“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
I’m a fan of self-reflection.
I think it can help you avoid being the frog in the boiling pot (that doesn’t know when to get out.) I think the trick is using the right sets of questions.
If you use weekly reflection, you can see the patterns in the problems you face and how you solve them. You’ll be able to see how your responses change over time.
Don’t Blame Situations for Your Troubles
Are you owning your actions and results? Are you as proactive as you can be?
Watkins writes:
“Now focus on the biggest challenges or difficulties you are facing.
Be honest with yourself.
Are your difficulties situational or do their sources lie within you?
Even experienced and skilled people blame problems on the situation rather than their own actions.
The net effect is that they are less proactive than they could be.”
I suggest setting aside 15 minutes at the end of each week to reflect on the following questions.
1. What do you feel so far?
On a scale of high to low, do you feel:
Excited? If not, why not? What can you do about it?
Confident? If not, why not? What can you do about it?
In control of your success? If not, why not? what can you do about it?
2. What has bothered you so far?
With whom have you failed to connect? Why?
Of the meetings you have attended, which has been the most troubling? Why?
Of all that you have seen or heard, what has disturbed you most? Why?
3. What has gone well or poorly?
Which interactions would you handled differently if you could? Which exceeded your expectations? Why?
Which of your decisions have turned out particularly well? Not so well? Why?
What missed opportunities do you regret the most? Was a better result blocked by you or by something beyond your control?
Use what you learn to improve and get better where it counts.
There are 5 vocal tools that when you use them together, they help your audience stay tuned more easily, pay closer attention to what you’re saying, and will find themselves more easily moved and persuaded.
These are:
Emphasis and energy is concerned with the force of stress your place on important ideas, concepts, or feelings, as well as a generally energized vocal style. It is the simplest of the five essential vocal tools, and one that you probably already know how to use well.
Pitch inflection refers to the rising and falling of your pitch on the musical scale. Sometimes called intonation, lively pitch inflection helps you avoid monotony as well as convey meaning. It’s not only a critically important vocal tool: it’s the one you may have the most trouble using freely in formal speaking situations. If you haven’t received performance training in the use of the voice, you may stay in a too-narrow pitch range, limiting your voices natural ability to express emotion.
Your rhythm and pace also need to be varied when you speak publicly so your audience stays attentive and aware of the nuances of what you’re saying. In normal conversation, i.e., when you’re not self-conscious your speaking rhythm changes frequently according to new ideas or emotions you bring up. Why should it be any different when you’re giving a presentation? If you’ve ever suffered through a talk by a presenter who speaks in metronomic fashion, you know how an unvaried pace can lull an audience into inattention.
Pauses and silence is another vocal tool you may be neglecting due to speech anxiety. Pauses in a speech can add emphasis, build suspect, bridge ideas, make a comment on what you just said, and enrich your talk in other subtle ways. If you pause at appropriate times, you’ll also show that you’re confident enough to set the pace for yourself rather than rushing through your talk because of nervousness. Unfortunately, adrenaline by its nature forces you to either fight that ‘threat’ you’re facing or run from it — in other words, taking any course of action rather than pausing.
Vocal quality is the most encompassing of the five vocal tools. It includes the tone, the richness, and pleasantness of your voice, along with other factors such as breathiness, warmth or stridency, patience or impatience, empathy or anger, hesitancy or bewilderment, and other elements that effect people’s emotional response when you speak. No wonder vocal quality is the most inclusive of the essential tools.
“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”
1. Know your enemy and know yourself. This is the most important lesson in The Art of War. If you know your enemy and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.
2. Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. This is a lesson about deception. By appearing weak when you are strong, you can trick your enemy into underestimating you.
3. Attack where the enemy is unprepared. This is a lesson about surprise. By attacking where the enemy is unprepared, you can gain an advantage.
4. Make use of spies. Spies can provide you with valuable information about your enemy.
5. Use terrain to your advantage. The terrain can be a powerful tool in battle. By understanding the terrain, you can use it to your advantage.
6. Be flexible. The situation on the battlefield is constantly changing. You need to be flexible in order to adapt to these changes.
7. Concentrate your forces. Don’t spread your forces too thin. Instead, concentrate your forces on a single point of attack.
8. Strike at the enemy’s heart. The heart of the enemy is their will to fight. If you can break the enemy’s will to fight, you will win the battle.
9. Use deception. Deception is a powerful tool in war. By deceiving your enemy, you can gain an advantage.
10. Know when to retreat. Sometimes, the best course of action is to retreat. By retreating, you can preserve your forces for future battles.
These are just a few of the many lessons that can be learned from The Art of War. This book is a classic for a reason. It is full of wisdom that can be applied to all aspects of life, not just war.
Hazrat Ali (AS) once replied to a group of ten learned men who said, ‘We seek your permission for our putting a question to you.’
Hazrat Ali (AS) replied, ‘You are at perfect liberty.’
They said, ‘of knowledge and wealth, which is better and why. Please give a separate answer to each of us
Hazrat Ali (AS) answered in ten parts:
Knowledge is the legacy of the Prophets; wealth is the inheritance of the Pharaohs. Therefore, knowledge is better than wealth
You are to guard your wealth but knowledge guards you. Therefore, knowledge is better.
A man of wealth has many enemies, while a man of knowledge has many friends. Hence, knowledge is better.
Knowledge is better because it increases with distribution, while wealth decreases by that act.
Knowledge is better because a learned man is apt to be generous while a wealthy person is apt to be miserly.
Knowledge is better because it cannot be stolen while wealth can be stolen.
Knowledge is better because time cannot harm knowledge but wealth rusts in course of time and wears away.
Knowledge is better because it is boundless while wealth is limited and you can keep account of it.
Knowledge is better because it illuminates the mind while wealth is apt to blacken it.
Knowledge is better because knowledge induced the humanity in our Prophet to say to GOD ‘we worship thee as we are your servants,’ while wealth engendered in Pharaoh and Nimrod the vanity which made them claim godhead.
“Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers.”
By asking empowering questions, you inspire yourself to action, gain better perspective, or help you make the most of any situation.
The right question can be just the right prompt to help you move in a better direction.
Here is a set of 101 empowering questions, my favorite questions, that I draw from whether it’s to shape my day, solve a problem, figure out next steps, or get “on path.”
What’s the way forward? (it’s a big question, but it reminds me to cut a path through the forest of ambiguity and chaos)
What do you want your life to be about?
Who do you want to be and what experiences do you want to create?
How does that serve you in terms of who you are and who you want to be?
Are you giving your best where you have your best to give?
What are you optimizing for?
How can you reduce friction to create a glide path?
How can you reduce scope to save time or make the time you have most useful?
What do you want to achieve? What do you want to accomplish? (Try this over what are you trying to do?)
What do you want to do more of each day? … What do you want to spend your time doing more of?
What do you want to spend less time on?
If not now, when?
If not you, who?
What’s right with this picture? (If you always ask, “What’s wrong with this picture?”, this is a nice switch)
How can you make the most of the situation? … If there are no good options, what’s the best play I can make for this scenario?
Who else shares this problem? … Who would solve this problem well? (a great way to find models and learn from the best)
What would <famous or interesting person XYZ> do?” … How would I respond if I were Barkhad Abdi? … Abdirashid Duale? … Amina Moghe Hersi?… etc. (this is a great way to come up with new ideas or plays for your situation)
What are you pointing your camera at? (a simple way to direct your day on a scene-by-scene basis)
What’s good enough for now?
What can you be the best at in the world?
What’s the most effective thing for me to focus on?
Are you asking the right question? … Is that the right question?
How is that relevant?
What’s that based on?
What’s the goal? … What are the goals?
What would success look like?
What do you need to be successful? … What do you need to be successful in this situation?
Is it working? … Is it effective?
What do you measure? … What are the metrics?
What are the tests for success?
How do you know it’s working?
How do you know when you’re done?
What did you expect?
Are you creating the results you want?
Does it matter?
Will it matter in 100 years?
Is it worth the effort?
What actions have I taken? … What steps have I tried? ( a great sanity check when you’re testing your ability to take action)
What’s next?
What do you want to do?
What’s best for you?
What’s the best thing for now?
What’s your next best thing to do?
Is that a good idea?
So what? Now what?
What’s the problem?
What’s the threat?
What’s the concern?
When do you want it by? … You want what by when?
Who needs to do what when?
Who needs to do what differently?
Who should do what when?
What would you have them do differently?
What’s wearing you down?
What’s lifting you up?
Why do you get up in the morning and come to work?
What do you want to experience? … What do you want to experience more of?
What are you trading? … What are you trading up for?
What did you learn that you can use next time?
What would you do differently next time around?
Where’s the growth?
What would people pay you for in the future?
Do you want to run towards or away from the problem?
How big is the pie, how big is your slice?
Does it make business sense?
Is it business critical?
What’s our capacity?
What’s our constraint?
What are the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)?
What’s our core business?
What does the market want?
Is it push, pull or indifferent?
What’s the trend?
What to cut back on?
What does the pro know that you don’t? (this is a good way to figure out if knowledge or insight can make a difference)
What’s the right thing to do?
Is now the right time?
Is this the right forum?
How much time do you have?
What are you making time for?
How much time should you make for it?
What can you do all day long?
What are you spending the bulk of your time on?
If you had all the money in the world, how would you spend it?
Where are we on the map?
What would make life more wonderful for you?
How can you chunk it down?
How fast can you do it?
What’s the impact?
What would you like to have happen? … What would you like instead?
“To change who you are, change who you think you are.”
You can shift your identity to become your Future Self now.
Identity shifting is one of the most power tools you can use for personal transformation and growth.
You can use identify shifting to consciously mold aspects of your identity to better align with your goals and aspirations.
Writers write, Runners run. Authors write books. Musician’s create music. Artists create works of art.
The fastest way to change all of your key habits is to shift your identity.
Your identity is a habit. It’s made up a lot of habits that reinforce the belief of who you are.
If you don’t believe you are an athlete, you won’t do athletic things.
If you master identify shifting, you master a key skill for life.
What is Identity Shifting?
Identity shifting empowers you to consciously change how you perceive yourself and how you act, aligning your behavior with the person you aspire to be.
It’s built on the psychological insight that your self-image shapes your actions and your life’s path.
To effectively shift your identity, you must clearly define the traits you aim to adopt, consistently apply behaviors that reinforce this new identity, and regularly reflect on and adjust your approach.
This process isn’t about pretending to be someone else.
It’s about shedding limiting beliefs and behaviors to unlock your true potential.
By embracing identity shifting, you take control of your personal development, breaking free from past limitations and stepping into a role that fulfills and advances you toward your success.
Why Use Identity Shifting?
Identity shifting is about evolving into the best version of yourself, while embracing who you are.
Identity shifting can be a powerful tool for personal development, offering several key benefits that facilitate growth and transformation.
Here are the primary reasons to consider using identity shifting:
Enhanced Self-Perception: Identity shifting allows you to redefine how you see yourself, moving beyond limiting beliefs that may have held you back. This new self-perception can boost your confidence and open up possibilities that align with your aspirations.
Behavioral Change: By adopting a new identity, you naturally start to change your behaviors to align with this identity. For example, if you begin to see yourself as a leader, you may take on more leadership roles and behaviors, which can enhance your professional and personal life.
Improved Adaptability: As you shift your identity, you learn to be more flexible in your thoughts and behaviors. This adaptability can make you more resilient to changes and challenges, enabling you to navigate life’s ups and downs more effectively.
Goal Achievement: Identity shifting aligns your mindset with your goals. By embodying traits and behaviors of your ideal self, you’re more likely to take actions that lead to achieving your objectives, whether they’re related to career, personal growth, or relationships.
Increased Motivation and Engagement: Engaging in identity shifting can reignite your passion for goals and activities by connecting them with your core values and the essence of who you want to be. This alignment can renew your motivation and deepen your engagement with your pursuits.
Broader Perspectives: Changing your identity can help you see the world from different perspectives, enhancing empathy and understanding towards others. This can improve your relationships and your ability to work within diverse teams.
Long-Term Satisfaction and Fulfillment: Ultimately, identity shifting helps you live a life that feels more authentic and aligned with your true self. This authenticity can lead to deeper satisfaction, happiness, and fulfillment in life.
Examples of Identity Shifts
Identity shifting involves adopting new self-perceptions and behaviors to better align with your goals and values.
Aside from shifting to roles you might want to become like a leader or writer or artist or musician or athlete, etc., you can also use identity shifting to gain attributes or characteristics you want, such as more confidence or more positivity.
Here are some examples of identities you might shift to, depending on your aspirations and life circumstances:
From Passive to Proactive: Shifting from a passive to a proactive identity involves adopting a mindset where you actively seek out opportunities and solutions, rather than waiting for things to happen or for others to take the lead.
From Pessimist to Optimist: This shift involves changing your outlook from seeing the worst in situations to focusing on the positive aspects and possibilities, which can significantly influence your emotional well-being and decision-making processes.
From Follower to Leader: Moving from a follower identity to a leader identity requires developing traits such as decisiveness, vision, and the ability to inspire and motivate others, crucial for those stepping into managerial roles or entrepreneurship.
From Unhealthy to Health-Conscious: For those looking to improve their physical health, shifting to an identity that prioritizes wellness, fitness, and nutrition can lead to adopting healthier lifestyle habits that support long-term health goals.
From Employee to Entrepreneur: This identity shift involves moving from seeing oneself as an employee within a company to viewing oneself as an independent entrepreneur, which encompasses taking more risks, being innovative, and assuming responsibility for the success of one’s ventures.
From Introverted to Socially Confident: Individuals who see themselves as introverted and wish to be more socially active might work on shifting their identity to become more outgoing, enhancing their ability to network and engage confidently in social settings.
From Victim to Survivor: Shifting from a victim identity to a survivor identity involves overcoming past traumas or hardships by focusing on resilience and empowerment, rather than helplessness or despair.
From Generalist to Specialist: This shift involves moving from a broad, generalist view in your professional field to becoming a specialist with deep expertise in a specific area, which can enhance career opportunities and authority in the field.
From Spender to Saver/Investor: Changing financial behaviors can include shifting from an identity that focuses on spending to one that prioritizes saving and investing, essential for achieving long-term financial security.
From Disorganized to Organized: Adopting a more organized identity involves developing systems and habits that enhance efficiency and reduce stress, transforming how you manage both time and resources.
These are just illustrative examples.
What If You Don’t Use Identity Shifting? What are the Downsides?
Not using identity shifting can hold you back from fully realizing your potential and embracing a richer, more fulfilling life.
Choosing not to engage in identity shifting and continuing to operate with a static self-concept can lead to several potential downsides and missed opportunities for personal growth.
Here are some of the negative consequences of not utilizing identity shifting:
Stagnation in Personal Development: Without the willingness to reassess and shift your identity, you may find yourself stuck in outdated patterns of thinking and behavior that no longer serve your current goals or lifestyle. This stagnation can hinder personal and professional growth.
Missed Opportunities: A rigid identity might prevent you from adapting to new opportunities or challenges effectively. You may miss out on experiences and chances for advancement that require a different approach or set of behaviors than those you are currently comfortable with.
Reduced Adaptability: In today’s rapidly changing world, adaptability is key. Not engaging in identity shifting can make it difficult to respond effectively to change, leaving you less equipped to handle new or unexpected situations.
Lower Levels of Satisfaction and Fulfillment: If your identity doesn’t evolve with your experiences and aspirations, you might feel a disconnect between who you are and who you want to be. This gap can lead to decreased satisfaction with your life and work, and feelings of unfulfillment.
Potential for Increased Stress and Anxiety: Holding onto an identity that conflicts with your evolving roles or environments can create internal stress and anxiety. This discomfort arises from the tension between your self-perception and the demands or expectations you face.
Inflexibility in Relationships and Social Roles: A static identity might limit your ability to adjust to different social roles or relationships dynamics. This inflexibility can strain relationships and limit your social circle to those who only fit within your unchanged identity framework.
Compromised Decision Making: If your identity remains unaltered over time, it can influence your decisions in ways that may not align with your long-term interests or the realities of your current situation. This can lead to choices that are less than optimal for your personal and professional life.
What is Your Future Self?
Your future self represents who you want to become, encapsulating your goals, aspirations, and values.
Psychology teaches us that your past doesn’t lock in your present; rather, your present is shaped by how well you connect with your future self.
This connection steers your current choices towards the outcomes you aim for, demonstrating that your capacity for change is significant when guided by a clear vision of your future.
Research indicates that people who maintain a vivid and positive connection with their future selves are more likely to make decisions that promote long-term success and well-being.
By actively engaging with your future self, you break free from past patterns and unlock expansive potential for transformation.
How To Use Identity Shifting to Become Your Future Self Now
Here’s how you can start implementing identity shifting in a practical, actionable manner:
Understand the Concept: Begin by comprehending that identity shifting involves adjusting your self-perception and behaviors to match the version of yourself you aspire to be. This could mean seeing yourself as more confident, successful, or even physically fit, depending on your personal goals.
Define Your Desired Identity: Clearly outline the characteristics of the identity you wish to embody. This could include traits like being more proactive, assertive, or compassionate. Make these traits as specific as possible to create a detailed image of your ideal self.
Start Small with Habits: Implement small daily habits that reinforce your new identity. If your goal is to become more fit, start with consistent, small exercise routines. If you want to be seen as a leader, incorporate small acts of leadership into your daily work or social interactions.
Use Visualization Techniques: Regularly visualize yourself as having already achieved your new identity. Picture yourself behaving in ways that align with this new identity in various scenarios. This mental practice will help solidify these traits in your self-perception.
Reflect and Adjust Regularly: Keep a journal of your experiences and feelings as you adopt this new identity. Reflect on what aspects feel natural, what challenges arise, and how others respond to your changes. Adjust your approach based on these reflections to better integrate your desired traits.
Seek Feedback: Get feedback from trusted peers or mentors who can provide honest insights into how your changes are perceived. This feedback can guide further modifications to your behavior and approach.
Reinforce Internally: Continually affirm your new identity to yourself through positive affirmations and self-talk. Reinforce the belief in your capabilities and your right to evolve into your ideal self.
Address Psychological Barriers: Work through any deep-seated fears or beliefs that contradict your new identity. This might involve therapy or deep introspection to resolve conflicts between your old self-image and the new identity you are cultivating.
Change Yourself, Change Your World
“If you want to change the world, start with yourself.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Identity shifting is a profound tool that not only transforms you but can also significantly impact your external world.
Here’s how engaging in identity shifting can empower you to “Change Yourself, Change Your World”:
Enhanced Self-Perception and Confidence: By shifting your identity, you cultivate traits and behaviors that resonate with your true self and aspirations. This transformation can dramatically enhance your self-confidence and how you view your capabilities. When you believe in yourself more, you’re more likely to take actions that can lead to success and fulfillment, impacting your personal and professional life positively.
Breaking Limiting Beliefs: Identity shifting involves challenging and replacing limiting beliefs that hold you back. By identifying and altering these self-imposed constraints, you unlock new potentials. For instance, shifting from seeing yourself as someone who is not a public speaker to someone who can engage audiences confidently can open up opportunities in careers, activism, or community leadership, thereby expanding your influence and ability to effect change.
Behavioral Changes Lead to Different Outcomes: As you shift your identity, your behaviors naturally align with this new self-concept. These changes in behavior can lead to different outcomes in your life. For example, if you shift your identity to see yourself as a healthy and active person, you’re more likely to adopt habits that promote health and vitality, which can transform your physical state, energy levels, and longevity.
Inspiring Others: When people see you transforming and thriving, it can inspire them to reflect on their own lives and consider their own potential for change. Your journey of identity shifting can motivate others to undertake their self-transformation journeys, thereby amplifying the impact of your changes beyond your individual experience.
Catalyzing Broader Social Changes: On a larger scale, as individuals change their perceptions of themselves and their roles in society, this can lead to collective identity shifts that challenge societal norms and catalyze social change. For instance, if more individuals see themselves as environmental stewards, this can lead to greater environmental consciousness and actions that support sustainability, influencing policies and practices at community and global levels.
Identity shifting is a powerful means of personal development that can ripple outwards, influencing various aspects of your life and the wider world.
By changing yourself—how you think, act, and interact—you inherently begin to change the spaces around you, demonstrating the profound connection between personal transformation and broader societal evolution.
It’s a Journey in Self-Discovery and Self-Mastery
“You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.” — Henry David Thoreau
Identity shifting is fundamentally a journey of self-discovery and self-mastery.
It involves delving into the core of who you are, understanding your inherent qualities and the facets of your identity that have been shaped over time by external influences.
Here’s how identity shifting embodies this transformative process:
Uncovering the True Self: At the heart of identity shifting lies the exploration of your authentic self. This process requires you to peel back the layers of labels, roles, and expectations that society, family, and personal history have imposed on you. By challenging and questioning these imposed identities, you begin to discover the underlying values, desires, and traits that truly define you.
Recognition of Patterns and Limitations: Identity shifting involves recognizing the patterns of behavior and thought that have governed your life. This recognition is crucial as it allows you to identify which aspects of your personality are genuinely yours and which are adaptations to the expectations of others. Understanding these patterns helps in pinpointing the limitations that these imposed behaviors and beliefs place on your growth.
Intentional Change: Once these realizations are made, identity shifting becomes an intentional act of transforming oneself. It involves setting deliberate goals to modify aspects of your identity that no longer serve you well. This might mean developing new traits that align more closely with your core values or discarding old habits that hinder your progress.
Overcoming Resistance: The path of self-discovery and identity shifting is not without its challenges. Resistance often comes from within, rooted in fear of change or the discomfort of stepping outside familiar boundaries. Overcoming this resistance is a key part of the journey, requiring persistence, resilience, and the courage to confront and replace deeply ingrained beliefs and behaviors.
Continuous Growth and Adaptation: Identity shifting is not a one-time event but a continuous process of adaptation and growth. As life brings new experiences, challenges, and insights, your understanding of yourself evolves. This ongoing process demands a commitment to self-reflection and adaptability, ensuring that your identity consistently reflects your truest self at each stage of life.
Change Yourself in the Direction of Your Dreams
Identity shifting is not just about change.
It’s about evolving yourself towards a version of yourself that aligns deeply with your truest aspirations and potential.
By embracing identity shifting, you actively reshape your perception and behavior to meet and exceed your own expectations.
Your transformative journey equips you with the tools to work through life’s challenges with agility and confidence.
As you align more closely with your envisioned future self, you unlock new worlds of possibilities.
This will inspire your growth that transcends the limitations of your past.
Identity shifting empowers you to become the person you were born to be and that you know you can be and will be.
10 lessons from John Maxwell’s book Success Is a Choice: Make the Choices that Make You Successful:
Believe in yourself. The first step to success is to believe in yourself and your ability to achieve your goals. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.
Fire up your passion. When you’re passionate about what you’re doing, you’re more likely to be successful. Find something that you’re passionate about and pursue it with all your heart.
Initiate action. Don’t just sit around and wait for things to happen. Take action towards your goals every day.
Focus your energy. Don’t try to do too many things at once. Focus your energy on the most important things that will help you achieve your goals.
Develop good relationships. Relationships are essential for success. Build strong relationships with people who can support you and help you achieve your goals.
Embrace practice. The more you practice, the better you will become. Practice your skills on a regular basis.
Persevere through setbacks. Everyone experiences setbacks from time to time. Don’t give up on your goals when things get tough. Persevere through the setbacks and keep moving forward.
Learn from your mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and move on.
Celebrate your successes. Take the time to celebrate your successes along the way. This will help you stay motivated and keep moving forward.
Give back to others. Once you’ve achieved success, give back to others and help them reach their goals.
Maxwell’s book is a powerful and inspiring guide to achieving success. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to live a more fulfilling and successful life.
Here is an additional lesson from the book:
Be grateful. Take the time to be grateful for what you have. Gratitude will help you stay positive and motivated on your journey to success.
I hope these lessons are helpful. Good luck on your journey to success!
Speech for University Culture Day Asalamu Aleikum Waramtulla Wabarakatu.. Esteemed Rector, respected faculty, honored guests, and my dear students, Good morning! Today is a special day as we get to celebrate the Somali culture. The Importance… Culture is very important in every society, in the Somali setting – culture not only means stories, poems, games,songs but so much more. Imagine hearing fun and exciting stories from our grandparents about our brave ancestors and all the amazing adventures they had, or spending a night at a traditional homestead during a wedding celebration with the unique beat of the drums filling the air and beautiful songs being sung that make you want to get up and dance. The poetry as well is not just mere words but they tell of the rich Somali history and share nuggets of wisdom that has been passed down from generation to generation. The games too add a sense of belonging as they seek to bring both the young and old together to enjoy sports and have fun in the various ancient leisure activities.
Somali culture therefore teaches us values such as respect, community, and resilience. This way of life makes us become better people and the lessons we learn from them stay with us forever no matter where we go.
I want to touch briefly on – the Role of English in Nurturing Somali Culture: English helps Somali people share their culture with the world. Imagine a Somali poet sharing their poem online and getting fans in countries from all over the world. This educates the masses who are ignorant regarding other cultures. In addition, a Somali student can write a blog in English about the delicious Somali cuisine, and people all over the world can learn to not only cook but appreciate mouthwatering dishes like oodka, ambulo and injera. English also helps Somali people find new opportunities, like studying overseas or working for an international organization abroad. The list of advantages are endless, basically learning English is like having and enjoying the best of both worlds.
A common misconception about the English language is that learning English means forgetting the Somali language or culture . But I am here to tell you that’s not the case and here’s an example… you can talk to your grandparents in Somali and learn about your family history, and then write an essay in English about what you learned. Or you can help translate important information, like traditional medicinal herbs, so that everyone in the modern community not only understands but also benefits from the past healing methods that our forefathers used for preventing and curing diseases. Thus learning English links the old and the new and bridges the gap between the young and old generation or narrows the gap between the modern and ancient Somali customs.
In Closing… In our ever-changing world, it’s vital to preserve our Somali culture. As we connect with people from different backgrounds, our traditions keep us grounded. They remind us of our identity and our roots. Sharing Somali culture through English helps others understand and appreciate it, whether it’s through poetry, stories, games or music, we must keep these traditions alive for future generations.
So… Let’s honor the Somali heritage by finding ways of using the English language to share and spread this beautiful culture and tradition to the entire world. By preserving the wonderful Somali culture, we enrich not only our local community here in Mogadishu but the entire world. Thank you, and enjoy the rest of the day! Asaalam Aleikum.
“Social capital is not a destination but a journey.”
Transactions are not made in the boardroom; they are only formalized there. People are not hired in the interview rooms; they are hired somewhere else. Decisions are not made by people in suits, they are only formalized by them.
People are not fired in disciplinary hearings, they are fired on the golf course, and the decision is formalized in a disciplinary hearing. Contracts are awarded over coffee and berbeques.
You see, these are things that we are not necessarily taught in school, yet these things will affect you in your business. Deliberately, let us have this conversation on building our social capital.
There is something in life called “Social Capital. Social Capital is about the people you know; the people who know you, and how they know you. Quite unfortunately, people think or behave like Social Capital is only needed on weddings, burials, and other celebrations. That is why you see someone who has not contacted you in many years suddenly sending you a message saying “hello so and so, long time”. Then, they indicate that on a specific day, they will have their pre-wedding function, and they need your support. Social Capital is not built overnight; it is an investment that takes time and is reciprocal. It just needs being sensitive to people’s emotions and concerns, not sneaking into their lives only when help is needed.
Social Capital is very important, and when it is built and used correctly, it makes a big difference in one’s life. It can save you money, make you money, get you a better job, make things easier, save you from prison, or save your life. It can also save you time and effort and make life more enjoyable and productive. Creating a connection with people is important for building social capital. And even if they don’t respond, at least keep in touch and don’t just reach out when you are in need.
Two things;
(1) Social capital is good, and a lot of friends bearing you goodwill is better than a few families who are obliged to you because of blood. However, social capital is not free. There is something you will pay or forego to belong. Do not go overboard to belong. Keep a few friends and be a reliable family member.
(2) The concept of social capital is like insurance. You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours. You have to be a people person to enjoy the social capital. Being a people person means you rush and stand shoulder to shoulder with your friends at their points of need. That will cost you. You can’t hide and only show up when you need assistance.
Do tasks that take less than 2 minutes immediately
2. Don’t touch it twice
Once you start a task you should complete it and not leave it half way. Starting and stopping a task can increase completion time by 5 times.
3. The 72-hour rule
Never make a decision when hungry, angry, tired, or lonely. Wait at least 72hrs. this rule will prevent a lot of unnecessary stress.
4. The 5-second rule
This is a simple technique to help avoid procrastination. The moment you feel the urge to do something productive like getting out of bedCount backward from 5 to 1. Once you reach one – you take action.
5. Daily highlight rule
Setting a daily highlight means choosing one main task for each for each day that you prioritize. And commit to completing no matter what. Ask yourself what is the one thing I want to accomplish today what will make this day feel successful or fulfilling.
6. If it’s not a Ohh Yes! Then it’s a Ohh No! rule.
This rule says that if you are not really excited about something then you shouldn’t do it, e.g if someone invites your somewhere or shows you something and your first reaction is not a Ohh Yes! Then it’s a Ohh No and you shouldn’t do it.
7. Ask who, not how rule
When we have a task or new idea, we automatically ask ourselves how can we do it, and then start working on it. This is wrong, instead ask yourself – who can do this for me? Asking who instead of how saves time, taps into other people’s expertise and let’s you focus on what you are best at.
8. Procrastination is wisdom rule
Pay attention to the tasks you procrastinate the most. Procrastination is wisdom it’s an internal signal telling you that you need help. It’s signal telling you that you should delegate the task, ask yourself who can do this for me.
9. The 90-90-1 rule
For the next 90 days spend the first 90 minutes of your day on one task that will help you achieve your goals. This rule forces you to be consistent and focused on your most important goal during your peak productive hours.
10. The 12-week year rule
According to this rule, people waste so much time by setting annual goals. Instead, it suggests aiming to achieve your 12-month goals in 12 weeks. This creates urgency and improves execution. Even if you fail in the first 12weeks, you still have three more attempts by the end of the year.
11. Biological prime time rule
Biological prime time refers to Identifying the time of day when you are most energized & productive AND doing your most important task during that time.
12. The 80% rule
You can get 80% of the project done quickly. From 0 to 80% is usually easy, from 80% to 90% is very difficult, from 90% to 100% is extremely hard. So, what does that mean for you? It means you should get feedback at 80% instead of trying to make it perfect before you send it for feedback. This can prevent you from working on things that aren’t even needed.
13. Eat the frog first rule
Eat the from first is a method where you tackle the most significant and challenging task first thing in the morning. It’s based on the idea that completing the most significant task gives you the momentum and energy to accomplish more throughout the day.
14. Parkinson’s law rule
This rule states that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. If you give yourself 4 hours to complete a task, it’ll take 4 hours, if you give yourself a full day, Set shorter deadlines to increase productivity.
15. The 80/20 rule
This rules states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your activities. If you have 10 tasks right now on your to-do list, two of them will bring your more results than the remaining eight tasks combined. Identify those two tasks and focus on them.
16. The ABCDE method rule
This method is a priority setting technique that involves listing your tasks and them ranking them from A (most important) to E (least important) and tackling them in that order.
17. Time auditing rule
Time auditing involves keeping a detailed record of your daily activities. This method helps you understand how you spend your time and identify and identify areas where you can improve efficiency.
18. Don’t break the chain rule
This method involves choosing a task or habit you want to build and then marking it on the calendar each day you complete it. After a while, each marked day on the calendar will create a chain. The goal is never to break that chain.
19. Energy management rule
Energy management is more important that time management. If you read a book for 10 minutes but remembered nothing at the end – then you know what I mean. Keep your energy high by getting enough sleep, exercising regularly and taking time off work.
20. The Zeigarnik effect rule
This rule is based on the principle that states uncompleted tasks stay in our minds until it is completed. To utilize this, start a task then take a break, while you are doing something else your subconscious mind will continue working on it and present a creative solution out of nowhere. Avoid leaving little administrative tasks unfinished – they will waste so much brain energy
21. The Pomodoro technique rule
This rule states that we lose focus on average after 25 minutes. That’s why you should work on one task for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break to recharge. Repeat this cycle for four times and then take a 30-minute-long break and then repeat the cycle again – 25 minutes work, 5 minutes rest.
22. Batch processing rule
Batch processing means grouping similar tasks and doing them together. Every task has a startup time, the period it takes to get everything ready and find your focus. When you batch similar tasks together, you only have to go through this process once.
23. The salami slice method rule
This method involves breaking down overwhelming tasks into smaller slices and then committing to work on only one slice. Once you complete one slice, you will often be motivated to do more. This technique is especially great for tasks that you procrastinate on.
24. Outcome visualization rule
Spending time visualizing the desired outcome of your goals. This technique helps in maintaining motivation and clarity about what you are working towards.
25. The Warren Buffett strategy rule
This is also often referred to as 25/5 rule. Write down your top 25 career goals, then circle the top 5 and focus only on them. Avoid the remaining 20 at all costs until the top 5 are accomplished. This method insures focus on your most critical goals.
26. The Feynman technique rule
Enhance your understanding of concepts by studying as if you have to teach them to somebody else. Explaining complex ideas in simple terms ensures deep understanding and clarity.
27. The five whys technique rule
Whenever a problem arises, ask why five times to get to the root cause. Understanding the core issues can prevent recurring problems and save time in the long run.
28. The habit stacking method rule
Develop new habits by stacking them onto existing habits, for example after brushing your teeth (existing habit), immediately do a new habit you want to form. This makes it easier to build new routines
29. Rest and sleep rule.
Sleep is the single most productive thing you can do in a day. Adequate rest can significantly improve your brain function and productivity.
30. Quality time over quantity rule
This applies to family and relationships, especially when it comes to spending time with your kids. It’s not about the total numbers of hours spent together, but the quality of those hours.
31. Say no often rule
Every yes to one thing is a no to another thing, you can’t be everywhere and you can’t be doing everything. Saying yes to a friend’s invitation means saying no to your child.
32. Working blocks rule
Manage your day by dividing it into three parts:
Block number 1 – strategic block – spend at least 3 hours on the most important tasks without interruptions.
Block number 2 – buffer block – for small tasks like emails or calls
Block number 3 – breakout block – to rest and for recovery.
33. Theme your days rule
Theming your days simply means focusing on one activity each day and nothing else. For example – doing all administrative tasks on Mondays or meeting only clients on Fridays.
34. Decision fatigue rule
Minimize the number of decisions you need to make each day, like what to wear or what to eat. This saves you mental energy for more important decisions and tasks.
35. The power of routine rule
Establish a daily routine for all aspects of your life. Have you ever dieted and exercised the whole week but ended up ruining it during the weekend. This happened because we usually don’t have a fixed routine for the weekends. A consistent routing can help to build good habits and reduce the need for willpower.
36. Digital detox rule
Periodically disconnect from digital devices to reduce distractions and mental clutter. This can help you recharge and focus better when you return to work.
37. Respect your future self-rule
Make choices that your future self will thank you for, before making a decision ask if it will help your future self or not. If not don’t do it.
38. The spotlight effect rule
Understand that people are not noticing or judging your every move, just relax and do your thing. This realization can reduce anxiety and free you up to focus more on your tasks and less on other people’s opinions.
39. The Ulysses pact rule
Make a choice in the present that forces you to perform a certain action in the future. Like deleting tik-tok from your phone or setting up an automatic savings system that deducts money from your main account every month and puts it into a savings account.
40. Plan your weeks rule
Before the week begins, plan how you will use your 168 hours. Ensure that your plans align with your long-term goals and priorities.
41.Always carry a notebook with you rule
Your subconscious mind is always working in the background to find a solution to your problems. You never know when the solution will present itself. Solutions that come from the subconscious are the best solutions and they come in the least expected moments. Carry a notebook to capture them.
Bonus Rule: Do your very best to find books, blogs or journals that were written before the advent of ChatGPT as they have more of a real/human approach to topics/issues which means when you read the same you can easily connect and identify the story/article… to whatever you envisioned your life to be or should be. The simple reason is that the articles therein where written by actual humans who (chances are) went through the same life lessons/ dreams/ aspirations/ failures/wins… that you or any normal person goes through. The (author) then decided to transfer the knowledge from ‘mind to paper’ so as to share the wisdom. This blog https://jambujoseph.com/ which was started nearly 15 years ago is such a place – and I encourage you to call it your ‘home of reading’.
And what we do is we put the child into the corridor of this grade system and enroll for the kindergaten. And that’s a great thing because when you finish that you will get into first grade. And first grade leads to second grade and so on and so forth. Then you get out of grade school, you go to high school, then college and the graduate school. And when you are through with graduate school you go out to join the world. And then you get into some racket way of selling insurance or some other rate race. And all that time the thing is coming, it’s coming, that great thing, the success that you have been working for, then when you wake up one day about forty years old, you say My God, I have arrived, I’m there. And you don’t feel very different from what you always felt. And there is a slight let down because you feel like there’s been a hoax. And there was a hoax! A dreadful hoax. They made you miss everything. We thought of life by an analogy with a journey, with a pilgrimage. Which had a serious purpose at the end. The thing was to get to that end, success or whatever it is or maybe heaven after your death. But we missed the point the whole way along. It was a musical thing and you were supposed to sing or to dance while the music was being played.
Rich people put most of their spending power into buying assets (stuff that makes them money over time) instead of liabilities (stuff that costs them money over time).
Instead of buying, for example, a flashy Lamborghini that loses a third of its value as soon as you drive off the lot, a truly rich person will take that same chunk of change and buy a two-family duplex and rent it out.
They don’t care what you think of them or whether you’re impressed. They’re happy to just cash your rent checks and let you pay their mortgage.
2. Have an abundance mindset
So many people have a scarcity mindset — a constant feeling that we’re never going to have enough money, that we’re one slip-up away from disaster and we have to hoard every last cent.
The problem with this mindset is that it can make people very competitive with other folks in similar financial situations. So you have people at the bottom of the pyramid spending all their time and energy fighting each other for resources, instead of trying to overthrow those at the top.
Rich people have an abundance mindset. Since they know they’re going to be able to take care of their bills, they’re not worried. This gives them the freedom to decide what they want to do with their time, rather than only focusing on what they need to do to survive.
3. Think long-term
Rich people understand that sometimes, things take time, and they’re happy to wait. They’re kings and queens of delayed gratification.
A rich person has no problem, for example, socking away money in a retirement account. Yes, the $6,000 they invested in their IRA account this year is off-limits until they’re 59-and-a-half.
But they know that just because they can’t spend that money now, it’s not like it has disappeared. It’s actually the opposite: the longer they wait, the more money they get later on.
4. Share, swap and scratch each other’s backs
Rich people love being known as the smartest person in their friend group: the one with the best taste, who is on top of all the trends. You’ll often hear them say things like:
“I have this great tax person — you should work with them.”
“I found the best cocktail bar — you have to try the martini.”
“I joined the best country club — and I’ll sponsor you to join, too.”
They recognize that when they’re open about their knowledge, other people will be more inclined to share what they know. It is another valuable form of currency, and it’s the same reason rich people love nothing more than putting their besties in positions of power.
Their thought process is: “I’m not qualified for this job, but my friend is, and once he gets it, he’ll owe me a solid. Then, as soon as he’s in a leadership position, I’m automatically tapped into that whole network.”
Yes, it’s because they like to see their friends succeed, but it’s also because they’re thinking strategically — and towards the future.
When I speak about knowing my worth, it’s not coming from a place of ego or arrogance. I stand by my positive attributes with conviction, but the difference is I’m conscious of my shortfalls and work on them everyday. When somebody holds a space in my heart, there is nothing I wouldn’t do for them. Generosity, patience, and loyalty are traits of mine cherished dearly by those who know me. But I won’t pretend other emotions don’t consume me. Because they do. However, it is my unwavering devotion to give the positivity inside me a stronger voice – one which overrides all. When I say I know my worth, it’s because I’ve done the work to get here. It’s because I continue doing so, I Know what I have to offer. And I stand strong in that fact alone.
Proficiency in English enhances job prospects, as many multinational companies require it. Moreover, the internet, a treasure trove of information, is predominantly in English. English literature and media expose us to diverse cultures and ideas.
