Dennis Lumula

Change Agent and Transformational catalyst in the leadership and corporate space.

[Kylie @KylieHopkinsX]

I PITIED MY OLD classmate.

I met an old class mate, we had not seen each other for about 30 years.

When I saw him again, this time at a hotel lobby, he was looking simple. He wore simple clothes. I felt touched.

[George Mack @george__mack]

The most useful razors and rules I've found:

1. Bragging Razor - If someone brags about their success or happiness, assume it’s half what they claim

If someone downplays their success or happiness, assume it’s double what they claim

2. High Agency Razor - If unsure who to work with, pick the person that has the best chances of breaking you out of a 3rd world prison.

3. The Early-Late Razor - If it's a talking point on Reddit, you might be early. If it's a talking point on LinkedIn, you're definitely late.

4. Luck Razor - If stuck with 2 equal options, pick the one that feels like it will produce the most luck later down the line.

I used this razor to go for drinks with a stranger rather than watch Netflix. In hindsight, it was the highest ROI decision I've ever made.

5. Buffett's Law - "The value of every business is 100% subject to government interest rates" - Warren Buffett

6. The 6-Figure Razor - If someone brags about "6 figures" -- assume it's closer to $100K than $900K.

7. Parent Rule - Break down the investments your parents made in you: Time, Love, Energy, and Money.

If they are still alive, aim to hit a positive ROI (or at least break even.)

8. Instagram Razor - When you see a photo of an influencer looking attractive on Instagram -- assume there are 99 worse variations of that photo you haven't seen.

They just picked the best one.

9. Narcissism Razor - If worried about people's opinions, remember they are too busy worrying about other people's opinions of them. 99% of the time you're an extra in someone else's movie

10. Everyday Razor - If you go from doing a task weekly to daily, you achieve 7 years of output in 1 year. If you apply a 1% compound interest each time, you achieve 54 years of output in 1 year.

11. Bezos Razor - If unsure what action to pick, let your 90-year-old self on death bed choose it.

12. Creativity Razor - If struggling to think creatively about a subject, transform it:

• Turn a thought into a written idea.
• A written idea into a drawing.
• A drawing into an equation.
• An equation into a conversation.

In the process of transforming it, you begin to spot new creative connections.

13. The Roman Empire Rule - Historians now recognize the Roman Empire fell in 476 - but it wasn't acknowledged by Roman society until many generations later.

If you wait for the media to inform you, you'll either be wrong or too late.

14. Physics Razor - If it doesn't deny the law of physics, then assume it's possible. Do not confuse society's current lack of knowledge -- with this knowledge being impossible to attain.

E.g. The smartphone seems impossible to someone from the 1800s -- but it was possible, they just had a lack of knowledge.

15. Skinner's Law - If procrastinating, you have 2 ways to solve it:

• Make the pain of inaction > Pain of action
• Make the pleasure of action > Pleasure of inaction

16. Network Razor - If you have 2 quality people that would benefit from an intro to one another, always do it.

Networks don't divide as you share them, they multiply.

17. Gell-Mann Razor - Assume every media article contains a % of false information.

Sandbox the article from your worldview until you've:

• Seen primary sources
• Spoken to 3 domain experts

18. Taleb's Surgeon - If presented with two equal candidates for a role, pick the one with the least amount of charisma.

The uncharismatic one has got there despite their lack of charisma. The charismatic one has got there with the aid of their charisma.

[All Blacks @AllBlacks]

A huge shift from the boys in Paris 🖤

#AllBlacks

[Marcus Lemonis @marcuslemonis]

Business is about connecting with people. Do you agree?

[Africa Dialysis @africadialysis]

@renal_ke @NHIF_KE @MOH_Kenya @NCDAK @ngigi_dr @AhmedTwahir1 @AhmedSokwala @Cofpak_Official @daktari1 @DrPeterKamunyo @KNH_hospital This will end the ability of patients to receive care at any private or faith based hospital in Kenya - the rates in Kenya are the lowest in the region already and patients are under-dialyzed as they only receive coverage for 2 sessions per week.

[Absa Bank Kenya @AbsaKenya]

.@JeremyAwori I applaud teachers and parents for making personal sacrifices to ensure that our children can continue learning despite the intermittent interruptions of Covid-19 . #ForceForGood

[Mohamed Wehliye, MBS @WehliyeMohamed]

We need to stop this madness and come up with a comprehensive framework to deal with this waste. What this means is we are developing at half the pace we should be developing. We are not getting value for our money. We need a solution for this problem!

[Mohamed Wehliye, MBS @WehliyeMohamed]

Same happens re the national government projects. Meaning of the 500b or so that goes into national govt dev budget, only around 250b of it ends up as national assets. That is why we are spending a lot of money on devt but the assets on the ground are mediocre. No value for money

[Mohamed Wehliye, MBS @WehliyeMohamed]

In summary, most county projects/assets are worth max 50% of their book value (value recorded in their books). Assume 30% of the 300b annual allocation to counties is used for development. That is 90b. 50% of that is 45b that is not reflected in the projects.

[Mohamed Wehliye, MBS @WehliyeMohamed]

An engineer has to certify that the 54m work is worth in fact worth 100m. Eats 10% of the 54m or no certification. Remember the work is only worth 50m. The guy who is supposed to release the 💰wants his/her share.

[Mohamed Wehliye, MBS @WehliyeMohamed]

Because of pending bill problems & also greed, the winner of the contract plans for at least 20% mark up - of the original amount. That is 20m target.

74m less 20m is 54m.

Work that was supposed to be done for 100m is now going to be done using 54m?

Oh wait!

[Mohamed Wehliye, MBS @WehliyeMohamed]

Let's do the maths.

A county project is awarded for 100m.

VAT is 16%

Money going into the actual project is 84m? Wait!

The winner of contract most likely pays 10% of the original 100m to be awarded the contract. That is 10m

project money reduces to 74m.

[H.E. Amb. Wanjikú|• @MsWWanjiku]

Congratulations @JustinHarding60 on your spectacular win 🏆 at the @KenyaOpenGolf Kenya is Magical🏌️🏽@EuropeanTour

[AFP News Agency @AFP]

US President Joe Biden's administration offers its "strong support" to Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to lead the WTO, clearing a path for her to become the body's first female and first African leader https://t.co/nRHlLZFJw7

[Business Insider @BusinessInsider]

How startups can better compete with Big Tech, according to the legendary former Cisco CEO who oversaw 180 acquisitions https://t.co/l3LRxjHVQE

[Dennis Lumula @dlumula]

All the best Larry

[Larry Madowo @LarryMadowo]

🥁🥁🥁 I’m anchoring BBC World News America for the first time today.

It’s a busy show for a busy world.
Watch LIVE at 5pm ET on @PBS across America + @BBCWorld globally at 10pm GMT (1am EAT, 11p CET)

[Dennis Lumula @dlumula]

Mature democracies previously thought to be immune to electoral upheaval are re-writing the power grab book. We hope the rule of law prevails.

[The Guardian @guardian]

Republicans aren't conceding – and Democrats are bringing a knife to a gun fight https://t.co/yFtKtH3mgi

[PGA TOUR @PGATOUR]

Recoil with the driver.

A walk-in birdie.

And a catch-up with the Las Vegas local.

Kevin Na plays the 18th hole at Shadow Creek prior to THE CJ CUP.

(presented by @BetMGM)

[Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist @mohammedhersi]

@CollinsWanyama Tolerance of mediocrity is the biggest problem in Kenya. We make failure acceptable.

[Mohammed Hersi : Mr Optimist @mohammedhersi]

While many employers take offence when they get to hear that their staff were spotted attending an interview I encourage them to do so .It may just help them discover that the grass is not that greener , if indeed it is greener it is healthy to challenge me to water our side.