International Institute For Global Leadership
Issue #184* April 2017
www.global-leadership.com
Asheville, NC. USA
Guest Editorial
Sometimes you Win, Sometimes you Learn
Harriet Opondo (Uganda)
oppondohattie@gmail.com
John C. Maxwell, in this book shares eleven elements that are important if we want to learn and succeed in the face of problems, failures and losses. We will all face losses in our lives, but we each make a choice whether to learn from them or to stay beaten by the challenges. In order to turn our losses and challenges into stepping stones and points of growth and maturity, we need to learn from them. Here are some of the key ideas:
Humility/The spirit of learning: in order for an individual to learn from his or her losses, an attitude of humility is important. Humility allows us to possess a true perspective of ourselves and life and it also allows us to let go of perfection and keep trying. I still do struggle with having perfectionist tendencies, however some of the losses and challenges that I have gone through in the recent past have taught me, that life is not perfect neither am I, hence, I am more open to learning when things don’t go my way.
Reality/The foundation of learning: It is very tempting to bury our heads in the sand when difficult moments come our way, however the earlier we face the realities of our circumstances and seek solutions the better. Last year, when I did not get admitted for the Doctoral program, I was disappointed, and I had to face that reality, learn from my experience and prepare for re-application!
Responsibility/The first step towards learning: It has been said that if we don’t take responsibility, we give up control of our lives, I wouldn’t agree more. In my work as a Therapist, I encounter many clients who don’t want to take responsibility for their actions and instead blame other people. However this attitude keeps them stuck. In my personal life, I have learned, the faster I evaluate circumstances and accept my share of responsibility, the faster I heal, learn and move on.
Teach-ability/The pathway to learning: The author described teach-ability as “possessing the intentional attitude and behavior to keep learning and growing throughout life.” None of us can ever know everything hence it is important to maintain a teachable attitude. I believe that every situation has something to teach us, in 2015, I had to leave a job, because of many reasons, but partly due to that fact that the values of the organization did not match my own. Through this, I learnt that, before I take on a job, I must do thorough research about a company or organization.
Change/The price of learning: we live in a changing world, for instance in the technology, it seems there are new things being invented every day! Therefore being open to change is important. However one of the key things that need to change is us! One of the things that I have learned since I started my studies with IIGL, has been the power of positive attitude. This attitude change has helped me deal with lots of challenges and to learn and grow as a leader.
(Harriet is finishing her 3rd term on the IIGL Board and is a Level Seven Student).
What Others Are Saying
Olita Talent Nyathi (South Africa)
bookteamsa@yahoo.co.uk
My name is Olita Talent Nyathi. I graduated from the IIGL in 2011. I was appointed as the Executive Director Training for Transformation. People have no idea of how powerful the IIGL process is, nobody ever remains the same after IIGL, you get connected with the “:Self” and grow the quest to be of service. In the African traditions we call that “Ubuntu” meaning that IIGL makes you more human.
I am working with a global community development training program because of the leadership skills that I acquired through the IIGL. When I joined the Training for Transformation, the course was offered to 36 civil society leaders over a period of 18 months and was 100 per cent donor funded. After my appointment I conceptualized three ways of offering the training, The Diploma, Certificate, and Introduction to Training for Transformation Courses. I introduced social entrepreneurship by billing organizations that could afford paying for the training to support those who struggled. My pleasant surprise was that when organizations paid for the course they took more interest in the curriculum and the learning outcomes. The level of candidates attending the courses were much higher, program managers and directors were and are still being seconded to the course. The Introduction Course generated more income because organizations could pay less for more people to be trained. The project is moving towards sustainability by generating 40 per cent of the project funding. The Board Members say it is the leadership skills and teamwork that enhance team members’ capacity to maximize their potential. I just thought I could give this feedback. For more about my work please visit www.trainingfortransformation.org.za
What Our Students Are Reading
Where Good Ideas Come From – The Natural History of Innovation By: Steven Johnson $11.73
The book presents an impressive theoretical framework around how good ideas emerged in the human history and debunking myths associated with the same. The underlying theme of the book is how coral reefs, big cities, and the world-wide web provide the right platform for innovation. A right platform for innovation provides liquid networks which encourage rapid information sharing, serendipitous encounters, the formation of slow hunches, the exploration of the adjacent possible, and explanation of the existing solutions for solving seemingly unrelated problems.
Students In Action
IIGL Student Works toward Common Goal in Kyrgyzstan
Level One Student Elnura Emilkanova; elnura.emilkanova@gmail.com from Kyrgyzstan shared: “Dear Friends,The way to change life for blind people in any country just requires a few dedicated people working together with a common goal. A good friend of ours, Mr. Joshua Boudraux is strongly committed to work with us. In our organization, we believe that Braille is a key to literacy leading to successful employment and independence. I am personally writing to ask each of you for your support in ensuring that our friend, Mr. Joshua Boudreaux can win the first Holman Prize, organized by the LightHouse for the Blind in San Francisco. Mr. Boudreaux is blind and was an active member of the National Federation of the Blind for over 25 years. During that time, he worked as an Assistive Tech Trainer and as the Director of Technology at the Louisiana Center for the Blind for over 12 years. This prize will help our team to receive hands-on training from expert, be able to produce high-quality Braille materials and many more.
Could you help us with watching the video and liking it toward our cause? It is more than “a like” for us. Thank you in advance for your support! Please, visit the video on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgCvfjho5gc or Search on YouTube – Braille for the Blind in Kyrgyzstan.
Valuable Resources for Personal & Planetary Transformation
Adebayo Akomolafe
Bayoakomolafe.net
Adebayo Akomolafe is a Poet; Philosopher; Psychologist; and Professor. He is Passionate about the Preposterous. He stated: “Once, we supposed that by burrowing into the world, and taking things apart, we would eventually arrive at pure essences, at unbequeathed virgins hidden behind thick layered harems of dust, grime and exactitude. At the heart of the matter. When we arrived there, it wasn’t a holy calmness we found: in the material world, the electron touched herself in perverse sensuality neither here nor there, frolicking with virtualities, teasing the impossible, mocking our gaze; in the intellectual world, we surveyed the ancient ruins of Reason, overrun by visiting hordes from less austere realms; in the moral world, where we supposed love to be the resolute bedrock for all things, we noticed a queer undergrowth, a flourishing carnality of considerations. Love is not a Bridge; Love is a Hyphen.”
News
2017-2018 Board of Director Nominations
Once again it is time to establish the 2017-2018 IIGL Board of Directors! Active students working on Level Two studies and higher may be considered. Also IIGL graduates and contributors are eligible. The deadline is May 1, 2017. Please email Felix Iziomoh, our current IIGL President at flelixi@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Register for the IIGL/ICLDNG 2017 Annual Conference in Lagos
Registration has begun for the IIGL/ICLDNG 2017 Annual Conference in Lagos Nigeria 12th-14th May, 2017in Lagos Nigeria! We have a great line-up of five accomplished and inspiring presenters. This amazing conference is your opportunity to:
Receive 6+ hours of leadership training with a certificate of completion
Engage in our interactive conference sessions, build collaboration, teamwork and trust
Learn from challenges and success stories from IIGL students and identify your own leadership strengths and areas to improve
Hear from, and be inspired by, global thought leaders
Network with students, graduates and speakers
Be a part of a wonderful educational and fun event!
For Registration:
In Africa, please contact Felix at: +234 703 822 2687 (mobile) or email: flelixi@gmail.com
International, please contact Kathleen at: +1 505-501-7000 (mobile) or email: oweegon@bridgesofpeace.com
Meet Our New Students
We had no new students this month.
To view complete profiles, Click Here
Visionary Leadership
Student Progress
We had 5 students from 3 countries complete a total of 6 books in March. These students were from Liberia, Nigeria and Uganda.
James Trotman (Liberia)
* How to Win Friends and Influence People
Japheth Aizebeoje (Nigeria)
* Goals
* The Law of Attraction
OlaMakinde (Nigeria)
* Diplomacy
Paul Nwakuma Young (Nigeria)
* The God Code
Juliette A. Engole (Uganda)
* Thinking for Change
Statistics
New Enrollments
2 enrolled in March
7 enrolled in 2017
Book Assessments
6 in March
29 in 2017
Books Shipped
6 in March
41 in 2017
Cost of Books
$120.42 in March
$813.93 in 2017
You Make It Possible
We extend a special thanks to the following individuals and/or organizations who contributed to IIGL last month. Your ongoing support makes this work possible.
Deb Silver (Israel)
Olita Talent Nyathi (South Africa)
Lynne Murguia (USA/AZ)
Corine Wilson (USA/FL)
John Hornecker (USA/NC)
Michael Lightweaver (USA/NC)
Janis Thayer (USA/NC)
Deb Rosen (USA/WI)
Patrice Zorn (USA/WI)
Make A Difference
Dream Team 22
Please join Dream Team 22 as our goal is to have 220 people contributing $22 per month. We understand that money is energy and that to sustain and build IIGL we need a lot of people pouring their energy into this endeavor on a regular basis. We also know that not everyone can afford to commit $22 a month – especially our students, who live in countries with economies in which this amount can be equal to a weeks’ salary. So we are offering two options for those who wish to become a part of the Dream Team. One can commit to a $22 a month contribution or to spending 22 seconds each day holding the vision of IIGL becoming financially sustainable by the end of 2016.
Will you join the Dream Team and help us create an energetic foundation to support the transformational work of IIGL? You can really make a difference in the world by making a modest contribution of time or money. To make the $22 a month commitment or a one time donation, click the link below. To become a member of the Dream Team 22 by committing 22 second a day to help us hold the vision, contact Deb for details: drosen2@wi.rr.com
Checks on US banks, payable to the International Institute For Global Leadership, can be mailed to IIGL, 11537 N. Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, WI 53092 USA. Contributions may also be made by credit card by clicking the link below. Contributions are tax deductible under the 501 (c) 3 tax code of the United States Internal Revenue Service.
To Contribute By Paypal, go to www.paypal.com and make donation to iigl.globalleadership@gmail.com
To Contribute By Credit Card, Click Here