“The DRC has been successful recently at turning its economy around, from contraction in the early 2000s to estimated growth of seven per cent in 2005. This is particularly impressive considering the challenges this country has faced. The DRC is rich in human and natural resources, and IFC will continue to promote private sector development in support of the country's economic regeneration.”

“We have a good nucleus of kids coming back and another solid group coming up behind them. We'll be a challenge, no doubt. Kids like Wolf and (sophomore) Guy Price and some of the others, they will augment Chandler at the lighter weights. My assistant, Bo Ramsey, has done a wonderful job bringing all of them along.”

“Medical concerns trump legal concerns. I wouldn't withhold an effective treatment from somebody because of the possibility they may have to go to court a year later and their testimony be challenged. We wouldn't do that in any other area of medicine. The important thing to know about this drug is it doesn't put a hole in their memory. It doesn't create amnesia.”

Anyone? On Snow's visit before the Victory Tour, he challenged me to erase any doubts of my love for Peeta. "Convince me," Snow said. It seems, under that hot pink sky with Peeta's life in limbo, I finally did. And In doing so, I gave him the weapon he needed to break me.

While National Geographic magazine had given me a taste of the world, the three-dimensional details of this moment - the tickle of the rain drops, the suck sound of my feet in the mud, the challenge of getting photographs of the monkeys, my immature urge to make the driver wait even longer because he was annoying - would feed me for years to come.

People, material and situation come in to our lives because of our thoughts and beliefs. When we don’t want those experiences, we try to push them away. When we use our vital energy in resisting what we don’t want, we attract more of it whether it’s a person, circumstance or challenge.

Life expects us to challenge the status-quo YET it holds us responsible for ONLY what we can ordinarily do. Life doesn't ask us for too much; it says "to do more, expand your lens". Expand your skills, expand your tools, expand your mind. To do more, be more!

If the African stars do not rise, are not known, remain obscure, their stories are not told – who and where is the African story teller? Your challenge if you are in the media is to continually ask if you are doing enough, using the appropriate strategies and at the right platforms. Let’s create and promote international and global stars with the talent and skills in our people, no one will do it for us.

Why do people seek one and not the other? It is the majorities that are led and they normally follow those who can help them meet their ever-present and growing needs. Question is, do you possess the kind of solutions they want? Are you well positioned to reach them or to be reachable by those who can benefit from your solution to their challenges?

When you face challenges, threats and prospects for failure, when you are out of money or job, when health is deteriorating and death seems to beckon – any hope for success against all those odds takes a solid empowering belief system that will believe – hope is still there. You must choose to adopt positive and empowering beliefs.