Biting off more than you can chew!
Jul 26, 2008
Lately I have been thinking about the phenomenon of ‘biting off more than you can chew’ that is so characteristic of Ugandans and africans in general.
Lately I have been thinking about the phenomenon of ‘biting off more than you can chew’ that is so characteristic of Ugandans and africans in general.
This is a situation where one willingly accepts responsibility for tasks they will never accomplish to the end. Surprisingly, this phenomenon cuts across all spheres of life and does not depend on age or literacy level! Thus it is not uncommon to find a well-meaning university lecturer taking up responsibility to supervise as many students’ research projects, often resulting in grief and tears for the student!
This is because, the lecturer will ‘suddenly’ realise they are too busy, have too many projects and students, and cannot cope! The unfortunate common consequence will be to forget about deadlines and throw a couple more years into that five-year PhD or three-year M aster’s course regardless of whether it is funded or not! And to the couple intending to tie the knot, with all the excitement and pressure welling up, the need to delegate to friends to oversee affairs is more than a necessity.
thus, a well-meaning friend offers to oversee the music system, bridal entourage, catering services etc. Clearly, the well-intentioned fellow will have his plate too full and fail to deliver, so more tears, and disappointment if not rage will ensue! But couldn’t this have been foreseen and avoided?
Jenny Ruth Asiimwe
Arizona
This is a situation where one willingly accepts responsibility for tasks they will never accomplish to the end. Surprisingly, this phenomenon cuts across all spheres of life and does not depend on age or literacy level! Thus it is not uncommon to find a well-meaning university lecturer taking up responsibility to supervise as many students’ research projects, often resulting in grief and tears for the student!
This is because, the lecturer will ‘suddenly’ realise they are too busy, have too many projects and students, and cannot cope! The unfortunate common consequence will be to forget about deadlines and throw a couple more years into that five-year PhD or three-year M aster’s course regardless of whether it is funded or not! And to the couple intending to tie the knot, with all the excitement and pressure welling up, the need to delegate to friends to oversee affairs is more than a necessity.
thus, a well-meaning friend offers to oversee the music system, bridal entourage, catering services etc. Clearly, the well-intentioned fellow will have his plate too full and fail to deliver, so more tears, and disappointment if not rage will ensue! But couldn’t this have been foreseen and avoided?
Jenny Ruth Asiimwe
Arizona