I’m now in Jeans and a short sleeve shirt…………………………… ……………..I think I should relax some more.
September 5, 2008
On the first of July this year, my second anniversary in radio almost passed without notice. It actually took a txt from a listener congratulating me for surviving, to remind me I was two years on this job.
I thanked the listener for remembering and felt touched that it wasn’t only my programs director and my bosses who were monitoring my work…………but everyone else who allowed themselves to be bothered by radio.
Since then, I’ve been reviewing my work and how I have fared on the job so far. I’m humbled by the many subjects I have had to study – from law to sex preferences and the many interesting people I have met………..Politicians, academics……experts……..world leaders and my listeners and callers. I am also moved by the new learning’s and growths I have experienced.
While I can thankfully say I have grown in many areas or shed off many shells (and acquired some bad traits as well) there is still one thing I struggle with………………..I still take things too seriously.
I was trained as an accountant and worked as a treasury analyst in a multinational company. Everything was done by mail and in planning and review sessions. My first two years of work life were mainly in managing cashflows and overdrafts and managing our credit lines with bankers……………….Not exactly my definition of a relaxed environment. Usually I was required to wear shirts and trousers, sometimes suites and cuff-links. And for anyone who has observed dress code and behavior, it is obvious that what you wear affects how you behave. (Bankers wear suites for a reason)
I grew up with a speech impairment which I recovered from (By God’s grace) by carefully choosing my words and being meticulous in my speech. Till date I still stammer…but I manage it out when I calmly speak my words. The last thing you want to do is to hear me excited…………..or angry……………..I’m embarrassingly unable to utter my thoughts.
But after two years around the bends, I think I am ready for m big break. Ready to get out of my shell some more and ready to let myself loose. Sometimes I want to say something that just crossed my mind or let some thought run. Sometimes I feel like telling some politician “…….that’s not true……..” But often I feel I must be proper………..I must be professional………..I must be politically correct and all.
Throughout this week, I took off my suites and tires…….my shirts and cuff-links. Why? Well………I took them off because I want to relax some more. I want to lay back and put my feet on the table. I want to have a laugh at something I think is funny and say what is on my mind. I want to be me in my living room or sitting among my friends.
One of my colleagues and my Programs Director have been querying my new dress code and why I have been this casual throughout the week. My Boss asked whether my dress code really affects my attitude at work.
It sounds amusing to me as well when I ask “really do my clothes restrict me?” Well, think about it. What is your attitude to work on Friday ………….(when you go to work in your Friday wear or jeans and a t-shirt)? I have come to believe that we all get lighter and bubblier depending on what we are wearing and the mindsets with which we work.
That is why I have decided to put away my suites and ties and dress down to work from now on. (And I hope this resolution lasts.)
I realize that many entrepreneurs dress down to work because unconsciously it gives them the oomph to burst at work and deliver with the excitement. Dress codes go a milestone to affect how we think and our attitudes on the job. And since my objective is to relax some more and make lighter some of the issues we deal with, I am serving notice to all my office colleagues about my new dress code.
I hope to laugh some more and encourage my listeners to be more relaxed and lighthearted as well with some of the issues that affect our country. I hope to get less tight and boxed by the pressure to be formal and sanitized.
I hope to adjust to my new looks…………
Comments
26 Responses to “I’m now in Jeans and a short sleeve shirt…………………………… ……………..I think I should relax some more.”
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well kwadwo i couldnt agree with u more that casual wear really relaxes u and makes u think better. am currently in medical school and am at a loss as to why our consultants insist that we wear ‘official’ dress to the ward because it makes us look ‘professional’. its interesting though that when we have visiting lecturers especially from the US they bring jeans and a whole lot of casual stuff to the ward and well, they are able to stil go about their business professionally.
i think Ghanaians in general are too up-tight about our appearance. maybe we need to invest more in the quality of our minds over the quality of our ward-robes. really if its ok to put on a traditional dress on a friday, why not on a monday or tuesday or wednesday……… we must learn to dress to suit our environment.
come to think of it,
I hadnt really noticed that what I wear, affects my mood.
But I guess it really does.
Unfortunately for me kojo, I cant choose what I wear. Im required to wear a skirt suite and sometimes a pant suite.
But I try to manage even in those.
Hi Kojo,
I also think you have done a good job. Keep it up.
I personally think you look better and younger dressed down.
I met you at a party once and you looked so much younger than you do in the suit and tie on TV! Go for it!
The secret to excellence, I have found, is to love your job.
Invariably, you will excel at it…which you have done.:-)
However, there are a few things I will like to bring your attention to, on your blog…
The word is SUIT ie. for the attire
and SUITE(pronounced sweet) ie. for large hotel rooms.
Also, with the use of punctuations to denote pauses, only three dots are necessary ie. (…)
Finally, the idiomatic expression “around the bend(s)” usually refers to insanity of some sort and not struggles, and I believe you aspire to be less “uptight”, not less “tight”
You do not have to publish this comment. In fact, I would prefer it if you didn’t. I just thought you would like to know.
There is a Fanti proverb that goes,”Nyaa oro twa kwan no, onnyim de n’akyir akyia.”
im inspired so much. im an administrator of a pre school or rather i shd say i run a school together with my mum. iv bn doing this work for e past 8 years! i have a staff of abt 16 and they all look up to me when it comes to how to dress up. These are women who are all older than i am! im only 30 years so u can imagine how old i was when i started this work. im a student as well and whenever i hv intensive lectures and dont come to work, i later find out that they r back to their bad way of dressing. even they cant handle their hair styles i agree that ud want to just want to go easy on e dress code but at least u look decent. thats 4 sure with e bit that iv seen of u but u know when people look up to u to emulate certain things from u, u find it hard to go easy. if its ok with u to go casual, then go and feel free if it makes u that way. i prefer to be in a pair of shorts and a short sleeved top which i stimes bring to work but look at me at Valley View Uni, where we cant even wear a trousers!!!! mercy!
HOW TO STOP VIOLENCE IN OUR POLITICS
WE CAN ORGANISE PEACEFUL ELECTION IN THIS COUNTRY BY PUTTING IN PLACE A SYSTEM THAT WILL ALWAYS DISCOURAGE TE RULING PARRTY FROM ABUSINGH INCUMBENCY. THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED BY PROHIBITING THE INCUMBENT GOVERNMEN FROM TAKING PART IN AN IMPENDING ELECTION.
THIS WILL REMOVE ANY SUSPICION IN THE OPPOSITION, AND TO ENSURE THAT THE PARTY IN POWER DOES NOT FORM ANY PARTY TO CONTEST ON IT BEHALF, WE SHOULD BAN THE FORMATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES AFTER A CERTAIN GIVEN TIME.
HOW CAN WE EXPECT THE JUCICIARY AND THE SECURITY AGENCIES TO BE FAIR IN AN ELECTION IN WHICH THE ONE WHO APPOINTED THE HEADS OF THESE INSTITUTIONS HAVE SPECIAL INTEREST.
I THINK IT IS HIGH TIME WE DEVELOP AN ELECTORAL OR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM TAKING OUR SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SITUATION INTO CONSIDRERATION. WE ARE IN AN ENVIORONMENT WHERE PARTIES IN POWER DUE TO THEIR CORRUPT PRACTICES ARE ALWAYS ADAMANT TO LEAVE OFFICE AND TO ASK SUCH PEOPLE TO BE REFEREES IN A GAME THEY ARE TAKING PART DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME. TAKE FOR EXAMPLE THE CASE IN WHICH THE GUSHIEGU DISTRICT CHIEF EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN ACCUSED AS MASTERMINDING THE SHOOTING AND THE BURNING OF HOUSES YET THIS SAME PERSON IS SUPPOSE TO BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT SECURITY COUNCIL.
APART FROM ENSURING FREE AND FAIR ELECTION THIS SYSTEM WILL REDUCE CORRUPTION DRASTICALY AS THE PEOPLE IN POWER WILL KNOW THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS THEY WILL LEAVE POWER IN AN UPCOMING ELECTION.
AGAIN THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE DECISIONS THAT MAKE ECONOMIC SENSE RATHER THAN POLITICAL SENSE LIKE CLEARING STREETS OFF HAWKERS AND PULLING DOWN BUILDINGS IN WATERWAYS.
I KNOW THE POLITICIANS WILL NOT ACCETP THIS SYSTEM BUT IS UP TO US THE CITIZENRY TO DECIDE WHAT WE WANT AND FORCE THEM TO ACCEPT IT.
Well Kojo, i respect you for your decisions and pray for God’s guidance and protection in all your undertakings. You have have been my mentor all this years and my inspirational backbone , my source of joy and happiness and sometimes when i am down you make me stand out to face the challenges of life. You made my day when you started the show last week Friday 12th september 2008 with an inspirational prayer. You have made me stand out amongst my friends and i pray and hope to meet you personally so that i might hnow who exactly Kojo Oppong Nkumah is and what he has made me become.
Iam aspiring to become one of the graetest graphic designers GH. has ever come acrosss.
well Kojo,there is one thing that you always said back in school and i still remember.You always said that, life is short so make the most of it.So to me,if you believe that wearing jeans and a short sleeve shirt is gonna make you relax more,then why not?Just go ahead and do it cos life is short.Enjoy your evening.
Kojo kudos. You really have come a long way. Anyway am in love with your voice so I listen to you every morning. Wish I could listen to you in the night too. I can tell by your voice that you enjoy your work! Congrats my boy.
I also went to Cape Vars but that was long before your time. Please try and correct your spelling mistakes. I don’t want people laughing at us.
Take care and every morning when you are on air, remember that theres this lady somewhere listening to you and she LOVES your voice.
yes i will agree with u i think over the past years u have indeed done a good job. lots of people wondered whether u could live up to expectation. i must say u impress me a lot a young man your age taking up such a challenge and doing the best of his best am impressed. talk of wanting to take things easy sometimes, join the club. but dont worry u’ll get better by the day. my tip when u decide to marry, do well to marry someone opposite in character and u will learn like i am doing now. GOd bless u and keep up the good work
i just want to say God should continue to bless and strengthen you. May you grow from strength to strength; from grace to grace. i pray that good health and longevity be your portion in Jesus mighty name. you know i just don’t love your voice, i love you. wish you all the best in life.
Kojo l’m indeed proud of you but not surprise. l followed your exploits from campus with the first campus newspaper, your project with SIFE and all l can say is that your Best is yet to be Seen.
Dont forget about our mantra Truth & Courage and more especially Humility (my addition)
Fellow Casfordian…………, Stay Blessed
I love you for that Kojo
Were you reading my mind dream-lover?
indeed i will speak my mind…. i’m not a hater but i seriously think that it doesn’t matter what YOU wear,….you gotta loose some pounds NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol
i agree with you 100 percent. i think it is about time we allow people to wear what they feel like wearing to work once they are comfortable i them.
kojo u are the best keep educating us
hey kojo! you have indeed come far and you have done a great job. i can’t help but agree with the author of a feature i read recently Mr. Nii Moi Thompson that you among the few best journalists who can compete with the best anywhere. i also agree with you., what you waer can indeed affect your work. reading your blog today can be said to be coincidental, today happens to be my fifth day working as a service personel and my supervisor says if you don’t dress properly there would be no assignments for you, she was talking from the ghanaian point of view of wearing clothes irrespective of our weather conditions. You’ve made me proud as well as all old students of St. Bernadette Soubirous school. you were two years ahead of me though but a mate of yours (Clement Adjavon) also happens to be my cousin. I aspire to be an excellent broadcast journalist. i graduated from GIJ five months ago and is currently a service personnel and i’ll appreciate it if you’d take time off your very busy schedule for me to tap a few of some techniques from you. who knows you may boast of me someday. I’d appreciate it if you don’t ignore my plea. THANKS.
hi kojo, the lord will be with you in the north. hope your people over there will learn something from the programme in order to give respect to human life.
Kojo,
15 days down the year 2009,
wanted to know if u are till keeping to your resolution.
i guess thus why you are at the youth power conference in that attar.
wanted to say hello put you left before the conference ended.
some of you are our inspiration, keep doing what God inspires you to .we are so proud of you.
say hello to Yaw for me.
Hi Kojo, good work done so far. I’m one of your fans. God richly bless you. But when are you going to get married. Marriage is good if you find the best partner. I’ve been in it for almost six years now and its been a success story to tell.Take care and don’t rush though.
is it possible to give this shout outs to major baba and family of darkuman,frank mensah of tema,emelia naa of labadi,ayisha malik(mama) of darkuman and lily desousa of redco flats @ adenta.its their boy dillinger from new york city.thx men.good job on ur programme as well.god bless u.
Is this Kojo guy the guy I know from UCC?
Master you are doing a good job
Hi Vince,
Just by calling U ‘Vince’, u’ll kno this is some1 from history.
I’m still in far away DR Congo but tryn 2 follow ur mov’t as n when i come. I’m just tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo proud of u bro. I always nu u had smthg special comin but cldn’t just think it cld be this grrrrrrrrrrrrr8. Keep it up.
I agree prrrrrrrrrfectly wi u ’bout “loosening” up a lil bit. just a lil bit…(50 Cent). sometimes i jus feel like even wearing shorts to lectures but…Dress code. Imagine that! Ever thot of that? try it bro. UR BOSS ‘LL HIT THE ROOF!!!
Be gud!
seriously? you suffered a speech impairment? wow! that makes your story even more incredible! i am also a SIFER and i dare say that though i dont know you personally, i feel like i can relate to your success. when komla left and you took over, everyday, we as your listeners saw or should i say “heard” you grow. and now we dont even want to venture out without hearing you on air. all the best and may you reach even greater heights!
Kojo,
feel free in your casual wear. I think you will always be smart, tolerant and freely move about in your office. You know, people are too careful when in suits!
hi Kojo,
didn; hear your voice this morning. guess ur in the relaxation mode already. what u wear may or may not affect the way u think and work. i’m in a skirt suit today and i really do not feel it’s a friday… can u imagine? i usually put on my friday wear every friday but cos i have a launch to attend, i hv to put on smtime that will make me look official. i was just smiling to myself when i started reading the first few paragraphs, cos they were things i’v been wanting to know. but you know, in as much as u feel good, more relaxed and does not affect the way u work and your output, i think you shd go for what will make u more comfortable my dear.
How about Ghanaians changing their mindset on the way they work on fridays?
Enjoy ur day Kojo.