Professionalism

Professionalism is a word that has become a cliché. In the work place, institutions of higher learning and even in schools we hear people especially managers, lecturers and teachers emphasising on professional conduct. What bothers me the most is to realise that the same people who preach about professional behaviour present none of it. It is amazing how certain people don’t act as they say but they expect others to dance to their tunes. As I have worked in quite a number of companies, it has become evident to me that professionalism is the word that most people like to use despite of them being ignorant about its meaning. It is however said that it takes a professional to see professionalism in others.

Every day is a good day

Is it really true that each day that comes in one’s life is a good day?

While, it will be wise to say yes to a certain extent but honestly speaking, to some people, looking forward to the next day is just a nightmare. This topic reminds me of my days in primary school when we (pupils) were obligated to wear the school uniform so that we could perceive each other equal but we were in the actual sense very different. One pupil in the similar uniform and in the same grade would come to school on an empty stomach. I mean, not having eaten anything the previous night and the following morning, not because s/he didn’t want to but because there was no food . While the other kids would come to school well fed and on top of that with a lunch pack or pocket money. For this reason, it will rather be sensible to say that there are good and bad days.

Our greatest strengths are our greatest weaknesses

Come on! We are all afraid of talking about our weaknesses but very proud to speak about our strengths. Actually, the title above says it all. The things that we feel bold and strong to accomplish are the things that scare us the most if we were to fail. The fear demonstrates how weak we are to bear failure. However, the person's strengths should be based on how courageous s/he is in withstanding the worst situations ever.

Talking of myself, as a goal driven person my power lies in doing whatever it takes to get what I want and therefore, failure to do so just leaves me devastated and miserable. For this reason, I always ensure that my greatest strengths are never perceived otherwise.

Everyone is in need of someone to talk to…

No matter who or what you are, you need somebody to talk to. But no, in most cases it doesn’t happen, people prefer to keep things to themselves and wait until they are about to burst, only then can they start to seek for assistance. Sometimes the aid isn’t readily available which could lead to untimely death.

People must learn to open up. It is very important that people share their life experiences with others so that their minds can be free of trouble. By sharing, various suggestions emerge but one has to be clever to choose those that might be helpful to them.

However, people are scared to share because there are certain people who don’t close their mouths but yap. Can you imagine, someone takes the courage to share their problems, whatever they may be but within a minute the whole world knows about it? Why have we made ourselves untrustworthy? Does really being dishonest build or destroy lives? Let’s think about it.

As the saying goes, “a problem shared, is a problem solved.” Let’s help one another live @ peace….

Military Public protest a yes or no?

As much as soldiers are public servants, they are not supposed to go on a public protest like what happened in South Africa a few months ago. There are many sensitive reasons for saying so. An army protest just shows how the government does not care about the people responsible for the safety and security of the public e.g. the South Africans. Such protests also put the government and the public at large in a dangerous position as some soldiers may see this as an opportunity to overthrow the ruling government. This kind of acts may lead to a civil war where mostly the public would suffer the consequences. Military riots also put the country in a delicate position as armies of other governments may see the protests as an opportunity to invade the country. It as well shows how undisciplined the soldiers are, which is not supposed to be the case.

Military public riot is a no no.... for any sound government.

"AIDS is a danger only to Africa?"

I sometimes wonder if AIDS is as popular in other continents as it is in Africa. Coming to think of it, there are many AIDS movies based on Africa and one hardly sees the Hollywood movies emphasising on the dangers of AIDS for example in America. It seems where there is no poverty, there is no AIDS. I might be looked at as a strange person, but the above statements describe what an ordinary African person’s opinion is about AIDS. In South Africa, the Love-Life campaign has even made it worse due to fact that the campaigns portray mostly if not only blacks as people infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. It is important and I think it is a continuous battle to clearly communicate the dangers of AIDS from all walks of life and make people understand that it is not an illness for black alone but for all races. Though, in doing so communicators should not forget to assert that the poor are more vulnerable because of various activities they get involved into in search for money and food such as prostitution and so on.

If you are not infected, you are affected… together we can fight HIV/AIDS.

Try a cliché

It might work though. I believe a cliché is a cliché when it does not interest people anymore and therefore, it has lost its proper meaning. A cliché which means a word or a phrase that has been over used still remains one if the person who uses it does not mean what s/he says. Thus, a cliché can be use by people who mean what they say and make it valued and interesting again. On the other hand, I think a cliché qualifies to be a cliché if the person whom the word or phrase is directed at considers it as a cliché, but if to this specific person, it makes sense, and then it loses it term as a cliché. For example, the word love may be perceived as a cliché to people who have been lied to so many times in the name of love and now they realise that the all “love thing” is lie. Such people may decide not to take the word love seriously as it is of no value to them.

Try a cliché, it works.