ramblings - can you do everything?

Greetings. In business, one must constantly revisit one's stratgy and plans to ensure that things are on track and to make the necessary changes to ensure that you stay on track. Or even, to change direction because reality often has its own ideas. In the world in which we currently live, which is moving at enormous speeds, business needs to be flexible and dynamic enough to make the necessary changes, otherwise it gets left behind.

The question is: do you do the same as an individual? Do you take stock of where you are going and the means you are using to get there? And when life evolves, do you evolve with it? We all have strengths and areas that we are not so strong in. Do you operate to your strengths?

Being the proverbial 'jack of all trades', I often grab at anything because I figure I can always hustle my way through it. Often, I end up hating the experience and distracting myself from what it is I am really good at (yeah, there are one or two things I can actually do relatively well). I haven't always done so but I have been working long enough to know what I enjoy doing and what I am above average in. As a result, if I am approached about something or go into something, if I know that I am not as strong, or simply do not know, I make it known and cede to those who do know. That way I am able to learn and enhance my knowledge. It takes pushing ego aside and leaving myself open to greater insight and greater value. I don't always get it right, but I do believe it is a step in the right direction.

This is a journey and none of us has all the answers. We need to acknowledge that, especially to ourselves. And then we need to surround ourselves with people who complement us, are able to take us, as a collective forward. Sometimes it means getting out of the way and following. If we don't, we end up as the stumbling blocks to achieving our own dreams.

A random thought.

Jamati Online | Kojo Baffoe

"‘I want to sit on a mountain top and write’

Interview by Ameyaw Debrah February 6, 2009 Leave a Comment

“My poetry is deep…so deep it echoes words infinitely…so deep it drowns simple minds in tears…so deep it solves Africa’s problems in one verse…so deep it transcends racism and breaks down sexism.” This is how Kojo Baffoe, a dynamic African writer/poet and media consultant chooses to define his work in ‘The power of po’ taken from his book, ‘Voices in My Head - a collection of poetry’.

Born in Munich, Germany to a Ghanaian father and German mother, Kojo spent his formative years on the streets of Maseru, Lesotho; spent some time in Germany to get in touch with his Germanic roots; and ended up receiving his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The well-travelled and vastly knowledgeable Kojo has since had varied working experiences in a number of sectors including IT, fashion and cosmetics, and publishing. However, Kojo is more famed for his amazing gift of writing, whether as a poet or a writer of lifestyle issues and popular culture. He currently lives with his lovely wife and son in Johannesburg, where he is often referred to as ‘the love poet’. Jamati.com spoke to the ever-growing and ever-innovative writer/poet and media consulting extraordinaire about his life, poetry and gift as a writer. » Read more…

My thanks to Ameyaw. really enjoyed this interview.

ramblings - dipping & diving

Greetings. As we creep further in 2009, the more I find myself wandering off path. I started the year fired up with ideas built on ideas built on dreams. I put together plans, layout projects that will change the world (at least my little piece of it), phone and generally harass people, and jump into the new year with excitement, fervour, determination and commitment.

Then 'real life' takes over. Bills need to be paid and money needs to be made. I find myself then compromising on the ideas and projects and plans just so I can get through the day, which becomes frustrating. Which then leads to more compromises as the excitement fades.

But...

The key to this year, for me, having jumped back into the self-employed / freelance space, is to do things differently. It is to learn from previous forays into this world and not make the same mistakes. It is to take the experience gained and translate into a different reality.

As with most things, easier said than done.

Random thoughts.

The one advantage of a little spare time is that I get to catch up on my reading. I've rambled about hime before, someone whose writing I'm enjoying is Seth Godin (www.sethgodin.com). And my new 'bible' is Timothy Ferriss' The Four Hour Work Week (www.fourhourworkweek.com). Since I just figured out the whole RSS feeds thing, I also get their blog posts regularly which I try to read as much as possible.

They are what has helped with the reviving waning enthusiasm.

Easy