Building People: Leaders’ Guide for Excellence Volume 2

By Manzoor Massey

Building People: Leader’s Guide for Excellence is a book for everyone who seeks to break away from self-limiting thinking that prevents one from realizing his or her full potential. It is a provocative and challenging book to nudge you to think outside the box and achieve what you thought was mission impossible. It will ignite fire in the belly of anyone who wants to quit whining. This book is a practical guide for those who are tired of blaming family or fate for their lot in life. The book provides practical suggestions and incentives to break away from the past and start living to one’s full potential.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Aug 13, 2020
• ISBN: 9781698700465

Manzoor Massey

Innovative and provocative thinker, dynamic speaker, nationally and internationally known leadership trainer, founder and president of Mindrealignment Leadership Training Institute. presents a refreshing philosophy of life to achieve one’s full potential. Dr. Massey has travelled extensively and held over 11,000 leadership training seminars for students, teachers, preachers, corporate leaders and families.

Book preview

Copyright 2020 Manzoor Massey.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-6987-0045-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6987-0047-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6987-0046-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020905718

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Trafford rev. 08/11/2020

44995.png www.trafford.com

North America & international

toll-free: 1 888 232 4444 (USA & Canada)

fax: [phone]

Table of Contents

Be Incredible, Because You Are!

Conquer Greed

The Dream Seekers and The Dream Robbers

Know When Enough is Enough

Don’t’ Resort to Shortcuts

Don’t Bite The Hand That Feeds You

Be Faithful Like Dorado

Collect Royalty for Loyalty

Travel Light

Take a Trip to Paradise

Have Patience, It’s a Fountain of Peace

Hate a Few Things Passionately

Don’t be Allergic to Hard Work

Develop Abundant Thinking. Keep Hope Alive.

Myths about Motivation

Be a Good Fruit Tree, Not a Fruit Cake

Take This Job and Love It

Why Become Just Anybody When You Can Become Someone Special

Always Wear Clean Underwear and Socks without Holes

Seek Wisdom Over Enthusiasm

Wash Your Wagon Often

Hang Loose and Stay Cool: Be a Solution Person

Mind Mapping to Solve Problems

Be Proactive – Build a Fence

Be Flexible

Don’t Major in Minors

Be a Good Neighbor

Ten Small Things That Make a Big Difference

Keep Life Simple

Never Say YES and Never Say NO

Live It Before You Give It

A Firm Foundation for Greatness

Wanna-Be-Heroes

Freeze the Termites before They Bring Down Your House

Lesson from the Chef

Treasure Life – It’s Priceless

Strive to Be Useful Always

Avoid the Trap – "Everybody Does It

Travel Safely

Our Destiny is Paved by Our Choice

If You Sleep with a Skunk – You’ll Smell Like One

Realign Your Mind Make Value-Based Choices

Make Friends with People Wiser Than Yourself

True Friends

Enlarge Your Circle of Friends

Be a Champion of Optimism

Avoid Unproductive Pursuits like a Plague

To Get What Want, Use Honey Instead of Vinegar

The Best is Yet to Come

Expect Miracles

Mend It or End It before It Cuts Your Life Short

Get a Life – Use Commonsense

Build to Last

So Many Weddings, So Few Marriages

So Many Boys, So Few Men So Many Girls, So Few Women

Listen with an Open Mind (Part I)

Listen with an Open Mind (Part II)

Avoid Information Overload

Learn to Live Longer Now

All Work and No Play Is the Formula for Making a Dull Boy!

Wake Up in the Arms of Joy Every Morning

Jump for Joy Daily

Build Your Own Mountain of Joy and Climb it Daily!

Floss Your Joy Daily

Water Your Joy Daily and See it Grow!

Light Up Your Joy Daily

Fertilize Your Joy Daily

Plant Your Joy Throughout The Day

Don’t Let The Weeds Choke Your Joy

Root Your Joy Deeper Every Day

Invite Joy to Kitchen Conversations

Send Joy on a Journey with Everyone

Take Joy to Work Everyday

Sleep With Joy Every Night

The Boy Who Wanted Corn

Invest in the Soil of Your Soul (Part I)

Invest in the Soil of Your Soul (Part II)

Invest in the Soil of Your Soul (Part III)

Help Celebrate Christmas in April

Don’t Let the Chain of Love End with You

Chain of Love

Don’t Be a Stinking Guest

Tips on Becoming a Welcome Guest

Be a Collector – Not a Pack-Rat (Part I)

Be a Collector – Not a Pack-Rat (Part II)

Healing Your Feelings (Part I)

Healing Your Feelings (Part II)

Be Kind to the Elderly

Be a Stress Buster, Follow a Stress Buster’s Creed

Tsunamis: Test Your Will to Unite

Human Response to Nature’s Call for Unity

Facing the Tsunamis: The Resilient Human Spirit

Tsunamis’ Gift to The World

Feel the Tide of Grief: Tragedy and Heroism

Empowered by Values Instead of Valuables

Quit Griping: Have an Attitude of Gratitude

Hole in the World

It’s Almost Time, Are You Ready

Bad Moon Rising

Give Love a Chance

The Rose

As a Man Thinks in His Mind, So Is He

Empty Your Mind of Myths about Excellence

Seven Tips to Recharge Your Battery

Travel Safely – Don’t Believe Myths

Get The Right Map

My Final Thoughts

My Next Thirty Years

Foreword

1.png

T O COMMEND the work of a friend of long standing always gives one pleasure; when that friend is one’s former student, the satisfaction is multiplied. Manzoor Massey was my student when I taught at Spicer Memorial College in Pune, India, many years ago.

Although Building People – Leaders’ Guide for Excellence isn’t written as biography, it, in fact, flows out of the life of Dr. Manzoor Massey. It reflects the convictions and passions that have made him what he is and enabled him to become a prominent health-care professional and a very creative and dynamic communicator.

This is a valuable book. For everyone who seeks to develop their God-given potential, it is a strong motivator. For everyone who is ready to grow up and quit whining, who is tired of blaming family or fate for their lot in life, this book can provide practical suggestions and incentives to break clean from the past and to start living in the power of their individuality.

Manzoor Massey is a high-energy, creative, positive individual who loves life and its challenges. And I applaud his efforts to share with others the secrets of his success. This book can turn lives around for the better. I wish Building People – Leaders’ Guide for Excellence every success.

William G. Johnsson. Ph.D., D. D.

Loma Linda, California

Acknowledgements

I OWE SPECIAL gratitude to my father who, very early in my life, by his personal example, taught me the art of loving, respecting and building people. As a child, I loved spending time with my father. He always treated me with respect and spoke to me as though I was his equal. Even though I was not an equal contributor, he would always ask my opinion on matters at hand. He made me feel special and important. Great leaders make their people feel that their ideas c ount.

Lead by example, he would often emphasize. He taught me that one positive example is worth more than a million words of good advice. Right from the start my father engraved on my mind, Don’t ask anyone to do anything that you are unwilling to do if you have the skill or the time. Work with your heart and not just with your mind. Remember, wisdom is more desirable than knowledge, and vision is more important than 20/20 eyesight. I wish today that I had listened to him with more passion when he was laying the foundation and sculpting my life.

I am grateful to my loving wife, a true servant leader and a people builder. Although she lavishly bestows praises on her team for their good work, she does not like public praises or recognition for herself. She patiently inspired me to adhere to the principles of commonsense in writing this book. She taught me that when all is said and done, position, power, popularity and privileges all fade away. So I had better focus on the art of building people and relationships, for that is the real secret of building a better you. Build people, help them achieve their goals and watch them stun you by unleashing their unlimited potential to enhance your life and future. By building people, you can climb any mountain, cross any ocean, survive any desert storm, find your way through a dense fog, see a rainbow while drenched in the pouring rain, and sing when you have every reason to weep.

I am grateful to my children, Myron and Mistina, who continuously teach me that I cannot go forward in reverse gear because there is no future in the past. My children are great snowboarders. Their adventurous spirit has taught me that whatever the mind can conceive, the body can deliver. If more coaches saw the finish line at the start of the game, more teams would score their goals.

Special thanks go to a visionary leader, late Mr. Jose Arredondo, who founded 12 successful companies in nine years. It was my privilege to work as his vice president and test the principles described in this book. Finally, my special gratitude to Dr. William G. Johnsson, one of my mentors, whose life and leadership inspired me to write this book.

This book contains many important principles for building people. If taken seriously, it would alter the way you think, believe and relate to people. Its contents will build better people, better families, better neighborhoods, better cities, better states, better nations, and make the world a better place to live, work and build more purposeful lives. The proven and practical secrets presented in this book elude the most sophisticated mind! By the fact that you are reading this, you are already a cut above the ordinary person. I dedicate this book to you. May it provide you many practical ideas to enrich your life and add value to everything and everyone you touch!

A Word to The Reader

2.jpg

T HIS BOOK is written for busy people like you who eat on-the-run and live in the fast lane. The lifestyle of many these days is – go, go, get an ulcer and if you can get one today, why wait for tomorrow? Knowing that no one enjoys reading long-winded boring discourses, each chapter is kept short. Each chapter is written to provide you a unique and practical thought to share with your family, friends and co-workers. It is hoped that the reading of this book will make a profound effect in the way you think, believe and be have.

I was editing the original version of this book on a plane, when an inquisitive neighbor saw the title and remarked, Mind Realignment — Naked Secrets of Building a Better You! What a strange title for a book. How could it be a secret if it is naked? she asked. Wisdom is obvious. It weeps bitterly, begging us to allow it to guide us on our journey of life, and yet we do not recognize it. We ignore it, thinking it is just a ghost from the past, pestering us to listen to its fables, I replied. How true! said the lady. Let me share with you a brief story to emphasize an important principle that may help you get more from reading this book.

Two attorneys wanted to explore the world. Let’s not do the same thing others do, said one of them. What do you have in mind? inquired the other. Let’s ride in a balloon instead of a plane or a boat. So they got into a balloon. They had barely lifted up when the wind got stronger, clouds got thicker and they began to drift towards the ocean. In panic, one of them shouted, We don’t even know where we are. No one will know our whereabouts if we crash. Just then they spotted a fellow walking on the beach. They looked down and shouted, Hi there, where are we? The man on the beach responded, You are in a balloon. That started an argument between the two attorneys. That man is also an attorney, said one of them. How can you be so sure, asked the other. I can bet my bottom dollar that the man on the beach is also an attorney. But how can you be so sure, inquired his friend. Well, the information he has provided is precisely accurate but utterly useless.

The secrets for building people, described in this book, are based on age-old proven wisdom, and they meet the test of commonsense. These secrets are based on personal experiences, a lifetime of observations and listening to wise gurus who have crossed my path. However, they will not be worth a hill of beans unless you take them to heart. Don’t be cynical because they seem to be too simple. Remember, a simple amateur carpenter built Noah’s Ark, while learned engineers built the Titanic. Don’t look for complicated and sophisticated theories. When it comes to improving your life and building people, one simple and practical idea you can use is worth more than 1000 fancy plans safely tucked away in a golden box in your treasure chest. Read it, share it, and make a difference in your world!

Writing this book was an adventure. At first I intended to write only the first Volume. However, the more I explored my mind, the more treasures I discovered, and more eager I was to share with my readers. There is no limit to what we can learn, if we only keep our mouth shut and mind open. Those who proofed the first volume encouraged me to write volume II. Although each volume is complete in itself, the second volume would propel the reader’s mind to a new height and a greater depth of self-actualization and growth.

Manzoor R. Massey, Ph.D., M.P.H., Author

Be Incredible, Because You Are!

The music legend Dolly Parton summed up the purpose of life in her words: If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.

Dolly Parton

45072.png

When:

…you wake up in the morning with an attitude of gratitude, not to make a living but to build lives;

…you are intentional, empowered with a vision to make someone more incredible than yourself;

…you dream big and enable others to dream even bigger dreams to leave a legacy for the future;

…your students can sing their heart out, "you are incredible, you are the wind beneath our wings.

…you are not waiting to do more until you are paid more, you refuse to deliver less than you can;

…you see a broken heart, a needy soul and don’t wait to help until your own barn is overflowing;

…you are willing to be rejected for embracing others and forgive those who wish you were dead;

…you are inspired by a vision, empowered by love, driven with passion to serve the less fortunate;

…you are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice by giving your only lifeboat to someone drowning;

…you become a servant leader, give credit to the team, and celebrate when your opponent wins out;

…you are colorblind, allergic to self-serving yearning for position, power, privileges and popularity;

…you become more than yourself by losing yourself in supporting causes others consider impossible;

…you are oblivious to roadblocks and setbacks, and focused on turning frustrations into fascinations;

…you intentionally begin to see a silver lining in every cloud rather than a cloud in every silver lining;

…you begin to think without the box and don’t allow the shoe to dictate how big the foot should grow;

…you rise above the parochial and communal self interest and consider yourself citizen of the universe;

…you don’t allow anyone to leave your presence until they feel better than when they came to see you;

…you have the courage to rise above all human divides and learn to build bridges to connect the world;

…you learn to make the best lemonade from the bumper crop of lemons the world will ship to your door;

…you begin to accept challenges as opportunities to improve the world to leave it better than you found it;

…you develop a museum mentality and work as though your actions would be on display in an art gallery;

…you accept and promote the philosophy of perpetual yearning for perpetual learning to keep on growing;

…you can sing in the pouring rain and are prepared to jump off the moving train headed in the wrong way;

…you embrace the philosophy: I’m not my own, I’m on loan

to build a better world for the next generation!

Let me introduce the reader to my four mentors who changed the world. It would be prudent for the reader to study the lives of these legendary servant-leaders who were simple and allergic to seeking personal glory. They used their position, power, popularity and privileges to transform humanity for good. They were citizen of the world and accepted the entire human race as one family. They took on the role of Servant Leadership and set the bar for all leaders for all generations. No country where they set their foot remained the same. It may be pointed out that all four of them paid the ultimate price to believe in their cause, and to live and promote their cause. They were all assassinated. To make the ultimate difference and to leave a legacy to change your family, your neighborhood, your state or nation, a leader must be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice. Such leaders are never forgotten!

55133.png5.jpg

You Are Incredible

You are incredible, you make me sing,

You are incredible, the wind beneath my wings!

He is incredible, He makes me sing,

He is incredible, the wind beneath my wings!

She is incredible, She makes me sing,

She is incredible, the wind beneath my wings!

When I was lost, had nowhere to go,

You made Hope Happen, you made me glow.

My past is gone, my future is bright,

With you by my side, new song I’ll sing!

You are incredible, you make me sing,

You are incredible, the wind beneath my wings!

Millions of people, they just make their living,

You’r the fountain of Hope; that keeps on giving,

I can see clearly, that the rain is gone,

I can fly higher, with the new strength you bring!

You are incredible, you make me sing,

You are incredible, the wind beneath my wings!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

➢ Incredible leaders build incredible people, and they do it by being the wind beneath their wings. Can you think of three people who could fly higher if you could be the wind beneath their wings?

Conquer Greed

It’s nothing but a Bad Weed

4.png

T HERE IS no limit of what humans want of what they really don’t need. This insatiable appetite for wanting more and more and more eventually becomes a web that entangles us and squeeze out the joys of life. Chasing the rainbow that keeps eluding us becomes the obsession that robs us of the enjoyment that our hunger for more cannot fill.

When I was a child, my father often told me stories to teach me important principles of life. To teach me the consequences of being greedy, he shared with me a story that I want to pass on to you. Think about it and take it to heart. It will change your life.

There lived a man by the name of Ali Hafiz. His parents died and left him a lot of money. He bought 80 camels and began a transportation business. One day he met a Holy Man who advised him to follow him and he would show him great treasures in a mountain cave. However, he wanted Ali Hafiz to promise that when the camels are loaded with treasures, he would give twenty camels to the Holy Man and keep 60 for himself. Ali Hafiz agreed and the journey began.

When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, the Holy Man asked Ali to see the mountain cave through the little box with his left eye. He further advised him that if Ali insisted on seeing the mountain through his right eye, he would go blind. Ali saw the mountain with his left eye and was amazed to see the hidden treasures. He loaded up 80 camels and agreed to hand over 20 camels to the Holy Man.

After a few miles, Ali approached the Holy Man and told him that it was a lot of work to take care of 20 camels. Perhaps he should keep only 15 so he would not be distracted from his spiritual activities. The Holy Man agreed. A little later, Ali approached him again and emphasized the amount of time it would take to feed 15 camels. Perhaps the Holy Man should keep only ten, said Ali. The man agreed. Finally, Ali approached him again and pleaded for the man to concentrate on his spiritual mission instead of worrying about the camels. The Holy Man agreed and gave Ali all the camels and went on his way. They had hardly gone fifty yards when Ali ran after the man and asked for the little box so in case he runs out of the treasures, he would be able to go back to the mountain. The Holy Man tried his best to persuade Ali against using the box but to no avail. Finally, he received the box and thought, If I could see so many treasures with my left eye, the man must be cheating me by prohibiting me to see with my right eye. He looked through the box with his right eye and instantly went blind. Soon someone stole his camels.

As Ali sat in front of a holy shrine begging for alms, he would ask people to also hit him at the back of his head to remind him that he was not only poor but also a greedy fool. One can become greedy for money, yearn for more credit than deserved or purchase a house one cannot afford. I have encountered many who could have gained much had they remained open to contentment instead of greed.

Greedy people look for shortcuts to get what they want, that often lands them at dead ends. Some pursue shortcuts to get rich. I once heard a wise man say, The greatest obstacle to becoming a millionaire is to live like one before becoming one. The Greedy often live way beyond their means!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

➢ Greed is a cancer. It robs people of peace of mind. Think of ways you can conquer greed. Make a list of all your blessings.

The Dream Seekers and

The Dream Robbers

4.png

T HE YEAR 2008 stripped America’s passion for being rich and drove her to poverty many had not seen for nearly seventy-five years. The beginning of the 21 st Century in America was marked with euphoria and intense depression. We saw the demise of a giant Enron that plunged thousands of businesses into deep despair, beyond repair. We saw its chief commit suicide after being assured of a long prison term. We saw another towering business empire, Arthur Anderson, a company that specialized in accounting and auditing go down the tube in disgrace for cooking books for greedy and dishonest corporations. Then we saw the government getting preoccupied with war in Iraq and neglecting the domestic affairs. As the old saying goes, When the cat is away, the mice will play. While the government looked elsewhere, the greedy banks and financial institutions doled out money to people who, in reality could not qualify to purchase a toaster. With nothing down, and no evidence, or shoddy evidence, people could realize the American Dream of owning a house. Millions of homes were built in 2005- 2007.

Then came 2008 when economic reality hit the global markets. The two giant companies, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae that held more than 50% of all the mortgages in America went belly up. We saw oil prices go to five dollars a gallon. Was there a real reason? Yes! Greed and lack of conscience on the part of the oil companies and the snoring champions of deregulation. Truckers felt the pinch! They could not make a living while paying over five dollars a gallon for diesel. Families had to choose between paying for gasoline or for medicine for their aged family members. Many, drowning in debt, worked on two or three part-time jobs to make ends meet while neglecting their families and children. However, the politicians kept on trucking in their gas-guzzlers. No