My Teacher - Experience

Those who know me, would realize that when I interact with them, I tend to be direct. Up to this week, I was told that by someone who just met me fleetingly. Having heard it so often, I paused to think about how my characteristic trait was affecting others with whom I interacted. Further probing revealed that though direct, I am not brash.

Let's turn to what excites me immensely - Business. 

I just love it when people bring me business problems that seem insurmountable. It may seem strange but some people like puzzles, I like the ones that have real life effects. When people describe their challenges to me, I almost immediately or at least within a couple days am able to identify solutions to the challenge. Not from the standpoint of any special gifting that I may have. It often comes from experience. 

What gives me this immense experience?

Usually I would have gone through a similar experience before either via a third party or personally. Lots of things happen to me, and truthfully, I often ask God why these situations are happening to me. One time after  my pleading for an answer, I finally got it. "It's not about you." 

What a revelation that was...

Who trains the trainer? Who develops the consultant? In my case, it's experience. What has experience taught me? Here are a couple, just a few of those lessons. 

• It is possible to realize just about any business deal providing you communicate you case well. 
• All things are possible, when presented with the right conditions. The word can't exist only when all the angles haven't been developed / explored. 
• You don't necessarily need an asset base to obtain money. You need to demonstrate a clear and reliable, well thought out and practical system of operating, marketing, and financing. 

Because of these and similar lessons, through God's grace. We've successfully:

• Obtained financing from a local bank for a business established in another country
• Employ turn around strategies for entities that were in the "red" permitting them to get their finances in the black within rather short times. The fastest one was a one day turnaround. The second one was a six figure turnaround within 90 days. 
• Enabled an entity to secure 3 forms of financing with one document
• Loan
• Direct Investment
• Grant Funding
• Developed collaborations whereby teams have helped businesses and charities realize their business objectives within the required time lines and within budget. 

There's something about developing the plans and then providing the training for the implementation of the same plans. Those entities enjoy greater success. Did I tell you the amount of fun I have helping these entities? It's exhilarating! 

Maybe we can do business sometime... 

Thank you experience. You're a great teacher. 

Glimpses of a Caribbean Office

A typical summer day at the office can look like this. With the chair under the trees and the ever accessible Wi-Fi can make most work days quite productive.

Just seeing vehicular traffic come and go brings the reassurance that business can still be had even in these tight economic times. 

To be truthful, environment is one of the key contributors to creativity. A little distance from the beach and the nice tropical feel and a cool beverage is all that's really needed to make work a dream in the Caribbean. 

Yes, we still experience stress. Later on I'll relieve some of it with a swim of a couple laps. Tomorrow's filled with events of the weekend, including some work. However, it doesn't always feel like the drudgery usually associated with work. 

I'm grateful to be living in one of the world's best systems - Free Enterprise. Where we know "If it is to be, it is up to me".  Thank God we are alive at one of the best times ever. 

Now, I'm going back to work. We'll chat later on. 

CFFB Questions & Answers - Excerpts from the official April 2013 launch

Seeing the young innocent children being affected by this illness tugs at the heartstrings of virtually anyone.  We, as adults, are often found asking ourselves, why them?  If you're the parent, you really don't have the time to really ask these types of questions.

The questions that more readily come to mind as a parent consist of thoughts like:

• How can I save my child?
• I have to find a way to afford the expense of this illness to keep my child alive. Failure is not an option. What opportunities are there?
• Who can help me save my child?

Lord, show us a way to help people better experience life as they battle with this seemingly incurable illness. We place all our trust in you that though there's no cure as yet. You will help us in our quest to find one. Thank you Almighty God for your grace and favor through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

This is the plea of many a parent, their supporters, their friends and family. It is the cry of all mankind affected by this illness either directly or through their loved ones. Here's how we are helping in Barbados from where we stand. Take a look at this short excerpt from the launch of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Barbados.

Thank you for taking part just by watching this video excerpt. You can follow us on Facebook or just go straight to our CF website . You can make donations, apply for membership and sign up to volunteer. The forms are on these sites.

Make a difference to tomorrow for those who suffer with CF by offering of yourselves and your resources.

Thank you.