Leadership Principles

General Colin Powell’s 13 Leadership Principles

General Colin Powell was the first African-American to head a “four-star troop command” when he took command of United States Army Forces Command. In August 1989, he spelled out 13 of his favorite leadership principles.

• “It ain’t as bad as you think” — Actually, it may be that bad, or even worse, but this first rule relates how leaders should look at events and problems, regardless of their potential outcome. If leaders are negative and always expect the worst, their followers will abandon them. A good leader never exhibits defeat, indecision or fear. Powell’s positivity traces back to his training as an infantry officer, where he learned: “No challenge is too great for us, no difficulty we cannot overcome.”

• “Get mad, then get over it” — Despite having a “severe temper,” Powell learned that managing his anger is critical. In the early months of 2003, when the US was looking for international support for the upcoming Iraq War, French foreign minister Dominique de Villepin publicly announced that France would block any military plans against Iraq; he made this declaration despite his private assurances to Powell that he would not broach the subject at that time. But Powell kept his cool and his friendship with de Villepin; France eventually supported the US through “six straight UN resolutions” on Iraq.

Integrity

لست أدري لماذا يصر الكثيرين على التلفيق والتشويه المسئ
الديمقراطية الغربية تتحرى مصداقية الخبر والنقل ، حفظاً لوعي الأمة
نحن نعتبر التلفيق شطارة وذكاء ، حفظاً لمكاسب شخصية

ونرفع شعارات العلم والحرية والديمقراطية

بينما مدعي الفهم وقيادة الرأي ، يعيشون بمعزل عن الحقائق

يخاطبون وقائع افتراضية وجماهير مضطربة

هكذا نسقط ، ونستمر في السقوط

Many pursue an endeavor of falseness and awful distortion

Western Democracy demands integrity of news and quotes

This is to secure the nation's consciousness

We admire both smartness and skillfulness of concoction

This is to secure personal gains

We loud slogans of knowledge, freedom and democracy

Yet; our understanding and leadership preachers solitary live

They address virtual realities and confused commons

This is how we decline and spirally fall down

The Art and Science of Influence

Becoming a Leader:

I have a fear of simply being a manager when I could be a leader. What’s wrong with a manager? Nothing, really; a good manager gets things done, makes sure people have the skills they need to be effective, includes everyone in big decisions, and satisfies the needs of his superiors. But there is nothing—dare I use the word?—inspirational about management.

Eisenhower’s Lesson

General Eisenhower observed that “leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” This is more than just getting a job done; it is creating a passion for the job that didn’t previously exist. But if leadership is an art, it is also a science, something that can be identified, quantified, and replicated. Important principles of leadership can be learned and applied.
I coach speakers. I work with professional speakers and with people who present often as a sales enablement strategy. Having the opportunity to speak to a group is a great trust: we call it the “Privilege of the Platform.” But I regularly see that privilege wasted when it can be a powerful leadership opportunity. Even a chance encounter in the hall can influence behavior, using the same tools as a speech in front of four hundred people. Let’s look at three principles that apply to the lecture hall and the lunchroom.

Know Your Audience

What do they care about? What are their concerns and problems and needs? When you spend some time listening and understanding, you will have the ability to frame your discussion from their perspective. What are the benefits to them? A speaker has about 30 seconds to establish her credibility, and it’s not based on her degrees earned or books written! Leave that to the introduction. Instead, immediately show that you understand the audience and you have a solution for their need. That will make them care a lot more about listening to what you have to say than a recitation of your resume.
What about a one-on-one with your employee? In the same way, you will increase your influence by exhibiting understanding and interest in their work lives. Do you know what their greatest accomplishments and challenges are? The best compliment we pay anyone is to listen to them. That opens the door to influence by informing our understanding and creating a bridge of trust.

Create an Emotional Connection

This is critical to behavior change. Speakers do this by telling stories. If you want your audience to care about a key take-away, anchor it with a story. Stories are memorable and invoke emotion. Without that emotional connection, your audience may be interested, perhaps even fascinated, but it will never move to the level of motivating change. Remember, people buy on emotion and justify with facts.
I had a client in a very scientific, highly-regulated industry that said this didn’t apply to her groups; they were all scientists in new drug development and were only interested in facts. I asked her to tell me their greatest fear; she immediately replied that it was being shut down by the FDA. “Does that ever happen?” I asked. “Oh, yes, it can. That’s why our services are so important,” she answered. Bingo. When she described one instance of a research company that was shut down because they didn’t survive an audit, she evoked a visceral reaction in even the most staid scientist in the room. Then she moved on to the research findings, statistics, and other facts that met the needs of the audience, and her potential clients were much more attuned and emotionally connected to the solution she offered.
In the same way, you can use examples and anecdotes to help an individual see what success looks like, vicariously feel the sense of accomplishment that will come from the advised action, or understand the urgency of a situation and the need to respond with full commitment. Stories are memorable, and when we remember them we re-experience the feelings that they evoked.

Create a Clear and Agreeable Action Plan

The third principle is to create an action plan that is clear and agreeable to everyone. In a room with two hundred people, you can invite each person to write down one step that will focus their commitment into an identifiable behavior change. There may be as many different ideas as there are people in the room; the key is that they have bought into your ideas and they are envisioning how to make them a part of their life. They can put a reminder into their phone or schedule a time to expand on the plan. If you don’t do something to capture the energy and enthusiasm you’ve created, it will dissipate as soon as they walk out and start checking messages.
With a single employee, you can build on their enthusiasm and commitment to create an action plan to move forward and make changes, or begin a new initiative. You’ve listened closely to their needs, concerns, and aspirations; you’ve shown them what success will look like through examples and stories; now it’s time to support them as they create an action plan that is workable and exciting for them.
Influence isn’t a matter of standing at the podium or sitting in the comfortable chair on the power side of the desk; it is the ability to listen and observe, to connect to others on both an intellectual and emotional level; and to help them commit to the individual steps on the path that will lead them to personal and organizational success.

http://news.monster.com/a/business/becoming-a-leader-the-art-and-science-of-influence-281b31?wt.mc_n=CRMUS002089

Cities and Towns

 

The actual dilemma is not the rapid and massive urbanization of the world, but typical mindset to make cities larger and wealthier.. Only Japan, Scandinavia and North America have successfully transformed both functionality and likeliness of towns to be successful urban centers

The Potential Perils of Rapid-Fire Urbanization
Anthony Flint; May 06, 2013

Former mayor of Barcelona Joan Clos has an easy manner and tousled white hair, like an amiable uncle. He seems too laid-back to be delivering such a harrowing message. But as he surveys the world’s fastest growing cities, he sounds the alarm about the millions of people suffering in terrible living conditions -- and the millions more on the way that could turn the metropolis into powder keg.

As executive director of UN-HABITAT, the United Nations organization concerned with helping developing world cities establish basic services, housing, and infrastructure, Clos has come to terms with the numbers: half the world’s population of 6 billion lives in cities, and in the years ahead roughly 6 of the anticipated 9 billion people on the planet will be concentrated in urban areas, primarily in Asia and Africa.

The peril lies in the fact that the cities accommodating these many millions of mostly poor, rural migrants seem to be almost completely unprepared – barely hanging on under current conditions, let alone ready for expansion. Those moving to cities in search of a better life are going straight to the slums. In sub-Saharan Africa, Close says, 65 percent of the urban population is in informal settlements. Slums in general, he says, range from 200,000 to 750,000 in size; for comparison, the entire city of Boston is a bit over 600,000. Families live in 10 by 10-foot spaces with a crude cooking stove and no toilet, and wait in – or more often bail out of -- long lines for public restrooms.

"The urbanization taking place is spontaneous and unplanned," Clos said at a symposium last week at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology honoring the SPURS fellowship at the Department of Urban Studies and Planning. The fellowship takes mid-career professionals from around the world for a year of training and recharging batteries at MIT. “Governments are overwhelmed."

Rapidly growing cities in the developing world must start with the basics, Clos said, thinking about just one thing to start: the street grid and the public realm. In New York City, planning commissioners laid out “the streets in 1811 that we’re still walking on today.” The zoning and regulations and real estate development changed many times over in the two centuries that followed; Manhattan was designed before there was such a thing as a car. Yet the grid has been a remarkably resilient and enduring feature of the city. “The street pattern is the foundation of urban planning."
The same can be said about Philadelphia, where the framework for urbanization was similarly established, in a timeless manner. “In Barcelona, I walk down streets built by the Romans."

But while an average 32 percent of the land in successful cities is devoted to streets and sidewalks and public space making up the public realm, that figure is only 2 percent in the cluttered shantytowns and favelas of informal settlement.

Better organizing urban land would seem to be the very essence of planning. So why aren’t there platoons of planners ready to deploy in this next round of cities poised for explosive growth? For one thing, there is a cultural lack of acceptance of the profession that is leading to inaction, Close says. “Urban planning has a bad reputation. It’s seen as a colonial thing."

If the bad associations are from places like Brasilia or Chandigarh, the reticence is justified, Clos said. "We’re still building cities like it was the first quarter of the 20th century, he said.
Instead of master plans and eminent domain, Clos prescribes a set of refined, roll-up-the-sleeves methods such as participatory land readjustment to set the street network, and value capture – though he prefers the term "value sharing," which seems less “predatory” – to help finance basic infrastructure and the public realm.

The payoff is better living conditions, basic sanitation and drinking water, and the promise of all that human capital participating in a well-functioning economy. In addition to the work of Solly Angel, who in Planet of Cities calls for minimal preparations for massive urban expansion, Clos cites the Stanford Physicist Geoffrey West and his calculation that cities keep getting better, in terms of economic activity and increased productivity, as they double or triple in size. Once investments in basic infrastructure are made up front, few additional resources need be added.

Peril waits around every corner, along with success. Detroit can barely collect its remaining property tax bills; but Medellin, once a dystopian murder capital, is now a model city. (The mayor of Medellin, Anibal Gaviria Correa, addressed the MIT group just before Clos). The remarkable thing, Clos observes, is how few cities actually die. Corporations come and go; national governments, too. But cities endure. What might be most unbearable for leaders like him is the prospect of the 21st century breaking that winning streak.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/politics/2013/05/potential-perils-rapid-fire-urbanization/5491/

Egypt: A Historical Puzzle..

Famous Cairo Traffic, yet they manage..!!!!

Throughout history; Egypt was the most populous, industrial and technological center in the Middle East, which made it as magnet for regional skilled, business and labor migrations.. This had created the mixed ethnic and cultural characteristics of both State and People..

Therefore, most of ME socio dynamics, including ups and downs, progressive and negative, were either generated or influenced by Egypt, then echoed across time to the surrounding communities.. Careful analysis of the chronicles will result in many examples across all aspects of life..

This "Egyptian Phenomenon" was much clearer during the last century, whereas communications, mobility and travels were much easier, faster and intensive.. Also, Egyptian urban, economic and business trends were further complex; with greater demand for cross border resources and markets..

As Egypt was a leading figure, echoing events and incidents in its major sociopolitical centers would talk a while to transmit its referrals and features to listeners and observers across the Middle East.. Many of fashions, cosines and families became named Egyptian, while there were originally not..

At mid 1800th, Khedive had worked to replica Paris, Vienna and Rome into Cairo and Alexandria.. Remarkable openness in Education, Journalism, Gender, Academia, Civil Rights were inevitablly associated.. Turkish and Mamluk social ranking systems had ignited social competition and associated economic and industrial developments.. Despite how land reforms were absent, Agro business had stabilized and balanced the social order..

At early 1900th, all political, economic, academic and social concepts were systematically exported from Cairo and Alexandria to the surrounding Middle Eastern Capitals.. Some leading Egyptian industry and business men had migrated with shear knowledge, establishing new dynasties in Libya, Sudan, Lebanon and Hejaz.. Aristocratic alliances were strongly knitted among Egypt, Turkey, Syria and Iran..

At 1920th, Egypt had a Constitution, a Parliament, Elections, Ambassadors, Foreign Military Bases (in Sudan, Hejaz & Somalia), Ranked Civil Service and Records Agencies.. It was the most rich and powerful state, post the decline of Ottoman Empire.. AlAzhar had added lots of spiritual ranking to the powerful Egypt..

Between the World Wars; Nationalism, Islamization and Radicalism had rapidly grown within Egyptian Middle Class, who had accesses for better education, media and life style.. It took more than 50 years to echo elsewhere, as urban ranking was young, fragile and inconsistent..

Charismatic leaders of Egypt, despite the related controversies, had echoed both strength and skills of their precedents since the Pharaohs.. The very foundations of the Egyptian State had not changed despite Greek, Arab, Muslim and European Migrants, Settlers and Concurs.. Their collective assets of sociopolitical leadership was unprecedented nor replica elsewhere.. The assets were not only location or resources, but people who mix all brilliances and ingredients across the Middle East in a significant pot called: Egypt..!!

Regardless of individual or accidental achievements; most of Middle Eastern Political Estates, , Academia, Journalism, Civil Service were defined stable by 1970th, while their Foreign Service were functionally affective by 1980th.. Despite the oil exports, most the Economies had took recognizable shapes by 1980th or later.. Such paradox had created inevitable characteristic confrontations between Egyptians and other Middle Eastern people.. Certainly, personal comments would compile to build a (informal) statements or (unspoken) policies.. This is the reason of notable priddism or arrogance which are usually made in sarcastic forms, spread through the strong Egyptian Media Machine..

The long acting government of Egypt had the inherited processing and tools to dye the issues as per their relevance to formal strategies and interests; while would use the commons to reflect contradicting messages.. and vs. verses.. Typically, when a confrontation happens, there are no solid materials to prove any wrongdoings; which in return ignite fierce frustration and burning anger among the None-Egyptians.. Therefore, people are usually puzzled in the Egyptian Transactions; not defined, nor understood..!!

This is nothing compared to the modern Egyptian Pop music and albums, which most social ranks, classes and groups hilariously share the joy of its noisy rhythms and enjoy its ridiculously meaningless lyrics.. It is a convenient sphere for drugs, impudence and cheap entertainment.. If the contents of such pop songs are translated, it will be a universal scandal..!!

Typically in Egypt; Arabs are brothers who wear scarves, Shiite are Muslim yet infidel, Sudanese are honest yet Doormen, Africans are strong yet cannibals, Indians are Stupid, Malaysians are short, and Jews are stingy.. On the contrary, Turkish have the most beautiful women, French are adorable, German are tough and British are foxy.. USA is the paradise that worth migration.. yet Egypt is the Mother Land of the World..

I know, this article is harsh and would anger many Non-Egyptians, Egyptian Friends of mine, and my Egyptian family members.. yet, clarity is important to for any stable relationship..

A Failed State is better than No-State..!

جدل: دولة فاشلة خير من لا دولة

رغم رفضي القاطع، من الناحية المعرفية، لكل من الأنظمة البراغماتية والمعارضين غير الناضجين، إلا أنني أختار موقف العامة: الشيطان المعروف (النظام) خير من الملاك الساذج (الثورة). فضلًا عن ذلك، لا وجود للملائكة في السياسة

الثورة تُرضي الطبقة الوسطى وما فوقها دائمًا، بينما تُهدد الحكام والعامة على حد سواء. عندما يتراجع مؤشر التنمية البشرية، وتتلاشى الحكمة، ويختبئ ذوي فوضى العقول، لا يبقى إلا الفوضى. العامة المنهكون أثمن من النخب الأنانية الصاخبة، وأثمن من الاحتجاجات الصاخبة المُحفزة، وأثمن من الاستشهاد المُبالغ فيه عديم الجدوى. إنهم ببساطة يُطالبون بالاستدامة، بغض النظر عن مدى فقرهم أو محدودية إمكانياتهم أو سوء حظهم. يثور الناس عندما تُهدد حياتهم، لا عندما تُهدد أحلامهم

في مخيمات النازحين، الناس أسعد حالًا ممن يدافعون عنهم. الوجوه والابتسامات نفسها لم تتغير منذ ثلاثة عقود. هل تساءل أحد عن السبب؟ هل اختار عامة الشعب في الجنوب التقسيم؟ هل طالب عامة الشعب في دارفور بتقاسم الثروة؟

رغم قسوة حياتهم، فهم مستعدون للمضي قدمًا بدلًا من الانسحاب. منذ الاستقلال، أي ثورة تُعتبر تراجعًا. كلما فشلت الاحتجاجات، ازدادت قسوة الإجراءات الأمنية. ستتفاقم أوضاع النساء المحتجزات البالغ عددهن 2000 امرأة، وسط احتفالات من رفاقهم

مشجعون... عفوًا! يستورد القادة السياسيون شعارات الآخوان المسلمون، حكام البلاد، ويبالغون في استخدامها. يا له من فوضى عارمة غير مسبوقة

لا ينبغي إغفال هذه التفاصيل الصغيرة. ليس الهدف من ذلك تأجيل القضية، بل جعلها ناضجة ومستدامة

بدأت منشوراتي على فيسبوك بعبارة: "جدل..."، وهو إدراك مبكر لاختلاف الأفكار وردود الفعل. وهذا مناسب لأي دورة نقاش أو حوار فكري، وقد لاقى استحسانًا كبيرًا في الردود

لم يكن التركيز على ما يحدث، بل على القضية المطروحة ومن هم المدعوون. يتطلب الوصول إلى هذه البداية فهمًا عمليًا لعلم نفس العامة وتصورًا لبساطتها. هذا هو الإرث المستمر للديمقراطية والحكم العام

استُخدم مصطلحا "الشيطان" و"الملائكة" من تراثنا الشعبي، وهما أداتان لا غنى عنهما لرسم ملامح الهوية الوطنية والإطار الثقافي. كانت محاولةً لاستيراد المنطق فحسب، والتركيز على التوقعات الأوسع، وتقدير القيم الأساسية فقط. كانت محاولةً لتغيير المسار من أنشطة حماسية مُكبّلة في زمن التطور

كانت الإشارة إلى وجوه النازحين وابتساماتهم إشارةً إلى خدمتي الشخصية بينهم، والإشارة إلى مؤشر التنمية البشرية إشارةً إلى الدراسة الأكاديمية حول التأثيرات وردود الفعل الثنائية المترابطة. أما الإشارة إلى الإخوان المسلمين فتدل على جدية أكبر في النضج التنظيمي للنشاط السياسي. هذه النقاط الثلاث تُبرر لماذا بقي مجلس العموم في المنزل؟ ولماذا فقد ثقته في النشطاء السياسيين؟ هذه الأسئلة أعمق وأكثر أصالة من أي عبارات صحفية مبتذلة

كانت العودة إلى الاستدامة محاولةً لتصفية الذهن من الحماس المفرط، ووضع منطق عملي لبيان جديد ناجح

صفحتي على فيسبوك وقائمة جهات اتصالي تضمّان، بكل فخر، أشخاصًا ناضجين ومثقفين، يُؤتمنون 

ضمنيًا على مستقبلٍ جدير بالثقة

لا مفرّ من أننا نحتاج إلى الجميع، من يُفكّر، ومن يُعبّر عن رأيه، ومن يُخطئ.

"هكذا هي الحياة"

معذرةً على الاختصارات

مؤشر التنمية البشرية: HDI

النازحون داخليًا: IDP

جماعة الإخوان المسلمين: MB

A Controversy: A Failed State is better than No-State..!

Despite my firm epistemic denounce of both pragmatic regime and immature opponents, I choose the common’s stand: The known devil (regime) is better than a naïve angel (revolt).. In addition; there are no angels in politics..!

Revolution always satisfies the middle class and above.. while threaten both governors and commons.. When HDI declines, statesmanship decays and anarchy hides, only chaos is inevitable.. Exhausted commons worth more than selfish outspoken elites, more than motivated noisy protests, more than exaggerated useless martyrdom.. They simply demand sustainability.. Regardless how poor, limited or ill-fated.. People revolt when life is threatened, not when dreams are..!

At IDP camps, people are happier than who advocate on their behalf.. The same faces and smiles are unchanged for 3 decades.. Did anyone ask why? Did the commons in South choose partition? Did the commons in Darfur demand wealth shares?

Despite how harsh their lives are, they are ready to continue rather than walkout.. Since independence, any revolt was a back wording step.. The further failed protests are, the more harsh security will be.. The 2000 detained females will develop into worse scenarios, celebrated by colorful comrades..

Cheerleaders.. Oops; Political Leaders import and excessively slogans of MB who already rules the country.. What a chaotic unprecedented misconduct..!!

Such small facts should not pass unnoticed.. This is not to put off the cause, but to make it mature.. and sustainable..

My Facebook "cookies" had started with: ”A Controversy..” An early realization of how thoughts and reactions will vary.. This is fair enough for any intellectual launch or debate course, which was well received and maintained in the responses..

The base point was not on what’s going on, but what was the advocacy and who were advocated.. Reaching at this kick start requires practical understanding of commons psychology and envisioning their simple manifest.. This is the continuous legacy of both democracy and public governance..

Using the terms of Devil and Angels were extracted from our folklore; which is indispensable tools to draw national characteristics and cultural framework. It was an attempt to import nothing but logic, emphasis nothing but broader expectations and value nothing but core values.. It was an attempt to change course from crippled enthusiastic activities in a time of evolution..

Pointing to the IDP faces and smile was reference to my personal service among them, pointing to HDI was a reference to academic intake on bilateral correlated influences and reactions.. Pointing to MB is far serious on organizational maturity of political activism.. The three points would justify why the Commons had stayed at home..? Why the Commons had lost faith in political activists..? These questions are far deeper and authentic than any journalistic clichés..

Referring back to sustainability, was an attempt to clearing the minds from the boiling enthusiasm in order to set workable logic for a successful new manifest..

Both my Facebook page and contact list are proudly mature literates, who are impliedly entrusted for a trustworthy future..

Inevitably, we need everyone.. who think, who shout and who make mistakes..
“C'est la vie”



Apology for abbreviations:
HDI: Human Development Index
IDP: Internal Displaced People
MB: Muslim Brotherhood

Annual Leave..

Most "Underdeveloped" countries has "Annually" paid 21-working-days..!!

This is the critical thing to question..

Home vs. Abroad..

Both Sudan and Egypt has fierce campaigns to promote for expatriate citizens who are professionally or academically successful, as potential candidates to lead the reforms and changes..

Sorry, it is never a resume issue..

Worldwide, none of who had succeeded internationally, could made a following local success.. But, local success had always base the int'l one.. Check..!

This is a global structural phenomenon.. We can't claim different..
If we want to make it right, we should do it right..!
There are many reliable and local ones to make it right.. We are not talking a rocket science, but basic performance framework of planning, governance and control..

Always who are remote and distant can conclusively observe much better.. Progress is never delivered in isolation.. Both culture and technology has no address but the globe.. As Tunisians, Turkish, Serb, Indian, Chinese had created the dialogue between their local and expatriate citizens, as their success was, in transforming their countries and broke the hurdles of development and sustainability..

Regretfully, within the course of patriotic enthusiasm, local citizens are either unable to envision the necessity of such integration, or hesitant to believe that they can independently succeed.. This is where the roles of intelligentsia are, especially among media professionals; to make it of break it..!!

This does not strip the expatriates from patriotism, nor add distinction to the local citizens.. It is a matter of appropriateness and fitness.. Expats had inevitably lost many local details, subject to their personalities and time-abroad, while Locals had inevitably lost clarity on proper approach subject to the nature of their endeavor and earning burdens..The issue is the shared epistemia not the glory of participation..

Adolescence and dumbness are extremely harmful and hazardous..

Check the stories within both image above and video below..!!

The Day After

It seems my predictions are coming true..!!
2nd round, then suspension if necessary till rewrite the constitution..!

Egyptians are mostly in a State of Shock..
Who supported a candidate, and who denounced another..
All of them are dizzy with the results they did not want to hear about..
The day after comes with headache and confusion after the overdose of unearthly wishes and unrealistic dreams..
In Egypt today; None is a winner.. All are losers..
They all missed the opportunity to build a Progressive Public Consensus..!!

We had used to condemn our Sudanese politicians for their continuous and obsessed attempts to replica the Westminster culture and processing into Sudan..
It seems that Egyptian politicians had made their minds to replica the Washington D.C extravaganzas, tactics and games into Egypt..
The Sudanese had forgotten the role to stick to their political realities.. The Egyptians forgot their Statesmanship legacies..!

Ok.. The Egyptian Presidential Election is not an Egyptian issue..
It is an autopsy of the Arabic political landscape.. It is definitions and characterization of all exposed and hidden players in the Arabic power games..
Everyone is well defined now..
Everyone has to carefully mind his own business..
The coming will never be the same..!

Regretfully, some respectful and promising academics and commentators had slipped within the intellectual spiral or the media extravaganzas of Egypt.. They imagined fictions in politics, utopias in conflicts and dreams in atrocities.. Among... the poor, needy or marginal people; none of them had lived or experienced.. Among the short-to-reach, none had sympathized.. Among the depressed, none had shared.. It is the scandalous stats of Arabic Intelligentsia.. They had proved incompetent to share the future..
They had proved illiterate..!

Some voices are coming out on possible deals among the candidates to block the so-called "Mubarak Regime" to revive again.. As how the incompetence is proven among Egyptian politicians, elite and literates, it is similarly hilarious talking about Mubarak..
It is not Mubarak's Regime, but the Egyptian one.. It can't be replaced in a swift election or single term.. It will require a decade of reasonable performance among all political affiliates to reach a consensus..
Regretfully, most Egyptians insist on how it is their own local game, despite the obvious magnitude and processing..
They insist to isolate themselves, while the scheme is never Egyptian..!!

The Electoral Silence..

Egypt started the so-called “Electoral Silence”, which enables both Egyptians and Observers (like me) to recall, analyze and predict the way forward..

During the last few months; both Commons and Elite of Egypt had proven disarray and hallucinations; whereas the Elite misspelled the political circus, demanded shared knowledge with commons and provided no cushions for political processing..

Intentionally; I shall not define or describe who are Elite or Commons.. who both had used filthy words, adolescent logics and bizarre tools to express themselves.. However, a reader may refer to my older articles on the autopsy of Egyptian Intelligentsia and Mainstreams..

The “Elite” had seriously and resiliently advocated an imaginary political “Utopia”, not only to imitate the well-established democracies, but also to set themselves as benchmark among underdeveloped countries.. The hidden priggism had finally surfaced, in forms of ignorantly sabotaging their own State, viciously challenging neighboring and world regimes, and/or notoriously slaughtering their own selves and any potential public figure..!!

The “Commons” had inevitably developed opportunism amid the social disorder, as resulted from long term economic and social abuse and terrorism mastered by various cults of beneficiaries.. The typical suppression was vulgarly expressed in chaotic revolutionary demonstrations, headless herd-protests, negativities of notable unemployment, and/or awkward criminal misbehave and activities.. The Commons were unfairly utilized by the political advocates for their own gains..

On the thresholds, SCAF (Supreme Council of Armed Forces), BCAGs (Business Continuity Administrative Groups) and GIA (General Intelligence Agency) were observing and collecting data, coordinating plans, processes and reactions, and exercise ivory consensus against immature politicians and literates.. A country with the magnitudes of Egypt; can’t be actually left for circumstantial or coincidental powers to contribute to regional and global equilibriums..

During the last couple of years, since the ousting of Mubarak, many brilliant projects had been initiated by the enthusiastic Egyptian Youth; who had seriously lacked both governance and management to run these endeavors.. While the Elite had been anaesthetized in Don-Kichot-alike political and philosophical fantasias, Foreign Aided NGOs had stepped in with various public and hidden agendas.. Management skills, magnificent tools and open finance had attracted many youngsters; which eventually stuck by permits, counter publicity or prosecutions.. The public frustration had eventually elevated from unemployment to disarray.. Serious talk spread on how righteous was the January 2011 upraising..!

So, what are the forecast for the Egyptian Presidential Elections, coming with couple of days..?

Despite the 2nd refinery of the candidates to a serious competing five among the Thirteen (who were initially 50+), shaming and naming all of them will seriously affect the ballot counts.. Despite how the Islamists show organization, networking and influence, the verdicts are ready to blow any potential victory.. Despite the unspoken back-up for SCAF candidate, the attractive anti-slogans will affect.. Despite the decency liberal or scholar candidates try to emphasis, glimpse of statehood-unfitness are well observed..

Despite how my assay provokes many people, my predictions are couple;

A Re-election, regardless of the justifications (the current election was meant to name, defuse and control both politicians and parties within an irrevocable supreme national security framework).. and A Transitional period of 10 years to establish a democratically stable Egypt..!

منذ الأمس ، بدأت مصر ما يسمى ب "الصمت الانتخابي" ، والتي تمكن كلا من المصريون والمراقبون (مثل كاتب المقال) إلى تذكر وتحليل والتنبؤ بمعالم الطريق إلى الأمام ..

خلال الأشهر القليلة الماضية ، عاش كل من العموم والنخبة في مصر حالة متفردة من الفوضى والهلوسة .. حيث أن النخبة قد اتشحت بالأخطاء في ادراك الواقع السياسي ، والمطالبة بمشاعية المعرفة مع العامة ، بالاضافة الى عدم تقديم أية مقترحات فعالة للمعالجة السياسية

عمداً، لن أقدم تعريف أو وصف لمن هم النخبة أو من هم العموم .. كلاهما على حد سواء قد استخدموا العبارات السيئة (ولغة الشارع) ، ومنطق المراهقة (ذات العنفوان الشعوري) ، وأدوات غريبة في التعبير عن أنفسهم .. ومع ذلك ، فانني اقترح على القارئ الرجوع إلى مقالاتي السابقة حول تشريح واقع الثقافة والمثقفين المصريين

لقد حملت "النخبة" على محمل الجد الدعوة السياسية الوهمية الى "المدينة الفاضلة" ، وليس فقط من أجل محاكاة الديمقراطيات الغربية الراسخة ، ولكن أيضا لترسيم نفسها على أنها المعيار بين دول العالم الثالث .. أخيرا قد باشرت النرجسية الخفية التعبير عن نفسها ، بينما تم تخريب مؤسسة الدولة على نحو موصوم بالجهل ، مما قد شكل تحدياً شراساً لكافة الأنظمة الاقليمية والعالمية ، بالاضافة الى ذبح منتسبي النخبة أنفسهم وأي شخصية عامة محتمل تطورها على المسرح السياسي

على نحو حتمي ، لقد تحول "العوام" الى الانتهازية وسط حالة الفوضى الجماعية ، ولعل هذا ناتج عن سوء المعاملة على المدى الطويل ، ومظاهر الارهاب الاقتصادي والاجتماعي بواسطة العصابات المختلفة من المستفيدين .. لقد تم الاعراب عن رفض القمع بشكل فج في المظاهرات الفوضوية ، والاحتجاجات القطيعية السلوك ، وبفعل المؤثرات السلبية للبطالة ، والأنشطة ذات المحتوى الجنائي للقلة .. وكل هذا قد تم استغلاله بشكل غير عادل من قبل الدعاة السياسيون لتحقيق مكاسبهم الخاصة

على اعتاب المسرح السياسي ، وقف كل من المجلس الأعلى للقوات المسلحة ، ومجموعات إدارة استمرارية أعمال الدولة ، وهيئة الاستخبارات العامة ، لرصد وجمع البيانات ، وتنسيق الخطط والعمليات وردود الفعل ، ومع ممارسة مواقف فوقية ضد عدم نضج السياسيين والمتعلمين .. في بلد بحجم مصر ، لا يمكن واقعياً أن تترك لقوى الظروف والصدف للمساهمة في التوازنات الإقليمية والعالمية

خلال العامين الماضيين ، ومنذ الاطاحة بالرئيس مبارك ، قد بدأت العديد من المشاريع الرائعة من قبل الشباب المصري المتحمس ، وبالرغم من افتقارهم الخطر لأدوات الحوكمة والإدارة للتفعيل المستدام لهذه المساعي .. في حين كانت النخبة الدون كيشوتية مخدرة في فنتازيا السياسية والفلسفة ، فقد قامت المنظمات غير الحكومية المدعومة خارجياً بالتدخل في مختلف البرامج ، وفق أهدافها العامة أو الخفية .. وباستخدام المهارات الإدارية ، والأدوات الاحترافية الرائعة ، والميزانيات المالية المفتوحة ، فقد تم اجنذاب العديد من الشباب ، الذي فوجئ في نهاية المطاف بعراقيل التصاريح الادارية ، والدعاية المضادة ، أو الملاحقات القضائية .. في نهاية المطاف ، لقد تمكن الإحباط العام من تحويل مرارة البطالة إلى حالة متزايدة من الفوضى .. بينما بدأ نقاش جدي حول صلاحية الثورة

هكذا ، فما هي التوقعات للانتخابات الرئاسية المصرية

على الرغم من التصفية الثانية للمرشحين إلى خمسة متنافسيين رئيسيين من بين ثلاثة عشر (الذين كانوا في البداية أكثر من خمسين) ، وعلى الرغم من الفضائح التى سوف تؤثر تأثيرا خطيرا على فرز الأصوات .. وعلى الرغم من أن الإسلاميين أكثر تنظيماً وتواصلاً وتأثيراً ، فان الاحكام القضائية جاهزة لتبديد أي فوز محتمل .. وعلى الرغم من عدم الاعلان الرسمي لمرشح المجلس العسكري ، فإن جاذبية الشعارات المضادة تمس مشاعر المواطنين .. وعلى الرغم من احتشام مرشحي الليبرالية والعلمانية ، فهناك تساؤلات حثيثة بشأن كفاءتهم لادارة الدولة

على الرغم من أن هذا المقال يثير شعور الكثير من الناس ، فان توقعاتي هي

اعادة الانتخاب ، وبغض النظر عن المبررات (حيث من المفترض في الانتخابات الحالية نزع الفتيل والسيطرة على كل من السياسيين والأحزاب داخل إطار أعلى للأمن القومي ، وغير قابل للمساس) .. وخلال فترة انتقالية مدتها عشر سنوات ، سوف يتم إنشاء الدولة المصرية على نحو ديموقراطي مستقر

Govern vs. Governance

Governments are extracted from Govern and Governance.. They indispensably govern as per the governance; if available.. or by their de-facto process system.. Without “Govern” it is an anarchy, without “Governance” it is a hilarious jungle..

Professionals should jointly work to develop their own code of governance, each in their field.. lobby to legalize it.. and share the fair audit on implementations.. Then, governments will have apply the codes; and govern accordingly..

Regretfully, most professionals are technically busy, and not ready to spare the time to create the righteous code, meanwhile keep objecting to be governed..!!

From a Statehood point of view; This is the practical dilemma..

Being Down There..!

It is a simple, smiling and relaxed image, yet contains all the wrong spellings..!!

Sudan, occupies the lower ranks in most of indexes, apart from Corruption and Slums.. Therefore many compiled elements defeat the national will to prosperously develop and grow the nation.. Many of these are related to the unfit sociocultural system, whereas morals, ethics and referrals are either fictions or outdated.. Nations in times of despair are required to stand firm, discussing, analyzing and drawing their road maps towards the decent wellbeing.. Regretfully, the amount of ego and negativities are greater than the advocates themselves..!!

Standing against the common streams is risky; not only by the inevitable circumstances, but also by the unprofessional responses

However, I guess I have to spell it.. regardless..!

Despite how usually the public memory is short-live:
When Inqaz succeeded to compile the (fit) North against the (ill) South at Heglig..
When people are obsessed with (Millions) currency despite the changed value..
When no one (effectively) stand against the NCP cult and its shameless members..
When Nubas, Nubians, Bejas and Darfurean are treated (rated) 2nd and 3rd class..
When our intelligentsia (whatsoever) turns opportunitists and lobbyists..
When AlRasheed wed in a (Pharaoh) Howdah, carried by All-Blacks..
When universities became (sacred) temples of ego and advocated deceptions..
When security personnels practice (excessive) schizophrenia and sadism..
When no outspoken (ivory-writer) can spell “The National Security Framework”..
When the globe (de-facto) stripped Sudan from Arabic into Africans maps..
When Hilal wed (a notorious polygamous) for exaggerated millions of Dollars..
When we can’t realize how unfit our (awkward) social and gender trends are..
When we can’t stop glorifying a (barren) ivory educational system..
When our borders are whorishly accessible despite the manly noisy shunts..
When our history is rewritten by holy journalists and notorious politicians..
When Sudan became an icon for Women-whipping bustard-Orphans and FGM..
When we can’t stop recalling a (perished) unsustainable civic service..
When no Cliché-Intellectual can define Governance vs. Government..

Therefore, having a dancing President, thieve Statesmen, fake Generals, illiterate Degree-Holders and enthusiastic Mentally-Challenged-Persons and is never a shock to any (epistemic) outlook..

Therefore, having a 2nd passport is legitimate..!!

SS Development Ring..

The world's newest country is poor, unutilized and failed in rates that get further deteriorated and scrambled by time and politics.. The HDIs show critical combinations that would normally take decades to stabilize, rather than progressively change or develop..

No one would blame the fragile intelligentsia or inexperienced administrators to produce reliable frameworks and road maps for developments; while the political lobbyists enjoy stronger overseas support and unaudited funds..

During my professional endeavors, a concept was developed on a constructible orientation towards an integrated national development in the South Sudan.. The stats had been well analyzed, and the numbers were well planned.. In today’s world, finance and funds are only and magically triggered by doubtlessness, compliances and matrixes..

This proposed scheme targets 2,500km of surface transit, 7 regional land ports, 14 urban centers and 5,000,000 acres of agro framing.. This is a wellbeing transformation of more than 2,000,000 capita, with combined monetary revenues of more than $10,000,000,000 per annum..!

SSGOV is not required to invest a penny..!
Imagine..!

Discipline vs. Precision..

It's normal for schools in the Far East to have an hour or two sessions in a week where the students are gathered outside in a field or some sort to learn discipline. From things like standing at an arm's length from the person in front of you and half an arm's length from the person to your right, to responding in a timely manner at commands. Students are conditioned to these timings and are ultimately attuned to each others' timings. Speaking and moving in unison when demanded

This is not an "Amazing Japanese Precision" as titled on YouTub, but "Discipline"..

During the last couple of years, Arabic Youth, Intelligentsia and Media-Speakers were all united against the Military Establishments.. This was part of their uprising against the corrupt political regimes; which had full control over the military in their countries.. Inevitably, the demise between politics and military was invisible across the Arab world, as well as in most 3rd world nations..

In this public hallucination, the military was badly named, accused of national betrayal and alignment with foreign imperialists and lobbyists.. All military attributes were condemn as back warding, while the term "Anarchy" was spreading across all levels.. History was in the course of rewritten by the enthusiastic anti-military.. Political dumbness was, and still common practice whereas everyone talks, and no one listens.. However, these hilarious battles still going on, while most of Arab nations are headless and dizzy.. This regretful phenomenon is expected to rule for the next 10 years..!!

Among those military-haters; none had the capacity to civilly define discipline, order and hierarchy.. Certainly, it was moves against the universal culture that Military had contributed to structure.. The people had forgot how history was built by Generals and War Lords; who had visions supported by powers.. Those were not exceptional, but ordinary military leaders.. The military code is a leadership one.. It is part of the civic evolution and growth.. A General can’t be a General if he is not a Leader..!

There is a great divide between Discipline and Precision..

Discipline is not discretionary, but Precession is.. You may choose to be precise or not, but once been disciplined, precision is not your choice anymore.. You will have to be precise even if you don’t want to be..!

This is how the great nations had been.. This is why many visionaries think to maintain the national service, and others who had it canceled advocate to have it back..

Civilization is synonymous to discipline.. Anarchy is never a positive attitude, but a pragmatic beneficiaries and imperialist one..

However, it seems big talk for small minds..!!

My Favoraite: Statistics..

"In the times like this; when unemployment rise by 13%, income is falling by 5%, and suicide rates are climbing up, I wonder why governments are wasting money on things like collection of statistics.."

A famous comment on a Radio Talkshow in the time of recession

Hans Rosling says there’s nothing boring about stats, and then goes on to prove it. A one-hour long documentary produced by Wingspan Productions and broadcast by BBC, 2010. A DVD is available to order from Wingspan Productions. Director & Producer; Dan Hillman, Executive Producer: Archie Baron. ©Wingspan Productions for BBC, 2010

http://www.gapminder.org/videos/the-joy-of-stats/

PMP Certification News

 

Good day all
This would be a very short article and specific to those who are interested in PMP certifications. For those not familiar with ‘PMP” this refers to the Project Management Professional certification, one of the Project Management Institute (PMI) certifications.

 

Facts
The following data is PMI officially published data (all data is up to the end of August 2011)

1. The number of those holding the PMP Certification in the world is: 466,163
2. The number of PMP earning their certification between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2011 (12 months’ period) is: 48,273
3. The average number of new PMP in the 12 months period in previous note is: 4,023
4. The number of PMP in July 2011 jumped from the average of 4,023 to 13,869
5. The number of PMP in August 2011 (last month) also jumped from the average of 4,023 to 14,295
6. In summary, in two months we have had close to 30,000 PMP about 60% of the full year before!

 

Why the Change

Obviously no one knows the exact answer. However, what we know is:

1. The PMP exam changed at the end of August 2011
2. Historically we know where there is an exam change the number of PMP candidates jump
3. Usually the reason for the jump is that people and professionals who has been considering or studying for the PMP and delaying the exam, they make the push before the change since a change brings uncertainty.

 

Is this good or bad?
You be the judge!
Until next article – wish you success in all your endeavors!

 

Mounir Ajam
from West Asia
21 September 2011
http://sukadipms.wordpress.com/2011/09/21/pmp-certification-news/

 

 

My Impressions..

10 years ago, both PMI and PMP certification were not known among many practitioners, apart from the IT professionals. I remember how the numbers were in 2003, as hardly 47,000 were PMPs, while PMI had set a target to achieve 100,000 members by 2004.

Earlier; almost no one could pass the “horrific” exam from the 1^st try..! This is when PMI had started “enterprising” the certification; which had been reflected in amazing revenues and consequential activities. Exam was made easier, Educators were encouraged everywhere, and HR specialists had some way or another realized the assumed value of certification..

This is what the numbers tell about multiplying the members by almost 7 times and the PMPs by almost 10 times.. People are not getting further smart or have more study time.. Observation tells that true value is not in certification but in sustainable membership.. Also, membership numbers should be logically higher than the certification’s..

Is there any added value or true professional interest..?  

Simply, what is the rate of obtaining PDUs and renewal of membership or certification..?

I guess if we have fresh numbers of demographics and geographies about membership and certification; we shall visualize the true status.. !!

 

 

 

Leadership Generation..

Interesting.. The missing factor is the Leadership Generation..

Most of the delayed and confused states is due to lake of leaders on the ground to motivate, guide, justify or sustaining the revolt..

Systematically, most of these long serving and corrupt regimes had similarly suffocated the weak fetuses of leadership along the decades.. Arabic wombs can't bear leaders or deliver them at the time being.. Maybe the coming future will change..

Why Leaders are so important..?

By history, culture and instincts, leaders are the pillars of human civilization..

Arabic culture in particular, is inevitably driven by Patriarchic and fatherly framework..

People may step down into the streets; but who would convince them to stay or to return back home..?

Thanks Ali BuRuhaima for sharing

Street Temptation..

By default worldwide, all security agencies would appreciate if people stay at their homes, work places or schools with limited outdoor activities; only to commute or to shop.. The less people are in the streets, the more security is intact, managed and controlled.. This is the simple equation to start with.. While it recommends to get the people off the streets, it never allows for the “Street-Temptation” to turn into a custom for the commons.. Because if they do, they will not go back home.. This was significantly repeated since the French Revolution, in Europe, Asia and lately across the Arab world..

Inevitably, people would like to walk around to socialize or entertain.. Socialization will slowly unify the consensus on all issues of interest.. Persons will exchange ideas, information and news in an easy one-to-one manner.. This would evolve to be a gathering, when a topic would attract more audiences.. While many people lack the capacity to assess the credibility of speakers or weighting what is said, then measuring how right or wrong becomes controversial.. Notably, the public consensus is only build up by continuation and resilience of the advocates.. If the outdoor gathering interprets such mood, then security agencies will start worry..

Once people step down to the streets, with their protest as loud as their fierce demand for change, lots of security appraisals would be reviewed to contain the situation.. This had called the use of violent anti-riot squads in Gdansk, Bangkok or lately in Athens.. Also when protest escalated, it had called the use of ugly armed forces in Budapest, Diyarbakir or lately in Bishkek.. Notably in these cases, there was a commander tries to contain a mutiny, rather than a governor tries to eliminate the opposition.. Between Mutiny and Opposition are the calls to: Replace the governing system not only the government, Denounce the executive powers which spoil the governors, or Question the privileges of sovereignty not the honor of nationalism.. Democracy, Freedom or Diligence are fine-tune clashes’ rather than true public demands.. The commons are always concerned on the basic needs of survival, or the security of such survival, rather than the luxuries of social or political ranking..

Typically and anonymously, the public system would continuously breed renewed leaders and leaderships.. This process is fetal for the humane existence and civilization.. Leaders are usually charismatic, eloquent, or just resilient.. Sometimes their social or professional attributes would present them to the focus.. Leadership is not necessarily associated with logic, nor partner with knowledge, but often reflects simple patriarchic or big-brotherhood syndromes; which subconsciously the street protesters would get lost without.. This is the true description of the current public unrest and unease across the Arab world; where no leaders are available or potentially identified..!!

There is an unfamiliar pragmatic role states that the only way to sustain any endeavor; is to enable the healthy breeding of new rivals.. A person’s life cycle is too short compared with any well-planned philosophy, activity or business.. Suppressing the opposition, masterminding loyalists or any dictatorship form would curse the endeavors with short life.. Without visionary and enlightened leaders, societies would quickly age and turn barren.. Without freshly sustainable leaders; street activities would inevitably lead to chaos..!

Change is never meant as an anti-boredom medication, but a healthy necessity to align processing of livelihood to our interests and wishful-thinking..