Books on Stephen Ajuluhttps://ajulu.netlify.app/categories/books/Hello, I'm Stephen Ajulu, a seasoned multidisciplinary tech professional with over a decade of experience. I build impactful solutions using design, tech, and engineering in the pursuit of impact.Hugo -- gohugo.ioen-usajulu.b22uf@aleeas.com (Stephen Ajulu)ajulu.b22uf@aleeas.com (Stephen Ajulu)Stephen Ajulu.Mon, 09 Aug 2021 16:27:00 +0300Who Moved My Cheese Summaryhttps://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/who-moved-my-cheese-summary/Mon, 09 Aug 2021 16:27:00 +0300https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/who-moved-my-cheese-summary/<p><strong>A group of old school friends is gathered for dinner and the topic of conversation gets on to change</strong> – in career, relationships, and family life. One of those present contends that change no longer bothers him after having heard ‘a funny little story’ called <em>Who Moved My Cheese?</em> In this artful way, Spencer Johnson introduces the reader to his fable on how to cope positively with change.</p> <p>The story involves four characters who live in a maze: the mice Scurry and Sniff, and two ‘littlepeople’, Hem and Haw. All is going well because they have found a huge source of their favorite food, cheese. Hem and Haw have even moved their houses to be near it and it has become the center of their lives. But they do not notice that it is getting smaller, and are devastated when they arrive at the site one morning and find the cheese is gone.</p>A group of old school friends is gathered for dinner and the topic of conversation gets on to change – in career, relationships, and family life. One of those present contends that change no longer bothers him after having heard ‘a funny little story’ called Who Moved My Cheese? In this artful way, Spencer Johnson introduces the reader to his fable on how to cope positively with change.

The story involves four characters who live in a maze: the mice Scurry and Sniff, and two ‘littlepeople’, Hem and Haw. All is going well because they have found a huge source of their favorite food, cheese. Hem and Haw have even moved their houses to be near it and it has become the center of their lives. But they do not notice that it is getting smaller, and are devastated when they arrive at the site one morning and find the cheese is gone.

This is where the story splits in two. Scurry and Sniff quickly accept the loss of the cheese and go off into the maze in search of other sources. The littlepeople, because they have built their lives around the big cheese, feel they are the victim of some kind of fraud or theft. Yet this only makes things worse, as their clinging on ensures that they go hungry. Meanwhile, the mice move on and find new cheese.

The fable captures well that moment after we have lost a job or a relationship and we believe it is the end of the world. All the good things were in the previous situation, and all the future holds is fear. Yet Johnson’s message is, instead of seeing change as the end of something, we must learn to see it as a beginning. We have all been told this, but sometimes motivation is lacking. To make himself accept reality, Haw writes this on the wall of the maze: “If you do not change, you can become extinct.”

For life not to be wasted, it demands a level of risk and adventure. If you are willing to live this way, change loses its horror. In fact, the advancing person purposely creates change because the world is not currently how they would like it. What the Littlemen, Hem and Haw, discover is that breaking through your fears makes you free. Those who continually seek security, ironically, are wracked by the possibility that they may lose it.

While the book addresses the fact of change in all aspects of our lives, given how many offices it circulates in it would be fair to say that its main message relates to work. Most employees are employees because they prefer the security of a set wage under the apparent protection of large enterprise. For others, the chief benefit may be that for most of the day they do not have to really think; they ‘complete tasks’. But such dependence restricts personal growth, in the same way, those medieval serfs, while given a roof over their heads on the estate, often never strayed more than a few miles beyond it and could never expect to be truly independent people.

]]>The Art of War(Listed)https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/the-art-of-war-listed/Mon, 09 Aug 2021 16:19:00 +0300https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/the-art-of-war-listed/<ul> <li>“According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans.”</li> <li>“All warfare is based on deception. Hence when able to attack we must seem unable. When using our forces we must seem inactive. When we are near we make the enemy believe we are far away. When far away we must make the enemy believe we are near.”</li> <li>“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”</li> <li>“If he is superior in strength, evade him.”</li> <li>“Attack him where he is unprepared. Appear where you are not expected.”</li> <li>“The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.”</li> <li>“There is no instance of a country having benefitted from prolonged warfare.”</li> <li>“A wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One cartload of the enemy’s provisions is equivalent to twenty of one’s own.”</li> <li>“Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”</li> <li>“The worst strategy of all is to besiege walled cities.”</li> <li>“There are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.”</li> <li>“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”</li> <li>“One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.”</li> <li>“In war, the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.”</li> <li>“In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack: the direct and indirect.”</li> <li>“An army may march great distances without distress if it marches through country where the enemy is not.”</li> <li>“You can be sure in succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.”</li> <li>“Military tactics are like water. For water, in its natural course, runs away from high places and hastens downwards. So, in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak.”</li> <li>“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move fall like a thunderbolt.”</li> <li>“Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”</li> <li>“A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return.”</li> <li>“It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.”</li> <li>“The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on our readiness to receive him.”</li> <li>“Make your way by unexpected routes and attack unguarded spots.”</li> <li>“If they will face death, there is nothing they will not achieve.”</li> <li>“The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.”</li> <li>“If it is to your advantage, make a forward move. If not, stay where you are.”</li> </ul>
  • “According as circumstances are favorable, one should modify one’s plans.”
  • “All warfare is based on deception. Hence when able to attack we must seem unable. When using our forces we must seem inactive. When we are near we make the enemy believe we are far away. When far away we must make the enemy believe we are near.”
  • “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
  • “If he is superior in strength, evade him.”
  • “Attack him where he is unprepared. Appear where you are not expected.”
  • “The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand.”
  • “There is no instance of a country having benefitted from prolonged warfare.”
  • “A wise general makes a point of foraging on the enemy. One cartload of the enemy’s provisions is equivalent to twenty of one’s own.”
  • “Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
  • “The worst strategy of all is to besiege walled cities.”
  • “There are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.”
  • “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
  • “One may know how to conquer without being able to do it.”
  • “In war, the victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.”
  • “In battle, there are not more than two methods of attack: the direct and indirect.”
  • “An army may march great distances without distress if it marches through country where the enemy is not.”
  • “You can be sure in succeeding in your attacks if you only attack places which are undefended.”
  • “Military tactics are like water. For water, in its natural course, runs away from high places and hastens downwards. So, in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak.”
  • “Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move fall like a thunderbolt.”
  • “Ponder and deliberate before you make a move.”
  • “A clever general, therefore, avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return.”
  • “It is a military axiom not to advance uphill against the enemy nor to oppose him when he comes downhill.”
  • “The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy not coming, but on our readiness to receive him.”
  • “Make your way by unexpected routes and attack unguarded spots.”
  • “If they will face death, there is nothing they will not achieve.”
  • “The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.”
  • “If it is to your advantage, make a forward move. If not, stay where you are.”
    • ]]>    The 48 Laws of Power(Listed)https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/the-48-laws-of-power-listed/Mon, 09 Aug 2021 16:07:00 +0300https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/the-48-laws-of-power-listed/<h3 id="law-1-never-outshine-the-master">Law 1: Never outshine the master</h3> <h3 id="law-2-never-put-too-much-trust-in-friends-learn-how-to-use-enemies">Law 2: Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies</h3> <h3 id="law-3-conceal-your-intentions">Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions</h3> <h3 id="law-4-always-say-less-than-necessary">Law 4: Always say less than necessary</h3> <h3 id="law-5-so-much-depends-on-reputation-guard-it-with-your-life">Law 5: So much depends on reputation, guard it with your life</h3> <h3 id="law-6-court-attention-at-all-costs">Law 6: Court attention at all costs</h3> <h3 id="law-7-get-others-to-do-the-work-for-you-but-always-take-the-credit">Law 7: Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit</h3> <h3 id="law-8-make-other-people-come-to-you-use-bait-if-necessary">Law 8: Make other people come to you, use bait if necessary</h3> <h3 id="law-9-win-through-your-actions-never-through-argument">Law 9: Win through your actions, never through argument</h3> <h3 id="law-10-infection-avoid-the-unhappy-or-the-unlucky">Law 10: Infection: Avoid the unhappy or the unlucky</h3> <h3 id="law-11-learn-to-keep-people-dependent-on-you">Law 11: Learn to keep people dependent on you</h3> <h3 id="law-12-use-selective-honesty-and-generosity-to-disarm-your-victim">Law 12: Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim</h3> <h3 id="law-13-when-asking-for-help-appeal-to-peoples-self-interest-never-their-mercy-or-gratitude">Law 13: When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never their mercy or gratitude</h3> <h3 id="law-14-pose-as-a-friend-work-as-a-spy">Law 14: Pose as a friend, work as a spy</h3> <h3 id="law-15-crush-your-enemy-totally">Law 15: Crush your enemy totally</h3> <h3 id="law-16-use-absence-to-increase-strength-and-honor">Law 16: Use absence to increase strength and honor</h3> <h3 id="law-17-keep-others-in-suspended-terror-cultivate-an-air-of-unpredictability">Law 17: Keep others in suspended terror, cultivate an air of unpredictability</h3> <h3 id="law-18-do-not-build-a-fortress-to-protect-yourself-isolation-is-dangerous">Law 18: Do not build a fortress to protect yourself, isolation is dangerous</h3> <h3 id="law-19-know-who-youre-dealing-with-do-not-offend-the-wrong-person">Law 19: Know who you’re dealing with, do not offend the wrong person</h3> <h3 id="law-20-do-not-commit-to-anyone">Law 20: Do not commit to anyone</h3> <h3 id="law-21-play-a-sucker-to-catch-a-sucker-seem-dumber-than-your-mark">Law 21: Play a sucker to catch a sucker, seem dumber than your mark</h3> <h3 id="law-22-use-the-surrender-tactic-transform-weakness-into-power">Law 22: Use the surrender tactic: transform weakness into power</h3> <h3 id="law-23-concentrate-your-forces">Law 23: Concentrate your forces</h3> <h3 id="law-24-play-the-perfect-courtier">Law 24: Play the perfect courtier</h3> <h3 id="law-25-re-create-yourself">Law 25: Re-Create Yourself</h3> <h3 id="law-26-keep-your-hands-clean">Law 26: Keep your hands clean</h3> <h3 id="law-27-play-on-peoples-need-to-believe-to-create-a-cult-like-following">Law 27: Play on people’s need to believe to create a cult-like following</h3> <h3 id="law-28-enter-action-with-boldness">Law 28: Enter action with boldness</h3> <h3 id="law-29-plan-all-the-way-to-the-end">Law 29: Plan all the way to the end</h3> <h3 id="law-30-make-your-accomplishments-seem-effortless">Law 30: Make your accomplishments seem effortless</h3> <h3 id="law-31-control-the-options-get-others-to-play-with-the-cards-you-deal">Law 31: Control the options, get others to play with the cards you deal</h3> <h3 id="law-32-play-to-peoples-fantasies">Law 32: Play to people’s fantasies</h3> <h3 id="law-33-discover-each-mans-thumbscrew">Law 33: Discover each man’s thumbscrew</h3> <h3 id="law-34-be-royal-in-your-own-fashion-act-like-a-king-to-be-treated-like-one">Law 34: Be royal in your own fashion. Act like a king to be treated like one</h3> <h3 id="law-35-master-the-art-of-timing">Law 35: Master the art of timing</h3> <h3 id="law-36-disdain-things-you-cannot-have-ignoring-them-is-the-best-revenge">Law 36: Disdain things you cannot have, ignoring them is the best revenge</h3> <h3 id="law-37-create-compelling-spectacles">Law 37: Create compelling spectacles</h3> <h3 id="law-38-think-as-you-like-but-behave-like-others">Law 38: Think as you like but behave like others</h3> <h3 id="law-39-stir-up-waters-to-catch-fish">Law 39: Stir up waters to catch fish</h3> <h3 id="law-40-despise-the-free-lunch">Law 40: Despise the free lunch</h3> <h3 id="law-41-avoid-stepping-into-a-great-mans-shoes">Law 41: Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes</h3> <h3 id="law-42-strike-the-shepherd-and-the-sheep-will-scatter">Law 42: Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter</h3> <h3 id="law-43-work-on-the-hearts-and-minds-of-others">Law 43: Work on the hearts and minds of others</h3> <h3 id="law-44-disarm-and-infuriate-with-the-mirror-effect">Law 44: Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect</h3> <h3 id="law-45-preach-the-need-to-change-but-never-reform-too-much-at-once">Law 45: Preach the need to change, but never reform too much at once</h3> <h3 id="law-46-never-appear-too-perfect">Law 46: Never appear too perfect</h3> <h3 id="law-47-do-not-go-past-the-mark-you-aimed-for-in-victory-know-when-to-stop">Law 47: Do not go past the mark you aimed for. In victory, know when to stop</h3> <h3 id="law-48-assume-formlessness">Law 48: Assume formlessness</h3>Law 1: Never outshine the master

    Law 2: Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies

    Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions

    Law 4: Always say less than necessary

    Law 5: So much depends on reputation, guard it with your life

    Law 6: Court attention at all costs

    Law 7: Get others to do the work for you, but always take the credit

    Law 8: Make other people come to you, use bait if necessary

    Law 9: Win through your actions, never through argument

    Law 10: Infection: Avoid the unhappy or the unlucky

    Law 11: Learn to keep people dependent on you

    Law 12: Use selective honesty and generosity to disarm your victim

    Law 13: When asking for help, appeal to people’s self-interest, never their mercy or gratitude

    Law 14: Pose as a friend, work as a spy

    Law 15: Crush your enemy totally

    Law 16: Use absence to increase strength and honor

    Law 17: Keep others in suspended terror, cultivate an air of unpredictability

    Law 18: Do not build a fortress to protect yourself, isolation is dangerous

    Law 19: Know who you’re dealing with, do not offend the wrong person

    Law 20: Do not commit to anyone

    Law 21: Play a sucker to catch a sucker, seem dumber than your mark

    Law 22: Use the surrender tactic: transform weakness into power

    Law 23: Concentrate your forces

    Law 24: Play the perfect courtier

    Law 25: Re-Create Yourself

    Law 26: Keep your hands clean

    Law 27: Play on people’s need to believe to create a cult-like following

    Law 28: Enter action with boldness

    Law 29: Plan all the way to the end

    Law 30: Make your accomplishments seem effortless

    Law 31: Control the options, get others to play with the cards you deal

    Law 32: Play to people’s fantasies

    Law 33: Discover each man’s thumbscrew

    Law 34: Be royal in your own fashion. Act like a king to be treated like one

    Law 35: Master the art of timing

    Law 36: Disdain things you cannot have, ignoring them is the best revenge

    Law 37: Create compelling spectacles

    Law 38: Think as you like but behave like others

    Law 39: Stir up waters to catch fish

    Law 40: Despise the free lunch

    Law 41: Avoid stepping into a great man’s shoes

    Law 42: Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter

    Law 43: Work on the hearts and minds of others

    Law 44: Disarm and infuriate with the mirror effect

    Law 45: Preach the need to change, but never reform too much at once

    Law 46: Never appear too perfect

    Law 47: Do not go past the mark you aimed for. In victory, know when to stop

    Law 48: Assume formlessness

    ]]>    13 Books All Men Should Read(Updated)https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/13-books-all-men-should-read-updated/Sun, 08 Aug 2021 15:23:00 +0300https://ajulu.netlify.app/posts/13-books-all-men-should-read-updated/<p>Here are the 13 books I recommend to all men that will change your life and help you level up.</p> <p>This is a quick list. International links are affiliate links from Amazon and the local links are from Jumia. I get a commission from both.</p> <h3 id="0-the-bible-a-must-read">0. The Bible <em>(A MUST READ)</em></h3> <p>Buy:</p> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785215891/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0785215891&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=stephenajulu-20&amp;linkId=4a6c9248520c62053a1357da46b2d3fa">International(Amazon)</a></p> <p><a href="https://kol.jumia.com/api/click/custom/b60029f6-9eb7-4fab-b6b9-7698d536aef4/0e1c47ed-cc97-3a21-846e-3217fd1ea92a?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.co.ke%2Fgeneric-kjv-ultrathin-reference-bible-29411897.html">Local(Kenya)</a></p> <h3 id="1-the-daily-stoic">1. The Daily Stoic</h3> <p>Buy:</p> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735211736/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0735211736&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=stephenajulu-20&amp;linkId=6f51a190559969f66f8ac8c4d5c98427">International(Amazon)</a></p> <p><a href="https://kol.jumia.com/api/click/custom/b60029f6-9eb7-4fab-b6b9-7698d536aef4/0e1c47ed-cc97-3a21-846e-3217fd1ea92a?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.co.ke%2Fqusoma-library-bookshop-the-daily-stoic-ryan-holiday-and-stephen-hanselman-10763051.html">Local(Kenya)</a></p> <h3 id="2-the-rational-male">2. The Rational Male</h3> <p>Buy:</p> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1492777862/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=1492777862&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=stephenajulu-20&amp;linkId=0eb589827cd706f1a3f099fa5fc773b5">International</a></p> <p><a href="https://kol.jumia.com/api/click/custom/b60029f6-9eb7-4fab-b6b9-7698d536aef4/0e1c47ed-cc97-3a21-846e-3217fd1ea92a?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jumia.co.ke%2Fjumia-books-the-rational-male-by-rollo-tomassi-43618516.html">Local(Kenya)</a></p> <h3 id="3-12-rules-for-life">3. 12 Rules for Life</h3> <p>Buy:</p>Here are the 13 books I recommend to all men that will change your life and help you level up.

    This is a quick list. International links are affiliate links from Amazon and the local links are from Jumia. I get a commission from both.

    0. The Bible (A MUST READ)

    Buy:

    International(Amazon)

    Local(Kenya)

    1. The Daily Stoic

    Buy:

    International(Amazon)

    Local(Kenya)

    2. The Rational Male

    Buy:

    International

    Local(Kenya)

    3. 12 Rules for Life

    Buy:

    International

    Local(Kenya)

    4. No More Mr. Nice Guy

    Buy:

    International

    Local(Kenya)

    5. The Way of The Superior Man

    Buy:

    International

    Local(Kenya)

    6. 48 Laws of Power by Robert Green

    Buy:

    International

    Local(Kenya)

    8. The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck

    Buy:

    International

    Local(Kenya)

    9. The Art of War by Sun Tzu

    Buy:

    International

    Local(Kenya)

    10. 100 Deadly Skills

    Buy:

    International

    11. The Illustrated Art of Manliness

    Buy:

    International

    Local(Kenya)

    12. Models by Mark Manson

    Buy:

    International

    Bonus 13. The 4 Books of Robert Greene(The Art of Seduction, Mastery, The 50th Law, The Laws of Human Nature)

    ]]>