Between the Lines: Insights on Books, Partnerships and the Sporting World

It's been a month of Sundays but, I hope you're doing well.

Everyday, the world is deeloping to better standards, especially technologically, and the need to keep in step with the advancements isn't a choice but a necessity.

This reminds me of the recent partnership between Rwanda Development Board and Zipline, an American company focused on designing, manufacturing, and operating delivery drones in various countries globally.

This particular deal is set to boost Rwanda's tourism by using Zipline delivery services.

The tenets of the partnership, according to a Press Release dated February 12 by Zipline and RDB, include:

Promoting “Made in Rwanda” products: Zipline, in collaboration with RDB, will deliver high-quality Made in Rwanda fashion and souvenir items to lodges and hotels across the country.

This particular deal is set to boost Rwanda's tourism by using Zipline delivery services.        

This initiative aims to boost local businesses, enhance the visibility of Rwandan products, and contribute to the growth of the nation’s creative economy.

Conserving Rwanda’s mountain gorilla habitats: a portion of the fee paid for every delivery completed by Zipline within Rwanda’s tourism sector will go towards the Volcanoes National Park Expansion project, which is a critical initiative to support the conservation of mountain gorilla populations and other endangered wildlife. 

Logistical efficiency and sustainability: By utilizing Zipline’s autonomous drone technology, the partnership will streamline the delivery process, reducing delivery times and improving the overall efficiency of supply chain logistics.

This is an interesting venture, and is another milestone for Rwanda, which serve as one of the major distribution center for Zipline.

Now, taking a break from technology, there's a significant shift (I'm avoiding to call it a development) in Kenya's sports landscape.

The better part of the sport has been taken over by politicians and other individuals with political ambitions.

This shift has not been about fostering genuine athletic prowess or nurturing youth potential; instead, it has become a strategic tool for political branding and maneuvering, often at the expense of genuine sports development.

As a result, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) finds itself sidelined, its authority and potential to genuinely uplift the sports domain diminished and disregarded.

We published an opinion piece about this shift.

In all forms, the scenario is stark: politicians, armed with resources and a keen eye for opportunities, have hijacked sports tournaments (through sponsorship and branding), particularly football, turning them into spectacles of political showmanship.

The better part of the sport has been taken over by politicians and other individuals with political ambitions.        

While supporting talent is good, and actually starts from the very villages which seem to have been hijacked, better ways exist, like identifying and promoting talented athletes through training, building sports acaedemies, renovating and bbuilding new playgrounds and stadia, among others, instead of chasing fleeting fame.

Of course, it's easy to get carried away by the wave of life's haps and mishaps, and it remaining effective and focused may be challenging.

In his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic approach to self-improvement, emphasizing principles that empower individuals to achieve success while maintaining integrity and balance in their lives. 

This book serves as a roadmap to becoming highly effective.

We reviewed the book for you to give you an understanding of the nuggets therein.

Covey handles the habit of being proactive.

Covey emphasizes the importance of taking initiative and responsibility for one’s actions and choices. 

Being proactive means recognizing that we have control over our responses to circumstances, regardless of external factors. 

He equally handles the habit of starting with the end in mind.

“Begin with the end in mind” means starting any endeavor by clearly defining your ultimate goal or desired outcome. 

Being proactive means recognizing that we have control over our responses to circumstances, regardless of external factors.         

It involves visualizing success, setting SMART goals, planning strategically, aligning actions with objectives, and remaining adaptable to changes.

This habit encourages individuals to envision their goals and desired outcomes before taking action.

You would gain more from reading the full review and other compelling articles on our website.

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Enjoy the rest of the month.

Ciao for now.