BVI News

Theodore James

I am blessed to have associated myself with wonderful men and women whom I have met throughout my life who were able to deposit positively into my life’s account.

I have also encountered persons who have challenged my very core to remain holy, whether that is in the workplace, in the church or in the wider community.

Over the years, I have at times heard remarks that �the youth are the future’.

I have also heard that we must prepare them, the youth, today for tomorrow.

Having heard many of those messages, I have known of persons who have answered the call by starting and successfully completing a post-secondary education.

For the past year and a half, I have heard the echo of an educator now politician mention on moving the education system from �good to great’.

For the purpose of this article, I would like to steal that recognizable phrase that the Honorable Andrew Fahie frequently states, �From Good to Great’ and make it an individual pursuit for propelling myself and others to go from �Good to Great’.
Observation
Over the years we, the people, have been so busy fighting expatriates that have served this territory well, that we do not see that we are undermining the very structure that we are all trying to build.

I have listened to many colleagues and friends who, yes, have been �born here’ that have been pulled down by another �born here’; whether the person is a friend, a passerby or someone in authority. We continue to demoralize and objectify our peers, elders and subordinates in our homes, on our jobs and in our communities.

We have all failed to take up the calling of the �Good Book’ in Titus Chapter two, where it encourages the older men and women to teach the younger generation of boys and girls and men and women on how to live right and well among fellow people.

Throughout the years, I have been listening to many people who have felt unfulfilled, down-trodden and used by the system. Some of these people may have a college education but may not have much experience. Others do not have a college education but have had years of experience and service under their belt.

The question then remains, do we feel fulfilled and satisfied at the end of each day that what was done mattered and that the time spent was not wasted? Generational DisparityGenerational Disparity has been prevalent throughout the world, and I first realized that in our churches. Some people want more hymns and less choruses, others want five nights of weekly service and others only see a church on Sunday morning.

There have always been talks about the old people not understanding the young people. I however realized that is not really the case. The problem is that we have all forgotten to communicate with each other. We forgot that as parents, managers and leaders, we are there to educate and to motivate those around us. We have all failed to mend the fabric that has been torn through the years due to a generational shift in traditionalism and modernism ideology.

According to research, generational lines are defined as: �The Greatest Generation’ includes persons born from 1909 to1945; �Baby Boomers’ are persons born from 1946 to 1964; �Generation X’ includes people who were born from 1965 to 1979; and Generation Y are those between from 1980 to 2000.

More and more, we are mixed with persons that fit into different generations and if we do not begin to communicate and work together, there are going to be ongoing serious problems. Workplace DisparityWhat is it that managers are looking for in an employee? Is it good character, charisma, a high level of commitment, great communication skills, competence and the ability to focus? Maybe employers are looking someone who is great in problem solving, who is self disciplined, or takes initiative and maybe someone who is teachable?

There are more qualities that I can mention but the reality of the workplace is that it is mixed with a diversity of qualities and skills that need to work in harmony and be managed well. Many youth of today bring vigor to the workplace, some bring innovation, others bring a relentless �can-do, will-do’ spirit to a board or team that can propel that organization to move in a direction that a company have never seen but realistically desires.

Others bring laziness and a spirit that they �do not care’ to the job. Loyalty to the job goes as far as payday for some people. That type of philosophy is bad and damaging to those who want to get ahead in life. I often hear people state that their superiors do not understand them and that their superiors just do not care to know about them. People often times say that my generation, Generation Y, is a generation that want things like money and success too fast.

They say that we are too anxious, that we need to slow down, that we are too loud among other things. Some persons in my generation grew up in conditions where they were not taught right or were never pushed towards success like some others. However, the majority of us want to be successful; we hunger to improve standards and situations around us. Our secondary and tertiary educational system has educated us well.

Our life experiences taught us valuable lessons. We desire to �can as much as we can while we can’ and having experienced all of this, we desire to push to see things happen in a positive way for ourselves, the people around us and for the territory at large. We are not a defiant generation and we are more ready than what  people think. Food for thought: How can we learn to lead if we are not placed in a position to lead?

How can we learn to do better if failure is not part of the equation? In every generation, in every territory, people are looking leadership. This is why we go to the election polls every four years. For we have learned throughout time that without a shepherd, sheep will go astray.

Two other things, allow us to sometimes fail and let us know and feel that you have our best interest at heart; you will see gratitude and loyalty from us like you have never seen before. I cannot speak to the extent of the battles we are all facing in our lives but I can encourage us to communicate with each other. I find that for many people, the reason why we get frustrated and make thoughtless decisions is because we do not have an outlet. Many people take things so personal that we now have to be very careful of what we say and to whom we say things to.

We face troubles at home, in the church, on the job and many other places. We need each other.

My Inspiration
To all my people, whether you have a college degree or not, we are students of life. We all face a struggle in some way. And due to many a struggles of being misunderstood, marginalized, being placed on a high horse and having the experience of falling hard; having to fight for my own existence to not fit into the stereotypical box of who and what people think I should be; and of the people that have sowed into my life’s account, I was inspired to write this piece.

I am encouraged to want an aspect of my life be patterned off the words of Eugene B. Habecker, who stated that, “The true leader serves. Serves people. Serves their best interest, and in so doing will not always be popular, may not always impress. But because true leaders are motivated by loving concern rather than a desire for personal glory, they are willing to pay the price.”

Woodrow Wilson, an American President, said, “The ear of a leader must ring with the voice of the people.” Throughout my life, I have been placed in a unique position being a part of a family of leaders. I have learned to listen to the cries of people, I have learned to give and I have learned to be humble.

The cry of a people is a cross that only a few are chosen to bear. And also inspired from words spoken by John C. Maxwell, “Competence goes beyond words. It’s the leader’s ability to say it, plan it, and do it in such a way that others know that you know how and know that they want to follow you.” “You’ve got to love your people more than your position.” More and more we as a territory and as a people are displaying �Shauden Frauda’. The concept of Shauden Frauda is of German origin and it means people take joy in seeing others go through misery.

There is a commonality between all people, we all hurt. Seeking pleasure in someone’s hurt is cold and a self-centered mentality does not go far in life. Our actions today may hurt our children in the future. I encourage us all to try and work together. Speak well of others and help when people are at their lowest state. Form workable relationships and bring back respect into our lives.

I am not perfect and I too am taking what I am saying to heart. One of my many aspirations in life is to bring awareness to others about self-empowerment and to have a self-assuredness of one’s skills and knowledge.

It does not matter where you are in your life; it does not matter whether you have an academic education or not, neither whether you scrub toilets for a living or are the CEO of a company. We all at some point in our lives need to be empowered for the journey that is before us and to be sure in our acquired skills that we are ready for the job.

I leave you with a final quote that has sealed my drive to keep going no matter what comes my way. From the Holy Book of Destiny- Maitreya The Friend of All Souls, “And when they seek to oppress you and when they try to destroy you, rise and rise again and again like the Phoenix from the ashes until the lambs have become lions and the rule of darkness is no more.”

• Home
• About
• Free Classifieds
• Columns
• Contact Us
• Caribbean News Links
• International News Links