As a growing child I used to play some games with my fellow boys of my village.
One of our favorites was making toy vehicles out of natural clay.
We would make our "vehicles" and leave them overnight to dry up for game the following day.
We used to play under the shadows of the mango trees of the village.
We would make "roads" for our vehicles and "drive" them along the "roads" by pushing them with our right hands whilst bending down and using both knees and the left arm for "propulsion" . This was not a comfortable game and our knees would be sore and dirty after hours of playing.
After some years someone came up with an idea that instead of pushing the toy vehicles using our hands and knees, we could affix some wooden rods to them for pushing them along the "roads" whilst standing . A "steering" wheel was fixed to the end of the rod. This innovation made our playing more comfortable. We were now able to play for a longer time.
Our parents who used to rebuke us for coming back home with very dirty knees were now happy with us.
During the time of "manufacturing" of the toy vehicles each boy made a toy using his own imagination as there were no blueprints to follow. However, there was one boy who had problems in this regard. What he used to do was to use a stealthy eye to copy what others were making. Since he could not cope up with the speed of those he was copying from, he used to mess up his toys. One time he destroyed his toy half way through and left us and went away sobbing.
Since the boy was one of my best friends. I met him later and consoled him when there were only the two of us. I showed him step by step how he could make a toy. After several failures and my persistent encouragement he mastered how to do it without any problem.
The other boys were surprised to find out later that , the former "car spoiler" as he was nicknamed, was now good at it.
What I have learnt in life is that if you are not good at anything , do not struggle to do it by trying to copy from others without thought. One should go into a step by step learning process. This could be achieved by self studying or being taught by others.
Some people have a capacity of studying on their own without sitting with a tutor in a formal class. Others can only learn by being coached by others.
We can all move forward in our lives by not being copy cats of others.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Counterfeit Bosses
When one is in a position of authority and responsibility such as a manager or a senior official in an organisation , they wield a certain amount of power over their subordinates. It only requires the individual to give a verbal or written instruction to the juniors for it to be executed.
For some individuals, this power becomes an obsession to a point, where they start thinking that even outside their normal operating time they possess it. This is usually observed for individuals who have been with the organisation in one position for a long time. This could be due to their lack of qualifications for a higher position or they are just not "promotable".
I remember one individual , I worked with in some Company some years back. He was fond of giving instructions to his juniors even when he had taken his annual leave. This was despite that someone was acting in his position !
This type of attitude results in a formation of a class of individuals who will obey the boss at the expense of the normal operation of the organisation.
These "yes men" are usual awarded some perks such as non-existant overtime , materials and even money !
This development is not healthy for any organisation as some of the individuals who are not "yes men" to the boss get frustrated and they may even resign from their jobs.
Individuals who misuse their power in this manner, usually end up as destitutes once they leave the "comfort zone" of their positions. This is because the good boys will never follow them outside the organisation. A new boss will come up and they will try to befriend him as they did to the previous boss.
As a boss in any organisation one is expected to keep to its regulations and avoid making divisions amongst the subordinates.
Organisations should look out for such individuals and get rid of them before the cancer spreads to the rest of its structure.
For some individuals, this power becomes an obsession to a point, where they start thinking that even outside their normal operating time they possess it. This is usually observed for individuals who have been with the organisation in one position for a long time. This could be due to their lack of qualifications for a higher position or they are just not "promotable".
I remember one individual , I worked with in some Company some years back. He was fond of giving instructions to his juniors even when he had taken his annual leave. This was despite that someone was acting in his position !
This type of attitude results in a formation of a class of individuals who will obey the boss at the expense of the normal operation of the organisation.
These "yes men" are usual awarded some perks such as non-existant overtime , materials and even money !
This development is not healthy for any organisation as some of the individuals who are not "yes men" to the boss get frustrated and they may even resign from their jobs.
Individuals who misuse their power in this manner, usually end up as destitutes once they leave the "comfort zone" of their positions. This is because the good boys will never follow them outside the organisation. A new boss will come up and they will try to befriend him as they did to the previous boss.
As a boss in any organisation one is expected to keep to its regulations and avoid making divisions amongst the subordinates.
Organisations should look out for such individuals and get rid of them before the cancer spreads to the rest of its structure.
Levelling The Playing Ground
In any game of sports, such as soccer and rugby , the playing ground where the opposing teams play against each other must be level. This way each team is given no fair advantage against their opponents.
In our society , there is a policy that there shall be equal opportunity to all in all fields of human endeavour, irrespective of race, colour , religion or gender.
Wars between nations have been waged, in the past and nowadays, as a consequence of differences in race , colour or religion. As far as one recalls, no war has ever been officially declared as a result of difference in gender !
8 March of each year has been declared International Women's Day. The theme of this year's celebration is equal opportunity for all.
Our womenfolk has a desire to be given the same chance to participate in the human activities of our societies on equal terms with men.
Many countries have taken steps to change laws that discriminated against women in the past. These include equal pay for equal qualification and effort.
The tendency has been that women have been marginalised by being used as tools of exploitation by the men folk.
A typical example here in Africa is that of some of them being made to dance for political leaders at state functions. The list of the exploitation of women by men is endless.
One just hopes that the women will take up the challenge and participate more in all fields of human activity on equal terms with men. They should not allow themselves to be exploitated by the current men dominated society.
In our society , there is a policy that there shall be equal opportunity to all in all fields of human endeavour, irrespective of race, colour , religion or gender.
Wars between nations have been waged, in the past and nowadays, as a consequence of differences in race , colour or religion. As far as one recalls, no war has ever been officially declared as a result of difference in gender !
8 March of each year has been declared International Women's Day. The theme of this year's celebration is equal opportunity for all.
Our womenfolk has a desire to be given the same chance to participate in the human activities of our societies on equal terms with men.
Many countries have taken steps to change laws that discriminated against women in the past. These include equal pay for equal qualification and effort.
The tendency has been that women have been marginalised by being used as tools of exploitation by the men folk.
A typical example here in Africa is that of some of them being made to dance for political leaders at state functions. The list of the exploitation of women by men is endless.
One just hopes that the women will take up the challenge and participate more in all fields of human activity on equal terms with men. They should not allow themselves to be exploitated by the current men dominated society.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Future Failure
Future Failure
"So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34).
In the scripture above, our Lord Jesus Christ reminds us not to worry about what will happen tomorrow.
This may sound illogical at first thought ! One would expect to plan for the future. What the Lord is telling us is that we should focus on tasks to be done today in order to successfully accomplish them . If you can not achieve anything today how do you expect to win tomorrow ? The adage "Tomorrow never comes" is true in all aspects.
I have recently read a book called "The Power of Now . A Guide to Spiritual Enlightment" by Eckhart Tolle, from Wattpad.com
http://www.wattpad.com/99621-the-power-of-now
If you have a java enabled cell phone the book can be downloaded from Wattpad.com and read offline from your mobile phone.
A hardcover copy of this book can also be bought from Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/187-3280454-6575621?a=1577311523
In Chapter 2 , Eckhart talks about "create no more pain in the present". He also says that we should remember that " nothing exists out of the present". The past was there for us to learn lessons from so that we do the right thing now . The knowledge you have now is as a result of what you have learnt in a school classroom and life.
If you can not focus on what you should do now you are assured of a "Future Failure" .
Tomorrow can, therefore, be described as your "Future Now" which depends on what you do "Now" !
"So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34).
In the scripture above, our Lord Jesus Christ reminds us not to worry about what will happen tomorrow.
This may sound illogical at first thought ! One would expect to plan for the future. What the Lord is telling us is that we should focus on tasks to be done today in order to successfully accomplish them . If you can not achieve anything today how do you expect to win tomorrow ? The adage "Tomorrow never comes" is true in all aspects.
I have recently read a book called "The Power of Now . A Guide to Spiritual Enlightment" by Eckhart Tolle, from Wattpad.com
http://www.wattpad.com/99621-the-power-of-now
If you have a java enabled cell phone the book can be downloaded from Wattpad.com and read offline from your mobile phone.
A hardcover copy of this book can also be bought from Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/187-3280454-6575621?a=1577311523
In Chapter 2 , Eckhart talks about "create no more pain in the present". He also says that we should remember that " nothing exists out of the present". The past was there for us to learn lessons from so that we do the right thing now . The knowledge you have now is as a result of what you have learnt in a school classroom and life.
If you can not focus on what you should do now you are assured of a "Future Failure" .
Tomorrow can, therefore, be described as your "Future Now" which depends on what you do "Now" !
Don't Amend Your Amen
"Let it be so" or "So be it" is a Christian affirmation that is frequently said after prayer or during worship.
When we pray we expect some result out of our prayer. The same is true of when a maize seed is planted in a farm we expect a good harvest of healthy cobs at harvest time.
For a small seed to grow into a big cob it must be planted in fertile soil and have an adequate supply of moisture , sunshine and wind. In a similar manner, a prayer can only be fulfilled if the believer has the right amount of spiritual fertile soil , moisture, sunshine and wind.
Alot of Christians do not experience the fruit of prayer because they always amend their Amens with a spirit of doubt and impatience. How many farmers occasionally dig out the maize seed to check the progress of its growth ? As long as the right conditions for the seed to grow are provided the farmer is assured of a good harvest.
Do not amend your Amen with a spirit of doubt and impatience, for by so doing you are digging out the maize seed of your prayer before it grows !
When we pray we expect some result out of our prayer. The same is true of when a maize seed is planted in a farm we expect a good harvest of healthy cobs at harvest time.
For a small seed to grow into a big cob it must be planted in fertile soil and have an adequate supply of moisture , sunshine and wind. In a similar manner, a prayer can only be fulfilled if the believer has the right amount of spiritual fertile soil , moisture, sunshine and wind.
Alot of Christians do not experience the fruit of prayer because they always amend their Amens with a spirit of doubt and impatience. How many farmers occasionally dig out the maize seed to check the progress of its growth ? As long as the right conditions for the seed to grow are provided the farmer is assured of a good harvest.
Do not amend your Amen with a spirit of doubt and impatience, for by so doing you are digging out the maize seed of your prayer before it grows !
Friday, March 5, 2010
Public Opinion
A friend of mine recently put the following post on his Facebook update " Medical statistics have revealed that one in four people living in Zambia today are suffering from some form of mental disorder.
Examine three of your close friends and if they are in good mental health then that person (with a mental problem) is yourself ! "
This Facebook post was of course meant to be a joke but it provoked me to think of how some people could use some tricks to influence other people's state of mind.
In any society there are some ideas that are considered to be acceptable just because the majority of the society is made to believe in them.
During the one party era in Zambia we were made to believe that the then ruling UNIP party was our only political solution. It took 27 years of our history to shake off this myth .
During the liberation struggle in southern Africa the freedom fighters were labelled as terrorists by the oppressing racists. It took many decades of destructive wars before this myth was blown off.
We have heard of the fairy story about a powerful King who wanted a special garment to be made for him. Since he could not be satisfied by what was being made. He was finally made to walk stack naked and his subjects were made to believe that he was wearing the most immaculate attire in the country ! It took the courage of one small child to point out that their King actually walking naked !
In this world we have a tendency of believing what the powerful in society are in support of.
Examine each situation that you find yourself in and make your own judgement. Believe in your God and forget about what evil forces what you to be subjected to .
Examine three of your close friends and if they are in good mental health then that person (with a mental problem) is yourself ! "
This Facebook post was of course meant to be a joke but it provoked me to think of how some people could use some tricks to influence other people's state of mind.
In any society there are some ideas that are considered to be acceptable just because the majority of the society is made to believe in them.
During the one party era in Zambia we were made to believe that the then ruling UNIP party was our only political solution. It took 27 years of our history to shake off this myth .
During the liberation struggle in southern Africa the freedom fighters were labelled as terrorists by the oppressing racists. It took many decades of destructive wars before this myth was blown off.
We have heard of the fairy story about a powerful King who wanted a special garment to be made for him. Since he could not be satisfied by what was being made. He was finally made to walk stack naked and his subjects were made to believe that he was wearing the most immaculate attire in the country ! It took the courage of one small child to point out that their King actually walking naked !
In this world we have a tendency of believing what the powerful in society are in support of.
Examine each situation that you find yourself in and make your own judgement. Believe in your God and forget about what evil forces what you to be subjected to .
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Movie goers
I have always liked going for movies ever since I was young. As I grew up I lost interest in watching movies.
For a successful movie to take place there must be three ingredients . It must have a producer , a title and actors.
Our lives are like movies. God is the producer of our lives. The title of each man's life is created by man himself. God gives us the choice to make the titles of our lives. For example one can choose to be an engineer or a shop owner .
Most people think that one's destiny in life is dependent on fate. This is far from the truth. You become what you think you will be.
Each one of us is born with a passion for something. Have you discovered your passion ? When you do something out of passion it becomes a pleasure.
The actor part of our lives is how we play our roles as per "title" of our "movies".
If one does not play his or her role in life they become like a movie goer who only watches what others have created.
Do not be movie goer. Discover your passion today and start nurturing it to enjoy your life !
If we do not play our parts in life then others will play it for us!
For a successful movie to take place there must be three ingredients . It must have a producer , a title and actors.
Our lives are like movies. God is the producer of our lives. The title of each man's life is created by man himself. God gives us the choice to make the titles of our lives. For example one can choose to be an engineer or a shop owner .
Most people think that one's destiny in life is dependent on fate. This is far from the truth. You become what you think you will be.
Each one of us is born with a passion for something. Have you discovered your passion ? When you do something out of passion it becomes a pleasure.
The actor part of our lives is how we play our roles as per "title" of our "movies".
If one does not play his or her role in life they become like a movie goer who only watches what others have created.
Do not be movie goer. Discover your passion today and start nurturing it to enjoy your life !
If we do not play our parts in life then others will play it for us!
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