Author Archives: Rabison Shumba

About Rabison Shumba

Rabison Shumba is an entrepreneur with various business interests such as IT, farming and mining. He is Founder & CEO of Infotech Solutions and Chairman of Greatness Factory Tryst (the charity that offers education assistance to marginalized communities). Rabison is a motivational speaker, author and business consultant.

7 Gems of Inspiration from Douglas Mamvura

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While in this online hibernation mode because of studies, I couldn’t deny myself a chance to attend the British Council run Management Express Forum this evening (29 Sept 11). It is with great pleasure that I bring you inspiration from a presentation on “Marketing for Success” by a Zimbabwean marketing expert, Douglas Mamvura. I sought permission to give these to you and also to modify and spice them up to inspire you towards your business and personal success. A lot was shared and I am only giving you the ones I picked to be the best seven (7).

1. The way you see the world is sometimes not what it is but really who you are. It is therefore important to make sure that you work on who you are in order to influence how you see the world. Every time you are tempted to comment on the state of your surroundings, change the focus to who you are.

2. He who has a thorough knowledge and understanding of him/herself and the enemy is bound to win all battles. Most battles are lost for lack of information on the two critical elements – your attributes and capabilities as well as those of your enemy. Accurate information is the bedrock of success.

3. In business, speed wins, not panic or frenetic activity but deliberate all ahead full speed. In dynamic environments and economies, it is just like changing tyres of a car while it is in motion. You stop at the detriment of your own future and success.

4. A crowd never follows someone who follows the crowd. You need to gather enough courage to challenge past traditions, primitive ideas and archaic concepts. Step out and break new ground. The people you desire to follow could be desiring to see you lead. Life is pick and pay, you can pick anything provided you are willing to pay.

5. You can never light a fire with a wet match. Inspired people have a tendency to inspire those around them. In life, rather be the head of a rat than the tail of a lion. You were created for dominion. Any other place is a misinterpretation of your reason for existence.

6. You can never have a baby in one month by impregnating 9 women in a day. Sometimes you have to learn to reason and think in a logical manner. In addition, know that it is not usually speed that matters but whether you have direction. You could go nowhere at full speed and arrive.

7. Power is like a bar of soap, the more you use the less you have. It is a sad story that most business are over managed and under led. There are many managers (of things) and few leaders (of people).

Mr. Douglas Mamvura is the CEO of Africa Integrated Group (AIG). He is the author of an incredible book entitled “Marketing as a calling” available in a number of bookstores in Zimbabwe.

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7 “Chilly Bites” from Chicago

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The Chicago experience was one of the most memorable one. It was time to part with some of the greatest brains the continent of Africa has ever come up with. The thoughts below are a combination of inspiration from Chicago and my last stop-over in DC. Enjoy these chilly bites as I go back to my continent after a tour of duty. The mission was indeed POSSIBLE!!.

1. While it’s sunset in one part of the world, it’s midnight or sunrise elsewhere. In our lives, we always have seasons that come and go. You are never the only one in a bad season. Celebrate other people’s sunrise as yours is approaching. Your ability to push through one season determines your success in the next season. Appreciate what each season teaches and teach others from what you learn. You will soon realize that you are smarter than before you faced your present challenges.

2. Be careful who comes near you, it means they have a higher chance to hurt or harm you. However, realize a species that is less relational is more prone to extinction. Relate with wisdom. You still need other people to break into your life and help you achieve your dreams.

3. If you say that you can’t then you definitely won’t. It is important to watch what you confess as being a possibility.Our lips can seal our fate. The same lips can say the most liberating words. Make a choice daily to say that which is positive, that which activates all potential and possibility.

4. Judge not a society by limited experience and contact you have with its people. There is no perfect society yet. However, judge a society by the values it upholds, virtues in place and vision it aims to achieve.

5. Of all the things you have capacity to lose, never lose hope. For as long as you are alive, hope will always draw you closer to your destiny. Death is not merely loss of life. It begins when you lose hope. So, keep this hope alive

6. An agreement entered into without sincerity from the agreeing parties is a mere fantasy. It is natural that either party always desires that which benefits them more than the other side. Realize though that in life you can never have it all to yourself. As you sign pacts, agreements and deals, you have to give away to get. Lose control to gain it.

7. The most painful chains are not those that grip our flesh but the invisible ones that grip our minds. You are born into a world that confines you to limitations, so many hours in a day, you can only eat so much etc. Do not be so limit concious such that your mind relapses into the usual, familiar and common. You can break all limits. You need a mental jail-break. Free at last. To DREAM and become

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7 Pulse Points from City of Tulsa

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 1. You can not improve on what you are not willing to measure. It is easy to cheat yourself by assuming that you are excellent when you are merely basking in past successes. Always strive to do more than the last time you did your best.

2. Conflict is a part of the human race. It is almost definite that the moment you have two or more people in one place, conflict is imminent. This is so because we have unique experiences, beliefs, thoughts and attitudes. We are said to be mature if we can relate despite the conflict we may be having.

3. Your body merely acts on what your mind manufactures. Every deed (good or bad) starts with a mind-set. It is therefore essential to jealously guard what enters your mind.

4. The world can never be perfect because its inhabitants have no capacity to achieve it. However, most of the problems that we grapple with as humanity can be lessened if we pay more attention to following instructions, laws and advice.

5. Our personal life experiences and conditioning over time have a huge bearing on how we view those around us. these perceptions or preconceived judgements of others tend to limit us from building meaningful relations. Solutions to problems we face maybe in the people we swear that we will “never” talk to.

6. If you do not have a desire to possess it you won’t have it. Success starts with the attitude that says “I want it therefore I am a candidate to acquire it”.

7. Never be caught up in the confines of your culture to the point of becoming numb to the fact that your culture is not in a vacuum. Cultures that are tolerant of those around them are positioned to learn and emerge stronger. Tolerance is always the key to the door of learning. If you stop learning you are on the pathway to extinction.  

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7 Spicy thoughts from Saltlake City

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As you have come to know me, I get my inspiration whenever I am awake. Whatever my eyes and ears come into contact with sends a trigger on in the inspiration conveyer belt. I have enjoyed my stay in this very interesting city in Utah called Saltlake City. Below are 7 spicy thoughts (not too salty).

1.  The result of lack of information or not having enough knowledge about a thing or and institution always leads to skepticism. If religions could take time to assimilate and be tolerant of each other, their voice and message becomes even stronger.

2. Everyone needs an outlet for the innermost emotions and feelings. No matter how much you can suppress your emotions, they tend to erupt at the wrong time. Therefore, take time to listen to the soft cry of the voiceless. You can save a life by simply listening.

3. Ever realized that we are usually blind to or unaware of how blessed we are until we hear a story of someone in a worse state. Do not become so accustomed to what you have to a point of not realizing how blessed you are.

4. Whenever an economy crumbles, the greatest pain is felt by the majority who were in lack all along. As legistlators, make laws with a greater focus on those who do not have as they get forgotten easily only to be remembered on the next election date.

5. Never be too shy to ask for money which you intend to use to make a difference. There are many people who do not even have an idea how they can use their fortune. If someone ask for your financial assistance, they see potential in you to meet their need. What an honor.

6. A good leader strives to meet all the promises he/she makes no matter how costly or impossible it may seem. It is therefore important to know what you are committing to with your own mouth. You are judged more based on what you have delivered against your original promise. In the worst case, communicate with those you promised in the event of any shift in your plans.

7.  It is always wise to make sure your own house is in order before you focus on helping those around you. The need around you is great and it will be so for some time to come. It is possible that you can make a good name out there when your family lives in neglect.

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7 Reflections From New York City

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As I left New York City to go to Saltlake City (Utah) on the 4th of September 2011, a couple of thoughts came to mind. 7 major pointers I leave with you as I reflect on the New York Experience.

1. You owe it to yourself to stand-up fore justice and equality. We are born with justice flowing in our veins. The cares of this world, the desire for competitiveness and the belief in the finite nature of resources wipes away every figment of tolerance of others over time.

2. No matter how good a leader you think you are, you will never be immune to criticism. You should continue achieve in the face of criticism not out of fear of it. Keep your agenda clear, take one more step forward. History is made through decisions, popular or unpopular. Keep a thick skin to absorb criticism and yet maintain a soft heart to embrace the views of others.

3. It is never the eloquence of speech that people salute you as leader. What makes an indelible mark in the hearts and lives of people is evidence of your toil that translates to tangible benefits. A leader’s mandate is to get involved in the day to day issues of those he/she serves.

4. It is a waste of energy to apologize for living out your purpose. You owe no-one an explanation. As a matter of fact, those outside you may never understand the purpose behind what you do. Even if they fail to catch-up, what matters is the fulfillment of your assignment before the end of your life.

5. The quantum of your intentions matter less than actions that produce results. Words have never changed the world. Words backed by positive action have a greater meaning. Therefore, measure a man not on the basis of his promises but on what he delivers.

6. Material resources are not the source of national greatness. Nations are great when every citizen is assured of their own individual right to dream and implement his/her own ideas. Resources should be used as dream-enablers for every citizen.

7. Injustices that lay in the past should never be ignored. In order to make strides, the old chapter must be closed properly, apologies offered by the offender and accepted by the victim. Sometimes we fail to blossom in our potential (as individual or nations) owing to the pain that decorates the past and laminated to our present.

Bonus Points: The preservation of values, norms and national heritage/identity is a collective responsibility of a nation’s citizens. You do not wait till you have a high office to contribute to a nation’s growth and pride. Start where you are with what you have and see the nation progress at high speed.

I urge you to look around your community and see what you can do as a family or even as an individual. Make it your goal to create the community you will be proud of in times to come. Problems should not be your reason for leaving your community, they should be the reason why you stick around to ensure they become solutions.

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7 Lessons I have learnt from Washington D.C

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I am in Washington DC on an International Visitors Leadership Programme. While I am here, the following lessons came to mind from the various sessions.

1.  Wishing for time with the KING is important. However, it is more vital that before the wish comes you are preparing a relevant MESSAGE. Your language on the street should stay on the street. ROYALTY has protocol, procedure and parameters. PREPARE yourself. The king also needs to hear your witty IDEAS. Looking down on yourself will never help you. Stand tall and bring SOLUTIONS to the table of endeavour. The king will listen.

2. Never underscore the power of positive RELATIONSHIPS. Relations form the essential fabric that builds your intended SUCCESS. Your GREATNESS is in the networks you make. The resources you will ever need in life are in the NETWORKS you build. Be in a network to also GIVE and not just take. Relationships will always propel you beyond where your Intellect, money or even experience have taken you. Start today. Who are the people around you. Can you help them and they in turn help you?

3. You may never aspire past your level of EXPOSURE. As far as it depends on you, make every effort to be DELIBERATE about seeking ways to enhance your AWARENESS. You can never know it all. There is always something else you can learn from the ones around you. Avoid imposing LIMITATIONS on who you can be in life. You can achieve SUCCESS if you have unwavering determination to work and walk towards it

4. Young people form the backbone of the present and future of any nation. No longer with they stand on the sidelines of DEVELOPMENT. No longer will they be passengers on the DESTINY bus but the drivers of global VISION. There is no better time than today for young people to STAND UP and be counted as CONTRIBUTORS in making of national heritage and history. Ignore young people and be prepared to fore-go their perceived POTENTIAL

5.  You should never be consumed by the desire for TITLES at the expense of the TASK at hand. Titles are secondary. POWER is a great temptation but like any other force, it can be overcome. FOCUS on what has to be done and achieve it. You will still gain power as your works do follow you while your REPUTATION is ahead of you.

6. No matter how diverse we are in PERSONALITY and OPINION, we should never be divided on that which concerns NATIONAL development interest. Our DIVERSITY is an asset which we must leverage on. After all, it is our differences that attract us to each other. If we all thought alike, behaved alike and agreed on every form of thought or suggestion, this world would not be as interesting. Diversity promotes CREATIVITY and INNOVATIVE thinking.

7. You may never live to see your own DREAM come true but you must dream anyway. You may never taste the benefits of your SACRIFICES and pain but persevere anyway. Your social status may never change in your lifetime while you fight for the common good, stay on track regarless. You can never call it victory unless you contend with opposing forces to the end. VICTORY is sweeter than the process towards it.

BONUS POINT

You take for granted things that you did not work for. You can easily misuse OPPORTUNITIES that came on a silver platter.  MATURITY and WISDOM calls on you to exercise and value every blessing you have access regardless of what you did or did not do to receive it. Count, cherish and preserve every blessing so that it is better when you pass it on to those behind you.

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The Greatness Manual is now in Zimbabwe

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The Greatness Manual is now in Zimbabwe. Make sure you grab a copy of this life changing tool. It is a tool I believe will transform your life immensely to not only discover your potential but to walk in the direction of destiny.

Limited quantities available. Call 0774 162 920 or 0772 406799 to place your orders. For orders of 2 or more we will deliver to you within the town centre area.

Looking forward to hearing from all of you. Once you have bought the book and you have read, I would be keen to receive your testimonial on email. There is a surprise in store for the those who will give testimonials.

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