Mindful thoughts…

Quote I’m loving — Take your 10 year life plan and ask, why can’t I do this in six months? These are the words from billionaire Peter Thiel, the Paypal co-founder.

Why wait is the essence of what he is saying. Many times, we let life slow us down. When truly we are allowed to change the pace. Dreams and goals can be accelerated if we really put the work in….

Book I’m reading — ‘Dead Aid: why aid is not working and How there is a better way for Africa’. Written by Dambisa Moyo Zambian economist, who has worked for Goldman Sachs and the World Bank and currently serves on the board of Chevron and 3M.

The further I read, the more enjoyable this book becomes.

Aid is one of the greatest aids to corruption, here is just a few examples from the book to prove this point.

• Aid guarantees economic failure, in the poorest and most aid dependant countries. As it produces a vicious and seemingly unending cycle;
• It props corrupt governments — with freely usable cash -these govt. interfere with ‘Rule of Law’, establishment of transparent civil institutions and protection of civil liberties, to maintain power and access to aid.
• All the above, makes the country an unattractive investment — fewer investments mean fewer jobs, which increase poverty. And in response — more aid is pumped in!

Paper I read — The Racial Equity Imperative — Deloitte’ latest paper on racial equity in business, which you can access here — Paper

In brief, it is a review of the mission within Deloitte to do better and create racial equity, in light of last year’s protests following the murder of George Floyd. Their commitment seems sturdy and this paper certainly goes some way to show this.

• I like that they emphasise that the mission should be outcome based. Meaning they are actively going beyond the verbal and trying to put into practice racial equity within their workforce.
• It is impressive to see that they have a call for racial equity at all levels of their operations and highlight specific job roles and how each may drive equity.
• They appear to have a holistic plan to drive equity, including looking and tackling ‘flipping orthodoxies’ those organisational beliefs that have in the past played some part in hindering the acceptance and progress of black people within their organisation.

Though more in-depth. I value the work that has gone into producing this paper and hope that this paper serves as a map to achieve the racial equity they claim to be committed to. There is no pretending that conscious bias trainings have been a colossal flop, perhaps driving ‘equity’ in the workforce is the vision required to change things.

News/ Events I have enjoyed so far this week;

News -

Boohoo is facing possible US import ban after allegations of slave labour.

The US customs and border security has seen enough evidence to launch an investigation after seeing petitions from, Duncan Jepson a British lawyer who runs Liberty Shared a campaign group against modern slavery.

Mr Jepson said: “The evidence of Boohoo and forced labour is quite compelling. I think it will be a wake-up call for British institutions about how they’re handling modern slavery enforced labour, particularly in a community like Leicester East.

“What we’d all like, those of us interested in improving labour conditions, is for Boohoo to really get to grips with governance of their supply chain to ensure there is no wage theft and people have proper contracts.

“It must look at all 11 indicators the International Labour Organisation sets out for forced labour and see there is compliance with those.”

The US Tariff Act 1930 “prohibits the importation of merchandise mined, produced or manufactured, wholly or in part, in any foreign country by forced or indentured labour — including forced child labour. Such merchandise is subject to exclusion and/or seizure, and may lead to criminal investigation of the importer(s)”. Sky

This could be just the wake-up call Boohoo require to get their affairs in order throughout their supply chain to once and for all tackle the issue of modern slavery within their supply chain network.

Citi CEO vows, net-zero emission;

Newly appointment CEO of Citigroup Jane Fraser, is the first woman run a major US bank. And she is certainly not shy about coming forward. Fraser has pledged that the bank want to achieve net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions in its financing activities within the next three decades.

Fraser: “The climate crisis is among the top critical challenges facing our global society and economy. We are committed to bringing as many clients as we can along with us on this journey and working with them relentlessly to get it right.” Bloomberg

Thasunda Brown has made history

Thasunda Brown’ appointment to CEO of TIAA, would make her only the second black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. Long-time corporate executive Thasunda Brown Duckett has accomplished a lot in her career. After serving as the CEO of Chase Consumer Banking for over four years, it was recently announced that Duckett will become the next CEO of the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA).

This a proud moment. And one that serves as a reminder, that anything is possible. Gender and skin colour need not hold one back and can help to be the catalyst to be extraordinary and do what others could not have imagined for you. If only the right mindset, and a preserving attitude is adopted.

Thought I am pondering — Orient yourself to the highest possible good that you can conceive and commit to it. You’re way more powerful than you think. Jordan Peterson

Bible verse/ story that has struck me — John 4:1–24 — Popularly known as ‘the woman at the well’.

Three points I observe and that struck me from this story.

Firstly, the woman had made NO appointment to meet with the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, she was doing her normal routine when she encountered Jesus. This brings me joy as it reminds me God can find us in the most mundane of circumstances. You need not have an special meeting with a ‘prophet’ of God, nor have a special location or position to meet God. NO! Jesus is so good that He can and will meet you in your everyday life. Let that be encouragement, if there is someone you are praying for. Invitations to church and Bible study are nice but remember as you pray GOD can and will meet that loved one you are praying for where they are! Hallelujah!

The second point that stirs me is in relation to the emphasis of water. Jesus met this woman when she was gathering water for her household. Water, as we know is an essential element to our survival. But what Jesus tells this woman and us as readers too. Is that He is like water, in fact He is ‘living’ water. Having Jesus is a basic need for life. Just like water sustains life, Jesus is the giver and sustainer of our lives. Drink up! v13-v14

The last point, shows me there is NO situation hidden from the eyes of God. Jesus asks the woman to ‘call her husband’, this would be difficult as she had no husband and was living with her boyfriend, to which she confessed. This is a reminder, that God knows every detail of our lives. The hidden, messy, embarrassing, hurtful parts that we would rather not disclose. He knows! The best part is not only that He knows but that He is merciful and judges not. He wants us to present those hidden parts that He may do a proper and deep healing in those areas. His love is not judgemental. On the contrary His love cleanses, His love makes right what has been clearly and obviously been wrong in our lives. Jesus does not skirt around our real-life issues, he wants to tackle them in love. The call here is to present all before Him, like this woman did. Let He who can bring beauty out of ashes do so in each and every circumstance you lay before Him. v16-v19