“The challenge I never started” 4th Book -Born Leader-

‘Leadership’ has been thrown around so much these days that many have lost sight of what it really stands for. Too many look to it as a tittle they must have, but few truly understand what it means to be a leader. Recently a simple question was asked by a partner of mine in a group chat: “What makes great leaders standout from average people?” although seemingly simple, it sparked a great debate in the group as each person offered their idea on leadership. It downed on me, Leadership cannot be characterized in a simple sentence.

in his book “Becoming a Leader”, Dr. Myles Munroe gives us an insight of what it means to be a leader, why each of us has the seed of leadership in us and how to achieve our calling for leadership. Dr. Munroe defines leadership as the capacity to influence others through inspiration, generated by a passion, motivated by a vision, birthed from a conviction, produced by a purpose.

Here are 3 key things I took away from this amazing man:

• “We are all born leaders, designed to lead in the image of our Creator through His spirit.”

Although the general consensus is that leaders are not born but are made through the hard and trying journey, everyone is born with a seed of leadership meant to be fulfill his or her part in their sphere of assignment. The problem is too many of us seat around waiting for a special moment before stepping into our greatness. Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may *rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them (Genesis 1:26-27). *Rule over can be translated to “dominion over, or mastery over”

• “Great leaders do not desire to lead but to serve.”

The essence of leadership.

As a Catholic who has accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and like many Christians, my faith is based on the belief that Christ gave his life for the forgiveness of my sins and the salvation of mankind. The scripture says “The Son of Man who did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as to redeem many people” (Matthew 20:28). Faith is based on the second half of that sentence, but leadership is founded on the first part, “…who did not come to be served, but to serve.” Leaders are willing to make sacrifices for the sake of service. They think more about those whom they are serving through their vision than about their own comfort.

• “The greatest investment in leadership is not in things but in people.”

True leadership is measured by the people you ‘produce’. Dr. Munroe puts it in these words: “It is my conviction that the ultimate purpose of leadership in any endeavor -whether it is business, religion, politics, sports, medicine, education, or another area- is not the accomplishment of goals or the achievement of quotas but rather the leader’s legacy through his successor.”

This book offers so much insight into leadership. I would highly recommend it to anyone aspiring to be a leader.

See you soon!

Truly,

Cedric Metangmo

“The challenge I never started” 3rd Book – Easy to do, easy NOT to do!

“It sure would be nice if, somehow, you could do something dramatic. If you just woke up tomorrow and have it all turned around. Snap your fingers and change it all.”

Most of us have felt such despair at some point of our lives. Hoping, dreaming up a magical solution to our problems. Those mounting debts, failed carriers, destructive relationships and the list goes on. Unfortunately life’s many problems can’t be solved with a snap of the finger just as life’s many problems did not come about at the flick of the wrist. This is the premise of “The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson. The belief that success or failure is not determined by doing the right or wrong thing once. It is not determined by that big final moment, or by that one turning point. But it is the small consistent actions and choices we make that seem unimportant but over time can turn into your greatest success or failure.

As I write to you today, I am in the middle of one of the most important leadership and business conferences of the year for entrepreneurs. I could have easily been excused from writing this post till Monday or even next week. Although, writing this article will not make me famous or a millionaire right now, it is proof of my dedication, discipline and accountability.

No matter how many times we hear from successful people, ‘there’s no secret!’ many still believe the 5% of the population are holding back something. I two, once belonged to that school of thought. I had great ambitions and knew it was possible for me to achieve amazing things. But time and time again I found myself flat on the ground. Failing at life. Having kept close ties with some of the most successful people in the DC metropolitan area, I began to change my thoughts process. I went from, ‘what are they hiding’ to ‘how are they succeeding so much’. Here was my next problem, the ‘how’ was made available to me as it is to all of you. I was blessed to be surrounded with successful people willing to share their ‘hows’, I had access to thousands of books, audios and videos on ‘how to’. Yet success still seemed out of arms reach. I realized there was still something I was missing. It was not until I finally decided to read the Slight Edge that it all made sense. Jeff Olson puts it this way: “it’s how you do the ‘hows’ that’s most important.” You can have all the knowledge in the world at your fingertips and you do; you can have all the desires for success in your heart and you do; but until you understand that how you do the HOW is the determining factor of success and failure, you will most likely end in failure.

Now back to the Slight Edge principle and the world of entrepreneur. Too often we focus on the end result and forget about the journey. As someone who is not new to the world of Self-development, the greatest problem many entrepreneurs face is that key factor between the ‘how’ and their dreams. The Slight Edge is the answer we are all looking for. Not another ‘how to’, but an explanation we so desperately needed. What I found is that most people, successful or failures aren’t aware of their daily application of the Slight Edge principle.

Some quotes I feel relate directly to my business:

“It isn’t that the actions are wrong. It’s that people don’t keep doing them.”

“The right actions are all so easy to do and also not easy to do. While anyone could do them, most won’t”

“Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.”

Unlike the past books, The Slight Edge requires multiple reviews just to touch on the many insights you can get from it. I have chosen to offer you two additional articles this week to delve deeper into the philosophy of the Slight Edge.

See you soon!

Truly,

Cedric Metangmo

“The challenge I never started” 2nd Book -Be A Man!-

Where should I begin with this book?

Today I picked up my younger brother from school on his last day and we started a 3 hour drive back home through the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. We had made this trip many times but this drive was to be a unique one. The anticipation of a conversation that had been postponed for some time hung ever so slightly in the air. This was to be a conversation between two brothers, two MAN. The question that kept coming to mind was one that I had just been reading about: How do we define ‘manhood’? This question couldn’t have been any more relevant to my brother and me. I, a 28 year old young man and he, a teen of only 18 years of age were right in the mist of this one daunting question. ‘What does it mean to be a man?’ In “Season of Life” Jeffrey Marx gives us a refreshing look at what it means to be a man through the life of Joe Ehrmann and his journey from a NFL start to his days in ministries and with a unique high school football team.

In my brother’s and I’s case, the question of masculinity can be view from two very similar perspectives. The first one from our African background and the second from the last 16 years we’ve spent in the United States. As many Africans would tell you, being born of two very proud and successful African parents and not to forget of noble lineage, there are strict and high expectations of the men in the family. These expectations were than strongly reinforced by our American society. We are expected to be strong, both mentally and physically; successful, both academically and professionally; and finally bring home a good girl that our parents can be proud of. Now to most these sound very normal and acceptable. I two believed those were completely acceptable… until I read this book.

Joe’s belief was that society has fed us three absolutely destructive myths about what it meant to be a man.

1. Physical power: athletic ability, physical attribute, strength…
2. Bedroom conquests: sexual conquest or dominance…
3. Checkbook: economic success…

Relations

Joe when on to explain that on our last moments in this world none of those things matter. Not how many basket

TORNADO-KILLS-BOY-GOODBYE-MAMA

you made or the cars you owned and the number of girls you had been with. None of those thing matter in the least bit. What matters is the relations. This immediately brought to mind a picture of a boy sending one last message to his mom before a tornado hit the house he sought shelter in. A picture that reflects so very well what manhood and life is really about.

But for me it raised an even deeper picture. Although I had been raised in an amazing family, I still wasn’t sure that my relationships had been cared for as they should have. I started to wounder what would be said of me on my death bed as far as relations go. Was I a good son, bother, friend, partner, leader? When was the last time I expressed my love and appreciation for the people I cared about? Maybe we should all stop every now and than and ask ourselves these questions.

Cause and Purpose

In this book we watch Joe and his partner Francis Poggi “Biff” live a philosophy called “Building Man for Others” through a young high school football team. With the premise that most social problems such as poverty, racism, crime, drugs and family disintegration were symptoms of a deeper problem in our society. “If we do not help boys become men, then we really won’t be able to fix anything else in this country.” This is as worthy a cause as any but to the dad’s and boys out there, I believe it must because more than just a cause, it most become core value in our lives.

Having lived in Baltimore for most of his life, Joe Ehrmann made a lifelong decision to pour back into the lives of boys, especially those of less fortunate communities. He had a set of belief on justice and I’d like to share one with you. This is in direct relation to the current state of injustice taking place in Baltimore today.

“Joe said that justice should always be examined within the context of at least three broad categories: ‘It’s relational, it’s economic, and it’s communal.’…

Communal: ‘Everybody ought to be able to participate in the community. When people are ostracized, when they’re locked outside of the community for any number of reasons, you’ve got to do something about it. Just flat out got to.’

He goes on to say: “There’s that old saying: ‘You give a man fish, and you feed him for a day. You teach him how to fish, and he can feed himself for a lifetime.’ But if he can’t even get to the pond, no matter how impressive his rod and reels are, what good are they? You gotta remove the barriers so the person can go fish.” (Pg144)

The African American community is crying out for justice and as men, it is a duty, a responsibility to stand for a just cause and demand justice. Too many sit idle and watch as this injustice continues to destroy the very fiber of our society.

Among numerous awards, Joe has been named “The Most Important Coach in America” for his work to transform the culture of sports. Take a look at this short presentation on TEDx.

Be A Man: Joe Ehrmann at TEDxBaltimore 2013

This book has opened my eyes to so much when it comes to what it means to be a man. Although aspirations to be in great physical shape, excel financially and score that dream girl are understandable, we must remember that those things alone don’t define a man. We must push our communities to have more conversations with our boys and instill in them the proper values of manhood and not those of social media. I hope all dads and sons out there will pick up a copy of this book and start a conversation.

As for me, I will continue to work on my relationship with my father and my brothers. I hope they know it already, but in case they don’t. Guys! I love you and I am blessed to be your son and brothers.

Till next Friday!

Truly,

Cedric Metangmo

“The challenge I never started” 1st Book

“Your Best Life Now” by Joel Osteen

They say when you ask God to lead you in your journey, He will always show you a sign that He heard you and He is with you. Well, I believe God chose “Your Best Life Now” by Joel Osteen as a sign. I know someone out there is thinking ‘well, Cedric you shouldn’t be surprised, Joel Osteen is a world renown pastor’. YES I know! As a matter of fact I have listened and watched a few his sermons before, but… here is why I believe this is a sign of God guiding my steps. This very book has been on my shelf since 2012 when my mother got it from a yard sale. From that moment on I’ve had it on my ‘to read’ list and to think that out of 25+ books I could have chosen, not one drew me in like this one. The second reason I truly believe this to be a sign was the title. “Your Best Life NOW”, you see I am a chronic procrastinator in recovery and just like this challenge, I have put off many things to an uncertain future and it was time that I lived in the present, performed in the present, thrived in the present, in other words ‘NOW’.

If you have ever watched Joel Osteen, you would undoubtedly recognize him in his writing. He is as great a writer as he is a speaker and vice versa. Through simple stories, he has the ability to help you connect to the message or lesson at hand. I must say, this is one the main reasons I connected to this book. I will share a few examples further.

In this book, Joel Osteen offers 7 practical steps to living at your full potential now. These steps include:

• Enlarge your vision
• Develop a healthy Self-image
• Discover the power of your thoughts and words
• Let go of the past
• Find strength through adversity
• Live to give
• Choose to be happy

I need you to understand a few things about me. I am not new to self-development and at first glance, these steps were just a reminder or a confirmation of what I knew already. For someone who had read books such as “Think and Grown Rich”, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” and many more, I was familiar with these concepts and had even applied many to my life. Sadly, the stark reality is that knowing and applying it once only fixes a problem once. Many of us have a wealth of information, others may even have applied the lessons learned, but what most of us lack, what separates the average, mediocre from the world class is the consistency and discipline.

Here’s what I loved about this book, Joel caught my full attention early. Here was the hook:

“Are you limiting God?

When God puts a dream in your heart, when He brings opportunities across your path, do you step out boldly in faith, expecting the best, moving forward with confidence, knowing that you are well able to do what God wants you to do? Or do you shrink back in fear, and say, ‘that’s too big for me. I’m not qualified. I’m not able. I could never do that.’…” (pg23)

You see, when I read those words, just days earlier God had place a great vision on my heart, and I was extremely excited about fulfilling that vision in October, but after a short conversation about the project with a friend (that I still love to death), I began to unconsciously question everything and myself. You see, I had brought God down to my current limits even after having read ‘Think and Grow Rich’. How sad??? But it’s OK, I’ve regained my composure and ready to be stretched. Chapter after chapter I could see events and areas where I lacked or could improve.

Now I have to share this little bit with you. I thought I was the only person to have a really special mom!!! Well, Joel and I have one thing in common. In one of his many amusing stories here is how he described his mother:

My lovely mother Jeanne.

 “My mother has an interesting habit. When she is on the telephone and finishes her part of the  conversation, she’s through. She just hangs up. She doesn’t give you any time to respond…”  (pg216)

I almost fell out of my chair with laughter just thinking of the many times my own mother (I  love you mom!) has short-circuited a conversation just like that. That story brought  everything together for me.

Some of my favorite quotes from the book.

“Quit limiting God.”

“You were born to win; you were born for greatness; you were created to be a champion in life.”

“You will never rise above the image you have of yourself in your mind.”

“If one dream dies, dream another dream.”

“It doesn’t take any more effort to go forward than it does to go backwards.”

Yesterday is gone; tomorrow may not come. You must live for today.”

If you are anything like me, searching for meaning in your life, both in a spiritual and social sense, looking for guidance without that nagging feeling that religion is being shoved down your throat, than this book will definitely be a blessing.

See you next Friday!

Truly,

Cedric Metangmo

The challenge I never started!!

By most account, I would be considered a failure. My reality is “I just never started!”

As you can imagine, like 99% of aspiring entrepreneur, I made a very daring challenge as a New Year resolution, something to really stretch my world. The challenge was this: I would read 50 Books during the year 2015, and yes I said fifty actual books. But as you can deduce from the title, it became the challenge I never started.

Again, my reality is not one of failure but very simply that I never started. I could spend an entire page giving you one reason after another as to why I never started but frankly who cares?!?! So I am inviting you to embark on a journey with me for the next 12 months. I believe from the bottom of my heart that I am capable of achieving this goal of reading 50 books, but I also know that I will face overwhelming obstacles along the way. I have chosen to focus on three categories of books all geared for self-development: faith based books, Inspirational books and business development. So I am relying on your feedbacks, critics, encouragement, suggestions.

That said here are my disclaimers:

I am not a professional writer and will not pretend to be one.

I am not an avid reader. Matter of fact, I barely passed English classes in school.

I own about a dozen books to start, so please suggest some.

This is purely for the challenge and the self-development.

Let’s have some fun!
Cedric Metangmo