“When the grass is gone, and new growth appears… there will be enough” – Proverbs 27:25, 27 In any country, sustainable economic development and growth must be driven by the productive sectors. Within each productive sector the growth is induced by one successful enterprise after another. This can only happen if we embrace change and …
“Have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” – 1 Peter 3:8 My first recollection of the concept of Harmony was as a teenager at music lessons. Harmony was detectable for me more in the breach than in the observance (Shakespeare) but I soon learned that Harmony …
“You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honour.” – Psalm 73:24 Fourteen years ago I was given a mandate as a consultant at the Caribbean Development Bank to establish an initiative to diversify the economies in the Caribbean by developing what are now called ‘sunrise’ enterprises to replace the …
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts” – Zechariah 4:6 Again, I have occasion to quote the opening stanza of the song “The Greatest Love of All” written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed, originally recorded by George Benson and later popularised by the late Whitney Houston: …
These are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold – Mark 4:20 In the world of enterprise development and in life generally we are perpetually reminded that the one thing constant in life is change. Sometimes we need to …
Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light – Luke 11:34 Flashing back to the 1950s, I recall the chorus of a very popular song of the time: “Que Sera, Sera, Whatever will be, will be. The future’s not ours, to see; Que …
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” – Mark 11:24 Emergency management is the generic name of an interdisciplinary field dealing with the strategic organisational management processes used to protect critical assets of an organisation from hazard risks that can …
“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make melody. Awake, my soul!” – Psalm 108:1 My immediate family, with twin grandchildren much to their grandmother’s delight, and some extended family, assembled in Barbados for a week in July. Missing was my sister Helen who was at home in …
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” – Galatians 6:9 In the Wall Street Journal of July 25 2012, a political diary opinion was expressed by James Freeman entitled “Mitt Romney: World’s Greatest Investor?” Freeman compared Mitt Romney’s Bain Capital with Warren …
Jesus said to him, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.”—Mark 9:23 Every country in the world is interested in the growth of its economy which is necessary for sustainable development. It is not sufficient, however, because there are also spiritual, physical, cultural and social factors that are very …
“Jesus said to him: If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes” – Mark 9:23 The month of July always heralds the advent of two personal anniversaries first the anniversary of my birth in 1941and the anniversary of the advent of this weekly column in 1993. It also heralds …
“Now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love” – 1 Corinthians 13:13 The Malaysian Government introduced a policy labelled “Malaysia Incorporated” in 1981 when Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad was Prime Minister. Malaysia Incorporated is about managing the country as an entity in which there is a willingness …
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; …For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again”—Luke 6:38 Last week we developed the theme generosity and entrepreneurship and concluded that “We need more investors to be involved in the venture capital investment process. Initially, the investor will see …
“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again”—Luke 6:38 We human beings are blessed with many divine powers of spiritual strength including the …
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may discern what is the will of God” – Romans 12:2 I was trained in Mathematics, Statistical Science and then Operational Research (OR) (or Operations Research), depending on which side of the Atlantic you were trained. …
“Serve the Lord with a zealous spirit; let the Spirit excite you as you serve the Lord”- Romans 12:11 Last Wednesday, at the one-day National Consultation on “Repositioning the Agricultural Sector”, “enthusiasm” was the name of the game. The Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, Dr. the Hon. David Estwick, before a …
“O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know my thoughts even when I am far away. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand” – Psalm 139:1-2, 6. If your purpose of life is the creation of happiness and the avoidance of pain for …
“Who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night” – Jeremiah 31:35 Life expectancy is (in the statistical sense) the number of years of life remaining at a given age. It has been reported that, in the Neolithic age around 10,700 to …
“Riches and honour are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity” – Proverbs 8:18 The term ‘sustainable development’ was used by the Brundtland Commission which coined what has become the most often-quoted definition of sustainable development as development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own …
“Riches and honour are with me, as well enduring wealth and prosperity”- Proverbs 8:18 The word prosperity conjures up thoughts of financial and/or economic wealth. In the context of an individual, prosperity may be measured in terms of the assets which the individual may have inherited or legitimately earned using the talents or good fortune …
“Give your servant therefore an understanding mind” – 1 Kings 3:9 It has been recognised for over at least a decade that the changing international environment and its impact on traditional trading and business patterns in the Caribbean region are forcing policy makers to examine those traditional patterns. It should also be driving regional economies …
“Let brotherly love continue” – Hebrews 13:1 I woke up early on Saturday morning with two immediate challenges. The one was to successfully install a new LIME modem and the other was to reflect on the topic and content of my weekly column, having already determined the biblical text, and then to write it. I …
“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined” – Luke 5:37 “Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life”, published in 1998, is a …
“Whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith” -1 John 5:4 The theory of life cycles may refer to humans, products, businesses or economies. Today, we shall focus on the human life cycle. In ancient Greece, the human life cycle was mapped in seven-year …
“Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits” – Romans 12:16 Corporate governance is one of the five functions of a business. The other four functions are marketing, operations (technical, ICT, administrative and accounting), human resource management …
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” – Isaiah 30:21 The first day of the first test (West Indies vs. Australia) is on Saturday 07 April 2012 in Barbados. At …
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” – Psalm 119:105 The year, 1941; the day, Sunday, July 06; the time, afternoon; the place, Government Hill, Barbados. Charles Reginald Courtney Springer was holding a scout meeting in the downstairs level of the house. His meeting was disturbed by the …
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety” – Proverbs 11:14 Last week there was an abundance of digestive activity as I was fed a varied diet of food for thought in my spiritual, personal and professional lives. I was very gratified to receive significant positive …
“Hold fast to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard of me” – 2 Timothy 1:13 Whether the challenges with which we are faced are related to global, regional, national, sector, community or individual situations, there is one overriding philosophy that remains paramount. These challenges may be addressed by the power of affirmation …
“These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:23 There as several different types of blanket. A security blanket is carried by a child to reduce anxiety and to increase …
“My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding” – Psalm 49:3 BIM Ventures is nearing the end of a pilot project to test the efficacy of the CBET Shepherding Model™. It was a revealing exercise with many lessons learned. The results from the pilot project have uncovered …
“My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding” – Psalm 49:3 The Barbados Society for Technologists in Agriculture (BSTA) held its annual conference last Saturday. The BSTA was first established in 1939 as the Barbados Sugar Technologists’ Association and operated as a technical industry association providing a …
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” – Psalm 119:105. In many aspects of life, we are often faced with the challenge of measuring “where we are” and prescribing, based on some international standard, “where we ought to be”. If there is a gap then we need to …
“I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand saying to you, Fear not I will help you.” – Isaiah 41:13 Remember to register for the few remaining places of the Business of Management interactive dialogue workshop on Thu Jan 26 2012, contact Helen at 250 9781 or sprinsib@sunbeach.net, where we will creatively explore …
“A man’s heart plans his way but the Lord directs his steps” – Proverbs 16:9 The Rotary Club of Barbados South celebrated its 26th anniversary on Friday night. Although I was not a Charter Member, I was introduced to the club by the late Dalvin Darlington, a Past President of the Club, six months after …
“Comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” – 1 Thessalonians 5:12 A new year, a new source of biblical quotes, this time from my autographed copy of the 2011 daily planner by Pastor A. R. Bernard who is the Founder, Senior Pastor and CEO of Christian Cultural Center in …
“Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God” – Hebrews 13:16 This is the time of year for celebration, reflection, introspection, prospects and resolutions. Pause to remember that livestock farmers with lactating dairy herds, housewives and caterers who provide the food and drink and …
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch of their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great …
“You share with me the special favour of God.” – Philippians 1:7 Last week I made a seamless transition from the 20th edition event of the Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx) in St. Thomas, USVI across the Atlantic to the 16th AGM of the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management (CPTM) and the annual …
“You share with me the special favour of God.” – Philippians 1:7 The feedback which I receive from this column is very positive and this itself is an energy source which sustains the forward thrust. As we approach the end of another year let us reflect on our stewardship over the past year and plan the …
“Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take” – Proverbs 3:6 The last time I wrote an article with the title “Whither Barbados?” was at the beginning of the New Year 2010, almost two years ago. On that occasion I exhorted each Barbadian to recognise that he/she …
“Blessed are the ones who are generous, because they feed the poor” – Proverbs 22:9 Barbados, indeed the Caribbean, indeed many countries in the world are at ‘the crossroads”. What does this mean? An Internet search reveals a litany of interpretations. One such interpretation is that we are in an unstable condition, as in political, …
“Be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded” – 2 Chronicles 15:7 This is one of the busiest periods of my life. There are so many calls on my time, but I enjoy every moment of it – well, most moments – the enjoyment is my reward. This exemplifies the Rotary International Motto …
“It is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life – this is indeed a gift from God” – (Ecclesiastes 5:19) Amidst the seas of economic turmoil there is a ray of hope. The seeds of entrepreneurship have …
“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and the life to come” – 1 Timothy 4:8 The Rotary Clubs of Barbados South and West have jointly embarked on the planning of an Inclusive Play Facility, a building and play ground at the Sir Garfield Sobers Complex. …
“A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health” – Proverbs 15:30 About once per year, I remind readers of my 1993 adage “Vision without Action is mere fantasy; Action without Vision is folly; Neither Vision nor Action reeks of irresponsibility; Vision and Action induce synergy”. As a country, we …
“Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” – Ephesians 4:29 Time is our most valuable resource. Procrastination is the thief of time! We need to think positively and take action. There is no place for conservative and negative thinking. Use your …
“I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen” – Jeremiah 29: 11-12 When we have gone to the great beyond, our children will inherit the Earth. …
“When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.” – Job 29:24 The statements “Prevention is better than the cure” and “One ounce of prevention is worth one pound of cure” are familiar in the context of human health care where the practice of preventive medicine is recommended …
“May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, strengthen you in everything you do or say” – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 As we seek to fulfil the purpose of life – the creation of happiness and the avoidance of pain – we would do well to draw on the example of Jesus Christ who …
“I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” – Psalm 121:1-2 The following extract from the Internet has the words deliberately misspelt: “I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the …
“In Your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall” – Psalm 18:29 Last Friday I attended the launch of the Seminar Series – “Know the Business of your Art (BOYA)” mounted by the Business Development Department of the National Cultural Foundation. This 6 module seminar series which takes …