9 Beliefs of Remarkably Successful People

1. Time doesn't fill me. I fill time.

Deadlines and time frames establish parameters, but typically not in a good way. The average person who is given two weeks to complete a task will instinctively adjust his effort so it actually takes two weeks.

Forget deadlines, at least as a way to manage your activity. Tasks should only take as long as they need to take. Do everything as quickly and effectively as you can. Then use your "free" time to get other things done just as quickly and effectively.

Average people allow time to impose its will on them; remarkable people impose their will on their time.

2. The people around me are the people I chose.

Some of your employees drive you nuts. Some of your customers are obnoxious. Some of your friends are selfish, all-about-me jerks.

You chose them. If the people around you make you unhappy it's not their fault. It's your fault. They're in your professional or personal life because you drew them to you--and you let them remain.

Think about the type of people you want to work with. Think about the types of customers you would enjoy serving. Think about the friends you want to have.

Then change what you do so you can start attracting those people. Hardworking people want to work with hardworking people. Kind people like to associate with kind people. Remarkable employees want to work for remarkable bosses.

Successful people are naturally drawn to successful people.

3. I have never paid my dues.

Dues aren't paid, past tense. Dues get paid, each and every day. The only real measure of your value is the tangible contribution you make on a daily basis.

No matter what you've done or accomplished in the past, you're never too good to roll up your sleeves, get dirty, and do the grunt work.  No job is ever too menial, no task ever too unskilled or boring.

Remarkably successful people never feel entitled--except to the fruits of their labor.

4. Experience is irrelevant. Accomplishments are everything.

You have "10 years in the Web design business." Whoopee. I don't care how long you've been doing what you do. Years of service indicate nothing; you could be the worst 10-year programmer in the world.

I care about what you've done: how many sites you've created, how many back-end systems you've installed, how many customer-specific applications you've developed (and what kind)... all that matters is what you've done.

Successful people don't need to describe themselves using hyperbolic adjectives like passionate, innovative, driven, etc. They can just describe, hopefully in a humble way, what they've done.

5. Failure is something I accomplish; it doesn't just happen to me.

Ask people why they have been successful. Their answers will be filled with personal pronouns: I, me, and the sometimes too occasional we.

Ask them why they failed. Most will revert to childhood and instinctively distance themselves, like the kid who says, "My toy got broken..." instead of, "I broke my toy."

They'll say the economy tanked. They'll say the market wasn't ready. They'll say their suppliers couldn't keep up.

They'll say it was someone or something else.

And by distancing themselves, they don't learn from their failures.

Occasionally something completely outside your control will cause you to fail. Most of the time, though, it's you. And that's okay. Every successful person has failed. Numerous times. Most of them have failed a lot more often than you. That's why they're successful now.

Embrace every failure: Own it, learn from it, and take full responsibility for making sure that next time, things will turn out differently.

6. Volunteers always win.

Whenever you raise your hand you wind up being asked to do more.

That's great. Doing more is an opportunity: to learn, to impress, to gain skills, to build new relationships--to do something more than you would otherwise been able to do.

Success is based on action. The more you volunteer, the more you get to act. Successful people step forward to create opportunities.

Remarkably successful people sprint forward.

7. As long as I'm paid well, it's all good.

Specialization is good. Focus is good. Finding a niche is good.

Generating revenue is great.

Anything a customer will pay you a reasonable price to do--as long as it isn't unethical, immoral, or illegal--is something you should do. Your customers want you to deliver outside your normal territory? If they'll pay you for it, fine. They want you to add services you don't normally include? If they'll pay you for it, fine. The customer wants you to perform some relatively manual labor and you're a high-tech shop? Shut up, roll 'em up, do the work, and get paid.

Only do what you want to do and you might build an okay business. Be willing to do what customers want you to do and you can build a successful business.

Be willing to do even more and you can build a remarkable business.

And speaking of customers...

8. People who pay me always have the right to tell me what to do.

Get over your cocky, pretentious, I-must-be-free-to-express-my-individuality self. Be that way on your own time.

The people who pay you, whether customers or employers, earn the right to dictate what you do and how you do it--sometimes down to the last detail.

Instead of complaining, work to align what you like to do with what the people who pay you want you to do.

Then you turn issues like control and micro-management into non-issues.

9. The extra mile is a vast, unpopulated wasteland.

Everyone says they go the extra mile. Almost no one actually does. Most people who go there think, "Wait... no one else is here... why am I doing this?" and leave, never to return.

That's why the extra mile is such a lonely place.

That's also why the extra mile is a place filled with opportunities.

Be early. Stay late. Make the extra phone call. Send the extra email. Do the extra research. Help a customer unload or unpack a shipment. Don't wait to be asked; offer. Don't just tell employees what to do--show them what to do and work beside them.

Every time you do something, think of one extra thing you can do--especially if other people aren't doing that one thing. Sure, it's hard.

But that's what will make you different.

And over time, that's what will make you incredibly successful.

PWANI NI KENYA

“O God of all creation, bless this land and nation. Justice be our shield and defender, may we dwell in unity, Peace and liberty. Plenty be found within our borders.”

These are the words of our national anthem. Going through this creative piece of all time, you come to realize the love, respect and dream the composers had for this great nation. The dream that Kenya will always be peaceful and one. Kenya has come a long way and being forty eight years old, so much has been achieved (that is if we compare her with other worst states in Africa).

We have faced very many challenges in the hands of our founding fathers. Some of which are detestable, to say the least. Landlessness, due to land grabbing, assassinations by the government in power, nepotism, tribalism and all other ‘isms’ we could ever have.

Did you know that there is a whole county (17,128.3 km²) in Kenya, whose land is being owned by only two individuals who do not even live there? The sad part is, all the residents are squatters in their ancestral land. Sometimes back, it was revealed that 89% of the board members in Kenya Ports Authority belonged to one ethnic community. This begs the question; don’t other communities have professionals who would be appointed equally in those positions? The strategy was to appoint one community in key ministries so as to ensure they seat in the various boards in our parastatals.

All these, and many other injustices bring about the formation of movements and gangs such as Mombasa Republican Council, with an aim of ‘liberating’ their people. I understand. What I don’t understand is whether secession is the solution. “Pwani si Kenya” amounts to treason.  Let us sought out legitimate issues legitimately and illegitimate ones appropriately. We all know “Pwani ni Kenya” and there are many coastal people who believe in this. No matter how loud the contrary voice might be, we all know the truth. I believe there are better ways to put across a point and be heard than calling for secession. It is unfortunate that the media, clearly familiar with what the country stands to lose, should they secede, gives them so much airtime. I thought the media should be neutral and also show the flipside of this whole issue. What is worrying is the new development that MRC is recruiting children in to the movement, issuing them with identity cards and administering an oath to them. Have we forgotten how many renown African leaders in Uganda, Somalia, Sudan, Cote D’ivore, Chad and Burundi, used child soldiers in wars and the repercussions? Where are their mothers? I thought ‘uchungu wa mwana aujuaye ni mamaye.’ This is criminal.

This is not a failed state, and I strongly believe the government can do what is necessary to avert such a menace. The constitution allows or gives us freedom of expression. We can debate on issues as we find solutions. If anything, this is as a result of negligence by the successive governments we’ve had. Like I wrote in one of my previous articles, can Uhuru Kenyatta, who wants the country and the whole world to believe he is the people’s choice (the leader we’ve never had) engage his family in ensuring the Taita Taveta land is given back to the ‘real owners?’ Can President Mwai Kibaki invite the MRC leaders in the statehouse to feel the beauty and importance of being Kenyans as they discuss how to solve their problems once and for all? I know this can never happen due to some selfish interests that surround the presidency. No wonder one side of the government was quick to brand them ‘illegal.’ This is a jigger that only Kenyans (you and me) can unite and remove with the power of the vote.

Secession, in my opinion, is cowardice. They are running away fro the problem, instead of tackling them head on. This makes you earn the honour in the better end. We are reminded to never give up on our quest for a better life. MRC should understand, that the national government is not solely to blame for their backwardness. Why do they elect leaders to the National Assembly? These leaders have failed them in a big way. We have very vocal leaders like Chirau Ali Mwakwere alias Zipapa zipapa, Dan Mwazo, Najib Balala, and many others, who should be championing their development causes. Why are they silent on the issue? Or they have a hand in it? If not, there should be a complete overhaul. Mr. MRC chairman, vie for governorship and change the county. With this small task, the people can entrust you with a bigger one.

As I wind up to start a long road trip to Masaai Mara: how beautiful Kenya is, always remember, PWANI NI KENYA.

EXCLUSIVE: Mudavadi suddenly becomes super Rich

Friday June 8, 2012 - MM's rise in 'power' and wealth has in the recent past caught JATELO TODAY'S eye. Last week the Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi was spotted with a brand new acquired custom made Armored Range Rover machine worth Sh 40 million. But that was just a tip of an iceberg to what the DPM is now worth.

Sources close to the DPM have revealed to the JATELO TODAY that, Mudavadi has also acquired a new custom made Toyota VX Lexus worth Sh 36 million. The car has bullet proofed body, mirrors and all terrain run flat tyres.

Although the two cars are regularly in his convoy, the DPM does not use them when entering the venues of his rallies instead opting for a cheaper green Toyota Prado, KBR last used by Kimunya when he entered the TNA launch's VIP dais almost a month ago. The two newly acquired cars are KBR series registration.

Mudavadi's new ride (Pictured below) is secured from a 7.62mm calibre bullet, landmine and grenade explosions. It can also withstand a blast similar to the one at Assanands House recently. For intruders who may be on foot, electric shock will keep them away. It comes complete with a heavy duty suspension, adjustable shock absorbers and special alloy 18-inch wheels

Many political analysts and pundits have tried to unearth whether Mudavadi is “somebody’s project”.

The question may have been answered partly on Friday during the Madaraka Day Celebrations in Nyayo Stadium, when he (Mudavadi) was accorded a rare task of inviting President Mwai Kibaki to address the nation.

Also, Mudavadi after the Madaraka celebrations, he was flown with a military helicopter to his home town in Sabatia constituency, a thing he enjoyed last in 2002, when he was in KANU.

Mudavadi’s security detail has also been beefed up in his homes in Nairobi and Mululu.

“The DPM has been given additional five security guards from presidential elite guards who are accompanying him at all tours,” the source said.

Mudavadi’s motorcade has also increased with a fully armoured military van at his disposal equivalent to the Vice President’s motorcade.

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has yet again raised eyebrows after representing President Kibaki at an official function yet the president's principal deputy Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka was in the country.

The big question is; is Mudavadi president Kibaki’s project?