We were schooled, now what?!?

 

Over the past few years, we've witnessed some things that makes one wonder about what is going on around us, and about our existence. Here are some considerations:

• We have higher education, yet we are waiting to get jobs so people who only have experience can tell us what to do. We are unwilling to use the education we worked so hard for and paid such money for work for us. We have ultimately achieved the education of mental bondage. 
• Though we received schooling, we are yet to learn how to think in terms of solutions rather than dwelling on the problem. We are too readily defeated in the battlefield of our minds. 
• We study for a grade rather than to get paid. We are taught to use our skills and education within the confines of a job. Yet, so few of us realize the benefits of applying our knowledge to our gain. We follow rules that don't benefit us, and have become a herd of sheeple following unquestionably every suggestion that is meted out to us for the gain of others. 
• We have focused so hard upon passing subjects that we are yet to learn the true value of success lies within our abilities to form lasting relationships with people. 
• Spas are for boosting wellness, clubs harbour and permit the formation of social relationships, gyms help develop our bodies physically, but the true champion is harnessing a close relationship with our creator; learning purpose, destiny, and how we truly fit in to the requirements this life has for us. Church is not so much where we go to receive but where we go to give of ourselves in service to others - our fellow man for the common good. 

Sure I can leave you thinking about what I mean, however I'll clue you in on where to start the process of thought. We did math yet struggle numerically - in measurements, finances, and in areas requiring calculations. 

Our practice of languages leave us ineffective at communicating with the oral, written and verbal dexterity so necessary for living at levels of comfort many dream of but few attain. Our inability to adequately communicate leads to a myriad of misunderstandings that result in broken relationships, mistrust, disharmony and all the other complications that compromise interactions. 

As a people, our ability to competently use information is key to our successes. As the title says, we were schooled, now what are we going to do given our situations we're facing. Plan to be a winner. 

Youth and Experience in Business

I grew up in an era, that when you were applying for a job and you had experience, the employer would day they are looking for someone with more qualifications. If you had the qualifications, they would feedback that they were looking for someone with more experience. Having chosen a course of study that was laced with practicality within the program and reinforced with multiple internships, when I then went for a job and the employer was cornered unable to use the previous excuses; it was then that they would say to me that I was too young.

This is the dilemma that many youth face today. It is also faced by those who may need to make career adjustments later in life. The banter back and forth by employers makes one just wonder; why they don't start their own business - be their own boss.

Young people come up with brilliant ideas and business concepts which they want to use to transform the world. Those who are older are risk averse wanting to play it safe despite their experience and their capabilities to really make it big. They are often timid; unless someone's bank rolling them with large sums of funds, they tend to err on the side of caution.

There was more than once a young person with well thought out business plans and proven research that are told they are too young to realize this. It was thought that they lacked the discipline. Alternately, those older are questions as to why they waited until so late before making this move. So what's the real deal with the youth and experience? How come they are programs geared at developing the youth for business and those catering for those older are generally about how to secure their jobs?

There are some things that are needed for getting into business regardless of your age or your experience. They are as follows:

• Organization - the business has to be well thought out complete with plans that are written in a sequential manner that address all the elements internally and externally that will impact the business. 
• Management - the management must be sound. Even if they lack the experience in the field, they must demonstrate that they know how to find any expertise that's needed to enable the business to function effectively and efficiently. 
• Operations - must be well laid out and it must be shown that they will be managed adequately from all points within the sourcing, supply, processing and final delivery of a finished product / service.  
• Finance - identifying where you'll get the money and how you'll use it in the business' development is key regardless of if you're getting funding from a bank, private investment avenues or other financial assistance
• Marketing - getting and staying in the market is key. The strategies that you employ will be key. Getting your product / service into the market. Deciding which markets to enter. How you will establish and maintain the presence of the brand. The pricing strategies employed and many other factors will all be considered under marketing. 
• Mentorship and business advice - where guidance is provided to these young businesses in a structured manner. It isn't necessary for them to repeat mistakes that can be harmful to the businesses as there will be plenty of opportunity to make new unthought of mistakes within the dynamic business environments that are present and going towards the future. 
• Cashflow -  many are unaware that their businesses can be profitable and they can still close. Cashflow is necessary to understand the ebbs and flows of business and the impact of your decisions / actions upon the business. 

This information that was provided outlines what is needed at the basic level. Additional information can be provided through making contact with us via our website. You can fill out a survey which tells us about yourself. Navigating the youth and experience jostle used against many can be challenging today to say the least. Once you understand how it works, make it work for you and your business. 

Greed to the Extreme = Chaos

Taxation has its place in any economy. It's what is needed in order for the nation to survive. However when taken to the extreme, it hinders rather than helps what the government of the day is trying to achieve. Politics has proven by way of the results, though packaged differently, that virtually are all parties seem to be the same - undeliverable promises made to capture votes.

There's something when the populous raises alarms that go unheeded. When the pain of a people is being heard and yet ignored. When people who are thought of as peaceful seem to be continually trampled by decisions that off ill effect. What is being put forward by the governments of the day seems to be win/lose rather than win/win. Macro economic policy seems to be decided upon by micro economic situations - hair extension brands, rims for vehicles, how much money small businesses make like hairdressers etc.

In short, government policies can help or hinder business development. There must be strategy to allowing businesses to develop and thrive so that collections can be made from profitable, sustainable businesses. Business owners must be allowed to have money so that they can make decisions that positively influence their businesses and the community within which it operates.

Caribbean businesses have not yet developed a profit mindset. The lack of strategies speak to this when one meets with the entity's decision makers and discuss the "methods" used to develop their business' model. Most businesses seem to adopt the "for me to succeed, you must fail" thinking. Yet others seem to have a need to spend when money is received to reset their accounts to pre revenue levels. Very few businesses have a plan as to what they need to do with any surplus cash - the result is then wastage.

When taxes can get to the level that they surpass the price of the service / product offered [see regional airline tickets] then we know we are really living in troubled times. Though it has not happened yet, the result over time can be chaos, when people are pushed to their limits and finally exceed their breaking points. We need to take heed and do so quickly.

[image was found on the internet] 

Time Management - Really...

Life today is challenging and hectic, with many different activities vying for our attention. So often comments are made by people that there just aren't enough hours in a day, How they'll have to clone themselves to get things done. Claims extend to how busy people are with home and work activities.

The clincher comes though when one observes these said people, or better yet when they get to really take notice of what they're doing. How much of it is really important? Do it take them closer to their goals, dreams, and aspirations?

Take a look at some scenarios that unfold and then decide if they are a good use of time. Some of them may be funny, some may offend you if they apply to you. If you're easily hurt - STOP READING NOW!

• Walking around the office all day, spending time in discussion that have nothing to do with work - television shows, other people's business, your own laments and woes, just idle talk. 
• Shuttling ourselves and children to multiple events on a daily basis and not really knowing what they excel at doing. 
• Are they multitasking opportunities where we can exercise rather than sitting around waiting, for instance?
• Why do we waste time on the mental commute? When we are at work, agonizing over the dreaded Monday morning through to the TGIF happy moments. We should be living in the moment. While at work, work; when at play, play. Get off the roller coaster of thinking of the other one [work] while at play / vice-versa. 

I'm sure you know many other examples, so I'll stop here. 

Schedule time for everything - even appointments with yourselves. Trust me this is quite useful. You'll see your time management improve. Use the smartphones you paid so much money for to send the alerts. When they first came out the brags about their memory capacity were staggering. Use them and free your mind up for more useful things like thinking. You'll be amazed at the progress you can make towards your goals. 

Check our some of our other articles on our blog site. You may find some useful information for FREE!

Where did the time go?

Wow! This has been a fast year. Lots happened and lots didn't happen. It seemed like throughout the entire world everything went topsy-turvy.

Can you relate?

Like everyone, I have heard the doom and gloom about how bad everything is going to be currently and within the unforeseeable future. Then I got to thinking, that all of this news is coming from other people. Many of these people didn't know my skills nor abilities. They didn't know my circumstances. Yet they are looking at whatever was in their line of sight and making broad sweeping comments about my future.

The resulting thoughts from their predictions were uncertainty, fear, over caution, and many other negative thoughts and emotions. We were careening for edge of many precipices of ideologies - fiscal cliffs, moral chasms, and seemingly many other challenges.

What are you saying about your future? What is your God-given entitlement?

Remember, "In the beginning was the word" John 1:1, How easy it is for us to forget about the power of the spoken word.

Daily:

• Speak positive, affirmative, faith grounded words in to all of your situations. 
• Think about possibilities for success rather than reality of failure. 
• Keep your mind searching for solutions rather than dwelling on the problem longer than necessary .
• Feed your mind positive books, tapes, CDs. 
• Keep grounded in your creator, remembering all things are possible if you only believe.
• Plan your outcomes 

Do this for 30 days and tell me what the outcomes are for your situations. Take control of the time you have available to you so that you don't have to be asking "where did the time go". 

No Experience Required...

Throughout working life, there is always an emphasis on experience. Never mind the rush for qualifications, experience always seems to win in the end. We've often heard of the stories where experience and qualifications are played off against each other.

Thinking, as I often do, I realized that there are some things that require no experience to be successful. People advance in their careers almost daily with these attributes and they often stay within these careers for a long time.

What am I writing about? Here are a couple examples:

• Bad manners
• Disgusting attitudes 
• Poor work ethic
• Inappropriate behavior 
• Poor deportment 
• No dedication and commitment 
• Lack of hygiene 
• Unhealthy practices 
• No ethics
• The list can be endless

Yet even though these qualities are often discussed, they still find a way into our organizations though they are never shown on the workers' CV. We have highly advanced management education, still the ability to detect these characteristics before they enter the organization is elusive or these attributes have upgraded their stealth. 

It then brings into question, how these unwanted characteristics infiltrate our organizations so easily. Would love to get your thoughts and feedback.