HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR POTENTIAL AT WORK

By Robert Bake Tumuhaise

The success tip I am going to share today will help you achieve a lot without putting in a lot. It’s called ‘Leverage’. The concept comes from the word ‘lever’, a tool that lessens weight. For instance if you are lifting something and you use a stick or a pulley, the weight will seem less. Even at work and in business you can apply this principle of leverage.

Leverage means using too little to achieve too much. Using minimum efforts, time and other resources to produce maximum results. For example as a writer, even if I went for a holiday for one month my books would still sell, even without my presence. That’s leverage. But imagine a company employee or a driver being absent for a whole month!

When you use a computer to do in one hour what you would have done in a whole day, that’s leverage. When you employ people to work for you and you take the profits, it’s leverage. When you offer good customer care and your customers begin marketing your business and bringing you more customers, it’s leverage. When you use facebook or any other technological tool to reach to so many people in a very short time, that’s leverage.

Could it be that you are not maximizing your potential at work because you have not yet learnt how to apply this powerful concept? Well, space can’t let me say more. But I promise I will share deeper thought about this in one of my upcoming books “Dreams Come True”. In the meantime, I will remind you that the Authors’ Forum is on this Wednesday, 5th Oct, 5pm at the National Theatre as usual.

In this episode, PK the man, Mr. Inspiration himself, will give you tips on how to boost your performance at work. In simple terms, what he will be sharing will empower you to use the principle of leverage in whatever you do. Among all the Ugandans I have encountered, I feel he is the best to address this subject. There will also be great entertainment from a famous African live band – Joy Africa. You just can’t afford to mess by missing!

Entrance is only 15,000/=. Tickets are sold in advance. To secure yours or to get more details about the event, come to World of Inspiration office (Luwum Street, MM Plaza T33) or call 0414691595 / 0704666851 / 0718406080 / 0774107287. We deliver your ticket wherever you are. Stay inspired!

WORLD OF INSPIRATION
Making Excellence your Habit!

HOW TO ACHIEVE THE BEST RESULTS AT WORK

This week, I have two success tips for you. One is, learn to talk about yourself, your talents, your skills, ideas and products – everywhere. If people selling products as useless as Red Pepper can market up to our homes, why not us? Let some (failure-minded) people call it blowing my own trumpet, but success minded people know it’s called marketing. In any case, if I you don't blow it, who will blow it for you?

The second tip is on having an action plan (if you’ve come for our trainings, you know how to make one). A daily action plan will help you prioritize your activities of the day and not waste a lot of time on less important ones. It will help you value your time more and for sure you will be able to maximize the hours in a day without unnecessary confusion and stress.

These are some of the principles that successful people allover the world have applied in their work. But there is a lot more. I am sure you wish to know how you can use less time and energy to produce more results. Maybe you leave home wanting to do ten things but on checking the clock at 5pm you discover you have not even finished two. You need to improve your performance.

For sure, I will not go further. I will let a more qualified man, PK (Peter Kimboa), give you all the answers to the questions you have about performance. He will be the main speaker at the Authors’ Forum, the inspirational event which will take place on Wednesday 5th October, 5-8pm at the National Theatre (Auditorium).

There will be other great guests, including the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Fagil Mandy, and others. We shall also launch a book by the great African American author, Romell Booker-White. And, lol, she will be giving free refreshments to whoever buys a copy of her book! There will also be great entertainment from a famous African live band – Joy Africa.

Entrance is only 15,000/=. However, this week (25th to 30th Sept) we’ve been running a promotion whereby one ticket is being sold at 12,000/=, three at 30,000/=, and five tickets at 40,000/=. We encourage you to get your ticket in time because there will be no selling of tickets at the entrance. To secure your ticket or to get more details about the event, come to World of Inspiration office (Luwum Street, MM Plaza T33) or call 0414691595 / 0704666851 / 0718406080 / 0774107287. We deliver your ticket wherever you are.

Always aspire to get inspired and to inspire others before you retire and expire!

Shalom!

ROBERT BAKE TUMUHAISE
World of Inspiration
Making Exellence your Habit!

THE DATE THAT LEFT ME BREATHLESS

I am rarely out in the evening. Normally, I am either still in my office doing some work or at home enjoying quality time with my wife (please read on, stop imagining). But Last Wednesday, I couldn’t help. This date was irresistible. 10, 9, 8, 7… went the countdown of the hours I had to get to my date. My heart was thumbing in my chest so hard that you could almost hear it at a distance of a kilometer.

Fast-forward, it was 4pm. Clad in a princely black suit I left for the venue to be there in time. My mother taught me: “My son, never think opportunities will wait for you; always be in the right place and wait for them”. So by 5pm, I was seated in the auditorium of the National Theatre. Ready for my date. A multi-talented young man, Joseph Byamukama, was strumming his guitar so sweetly as if filling all the potholes of my heart.

In a flash, Denis Okwir presented the words of wisdom from World of Inspiration. Catchy among what he said was: “A wise person never knows everything. It's only a fool who knows everything”. And then "When you give up what you want, what you don't want takes over!" This was quoted from one the writings of one of the members of the Authors’ Forum, Japeth (find more of his inspirational works on www.ckjapeth.com).

The curtains opened and our eyes were treated to “Semitego”, a play that left everyone amazed at how creative people can be. That was the work of the great playwright Dr. Mercy Mirembe Ntangare, who later featured in our Celeb Interview. She said every morning she dedicates 30 minutes writing down her conceived before she goes to lecture and then she reserves 1 hour alone, after work, to continue developing those ideas.

Then came in our second Celeb Interview, Guest, Romell Booker-White an African American author whose area of specialization is protecting ourselves from radiation from the sun. She slammed the culture of shaving off all hair from the heads of our children, exposing them to the sun. Michael, a Commissioner in the Ministry of Lands, who is in charge of the Meteorogical Department, later confirmed this when he said: “We live along the equator and this is being worsened by weather changes so we can have maximum damage, especially on the brain. This partly explains why there’s declining performance of students in school as well in innovativeness”. Romell’s book on this subject will be launched during the next Authors’ Forum.

“BLACK means Beautiful Ladies of Africa living in the City of Kampala”! This was a line I picked from the poetry piece that Gilbert and Slim MC performed. They were hitting at black women who bleach their skin. This poem confirmed the message that Romell had just given. Black is very beautiful. “There are whites who would pay any amount to get a black skin. Black means we have more melanin, which gives us more protection against the dangerous effects of sun rays”, she had remarked.

Meanwhile, in between, there was lots of rib-cracking humor from the emcee of the day, Bob. One of the jokes he made was that when he was growing up in the village they were so poor that even the poorest in the village called them poor. Lol! This light moment ushered in to the fantamsticaglofabulous (don’t ask me what it means; I am just trying to imagine a word that could explain this man’s talk) presentation by the main speaker, Isaac Maloba who undressed fear and kicked it out of our lives like John Rambo in ‘First Blood’ or Jack Bauer in ‘24’.

“The best way to overcome fear is doing what you fear most because if you do not start doing it you will never know whether what you are afraid of is real. You may be afraid of public speaking because of what people may say. Do it and see what they say. You may be surprised by the opposite. Fear is a mental attitude; there’s nothing physical about it”. Well, if you missed, don’t blame me; space can’t allow me to narrate all he said. Order yourself a DVD and get everything that took place at the forum. We also have all the past 20-plus episodes of the forum on DVD. Each copy costs only 15,000/=. We deliver them wherever you are.

Let me also remind you that this week and the next we have various on-going evening training programs in Writing Skills, Project Planning, Customer Care and Communication. Each takes only 3 hours and you are done. For subscribed members it is totally free. The rest pay 50,000/=. To attend any visit World of Inspiration Office (Luwum Street - MM Plaza T33) or call 0414691595 / 0704666851 / 0712868424 NOW.

I would also wish to remind you that the next episode of the AUTHORS’ FORUM is slated for 5th Oct 2011, 5pm, at the National Theatre. We shall be bringing you PK (Peter Kimbugwe) who happens to be one of the best of his kind in Africa. Remember this week you can buy a ticket at half price (7,500/=), or three at 20,000/=. The discount will go on diminishing till the last week when it comes back to the normal 15,000/=. For tickets or subscription, contact us through the address already indicated above.

I will not end this without congratulating two Authors’ Forum members who released brandy-new books – Julius Ruhweza and Bright Ntakky. I will be telling you more about their amazing books. In the meantime I want to notify you that the Authors’ Forum now has 3 radio stations and 2 TV stations that officially partner with us. So they will be contacting some of you to go there as talk-show guests and share your views with the public, plus promote your talent, business or products. Isn’t this amazing? Can’t get a better way to end this.

ROBERT BAKE TUMUHAISE

World of Inspiration

Making Excellence your Habit!

WHY I WILL LIVE AND DIE IN UGANDA

By Robert Bake Tumuhaise

Recently as I penned down Florence Rukundo’s latest song, many people kept asking why I was naming it “Rukundo Pakalast”. I kept telling them I wanted to pass across a message that would make men refocus on their wives’ inside beauty instead of looking outside their marriage for love and satisfaction. Ever asked yourself why polygamy is common among men, and yet many women manage to stick to one man? A man’s mind keeps deceiving him that there is something better elsewhere than what is here. That’s why many men get tempted to explore the ‘outside world’ for love, only to end up being disappointed.

This mindset seems to extend even in the territory of career and work. There are so many Ugandan men who believe they cannot achieve success in Uganda and so, for years, they’ve been struggling to leave the country for kyeyo abroad. I’ve met many who have been denied visas walking as if the whole world has collapsed over their heads. They feel assured they are going to die poor unless they leave the country. A country that, Winston Churchill, one of the most intelligent men in history, named “The Pearl of Africa”! But where did the Bitatures, the Wavas, the Mukwanos make their money? And how many Ugandans have returned from America or the UK without even enough dime for their ticket back?

Funny how people struggle to leave a country that others are struggling to enter. While you dream of going to India to make money, hundreds of Indians are entering Uganda and are prospering! Some men have postponed living and are languishing in self-created limbo, waiting to start enjoying life when their dream of going abroad comes true. What a crippling mindset! Truth be told; a success-minded person will always succeed from anywhere. I have no doubt that I am going to become a millionaire without leaving this country. How proud I am to be Ugandan!

ROBERT BAKE TUMUHAISE
World of Inspiration,
worldofinspirationuganda@gmail.com
worldofinspiration.org
+256-414691595
Making Excellence your Habit!

HOW I SHOOK HANDS WITH THE QUEEN!

By Robert Bake Tumuhaise

At first I thought I was watching a kinigeria (Nigerian movie). Then I thought it was a dream. But upon touching myself, I realized it’s real. It was happening. I was seated next to her. The lady that has always inspired me. I was shaking hands with Doreen Baingana, the multiple award-winning Ugandan writer I had always longed to meet.

If you haven’t been a keen follower of literature on the global scene, you may not know much about this charming mother of one son. A powerful author that has traveled to every corner of the world because of the power in her pen. ‘TROPICAL FISH: Stories out of Entebbe’ is the most popular of her books. It won her an Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Prize for Short Fiction in 2003; & a Commonwealth Prize for Debut Fiction, Africa Region in 2005.

Doreen is not like any lady you meet next door. She has won the Washington Independent Writers Fiction Prize and has been nominated twice for the Caine Prize for African Writing. She is currently writing a novel and a creative nonfiction book on Somaliland as part of the Pilgrimages Project of the Chinua Achebe Center for African Writers, Bard College.

Last week I got a chance to meet Doreen at the Authors’ Forum, a monthly inspirational event that World of Inspiration organizes at the National Theatre, every first Wednesday of the month, 5-8pm. This is when I got the chance to engage her during our ‘Celeb Interview’. Her creativity, simplicity and humility fascinated me. She was simply irresistible; the whole audience across the auditorium sat and listened quietly. Her choice of words made me almost suspect she could be a niece to Shakespeare or Chinua Achebe! No wonder she managed to work as an editor with Voice of America (V.O.A) for ten years; and Story Moja (in Kenya) as the Managing Editor).

During this interview, Doreen challenged each one of us to come up and showcase what we can do. She urged us to be more creative and to write relevant literature that will move the masses. I enjoyed every bit of this interview. Doreen holds a law degree from Makerere University and an MFA from the University of Maryland. She is currently the Chairperson of FEMRITE, an association of female writers in Uganda.

It was not only Doreen that impressed me at the Authors’ Forum. There were other creative, talented and enterprising minds. Notable among those who attended was Prof. Joy Kwesiga, the Vice Chancellor of Kabale University, Monitor’s literary analyst and novelist Dennis D. Muhumuza, award winning painter Roldan Rolands Tibirisya, and Hilda Twogyeirwe the FEMRITE Coordinator. I cannot begin to describe the ‘Famous Friends’ who danced like they either have no bones or their bones are made out of the same materials with rubber band. From the poets Gilbert Senyonga and Slim Emcee, the guitarist Joseph Byamukama, to Walden and Chozen who performed their hit song “Pressure ya Love”, the whole evening was simply fantamsticaglofabulous.

The theme for this episode of the Authors’ Forum was “POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS”. The main speaker was Lawrence Namale, the Kenyan man who introduced Mobile Money in Uganda, a concept that has done wonders for MTN. Those who were present know what an inspirational and electrifying speaker he is. What he said is too good for a third party to narrate; you need to hear it from the horse’s mouth. I suggest you order for a DVD of that day from World of Inspiration (Luwum Street, MM Plaza T33; 0414691595).

I won’t forget the great Celeb Interview with Dr. John B. Niwagaba, a young medical doctor that is taking the nation by storm with his creative ideas. A columnist with ‘The Observer’ newspaper and Chairman of the Annual Vintage Car show, Dr. Niwagaba never runs short of new ideas. At the Authors’ Forum, he told us about his new product, a medical information service. Wherever you are you can use an MTN phone to access a doctor and consult him over any issues. All you need is dial 0902900800. He has called this 24-hour service ‘Hello Doctor’.

My experience at the Authors’ Forum was really fascinating. The next episode is on 7th September, same venue, same time; you can go and have your own experience. The forum reenergized my passion for excellence. I set new goals for myself. And of course I will not forget how I shook hands with the Queen. Doreen Baingana, the Queen of literature.

Stay inspired!

WITHOUT TRUST FORGET SUCCESS

Veronica went to the market and bought five mangoes but on arriving home she found only three. The next morning she rushed back to the seller’s stall, demanding to know why the two were missing. The seller argued: “Oh sorry. While I was packing, I noticed that two of the mangoes were about to get spoilt, so I threw them away for you!”

Can people like this fruit seller ever be trusted? Before you complain of lack of opportunities, first judge whether you are reliable. Do you make empty promises? Do you always fulfill all your pledges? Can people count on your word? Are you credible? You may be currently jobless because people don’t feel safe entrusting you with their money. Your shop may be lacking customers because they are not sure of the accuracy of your weighing scale. A winner makes commitments while a loser makes promises.

If you are put in an office, do not create suspicion on the way you handle your employer’s funds and property. Unfaithfulness destroys one’s platform on which to stand and pursue success. It locks the doors to opportunities. Avoid cheating, lying, masquerading and acting in a ‘slippery’ manner because these kill people’s trust.

You need to live a life that attracts people around you. When you are a trust worthy person, somehow all people around you will always conspire for your success. So avoid stepping on people’s heads as you climb up the ladder. Remember, you may need the same people the day you begin sliding backwards!

Try as much as you can to climb the stairs of success without leaving behind casualties. You don’t have to kill or bewitch someone to get rich. Someone doesn’t have to lose a job before you can get one. Your neighbor doesn’t have to stop selling before your shop can sell. Once you have succeeded without pulling others down, your relationship with them will you will keep you up there.

I share this and more inspirational messages in my book 'TAPPING GOD'S BLESSINGS: Keys to Open Doors of Success in your Life'. You can buy yourself a copy at 15,000/= from our office (Luwum Street, MM Plaza T33); St. Paul's Bookshop (Kampala Road); Makerere University Bookshop; Uganda Bookshop; Christ The King Church Bookshop; Fresh Vine Bookshop (Kampala Road, Opp Fido Dido) or call 0414691595 / 0704666851 / 0712868424 if you want your copy delivered to you.

Don't also forget mark in your diary 7th September 2011, 5-8pm so as not to miss yet another exciting Authors' Forum at the National Theatre. And as I've been communicating, this week we've been running a promotion whereby you can buy one ticket (1,500/=) and get two or pay for two (30,000/=) and get 5! If that's not an offer what is it?

Stay inspired pakalast!