11 December 2022

If you want to see change, be the change!

 

We often want to see others speak like us, behave like us, think like us and do everything like us. That’s where we get it wrong.

 

We should remember that we all have our own unique nature and personal gifts. Each of us are unique and different. Yet we have many things in common. Many things to agree or disagree based on how we process what we see, hear, and in general sense.

 

The question often unasked and that remains unanswered is ‘how often do you do proper research and subsequent actions on your mental faculties?’

 

It is vital to step back and reflect on self. Vital to see:-

 

📍 The importance of working on your mental faculties and the need to focus on the person you want to be.

📍 The importance of getting into the habit of doing it now. Today is the day.

📍 The importance of trusting yourself, believing in your capacity, working on your challenges, and keeping up on your great accomplishments. .

📍 The importance of stretching. Do not be limited by what you see or think. Take time to reimagine.

📍 The importance of Discipline – which needs a due attention. Discipline matters most. 

 

Hence it is always important to have time to reflect, evaluate and be honest to yourself before taking actions. Even if you don’t want to act, you  need to have convincing reasons as you don’t want to regret your inactions at some point in time.

 

The bottom line is that you have to revisit your mental facilities and take actions on each of them as and when needed. Go into the habit of taking actions if you are keen to see changes/reactions. Through the process you empower yourself and consequently help others empower themselves.

 

#leadership #Mindset 

 

5 November 2022

1 Book for Ethiopia - ፩ መፅሐፍ ለኢትዮጵያ

 

Books enlighten. Books equip. Books entertain. Books empower. The benefits of books are countless. To get these enormous benefits, access to books is vital.  

That is why we should have the determination to collect as many books as possible from across the world for the libraries in Ethiopia. Helping the extremely limited libraries we have across Ethiopia with books is more than important. It is very encouraging to see the likes of Abrehot Library at the centre  of Addis. Equally it is vital to equip this library and others with books needed. It is also important to think about the next libraries that should be built across Ethiopia. Together we have a responsibility to build a generation that is better and informed. We have a responsibility to have a generation that has access to information and consequently to knowledge. A future generation with better opportunities.

That is why we should challenge friends and good intentioned people around the world to think of providing at least one book for Ethiopia. Those who have capacity should also organise themselves, build libraries, and provide the libraries with books and useful library products. It is all about doing the right thing at the right time. It is all about investing in a generation that will look after our common world responsibly. It is all about shaping our collective future and helping the future generation to triumph.

Let my thought be your thoughts and consequently our thoughts. Let us transform our libraries together. Let us also think of building libraries in every corner of Ethiopia and equip them with what they need. It is only the will. They say, ‘ where there is a will, there is a way’.

10 October 2022

Those who feed you, control you!

 

Ethiopia’s current wheat production is beyond the expectations of many. A country as big as Ethiopia; a country with large fertile lands as Ethiopia; a country with more than 80% of its population dependent on farming; a country with more than 110 million people of which around 65% are less than 30 years of age should have been self sufficient when it comes to the production of wheat and other agricultural products. Poor policies, bad governance, absence of sustainable peace, intermittent drought are among  the reasons for the low productivity so far.

That is no more the case as Ethiopia has now reshaped its policies and got determined to be among the top wheat producers in Africa and the world. According to the US Department of Agriculture, ‘Wheat production in Ethiopia for 2022/23 is projected at a record level of 5.7 million Metric Tons while corn forecasted to 10.2 million Metric Tons.’ About 600,000 additional hectares of wheat planted in 2022 alone, according to Bloomberg. This is praiseworthy and worth celebrating.

This is a great achievement for Ethiopia and highly commendable. We say well done to Ethiopia for great wheat production in every corner of the country. It is believed that there will be enough wheat firstly for Ethiopia; then for export. This is one of the most important policies any government should have. Be self-sufficient!

As Ethiopia takes the lead, it is hoped that other African  countries follow the suit and strive to be self sufficient. This is something to take seriously and duplicate in every corner of the continent.

In the meantime we say Keep going Ethiopia!  Rise up fellow Africans. Time to work together and shape our own destinies.

The importance of small wins - Tiny changes, remarkable values!

  Reflecting on the book I once read, Atomic Habits, and also reflecting on my long Community Organising life, the importance of small wins ...