Opinion: Big doors swing on small hinges

Ngahi Bidois speaks at the Rotorua Anzac Day dawn service and parade at Muruika war cemetery at Ohinemutu. Photo/File

I was talking to a friend the other day and we were discussing the importance of sweating the small stuff and paying attention to detail, when he recalled a proverb someone had said to him, "Big doors swing on small hinges".

I immediately thought of the big beautiful doors in our Rotorua Energy Events Centre, with the Maori patterns on them, which swing on relatively small hinges and open up to the Bay Trust Forum that seats 850 people. A venue I have presented in many times.

Later on I was thinking about what those big doors and small hinges might be in my life; more importantly, what do those doors open up to?

After some reflection I likened the doors to being entry points opening up to my life.
In order to get to know me, you need to pass through those big doors which are the people and processes I have in my life to keep me safe.

For example the other day our business received an email from someone in Auckland who had heard about my Anzac dawn service presentation.

They were completing a school project and wanted me to answer some questions about Anzac day.

My business team were not happy with my answering the email immediately. They asked a few questions of that person before I was given the okay to reply.

In other words, the business team are a door for my business opportunities and communications.

An important door when communications can come in from anyone anywhere in the world.

Besides emails other entry doors to my life include my phones, online presence, whanau, friends, business associates and community.

It is quite easy to get in touch with me.

The story goes that many years ago a person was asking how to contact Sir Edmund Hillary.

Someone asked if they had looked in the phone book and to their astonishment Sir Ed was there.

I am still in the phone book.

Chief Economic Adviser of Huai'an Municipal People's Government Mr Liu Yongzhong hongi's with Ngahi Bidois during their welcome at the Rotorua District Council. Photo/File

Having said that my daughter Tumanako was always telling me off for accepting people as friends on my Facebook page when I did not know them.

Her last advice which I have adhered to was to at least check out their profiles and photos to see if they are even real people before accepting them!

There are many entry point doors in our lives. Are your doors safe or like me in my previous Facebook days do you just accept anyone through them?

I likened the door hinges and handle to the values and principles in our lives that keep us safe.

They may seem small, but they are important.

People who know us also know our values and principles. Those values and principles determine the type of person that has access to our lives.

For example, one of my life principles is that we become who our friends are and we should be careful who we associate with.

Birds of a feather flock together and if we are down on our luck, then we need to consider who we are hanging out with.

So what type of people have access to your life?

As former All Blacks manager Sir Brian Lochore once said, "Better people make better All Blacks".

Big doors swing on small hinges.

If we pay attention to the small hinges and have better values and principles, than better people will have access to our lives. Good begets good. Kia matara tatou ki nga mea iti, he pai ake nga mea nui.

- Ngahihi o te ra is from Te Arawa and is an International leadership Speaker, author and consultant. His book is available at Mcleods book store and the Lakeside café in Rotorua.
His website can be viewed at www.ngahibidois.com