“Many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see.” – Matthew 13:17 I met a contemporary of mine at a funeral last Saturday and he said to me “how are your children, Basil? I am occasionally in touch with Kevin, by phone, but how are the others? I like interacting with the youth …
“Those … attentive to a matter will prosper, and happy are those who trust in the Lord.” – Proverbs 16:20 On Sunday November 16, I was perusing the online edition of the Sunday Sun newspaper and came upon an anniversary special supplement on Eric Hassell & Son Ltd (EHS) – www.facebook.com/shipwithehs. There was a photograph …
“Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” – Psalm 33:22 The experience that I have gained in Trinidad, shepherding Entrepreneurs in the Making, Start-Ups and Existing Businesses has been very gratifying. I have interacted with businesses at BizBooster, which is the business incubator at the Arthur Lok …
“Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.”” – Psalm 87:7 The renowned management guru Peter F. Drucker, writing in the Harvard Business Review in 1998, had this to say about The Discipline of Innovation: “Despite much discussion these days of the ‘entrepreneurial personality’ few of the entrepreneurs with whom I have …
“So that they may have all the riches of assured understanding … all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” – Colossians 2:2-3 Global Entrepreneurship week was celebrated last week. The activities which were part of the Barbados contribution may be found at http://bb.gew.co. Entrepreneurship is the process of setting up a business the construct of …
“You also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.” – Ephesians 2:22 Today’s column is an amalgam of some of last week’s events and my experiences, cricket, food, equity and death, which have induced a feeling of humility and harmony within me. The four significant pieces of cricket news as we seek …
“The rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth.” – Isaiah 55:10 The Daily word reminds us that “rain falls onto the earth, is heated by the sun, and rises as steam to form clouds. When the clouds get heavy, they break open and …
“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.” – Psalm 31:24 The immediate international response from last week’s column from West Indians and non-West Indians alike, who receive the column electronically, was overwhelming. It is indicative of the importance of the West Indies cricket brand globally. Here is …
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord.” – Zechariah 4:6 Caribbean cricket supporters woke up to the news recently that the players representing the West Indies ODI cricket squad withdrew their services in the middle of the tour of India ostensibly because the poor internal communication regarding the handling …
“Put away your former way of life, your old self … clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God.” – Ephesians 4:22-24 In my 74th year on earth as a spiritual being attempting to master the human experience, as I reflect chronologically on the decades of my existence, the image …
“Out of the north comes golden splendour; around God is awesome majesty.” – Job 37:22 Fred L. Cozier On January 26, 2013, I penned: “I was in the throes of writing my weekly column on Saturday grappling with a Strictly Business topic, around the issue of ‘Innovation Policy as a driver for Sustainable Business Growth’, …
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” – Luke 6:38 This year “Eat Bajan Day” will be celebrated on Friday, October 10 to sensitise us about the …
“For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” – Proverbs 2:10 Last week we introduced the concept of Godpreneurship and concluded: “Let us now fully embrace Divine instruction and make a contribution to our region’s future.” This was in the context of designing a sustainable strategy to increase …
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 The one thing that is constant in life is change. Many of us are familiar with the book by Dr. Spencer D. Johnson entitled “Who Moved My Cheese?” If you …
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1 Last week, I recommended a 12-point afresh programme for the implementation of government-sponsored enterprise development initiatives. At the conclusion of the column I advised: “Let all governments be better prepared and ready to meet the needs of entrepreneurs”. …
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.” – Psalm 25:4 As I have shepherded Caribbean entrepreneurs and enterprises and traversed the corridors of power over the years, I have become convinced that most Caribbean governments do not have the right model of corporate governance to foster sustainable economic growth through …
“Jesus said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!’” – Luke 10:23 Travel allows us access directly or indirectly to the global supply and demand markets. There is an aura of excitement about travel. It may be business travel where we are either buying raw materials or finished goods or …
“You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it.” – Psalm 65:9 All businesses start small. Those businesses which are destined to remain small, because of their “DNA”, sell their products/services to individuals or other businesses. Some businesses which start small, may grow into big businesses themselves, primarily because they respect the principle …
“Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” – I Corinthians 3:16. While on a business consultant strategic visioning circuit many years ago, one of my colleagues alluded to the fact that practice does not make perfect, as we may have been taught as …
“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment’.” – Exodus 6:6 The sugar cane plant was the …
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 Last week we discussed the topic “Camaraderie fuels Teamwork” and I received many written and verbal complimentary comments. One of my readers, who operates in a regional public sector setting, commented: …
“All of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” – 1 Peter 3:8 Teamwork Dynamics, Inc. is an example of an entity which promotes “Ten Critical Success Factors of Teamwork”. The following six critical success factors must be in place before any group begins to …
“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption.” – Romans 8:15 Fear is an unproductive emotion. We must release our fear and activate our faith. Twenty two years ago, the West Indies Commission led by Sir Shridath Ramphal published a 592-page …
“For by grace have ye been saved … it is the gift of God.” – Ephesians 2:8 The grace of God has prepared for me a way of life that is altogether very fulfilling. The learning experience ranged from Montessori, primary and secondary schooling. Then at the tertiary level I engaged in a further range …
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17 I must begin by thanking all those who exercised their free will, in the face of competing events, and attended my seminar on the occasion of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association’s 15th Trade and Investment Convention (TIC) on Friday. More …
Dear Colleague: I am privileged to have been offered an opportunity to facilitate an interactive seminar on the topic “Entrepreneurship: Emerging from Chaos to Order” on the occasion of the TTMA’s 15th Trade and Investment Convention (TIC) at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Trinidad. The seminar will be held on Friday, July 4 in the …
“Indeed, you are my lamp, O Lord, the Lord lightens my darkness.” – 2 Samuel 22:29″ In Trinidad this week, the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) mounts its 15th Trade and Investment Convention (TIC) – www.tic-tt.com. The TIC mandate is simple: to foster intra and extra regional trade for regional businesses. But they go …
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 My column, dated April 21, 2014, was captioned “Media houses must wake up”. This was a sequel to a couple of other columns …
“He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.” – Psalm 23:2-3 In an article by Andrew Yang of Venture for America entitled: “To restore the culture of achievement”, he pointed out that he and his colleagues drafted a mission statement with the following goals: To revitalize American cities and communities through entrepreneurship; To …
“He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.” – Psalm 23:2-3 Recently I have been engaged in several discussions at the individual, institutional and country levels, with the recurring theme of chaos. This intuitively suggested the need to shift gears from chaos and despair to harmony and hope. As I began composing this …
“They spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.” – Acts 2:46, 47 The more I experience the journey through life, the more I recognise the importance of togetherness. As I reflect …
“By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.” – Hebrews 11:3 The 28th day of May each year has been a significant date for me and my sister for all of our lives. In recent years, …
“For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal.” – Jeremiah 30:17 At the end of June 2014, Inshallah, I would have completed 21 years as a weekly columnist. The column currently appears in the Barbados Advocate’s Business Monday under the caption of “Serious Business”. It is also sent digitally to …
“The Lord is my strength and my might, and He has become my salvation.” – Exodus 15:2 We are spiritual beings mastering the human experience. As the Daily Word last Thursday reminded us: “Just as I nourish my body at mealtimes to remain physically strong, I nourish my spiritual strength through prayer and meditation. Prayer …
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Well, after four weekly columns exploring solutions to the challenges of the Caribbean, the messages are still coming in. (1) Barbadian journalist and radio broadcaster: “The focus ought to …
“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 “Today I am free to begin anew. In springtime, all is made new. As buried bulbs push up through the ground, I behold the cycle of Life at work … I am …
“Then go in, and shut the door behind you and your children, and start pouring into all these vessels; when each is full, set it aside.” – 2 Kings 4:4 Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson (December 16, 1926 – April 9, 2014). Tributes came pouring into Trinidad and Tobago on the occasion of the passing of …
“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ … may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him.” – Ephesians 1:17 Last week it was reported in the press that the President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Lalu Vaswani, said that the true …
“Humility goes before honour.” – Proverbs 15:33 The spirits of Caribbean people are under siege as we try to release ourselves from the current economic bondage. There was a temporary distraction recently as we observed the magnificent performances of the West Indies men’s and women’s cricket teams as they both reached the semi-finals in their …
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” – Philippians 4:6 There is an interesting current blog post discussion on the theme “You can throw your Business Plan in the trash” in The Startup and Investor Network blog hosted by LinkedIn. …
“There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’s counsel – that will stand.” – Proverbs 19:21 Caribbean countries continue to grapple with the twin challenges of refinancing government debt and growing the economy. The refinancing of government debt is the responsibility of the parliament which has to debate and approve traditional sources …
“For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.” – Psalm 62:5 As the Daily Word reminds us “Life emerges from within, in perfect order. On the branch of a cherry tree, swelling buds are ready to burst into blossom in perfect order. In much the same way, I am …
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” – 3 John 1:2 Tourism is the single major sector that is important in every Caribbean country. Two to three weeks ago, American Professor of Economics, C. Fred Bergsten advised the flagging tourism-dependent Caribbean countries to …
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” – Matthew 11:29-30 This week, here is an amalgam of web feeds which may inspire hope for the future of …
Each Blog in this series relates to one of the 25 cells of the ManOBiz Matrix™ Blog #1 relates to the “Corporate Governance (Planning)” cell Start your Business with a Board meeting It is absolutely essential to adopt a Board meeting culture to facilitate sustainable business success. If you are planning a Start-Up business, which …
“Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one’s nearest kin” – Proverbs 18:24 International development is big business. It is reported that official global aid flows from North to South are over US$100 billion annually. However, China and India, former aid recipients, are rapidly entering the field as aid providers …
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me” – Philippians 4:13 There is much lip service being paid to entrepreneurship in the local, regional and international press. It is an obvious foundation for a sustainable solution to stymied economic growth because it involves the individual (with an idea), the basic unit of production …
“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts” – Philippians 4:7 Richard Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller (1895-1983) was an American architect, systems theorist, author, designer, inventor, and futurist. One of his quotes reads as follows: “None of us knows when or how our life on this Earth will end, but we are …
“That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by” – Ecclesiastes 3:15 I spent the first 10 of the last 15 years, with different teams of colleagues, first identifying the constraints to enterprise development in the Caribbean and then developing a model of …
“Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13 The Caribbean has the potential to be a unique attractive region of the world not only for its residents but also as a tourist destination and an investment haven for diverse legal business activities. Yet, there is growing evidence that …
“May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony” – Romans 15:5 As I set about writing this column with the state of the Barbados economy weighing heavily on my mind, I was inspired to recall the following Shakespearean quotation: “There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken …
“Believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” – John 10:38 Barbados is certainly not blessed with an abundance of mineral reserves but yet historically it has been admired and respected, in regional and international circles, as one of the most …