Why Some Companies Grow While Others Fade: Think MPH, Jamaican Style

 

In Jamaica, we’ve seen businesses rise from humble beginnings to become household names — and we’ve also watched others crash and burn. So what’s the difference? Why do some companies survive the test of time, while others mash up? It comes down to three simple principles: MPH — not the speed limit, but something every business owner should live by.

 

M – Meritocracy

 

Jamaicans have a saying: "Every mickle mek a muckle," but that only works if the people putting in the mickles know what they're doing. Choose the right people for the job — not just who you know. Nepotism might feel like the easy route — giving a work to your cousin or friend — but ask yourself: Are they really the best fit? If your business is serious, then your hiring should be too. The success of your company depends on it.

 

P – Pragmatism

 

Jamaicans are known for being resourceful — “tun yuh han’ and mek fashion.” That’s pragmatism at its core. It doesn't matter where the idea comes from — foreign or yard — if it works, use it! Don’t get caught up in big talk or trying to follow some foreign model if it doesn’t fit your business. Whether the “cat” is black, white, or even purple — if it catches rats, keep it. What matters most is results, not appearances.

 

H – Honesty

 

We’ve seen too many businesses in Jamaica fall apart due to corruption and corner-cutting. Some start off with promise, but get caught up in badmind, greed, or shady dealings. The truth is, if the leader nuh have integrity, the whole ship can sink. Look at what happened with big foreign companies like Arthur Andersen. From the outside, it looked like things were running smooth, but behind closed doors, it was a different story. One audit later — and boom! — gone. In Jamaica, word travels fast. If you’re known to deal fair and square, people will support you. If not, “duppy know who fi frighten.”

 

Final Thoughts:

 

In the Jamaican business landscape, MPH isn’t just a clever acronym — it’s a survival code. Build on merit, stay practical, and always keep your business clean. Respect the process, respect your people, and above all — respect yourself.

1# Points to Ponder

 

Times goes by quickly, so don’t take it for granted. Before you know it, the baby that you held in your arms is graduating from school. Parents die and babies are born. For these reasons, consider the following gems:

·        Don’t waste your energy on the people, who don’t support you.

·        Don’t waste your energy on what others think about you.

·        Don’t waste your energy on a one-sided relationship.

·        Finally, don’t waste your energy on the people who need you occasionally. Remember, you are the prize not the option. Learn to know your worth.

Having a satisfying life

 

Don’t allow the frequency of intention to get distorted. Moving forward is the only option for the human species.  The past is to be referred to as a learning experience but never stay there for too long. Here are some tips to keep balance and stay relevant:

Sacrifice

If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, then what you want will become the sacrifice.

Hard Work

Don’t believe in luck, believe in hard work.

Consistency

Consistency is what transforms average into excellence.

Patience

If you are losing patience, then you are losing the battle.

Discipline

Motivation gets you going being; discipline keeps your growing.

Self Confidence

If I am accepted and liked, that is fine but I’ll be okay if they don’t accept or like me.

 

The Paperwork

 

Now that the work paradigm has changed, this is a great time to start a business. In the USA, all businesses starts with the paperwork. Here is a blueprint that will get you going in the right direction. Who knows, this venture could become a large corporation or serve a specified role. The foundation here will prevent future mishaps and are essential for a solid foundation in your business journey.

1.     Decide what product or service is needed for a particular niche? Ever wonder why Asians own 90% of the Black hair care industry? This group was savvy enough to listen and watch Black people’s wants and needs.

2.     Decide on a name that will appeal to your audience. Take your time in making that decision.

3.     Go to Register.com to find out if the name you chose for your brand is available for your domain name. If it is not available consider a different name. Remember, we are still in the planning stage.

4.     Buy your domain name. Any domain company is fine plus you can later transfer the name if you are not comfortable with the features that company is offering.

5.     Create a Gmail and Yahoo account that reflects the chosen name. Why two different email platforms? Use this Gmail account for all your social media accounts and the yahoo one for conversations.

6.     Create a professional email account. What is that? It is the email with info. For example, info@NewIdea.com.

7.     Create social media platforms for this name. i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, You Tube.

8.     Apply for an EIN number. Visit www.IRS.gov  EIN numbers are free. Yes, you can use your social security number but it is best to keep personal and professional matters separate.

9.     Establish a business checking account using the EIN number instead of using your social security number.

10.Create an LLC. This form is located on your State Government’s website. The price varies from state to state.

11.Go to Fiverr or any free-lance site and have them create a logo for you. Ask them for a media kit that includes vector and social media sizes. This way, you are consistent and avoids image confusion for the public.

12. Trademark name and logo, if this is a long term business idea. This will protect you from poachers.

Vybz Kartel and Buju Banton: Redemption or a Dangerous Message to Jamaica’s Youth?

 

On July 31, 2024, dancehall artist Vybz Kartel was released from prison in Jamaica after serving 13 years behind bars. Almost instantly, the celebration began. Within days, he made a dramatic return to the stage, with thousands of loyal fans filling up the Barclays Center in New York City. For many, this was more than a concert — it was a triumphant homecoming for an artist they believed was unfairly treated and whose music defined a generation.

Kartel’s release drew instant comparisons to another legendary figure in Jamaican music, Buju Banton, who walked out of a U.S. federal prison on December 9, 2018, after serving 10 years. His return was also met with mass celebration. Fans across the Caribbean and the globe packed venues during his “Long Walk to Freedom” tour. Both men, despite their pasts, were greeted not with shame or skepticism, but with open arms and roaring crowds. But as the rhythms thump and the lights flash, a deeper question lingers: What message are we sending to the next generation of Jamaicans?

We do not condemn Vybz Kartel or Buju Banton for turning the page and seeking redemption. Everyone deserves the chance to grow and evolve. Their musical talent is unquestionable. But the elevation of these men — as icons and symbols of resilience — speaks to a larger cultural issue. At what point does admiration for talent blur into glamorizing criminality and controversy?

Jamaican youth are watching. Many of them are growing up in communities where crime, poverty, and limited opportunities already weigh heavy. When they see imprisoned artists welcomed back with stadium-sized adoration, are they learning that notoriety is just another path to fame? The concern is not just about past actions — it’s about the present messages embedded in much of today’s music.

Dancehall lyrics have become increasingly vulgar, glorifying hypersexuality, materialism, and violence. Even reggae, long considered the spiritual and conscious heartbeat of Jamaica, is losing its footing to lyrics that mimic the very degeneracy it once stood against. What happened to the class and craft that once defined Jamaican music? There was a time when innuendo and metaphor ruled the dancehall.

Songs were cheeky, seductive, and smart — they left something to the imagination. Reggae carried messages of unity, struggle, and upliftment. Now, the envelope isn't being pushed, it’s being torn open. Graphic content dominates, and much of it can’t even be played on the radio.

This isn't just about taste — it's about legacy. Jamaica’s music has always been a powerful export, shaping global genres and inspiring movements. But what will the next generation inherit? A culture that celebrates sensationalism over substance?

We can cheer for redemption while still demanding better. Jamaican youth deserve more positive musical role models — artists who create with integrity, who uplift as they entertain. The industry has the power to shift the narrative, to encourage artistry that reflects the richness of our heritage, not just the flash of the moment. It’s time to bring back the balance. Let dancehall be vibrant, but not vulgar. Let reggae be real, but not reckless. Let’s preserve Jamaica’s culture, not just for today, but for the future.

10 teas to remember part 2

11. Rat ears (Saliva Serotina (Micrantha)

Rat ears or joy weed is a native plant to Brazil. It grows on in the tropical and sub-tropical countries across the world. It is found on banks and rough pasture lands and is a low growing bushy herb used as a cover or bedding plant. There are about 10 varieties in Jamaica and they are used here as tea that aids in whooping cough. In the Far East the stems are eaten, cooked with fish and rice. In Jamaica it used for biliousness and colic. When boiled with 'garden bitters' and a little salt added, it is good for constipation. As a tea it is good for fever. The Maroons called it Ò‰Ïmy medicine', good for almost everything. It is often recommended for constipation and use the clear juice squeezed out after applying salt to rub the chest. The leaves may be rubbed to the skin to control eczema. Boiled with wild mint, it is said to be good for the blood and is one of the most common medicines to clear the system.

12. Bissy (kola nut)

Bissy is the local name for kola nut. Since 1680 after it was brought to Jamaica on a slave ship, it became a popular drink, especially among people in rural parishes. Bissy was formerly an ingredient in cola bottle drinks. It is widely regarded for its medicinal properties because of its effect as an antidote for poisons. It relieves menstrual cramps, headache, gout, rheumatism, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. Bissy is further used in birth control preparations, aids in the control of diabetes, and overweight. The drink comes from the seed that is grated and brewed. It can be sweetened with sugar or honey. Some people say they drink it when they are ill but some say they just drink it as a tea for the great flavour.

 

Other teas:

1. Cocoa: Good with a little milk and a dash of vanilla.

 

2. Chocolate: Old-time chocolate tea is made from grated chocolate, boiled with milk, cinnamon leaves, vanilla, orange rind. Best had with a bit of hard dough bread and from an enamel mug.

 

3. Milo: Loved by the younger children.

 

4. Cucumber leaf: Good for jaundice.

 

5. Susumber leaf: Cold reliever.

 

6. Rice and pea bush: Good for congestion and colds.

 

7. Noni: Lowers high blood pressure.

 

10. Thyme leaf: Aids in delivery

 

11. Medina: Good for cold, fever and male virility.

 

12. Search-mi-heart: As the name suggests, it is good for the heart.

 

ABCs to a happy life

 

A – Avoid negative people and situations

B – Believe in yourself

C- Consider everything from different angles

D- Don’t give up

E- Enjoy life today for tomorrow may never come

F- Family and friends are hidden treasures; spend time with them

G- Give more than you plan to give because Karma is its own reward

H- Hang on to your dreams

I - Ignore the nonsense

J – Just do it

K – Keep on trying no matter how hard it gets

L – Love yourself 1^st and acknowledge the creator

M – Make it happen

O – Open your eyes to everything around you

P – Practice makes perfect

Q – Quitters never win

R – Read learn study

S – Stop procrastinating

U – Understand yourself 1^st and you will understand others

V – Visualize it

W – Want it more than anything

X – You already marked a spot in the world

Z – Zero is not on your target, so g for it!