What is wrong with the young people? Where exactly did you get this boy? I am disappointed. During interviews, we asked him: can you work under pressure? He said, yes. And that he likes work that requires him to put in more effort. On coming to work early, he said that since his childhood, he has been going to class by 7:00am! He is used to waking up early. He even joked that unless you want me at 4 am! We were all happy that you had identified for us a great employee. He not only had great marks in…
Who is the bean weevil in your business?
Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate The International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8th March 2018, under the theme #pushforprogress. During the national day celebrations, President Yoweri K. Museveni awarded several medals to exceptional women at the center of leadership excellence in their respective fields. Speaking at the IWD, the President described Uganda Police and Courts of law as “bean weevil infested” and then added that “the weevil that has been in the Uganda Police Force has been purged”. This comment comes within ten days of reshuffling the police force that saw Gen. Kale Kayihura, one of the…
You cannot hide an elephant
One of the popular sayings in Bunyoro goes “You cannot hide an elephant.” The elephant is a very big animal. It is very difficult to hide it. If something is outstanding or extraordinary, it is very difficult to hide it. Always do your best in any setting so that you can get noticed. If you are very good, people will always notice you. One of Uganda’s former presidents, Idi Amin Dada, put it plainly “You cannot win a Whiteman by points in a boxing game. Beat him with a knockout.” Amin, once a boxer, had learnt that the only way…
The Bible lessons for your success
“Our systems are very strong. We cannot have been hacked. You are just alarmists. On your bullet number five: that you were able to capture all our passwords, including of the super administrator? That is not possible.” Such is the typical conversation in Uganda during the end of cyber security testing exit meeting with the client. It does not matter that we usually demonstrate the weaknesses found to the IT team. During the exit meeting presentation, IT staff will always deny even the smoking gun or plain view evidence. Many a time, we pull out the laptop and re-demonstrate the…
Gate keepers and gate owners
Are you playing with the gatekeepers or gate owners? Gate owners like to do business with fellow gate owners. A gate owner is a key decision-maker, usually the person who signs on the cheque. You have to be good at identifying gate owners. Most of the time they are not easy to find. In some companies, a person keeping the gate as a receptionist or personal assistant of the top honcho to be a close relative or a significant other. Sometimes you find decisions are taken by someone not physically present at the business. That is why as a shrewd…
Focus on what is urgent and critical, one at a time
Proverbs 5, “My son, stay focused; listen to the wisdom I have gained;give attention to what I have learned about life.” Barinaba. Barinaba. Barinaba. Went a loud voice of Mama calling me from a distance. I had just gone to fetch water in a jerrycan from a nearby open well, when Fr. Cosmas Adyebo, the then Headteacher of Munteme Fatima College (MUFACO), a Catholic founded and sponsored school, returned from Hoima town with Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results. The year was 1995. I had passed so well that not only was the school record smashed, I was among the top…
