“To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” – Matthew 25:29 In an article in Automation World (January 2006) entitled “People are your primary assets”, Jim Pinto …
“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” – Jude 20-21 At the funeral of a dear friend a week ago, the homily was focused …
PATH TO SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS SUCCESS – BASIL SPRINGER COLUMN NOVEMBER 13, 2017 “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” – Psalms 37:4 The opening paragraph of an article in the Barbados Daily Nation newspaper on November 3, 2017, attributed to Sherrylyn Toppin, attracted my attention: …
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6 The chronic challenge with which most countries are faced is to find a solution to the problem of slow and unsteady economic growth. The answer is in two parts. To …
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 In 1776, Scottish economist and moral philosopher Adam Smith published the book “The Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations” which is reported to be a fundamental work in classical economics and is rooted in broad topics such as the …
“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.” – Psalm 25:4-5 Last week’s column was about the urgent need for governments to innovatively and aggressively …
“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1 When a baby is born on planet Earth, any mentally stable parent would wish their child to develop to the fullest and, through procreation, expand the human race. The parent would be mindful of the …
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” – Romans 12:12 Recently several members of the Caribbean family of nations have been faced with one crisis after the other as a result of a series of high intensity hurricanes. These countries have had to muster all the help they can get …
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will no fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” – Psalm 23: 4 We have experienced a very turbulent hurricane season what with Category 5 winds, storm surges way above the average …
“No one will lose their soul if they stay aboard the ship.” – Acts 27:31 Last week we affirmed that, once we exist, we can do all things in Him that strengthens us and we agreed to strive, conquer and achieve success whether we have a relatively smooth systematic and evolutionary path or whether …
“I can do all things in Him that strengthens me” – Philippians 4:13 Many decades ago my mother gave me a folded card which said on the outside “Especially for you” and on the inside there was a quote from “The Hidden Power” by Thomas Troward (1921), the essence of which was the affirmation …
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” – Psalm 23: 1-3 The Brundtland Commission’s report (1987) defined sustainable development as: “Development which meets …
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” – 1 Corinthians 16:13 In last week’s column, we heralded the first innings partnership of Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope at Headingly, Leeds during the 2nd Test between England and the West Indies. We surmised that this discipline and commitment was …
“I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.” – Jeremiah 17:10 We concluded in last week’s column that optimal thinking expedites the process of embracing love and eradicating fear as we traverse the journey to sustainable success. Sustainable …
“There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear.” – 1 John 4:18 The human brain is made up of five major areas, all of which serve as individual power houses that process conscious thought, control emotional and physical reactions, store memory and much more – www.holinergroup.com. Similarly, the business “brain” is …
“I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common”. – 1 Corinthians 1:10 We are …
“Return, my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has showered you with blessings”. – Psalm 116:7 As we pursue our daily living and expose ourselves to the news, things are not the same as measured by our quality of life. There is significant turmoil around us. There is a need for change but …
“So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!” – Ephesians 5:15-16 In February next year, it would be 50 years since I successfully defended my PhD thesis at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London. The title of the thesis …
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105 Major General (Ret’d) Joseph Singh, my Guyanese colleague, often responds to my weekly column with encouraging remarks. Last week was no exception and I begin by sharing his sentiments in full. “Your column is …
Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.—Mark 8:25 I am blessed to be actively involved in so many interesting visions in life that it does present a challenge in the management of the 24 hours per day allocated to …
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” – Matthew 7:24 In any community, large or small, a solid foundation is the basis of instilling excellence and nurturing success. This is true over a wide range …
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105 Last week, I casually mentioned to a long standing Caribbean colleague, who is a Canadian resident, that my next column, at the suggestion of my son, was going to be on Disruptive Innovation Models as a catalyst …
“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 Just over a week ago, former U.S. President Bill Clinton spoke on a range of trending topics as hundreds of mayors convened on Miami Beach for …
“For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:8 Caribbean politicians these days, perhaps it is endemic to the profession, guard very jealously the power surrounding their election to political office. Their egos drive them to pursue myopic tactics …
“If you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.” – Mark 11:23 On Friday, as I was going about my business and mindful of the fact that I had not yet decided on the topic of this …
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7 The story is the same the world over as our leaders seek to establish a formula for national economic growth. Many pursue the same strategies in search of sustainable economic …
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1 Three weeks ago we revisited five generic business systems and postulated that this perspective could be of great help in the management development process. The underlying pattern of these business systems is Structure → Security → Life → Growth …
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8 Much energy has been spent by Barbadian leaders and professionals recently on litigation, political wrangling, poor decision making, questionable management, ego massaging, internal quarrels, media messaging and conflicting advice regarding national economic issues. If we spend this energy constructively kick-starting the Barbados …
“Jesus came back, God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, …
“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” – Romans 1:19-20 …
“Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20 The issue of privatization always seems to be a contentious issue. Governments on the one hand, when they are in need of funds to balance their budgets, often explore the option of selling off appropriate businesses owned by …
“So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt…if you say to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” it will be done.’” – Matthew 21:21 When a country is not doing well then it affects everybody – government …
“God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy.” – Romans 14:17 The whole world seems to be topsy-turvy what with rampant corruption, indiscipline, greed, ego trips, an …
“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 …