Updated: Aug 28
We all live in a global society. Nevertheless our efforts to build a better world can begin in our own nations.
An article by Dennis Chung a journalist and business manager, can be accessed by clicking the link below. The article describes several persons in Jamaica whom he has identified as nation builders.
These are some features he identifies with being a national builder.
Being successful not just as a business person but more importantly as a person.
One whose actions add to the development of the country whether it is nationally or on a smaller scale.
It is not the status or wealth of the person that matters. It is the action taken towards developing something to add fundamental value and change to the lives of people and the country.
Emotional intelligence or “Person acumen’ is more important than business acumen. One’s satisfaction is not from national awards but from the rewards of empowering others.
A willingness to associate and spend time in sharing and learning from person of all levels of the society. They make themselves accessible.
Focusing on the positives about what can be done rather than becoming immobilized by falsehood and what is going wrong.
Service for the country is their passion rather than gossip and public spats.
Being solution focused rather than criticism focused.
They care deeply for the people they lead and talk of their team all the time.
They serve as inspirations and role models.
They each have specific personal charities to which the give sacrificially.
Food for thought
Do you wish to be you a nation builder?
Using the above principles how can you contribute positively to the strengthening of your nation – even in some small way?
Here is a touching story account about community mothers coming together to till the soil in order to ensure adequate education for their children.
They work hard to produce a significant range of products.
They believe in community self-help which is the secret of national transformation.
Working together is the gate to community success. Hence the mantra of the women of Beersheba says “they are our children”.
Partnership is built with development agencies.
Nevertheless the parent prefer to use their own “meagre earning”.
They provide both emotional as well as financial support to children that are not attending school.
The parents regularly meet to discuss and participate in training sessions.
They also involve the wider community in fundraising activities such as fish fries and food vending.
It is no wonder that school absenteeism as shrunken to the extent that there is 85% attendance. A wonderful example of empowerment of individuals, families, a community and an education institution.
Here is a link below to view the full article:
- E. Anthony Allen
- Aug 14, 2018
Updated: Aug 28
Many times persons do not become empowered because they see obstacles as an instruction to give up. Yet for other people, obstacles are an invitation to advance and to find ways of overcoming the odds.
Mervin Thompson is one such person. There is a link to a newspaper article below with regards to how he overcame. Let us look at some secrets to overcoming the odds that we can learn from his experience.
Have a vision and never let it go. Mervin had a vision about his working life from age 11. His mother had other dreams for him but he did not let this stop him.
Mervin started with whatever small opportunities he could find. He did not look down on doing menial jobs on the way to fulfilling his dreams. He did not let financial deprivation and childhood disadvantages hold him back.
Mervin did whatever honest work came to hand until he landed his opportunity. He was willing to sleep in the market and push handcarts on his way to empowerment.
Others taking advantages of him such as robbery did not prevent Mervin from getting back on the street.
He became very innovative in creating opportunities in providing services to people however small.
He was willing to save despite small earnings. This is a critical financial path to successful business.
He marketed his services. He took opportunities to learn his craft to become certified.
Mervin found innovative methods to acquire equipment and to get others on board to help him establish his business.
He took advantage of every opportunity. Always being prepared for these to come.
He became a mentor to youth who started where he did to prevent them from using their obstacles as reasons to quit.
He says “Hope is there as long as you are alive and have ambition. Hope come with ambition, It nuh come with education; it nuh come with money; It nuh come with degree; it nuh come with a diploma, it nuh come with nothing. Mi can show man who can’t spell his name and him a make money, “