“Let us do it – full of belief, confident that we are presentable inside and out.”- Hebrews 10:22 Access to arable land is an asset with which each country is blessed, albeit with varying quantity and quality. Small farmers have traditionally been subsistence farmers utilizing arable land to produce enough food initially …
“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity.” – Philippians 4:19 The average individual adopts a classical pattern over the changing phases of life. There …
“Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one who questions you.” – Colossians 4:6 Good national governance is about effective and efficient decision making. Leaders make speeches designed to inform their listeners of the decisions that they have made. …
“For wisdom will come into your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” – Proverbs 2:10 There are two primary sources of inspiration for this column. The one is to record stimulating thoughts related to my area of business activity, enterprise development, and the other is to respond to those kind …
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.” – Galatians 5:25 At this Christmastide, I am experiencing a feeling which may well be exemplified by a quotation from Norman Vincent Peale: “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” …
“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain: Remove hence to yonder place and it shall be removed and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” – Matthew 17:20 “Ask, and it …
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay them for their deeds.” – Proverbs 19:17 In a simple economic model there are producers of goods or services (businesses) and there are consumers of goods and services (households). We speak of the circular flow of money as the businesses pay …
“Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before.” – Philippians 3:13. Caribbean-born historian Professor Richard Drayton will deliver the 41st Sir Winston Scott Memorial lecture tonight at 8 p.m. at the Frank Collymore Hall where he will speak on the topic “The Time of Sovereignty: the History of …
“Go in peace. The mission you are on is under the eye of the Lord.” – Judges 18:6 Two of my most loyal Caribbean readers for more than a decade gave me feedback to my October 10 column on Public Private Partnerships. The first was so impactful that the least I could do …
“Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” – Mark 4:8 Thirty years ago, it was apparent that entrepreneurial activity had been enhanced, both in Silicon Valley and in Boston, by the growth of the venture capital market. I set …
“By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23 The purpose of government is to look after the people’s general welfare, indeed, to provide for their well-being and happiness. Specifically, government’s role may be partitioned into two components “regulatory” and “service”. Government …
“There is one body and one Spirit.” – Ephesians 4:4 In any society the ultimate objective of right thinking political, trade union and private sector leadership should be to design a structure for society so as to ultimately engender happiness among the people that they serve. This means that addressing issues such as net …
“I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” – Isaiah 65:17. I came across a beautiful piece while searching the Daily Word. “I am an innovative, creative spiritual being. I am not bound to outdated, outmoded ideas or procedures. If there …
“Feed me with the food that is needful for me.” – Proverbs 30:8. If we define economic development as an overall improvement in the quality of life and living standards, including measures of literacy, life-expectancy and healthcare, then surely this should be the primary goal of each country in the world. Economic growth, …
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” – John 13:34 Why is it that Caribbean leadership is in such chaos? Is it because of colonial heritage, power, egos, greed, arrogance, disunity, infighting, mendicancy, a fixation on reparations, lack …
“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will … increase the harvest of your righteousness.” – 2 Corinthians 9:10 Once again, I join my fellow Trustees of the Graham Gooding Trust in commemorating the late E.G.B. Gooding (1915-1987) by observing Eat Bajan Day on Friday, October 7, 2016. In …
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8 The changing international environment has impacted trading and business patterns in the Caribbean region to the extent …
“After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.” – Revelation 7:9 Author Caitlyn Patch is a yoga teacher, writer and researcher. In her opening paragraph in an article on “Diversity in Nature” she makes the point that “Diversity …
“The Lord will guide you continually … and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.” – Isaiah 58:11 Janine Benyus, author of “Biomimicry – Innovation inspired by Nature”, writes: “For over 300 years we have studied nature, but we have not allowed it to teach …
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” – Psalms 133:1. Agneta Winquist’s book on Wabi Sabi, which inspired this series of columns on Nature’s Wisdom, has a succinct description of five observations and corresponding lessons that we can learn from geese flying in V- shaped formation. I think these …
“The Lord will guide you continually … and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.” – Isaiah 58:11 “Whether it be the sweeping eagle in his flight, or the open apple-blossom, the toiling work-horse, the blithe swan, the branching oak, the winding stream at its …
“For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6 What insights can Mother Nature offer to a business? According to the C.P. …
“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” – Psalm 32:8 Last week’s column was the start of a nine part mini-series on Biomimicry, which is spreading like wild fire these days. Biomimicry is the study of “how nature creates sustainable …
“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 The 2016 Olympic games are upon us where 10,500 athletes from 207 countries are competing in 28 sports. One of the emotions which I experienced while watching a part of the …
“He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven’.” – Matthew 18:2-3 Albert Einstein has been credited with a definition of insanity as “Doing the same things over and over again and expecting …
“Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” – Mark 4:8 Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness recently stated that “investment in the entrepreneurial spirit of Jamaicans will guarantee the country’s economic growth”. The occasion was the official opening of …
“May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.” – Ephesians 3:17 “Each Life stands in a beam of Light which draws its energy from an infinite pool of Love”. This inspirational statement may be found in a scrolling sequence which adorns the homepage of my website – www.nothingbeatsbusiness.com. Alternatively, we …
“I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.”- Revelation 3:20 God’s infinite goodness surrounds us and we are abundantly blessed. As the human mind plans, God guides our every step. What a …
“Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” – James 1:4 What is productivity? Productivity is a measure of efficiency and may be applied to any factor of production. Factors of production are the inputs that are used in the creation of goods or services to ultimately effect …
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. ” – Colossians 3:23 Whether you have a natural proclivity to be an entrepreneur, whether you leave your job and become an entrepreneur or whether you have the opportunity to carry on the family …
“He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. God loves a cheerful giver.” – II Cor. 9:6, 7. The concept of “the circular flow of money” is pivotal to the vision of business success. The continuous circular flow of blood in the body is pivotal to our vision for a …
“The LORD detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights.” – Proverbs 11:1 Universal adult suffrage, used exclusively in the political context, is the right to vote in elections of a state. Prior to the mid-20th Century only wealthy male Caribbean adults were enfranchised and the rest of adults were disenfranchised. …
“Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.” – 1 Timothy 4:15 Meditation teacher Stephan Bodian defines discipline as “the capacity to do something again and again.” Discipline then leads to joy, peace, love and clarity and ultimately to a successful life. At the end of …
“Put God in charge of your work, then what you have planned will take place.” – Proverbs 16:3. We are all familiar with the term “dashboard” in the context of an automobile or aircraft. The purpose of the dashboard is to display operational information to facilitate the operator’s decision making process through timely performance …
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” – 1 Corinthians 3:6 Professor Compton Bourne, Executive Director of Caribbean Centre for Money and Finance (CCMF), wrote an article entitled: “The Liquidity Problem in Caribbean Commercial Banks” in the CCMF’s December 2014 Newsletter: Volume 7, No. 12. In this article, …
“Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given. ” – Luke 8:18 Over the last three months another private sector concept has been added to the arsenal of Shepherding resources available to expedite enterprise development in the Caribbean and beyond. It is the Shepherding Innovative …
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” – Luke 12:32 Among the social partners, the role of government is “policy” and “service” and the role of the private sector is “investment” and “business”. There is often an abundance of investment funds in the private sector …
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” – 1 Corinthians 12:7 Sustainable economic growth is necessary for our socio-economic survival and is dependent on enterprise development and business success. In spite of this, we keep on paying little more than lip service to the low average global rate …
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” – 1 Peter 4:10 The Rotary International (RI) organization, now in its 112th year, evolved from the world’s first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago. This club was formed by Paul P. Harris, an …
“As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.” – Corinthians 6:1 The term “marketing-mix” was first introduced by Neil Borden, the president of the American Marketing Association in 1953. It consisted of the four Ps: Product, Price, Promotion and Place which is the foundation on …
“All our steps are ordered by the Lord.” – Proverbs 20:24 The date – the third of the fourth, twenty sixteen – West Indies men’s and women’s cricket teams join the Under-19 cricket team in bringing glory to the Caribbean region. Please pause to herald the diligence of Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena; whose actions …
“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” – Matthew 6:27 T.S. Elliot wrote: “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language, And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” After writing this weekly business column for nearly 23 …
“Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well. And instantly the woman was made well.” – Matthew 9:22 Dr. Simon Johnson, the Central Bank of Barbados’ 2016 Distinguished Visiting Fellow, was the specially invited guest at the 3rd Caribbean Economic Forum on March 22. His presentation, which …
“Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” – Luke 8:8 Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) economies will grow just 0.2% in 2016, according to projections unveiled by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean in December 2015. According to the World Bank’s forecasts at the beginning of 2016, India will be …
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” – Joel 2:25 Three weeks ago I concluded: “Let us commit ourselves to the faith that is needed to achieve great results as we transition from the WICB and the WIPA to the West Indies Cricketing Trust. Let us …
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” – Proverbs 11:14 On November 30, 1966, the Union Jack was lowered and the Barbados flag raised at the Garrison Savannah. I was a student in London at that time and have no vivid memories of what …
“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” – Romans 8:6 I promised two weeks ago to embark systematically on “the management and enterprise development” series of columns to address the specific needs of start-up and evolving businesses. After an interlude …
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1 In any organization, it is necessary to have a strong corporate governance structure. It is not sufficient for sustainable business success, however, the organization must also be strong in the business systems of finance, marketing, people …
“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” – John 15:4 Last week I shared with readers some facts and some of my experiences with the service organization, Rotary International. I …
“Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” – Matthew 18:4-5 The chronological sequence of the themes of my columns at the turn of the year is (1) “May The Power of the P’s – Public-Private Partnership – Profit, …
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” – John 1:5 As a senior practitioner in the business consulting field, one of my most gratifying experiences is the shepherding of young entrepreneurs. Many of them are full of ideas and innovations, willing to work hard to generate business growth …
“See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!” – 2 Corinthians 6:2 Each one of us has been granted, by divine edict, a major time resource of 24 hours per day. Some of us may be affected by a spiritual belief system and/or by mental and physical disabilities that …