So apart from hoping my writings are not too long, it is also my hope that the content of my journal entries/ blogs resonates with someone somewhere. This week my tempo is on doing things from an authentic place - and trust me this is not easy. (See the youtube video - TedTalk by Caroline McHugh on the art of being yourself)

Over the weekend I had an interesting chat with a friend who wanted to get some information on the services offered at Uwàmìto Consulting. So after sharing the information he asked, what prompted you to start Uwàmìto Consulting? As we say in the Caribbean 'easy peas'. The elevator pitch seemed to not impress as he said he did not think I was letting in on what my true reason was. There was banter and after a while, we talked some more about other things and soon enough the conversation ended.

But it left me thinking and I started to reflect, and you know what? he was right to an extent. I remembered over the years of working that I can safely say that I do have my life mission and it has always been and will continue to be, serving people in a way to help them to improve so that they can have better outcomes in life. I have had my fair share of burn-out and hurts but I am better at understanding my limitations, my strengths and most importantly, I know when to walk away or hand over to someone else. I have kept The Serenity Prayer in my arsenal when things get too much.

A memory came to me it was just like yesterday - about 22 years ago at my first job. It was at the tail-end of a huge community event which took months to plan, everything worked like clockwork - we convinced a wide cross-section of community stakeholders to partner with us. Man, everyone was there! the chairman of the area who akin to the mayor, the laity from the different denominational groups actively participated oh and members of my family was there. So apart from organising and ensuring everyone was ok along with other members of my team I had the simple task of giving the vote of thanks. That was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life... in front of hundreds of people I started feeling uncontrollably nervous, my hands started trembling profusely and the microphone fell from my hands. The notes I had written down served no purpose. I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders - I had no idea what went wrong.

I was down in the dumps for days, I did not care that folks were snickering but there was this profound feeling of failure. I felt like I let myself down.

Luckily, I had the best leadership - the executive director (now deceased Michael Ramcharan) (when he existed the world wide web was just starting up so there are no links or pics or bios to share) sat me down at our next weekly meeting and gave me the best advice when bad things happen you must move on, and always ask what is the lesson.

I signed up and completed a public speaking course and truth be told Michael asked me to do another vote of thanks at another of our events, this time it was at a huge steelpan competition inserted into an international exchange event with participants from every continent in the world aside from panmen from every single steelpan group/side from South Trinidad - the numbers were close to 700 in total. I was dressed to the nines in my beige satin dress, heels, my hair well done - I felt nervous again! It did not help that I was getting stares or the fact that everyone knew I was there so there was no way I could pull out.

I went outside in the lobby area to collect my thoughts, by that time I was sweaty and I was sure I was ill. Then this lady named Blanka from Costa Rica I remember her till today and she told me there is a formula. She said always connect first with what you are about to share and if you don't feel it, do not say it. So I read the words written down and I realised some of it needed changing. I was unable to write it over as at that time I heard my name announced on the PA system. I went on and connected with my insides and delivered the vote of thanks and owned the space as if I was born to do that vote of thanks. I vaguely remember the applause and the bursting out of the audience into singing 'Enter into Jerusalem' but what I remembered were the look of pride on Michael's face and Blanka's wink but more so the feeling of accomplishment of overcoming my challenge.

I remember that small feeling, the feeling of embarrassment but more importantly, feeling lost as I did not know how to solve my problem at the time and sure enough I was able to find a solution and inspiration in the midst of the milieu to solve my problem. For me creating Uwàmìto Consulting is to be available to anyone in need of the services we offer since I know what it feels to be in the midst of conflict. I know what it feels like to have to put broken pieces together after having made bad decisions or choices. It is my hope that Uwàmìto Consulting can be a beacon of hope to people and entities in need of support to become their greatest selves. Yes we can do all I shared in the elevator pitch but my many experiences over the years are my whys, it is WHAT RESONATES.

During the two decades of doing development work, we have worked with organisations driving profound impact normally supporting and improving resilience among people. A key observation is that more than 95% of these organisations had no strategic plans, and for the few who had strategic plans, those plans were either very close to expiring or outdated. Those organisations often had great credibility and were managing large and vital projects. These organisations found themselves in a bind whenever a project ended. Having a strategic plan that is respected and owned by internal personnel and stakeholders is an important ingredient towards ensuring sustainability.

Strategic plans map your approach to defining your future for the next 3-5years. You examine your current status in relation to your environment and chart your future based on trends and of course your mission. But, there is an inherent challenge, what if your environment changes or what if you are unable to be agile enough to capitalise on an opportunity or an option which presents itself while you are implementing your plan? So whilst plans are important the interplay between leadership, being alert and your organisational culture may impact your level of eventual success.

Despite unplanned variables, strategic plans once completed and committed to will onset a most positive trajectory.

Are you seeking a solution or guide to develop your strategic plan? Do you want to learn how to facilitate the process, how to customise and adapt to reality?

Sign up and be notified when we are through. We are consolidating our years of experience in developing this resource: www.uwamito.com/contact - you can also get a freebie in the process.

My choice for assimilating new information will always be reading it from a script or seeing someone deft with their hands/ or have a skill, complete a task. To me, there is something magical to someone who can bring an idea to life.

My thoughts go back to some of the more fond memories of my childhood when I sat in silence with my paternal grandfather for hours. Nathaniel Jackson, whose nickname was ‘boomtown’ got the name during his younger years due to his ability to face anyone in a physical fight. He would often take it upon himself to serve justice to wife beaters especially, from the stories shared. I only saw him irritated once or twice but never angry . I never saw him angry ever.

Some of the other things I recalled of him was his love for the strongest coffee which he loved super hot, bitter and in small portions. Probably explains why I love coffee so much. He would often inhale the spirit of ammonia not sure why. He played the harmonica or ‘mouth organ’. He was a very tall, handsome man and when he left home to ‘go out the road’ as he would say, he was always well-dressed (felt hats and the best pair of shoes). Brace yourself on a Friday evening since he often returned intoxicated. Still, he was a ‘happy drunk’, much to the dismay of my dad and uncle who did not like seeing their daddy in that condition it seems. But I enjoyed listening to him even then since everything made sense, it was almost poetic. He would often repeat ‘I will never die and leave you ignorant of the facts’ even then I could never go to sleep knowing he was up. He could have easily been my favourite human being at the time.

He was better known as the village ‘shoemaker’ or cobbler, a descendant of the ‘merikins’. By now you can probably guess which part of the Trinidad he was from (St. Julien Village, Princes Town). I would often sit for hours with him as he always did a monologue while he repaired a shoe or built a pair of shoes from scratch. I think as I got older, the monologue changed to dialogue, but whenever he was repairing a shoe, he became enrapt in what he was doing. He would take a break, and in those moments, he would speak. I am sure when I started sitting on the special bench, he made for me to look at him while he worked, I was unable to speak then I think. I sat there for long hours, he did talk to me, and I understood every word. He used to call me ‘little old lady’.

He had a way with this very sharp knife, he had other tools (there was a piece called a ‘blakie’, and there were pairs of wooden feet he often used to replace the shoe sole to name a few) as well. I loved the way he manoeuvred wax, thread and a needle to sew a delicate area of a side of shoe gone bad. Villagers would often come to him to fix one side of shoe although the pair needed fixing. He would often explain that both sides needed fixing since it would save them a ‘little change’ (meaning money). He would always fix both sides.

He paid attention to the fine details, I often wondered why he placed both the detached sole and the shoe in the sun with a coating of ‘contact cement’ for such a long time. He said to make sure it lasts. He would take his time to stick them together and would use a flat-faced hammer. It did not end there as he would then use the wax, thread and needle and sew it together. In my mind, I did not think all those actions were necessary. Still, reflecting now, I understood why he believed in doing quality work and had his system of quality assurance. Everybody brought their shoes for him to fix, they would also bring new pairs of shoes for him to resole and sew.

I remember there was also a parang band I think that emanated from my grandmother as her family were Spanish descent, but he played the ‘box bass’ and always had his mouth organ in his back pocket.

He made me a pair of sneakers once, he felt proud of himself. I remember he got the unique leatherette in both colours of light green and silver. I am not sure where he got the prototype from, but that pair of shoes easily weighed around 8 to 10 pounds. It was heavvvvy. I remember having speed after taking off the shoes before running a race and winning.

I remember when we moved to Ecclesville, and I had to go to primary school, I saw less of him. I would often go back to St. Julien for the August vacation, and then it was my turn to share my stories with him. That place always gives me a special nudging as there were all kinds of fruit trees on his land, my favourite trees were the mango trees, the wild cherry tree called ‘lay-lay’ and the lucky tree. He kept his garden in top condition - there was ginger, ‘topi-tambu’ a fragrant tasting root almost the size and shape of larger cherries. There were a fresh-water spring and a pond on the land - I remember drinking the water from the spring, they often used the water to cook and wash.

I was not the talkative type, I was an observer, so he encouraged me to share my thoughts with him, what my thoughts were about things. I think he knew I did not like talking much; I was more of a thinker. I remember him telling me that I must try to read, and would often give me a book to write things he wrote before. His handwriting was also impeccable.

I remember writing the common entrance exam, I had an excellent primary school experience. In essence, I did everything; I participated in every kind of sports, I recited poems, I sang in the choir. I also sang solos, I had a knack for writing stories. I was also an entrepreneur (smile) as I sold all kinds of chow and saved money in the junior cooperative. I remember that graduation getting a lot of prizes, got a few trophies and some books. I had to spend many lunchtimes getting coached to deliver the valedictory speech. I was happy to make the journey to visit my grandfather to tell him about this. He wanted every detail, and I remember how glad he was as it was my turn to make him laugh. I was happy to see him, and he did say that he was proud of me. He asked me about this school I passed for, I told him I did not know the school existed, in fact, the first time I heard the name of the school was when the teachers announced the results.

That August that decision was made for me to stay in Ecclesville as items had to be prepared for the new school and the new school term. The arrangements were made for me to stay with my grandparents once school was opened. The school was located in Moruga which was not very far from St. Julien much closer than Rio Claro. I did not mind not spending time with him that August because I knew I was going to see him a whole lot. Life is strange during that period he stopped drinking alcohol I heard. He fell ill, went to the hospital and never returned home. That August, my grandfather died. I remember the wake, and I listened to the stories people shared about him. I remembered seeing him in the coffin but not being able to go to the cemetery or the church. That August I read my first novel ‘Heidi’ it was a prize I won for one of the subject areas. That book resonated with me as it was the story of a girl and her grandfather. I did not have a human being around who was as wise as him then. So I started to read, I used books to not only escape but to find the answers I was looking for. As I reflect, a number of my profound internal pivots were followed after reading books. I have read hundreds of books over my lifetime, but a few stand out, including:

1. Heidi - Johanna Spyri

2. Bring out the magic of your mind - Al Koran

3. Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle

4. Answer as a man - Catherine Cookson

5. Tapping the power within: A path to self-empowerment for black women - Iyanla Vanzant

6. The Alchemist - Paolo Coelho

7. Can’t hurt me: Master your mind and defy the odds - David Goggins

8. Beyond the Boundary - CLR James.

My grandfather is my favourite ancestor. I think from him I learnt about implementation and doing things with a system which should be adhered to even when no one was looking. It was strange that his objective was not satisfying the customer but rather the joy and fulfilment he got from doing what he loved. He spared nothing in getting the quality products and resources needed to complete the job. He had a system for people who owed him and collecting money. In essence, I received the payments sometimes, and he would instruct on the amount of change to give the person. Sometimes the person really could not pay, and he never was harsh but told them to remember him whenever they got the money.

My grandfather was interesting to me as he was the first example of a perfectionist.

Homage to Administrative Professionals

Throughout my professional life, there were times when I have functioned as an administrative professional. I also had to fill in administratively when there were no staff or for a variety of reasons when administrative staff could not provide the support I needed. This resource is vital to any entity akin to what an engine is to a vehicle. You set the reminders when maintenance is necessary or if you had the unfortunate mishap of the car shutting down in some ‘god-forbidden’ place, that is when you remember how important the engine is to your daily functioning.

When the pressure is high or an impending deadline is looming, people can show the ugly side of themselves, and administrative staff are the ones most likely to feel it the most. Good leadership is necessary. As we reflect, here are a few tips you can use to ease their workload and transmit the critical message to administrative staff that their efforts are valued, and you appreciate them as people.

1. Say thank you: while they are getting paid to do their jobs and maybe there are tangible benefits provided to them, saying a genuine thank you makes a difference.

2. Articulate how important they are to achieving the collective goals: When a human being can visualize their efforts in contributing to the overall goal, the message that they are contributing to something resonates more profoundly.

3. Communicate your issues if any with their outputs, especially when you observe changes: If personal problems are present, a referral might be in order or you can listen as a friend if you might have experienced similar challenges. After ruling out personal issues, you offer a short term mentoring or a reorientation to the task. Directing the person to a resource for upskilling is always a viable option (teaching someone to fish).

4. Give them a self-care day: a spa day or a day-off solely to take care of themselves go a long way.

I remember someone making a remark about an administrative staff in a previous setting to the effect that they are always too calm inferring that their job was too easy. Fast-forward to years later the administrative staff retired and despite a proper hand-over and orientation for the replacement the department never ran the same afterwards. It turned out to be a personality challenge more than anything else. So let us make the effort to honour them.

Personal Planning - Using a vision board or a 'dream book'

Using simple, user-friendly and easy to duplicate methodologies influence everything we do at Uwamito Consulting.

Personal planning as an important building block for all other types of planning.

So one of the key items you will decide is the mode for your planning document and the decision to choose a 'dream book' over a 'vision board' or vice versa is totally up to you but in both instances they would organise the areas of your life you need to focus on and ideally indicate what your goals are.

Deciding to use either can be linked to personal preference or can be influenced by your environment or reality.

A board provides a visual reminder of your 'compass' it can also be a source of encouragement for other persons to also do similar for themselves and in some instances provide your circle with pointers on how they can be supportive of your dreams and goals. This might be a bit challenging if your environment might not allow you the personal space to be intimate.

See the online resource: https://cindytrimmministries.org/…/WRITING-A-VISION-FOR-YOU…
(This is a very good tool which has 12 areas of focus you can alter as per your needs)

The dream book which is different to but similar to the format of a diary or journal (where you write your thoughts on an ongoing basis). The currency you place on the contents of the book will influence how often you use it. But it affords a level of confidentiality not provided by the board, from a utility standpoint the book can be easier to store in a safe space limiting anyone else from having access.

See the online resource: https://www.amazer.me/how-to-make-a-vision-book/

RELATED POSTS

We are always searching for practical ways to make a difference.

Here is one....

So lately I have been doing personal research on the conditioning of your mind and planning your day with purpose. Apart from some of the obvious; exercise, solitude or meditation. I came across binaural beats, tried it and it actually works. Can be mind over matter but if it is positive its ok to share. So here is an article written by 'Medical News Today' and a YouTube video with an example....

A productive Monday to all..... #mentalhealth #medicalnews #wellness #mindfulness #conditioning #mindovermatter #stress #itsok

Youtube Video: https://lnkd.in/eWrD6CB

Article: https://lnkd.in/eJD-i7v

"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights"

Uwamito Consulting joins with the global community in observing International Human Rights Day 2019 (December 10). The above maxim embodies the spirit of the International Human Rights Declaration 1948.

This year's observance is dedicated to youth, and we strongly believe that youth is a time when we can provide support and facilitate to ensure our future is in good hands.

The Universal Declaration remains an ideal to be aspired to.

2019 Theme: Youth Standing Up for Human Rights

#YouthStandingUpforHumanRights

#HumanRightsDay

https://www.humanrights70.org/