NICHOLAS BHERO'S MOTIVATIONAL TOOLKIT

The Sky is Just the Beginning

Nicholas Bhero’s debut offering The Sky is Just the Beginning is a comprehensive motivational toolkit, designed to realign individuals with divine destiny and maximise their potential.

The book is a refreshing and empowering read, jam-packed with pertinent anecdotes, inspirational nuggets and scriptural references presented in engaging and accessible fashion.

Motivational and evangelically-themed  literature has become an expansive dumpsite with new titles, mostly self-published, frequenting the shelves at a dizzy pace.

However, there has been lack of corresponding quality, as some new authors are scaling down standards and churning out half-backed works just for the joy of seeing their names in print.

This has seen motivational literature assume a predictable tenor whereby mediocre presentation belies profound content.

One can safely import Bothwell Nyamhondera’s criticism of gospel artists featured on Pastor Charles Charamba’s Exodus.

Nyamhondera complains that while most gospel artists are concerned about singing the right message they lack commitment to quality.

He points out that when gospel music is done with due diligence it will enjoy a better reception.

I approached Bhero’s book with this kind of scepticism having read several works which falter below the mark but I am confess that no sooner had I signed up for Bhero’s tour de force motivational voyage than I was presently surprised.

Just as Nyamhondera singles out Pastor Charamba as one of the few gospel musicians who do their homework well before storming into the studio, I feel justified to single out Bhero as one of the few motivational writers distinguished by the quality of their work.

Subtitled Rise and Pursue Your Dreams, the book is countersigned by rave endorsements from such authorities as Archbishop Ezekiel Guti, Charles Ray Marcellin Heppie, Eddy Poerwana and Rabison Shumba.

Most people are stranded with dreams which are files too large to retrieve because of lack of character. The harder they try, successive failures show that they are operating on unsupported format.

Archbishop Guti reinforces this view in the introduction:  “The world is full of talented people with great visions that would completely shape the face of the universe only if the vision carriers had character that supports it.”

As it is, the world remains badly out of shape, pending the arrival of champions endued with both vision and character. “The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed,” as Apostle Paul puts it.

Besides lack of character, ignorance and poor planning has also landed potential movers and shakers on the wayside, nursing effortless “if only if’s.”

To troubleshoot this deficit, Bhero has maps out a formula which includes connecting with the right people, investing in information, maintaining the right attitude, eagerness for knowledge, yielding to mentorship, financial prudence and resilience.

Some of these strategies have been discussed before but what makes them key in Bhero’s book is that he authenticates them with his own life experiences.

Bhero shows that would-be show-stoppers never amount to much because they are unteachable and think they have arrived when they are still taking off.

It became clear to me, for example, why young musicians who specialise in idolising and flattering themselves keep getting worse more than a decade into the waning urban groove phenomenon.

If an individual does not have a higher standard after which to fashion their efforts, except past achievements, they not only stagnate but end up diminishing in significance because as dynamics of the game change, they will still be obsessed with yesteryear glory and stifled by inflated self-esteem.

Bhero warns those on trek for success to desist from relishing the status of petty circles. “If you are the smartest in your group consider leaving; you cannot grow any further than your group, instead, you will begin to ‘grow down.’”

The author emphasises that no smaller mind has ever inspired greatness and points to high achievers as models to fortify our minds from mediocrity and capacitate them for greatness.

Key is demarcation of specific targets and relevant circles as no one can never plow and dig at the same time.

Other take-home points in the lesson on proper networking include focusing on service as this begets honour when done in integrity. David’s rise from an unassuming shepherd-boy to a monarch in the least expected circumstances is a case in point.

Bhero also warns against manipulating other individuals to serve one’s personal ends as those reluctantly whipped into line will respond with deceit which will ultimately ground instead of enhancing the success pilgrim.

The reason most individuals never get to make it is becomes they use yesterday to programme tomorrow. They are afraid of pushing the envelope; afraid of attempting to outdo society’s estimation of them.

Bhero urges free-thinking and motivation. “Fear of standing out and self-doubt are the greatest hindrances to self-doubt,” he notes.

He emphasises on new exposures as a way of programming oneself for new possibilities. A person born and raised in poverty cannot outgrow the gravitational millstone of poverty in their mindset unless new exposures, from a pro-active quest for knowledge, demonstrates what is possible beyond their backgrounds.

In this information age where the stakes keeping higher, the ignorant are like the proverbial ox which lags behind at the peril of whips. One must stay up to date with new information to retain a competitive edge.

“Society is a school in itself, every-day is a classroom; every person is a teacher, and every experience a lesson,” Bhero urges.

Bhero is the CEO of Global Talent Institute. He has attended conferences as a keynote speaker in several countries.