PREPARATION

Dear friends,

Greetings from Germany…….it is so good to be back after such a while.

I hope my 25th newsletter finds you in good health and you used the month of January well to prepare for things to be done in the months ahead. Actually I didn’t have a title for this months newsletter. Yesterday while sitting with Valerie Campbell, the mother of the famous Naomi Campbell, she mentioned being prepared for opportunities in our conversation. Valerie insisted on preparation and in my mind I chose PREPARATION as this months topic.

The following are some definitions of preparation:

  • the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose.
  • planning: the cognitive process of thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening.
  • readiness: the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action.
  • training: activity leading to skilled behavior.

Preparation is the key to EVERYTHING, if we expect excellence and productivity in our goals. It is said that inorder to do something well you need 80% preparation amd 20% execution.

When we are well prepared and have planned well, it is easy to orient ourselves on which way to go or what is needed to succeed in given areas of our lives or a given task. Without preparation, it is easy to loose focus, mismanage your resources or waste time unnecessarily. Two days ago while seated in Cologne Germany, watching a team prepare 30 models for a two day fashion show, I realized the success of the show depended on how well we were prepared for the event, no matter how professional the models might be. The team made sure each model rehearsed and tried the outfits on more than eight times. Although this may seem like a lot of work or a waste of time for those observing from a distance, all that was necessary inorder to bring the best out of every model.

When I visited Lambertz Chocolate Company in Aachen Germany yesterday, I watched the immense preparation they actually undertake before the ingredients are put in the machines to produce the various chocolates and cookies. A team of people are lined up just for the process, preparing and updating the next person on the process. There are even people who are lined up just to make sure the cookies and chocolates are in a straight lines, so that the end product is an excellent piece of chocolate.

A church sermon requires the preparation of programm handouts, the choir, the sermon, the greeters and so on, as early as Wednesday - five days in advance. All this is necessary and is visible evidence, even to those visiting, as to whether or not a church or Organization is well prepared.

These are but a few examples of the need of preparation in all areas of perfomance or where a product is produced or an achievement is expected. This might sometimes mean perfect practise….perfect practise makes perfect. One can never be too prepared.

Few tips for preparation:

  1. Seek information from the right sources e.g books or people.
  2. Get advice from people with experience and expertise.
  3. Do the necessary research, either online, by reading books, through observation or by asking others.
  4. If necessary get training. Training and education is inevitable in some fields.
  5. Support groups. A support base such as a specific organization, prayer group/ partner, mentor or an institution, come in handy in your preparation.
  6. Budget is key to your planning and preparation.
  7. Put time lines. Working around time lines helps you to stay focused and committed. It gives you time for product reviews.
  8. Commit to excellence. In all you do, prepare for the best results and you will be surprised on how well you will perform.
  9. Measure risks. Evaluating your risks, will actually save you from suprises and enables you to make a decition as to whether or not it is worthy taking that risk.
  10. Be positive. A positive attitude in the preparation process helps you be encouraged and have positive results. Human beings are motivated to their full potential if they see what is to be expected as great and meaningful.

This month I challenge you to be prepared in everything you do. In the morning or before you commit to something, take a minute and be sure of how prepared you actually are.

Till next time I pray for you





Friends, my newsletters are for encouragements, based on positive experiences, positive role models and biblical examples. If you'd like someone else to be encouraged by them, just forward them the newsletter or subscribe their names by using a subscribe button. If you don't desire to continue receiving the newsletter, simply cancel it thanks.

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