The roughness of life and business

 If there's one thing that this pandemic taught us, it is that life can be quite rough. Prior to it, we may have been shielded from the ravages of the world's pressures. Our seeming insulation from the challenges in the news was something that was sorrowful, but didn't really impact us directly - so we sympathized. 

Well along came COVID and give us a fresh perspective, where we were rapidly moved from sympathy to empathy. The reality of the tragedies came quite close to home and NOW we're directly impacted.

The thing is, the impact was so comprehensive it was felt in all aspects of our lives - personally and professionally; physically and emotionally; let's not forget financially, even as we struggled with the nuances of adapting to new measures that impacted us operationally. 

There are lots of people hurting, and though we try to mask it. Thinking it's the business of no one else, the reality is that it impacts those around us, even if they only observe. It so happened that the various elements of our lives have collided and the results are tragic. It doesn't matter if you're in school or working, if you're retired or haven't even entered school yet; everyone was impacted in some way. 

Society says we should keep looking forward, keep moving forward. It says we can do nothing about the past; however somewhere there's a niggling thought from the recesses of one's past that seems haunting. It creates doubts, harnesses fears and uncertainty, simmers the spirit in a way that timidity can bubble to the surface leaving you off balanced and out of sorts. 

Grief has been a key element - loss of relationships through break ups, displacement, death; often without any closure and with a sudden happening that no one was prepared for. One moment someone's there and the next, sometimes in the same day, they're gone. Our coping mechanisms have been taxed at a new level, and one realizes that they can be lonely in a room full of people since no one takes the time to understand their perspective. 

Business, schools, home life, and social interactions have all gone topsy-turvy and  everyone is now in an unfamiliar ground where tensions are riding high and frustrations are rampant. 

We now as a people have to interact within an environment where the people are going to display new and unfamiliar behaviours that we are not accustomed to and will never become used to since they will change rapidly with each hour that ticks by. 

There will be a need for entities to revise their interactions with those they seek to serve. Areas of address will include: 

• Customer interactions
• Operational functionality - there has been significant disruption which has impacted supply chains significantly directly impacting the ability of needs being met adequately.
• Marketing methods and means - there's a need to reintroduce the social in media used to communicate by companies e.g. too many are using this as a go to without first finding out if their public is used to / competent in accessing social media and online platforms. This is so especially for the elderly and some younger people. 
• With the gap in schooling, consideration will have to be taken to using more verbal social media since the reading/comprehension skills of many users has diminished significantly. 
• Financial integrations and programs including banking, insurance, financial transaction documentations and tools
• Legal considerations including contractual obligations, intellectual property, real property, etc. 
• Taxation programs and privileges
• Environmental aspects where the entities need to be more aware of what's going on and the impact on the public. Are the offerings in alignment with the value systems of the public. There's a need to identify where the public is placing their emphasis on as it relates to value. 
• Competency is going to be a key factor going forward since service levels are being frustrated by the lack of delivery on the part of many organizations

Is the roughness real or perceived? You be the judge of that. However, you should note that it is best to consider the impact of one's actions / inaction and how they will be interpreted by those you are seeking to serve. 

If we take enough time to observe we can see the differences pre / post pandemic. The question is are we willing to make the adjustments and if so how willing are we to invest in the future of our people. 

I have a confession to make...

Over the years, the longest job I've ever held is for approximately 2 years. When I stumbled upon an industry called timeshare, my background it hotel management, it gave me the mindset due to the types of environments I've had the opportunity to work within.

Timeshare is an industry that I would recommend to anyone and everyone should be exposed to in their younger working lives. Why? You learn how to handle rejection early. 

In life, one of the biggest stumbling blocks is rejection. The word NO cripples many who are on their path to success. It can come from the market place where you are trying to gain a foothold, and if it's something that's really big; the rejections/objections can come from within your own household. 

Timeshare taught me how to cope with the reality that you will face stumbling blocks in all aspects of your life. It is an industry that puts you on trial every day since you cannot rest on the laurels of yesterday's successes. Everyday you get up you start at zero. Everyday you must make progress towards your goals. 

Is it hard? You bet. However even though it can be described as words that the word challenging don't aptly describe, it can be also quite rewarding. 

Fast track to running a practice for as many years as I have. Seeing clients experience satisfaction even though they may not have all had the money to pay. Improving their lives and the ability for them to support their families and livelihoods. I'd do it again. 

Sometimes, not everyone can pay for your services directly. They can however open doors through referrals that you ordinarily wouldn't have been able to open. In time, you'll learn that more important than money is grace and favor. 

My grandfather, told my father, who told me and I shared with my son; "Where manners and respect will get you, money won't get you. If you have manners and respect, you'll go places that people with money will never reach. You can walk in the company of very successful people as an equal." 

I love business development. I love solving problems that others can't. I love my career so much that it doesn't seem like work. Am I where I'm supposed to be? Not yet. 

It's a journey that keeps challenging me. As the reputation continues to spread, people call from all walks of life from various places and countries. Keep hungry, keep learning, keep serving; life can be interesting and provides many opportunities for you to make a positive contribution. Yes, I also serve NFPs, not for profits. It's my way of giving back. 

Though I may not have loads of money, I am a philanthropist with my time. I always maintain, if I lose money, I may get it back. However if I lose time, it's gone forever. Use your time wisely. 

My confession? I love helping people experience a better life. 

Developing magnificent mindsets

 This is a new year globally and for many that's the only thing about it that's new. Why do I say that? They are bringing old mindsets into the new year. 

So as I wish you happy new year. I will also go one step further and wish you happy new thoughts. Here's what I mean:

• Try not to be paralyzed by taking action due to fears. The rewards can be huge once you step out in faith that good will take place. Plan properly. 
• Read positive material that enables you to think in possibilities. Look for the templates that can lead you towards the success that you're seeking. 
• Develop strategic relationships within your network. Edify the people with whom you interact. If you cannot edify them then they are probably not suitable for your network. 
• Have standards, both personal and business standards are key and necessary for maintaining a semblance of order in one's life. 
• Work to live don't live to work.
• Develop additional skills and your body of knowledge during the course of the year. 

This year my theme, which will course through most of what I do is, #coexistwithcovid. It's a mindset that we must adopt to thrive within this environment. 

My writing will not be for everyone. I firmly believe that leaders are readers, so I'll be using less graphics  and more on the content. The articles will be shorter and more direct, therefore meeting your needs more quickly. 

If you are seeking to improve yourselves and your businesses, then you may just benefit from the content here. I encourage you to follow us on your preferred social media to receive the updates.

Now, let's make 2022 exceptional. 

Really men?!? Haven't we been tokenised enough?

International Men's Day [IMD] passed recently and I was ONLY made aware when i received the greetings via social media from well meaning females. This got me thinking. 

As I thought, a number of questions came to mind which would probably bring me under scrutiny of both sexes. (I really don't care what you identify as, that's your business not mine). That's for another time. 

I began to search and here's what I found when checking for the origins and its significance. 

• International Men's Day 2021 
• Here's what Wikipedia says about it 

Earlier I mentions the questions that came to mind. I'll share them since they may cause you to think about things more deeply rather than just at the surface level that many of us have become accustomed to of late. 

Think on them, discuss them, really delve into the meanings for you and your society so that the next time IMD comes by there would be some meaning, some significance, and we would be prepared to truly celebrate men. 

Here are some questions, you may have more. 

• What is International Men's Day about and how does it concern me as a man? 
• Why did it begin? 
• When were men going to be informed? 
• How are we celebrating men internationally and its not even known at the local level? 
• Is man fulfilling their God given role and purpose? 
• Do we as men know what that is or we just ignorant of our roles and purposes? 
• Why do some women think we need validation by them? 
• What contributions would have been made to life having lived? 
• Is it about conquering or developing a lasting legacy? 
• Why despite all that men do they are heavily criticized for what they didn't do? 

Sure they are other questions that come to mind, however I will leave those for the inputs of others so inclined to comment. 

Dr. Jerome Tealucksingh of UWI Trinidad and Tobago in honoring his father's birthday commemorated it by creating something that serves men and boys through a global initiative. How do we as men take it to another level of significance? 

I studied hotel management - Here's why.

Coming out of school can be a process that has you being fairly uncertain as to what you're now going to do with the shiny CXC certificates. You come out into the wider world realizing that unless you go into another school system a number of things will change. 

• No three vacations a year
• You have to literally earn your keep to sustain your livelihood
• Uncertainty of whether you'll see your school friends again and when
• Making choices about studying further or going to work, both of which can seem daunting. There's no natural progression. 

The world has a lot of choices which can be overwhelming since no amount of visiting the guidance counselor in school can ever prepare you for. You have to think about what you would consider fair remuneration should you work. Ongoing school has a plethora of choices, many of which you never heard about since it's not as easy as choosing a subject area. 

I kind of stumbled onto hotel management at Barbados Community College. When I went to the interviews I was still uncertain as to what I wanted to do. When I learned about the program I asked what it entailed and I learned about the practical attributes coupled with the theory. This intrigued me since the time at which I came along experience and qualifications were played off against each other by many employers; if you had one they wanted the other. The game still continues I've learned - frustrating to the applicants who just want to work. 

Internships are where the theoretical information comes together. You learn that though you studied formally, there is still a lot to be learned from those who have no formal training but loads of experience. Internships allow you to learn how to function within a practical setting. 

My firsthand exposure via internships enabled me to become a believer in their significance afterwards. They proved invaluable permitting me to work in every single area of the hotel both large and small. This permitted exposure to areas that I would not have had should I have followed the conventional route if study. 

We built networks of colleagues from around the region both here in Barbados as well as in The Bahamas. When faced with issues, I personally was told, hotel management is not just what happens in the classroom, it is a way of life which must be handled accordingly. Talk about preparation, we never received any pampering/sheltering of any sort within the work force. Therefore we were more equipped for the transition to the world of work. 

Our studies were intense, and doing field research were often told that we were functioning at a level higher than our qualifications we were pursuing. We committed to excellence and professionalism. Like anyone else, we face challenges within the workplace, but our experiences allowed us to function at a greater level of maturity. 

I would recommend it to anyone who is searching and uncertain of their career paths. You gain insights that can only auger you well in you chosen area(s). 

Since 2020 we have formally founded the UWIAA CHTM where we are a virtual, global network of people with very diverse backgrounds within and outside of the industry. We are a resource that tourism entities across the region may draw upon for assistance. 

Too often we miss it

Life can be an adventure particularly when you are functioning in the world of business. People around the globe generally try to keep their work / personal lives separate and distinct. There are instances however that cause the two worlds to meet. They are quite real and often will not be denied recognition by those who are experiencing the situations at the times they take place. 

Very often, if left unchecked we can get into the setting of what was once described as PLOM disease. [Poor Little Old Me] It's when the odds seem stacked against you and mentally you become a victim due to the frequency of the mishaps taking place.  

When things happen with us

Life can through is into situations where we are presented with "the curve ball". It's when circumstances happen to us that we can't necessarily explain or even understand. The can comprise of a variety of elements that impact us. E.g. Illnesses, relationship changes, financial storms, are said to be around the usual suspects. 

Often we are in the mode of minding our own business totally oblivious to the experiences of another who can be right beside us. The are plagued with uncertainties and doubts which can hamper their productivity at work. 

How we interpret it? 

People are so strange that when you observe various behaviours it's important not to necessarily take it personal. Sometimes the individual being observed may be going through some challenges that stem from a variety of areas that have absolutely nothing to do with you. Don't be so quick to "write yourself into the script".  

Situations from people's childhood, another life they once lived and a myriad of other experiences can manifest themselves in your current environment. They impact you, but you are not the cause of it and it's important that you recognize it early or that relationship can go on the rocks of non-recovery because of the intolerance of the parties. 

The need to get out of our own way 

If you have been around in life long enough. You'd hear the older people say things like "Be still", "Peace be still", "It's in God's hands", and other such sayings. They are meant to comfort you, however in many instances you may not understand what they are trying to convey especially if your experiences or readings are limited. You may not have the experience base on which to draw. 

That's alright. It's not necessarily your fault. As a people we try to apportion fault to situations too much. It is our way of trying to understand what's going on; to make sense of situations. We take things quite personally often projecting anticipated behaviours of interactions that may never take place. 

Learn to accept everything on its own merit. You may not be the only one receiving a particular treatment. We may be too defensive from our personal viewpoint when the other person may need help and just NOT know how to ask for it. 

Now that celebrities have shown their own vulnerabilities, some are actually being more aware of and have enhanced their tolerance of mental issues. Pressures that impact behaviour are not always about you, though it may be difficult don't take it personal. 

Moving ahead 

Can you really say that you know someone? Can you be a character reference for them and they for you? Often people live within the same house, work within the same environments; yet there are behaviours that arise that surprise everyone completely since they are completely left field. 

I'm not identifying any situations since they are so widespread and can impact the same individual in different ways. Though I am not formally trained in Psychology, these are observations made over an extensive times. 

It's not a license to behave as you like, neither is it to say that you must accept all behaviours that go outside the norm of what you've become accustomed. However, you must be aware so that you can better navigate the stages of the relationship(s) with people that you interact with. Some, including you, may have quite a bit of baggage to attend as you deal with the issues you confront. We don't ever really know. 

Here are somethings that you can employ to help you better function in your interactions with people:

• Empathy
• Patience
• Courtesy
• Fairness 
• Enhanced tolerance levels 
• Being non-judgmental
• Understanding you can only address your personal issues since you can't change anyone else
• Listening

These eight (8) are not the total list, but it's a start. I'm sure you will encounter others as your awareness grows. 

Walk a little faster, give someone a compliment to brighten their day, smile (one that is genuine and goes up to your eyes), decide to be a winner and not a whiner. Stop complaining, focus on solutions and don't dwell on a problem. You have what it takes - be a difference maker. 

Getting into business, not into bed

 

One would imagine that business like most other things would have boundaries. However, when one gets to see close up what people in business have to experience, some revelations come out.

Within my practice, most of my clients tend to be female. We tend to meet either online, which I have been doing long before COVID, or in some public domain areas e.g. a Cafe.

Over time clients confide some things as they get to know you. One thing that comes out repeatedly are the qualities of professionalism, cordiality, my listening skills, my analytical acumen, and my knack for spotting solutions in business which are then developed to the clients' benefit.

There is another element that comes out. Why aren't other men, a generalization I believe, not like me. When I inquire as to what they mean; to put it subtly, they are constantly hit on with all types of propositions to help them advance their businesses, all they would have to do is......

Really?!? With all the Me Too movements going on people would still do that? Men, there was a time when we would be more discreet and not knock ourselves around. However this brazen behaviour is becoming far too common place, and it's not suited for developing strong businesses. Is this why businesses within the Caribbean have grown only so far and no farther? Not every situation needs to have a degree of carnality introduced to it.

In business, we should be seeking growth of the business; not of the notches in ones measurement device of how many people one beds. It almost seems so juvenile. People are out there writing "cheques" that their bodies can't cash. Sadly, for the females who embark on the experience(s) they are left disappointed.

Therefore I ask, are we getting into business or into bed. The rules are quite different, so are the outcomes. Not everyone needs to know what you are like under every circumstance. It's time for our standards to be raised.

Can we look at the following:
1. How to develop sustainable businesses
2. How to ensure they grow beyond one generation
3. Understanding and growing business through shareholders rather than bank loans when seeking funding for startups and expansions
4. Planning for retained earnings to grow the business experiences, not to purchase doodads.
5. To move beyond the realm of being self employed and become true businessmen and investors. Employing systems that causes round the clock growth.
6. Export and expansion to other countries outside of the country of origin for the entity.
7. Doing business in cross cultural, cross lingual environments harnessing the skills and abilities of many latent assets we have among our human capital that are currently untapped.

I'll stop here and if you feel inclined to provide feedback, you're welcome to do so. Today's the beginning of another week. Let's make it the beginning of new business experiences and environments.