Mediocrity Is a Habit That Needs No Encouragement

February 10th, 2018

I came across a rather good quote today: Mediocrity always attacks excellence. I also read some comments on social media on the topic of mediocrity. The word derives from Latin and then French for “the middle.” Which, in a way, doesn’t sound so bad – just a little dull, perhaps, like ” middle of the […]

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The Populist Or The Pragmatist: Which Do You Prefer?

January 15th, 2017

I have been thinking about the nature of leadership, recently. A few things have turned my thoughts in this direction: Donald J. Trump will be inaugurated as President of the United States of America in a few days’ time – a man who has been described by his predecessor (and more recently, by John Lewis, […]

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The Courage to Lead: A Heartfelt Breakfast with UWI Students

January 31st, 2016

My father sometimes came out with this extraordinary expression: “Screw your courage to the sticking-place.” He was a man of great courage himself, and although I was always a little vague about where the sticking-place was, I think I got the gist of it. This is a quotation from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Of course, the courage I […]

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Listen to the Voice!

September 6th, 2015

Democracy is a very fluid thing, isn’t it. It is sometimes a difficult environment in which to find the right place – that niche where you feel you can operate as an effective human being. There are, actually, so many options – sometimes almost too many. But democracy gives you that freedom. The lead singer […]

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Down With Slacktivism! UWI Leads Seeks an Activist Voice

August 18th, 2015

A few days ago, I spoke to a group of University of the West Indies students about “Finding My Activist Voice Through Social Media: Activism vs. Slacktivism.” That last word was a new one for me, but I was honored to be invited to talk to such a bright group of young people, and it was […]

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