Rotaract Club gives me a Vocational Award

Last night the Rotaract club of Nakawa MUBS gave me a vocational award in recognition of what they called my contribution to the community. I have been recognized by different Rotary groups and I have appreciated the Rotary club though I have never become a member. Rotary is a wonderful organization that pulls together different people and creates synergy that enables people to do things that an individual would not have been able to do. Rotary has what is called the “Four-Way Tests”. These are excellent questions in mentoring and guiding people in how to conduct themselves and behave. The questions include, is it the truth? is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? And will it be beneficial to all concerned?

If the world was to live on these principles, it would indeed be a better place. This world however lives largely on selective truth or outright lies. People do not give a damn about others, they do not care whether things are fair to at all, and there is acrimony all around us especially when greedy and arrogant people have their way. They never care about building friendships which brings peace and happiness around communities and people are largely selfish. I noted on Wikipedia that this Four-Way Test is displayed on billboards in court premises in Ghana. This is a wonderful thing for the Ghanaian court system.

Accepting the award, I thanked the young people for the thought that I deserved something. In this country, people in my position tend to be the ones to give so if a group of people think that you deserve something, it is a good gesture. Looking at the enthusiasm the young people had and the objectives of the club, I wished that there were more young people in these clubs. Earlier on in the day, I had met guild leaders over the issue of the sex videos and the website which are causing discomfort among many people in the country who feel, sex is a personal thing that needs not to be paraded in public. In most cultures in Uganda, sex is not something to discuss in public and scantily dressed people are looked at in disdain. I thought that many aspects of Rotary do actually safeguard our cultural values. I encourage more young people to join the Rotaract and I appeal to leadership in these clubs to encourage preservation of those cultural norms that define human dignity. I appeal to the young people to be the champions of cultural transformations while preserving those cultural aspects that define our society and make us live decently and with dignity. I thank the Rotaract club of Nakawa MUBS for the award.

Monitors Annual Leaders Forum Praised for Grooming Thinkers

To be a better Manager: Improve your Memory

As an effective manager, you have to be able to think through things, remember decisions you take with reasonable accuracy and clarity. Our brains get clogged with too many things and in this information age, we have an information overload. The phone calls, sms, twitter, facebook, email, television, home affairs, reports at work, meetings and of course social events like clubbing or even “nyimbe” in our Ugandan context. How do you maintain a clear mind and improve your memory. Here are a few things;

1.   Exercise

Exercise relaxes the body removing fatigue and all excesses in the body. When you exercise you;

·         Avoid obesity, your blood flows well through your brains

·         Improve your heart performance

·         Improve your recall faculties

How to exercise?

·         A brisk walk is a good start

·         Yoga is perfect

·         Don’t force, Rome was not built in one day

2.   Get enough sleep

7-8 hours are recommended. Minimum is 5 hours.

Take a nap during the day. While sleeping, the brain records recently acquired information well. The solution to stress is sleep. Body needs to rest.

3.   Eat well

You can never over eat fruits! Surprisingly a bit of fat is good for the brain, but eat healthy food especially dark green vegetables. Chicken and chips taste so good but should be a one off meal.

4.   Write it down

Record what you want to remember. It helps you remember. Have a small book with a to-do list of note things you discuss. This is powerful.

5.   Say it loud

If you want to remember something, say it loud. Don’t let people mistake you for a mad person speaking to yourself. Be tactful.

6.   Check out natural scenery

View of the lake, especially sunrise or sunset

Look at the mountain

7.   Teach others

Share what you know. When you tell others, a story forms in your brain. You remember it more.

8.   Listen to music

Create serenity. Serenity from music when played along with something you are putting to memory makes you to associate that matter to the music. It makes you improve your recall faculties.