[Shape your dream]

A dream is something that should be cherished for it doesn't come in every sleep. A dream is also an important source of inspiration. Many of the things we see today are a result of waking up to planning and doing them after having had a dream about them.

Some dream of good and others of bad, it all goes with the material that one is. The good news about a dream is its ability to be shared, challenged, shaped, and brought to realization. Anyone labeled a visionary started off with a dream that was chambered within and over time developed as a concept that eventually led to it being a prototype that got approved, commissioned or sold for commercial replication.

Many people who are good at what they are and do, keep doing so with the aid of dreams. If you design, you get patched revelations in sketches during your sleep. The same could be said about just any career unless there's no passion for it. I used to hear of coloured dreams and lately lucid dreaming. Then, different as they are, they may be lurid or pellucid, while some a result of disorders such as pellagra. Good or bad they are, they need your shaping of their outlet pattern and that very much dependent on you the dreamer.

In conclusion: "your dream my reality, 'cause you live it and I dream it" (aspirational lyrics to an aspirant). Dreams at times are what we can become if we work hard at them. What I also like about dreams is that they knows no limits, something that we should take away from them. There is a lurking danger around every dreamer's corner waiting to pull you down and it's called reality. Reality is the enemy of dreams that but need not be pondered on when implementing your dream. Put your faith in it, hope for it, energy into it, and love for what you do, and it'll in good time become your reality...   

[Graft mining knows no colour]

What colour is a thief? Which racial society does criminality define as its material? I don't want to answer that, but your answer points at someone of my own complexion: what a shame. And but then again, which race doesn't harbour criminal elements within it?

The dark hue complexion is synonymous with everything that is wrong, not good, not valuable and not pure. If there be a report of criminality in an entity, put your ear to the corridor wall and hear what they murmur; the name of a black person will be echoing through and through. This happens because by virtue of birth, a black person is marked as that, a criminal who'll work hard to prove his uncriminality the whole of his life.

A light skin is never seen for what it is; a pretender, a separatist, a manipulative liar and a criminal. Most of those who've been in the daily lives of white people will tell how they too steal and lie. Just that they never invest in exposing those of their own. This is because black is a symbol of poverty, low class working, self hate, and wannabe trivias, as such will be procured to sing their praises and peddle the right message about them to line his pockets and fight their battles on and off field. Take a look at how business leaders use politicians to further their agendas in Africa.

In corporate world the majority of profits are realized through ways that are tailored to rob off someone. The very fancy lexicon of crimes we call today are from their doing because they committed them first. We should pause and revisit the business models, remuneration package structures, beneficiation systems and employment criteria, and you'll see how lesser nepotistic blacks are in comparison to the Easterners and Westerners.

Miseducation is still a tool that to date is a weapon of racial de-profiling, information dilution, economic seclusion, and serial injustices. A white executive can be appointed as an incumbent director based on his surname and experience if having any, but a black one should be on qualifications, experience, resourcefulness and the level of where they are by then. A white executive borrows from the company coffers sans a resolutive consent and approval from the board and is called a bonus or emergency fund, but should a black executive do the same is charged with misappropriation of funds. Same time a black journalist be hyping up the headline so the black sole can read, watch and hear about the exposed thief that should be lambasted, citing quotes from a bought black politician. When a black executive wronged, they get dealt with via criminal law system, but when it's a white executive, corporate law gets applied.

Graft is double standard, and why don't we point that out? We should be taught from school what it is for how it is. It is sadly our reality of the era what gets spread as that, trust never a black executive for they are thieves and rather others as they are trustworthy guardians. This done with the aiding of some black hangers-on who think they will be seen and treated as better if they come with self-denoting policies during formulation.

But truth is, many forms of cover-up are not the makings of a black person but a white one, and almost all graft exposure mechanisms designed in mind with the black one to size him. White-collar crime is rife in corporate set up and none is saying anything about it because of not wanting to forego kickbacks and other benefits.

In conclusion: I never knew about blind trusts, fronting, gap profiteering, ring-fencing, yajurvedas, etc, until I set my foot into the corporate world. I was taught to be always observant and what my obsession with observing them showed me was how crooked they were and how none cared to say a thing. The very crimes are still committed to this day.

Where there's corruption, there's the giving out and the receiving end, and that knows no colour. This made possible by us desiring higher positions in life, glorified status, envied lifestyles, and being cool by association. Our shortcut tendencies landed us in hot waters with crossed fingers burnt.

To reverse the economic exclusion of past, the new economic occult is graft mining, which levels the playing field whilst simultaneously leaving us untainted our chromatic purity we so much fight for. Done right, a generational pipeline of wealth that cloys through selective beneficiation, reserve shares, assay-marked jument enterprises, and new yajur-vedas. Graft mining is a pattern of network that is strategized over time not overnight, that doesn't fit just about anyone but a certain group, unlike with crypto mining in that with this one you need a certain level of knowledge and spotlessness (screening) to be in. If you're to go anywhere with it, should observe how those who came in before you are doing it and follow suit. Don't revolutionize that which doesn't necessitate such. The bottom line is, graft is everywhere and knows no colour...

[Go low low, blacky]

"Point your finger up, point your finger down_tell me how you are, and how low you can go." It may not stretch your mind to that exact point but a failed nursery rhyme meant for the SADC bloc's black creches that I somehow came across in the archives of one publishing house. Realizing that, an official told me not to read it further for it would've disturbed my mind that very beautiful morning.

What pained me was the first line of the last verse; "Go low low blacky, fly high high whitey." If had that let out of that publishing house only God knows what damage it would've inflicted on the tender minds of the black from young. The hogwash that subconsciously instill inferiority in our young, and we are happy to pay for.

The workings of the world system aren't designed to favour a black person, and  with the poor education our pockets are modelled to afford, young blood shouldn't play with that opportunity to seat behind the desk and catch a fraction of the quarter we're given. Our first mistake was opening for the haecceity they shaped us to.

Factors such as fear of being denied access because of being better than the master, failure by the justice system, falling prey to SDS (self-denial syndrome) instead of Self-Deprivation System to encourage his puff n pass quitting, all work against us. Today America is burning and now for me and you, how can we help a black life get better 'cause not only is black lives mattering, but also is black success that matters, for embetterment of his life's worth.

I wonder how many of us watch movies and other online and offline cinematic sequels with diligence they deserve? Think of the words Lawrence Fishburne utter as Sheriff Tanny Brown in the movie "Just cause" and you'll see how a model black police officer is supposed to be unto their fellow blacks. Black on black hatred a curse we need to break its chain. This brought to light by the thought of Nathaniel Julies, George Floyd, Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott, Collins Khosa and Sandra Bland, among others who are evidence and reminders that black lives aren't valued. Many stories of police brutality make rounds from time to time but still no shame is shown from the opposite race, sending a clear message that we don't matter. A black person dies for driving a heavy artillery, for running a successful small business, or for having a scholarship that'll better the lives of their family, or for wearing a hoody, making one ask self what wrong have we done as a race and what right are we supposed to do to be recognised as a people?   

Black one, let's work hard at equipping ourselves so next time it be hard to wipe a black life out just like that with a knee pressed against its neck, let's adopt a different school of thought that'll rank us supreme and beat this system that's designed to see us go round the same circle. Black economic participation a call that needs the right noise to abolish racial exclusion we suffer in this c'jivoure. I hope the message is loud and clear.

In conclusion: we're still a long way from dignity in their eyes and on their tongues, but we won't stop being us unashamedly so, black, strong and proud. And finally, thanks to you, Bob Johnson, Jay-Z, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Gardner, Aliko Dangote, Patrice Motsepe, Dr Sudhir Ruparelia, Pitso Mosimane, for the mileage you give to black success. But of all, black child, know who you are so you grow up to be an extension of my empowerment, 'cause none will humanify us until we do that ourselves...

[Trim excess for success]

'Wear a crown, they call you a king. Throw away the crown, and they see a fool.' Sometimes people forget that a king is a king by his subjects not the crown, meaning that whether wearing a crown or not, will remain a king. But then, what do you do with those who won't see you asame?

The trap we fail to fall out of is that of wanting titles and large entourages, things that are not of meaning to your inner peace and deeper fulfillment. We ought to remember that we attract others through shine, but what happens when it gets covered in dust? Better we thrive toward glitter for it still gives a shine even when covered by dust. Success sticks to quality not quantity.

Because of everyone's love for the glitter's attraction, one needs to be vigilant of who gets near and whom gets close to them. As we grow older, though non the wiser at times, we allow a lot of excess hanging around us that at other times leaves us gasping for fresh air. The moment you feel like that just know it's high time you start weighing your excess.

Excess in this case refers to people who are into your space and throttling not only your independence and privacy, but also burdensome to your success in that those wanting access to you getting blocked by the wall surrounding you. Opportunities are not for the untouchables and the unreachable. Opportunity bringers can't sit you down as you're ever on the move most of your time, and when you're not, no space to be had with you alone.

Unfortunately, there's danger in those numbers. Too much people around you allow easy penetration by unwanted elements into your circle. Best thing to do is trim the excess by reducing those who are not adding any value to your circle. If you keep doing that, you'll end up with the number you need for your success.

In conclusion: the secret to success is keeping a small number close to you as your TEAM, and a large number as your connection. Reality is, any successful venture got its muscles developed by the network created by scores of followers, therefore, one needs to design a model that'll create a cult following and grow your success drawn from it. When trimming your excess, be sure to make it be less offensive and obvious, but keeping your distance. Be a king that doesn't wear a crown, be a king that puts it on the throne...

[1] by KgeleLeso

[Dance a mile in my song]

'There's a moment for every song, and there's a song for every moment, so, dance a mile in my song and soon you'll realize how tough it is in my world' [1]. Whether a mezzo forte or a fortissimo, a song is a rhythm of everyone's biological clock that only you control its bpm.

Of many stories I've heard of how business partners met, one, in particular, stood out. I know of 5 (five) individuals who met through their love for one special song to them, and to date, they still run a successful company 12 (twelve) years later.

A song is part of culture that influences our everyday life. Every song has its place in the heart of someone it relates to. For every first time or the last time in anything, there's that song that will be there to help you get through, that moment you celebrate your first sale, that moment a team member walks away, that moment you step into the next stage of your career life, that moment you receive a call for your first-ever profiling; a song has and will forever be there to carry the emotion or make you live it better. And whenever it hits you none will understand why you're how you are for that's what a song will do to you, because there's a story in every song.

So, next time you find me in my song moment, understand and disturb not. Reminiscence and nostalgia are stuff that are made of that. But one mistake that any shouldn't be is a judge to one's taste in song 'cause where I'm from is not where you've been and where I'm going is not where you're heading. Any song type has its groove that's appealing to its kind of listener. 'With a song, you catch a person and also lose a person' [2], but one thing about it is that it's made to last forever and so is our memories locked into it.

With all put in it, your theme will determine its elementary streak that will echo for decades to come. And then, in quoting your prime, cast a light of the length of your song.

In conclusion: same as life; we live in our song, we dance in it. The only trouble is the genre of one's life song. Some will love it, some will tolerate you for it, others will discard you for it, but let not that distort your vibe and rather rework it to the refix of your time signature to fine-tune your key.

Now, zeroing in on you. Should you dance a mile in my song? Would that make you enjoy it? A chorus or verse, where would your comfort be zoned? The day my song ends, what will you sing about it in yours? The only thing that's left is for you to join me for a collaboration and feel how your solo in the duet will be, and maybe you'll respect everyone's song equally as they do yours...

[1] by Boitumelo Madisha

[2] by KgeleLeso

[Ready yourself for external investment]

At a business seminar I attended not so long ago, one of the panelists said quite a lot of sense that made it worth my while. The theme for the day was "Invest in yourself first."

The panelist asked us how many of us are employees, how many are self-employed, how many are studying and how many are unemployed? We raised our hands per our categories and he then asked further that; "if you were to choose to invest in one of any of those people in the categories for going into business with, whom would it be?"

We all raised our hands per the category of our choice. He after said, going into business with some of those in other categories was a high risk and others a lower risk, and this is how.

- Going into business with an employed person is a potential regret. A worker isn't wired same as a business running person in that they want quick returns and won't put in much into the balance of the business. Again some matters will take long to resolve and opportunities missed because of their unavailability at crucial moments. Their level of commitment a killer to any business unless you've got assurance the salary will form part of the financial aspects of your business or that the person will be fully in after a certain period, but what if their hoped for eventuality gets negated? Their types good as investors.

- Going into business with a student another risk case almost similar to the employee's one but that depends on the time put in studies. If a full-time student, worse, and if part-time student, better. Besides commitment here, the other issue is their future options. Is the person going to school with the intent of entering the market as a labourer or as a job creator? What are they studying towards being? Again, what means are having to put them to test on their mental readiness for hardship realities of business that won't see them opting out thereafter?

- Going into business with an employer a lesser and safer risk that but sees you left with a headache of skills compatibility needed to complement yours, the types of business or businesses they're in and the commitment willing to put into your new business. Also, which type of employer is the person? Will their coming in be a form of the new business being an extension to their other concerns to allow it to tap into their market or a clean slate enterprise?

- Going into business with an unemployed person the safest if there be full commitment, eagerness to learn and grow, resourcefulness in their being industry ready, and being focused.

What he highlighted was that anyone we opted for was bankable, just that if the modeling be right for your arrangement. Furthermore that, everyone of us in there are their own first asset and investment. If you're investment friendly, it should be from you first having invested in self. Doing so will get us ready for external investment.

In conclusion: how you respond to the requirements of the field you want to venture into, needs of you to be equipped with knowledge, ways into the industry and field specific skills. One other aspect I picked from him was that we all need to learn emotional intelligence if we're to navigate the personalities we encounter daily so we emerge favourable. Truth is, after a long ponder into what he said, I too figured that truly we need a bit of that to be investor friendly and at the same time be accommodative of others as I am by others. Being ready for external investment is a huge task that needs a shift in mindset to get to the ultimate material that an investor not in general wants, but that one which you tailor yourself to attract with...

[Break your limits]

Everyone has a ceiling, and everyone has limits. It's only up to them to establish what type of ceiling it is when they reach it. Whether it's glass, asbestos, rhinoboard, or wooden, with your spirit you can break it.

Sometimes the content we consume is the agent of limitations. What we get fed online and offline determines how far we'll go in life. Some of the content is designed to create hype, some to sow doubt, some to warn us, and a bit of it to grow us.

What you should know is that there are PR agencies whose role is to be news peddlers. The content we feed on is designed for a specific purpose all the time, and it's spread as such using the relevant mediums suitable to the relevant targets. Remember the cliche, "don't believe everything you read in the papers." That's a classic example of doubt creation.

The power of communication is beyond limits and how the wordsmith masters use it is shocking. PR is a good thing in that through it scores of us worship movie stars, idolize musicians, glorify sports personalities, respect published authors, be various brand loyalists, etc, through endorsements, product placements, copy writing, etc, and to date worse.

Globalization a phenomenon that changed the world as we knew it and its revolutionary results vivid. The internet made it more a reality than any other leaps been before. Legislation also played a huge role in enabling the technological aspects a reality. New models of financial services did wonders in ensuring availed funds to make true dreams be realized.

Everyone in this day is a newsmaker, thanks to the internet. Just that what differs is the impact of those news via relevancy to the target audience. At times be it that the content is right but placed on the wrong platform, or be that the timing not right.

The influence of media today a difficult task to get right. Sifting through the content is not easy to tell instantly what fake news is from authentic news. From any big headliner there'll be a lot of news diluting the truth of that, and that's the reality of today's news reporting. Current affairs used to be about formally structured format of news reporting but now a different game, everything is now news.

But then, what do you do after filtering what you consume? Don't limit yourself by not casting your knowledge seeking net as wide as possible, keep digging after each layer of information that you get. Also, don't be lied to by the saying that the internet is having all the answers you need for that's limiting you. There's still a lot of information that the internet doesn't have answers for you on and that meaning you still have to go out to the library and interrogate those books, follow forums for unpublished authors to get more information to turn into knowledge, listen to all types of music, watch any tv program and listen to radio and podcasts, go out and talk to people, etc, for there's still a lot to unearth that way.

In conclusion: it's in how we learn to sift on what we get fed on that we'll get ahead as better people, especially the young ones. We need to develop a skill of analyzing what we consume so we don't get easily derailed by manipulators of facts. If we be open-minded we won't be gullible and shortsighted as those makes one be legible for failing to break through set barriers of limitation. Do yourself a favour and source information from multiple platforms of knowledge base, afterall it's your own value to grow and protect as an individual, so break those limits...