A house defines an institution. An office defines an organization. A house also provides a home and inheritance for many generations to come. It provides for identity, safety and comfort to those who own it. A house does not have to be stately or small. But it does have to be built by your own hand. A house is unlikely to lose its status as a mark of human life and achievement for a thousand years to come.
Allan Bukusi
Capturing wealth leaves everyone poor .Creating wealth leaves everyone rich. Competing for wealth leaves everyone dead.
Allan Bukusi
The Lobster strategy is a very attractive option. You can observe the strategy in action when the fisherman uses an open pan to collect the fish on the shore. Once two are gathered, the rest are forced to stay. Once on the pan, the struggle is no longer for the fisherman, the struggle is for the lobster. He will carry all the fish to the cooking pot with no fear of losing even one, on an open pan.
This strategy is observed in many non-developing groups. Everything is forced to stay where it is and as is, in spite of the danger in doing so. Some countries, cultures as well as firms and families use this strategy to re-assert and preserve their independence, identity and dignity. They pull everyone down to the same level.
Allan Bukusi
The idea is great. Someone has to give up control for others to benefit. Idea suggests that we share power. Then comes the social veto.
Allan Bukusi
All change is violent. It involves breaking things like habit, tradition and culture. It means making a break with the past and with things, you are comfortable with. It may also mean breaking rules to come up with a new order.
Allan Bukusi
Those who look down on opportunity and those who try and want their egos fed with no effort on their part. For them nothing works of or ever will. And if it does, it is someone else's job.
Allan Bukusi
THE ORIGINS OF POLITICAL ORDER
Fukuyama gives a compressed historical account of the development of politics from the primate to just short of the industrial revolution in this foundational book. He covers the continents with masterful ease selecting his examples and in-depth analysis of events and circumstances with surprising revelations of recurrences of present day challenges. He covers the continents but does not cover Africa or Australia to the same degree as he covers the rest of the world.
However, his summation of the development of democracy is succinct in his definition of it as a European export that has come to dominate world affairs. His dealing with the development of the state, the rule of law and institutions detail significant lessons for those in government and institutional leadership. Interestingly this work does not talk about first, second or third world but treats the subject as "one world", drawing lessons from every possible context, civilization and epoch in history, giving credit to where modern concepts were first documented or unearthed.
This is a great work in political literacy. The foundations and the central role power (sharing), control of resources, social development, empowerment, religion, capitalism, justice and equity, political ideology and geography as well as the fundamental structure of political organization in a country is essential knowledge for developing solutions to national and international challenges today. With a soft spot for Africa, I am glad to note that the continent does not have to go through all this (history) to achieve global status. Moreover, that there is no one-way of creating successful governments as has been shown by the history of the world.
Congratulations Francis Fukuyama and thank you for your contribution to world success.
Allan Bukusi
The past illuminates the future; even if it shows you where you do not want to go.
Allan Bukusi
Find out how it all began and make sure you know how it will end. Then work out how you fit in.
Allan Bukusi
If you can manage tax, you can manage a country. If you cannot manage tax, don't start a country.
Allan Bukusi
A governance crisis occurs when a ruler is unable to mobilize, manage or muster means to deliver public services.
Allan Bukusi
Because people need heroes, kings and a savior, there will always be leaders and the led.
Allan Bukusi
An organization is made up of the institution, its leaders and the people. It is an error to think that they always act as one. They all exist for very different reasons.
Allan Bukusi
A governance crisis occurs when a ruler is unable to mobilize, manage or muster means to deliver public services.
Allan Bukusi
The small picture does not make the big picture. The big picture makes the small picture.
Allan Bukusi
FAREWELL MR. PRESIDENT & FARE THEE WELL
As we close 2012, it is time to bid farewell to one of our greatest sons. After leading the nation through some of the most trying times in her history, Mwai Kibaki steps down next year as the third person to hold the office of the President of the Republic of Kenya. The man from Othaya stepped into huge shoes, and has left them even bigger. The expectation of Kenyans has been raised from single lane traffic jams to free-flowing six-lane dual carriage super highways.
A nation's history is in the hands of God and lived by its people. However, to lead a million people, each with a free will, is not an easy task. Doubtless, Mr. President, you have had your trials, faced pain and not a few failures. Maybe there are things you wish you had done different. But no man is perfect and leadership is often a thankless job. However, 50 years of service is worth a long applause, a standing ovation and not a little celebration. As young people look for role models like Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln to guide them into the future, Kenyans now have three of their own from whom to choose. They all left the next generation the gift of one nation.
By building on the groundwork of those who came before you, you have laid foundations that will influence the nation for many years to come. Mr. President, in your time, free education sent Murage to the United Nations at eighty years of age, symbolically opening doors to millions of next generation Kenyans, of all ages, to prosperity bordered only by the power of the mind. Your courage and resolve enabled a new constitution that will change the face of justice, right and representation in the days ahead. By creating a legal framework for politics, the road ahead is closed to despots and dictators and firmly places power in the hands of the people. Performance contracts, in public service, have brought new levels of accountability. The military has once again done us proud in guarding our land. Thika Road has become a symbol of a dream that by 2030 can be a reality all around the nation. This has not been the work of one man, but the team that you have led as one nation under God.
Those who follow you in office have no small task to match this advance, yet we have one more request to ask of you. When you go, join the Great Ones and preach peace from Othaya, through Kenya to all of Africa. God will give you strength. Fare well then, Mr. President, and fare thee well. Your challenge to us as a people has not been in your speech; your deeds speak for themselves. As a nation, we must now go on to new territory. But God is with us. Fare well Great Son. Fare well Mr. President and fare thee well.
God Bless Kenya.
Allan Bukusi
December 2012
When you get white hair, it is time to tell others what else you know.
Allan Bukusi
Understand the times and you will know the future. Understand the future and you will know the times. That past gives keys to both of these. The past was once the future.
Allan Bukusi
Pioneers must build institutions for their benefits to pass on to the third generation. The second generation does not value the value of creation.
Allan Bukusi
Statecraft, like management, is an art with its own rules that are independent of the ruler and the ruled.
Allan Bukusi
A leader must have a political education. If he finds himself in office without one, he must quickly get one.
Allan Bukusi
A historical account of how to balance political passions and positions. It is also a story of great courage and determination on the part of a leader. With hindsight, one can see the greatness of Abraham Lincoln, which may not have been noticed during his life. After his death, his leadership skills become obvious.
What would have happened if the north-south conflict had turned south and not north? What would have been the judgment of history, and would there be a United States of America? But this is also a story of other great men and women who never obtained top office, but for the love of country, ensured that the nation held together. There are many unsung heroes in this story like the buffalo soldier and the Native American who gave up ground for the extension of the nation.
Leadership supersedes harmony in a team. Leadership looks ahead of teamwork for objectives to align loyalties and engage passions. Leadership has the humility to give those who are vain time to blow out their steam. Leadership is perhaps never more complex than when a house is divided, but it can be done.
Allans Leadership laboratory
To see a book is a pile of pages. To buy a book is to invest. To read a book is to build an asset. To use a book is create wealth.
Allan Bukusi
The fear of God, the attitude of service, and the superior skill will separate the leader from a million men.
Allan
Everything is available in abundance. Only economics is limited.
Allan
Wealth creation makes more sense than wealth distribution.
Allan
Wealth is not the right of the rich or the bane of the poor. It takes a mind to do so.
Allan
The pen has more power than the gun. The book more might than the sword. Where the gun can kill one, the pen can give life to a million. Where the sword will end a life, a book can train generations.
Allan
The next phase of Africa's advance will not come from politics, the military or even the government. It will come from the empowered employee who will create wealth and vote to protect it.
Who is the empowered employee? The one who knows that income is capital. The impoverished employee consumes it all. The empowered employee knows that work produces capital and enterprise is the key to wealth. He knows that empowerment begins with the mind and not with money.
Employees handle, manage and produce 95% of the wealth that feeds the population. Yet all that wealth is owned by less than 5% of the population. The problem is NOT the 5%. The opportunity lies in the ability to multiply the 95%.
Allan
Passion is a demonstration of energy. It is a not a feeling, or reeling without control. It is strength directed in service, or some specific area with a stated output, product or benefit.
Allan
I had heard it said before. But now I know it is true. People who complain about what they do are never going to do a good job of whatever they do.
Allan
Advance, as is growth, is a principle and process of life. To live another day without a move forward, is to deny the world of freshness. And plant the seed of decay.
Allan
Touched by God
You may have heard the song or seen the movie. Here is the version I told my daughter this morning…. Some time ago, some nobody looking person, walked into an auctioneer's lot and offered an old violin for sale. He took the 2 dollars and walked quietly away. Later that day, the auctioneer offered up the violin for 20 dollars, to the uncertain crowd. Nobody answered. "10 dollars" he shouted. No response... "5 dollars", last call…
From behind the crowd, there was movement as the people made way for an old man to come forward. No, he did not want to buy the violin. But, after tuning the old box, he did play a Vivaldi masterpiece. When he gave the violin back, there was total silence in the crowd. Suddenly the auctioneer's voice called out with a starting price of 2,000 dollars and finally sold the "old box" for 200,000 dollars. When the people asked, "what made the price change", he said – "it was the touch of the master's hand".
Most people go through life using less than 1% of their being. People think that since that is all they have seen of you, that is all there is to you. You may be old and worn out. That only makes many more people dismiss you. What you need is a touch of the master's hand. The Greek word "charisma" means –"touched by God". When God touches you, you will be all you can be!
Allan
Call no man a fool. Every man is intelligent. Certainly more than you think.
Allan
When you find yourself struggling in a matter, you may need more effort, but you may also need more skill. Despite the desire and will you have to solve the issue, it may be best that you accept your incompetence and seek help. Incompetence will not kill you if you don't let it crush you. Incompetence may show you and others a weakness, but it is also a chance for your to reveal your strength.
Allan
In all creation, man is the only one able to transform himself. He can be what he wants to be and become what he plans to be. Man also is the only one capable of rebellion. All other beings in creation can be little more than what they are born. Man is born to become.
Allan
The world is in perfect balance. You cannot demand without giving. You cannot reap without planting. There is always a return ... sometimes it is pressed down shaken together and running over... be careful whenever you tip the balance.
Allan
The boy did not really lose his pencil, but he made it appear as if he had. He was afraid of the exam and needed something he could blame. When he walked into the exam room, he had nothing to write with. When asked why he came without it, he said his mother was sharpening it and had not given it to him in the morning to sit the exam. Life is like that. Sometimes we just come to sit and do nothing in particular. Everyone else is surprised by the results, but we know exactly what happened.
Allan
The mantle of leadership weighs heavily in the heart of a man before it rests upon his shoulder. Not every man can bear it. The mantle has crushed many. To bear the hopes and dreams of others is divine. That men are born with free will makes none willing or able to lead. None can boast of success apart from the gift of courage and the grace of sacrifice. To carry men where they want to go, or where they do not know is an awesome task. It is not clever; it is beyond the wisdom of men. Leadership is not of man otherwise all his problems would have been solved years ago. Leadership is stepped down from heaven to give man but a chance to survive.
Allan
Buy two tickets before you die. If you do not travel, you must read. Your journey through the mind of God and the experience of men will refine you and make you the finest there is.
Allan
COMMUNITY & ETHNICITY
The difference between community and ethnicity is like oil and water. They are both liquids, but form layers in a glass. Ethnicity forms the base while community covers all. Ethnicity is determined by birth, community is decided in life. Ethnicity sets people apart. Community brings people together.
The principles of community are universal. They are; association, unity and peace. These breed; love, acceptance, trust, security and enterprise. The tenets of ethnicity are local and the basis of apartheid. The positive aspects of ethnicity are found in prosperous community. However, its negative elements are the reason for many social ills.
Community and ethnicity are agents of society. The people choose which one will govern them. Community is about humanity and dignity. Ethnicity is about individual identity. Community is a higher social form that calls for greater grace, maturity and accountability to perform.
Allan
I gave the substance of this speech when opening a workshop on January 24 2009. After you have covered 1000 miles, it's no fun going through the next 1000 miles without vision, direction or hope...
… We pray that many old paradigms that prevent the development of Africa will be examined and laid to rest and new paradigms be built to ensure Africa's future prosperity… our paths have converged for a purpose and your journey here has not been in vain… I am forty years old, there comes a time of reflection. The past was not bad, but it is the future we must think about…
…Paul is one of the most persistent people I know. If you know about teamwork, you must have him on your team. We drove down to the coast and back. For one 1000 miles we talked about life and the way forward for us, our families, the church, the roads and the country – and of course the politicians. Yes, we argued over spiritual things and were almost arrested because we were too engrossed in our talking to notice the speed sign. This workshop allows us to close the deal on the way forward… We are here to discover and remake ourselves for the years ahead, and maybe become president…
…Mahinda provided a starting pad for our business 15 years ago, Mucharie launched my career as a trainer, Sarah is an elder and spiritual pillar. The Kiaries provide a picture of courage. Moses is for fellowship and brothering. My wife knows my strengths and weakness… Yet we are all witnesses to our future, by our testimony today… we are all faced with the challenges of this generation. In this room are solutions that will save nations. As you reflect on the second half, I will remind you that God is not limited by halves. As I coach, I know that games are won or lost in the second half. Neither does in matter how old you are. As you work to discover how prepared you are for the second session may God give you the insight and equipment you need to do all that you need to do for the 1000 mile journey…
Thus continued my leadership journey... perhaps it's time you began yours...
Allan
Babies are born will all the faculties intact – nobody tells them to grow and develop. However, if they don't, you know they are ill. A butterfly is not born a butterfly. It emerges from a cocoon. Yet even that does not tell you of its origin. A student enrolls for class at the beginning of the year, knowing a little more than nothing. By the end of the year, the student is able to defend or dismiss the principles of the subject. To believe that this happens by exposure is to assume that sunbathers, with time, will become experts in sun geometry. No, the power to change you is within you. You have it in you to change your circumstances. You have in you the power to transform yourself.
Allan
The difference between success and failure is character.
Allan
The foundations of leadership are discipline, character and responsibility. Add these to the fear of God and sense of purpose and you have the makings of a great leader.
AllanThe problem with clever people it that they think they are clever. The problem with average people is that they think they are average.
Allan
POLITICS
The object of politics is to occupy the people's mind enabling them to be ruled.
Allan
Nobody will fear you if you cannot think. Everybody will respect you if you think, act and fend for yourself.
Allan
I find it sad and strange, but oddly true, that there are people who fear success. And will do everything possible to avoid it. They will thrash their limbs vigorously, not to get out, but to stay in the mud.
Allan
All great victory is achieved step by step, blow by blow, stone by stone, day by day over a period equal to a lifetime. There are no short cuts. Leadership is important never urgent.
Allan
Authority comes to leaders by virtue of office or character. It comes with the power to command and needs personal discipline to use positively. Too much; and destroy the leader. Too little; and nothing will move ahead.
Allan
LEADERS ARE CREATED.
While the world is busy debating whether leaders can be born or made by some miraculous hapstance, the search is not made easier by the fact that very few are actually found. It takes more than an election or selection exercise to create a leader. It takes one generation to develop the qualities necessary for effective leadership. Whereas an engineering project may produce a great work in a few weeks, a leader may take a lifetime to mature. Leadership requires wisdom, understanding and character. No college course is able to supply these in instant amounts or the requisite content. The multiple competencies that need to be mastered are not available in any one or any number disciplines. The only way to come up with a leader is to create one.
Allan
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR DIGNITY
Always wear your dignity. Never take it off. It is the only real clothing you have. Everything else is on the outside.
Allan
To change a team, you must change the way they think about themselves. They must think of themselves as champions and world changers. Once they do, you will have made for the next decade.
AllanTO CHANGE OR NOT TO CHANGE
Change is permanent. React to it and lose the benefit. Respond to it and gain the advantage. To lead change you must prepare for it. Not to change is mortal.
Allan
Leading People
Leaders have a tough job; they must lead at the pace of the people, at the peoples understanding and at the peoples comfort. People will move in as far as they are able and willing.
Allan
Right and John studied biology in school. They studied the anatomy of birds in the lab. Some of the birds were big, some small, some were really of no interest at all. After leaving school John opened a butchery, while Right went on to invent an airplane. What did you study in the biology lab?
Allan
The other day I was training staff on life skills. After some discussion about managing money, one participant volunteered that the message was for their own good, but it was a "hard message". In other words, the participants were saying, "We understand what you are saying but you can't expect us to change our lifestyles so easily and adopt what you have taught us". Deep down I felt hurt and discouraged. Maybe you have had the experience of teaching a "hard message" and you feel like letting the" world die" because we often won't listen to the truth and are determined not to change even for our own good. Perhaps the message was not for them. If the message will heal someone, find another congregation. But even in this darkness, a light flickers. Maybe that day the message was for the ONE participant who took it to heart.
Allan
Customer Service
Organizations become what they conceive their customers to be.
Allan
A FATHER'S PRIDE
A fathers pride is to see his children walking in integrity.
Allan
THE END OF THE WORLD
Before the end of the world, no condition is permanent.
Allan
DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW
If you are challenged in any area, consider well that your knowledge may be limited or insufficient. Humble yourself and seek (more) understanding.
Allan
I USED TO KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS
Before I went to school, I had an answer for every question, every situation and every problem. I knew exactly what needed to be done and how. When I went to school, I found out that there are questions I could not answer. I learned that some questions need common sense; others need specific wisdom, while others need years of research to find a solution. Today I do not pretend to know everything, but I do have an idea where to look.
Allan
ARE YOU IN A DILEMMA?
Are you in a dilemma? Ask yourself three questions; is it good, is it right and is it the best thing to do. If the first one fails, think no further. If all three pass then do what your heart tells you to do.
Allan
IF YOU WANT TO BE A LEADER
If you want to be a leader, God will take you to school.
Allan
