We are given the last chance.

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     Understand that responsibility is earned. It's not something you're entitled to. If someone is hesitant to give you additional responsibility, it's probably because you've been nonchalant with the responsibilities you already have. You might think, "But the responsibilities I have now are so petty/boring/stupid/etc., and if I'm given more of a challenge, I will take it more seriously," but that's a characteristic of irresponsible people;

    Deal with issues that are forced upon you Good examples of this could include dealing with an unplanned pregnancy; caring for a disabled child; or helping family members when they need help. Succinctly put when life gives you lemons you juice-'em and make lemonade. 

    whatever is in front of you. A responsible person does what they said they'd do because they said they would. Period. If you want to be seen as more responsible, think about the responsibilities you already have and take them more seriously, no matter how pointless they might seem. Consider it a way to pay your dues.

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   Stop making excuses. In any situation, there are always some factors we can't control. Irresponsible people tend to shift the blame onto those factors, and vocalize them as excuses. Anytime you make an excuse, it's like saying "I am not responsible for this because..." and what you're really saying is "I am not responsible." Pay attention to how you think and talk: do you find yourself making excuses? Excuses come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common is "I would/would've, avoid that t

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   Start small. As with most other tasks, acting responsibly works best when you can get a bit of momentum going. If you feel crushed under a backlog of responsibilities, start with a few small or fast tasks. Being able to cross them off your list will make you feel as though a weight has been lifted, making you more enthusiastic about moving on to bigger responsibilities. Before you know it, being responsible will make you feel good and add value to your day.h

   Don't forget anything. There’s a difference between starting a load of laundry before tackling that homework assignment and cleaning the entire house so that you end up “having to” put a project off for another day.

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   Learn from your mistakes. Making the most of a mistake is a double-whammy of responsibility: not only does this transform time that was otherwise wasted into a valuable, course-altering experience, but it keeps you from wasting future time by ensuring that you don’t repeat yourself

    View yourself as a creator When you see something that needs doing or needs to change, don't wait for somebody else to do it; be the one to make a positive difference. Taking charge will make you feel powerful, which will spill into and improve many other aspects of your life.

The 6th Africa Investor Summit May 2013

Africa’s investors Challenged to invest in infrastructure to drive growth and prosperity agendaCape Town, 7May, 2013: Ahead of the World Economic Forum billed to run from 8 – 10 May, 2013, in Cape Town, South Africa, African Investors have been challenged to convert continental constraints into opportunities for growth and prosperity. In a keynote address to open the 6th Africa Investor CEO Summit and Awards,the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, called on private investors to increase their investment in infrastructural development. The lack of infrastructure is a constraint against growth. Investing to fill this infrastructural gap will unleash the potentials for future growth on the continent.

The Chairperson noted that while 65% of Africa’s infrastructural funding comes from public investments by governments, only a quarter (25%) comes from private investor, according to World Bank statistics. Investment from non-EOCD countries, including China, amounts to 6%, while that of multi-lateral development assistance remains at 4%. In a vivid comparison to illustrate the level of deficit, the Chairperson drew the investors’ attention to the fact that Africa’s total electricity generation equals that of Spain, even though we have twenty times the population.

“Large-scale scale investment in energy, including hydro, coal, geothermo and solar power over the next decade will therefore be critical to Africa’s transformation, both in the economic and social spheres.” She said.Extending appreciation to Dr. Dlamini Zuma for what he described as an informative and inspirational keynote address, and a visionary leadership in promoting African private sector participation in infrastructure development,” Hubert Danso, CEO and Vice Chairman of Africa, welcomed the collaborative partnership of the African Union. He noted that with the leadership of Dr. Dlamini Zuma, as AUC Chairperson, Africa can increase its intra-Africa investment to 40%, from the current 5%, which is extremely low, especially when compared to the intra-regional average of 12-15%.

The 6th Africa Investor Summit was organized with the aim of bringing infrastructure project developers together, and to facilitate increased private capital and private investment flows into infrastructure projects in Africa.The Commissioners for Infrastructure and Energy; Trade and Industry and other officials were also in attendance at the Africa Investor summit. They are expected to also attend the upcoming World Economic Forum.

Why materialistic?.

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     Are today’s youth really more materialistic and less motivated than past generations, or do adults tend to perceive moral weakness in the next generation?San Diego State University psychology professor has set out to answer that question.

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                            In a study published today by Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Twenge shows that there is in fact a growing gap for today's young adults between materialism and the desire to work hard. “Compared to previous generations, recent high school graduates are more likely to want lots of money and nice things, but less likely to say they’re willing to work hard to earn them,” said Twenge, author of the book “Generation Me. “That type of 'fantasy gap' is consistent with other studies showing a generational increase in narcissism and entitlement,” Twenge said.

Twenge drew from a nationally representative survey of 355,000 high school seniors conducted from 1976 to 2007. The survey examines the materialistic values of three generations with questions focused on the perceived importance of having a lot of money and material goods, as well as the willingness to work hard.

The fantasy gap                                                                                                                         

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Compared to Baby Boomers graduating from high school in the 1970's, recent high school students are more materialistic — 62 percent of students surveyed in 2005-07 think it’s important to have a lot of money, while just 48 percent had the same belief in 1976-78.Sixty-nine percent of recent high school graduates thought it was important to own a home, compared to just 55 percent in 1976-78. Materialism peaked in the 80's and 90's with Generation X and has continued to stay high.As for work ethic, 39 percent of students surveyed in 2005-07 admitted they didn't want to work hard, compared to only 25 percent in 1976-78.The researchers also found that adolescents’ materialism was highest when advertising spending made up a greater percentage of the economy.

“This suggests that advertising may play a crucial role in the development of youth materialism,” said Twenge. “It also might explain the gap between materialism and the work ethic, as advertising rarely shows the work necessary to earn the money necessary to pay for the advertised products                     

 Why it matters                                                                                                                           

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Understanding generational trends in materialism among youth is important because placing a strong priority on money and possessions is associated with a variety of problems, including depression and anxiety, according to earlier research performed by Kasser. “This study shows how the social environment shapes adolescents attitudes,” said Twenge.  “When family life and economic conditions are unstable, youth may turn to material things for comfort. And when our society funds large amounts of advertising, youth are more likely to believe that 'the good life' is 'the goods life'