EFFORTS, RESULTS AND REWARDS

In life, you will be paid for the results you produce, not for the mere efforts you expend. - Terry Mante

MY FIRST attempt at writing a book for publication was during my junior high school days in Koforidua in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Then, my focus was on fiction. I wrote quite a number of stories with the intention of compiling them into what I called Tesmah Tales. Yes, intention, that’s all it was. I never went to press with my compilation. As good as I think the stories were, they never saw the light of day. Nobody saw them. They were never published.

After senior high school I made my second major attempt. I began writing Insights for Living. That too, was a windy effort. It got blown off midway. But in my final year at the University of Ghana, Legon, I launched what is officially recognised as my first book; Winning with Confidence. Because Tesmah Tales and Insights for Living never got published, no one recognizes them as part of my works. As a matter of fact, I’m the only person who is aware of the existence of such works.

So what’s the point? In life, you’ll not be recognised or rewarded for the things you start, but you will be rewarded for those you finish. You will be paid for the results you produce, not for the mere efforts you expend. Have you seen an Olympic race, say a 200-metre race? Even though eight athletes run, only one gets the gold. In spite of the other seven’s perspiration, they don’t get rewarded for sweating. The first three receive the honours for placing first, second and third respectively. The others receive nothing. Nobody will count Tesmah Tales or Insights for Living among my literary works unless I publish them.

I have learnt that whenever I start something worthwhile, I must endeavour to pursue it to its utmost conclusion. Whether I start well or not, I must ensure that I finish and do so remarkably.

Whenever you start something, begin with the end in view. Think about the results you want to have. Consider how you want to finish. Look at the consequences. Don’t do things without taking into consideration the end result; because at the end of the day, your reward will be based on the results. Nobody rewards efforts but results. It is said that actions speak louder than words but I have found that results speak louder than actions.

You must also know how to adopt and apply the right knowledge. On September 12, 2010 Legacy and Legacy Chairman Albert Ocran delivered the keynote address at the launch of my book It’s a Big Deal. Commenting on the critical role that knowledge plays in a person’s career, Albert remarked that career success is not just about “what work you do, it’s about the kind of understanding that you have.” Without relevant knowledge, your results will not generate reward that is commensurate with your effort. Without knowledge, your effort will be like a building without a roof. You will work so hard but when there is a rainy test, you will be overwhelmed. Give the acquisition and usage of knowledge an elevated position in your life and what you do will be elevated above the rains of life.

The ability to delay gratification also consolidates the results we produce. People who are able to delay gratification have the patience to endure until they see results. They have fortitude. They pay the right price for what they expect. Without the ability to delay gratification, your results will always come out pre-mature. People who are unable to delay gratification will not win the applause of their patrons. And they themselves will lose a bite of the satisfaction that comes with performance. Anytime you feel like cutting in and reaping up, check to be sure if the time is right. Otherwise you would be reaping pre-maturely.

Don’t get me wrong. Your effort is important because without your effort, there will be no results. But never lose sight of the possibility that there can be effort without results. So when you act, think three things: results, results and results.


© 2011 Terry Mante
PEDNET
Accra, Ghana

THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE

Excellence is a LITTLE THING that makes a BIG DIFFERENCE - Terry Mante

WHEN I first stepped foot at the Qodesh – the headquarters of Lighthouse Chapel International – I was wildly impressed by the finesse and precision that characterises the church’s compound. I saw no single trait of mediocrity. It does not surprise me that their ministry continues to inspire many people and transform myriads of souls. Much of what I saw there goes beyond what is expected of the average church in Ghana and perhaps Africa. What Lighthouse has done under the able leadership of Bishop Dag Heward-Mills is a vivid manifestation of excellence.

Excellence is a non-negotiable requirement for any person, organisation or nation that seeks to attain extraordinary heights. When delivering the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encouraged that, “Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” Jesus is thus urging us to pursue excellence. What He said has three implications for our lives.

1. Exceed requirements. In every field of endeavour and at each stage of one’s life, there is a yardstick by which people’s output is evaluated. By choosing to do a little above what is expected of you, you place yourself in an outstanding position.

2. Extend limitations. Excellence means doing better than average. There is a lot of traffic on the road of life but only a few people travel on the mile called extra. It is those who go the extra mile who excel in life.

3. Exercise innovation. When everybody is doing something in a particular way, you can choose to do it differently. Doing the same thing in a unique new way is a hallmark of excellence.

CULTIVATING THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE

If you desire excellence in your life, here are five keys that can help you:

1. Do what you love. Don’t do what is popular. Deep within you, there is something you truly cherish. What you cherish is what you mush devote your attention and energy to. When you settle that in your life, you will churn out sterling results. By focusing on doing what you love, you will stretch yourself to attain the highest possible standard. Jim Collins said this better: “If you’re doing something you care that much about, and you believe in its purpose deeply enough, then it is impossible to imagine not trying to make it great.” Love bears all things, hopes all things and endures all things. Love never fails.

2. Specialise in what you can do best. Although we are all humans, each one of us is unique. We must not do things just because others are excelling in them. There is something our gifts and talents give us competitive advantage in.

3. Don’t neglect small things. In athletics, a time difference of one second can distinguish a record holder from a non-record holder. Sometimes, small things can make big differences. Don’t overlook small habits, little mistakes and seemingly insignificant relationships. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Excellence is a little thing that makes a big difference.

4. Learn to sacrifice. Sacrifice is one thing that will set you ahead of the pack. It is demonstrated by doing what nobody else is willing to do, working while others play or relax and selling present pleasure for eternal rewards. It may mean staying up a little late at night to finish that business proposal, forgoing that TV programme to attend that prayer meeting or breaking a relationship that is inconsistent with your vision.

5. Strive for God’s best. The highest you can attain on earth cannot be higher than God’s standards. By determining to reach for God’s best, you inevitably set yourself above every challenge and competition around you.

All these hints must be integrated in your life. They are not mutually exclusive. Like those folks at Lighthouse, I believe you too can be excellent in what you do.


© 2011 Terry Mante
PEDNET
Accra, Ghana
W: http://terrymante.blogspot.com
E: terrymante@live.com
T: +233.268.816.545

THE THRUST OF LEADERSHIP

Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave. – Jesus Christ

AT THE number one spot on John C. Maxwell’s list of 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership is the Law of the Lid. According to the leadership sage, the Law of the Lid stipulates that “Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness.” “The higher you want to climb,” says Dr Maxwell, “the more you need leadership. The greater the impact you want to make, the greater your influence needs to be.” In the corporate world, people who occupy top positions are labelled leaders. Heads of states are referred to as leaders of their respective countries. Parents are called leaders of the home. People who rise to the top are leaders. If you sincerely desire to advance, then be a leader. The height you will attain in your life is linked to the amount of leadership you have in you.

LEADERSHIP IS NOT POSITION
IT IS possible to be in leadership and not lead. The world is stuffed with scenarios where top level people have been removed from office for non-performance, incompetence, ineptitude...whatever it is termed. A crucial thing to note about leadership is that it is not merely attained by having a title or a position. Leadership is more functional than it positional. Anyone who does not perform creditably in a leadership position will receive the boot – later, if not immediately.

A true leader ranks competence and service above position. They have a bottomless desire to instigate positive changes wherever they find themselves. On top of their desire, they develop the capacity to translate their wishes into actions which produce tangible results. By doing so they qualify themselves for promotion into high offices. Leadership does not begin with a position or title. It can start from anywhere; by deciding to and actually becoming a pillar of influence in the lives of people around you.

LEADERSHIP IS SERVICE
THE biggest companies are the ones with the most numerous clients. Large churches are defined by their huge memberships. Big schools have many students. To be a great leader, you must be a great servant. The more people you serve, the higher you rise in your leadership walk. A leader is a servant. Jesus taught his disciples that, “whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.” Instead of seeking for privileged positions and big titles, we must determine to offer useful service wherever we find ourselves. Leadership is a function of service and contribution to people around us.

Companies which serve their customers well become market leaders. Churches that are congregation-oriented grow from strength to strength. As you serve with excellence, you attract more followers and by attracting more followers, you expand your influence.

THE LEADER’S MANDATE
I PERSONALLY believe that our leadership mandate originates from God. Primarily, God wired us to have dominion and rule over His creation. There are four implications I would like to address:

1. Leadership is fundamental and universal. It has no gender or skin colour. Every human being has a mandate to lead in one area or another.

2. Our mandate to rule is not necessarily over each other but over the earth. Being a leader is not the same as being a boss with many servants under you. Leaders use the resources at their disposal to enhance the lives of their followers.

3. You lead best by engaging your gift. Billy Graham and T. D. Jakes are great leaders in the church world. They’ve both made landmark impacts in Christian arena; yet they are very different. While Dr Graham is a calm evangelist who speaks primarily on salvation, Bishop Jakes is a charismatic preacher who addresses a wider range of issues. The difference in their ministry styles is brought about by the distinctive gifting and anointing on their lives. The best way to influence people is to serve them with your God-given gift.

4. Leadership must be purpose-driven. As you lead, you must do so with a sense of purpose. You have to sort out why you do what you do and live with that consciousness.

I believe that leadership is a ubiquitous fact of life. It exists in the home, church, corporate world, politics and even in our individual lives; everywhere that human beings matter. The bottom line is that each of us must develop and grow in our leadership abilities and skills.



© 2008 Extracted from the book Attitude is Everything! by Terry Mante
PEDNET
Accra, Ghana

TOUGH QUESTIONS OF LIFE

The day we stop asking questions, we cease to extend the frontiers of our lives - Terry Mante

WHO AM I?
THIS is a question of identity. It’s a question that will be asked of you. The interview panel will ask you. The person you want to marry would demand an answer to this question about yourself. Your kids will ask you; even your parents will ask you at a point in your life. And more importantly, you will ask yourself. To be able to answer this question of identity, you must recognise that:

1. You are an individual. Your fingerprint, DNA, voice structure, and many things about you are exceptional, exclusive and unique. You are the only person with your fingerprint, DNA and voice. Throughout human history, there has never been anyone like you, there is nobody like you and there will never be any person like you. There is nothing we can do to change our fingerprints and DNA. This implies that each of us is distinct in form, character and personality.

2. You are invaluable. The intrinsic value of every human being is immeasurable. The depth and breadth of the value of any human is deeper and wider than all the oceans of the world put together. You don’t have to place anything above you. You don’t have to look down on yourself. You are priceless. Don’t sell yourself to poverty, ignorance, immorality and small talk.

3. You are influential. Value is expressed through influence. We demonstrate our value through the influence we exert on the affairs of the world. Influence is the ability that we have to have an effect on the course of events. The capacity to influence is an inherent potential of every single person on the face of the earth, including you.

WHY DO I EXIST?

THIS is a question of purpose. For every individual, there is an exact answer to this question. There is an answer that is unique to you only. It explains the reason for your existence. The answer to this question lies in three considerations:

1. Abilities: Abilities are the things we are able to do in a unique way without special training. Your ability is not something you negotiate for. Neither do you pay to acquire them. Every person is born with a certain kind of ability. Your life becomes meaningful when you harness the treasure of your abilities. What you can do indicates what you should do. Your ability tells you what you can conveniently do in a significant manner.

2. Attributes: Every person has peculiar traits and personality characteristics that influence what they do and how they do it. Whether you are an introvert or extrovert person, literary or numerate, temperate or intemperate, it speaks to your purpose in life. Your personality is designed to position you for your purpose. Instead of being worried about how you are, think of what you can do with how you are.

3. Anointing: Anointing is the supernatural gift of God upon your life that complements what you have naturally. It makes up for the holes in your abilities. It helps you to manage the weaknesses that are inherent in your natural abilities and attributes and bestows on you an uncommon capacity to excel in the things that you have been designed to do in life. You receive the anointing when you develop sensitivity to God.

WHAT DO I HAVE?

THIS is a question of ability. It helps you to know your equipment for living out your identity and fulfilling your purpose. Everybody has what it takes to experience a life of meaning and significance. This is packaged in our abilities, attributes and anointing. Your task is to discover your uniqueness by following these three guidelines:

1. Look within. What are the things that you are strongly interested in? What do you often think about? What annoys you consistently? What is the most pressing dream on your heart? The answers to these questions represent your passion. Your passion indicates the kind of problem you are designed to solve. If you know your passion, you can live with purpose and meaning.

2. Look behind. Behind you is a bouquet of elements we call experience. Experience comprises your family background, religious orientation, educational processes, mistakes you have made and anything you have heard, seen, touched, felt or handled. All those elements contribute to who you are and shape how you engage in life. If you are seeking to have meaning and fulfillment in life, don’t overlook your experiences.

3. Look up. Human beings are created as God’s extension. That is why we are seen as God’s image. To discover who we really are and get a grip of our lives, we should nurture an intimate relationship with God. We should get to know God as best as possible. The more we know of God, the better we know of ourselves.

THE day we stop asking questions, we cease to extend the frontiers of our lives. Progress in life is a product of the answers we get to the questions we ask. We can find meaning in life if we ask the right questions and vigorously pursue answers.

© 2011 Terry Mante
PEDNET
Accra, Ghana