The Tribune

Today, I lay my paternal grandmother to rest. This season has given me reason, and opportunity, to reflect on the life of this incredible woman, who was able to accomplish so much with scare resources.

Some will automatically chime that the times and the people were different, but some credit and honour has to be given to the working men and homemakers in the early 20th century Bahamas, who were able to rear productive, law abiding citizens and, even four generations removed, positively impact the social fabric of our nation.

Our discourse today salutes the domestic engineers of yesteryear, highlighting the skills they brought to bear, and gives tribute to one…Couley F. Ferguson (March 1917- March 2015).

The book of Proverbs 31 provides a beautiful account and description of women such as my grandmother, who were actually quite astute business persons, and were able to do what most small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) struggle to do each day.

Somehow, with meagre means, they were able to strategically manage and execute the affairs of the household such that it brought honour to their chief executive (husband/father), and met the needs of their employees (the 10 or more children). Here are some of the valuable lessons and transferable skills that the domestic engineers possess, and which others should take note of and follow suit:

1. Frugal financial

controllers

Somehow the mothers in the veteran generation knew how to not only save a dollar, but also to make a dollar out of 50 cents. They were able to feed, clothe and entertain families of sometimes more than 12 with one stable revenue stream and, as was the case with my grandmother, do so very well.

Their simple mantra was wrapped up in two statements: Live within your means or do not spend what you do not have, and be content with what you have, avoiding impulse and foolish spending.

1. Sustainability

Long before this term became popular, our grandparents understood the concept of utilising scare resources with the idea of preserving them for generations to come.

Clothes then were never thrown away, since five more children of the same gender would probably follow ‘Tita’ or ‘Brunel’. Nothing went to waste in the home, and the concepts of reduce, reuse and recycle were naturally part of the family’s daily activities.

1. Correction, rebuke

and love of employees

As middle managers, these women were careful to provide the love, support and correction required to create successful and disciplined employees/children. They were able to ensure that the basic needs were met, including education, to ensure that the quality of life would improve on succession.

1. Honour and respect of senior leadership

Perhaps one of the more admirable business/personal qualities of the domestic engineers in my grandmother’s day was the respect and honour that they gave, sometimes blindly ,to their husbands, the chief executive of the home.

He was the leader and, as such, they followed wholeheartedly, providing gentle reminders of those things that would be beneficial for the household.

Each of these qualities possessed by housewives in my grandmother’s generation might prove quite useful to middle managers today, as they seek to manage the affairs of the business on behalf of their owners, executives or shareholders. Couley Ferguson performed her corporate duties and functions well, and receives today her final salute. Rest in peace GRUMMY!!!

• NB: Ian R. Ferguson is a talent management and organisational development consultant, having completed graduate studies with regional and international universities.

He has served organsations, both locally and globally, providing relevant solutions to their business growth and development issues. He may be contacted at tcconsultants@coralwave.com