Last night, in the middle of a very stressful phone call, I was given a word-image. The caller told me about how, earlier in the day, “Jjaja Jack” (Grandpa Jack, my dad) had taken little, individual ice cream packets to the…
Category: African wisdom
Yet another way to use the Light
The room was just another fancy DC hotel ballroom, but the Academy of Achievement’s team had transformed it by mastering the use of light. The space was mostly dark except for the candles on the tables, swirling lights cast onto…
Are you being served?
“Oh no, no. I can get it. I don’t need to be waited on!” Have you ever said these words? If so, I invite you to ask yourself why. Your answer might purport to have something to do with humility,…
“Music in the Dark” (A 2-minute read.)
From my African journal: Every evening, I hear music coming from an obscure location in the middle of my village town, Masaka, Uganda. It is joyful music with heavy rhythms and multiple voices in song. Between choruses, there are great…
“Unexpected Ways” (An 80-second reading on what I am enjoying most about this human experience.)
Early this morning I was seated in the lobby of one of Kampala’s oldest hotels, The Africana. The Senior Advisor to Uganda’s First Lady had asked to meet me there. We have been friends for many years, and I happened…
“Africa in Your Tone” (A 90-second reading on how diversity informs authenticity)
“Good afternoon, sir,” I said to a distinguished Ghanaian scholar who had just joined our already-crowded minivan as we headed out for more school visits in Kasoa, Ghana last month. We then made introductions around the vehicle, and I mentioned…
“Hello, TOO!” (A 90-second reading.)
Years ago, I worked for the President of the Arizona Board of Regents. My office was in his law suite, along with his law partners and the lobbyists who worked for his firm. I seemed to often arrive just behind…
“Thank you for that courage!” (A 45-second reading.)
One day, many years ago at home in Uganda, I had the opportunity to give an employee some positive feedback. He looked at me with a big smile and said, “Thank you for that courage!” While I assumed that perhaps…
Four Leadership Lessons from a Ghanaian Immigration Officer
I keep thinking about the very intimidating-looking immigration officer who reviewed my papers as I exited Ghana on Thursday. He wore a dapper, tailored uniform, and sat very proudly in his cubicle. The vignette of order–within the larger scene of…
