As the Future Catches Brunei

When I first joined the agency, my PS showed me his favourite book entitled 'As the Future Catches You' written by Juan Enriquez, a Harvard Professor. It's a very interesting book, the typefonts different on every page and every few sentences and every few words, sometimes certain pages only have a few words but most importantly emphasising the important materials and points that are discussed and yet surprisingly it's an Economics book. It talks about how countries now facing a series of changes, be it political, economic or scientific, if we do not catch up with these 'future' changes, we will be left behind, and that only those with knowledge to sell will be the winner. Interestingly enough, it spends a couple of pages on Brunei. The descriptions unflattering but very painfully close to home. I don't want to get into trouble so I won't go into details but if you get hold of the book, read those bits and reflect.

I remembered the book as yesterday, interestingly enough, I received an email which talks about Reflect and Act. I thought it was a useful read for us here in Brunei as we reflect about our future. You might learn something, even though, strictly speaking we are not the target of this email. But take away the oil wealth, this email might be speaking to us:-

The difference between the poor countries and the rich ones is not the age of the country. This can be shown by countries like India and Egypt, that are more than 2,000 years old and poor. On the other hand, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, that 150 years ago were inexpressive, today are developed countries and are rich.

The difference between poor and rich countries does not reside in the available resources. Japan has a limited territory, 80% mountains, inadequate for agriculture and cattle raising, but it is the second world economy. The country is like an immense floating factory, importing raw materials from the whole world and exporting manufactured products. Another example is Switzerland, which does not plant cocoa but has the best chocolate in the world. In its little territory they raise animals and plant the soil during 4 months per year. Not enough, they produce dairy products of the best quality. It is a small country that transmits an image of security, order and labour, which made it the world's safe.

Executives from rich countries who communicate with their counterparts in poor countries show that there is no significant intellectual differences.

Race or skin colour are also not important: immigrants labelled lazy in their countries of origin are the productive power in rich European countries.

What is the difference then?

The difference is the attitude of the people, framed along the years by the education and the culture.

On analysing the behaviour of the people in rich and developed countries, we find that the great majority follow these principles in their lives: (a) Ethics, as a basic principle, (b) Integrity, (c) Responsibility, (d) Respect to the laws and rules, (e) Respect to the rights of other citizens, (f) Work Loving, (g) Strive for Savings and Investment, (h) Will of Super Action, and (i) Punctuality.

In poor countries, only a minority follow these basic principles.

We are not poor because we lack natural resources or because nature is cruel to us. We are poor because we lack attitude. We lack the will to comply with and teach these functional principles of rich and developed countries.

If you don't forward this message, nothing will happen to you. Your pet will not die, you will not be fired, you will not have bad luck for seven years and also you will not get sick.

If you love your country, let this message circulate, for a major quantity of people could reflect about this and CHANGE, ACT!!