Corruption is policy, legislation or law that secures the undue advantage of one over another.

Corruption is policy, legislation or law that secures the undue advantage of one over another. A lot of rhetoric goes into condemning the corrupt, but not enough energy goes into making laws that discourage corruption. However, laws in themselves are insufficient in their ability to conquer corruption. Only flawless character can achieve that.

Allan Bukusi

War is unsustainable for the simple reason that it destroys enterprise.

War is unsustainable for the simple reason that it destroys enterprise. Those who front war must rebuild what they have destroyed if they are to rule. That is a further expense that usually drains the thrill of victory and profit from the economy. The strong is enjoined with the weak to the extent that both can only become mediocre.

Allan Bukusi

Prosperity = H2W

What is prosperity? Some say wealth, riches or affluence. However all these words do not quite capture it in the whole. These words imply a level of achievement or attainment that is above some sort of threshold value like “one dollar” or “1000 dollars”. Presumably, the one who has more is more money prosperous than the other. Some say happiness, but even that is a relative state. You can be happy with a little and unhappy with much. But prosperity also implies “more than enough”. More than enough to enjoy, to be able to share or perhaps, unfortunately, to waste.

A few years ago, I wrote a book called How to prosper in employment. The central argument in this book is that every employee can achieve prosperity. If prosperity is to be measured it must apply in equal measure to all human beings. This means it must be attainable by all rather than just a few with special qualities. Health is a quantity that is a state of being while wealth is acquired. However, both contribute to prosperity. Wealth without health is suffering while health without wealth can be a drudgery.  “Healthy wealth”, combines the personal and property values of prosperity and puts the concept of prosperity well within the reach of every human being. The question then is, “Do you have enough health and wealth to be happy?”

If health, wealth and happiness line up in good order for you then you are most blessed among men. However, this also means that you do not need to be the wealthiest to be the happiest, neither does being the poorest make you least prosperous. It also means that having wealth does not necessarily make you prosperous. Prosperity can be attained despite and in spite of your level of economic empowerment. It also means prosperity is a state you can create for yourself.  Prosperity = Health x Happiness x Wealth or P=H₂W

Allan Bukusi

 

 

Let men be

There is increasing interest in the man child or “man-cub” as the Jungle Book would put it. This belated interest seems well intentioned except that it is surrounded by the realization that things are going wrong and that the man cub has the key. It is triggered by an obvious imbalance rather than social advance.

I pity the man cub for several reasons. First, his star is set to rise in the most dubious of circumstances which if he succeeds in conquering; he will also be blamed for causing. Second the demand that the man cub arise means that the he must meet the conditions others have set for his identity. This may be pleasing and pacify some, but may never realize all he was meant to be. Third, if the man cub does rise and take his moral position, this may be more than those who call for his resurrection can handle.

In my estimation, let the man cub be. The focus on the man cub or the girl child will obviously create social imbalance that causes further imbalance. But therein is the key – balance. Establish the balance and all of us will be free to be.

Allan Bukusi

The difference between professors & doctors

Doctors tell everyone what to do. Professors tell you what everyone else is doing.

Allan Bukusi

World Cup 2014: The Glory & The Brave

Watching the Uruguay vs England (2:1) match yesterday was something of a classic. During the game the commentator was at pains to call up a 40 year history of encounters between the two sides. None of the players on the pitch were even alive back then. Then there was the classic number 40 for Suarez and 40 for Rooney. Rooney scored his first world cup goal while Suarez added a forty and forty first for his country. Each came off with a record, a personal achievement but the glory does not always honor the brave.

Discussing the predictions, projections and possibilities with my fellow watchers got me wondering if history really has a part to play in the future. There are some who would argue that it does. Others claim that definite patterns emerge as you examine a series of outcomes. Of course insurance and betting firms make a lot of money off these thoughts, so to them, it really does not matter what you think. But I wonder how you and I would plan our future if we could tell the outcome?

Do we peg our future success to past results, injury or luck or do we peg it to our future hopes and dreams. Do we look at the numbers or do we just go out there and do battle with the odds. Do we use belief systems like “David and Goliath” to fight our battles or do we hold on to traditions and fire power? The World Cup is played out in front of millions of people so it is easy for all of us to judge what the players should do. However, whatever method you use to broker your success be sure to remember that the glory does not always honor the brave, but each of us can take home a private victory whenever we face a test.

Allan Bukusi

Courage is crying in the rain

The ability to go on when there is no sign of success. The spirit to persist when failure is in the house. The character to try again, when hope is lost and the will to believe when there is nothing to count on. Courage is what is left when danger is all you have.  Courage is what you must do in the face of a fact. It is not about fear or even having no fear.  Courage is crying in the rain. It is within and not without. Courage is purpose. It is not a feeling, but rather what must be done. It really does not matter how it felt. The fact is that it had to be done, no one else did and you got to be the one.

Allan Bukusi