Creativity at it's unstoppable best.

Michael Jackson, the self styled King of POP who still had the mind of a child-turned prince. May his innocent heart and soul rest in peace. As I write this I’m listening to his message to the media, ‘Leave me alone’. This song itself speaks on behalf of many celebrities caught up in the whirlwind that is fame. Princess Diana would definitely relate. So would Hugh Grant, Britney Spears, Kanye West, Eminem and many others who have expressed their physical and verbal distaste with those placing them in the metaphorical, yet very real, version of a goldfish bowl.

What a shame. How can a society, as civilized as we claim to be, permit the wreaking of such havoc on our people. Obsessed with success and pole position in a capitalist driven rat race, we tend to gravitate towards those who actually achieve it. And why not. I too, don’t mind knowing how they did it, or how you did it. But must it be that we should place a microscope onto every aspect of a person’s life?

I’m not sure.

Michael was placed in a celebrity goldfish bowl since the age of 5. That’s literally 45 years of microscopic scrutiny, interrogation, con artists, gold diggers, superficial people. Can you blame him from shying away? Becoming a recluse? I simply can’t. There is only so much one person can take, even someone with the unstoppable creative genius of Michael Jackson. The sad truth is, like Paul Gascoigne, we let him go long before he announced his fated 50 concerts. He continued to talk about how many people had let him down. Shunned him in his true time of need. The historical moment of truth.

We all know that ostracism and stigma are all realities, but this is what happened to Michael Jackson. The kid who wanted to make up for his lost years of an ordinary childhood by building Neverland ranch. A savvy business man, yes. Once. Apparently he had no idea he signed for 50 concerts, and thought it was 10. Wow. The question I’m asking is where were the people around him? His management team. I mean, seriously. How could someone in as frail a condition as that be expected to train for 50 concerts from March onwards? I think it’s a total disgrace.Clearly, the major motivating factor was of a commercial nature, no doubt fueled by a desire to bring some buzz to a city trying to climb out of recession. This was coupled by Michael’s own desire to say goodbye to his fans. You and me. This desire was undoubtedly built upon, overhyped and translated into the insanely preposterous concept that became a 50 concert tour. This tour was an illusion to any who consider what was being truly asked of Michael in hindsight.

Celebrities who attain this longevity of stardom are naturally assumed to be independent, self-sufficient and able to have their own best interests at heart. Michael didn’t love himself, and we needed to accept this fact much earlier than last week. He wanted love and couldn’t get enough because the love that he did get always had a dark moment around the corner.

Michael was destroyed. Destroyed by a machine fueled by greed, image, indifference and summary condemnation. I grew up on Michael Jackson, along with everyone lucky enough to do so. He was, is and always will be a legend. The effect he had on people is ironically, of an intangible, non-commercial nature, and oh am I glad to say it. His dance moves and creative genius brought light to people everywhere, especially those most repressed. Black or white, he raised the much needed self esteem of people all across the world. He was and still is our star.

It’s this impact on collective self-esteem that I call the ‘MJ effect’. President Obama, has just done it too, having shown the whole world that anyone can do what they want to do and succeed anywhere on this green earth. As long as they have the audacity to hope. Sometimes, all it takes is a thought, (or indeed a melody) coupled with determination and self-belief. Michael Jackson, Joseph Kennedy, Obama have applied the theory.

It’s our turn. Do the moonwalk.

Michael, I know you are finally at peace, and for this, I am glad. Hopefully, you will let the world learn a lesson with your story.

RIP

‘Denny Crane.’ (Go on, it’s okay, you can say your name too.)

So I was watching Boston Legal the other day, and cannot be more surprised each time I watch those lawyers go about their business. On the one hand, they have infinitely entertaining social lives whilst on the

Sky's your limit..or is it?

job, although this is obviously for the benefit of us, the audience. Nevertheless,  the nonchalant way in which they go about their daily office activities is most fascinating to me. Why? Because it is these same people in the court room fighting for the rights of the less privileged, innocent and victimised. And winning too. I must say that my favorite character in the show has to be Alan Shore. For his less than normal way of going about things in the office, he still manages to get his job done, and in excellent fashion it must be said.

Whilst thinking back on the show in which Mr. Shore manages to defeat the tobacco company and pharmaceutical company two cases on the trot. The odds against him were pretty much impossible, however, as is with traditional Hollywood-style fairy tales, our hero Alan wins. The victory and bragging rights aside, what’s special here is the way he wins. The way he articulates his point from a point of seemingly imminent defeat. No wonder Denny Crane refers to doing the impossible as pulling a ‘rabbit out of the hat’. He’s right. Alan Shore seems to always have the knack to pull that rabbit of the hat when it’s crunch time.

He is clearly one of those personalities any right-thinking decision maker would want to have on their team. I know I would. Anyway, that’s not the point here. The heart of the matter is simple. Alan Shore’s ability to ‘negotiate’ with the jury is a perfect example of what it takes to make it in this life. I see it all the time. Some people have it and others don’t . The ironic, partly sad thing is that everyone has it, but everyone won’t. Why? Some just can’t be bother to go that extra mile, whilst others don’t have the self esteem to believe in their own abilities to negotiate.

Life is one entire negotiation. Putting the whole theory of fate aside, I’m not sure many can dispute the fact that the outcome of a scenario is influenced heavily by your natural and/or conditioned ability to negotiate and achieve a best case scenario. Say, for instance you are in the store looking for a…high tech gym cycle. so, you see the price tag, and ‘patiently’ wait for the customer staff to ask if you need any help.

‘Can I help you sir?’ Finally. Okay, so having informed you of the price being the lowest one yet this year you ask yourself if you can get it lower.

‘I’m already doing you a favour here Sir, you won’t find it lower anyway where else.’

Your woman friend arrives. ‘Heeeey! Are you trying to hint something by getting me that bike?’ You politely laugh it off.

‘No…he won’t go any lower than this price. I don’t know how to handle it.’

She’s like… ‘Okay, cool. Let me see what I can do’. After a few seconds she gets a 10% discount.

She didn’t even demand any credit for her performance. She just said…

‘Okay, I’ll ride it every week. Twice. Thanks’

You ask her how she did it, and she told the staff manager…

‘I really need this actually, but I only need it if I’m single by tonight’.

‘Why by tonight?’ The manager asks…

‘Oh, because if If I’m not single by tonight then it means I won’t need to get in better shape with this bike.’

‘Right, well I believe you won’t be single any longer. Take it for 10% off.’

She tells you that the only reason why he let it go lower was two reasons.

One: a female came into the fray, sporting a dress code combo only achieved by few.

Two: it was highly unlikely she would come back to get it, especially because you are the one paying for it.

The manager had calculated all of this as events unfolded, and decided that given recessionary-inspired pressure from his superiors to dispose of excess inventory, he would give her whatever she wanted. She got it. This is a simple example that illustrates the fact that negotiations happen everywhere, regardless of where you are. The courtroom, boardroom, train station, restaurant, market, street corner and so on. It doesn’t really matter, you are negotiating with someone or something, in one way or the other, and depending on your performance, you will either get your best case scenario, worst case scenario, or somewhere in between.

You choose…we all choose. I can’t emphasise this point enough. That we simply all choose the extent to which we act on our individual potentials to strike the best deal. So, whether it be a matter of trade negotiations; contractual negotiations, there are always those moments of silence where you can step up and strike a point home that changes the whole dynamic of outcomes for your pending agreement. It also clearly depends on a number of other factors, such as bargaining power etc. but the ultimate goal is to attain a best case scenario regarding your circumstances.

Lawyers, such as Alan Shore shows, negotiate towards outcomes which are semi permanent in a very formal atmosphere. Business executives negotiate towards outcomes that also affect other people, but the outcomes do not affect as wide a population as the law does. Everyone however, CEOs’ and business executives included, have to negotiate on an informal basis outside of their working hours in one way or the other.

David negotiated his ability to defeat Goliath with one rock. The underdog always has a chance, and if you belong in this category, always remember that moment of silence, when it might just be your turn to speak up and achieve a positive outcome for yourself and possibly many others. Keep quiet and remain in panic, and you will be leaning more towards a worst-case scenario. So, I encourage anyone and everyone reading this to be pro-active in all your negotiations, and look forward to slinging a few more interesting examples your way.

Good luck.

I’ve decided to begin a small journal of stuff I will do/ experience for the first time and see how it all goes. This is my first summer in London, finally. Although I won’t be spending the whole time here, I look forward to seeing mush more it in the kind of ‘daylight’ I’m used to seeing when I’m in Malawi. Interesting how the weather can impact on one’s mindset (consciously or subconsciously, positively or not so much). Coming from Glasgow (as we speak), I’ve seen the chirpy personality that can suddenly paint the face of any city’s  population. When the sun comes out. Waking up to darkness on a Monday during anybody’s credit crunch  is clearly not the ideal way to make a naturally good impression on your first day at work. A childhood buddy of mine, now a lawyer, promptly informed me of the effect the weather can have. Simply put, winter far above the equator can be very depressing, especially of all you are seeing is concrete, four walls and one ceiling most of everyday. If one doesn’t maintain a good level of activity that helps release endorphins (i.e. gym,  it’s not easy. Trust me on that.

Anyway.

I’ve adapted quite well to the freeze, drizzle and all of that. I have honestly surprised myself. I can attribute this process of acclimatization to the database that is my music. Coming from the warm heart of Africa, I can’t help but naturally lighten up my room with some music. That’s just what we do. I listen to everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. How often I listen to what is another story. So, in making it through a cold winter with my music and performing decently on the academic front, I look forward to a brand new experience. The experience of London in summer, with no lectures to make. Don’t get it misconstrued though, productivity is definitely on the agenda. That is by default. So, in my first piece under my slot ‘The 1st time’, I’m happily waiting to give out seconds on my London summer experience. A bit of sunshine for a recession did no one any harm. Come and eat!

Let me do the cordial thing and introduce my self. My name is not Prince Malawi. I figured that you guessed that already. Anyhow, formalities aside, this is my first blog. So? That may be the question you are asking, and mumbling to yourself why that is such a significant thing to yourself. In your own little personal world and mind’s eye.

Some call  me God(i) for short. Call me what you will, as you probably already know me by now if you are reading this. Either way, I look forward to introducing you too my world. I hope you enjoy yourselves. Sit back relax and enjoy the ride. The topics I will be covering include business commentary, football opinion, clothing lines and fashion, music and creativity, meditation and relaxation, and general breaking news regarding all current affairs, as well as those in the past and those in the future. Take a deep breath as we begin the journey. It’s going to be one hell of a ride. I can guarantee that.

2009, let’s go.

Sincerely…