#Mindspark with Mr Strategy

The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8 teaches us about a widow who is poor and powerless but persists in nagging a corrupt, and powerful judge to do justice for her. This parable speaks to the realities we are living in today where winning a court case is increasingly becoming less about the facts, evidence, and the law, and more about the parties, the size of their pocket and their station in life in delivering justice. The poor person without the means and money has the odds against him or her before the justice system.

#Mindspark with Mr Strategy

“This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’”

The times we are living are not easy. Each one of you reading this must be thankful for being alive. I am happy that you make time to come to Church to thank God for the blessings of life and livelihood. But do you extend a helping hand to your less fortunate neighbours and or relatives? Each one of us is climbing a hill with heavy luggage on our backs. The hill gets steeper, and the luggage heavier with each passing day. Look at the leper as someone with sins or sickness or poverty and problems. Each one of us is always looking out for a helping hand to guide us to a better route with smooth roads. To give us psycosocial support. Someone to give us a lift or to help reduce the load. Be that one person today.

Forgive me, Father, For I Have Sinned”, I looked up at the Priest as I made my over 100^th confession. Nothing good comes easy. You must act. Get up and search for it. You will be lucky to have someone pushing you to go for confession, yet penance is one such sacrament essential for your soul. In this Lent season, you have more reasons to examine your conscience and come clean with yourself.

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved.” Matthew 5:17-37

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men. ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:13-16

“And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord. As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord…” Luke 2: 22-40

What is a happy family to you?

“After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘ Get up, take the child and his mother with you and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you because Herod intends to search for the Child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead.” Matthew 2:13-15. 19-23

Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was very hungry, and the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.’ But he replied, ‘Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:1-11

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learned how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for a tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away,” Matthew 5:38-48

What is your worthy cause?

If you lack clarity of a worthy cause, no matter how much success you register in terms of money, power and material wealth, it will still not be enough. The people we read about as noble prize winners, game changers and exceptional leaders dedicated their lives to something beyond making lots of money. You must have a worthy cause.

“As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left their nets at once and followed him”, Matthew 4:12-23

Habits provide a fertile ground for your success. Good habits are your strategic foundation for living a happy life.

While in school, to win you had to conduct regular notes revision, go to the library, attend classes regularly, be in discussion groups of brilliant students and teach others so as to grasp the concepts better. Good habits make you successful. Bad habits make you poor.

The shepherds hurried away to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say.”  Luke 2:16-21

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” Luke 14:28

It is 2019. This is your opportunity to make this the best year ever. I want to share with you a model to guide your 2019 family or personal planning. During 2018, I refined Mugisa’sWinningTheGame™ Strategy model that helps leaders develop an organic strategy ideal for the new era. MWTG has four steps – context, perspective, strategy and change.

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer”, Psalm 94:19 

Twice I came from behind trying to catch a position at the 3rd Annual Reach out Mbuya Charity Run. This was a tough run for me. One of the children requested to join us in the run at last minute. We lost a few minutes. We arrived at Church when the final call for the 10 kilometers was being made. I started my Apple Watch running assist as I run fast to the registration point, and as I was having the identification orange band tied on my arm, the 10 km race commenced. My #WinningMindset took over me.

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer”, Psalm 94:19 

On Friday 14th December 2018, a Mother entered my office with the Son in tow at 7:00am in search of an Internship opportunity for the son currently in Senior Six vacation. Our elaborate Internship training also serves as on-boarding or induction program for new hires which every new staff must undergo. Some staff refer to the program as the three months of mind tuning. Of course, there are a few staff that never went through the program and miss the experience. 

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer”, Psalm 94:19 

Twice I came from behind trying to catch a position at the 3rd Annual Reach out Mbuya Charity Run. This was a tough run for me. One of the children requested to join us in the run at last minute. We lost a few minutes. We arrived at Church when the final call for the 10 kilometers was being made. I started my Apple Watch running assist as I run fast to the registration point, and as I was having the identification orange band tied on my arm, the 10 km race commenced. My #WinningMindset took over me

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God,” Philippians 4:6.

Boom! It was a very loud noise from the rear of my car. The shaking was real and intense, and I felt in my hands on the steering wheel. Oblivious of the Monday morning traffic. I just stopped the car and went behind to check.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Mathew 5:6

The dream looked real. It was one of those rare dreams that I woke up and could remember everything. Experts and psychologists say that our dreams reflect our thoughts and some of the things pre-occupying our mind the previous day. I don’t know how true that is. If indeed dreams reflect our thoughts, I would be something different by now. It would be a matter of thinking hard about something and diving into the bed immediately after.

Who is that friend who knows you very well?

The message came in at 1:30am. Most messages from family, friends and colleagues at that time on wards to 5am are usually difficult ones. In the past (when I was still young and selfish of course) I would put off my phone to avoid interruptions. One day I heard nearby curfew at a neighbour. Being on a village watch WhatsApp group, I called our neighbour and informed them of the noise outside their gate. All their known phone numbers were off. I could not get out of my house. I tried all means possible to get in touch in vain. That was about 2:30am.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Time has a way of healing deep wounds. Some wounds are deeper than others. The journey of life is full of potholes, corners, hills and steep slopes. As we move along the road of life, each one of us tries to avoid the bad spots. We pray for a straight and clear route free of disappointments and bad luck.

Proverbs 19:17 “One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed.”
What causes are you involved in? Regardless of how much money you have, it is critical to be part of a social cause. Most of the time, you don’t need money to help someone. Some people have the money and all they need is a genuine friend. Others have friends all they need is money. Others have friends and money, all they need is counselling. Man (and woman) is a social animal. When you join a social cause, you expand your networks and attain satisfaction that not any amount of money can offer.

“Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Life has a way of its own timing for different people in ways no one can imagine. Some people attain most of their life’s desires at an early age. Few are fortunate to make it on their own early in their careers. Others are born into a world of fortune created by their parents or close relatives.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”, Matthew 11:28-30

He kept me waiting at the reception for about 45 minutes. This is a man who was once my student in my Master of Business Administration (MBA) class at University. As I grow old, I have ‘learnt’ to take it easy. Not to try to pull ranks, because as they say, “there is always a more senior fellow.” Let me digress. Once I was queuing at a restaurant in downtown Hong Kong. I noticed the person two people ahead of me was one of our top local politicians cum executives.

Fred Kyaligonza (1974 – 2010) was one of the sons of an Indian migrant who settled in Munteme Village, Hoima District, present day Kikuube District. The Indian married a Munyoro woman and the couple had three Children (boys), until the Indians were expelled unceremoniously from Uganda. As the Indians packed, they wanted to go with some of the kin and kith. All the sons were of age. Their father wanted to run away with them. Their mother did not. The man being old (about 50 years), did not want to go back into the process of raising a new family. One of the boys decided to ‘annoy’ the mother. He left with the Dad.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute, Proverbs 31:8.”

“When I was in prison, visiting, an inmate, a talk light skinned slender man, in a yellow prison Uniform, came right in front of me after my talk on In-Mate Reformation and Skilling During Incarceration and said while looking directly into my eyes “Mustapha thanks for your talk. It was great and eye opening. However, how would you advise someone like me serving a jail term of five years for a crime I did not commit?

What is the basis of your decision making? As Catholic Christians, mastering the 10 commandments helps us discern right from wrong easily. When confronted with several choices and tough situations, we take decisions based on Christian values. If someone is asking for your help to escort them to a shrine, for example, knowledge of the first commandment, I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have any strange gods before Me, is key.

“A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t, and even brags about it!” Proverbs 13:16

When a Nurse who had worked in Hospice as a caregiver for over 20 years was asked what key message she had learnt caring for the terminally ill, she replied “plan for your retirement.” She revealed that many patients in the face of death use their last breath worried about how their children and close dependents would survive past their demise.

I grew up with a single mother. She is one of the most hardworking and focused people I know of. In early 1990s, life in Munteme village was tough. It is around this time Uganda experienced one of the worst famines. The country was still undergoing political changes. In 1983, we had been told, was a year of scarcity. People died of famine. People had seen first hand the pain of living on an empty stomach. So how did famine hit again just seven years later? That is a question for our national planners at the time to answer.

“So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human.”

So many people, but few to trust. So many followers, few loyal cadres. That is the challenge of every leader. Which persons to empower who won’t take advantage of it to threaten my career. My seat. My shoes!

Every leader needs a close circle of people they trust.  A team of people are loyal to one another and very straight forward.  To be loyal is to be trustworthy and act with sensibilities. To act consistently in the interests of the leader who empowers your career to thrive.

It is easy to try to be all things to all people. Saying yes is the easiest decision. That way, you accept all ideas and end up rotating in circles. Yet great leaders are defined by their ability and frequency of saying no. You probably know of organisations that do a lot than the available resources and capabilities allows. They want to be in everything that comes along. They appear to be succeeding because of their size, staffing, resources and access to cheap capital. Such strategy of ‘playing in all games’ inadvertently slows down business growth.  They talk about a digital agenda, but open brick and motor branches country-wide!

“Never let go of loyalty and faithfulness. Tie them around your neck; write them on your heart. If you do this, both God and people will be pleased with you.” Proverbs 3:3-4.

Loyalty not exceptional skills will determine your altitude. It does not matter how skilled and experienced you are, if you are not reliable and trustable, you are unlikely to be ‘seen.’ In any organization, you need to establish close working relationships with the key decision makers – usually people who sign on cheques, and those who influence them. The early signs of trust start with being assigned roles like being sent to one’s office to fix tea or bring a note book.

“Obusaija babwetera”, goes a popular saying. Loosely translated to mean, “Before others call you a Man, you have to act like one.” Over the years, I have got to understand that self-esteem is the key. The feeling of self-worth is critical.

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.

“Pay me according to your company salary structure”, she replied to a question by one of the panel members at the end of an oral interview. Few employers want to give jobs to candidates that are not sure about your market value. It is difficult to add value to the business if you don’t understand your value. The ability to sell yourself is the number one priority for any individual. How do you study and attain a master’s degree, learn about pricing and marketing and fail to estimate your personal worth?

A human body is in built with a safety radar of sorts. Whenever exposed to any life-threatening event, the body’s safety mechanisms are initiated. You suddenly feel very alert and strong with each of the blood in your veins pumping faster, until you are out of the danger zone. That is what I felt when something that transformed my thinking happened.

2 Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

A martyr / witness, is defined as “someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, refusing to renounce, or cause as demanded by an external party. This refusal to comply with the presented demands results in the execution of the person by the oppressor.”

If you lack values, it is not easy to have a cause. If you are not a Christian, you cannot become a Christian Martyr.  Today, we celebrate the brave 55 people who gave up their lives for what they believed in. Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you a leader? It is advisable that you hit the iron while it is still hot. When you wait for it to cool, however hard you try to hit it, getting it to a shape you want takes a lot of time and energy, if at all you can manage. You must be agile and act fast.

The same applies to tapping into business opportunities. If you delay, someone else will take them.

“She turned to me, looked directly in my eyes and said, ‘I am sick of hearing your heavy breathing at night.” What words are you saying to your loved ones?

During one of the married couples’ meetings at Church which I am privileged to have facilitated, I separated the women from the men, and asked each member to pick a partner of the same sex and be open about their best and worst experiences in their marriages and the specific behaviors that led to them. The revelations were life changing.

Luck is useless if it lands on the unprepared.

As they say, if you want to win a lottery ticket, first go and buy the ticket! However, lucky you might be, without having bought the lottery ticket. There is no way you are going to win.

You cannot be everywhere and succeed. You must select your top three to four must-win-battles and focus all your energy and resources there. It is not easy to win so many battles.

In 2010, I had a heated debate with my wife over the family priorities. We decided to review our responsibility centers to minimize interruptions but also optimize skills. As an equal partner in our family affairs, we agreed that she is responsible for all the operational and tactical decisions in the home – family menu (what to eat and when), look and feel (the furniture in our home, which clothes to wear, which car to drive) and managing home affairs (hiring and managing family help and the like).

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened,” Mathew 7: 7 - 8

“Our systems are very strong. We cannot have been hacked. You are just alarmists. On your bullet number five: that you were able to capture all our passwords, including of the super administrator? That is not possible.” Such is the typical conversation in Uganda during the end of cyber security testing exit meeting with the client. It does not matter that we usually demonstrate the weaknesses found to the IT team. During the exit meeting presentation, IT staff will always deny even the smoking gun or plain view evidence. Many times, we pull out the laptop and re-demonstrate the exploits again. The fact is, with technology, there is no system that is 100% safe. That is why even Microsoft keeps providing system updates to respond to vulnerabilities that keep coming up now and again.

Who are you? The first step in achieving your potential is to know who you are. Where do you come from? what are your family values? Do not try to be something you are not and expect to win. Appreciate your background and first make peace with it. Acknowledge your identity.

Now that you know who you are, the next step is to ask what does success mean to you, and your key stakeholders.

Your family, relatives, friends and community are critical. At each stage of your life, who are those people with a lot of influence (in your career choice) and interest (in your success?)

This is the time of the year most people make resolutions for the New Year. Resolutions fail because they are not translated into actions to become real. It is not enough to make resolutions for a new year. Have clear actions or activities to achieve them, and a yardstick to measure progress.

To make a better 2017, make few (two to four) resolutions. Review each and prioritise them, in order of importance. Remember, priorities change often. Great people change their priorities “what must be accomplished today?”

Who are you? The first step in achieving your potential is to know who you are. Where do you come from? what are your family values? Do not try to be something you are not and expect to win. Appreciate your background and first make peace with it. Acknowledge your identity.

Stories of successful executives in Kampala who have forgotten about their parents and close relatives in the village abound. These people come to Kampala, adopt different culture, network with new friends and forget completely about their family back home. It is not until they experience a misfortune like a loss of a relative that they visit the village and get exposed. Rich in the city, but no place to even place a casket back home! What a shame! First know who you are (see figure 1).

“I thought I was happily married, until she told me she was leaving.” To where? I asked thinking that she was going for shopping at Nakumatti, where she usually goes every Saturday afternoon. I was wrong.

This time she was going for good.

If you are a regular reader of this column, I hope by now you have a clear personal strategy. My experience is planning for five-10 years ahead is better than annual planning and New Year resolutions. The year of these days is so short. As an individual, you will experience key milestones over a five-10 year horizon. Ask: what do I intend to have achieved within the next five years.

Success through employment is one of the options you have. I recommend that your objective is to have clear career focus of the corporate/ organization level you eventually plan to reach.

As a government employee or civil servant, however brilliant you may be, being well networked with political leaders and other high-level civil servants is critical for your fast career progression.