As I look at my diary to see what ’ s next in my days ’ objective , I receive a call from the reception . I am told there is an elderly man waiting to see me . I didn ’ t expect that . Thought it was a surprise visit from one of my uncles . They always do that . But anyways . I love taking the walk to the reception to see my visitors there . Some of them are just a quick chit chat and they are gone . The receptionist winks and moves her head sideways to signal where my visitor was seated . I actually didn ’ t know him , but courtesy and respect require politeness . “ Excuse me , Sir , I am Herman ,” I said to him .

The old man uses his walking stick to lift himself up from the seat and straighten up his frail body . With a broad smile , cutting through his hairy face , he boldly and confidently introduced himself . And then a long story of how he is a good friend of my uncles in the village followed . I immediately knew where this was going .

So I invited him to follow me to my office . I offered him a cup of coffee as he pensively thought , his gaze firmly fixed on the floor wondering where to begin . Then , poking the floor with his walking stick , he started to explain why he came .

The son is a graduate of one of these new Universities . He is a “ great guy ” as he describes him . He explains how they have struggled to educate him . Then he carefully settles his walking stick on the side of the armchair , reaches into the inner pocket of his jacket , and removes an envelope . Inside , he removed the CV and copies of the certificates . I am quiet but intensely looking into his face and zoned out into an intriguing question ; what has gone wrong these days ?

I finally broke my silence and asked the old man . “ Thank you so much for your effort and finding time to come , but where is this graduate ?” He tried to explain something but I interjected , “ he is the one who should

Something has gone wrong . I believe we have all missed the boat . The boat has long sailed away and we are still waiting . There is a serious drift that has thrown the success pathway of yesteryears out of the window . During our days , education used to be the pathway to success . We used to read , try to get a decent education , get a good job , and then work your way to success . That was the pathway . be here right now , explaining himself out , after all , he is a graduate .” We concluded and I agreed to get in touch with the son and then see what happens . My worry is the increasing number of parents and uncles walking around offices looking for work for these indolent graduates .

Something has gone wrong . I believe we have all missed the boat . The boat has long sailed away and we are still waiting . There is a serious drift that has thrown the success pathway of yesteryears out of the window . During our days , education used to be the pathway to success . We used to read , try to get a decent education , get a good job , and then work your way to success . That was the pathway . With time , that pathway has gotten broader and busier but leading us to a dead end .

In business , a restructuring happens when the company fails to make small operational and incremental changes to keep in line with the changing business environment . When nothing is changed , it ’ s just a matter of time and the key business pillars become so ancient that they can ’ t meet current customer needs , stand the competition , and efficiently drive the company . At that point , the company is required to demolish the entire structure and remodel it to respond to current realities . This is not different from cultural and social-economic narratives and pathways , that have taken eons to change .

The “ education-to-success ” narrative has long been outdated but we are still on it . Riding a long-dead horse . In the Western

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And Where Is The Graduate Himself ? How To Grow Inwardly For Success