You Need A Mentor

Guest Columnist:

by Rabison Shumba

Mentors are like midwives in that they bring the best out of you. Their passion is to deliver significant results. Their role is not to control, dominate and dictate stuff to you but to guide, direct, suggest without feeling hurt if suggestions they give are not implemented They help identify and sharpen potential. They are not insecure; they actually rejoice when one excels and surpasses their achievements. There should never be a generation that exists without mentors. Mentoring relationships pass on the ideals from one generation to the next. There can never be a next generation if the present generation is not deliberate about sowing time in building the future. Fathers should spend time coaching their children. It is nearly impossible to pass on information and ideals when one never spends time with their children listening to their ramblings and mumblings. You will sooner or later realize the jewel worth uncovering and nurturing. In each one are great deposits worth spending time and effort unearthing. Mentors have special roles and assignments even with no immediate tangible material and financial benefits. As an individual one really needs a mentor. One can have more than one mentor. A mentor for every facet of life e.g. Marriage, Business or Career mentor to name a few. Identify people you can trust, open up to without fear of being judged. True mentors are vital for nurturing dreams and visions. A mentor who fails to realize that his role is to bring about the best in others will sometimes feel threatened by the protege's progress and silently suppress him/her. There is nothing worse than a mentor who is competitive and insecure.

I have had a number of mentors in my life. In a way my progress in life has been a result of people who took me by the hand and directed me where I was supposed to put my next step. Some of the mentors I will mention here are as follows: Ministry Mentors - Bishop Trevor Manhanga discovered me. Entrusted me with responsibility. Gave me a chance to run and fall and learn. His words would be "I believe in you Rabison". Reverend Murray Cornelius (Canada) - took me to participate in two church plants as a core leader. We dreamt and persevered together. What a man of faith. I learned that the Gospel is simple and needs to be kept that way. Came Ola Vincent Odulele (United Kingdom), some say we are look "alikes". This man modelled for me how to do business in a Godly manner. How one can write book after book to leave a legacy. How one can travel the world and speak to presidents and influential people. He also put me on his shoulders for me to see beyond where I was. I began to think and act global. Great mentor. Dr Tawafadza Makoni, came into my life first as my tutor and lecturer in Pastoral studies. I read his book on mentorship and realized he had a passion to mentor the next generation. I remember trying to find space to speak to him directly and not through assignments. Breakthrough came after completion of studies when I expressed desire to write a book. I remember sending him my first attempt to write a book (I am embarrassed to say this mission was aborted). Dr Makoni guided me in this regard. He marked the transcript word for word and like a mature mentor he urged me on with guidelines. I salute this man.

Ponder Points - Think about this- How do you feel about being mentored and mentoring others? In what conditions do you think mentorship works best? What are your experiences with previous mentors? Think about and write down what you generally expect from a mentor.

Affirmation Points - Say this to yourself- I am a good mentor to others. I also have excellent mentors from whom I learn a lot. I enjoy being with those that are inspired and role models of my time.

Rabison Shumba is a writer, businessman and philanthropist. Writer of the book The Greatness Manual which you can preview on http://greatnessmanual.wordpress.com. Founder and CEO of Infotech Solutions and Greatness Factory Trust. Rabison speaks about success, leadership, motivation and inspiration. His trust works with disadvantaged school children supporting them with school fees and general livelihood. He also helps to network artists (musicians of all genres) to facilitate information sharing and building of future celebrities. Rabison is well traveled having been to Asia, America, United Kingdom and all over Africa. He is married to Jacqueline Edwards and they have two children. They reside in Harare, Zimbabwe, Southern Africa.

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What Makes You Rich?

1.  What is your definition of rich.  Does it mean you have a lot of money in the bank?  Does it mean you have disposable income and you can go spending whenever you feel like it?  Does it mean you are at peace and feel secure in your life?

2.  Dave Ramsey talks about Tom Corley's Rich Habits books and summarized the difference between rich people and poor people.   Rich habits consist of healthy eating, good exercise, organization, planning with plans put in writing, they read, they make the most of their time, they exercise prudent judgement and speak prudently.  They tithe and help others who need help.

3. In the book, The Millionaire Next Door, the rich people don't act rich.  They live simply, shop wisely, and make the most of what they have.

2014 Theme

Better choices result from better information.
This is our theme for 2014.

The saying goes, if you do the same thing over and over, you will get the same results.  And if you don't like those results, it's time for something different.  But, we don't want to just do anything different.  It has to be impactful.  It has to get results.

With Hidden Gems we can reinforce the goal of seeking a difference with new and better information.

Start the year on the right foot.  Come to a meeting with a notebook.  Get ready!

:)

Life Crisis As a Turning Point - Find the Resilience to Grow and Thrive in Difficult Times

Guest Columnist Dr. Mary Beth Ford

Life faces us with our vulnerability on a daily basis. We struggle to exert control. Often we resist change and prolong a crisis. Difficult times offer opportunity for growth and renewal, as well as depression and despair. These insights, drawn from science and nature, can help us meet life's challenges and make wise choices. Even when painful, we can create richer, fuller lives.

What appears threatening offers opportunity for growth and renewal.
In 1977 the Belgian physicist Ilya Prigogine won the Nobel Prize in chemistry. His work showed that any open system, when faced with change and disorder, can reorganize itself at a higher level. Prigogine discovered that change and disorder create new possibilities. They are essential conditions for a system's growth and renewal. We are open, living systems. We can adapt and respond to new information with resilience. During times of crisis, we can accept and appreciate life as it is and look for opportunity within each challenge.

We often grow the most during dark and uncertain times.
Perhaps bulbs, more than any other planting, help us understand that mystery is at the heart of growth and transformation. That bulbs bloom at all seems a miracle. They have lain dormant below the soil and survived a long, cold winter. The bulb is a food-storing structure. It draws on this reserve supply and thrives despite adverse conditions. Much of the change and growth from bulb to bloom takes place out of sight. Our own lives mirror this remarkable yet mysterious process. We draw on our inner strength and learn endurance. We find the resilience deep within to grow and thrive in difficult times.

Having less control opens us to new possibilities.
Prigogine helped us see change and disorder as an ally, not as a signal for trouble. Disorder creates new possibilities. Nature shows us the necessary link between darkness and the creative process. Times of crisis, when our inner worlds turn dark and cold, offer us opportunity for growth and renewal. A life crisis is a crossroads and a turning point. What matters most is how we respond. We face a defining moment. We can refuse to change - breakdown and dry up within. Or we can let go-embrace change and breakthrough to a higher level. Growth and renewal bring us new life. Personal transformation always empowers us.

We are spiritual beings here on earth to grow and thrive and enjoy the process. Letting go is part of our spiritual journey. Much of life experience is out of our control. But we do have the freedom to choose our thoughts. We can see ourselves, not as victims, but as powerful creators. We can notice only the positive aspects of each person, event and circumstance. We can fill each day with thoughts of appreciation. Positive thoughts help us use the language of possibility rather than despair. We make the best of where we are. We renew in body, mind and spirit. We create richer, fuller lives.

Mary Beth Ford, Ed. D., is the author of Wisdom from the Gardens: Life Lessons and creator of The Garden Wisdom Teleseminar. She specializes in the area of life balance, which she describes as balance between outer world and inner self. Mary Beth offers products for living with balance and joy at The Garden Wisdom Store online. To learn more, visit her website at http://www.wisdomfromthegardens.com and hear an inspiring video message from Mary Beth.

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