“Black man time”
is a common phrase used in Cameroon. It is very normal for an event to start
2hours later than the scheduled time. It has gone so bad that if you hope to
start an event early, you have to actually give the guests or invitees a 2 or 3
hours time slot earlier. Even at that, the event won’t start early. We play
around so much with time; we don’t actually understand the consequences of
dishonoring time. Anyone who doesn’t keep to time they scheduled for an
appointment, tells people that;
1)
I am not disciplined.
2)
Other people’s time is not important to me.
3)
My word cannot be trusted. I said I will be here
at 3 am and arrived at 6am, next time don’t take my word for it.
4)
I do not have a steady plan by which I live by…I
flow with the wind.
5)
I am not a serious person.
6)
I cannot be trusted with responsibility. I can’t
make it in time to meet up any emergencies or deadlines.
Sometimes we dishonor appointments with mates, relatives,
and people we are conversant with. We just brush this bad attitude off because
we believe these people won’t mind us being late. Little bad habits stick and
actually become character. The bad habit of dishonoring time, could cost you a
career and to extremes someone’s life or even yours. How you honor time tells
people a lot about you;
1)
It says you are trustworthy and honor you word.
2)
It shows you are organized and discipline.
3)
It shows you can be trusted with responsibility.
4)
It shows you respect other. When you honor time
in keeping and appointment with someone else, you tell that person their time
is important to you.
5)
It says you are serious and mean business.
How you honor time as a student will have an effect on you
in your career. Our officials should learn to respect time and not leave crowds
of people standing in the sun. At our public offices, time should be respected.
Many people have missed important exams, interviews and opportunities because of
their attitude towards being on time. Take time seriously. Live on a schedule.
Don’t be blown by the wind. Time keepers live life to the full. Avoid wasting
time. Account for time. You waste it, you can’t return to get it back. Honor
appointments and be on time. Let us schedule events for a particular time and
actually start at that time. Time is precious; let us treat it as such.
God Bless!
Great Article.
ReplyDeleteYoung Cameroonians and even millennials plus young adults need to create a mindset that stimulate growth. Most university and professional graduates hope to seek employment in the civil service or scanty industrial landscape of the country. That alone should be enough to make every job seeker to know the situation of the job market.
Points to take note;
1 Cameroon is bilingual;
This is very important for English speaking Cameroonians. Majority of industries and international organization are found in the eight regions comprising francophone Cameroon. You must be fluent in both languages if you must stand out from the crowd.
Give back to the Community;
Its not only thinking of gaining a job from the government. Yes, there's no doubt that the economic conditions and living standards are very low. However, Cameroonians must think of giving back to the society. Donate to Charity, volunteer and work without pay ang build an experience. Learn other skills side-by-side education, and strive to do a part-time job while in school.
Revisit your Habits;
Its not doubt, alcohol is the number one killer of youth potential in Cameroon. Entrepreneurial minds can not blossom with alcohol infested brains. If young stars dream of a bright future, then we must limit drastically, if not abstain from alcohol consumption.
Reading and continues learning.
We must embrace education as the only way out of darkness, and into the glorious light. Reading will teach us new ideas, new habits, and secrets to break through from our present condition. Since politics has failed though the opposition, we must now take individual and small group approaches to change our immediate condition. Such small changes will only give birth to a new nation where development will expand from many directions making the whole landscape a favorable place to be.
Thanks a lot for your very constructive contribution...I have learned so much from it and will like to share it for others to learn from it as well...We as Cameroonians cannot move forward without constructive change of our minds and attitudes...
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