man who did his job well.

Be a bush if you can’t be a tree. If you can’t be a highway, just be a trail. If you can’t be a sun, be a star. For it isn’t by size that you win or fail. Be the best of whatever you are. And that is what I shall be talking about.
At Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia on October 26, 1967, a man gave a speech and told the students to do their best so that nobody else can do it. The man was Martin King. And many years later, the effects of the speech was seen in the number of successful people that came out of the gathering that afternoon.

Who knows, history may be duplicated right here. See you there Inspired people!!

SO SAD IT WAS NOT ON OCTOBER 24 FOR MYLES MUNROE

The passing on of internationally renowned inspirational speaker and preacher, Dr. Myles Munroe, can automatically sadden any motivational speaker or writer. He is the man who could make you see what several lectures could not make you elucidate.

The writer of over 100 titles, with my favourite being "The Most Important Man on Earth" said one striking thing. That the graves are so rich and have he best untapped resources. But for this man, he was to die to when he has emptied all his resources on earth. And for sure he ashamed the grave. From an F student to owning an island and a personal jet, he proved he was not what his report card indicated.

He inspired and philosophized. I only wonder how a student who was labelled the worst in his class came to be a consultant to governments and large business organizations where the brightest in his class were in management. One could only be amazed on how he rose from their wooden and dilapidated wooden hose, which he shared with his 10 siblings, to building an empire and a mansion in his own island. It is no ordinary story.

WHY WERE YOU BORN

There are people I have met who are progressing in life and affecting other people's lives, people like Monday Orucho Nyachienga B, a tremendous man who has touched many people's lives, or PLO Lumumba, who is inspiring people all over the world to help them improve their self-esteem all seem to say the same thing: If you feel good about yourself, you will feel good about other people.

In other words, only after you see yourself as a worthwhile person can you appreciate others as worthwhile people.Monday can call you and you feel new and inspired. PLO can clear all doubts in you when you chat on phone. They feel good about themselves.If you feel good about yourself, you will feel good about other people.

What about you, do you feel good about who you are?

That's a very important insight because many people do not feel good about themselves. They look at themselves and wonder why God made them; or they doubt that anyone can find any good in them. But remember, God sees what others, and we ourselves, can't see. God looks at us and see that we are worth feeling good about. We are special to God. We are valuable and important

— in Namanga, Arusha, Tanzania.

THE SERMON IN TANZANIA

Two friends of mine, last year, were ordained priests in a colourful ordination ceremony in Arusha. They were declared priests forever, priests like Melchizedek of old.

Seated among the congregation, I listened carefully to the sermon by the presiding bishop. All through his sermon, I got one very important thing. Doing the right and honourable thing is the best and easiest way to lead successfully.

He gave the example of Mother Teresa who was never a political leader but whom the world's most influential leaders listened to. Mother Teresa had once said that the greatest poverty is to feel unloved. And her business was to erase this poverty.

She may easily go as the influential woman in the world during her lifetime. World leaders listened to her. When she asked to see world leaders, including presidents and prime ministers, she was given immediate access. For example, during the 1981 famine in Ethiopia she asked President Reagan for help. He responded by promising to …do everything possible to help and rushed in with food and medicine. Being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 is another obvious example of her influence in the world.” In fact, in terms of sheer number of votes it’s a tie with John Paul II. I agree, at least in the twentieth century, she and John Paul II stand apart.

And so the lesson was simple, the humblest of all, the most sincere of all, the most humane of all, is the greatest of all, and is the leader to all.

YOU EITHER BUILD YOUR DREAM OR HELP OTHER BUILD THEIRS

The other day, I was headed for my place, tired and weary. Then a train of thoughts invaded my mind that I almost passed by my door.

I recalled of a young man, Thomas Elot, from the far flung Samburu who had a dream of owning a sanitary pad factory to cheaply produce the towels to the marginalized girls in the larger North Eastern. So, I did his story in the newspaper, did him a proposal, and told him of Africa Development Bank, which funds "development projects" like his. Today, he owns a 18 million factory employing 160 formerly jobless Samburus, including his father!!

In 2012, I met Monday Orucho Nyanchienga, a intellect who worked with zeal and zest, and established an impeccable brand. Today, he is one of the most sought after political and educational advisors in western Kenya.

In 2012 again, I met Dr. Ruth Wanjau, an outstanding Chemist with a motivational passion. And together, we have traversed over 150 schools and ten universities doing what we love most - Inspiring young lives.

In 2013, I met two amazing professors, PLO Lumumba and Joseph Nyasani. These scholars have mentored a scholarly coterie of intelligentsia which is now replacing ignorance with wit locally and internationally.

In 2014, as it was ending, I had a chance to talk to Prof Ben Carson, He of the Think Big and The Big Picture bestsellers. A tremendous medic from a knife welding street who gives lives back to people, quite literary.

And at this point I realized one thing that they have in common. They worked towards achieving their dream. But them I realized that there are so many people who found themselves working towards the achievement of the dream of these guys simply because they never worked to achieve their own.

Now I asked myself, whose dream am I working towards?

Well, Ask yourself the same question!!