<h2><span>Problems </span><em>By Dr. John C. Maxwell</em></h2>
<p>In the comic strip, Peanuts, a hapless Charlie Brown occasionally would be stalked by ominous rainclouds. Although the rest of the sky would shine bright and blue, poor Chuck would be stuck under a dark cloud, getting doused by its showers. While his friends and neighbors enjoyed the beauty of the day, a drenched Charlie Brown would be a scowling onlooker.</p>
<p>The lingering raincloud seemed to suggest Charlie Brown's inability to break clear from his problems. A melancholy character, he was prone to fits of worry and self-doubt. He concocted problems where none existed and fretted about those which were real.</p>
<p>While we do not have to contend with perpetual drizzle like Charlie Brown, many of us live under the gloomy shadow of self-induced rainclouds. When life's twists and turns work against us, we retreat into a rotten attitude or heap blame on our surroundings. By doing so, we neglect to deal with our problems and only add to our misery.</p>
<h3>The Five Truths Leaders Understand about Problems</h3>
<p><strong>1. They're unavoidable.</strong></p>
<p>For the aspiring leader, problems may be the most faithful companions of all. The road to success is seldom paved smoothly, and is oftentimes under construction. Potholes and barricades abound. At every bend in the journey, a leader's vision must peer around obstacles and through formidable walls to foresee a positive future. Leaders who sidestep problems stunt their growth - they end up shallow and debilitated. The successful leader stares down problems and resourcefully addresses them.</p>
<p><strong>2. Perspective on the problem, rather than the problem itself, determines success or failure.</strong></p>
<p>We see problems, not as they are, but as we are. That's why attitude plays such a crucial role in separating those who lead from those who follow. Alfred Armand Montapert said, "The majority see the obstacles; the few see the objectives; history records the successes of the latter, while oblivion is the reward of the former." Leaders look at problems from a healthy, self-confident vantage point.</p>
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<p><strong>A Wrong Perspective</strong></p>
<p>Problems are unsolvable<br>Problems are permanent<br>Problems are not normal<br>Problems make us bitter<br>Problems control us<br>Problems stop us</p></td>
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<p><strong>A Right Perspective</strong></p>
<p>Problems are solvable<br>Problems will pass<br>Problems are natural<br>Problems make us better<br>Problems challenge us<br>Problems stretch us</p></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><strong>3. There's a big difference between problem spotting and problem solving.</strong></p>
<p>Anyone, even the fairly imperceptive, can identify problems, but few people have the initiative to tackle them. As novelist John Galsworthy observed, "Idealism increases in direct proportion to one's distance from the problem." As rule, don't voice complaint about a problem until you're 1) able to put forth a recommendation for solving it, and 2) willing to take an action to solve it.</p>
<p><strong>4. The size of the person is more important than the size of the problem.</strong></p>
<p>You can tell the caliber of a person by the amount of opposition it takes to discourage him or her. Joke writer Robert Orben says that he once saw an ad from an entertainer that read, "Lion tamer - wants tamer lion." Clearly, this performer wasn't looking for greatness but merely for something manageable. To lead at the highest level requires wrestling with problems seemingly beyond our ability to apprehend.</p>
<p><strong>5. Problems, responded to correctly, can propel us forward.</strong></p>
<p>Leaders are not discovered in the limelight; rather they are forged in the darkness under heat and pressure. Leaders gain respect on difficult terrain, after taking a few blows and being shaped by the problems they encounter. As a matter of fact, courage and valor go undetected until seen through the lens of adversity.</p>
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<div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 12:34 PM, Barrack Otieno <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:otieno.barrack@gmail.com">otieno.barrack@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<div>Alice,</div>
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<div>I may not share your opinion the study notwithstanding. The creation of an ICT ministry is important at this point in time because of the complexity of the sector. After listening to our learned colleagues dissecting the KC ammendment act of 2008 and reading an article in todays standard about the media act where they are refering to the act as "Mchuzi-Mix" am of the opinion that creating the ministry might be for greater national good otherwise we might continue finding ourselves in tussles due to the dynamic nature of the ICT industry. In as much us we are talking about convergence, we shouldnt forget to ask ourselves what is this that is converging, in my humble opinion this is where the problem begins, each sector needs to be ,managed as a separate entity if we are to derive benefits from it optimumly. The PS reminded us that there was no need to re-invent the wheel if we had working systems in other countires that we might emulate, in the same spirit could we get input from our friends in Uganda on whether the model is serving them. The issue is not just about having a ministry but a high level vehicle that deals solely with matters ICT.</div>
<div>Regards </div>
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<div></div>
<div class="Wj3C7c">On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 11:46 PM, alice <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:alice@apc.org" target="_blank">alice@apc.org</a>></span> wrote:<br></div></div>
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<div class="Wj3C7c">I agree with David on some of the aspects here.<br><br>We really don't need yet another ministry. Not for ICT. <br>A study of Kenya's institutional structures and models for implementing the National ICT plan conducted by IDRC in 2005 found " evidence of significant role confusion" and a lack of overall coordinating mechanisms among ICT related public institutions in Kenya.<br>
<br>So why not begin by addressing these challenges? more so within the context of the KC Amendment Act 2008.<br><br>best<br>alice<br><br>P.S Views expressed are personal and not a reflection of any of the organisations/institutions I am affiliated with.<br>
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<div>Hi Waudo<br>Would you rather belong to the ministry of science and technology?<br><br>I don't quite buy the idea that having a ministry is a panacea for anything. I also don't quite get the rationale for this clamour for 'our' ministry! Not with the many ict institutions, including ict board, already in place. Actually, you guys can have the information and comm ministry. We wud actually be happy to separate the laws. We in the media don't crave for much govt. For us the lesser govt the better bkos it doesn't add any value to our work nor do we depend on it. The framework for freedom of expression, the FOl, is all we need. And that isn't forthcoming soon despite dr ndemo's promises.<br>
Give us that and kenya will be a beautifu and prosperous place witht good govt.<br>My thoughts.<br><br>Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device<br><br>-----Original Message-----<br>From: "waudo siganga" <<a href="mailto:emailsignet@mailcan.com" target="_blank">emailsignet@mailcan.com</a>><br>
<br>Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:38:46 To: <<a href="mailto:dmakali@yahoo.com" target="_blank">dmakali@yahoo.com</a>><br>Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>><br>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: [DigAfrica] Uganda consumers get ICT lobby]<br><br><br>Talking of Uganda I have just learnt that they have a separate ICT<br>Ministry (headed by our good friend Mulira) and a completely separate<br>
Ministry of Information and NATIONAL GUIDANCE to regulate<br>media/broadcast content etc. I still believe in the superiority of a<br>distinct ICT Ministry model .<br>Waudo<br><br>On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 07:01:09 +0300, "alice" <<a href="mailto:alice@apc.org" target="_blank">alice@apc.org</a>> said:<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid"><a href="http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/-" target="_blank">http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/-</a> <<a href="http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/-" target="_blank">http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/-</a>><br>
/index.html<br><br>----------------------<br><br>Uganda consumers get ICT lobby<br>By ESTHER NAKKAZI<br><br>Posted Friday, January 9 2009 at 14:26<br><br>Dissatisfied ICT consumers in Uganda can now seek redress from the<br>
Uganda ICT Consumer Protection Association, in case of bad service,<br>substandard products and general unscrupulous practices by data and<br>voice service providers.<br><br>The new lobby, which starts work later this month, will particularly<br>
address the issue of slow data speeds delivered by Internet service<br>providers that do not correspond with the bandwidth paid for;<br>overpricing of services and substandard mobile handsets sold at rock<br>bottom prices through product promotions.<br>
<br>The lobby's agenda is to ensure that consumers get value for money;<br>act as an arbiter between consumers and service providers; be a<br>platform for redress; be a proactive independent body that will set<br>standards for service providers and also create an avenue for<br>
educating the public on consumer rights.<br><br>"We want to bring the different players together for the good of the<br>industry. Consumers will get to understand what the suppliers are<br>giving them and the service providers will in turn realise that they<br>
cannot get away with poor service," said James Wire Lunghabo,<br>chairman of the lobby and an IT expert at Linux Solutions.<br><br>Mr Lunghabo said the lobby is not out to antagonise service providers<br>but to hold them accountable and make them understand that "quality<br>
of service in the ICT sector is a right, not a favour."<br><br>The chairman of the Parliamentary ICT Committee Edward Baliddawa,<br>said, "The lobby is a good initiative that will create checks and<br>balances within the industry. It will go a long way in helping to<br>
educate consumers, most of whom do not have the capacity to verify<br>quality of services offered."<br><br>The lobby group will complement the regulator Uganda Communications<br>Commission, which is mandated by the government to do this work.<br>
<br>But critics say that though the Commission is mandated to handle<br>consumer complaints, the fact that it is funded by the service<br>providers, it cannot not be a fair arbiter.<br><br>The Commission is funded through licence fees paid by ICT operators,<br>
the government, a 1 per cent levy from operators' revenue under the<br>Rural Communication Development Fund and other fees, which the lobby<br>group says should be accounted for by an independent body. The<br>Commission runs a consumer relations desk that has been accused of<br>
being docile.<br><br>Commission officials said the new lobby is free to ask it for funding<br>as funds for such activities are available, given that the issue of<br>consumer protection is too big to be handled by a single entity.<br>
<br>"We welcome every initiative and will be glad to have civil society<br>and public collaboration. The issue of consumer protection calls for<br>concerted efforts by all stakeholders in the sector," said Fred<br>
Otunnu, the Director of Communications and Consumer Affairs at the<br>UCC.<br><br>However, some industry players have already expressed reservations,<br>saying that if the lobby is to be funded by the Commission, it will<br>
be controlled by the government and so lose its independence.<br><br><a href="http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/-" target="_blank">http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/-</a> <<a href="http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/-" target="_blank">http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/512428/-/6437suz/-</a>><br>
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<br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Barrack O. Otieno<br>ISSEN CONSULTING<br>Tel:<br>+254721325277<br>+254726544442<br>+254733206359<br><a href="http://www.issenconsult.com/" target="_blank">www.issenconsult.com</a><br>
<a href="http://projectdiscovery.or.ke/" target="_blank">http://projectdiscovery.or.ke</a><br>To give up the task of reforming society is to give up ones responsibility as a free man.<br>Alan Paton, South Africa<br></blockquote>
</div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Barrack O. Otieno<br>ISSEN CONSULTING<br>Tel:<br>+254721325277<br>+254726544442<br>+254733206359<br><a href="http://www.issenconsult.com">www.issenconsult.com</a><br><a href="http://projectdiscovery.or.ke">http://projectdiscovery.or.ke</a><br>
To give up the task of reforming society is to give up ones responsibility as a free man.<br>Alan Paton, South Africa<br>