The folly of success...

Success is not worth it if all you do is achieve it. It must be shared, enjoyed and made meaningful to others.

Allan Bukusi

The Sayings of Africa !

The Sayings of Africa are not just words or platitudes to make people think. The meaning of the words and the grace with which they roll off the tongue is not meant to entertain the sayer or the sayee. They are made to be easy to recall. Anyone can say them. The sayings of Africa are accumulated wisdom accrued over years of exposure in specific environments and situations. The Sayings of Africa are condensed from the library of a communities understanding and perspective of the principles of life. The sayings of Africa are African and resonate with the souls of the past, present and future generations. The sayings of Africa are rich in school and help us mine the wealth of our heritage. The sayings of Africa teach and warn. They are life to them who live them and disaster to those who ignore them. When you say the sayings you are sitting at the feet of the great who with grace without getting drunk on detail. The sayings of Africa are not just a rich legacy or merely an anthology. The secrets they hold apply to many areas of life, but particularly to the leadership of life. The Sayings of Africa speak to everyone the same. The sayings of Africa, in their apparent simplicity can beguile the most intelligent yet are obvious and explainable to a child. Wisdom does not require intelligence to communicate simple truth. What baffles is that these sayings have universal application. They are written in code. Coded messages reaching into our time with a light to life. The sayings of Africa carry in them libraries of references and depth of content accessible to Africans. From those who have gone before speaking today. So no matter we know not what they say we must treat them with respect if we are to unlock the secrets of that which they say, that which is said and that which will be said. The Sayings of Africa are scattered and I dare say fading, when you hear them, you know them. Some of them project mischief and the naughty use them thus. The Sayings of Africa project wisdom because they frame complex situations, concepts and routine detail hidden in elementary words. Their crafting is the art of a fine mind while their application establishes social norms and forms character. The Sayings of Africa are fading away…The Sayings of Africa are African. They hold the key to Africa. When you hear these saying listen carefully for you are listening to the heart of Africa. In your teaching teach the spirit of Africa. The Sayings of Africa teach survival, give life and facilitate success!

The keys to unlocking the Sayings of Africa are;

1. Wording; examine the choice, selection and organization of the phrase. 
2. Context; examine the meaning of the subject and the object in the specific environment.
3. The principle; examine the principle and unlock the value of its application, and finally 
4. Generate scenarios in which the principle is applicable in a social (leadership) process.

You will be amazed at the simplicity of wisdom.

Allan Bukusi, July 2016

From Lilongwe, Malawi.

Fooling around...

You can fool your way through college, but you can't fool your way through life.

Allan Bukusi.

The Worst Kind of Rebellion...

The worst kind of rebellion occurs when the people develop a sense of entitlement towards their leaders, no longer support them and expect the leader to do everything for them. Unfortunately, this kind of rebellion is not overt. If it was it would be easy to deal with. Nevertheless, its covert, cancerous nature is responsible for the rot and collapse of more would be successful organizations than we would care to imagine.The most ridiculous thing about this rebellion is that it is both self seeking and self defeating.

Allan Bukusi

A Leaders Time

Let me conclude that leaders are here for a season and a reason. When either one expires time moves on. It does not matter that the leader is celebrated or not.

Allan Bukusi

The sum total of life

The sum total of a mans life are his words.

Allan Bukusi

Are you a Money Maximizer or Money Minimizer?

I have come to realize that it is possible to rich and appear to be poor (not have money). While it is also possible to be poor and appear rich (having a lot of money to show off). The principle is that of maximizers and minimizers.

Maximizers find a way to stretch and multiply every dollar they earn. Maximizers invest in buildings, property and social enterprise, thus they never have any money left leave alone extra or loose cash. They may be worth millions in term of substance, but never have cash to spend on some of the more “fun” things that the minimizer loves on enjoy. The minimiser will use his earnings to take care of his basic needs and then use the rest to have fun and borrow more money to spend. The minimizer (it seems odd) is never broke but does not really own anything.

The quote in the book of Proverbs “ there is that maketh rich, yet has nothing; three is that maketh himself poor yet hath great riches’ is a powerful meditative text that will tax you to think carefully about how much you are really worth. Consider carefully whether you are a maximizer or a minimizer when it comes to earning money and creating wealth. If you are a maximizer and don’t have the money you want, console yourself that you have wealth.  If you are a minimize and enjoying life, consider the risk you run of losing everything you (don’t) have. However, in my considered wisdom it is better to avoid extremes and manage your life in between.

Allan Bukusi