The Power of a system -By Ted Msipa(PhD)

Money Day Greetings my leader. I trust you had a great weekend which left you ready for the new week.

A common topic amongst friends and strangers is work and the workplace. Most people have a great deal to say about the non conducive conditions at their workplace. Others now call it the slave yard or Laban's place, after the Legendary biblical conman.

The reason why a lot of people complain about the work place is because they have a misconception about it altogether. The right approach is to understand the workplace as a system which well knit and highly synchronized so that it will achieve its set goals. The purpose of the work system is to feed into the big picture of the organization.

The purpose of each and every system is to primarily meet and protect the big picture of its creator. A case in point being social media such as Facebook and X. They are owned by Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk respectively. Mark Zuckerberg created the workplace and system called Facebook for his own benefit, if it benefits you, that is a secondary thing. His idea although beneficial to our communication needs was not aimed at us. If Facebook fails to meet his expectations he will pull the trigger and shut the system down.

This is why as working people we should not be unreasonable and expect the company that hired us to pay us a comfortable salary. That should be the exception than the norm. The primary purpose of a system is to benefit the owner of the system and then others along the way. Jesus modelled the principle of the system well when he cursed the fig tree after it failed to provide figs when, He the owner of the creation system was hungry.

Every system should create an advantage for its owner. Failure to do so will result in a system shut down or annihilation.

Now that we understand the workplace as a system, it is important to realize that it's primary purpose is to bring dividends and comfort to the owner. Let us appreciate the continuity which organizations provide in our lives by paying our salaries and ensuring that we have a regular cash flow to manage. The company is not responsible for the debts we create because of being impatient with the growth process. Sometimes what we need to do is practice delayed gratification. Mostly companies pay fair wages but we then tend to borrow more than we can afford hence our take home gets depleted to scary levels.

Currently we are in a terrible situation with mental health challenges. Most of them come from our failures to live within our means. Financial stress causes physical and mental distress.

Maybe it's time we all evaluate our priorities and check what can be delayed. Delay is never denial. We currently carry the unwanted stigma of having the highest suicide statistics in Africa.

The second half of the year has just begun let us be wiser in our financial approach before we lose too many homes and lives. The following nuggets may be useful.

1. Stop complaining about your salary, the company is trying under difficult conditions.

2. Your cash flow is a useful tool , learn to manage it well.

3. The owner of the company is looking at his big picture not your personal shenanigans.

4. Never share work-related problems and complaints with the workmates they will use them to sabotage you.

5. The most important person in a system is its creator.

6. Never allow the

spirit of ingratiitude to patronize you.

7. Delaying doing what you desire is called discipline.

8. No man ever got rich from a salary. Use it as a seed to greater things.

9. Workmates are not your friends, they are colleagues and most desire your position.

10. If you are no longer happy with the company you are working for you not a tree

May you be logical in your rational and get things done

Remember yesterday ended last night. Christ remains the ultimate.

Let's meet at the top

Ted Msipa (PhD)