Toastmasters Speech No. 7 (CC7) – (Research) – Millions of Pieces

“The Young Man came to the Old Man seeking counsel.
I broke something, Old Man.
How badly is it broken?
It's in a million little pieces.
I'm afraid I can't help you, There's nothing you can do.
Why?
It can't be fixed.
Why?
It's broken beyond repair. It's in a million little pieces.” – Those are the opening words of James Frey’s book a million little pieces

At 20, in college and wiser than Solomon, I wondered why some people live in Umoja-Innercore. I wanted to do many things, least of which was to be a millionaire by 30. The Internet charlatans advise what you should have achieved by 30, by 40, by ---.

What a shame they do not tell you that it is not over until the final whistle.

If later your big perfect plan, like mine, shatters and scatters into a million little pieces, and you realise that the only way of moving into a two-bedroom house is by relocating to Gachie, where half the night is spent listening out for night crawlers.

Or if like my teenage friend Tumbo Kaliech your assumed six-pack is a cm of fat, then St. Francis of Assisi has just the recipe.

Start by doing what's necessary;
then do what's possible;
and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

For the necessary stage, you are in a rut! Stop digging! Otherwise, the rut will become your grave. And then, take a step to get out.

Martin Luther King Jr. advises this

“Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step”.

For example, in his six-pack redeeming enterprise, Tumbo started with baby-steps around the block.

or if your million little pieces are financial, take debt and luxury cutting step. In the property guide magazine of August 2010 is the story of Mike Otieno. After he lost his shop during the politician fuelled January 2008 mayhem, he first adjusted by relocating his residence from Buru Buru to Ruai and transferring his children from Wanja and Kim to a public school.

The ensuing savings set the stage for Mike’s possible and so should anyone else’s.

In the possible face, you will be happy you did not listen to those who said it cannot be done it cannot fixed, because now you can start investing small amounts, in quick return, low risk ventures. According to Mr. Nduati, a Senior asset manager with old mutual, 60% of the people who lose during their early years and restart this way recover to be financially stable by 50. Mike put his little money in quick return tailoring projects and two years down the line, he was back in Buruburu.

Meanwhile, Kaliech, at 42 might could not run the marathon yet, but jogging for one hour was not leaving him trying to swallow back his heart. Which collaborates an assertion by Dr. Muniu of physical education at Kenya University that, even people who start exercising later in life appear to gain many of the same health benefits as people who've exercised their whole lives.

Then the impossible happens; when Edison said we would astound ourselves if we did the things we are capable of, he was spot on, because:

• I met Tumbo registering for the ten Kilometre semi-marathon heart run.
• I met Mike biding to supply Kenya Power Uniforms. Do you know how much he is going to make if clinches the deal? No, neither do I, but I know someone who went for four day Mediterranean cruise after supplying a similar consignment.

Remember

do what's necessary;
then what's possible;
and by and by the impossible.

The Young man replied

It can be fixed

I will pick the pieces,

I WILL FIX IT!

Toastmaster