Finishing Strong - Farrar

I have just read a book on “Finishing Strong” by .Steve Farrar. The title is a very attractive read especially if you are above fifty years of age. However, in terms of its leadership message I find that finishing anything takes a whole lot of courage, determination and vision. I like the part where the leader must see what others don’t see if one is ever going to finish at all. Apart from the finishing line, the visionary must be able to see the completed Job and not just the red tape.

I would like to say that visionaries are exceptionally gifted people, except that I know each of us has the ability to envision the things we want. Like character, vision can be developed with patience and exertion. Talent may be a great player in the vision game, but character gets to the finishing line against all odds. At the check-out counter of life, if you can answer “yes” to doing all you could have done despite not doing all you should have done, I’d say you finished strong!

Allan Bukusi

Have you answered the call to greatness?

It strikes me that great men and women are released by their spouse to a cause greater than themselves. However, it unnerves me that many lesser families will not release their sons and daughters to any noble cause nor will sons and daughters release themselves to any cause above themselves.

Allan Bukusi

What do examinations measure?

My daughter has just completed an international examination... I wonder what is the role of such examinations in our day and what purpose they will serve in future? Today, they indicate that you have attained a measure of knowledge that can be tested. They form benchmarks in the preparation for careers and vocations. But they also serve to narrow your options if you are not aware of your total abilities. As you move higher in the exam hierarchy, you become less schooled and more competent in a principle.

Whereas this was important in the past when careers were based on principles, I see that careers in future will not be based on principles, but rather on a measure of  character. Many of the principles we studied in school are being taken over by technology. Accounting, design, construction and even medicine are now driven by readily available technology.  The only difference that would make me go from one doctor to another is character. That is because the two doctors will most likely have access to the same diagnosis and interpretation kit. So what will exams try to establish in future? I think they will be designed to measure character and understanding.

Allan Bukusi

Do grandparents hold the keys to poverty?

Rather, do grandparents hold the keys to wealth? Interesting question. It may give us a clue to the perpetuation of poverty in Africa and around the world. No generation carries wealth off the earth. Nobody takes wealth to the grave. Every generation either builds up wealth, enjoys or destroys it. Nevertheless, every generation leaves it all behind. If grandparents do not leave wealth to their children and children’s children, they condemn the next generation to another start up cycle. Moreover, if the next generation does not know how to build wealth, that start-up-cycle is the start-up-cycle of poverty. If subsequent generations do not know how to manage and pass on wealth, they condemn generations to perpetual poverty. Unfortunately, many grandparents have no understanding of their contribution to the state of poverty and do not know that it is in their power to change the tide of poverty by establishing the wealth of the family for generations to come. Building wealth making prudent use of resources and deliberately passing it on to the next generation may be the key to establishing a nation.  Grandparents need to use it, don’t abuse it, build it up, teach the next generation and pass it on.

Allan Bukusi

 

Prophets write books, priests teach them kings enforce them.

Prophets write books, priests teach them, kings enforce them. Prophets write laws, priests teach laws, kings enforce the law.

Allan Bukusi

Education may lead to civilization, but only salvation can lead to transformation.

Education may lead to civilization, but only salvation can lead to transformation.

Allan Bukusi

MINDSHIFT

Yesterday I attended the Leadership Summit hosted by Anthony Gitonga. He was launching a new book – Mindshift. The audience applauded his initiative and I silently wondered why Anthony had bothered to put pen to paper. The truth is the book assumes we all have a mind (that should be obvious). Why does the mind need to shift?  And who needs to know this? That is an interesting debate in itself. Perhaps our minds are in the wrong place or tend to wander and need to be shifted frequently.

But perhaps what is more important is to appreciate the purpose of shifting one’s mind. The immediate thought that comes to mind is what happens when an archer is taking aim to try and hit a target. If the target is stationary, the archer quickly settles the bow and arrow in a killer position. However, if it is a moving target, the archer has to shift position in order to locate the target. Life is like that. Depending on what you want to achieve, you need to shift your focus. That can upset your mindset. Two people have to read this book. The public and the politician, but first you need a mind.

Allan Bukusi