[Assignment agent]

Is it rude to greet someone you don't know? Or is it maybe how you greet? This is a situation my friend encountered when he travelled to another continent. It never crossed his mind that a simple gesture of humanity can cause him so much trouble. He greeted some beautiful woman and met an avalanche of rudeness.

In Africa we're used to greeting strangers and is a normal thing. Where he was, his presence was experienced in a wrong way and left him hating the place, and worse was that continent as he got to learn that it's how people behave there, you greet only a person you know or have an appointment with. Random greetings are forbidden yet not published anywhere for public knowledge.

The other challenge was his failure to look at those who came hard on him in support of the stranger he greeted. Just like me, naturally he's shy and can't look at anyone in their eyes because of respect, and those people didn't know that about him as they never cared to observe that in him or even hear him out as they were obsessed with justice for the poor lady. It was only through a young PA to ambassador for one of African countries that he was then given a break.

The young lady explained to them about our culture as Africans and they got it at last. Sad thing though was their failure to accept their wrongdoing and apologize to him, but instead insisted that he should've learned about their norms first before visiting their country. To date, to me, that's plain rude.

In conclusion: it goes two ways; first is to research about customs and faith based issues when you travel to another country, second is for each government to teach their citizens about tolerance, courtesy and racial differences. People need to enter and exit a country and be left with a lasting pleasant experience.

Also, when you travel on business, find an acquaintant to be your assignment agent. Having that professional in your corner is convenient for your success and safety as the person would've prepped you and interpret for you in your engagements for the whole period of your stay because of being a native of the country you visited. Had my friend made arrangements for such an agent, his experience wouldn't have been that horrid. An assignment agent makes life easier, especially if you made your homework of finding the one who has a background of what you're into. Be savvy, make use of one in future...dp

 

[Who's business is it?]

Daily we hear about dangers of alcohol and drug abuse, but then when they come into the level of workplace that becomes something else. Many people do drink alcohol and smoke cigarette, and we say nothing bad that stigmatize them. Is it maybe because of their social acceptance due to commercialization or just plainly cool doing them?

There seem to be a wave of ill treatment directed at people who smoke and drink non-mainstream stuffs like codeine, weed, cocaine and other related stuffs. My issue with those tasked with managing workers is that they're judgmental against those who are using or consuming non-mainstream stuffs. Why be against someone who hasn't done anything wrong or say anything untoward that may be deemed abusive or offensive in any way to them or others? Why fight that which isn't provoking you or anyone? Or is it being proactive?

Some argue the impact of the stuff they consume, but that's not to the health of any staff member or you except theirs, so it shouldn't be of worry to you if they don't present any harm unto anyone and the business. What managers should encourage is dedicated spaces for such people. The truth is, if an employee who's used to being judged gets support and love unconditionally at work, they tend to perform at their optimum because of feeling welcomed. The exception to that should be to those who disclosed. Business is about making money with people who do what they're deployed to do for a reward, not a correctional institution.

In conclusion: in the workplace all of your staff are your family, and in each family we deal with individuality and oddities that makes us be who we are. In light of that meaning we need to embrace those differences between selves and not be discriminating against others. As a leader of your entity, protect your staff and encourage their self-being. Develop a policy that embrace individualism and protect oddity that brings out excellence in staff. Workplace kills character and soothe personality, and that's where we lose talent in that at most is hidden behind what we judge behavior of. So now, if a person is strange yet performing, who's business is it anyway what they do privately? Just let your staff be...dp

[Basics of business]

The ins and outs of business really are a world on their own that but anyone in business finding self without can be a mess. I say this after having watched such a storyline unfold on television not so long ago in a daily drama.

Some of the people who are in business today are generally in for a quick buck and out the scene in a speed of light with huge chunks of currencies to their name. This is to a lot what being in business is all about, but not a solution that world economies are in dire need of.

If we are to do something with expectation of good results it’s only right to do that right and so is with business. How do you expect to secure an investor if you don’t have the faintest idea what an investor is or what a trail balance is before talking of a balance sheet. I see a fist clenched my way but it’s true and you know it, though not pointing at you but rather generally speaking. It’s important for anyone who wishes to go into business to learn a bit from research and also liaise with existent players in the field about the industry they feel like casting their net into.

Going in blindly not only portrays naivety but also the level of one’s cluelessness. What the aspirant entrant ought to do is be patient and gather as much insight as possible prior to launching that attack or else risk losing your hard earned savings or worse, an investor’s call capital.

Basics such as USP, equity, capital vs budget, shareholder vs stakeholder, target market vs target audience, and so forth, are some of those jargons that you need to have a firm grasp of. I remember hearing someone asking her business partner what the difference between value chain and supply chain was, and but the partner with no shame answering her that she doesn’t need to know such as long as they can get that "supply tender" in that her knowing and unknowing of that answer making no difference as it’s not required in the tender bid document. What came to my mind was; 'loving money doesn’t mean you worship it, dwelling much into it though suggesting but otherwise as its victim of enslavement' [1], and I pitied the partner for partnering with such an ignorant young sole for that’s the attitude some partners face in their journeys to success or failure.

In conclusion: to some degree, every person is a lay person at some point, thus the importance of never stopping to learn. In order for us to move forward we need to see first if the shackles allows for our movement. In so saying, meaning that we should visit the idea of going into anything we wish to first before diving in.

With business, you’ll never stop burning fingers no matter how seasoned you are and but with good timing a novice can teach an old hog a trick if not two. But truth, is nothing can replace experience and passion...dp 

 [1] by Kgele Leso.

[Ascertain your future]

'He who masquerades into every scene with his masked eyes to his feet isn't ready to face the talk of what's about tomorrow, so dance to the outskirts of his vision because now not a rehearsal of what's to be next, but only a referral to what's been in the present then' [1]. Never shy away from the future for it's the only hope we all have of our luck and rewards. Go into it fully conscious of what's in it for you.

In life, whatever you do should be based on some assurance of sort for something that's to give back for the effort. With each step you take you ought to be sure of your capability to deal with the outcome that may go either way as that's in the nature of unpredictability that untamable future is. Future is calcified with gifts, opportunities, omens, meeting new and familiar, we just need to be there and ready no matter what.

With a lot being said about the future, the list is long of what one hopes to achieve, but the question is; "what are you doing to ascertain your future?" It doesn't matter if it be of your brand or family or self, what's of importance is solutions in now for unforeseen circumstances. The pandemic has taught us that future is a ferus phenomenon that can devour any plan on the upcoming events. Planning on the far upcoming events to now include eventualities that were never thought of.

When starting anything today, think of it in its running tomorrow and see if it's what you want. If it's a career, for how long will it be open for the opportunity in its market so you go for it or focus on another. In whatever you do about your tomorrow, look at it in tricordia. Future is certain and you need to secure your position in it to ascertain your presence per your wish as it's in how you enter into your every next that determines your success detailing. Same as life being long or short, its extension or truncate is up to you its liver.

In conclusion: 'build yourself a world for others, it's the greatest future reference you'll ever have to your name' [2]. Having hopes rested on your shoulders a sure hateproof assurance to your legacy. You being the sanatorium for other fellows' peniaphobia is an honour not given to just anyone yet heavy in ascertaining their futures. One thing to know about future is that it's shaped by you through versed knowledge, networks, sacrifices and people, and if your soul isn't resolved to doing that, can unregrettably walk away 'cause unlike time, can be regained through retakes, though dependent on the cost of then wasted future...db

[1&2] by KgeleLeso

[Access your acceptance]

'Your haircut is just a hairdo until someone spots a flaw in your hairline'[1]. A hairstyle is like a house design, it depends on the stand it's built on. With a hairstyle, we can have the same but the head size and your hairline won't be the same, and so the way it looks on us will be different.

'At times beauty attracts not the beholder but the hater thereof' [2] for it depends on the eye that sat longer on the subject and also the target it appeals to. What you are to those seeing you should be a true  affirmation of what you are or trying to be. Wanting to be all things they call out on you is like chiseling a moving shadow that has no shape to start with, so know what you are in want of that which you seek for self. At the end it depends on what you trust, the people's sayings or the mirror, to get to your truth for you.

Being in control tramples the thought of being in charge, and but in the finishing line still to need the one in charge. What's big to come out to be still determined by the one in charge. 'Life unfairly fair in its static form of truth' [3]. Those in control are kinetic soles who keep runs to and from other related kinetic soles who receive their regulation from static soles, thus they in charge. It fascinates how chains of command are and used, and taking a comprehending sighter to spot the flaws of the hairline not as mistakes by the hair stylist, and pathologically accepting the patent defect unequivocally.

When you are led you need to come to terms with that, when you fall you must acknowledge the fact, when you aren't good enough you should admit it's not for you, and that's acceptance. Blame is good if constructive and, in return building ground for a better retake not in defense of the state but in support of your chance on stage once more.

In conclusion: to whom do you owe the first truth? What do you do to erase a foul relation memory? 'The history of motion pictures lies in not their length but in cast and their numbers sold, the trail mark that's their parvenuism' [4]. It's the reality for anyone involved and same is in everything in life, taking fact as is to heart and learning to accept the status of the moment sans challenging it. How you arrive to acceptance of fact as truth a process so delicate to one in that it gets molded by your truthfulness to self. Ability to access your acceptance a stem from your attitude towards life, reality and willingness to base from there. For some to accept is a tough pill to swallow than it is to deny and blame.

Access to acceptance a sign of readiness, situational awareness and embracement, and growth, and those are what makes you eligible for a chance at making it quicker and with lesser effort in that help is afforded easily. Be open to your understanding of the need for your availed room for acceptance. Your need of others and their things in your life have to come from your honest mind to reality facing YOU, and being true to that reality a bold position for your advancement to favour, with the thought though that favour goes bi-ways. Be vivid on what you accept so it be clear of your stance...db

[1 - 4] by KgeleLeso

[Being a leader is natural]

So, you care. You do that with each and every employee? How many are they? How long do you invest your time with each? When measure that, does it make any impact on the bottom line? Being in lead a deep touch on most issues in relation to the nexts, almost all the time because leading is about people and our interconnection before any other thing. It but causes corporate frictions the minute it hits the board level. This making me ask myself why something so good be seen and treated as bad? What do they fear that the good can't seem to see?

Being a leader needs balance on a whole lot of issues before they turn to their performance and other related issues of management. The leadership manuals do teach and guide you on what to be and do, how to be that and do that, but it never deal with the who you be and whom for. A leader comes as a package. We can't talk about a leader sans mention of their ownness, thus their individuality.

As a person first, a leader comes from a family and goes to a family after work same as everyone, a leader meets challenges that makes them lie to protect self or others, a leader reacts in some situations, we can't fail to remember such when they're caught up in smoky corners. It's a tough job being in that position, envy them you will but blame not when occasionally step out of character in run with personality, for in their shoes kick offs feel different than it does in yours.

I, for one, cheer for a leader who cares more about the employees than they do for the employer. But, good as you and me would like, they still have their set fiduciary performance requirements to meet. So, the danger to their meeting of targets is in them getting too close to employees in that it creates the risk of low productivity brought by the familiarity borne out of closeness with them. Again, a leader should create sustainable expectations, and time spent with employees may be distorted along the way due to busy work demands that may cause a negative sentiment. Employees may feel neglected as a result of that.

Employees are demanding, management is demanding, leadership pressurises via inbound and outbound competitiveness, governance adherence and, private and public responsibilities. If you want to lead, best you know that. The golden rule for anyone in that position is to get a good advisor, a kick-ass right-hand man and a two hearted life partner, and your job will be fun to do. For you to meet each side's needs you just have to align self with that rule, and just maybe you'll be yourself in your job.

In conclusion: being a leader isn't hard but tough and difficult as it challenges your mannerisms, skills set and knowledge base. It's a test of character to your personality, a builder of the being to better if not corrupted by the power that comes with the position. Leadership is a way of life for the humble and a way into life for the opportunist. Only you will know where you fall, but, being a leader is natural...db