Ebola. A bit of perspective.
I am writing with the TV on. The latest CNN report is talking about U.S. President Obama’s pledge to send three-thousand troops to help fight the “deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa.”
I am writing in a hotel room in Lagos, Nigeria. In West Africa. As a veteran journalist, I know there is a tendency for the media to oversimplify. In spite of our 24-hour-news-cycle, there is somehow not enough time to provide deep context or broader perspective on a given story. Instead, what we get are dramatic headlines designed to captivate viewers - and the notion of a virus like Ebola is certainly one that lends itself to fear.
Needless to say, I have friends who urge me in emails and on Facebook to “be safe.” “Be careful.”
I am.
A former CNN colleague and current Facebook friend of mine now works for the World Health Organization (WHO). She assured me that since Ebola is NOT an airborne virus, as long as I am not cleaning up the vomit or diarrhea of an infected person or touching an infected corpse, I will be fine. I can promise you I will not be doing either.
You are right, however, that this illness is a very serious thing. As the news continues to say, this is the deadliest Ebola outbreak in recorded history. Liberia is particularly struggling.
Nigeria has also reported cases. But here is the perspective I promised in my title:
According to the World Bank, there are 245 million people in the 15 countries that make up the Economic Community of West Africa . A whopping 174 million of them live here in Nigeria.
The Ebola outbreak – from WHO recent figures - looks like this:
Guinea - 771 cases, 494 deaths
Liberia - 1698 cases, 871 deaths
Nigeria - 21 cases, 7 deaths
Senegal - 1 case, no deaths
Sierra Leone - 1216 cases, 476 deaths
That’s some 3,707 cases out of 245 million people.
(The Democratic Republic of Congo last week reported 62 cases and 35 deaths. But they’re not a part of West Africa geographically. )
So, here in Lagos, a bustling mega-city of around 21 million, people continue to work, play and live pretty normally.
Commendably, they are also taking new precautions against the spread of the virus. When I landed late Sunday, informational FAQ posters were everywhere.
Immediately after disembarking the airplane, each of us passengers lined up to have a doctor shine us with a temperature-taking laser. (You may recall, Ebola first arrived here after an infected Liberian diplomat flew from Monrovia to Lagos and collapsed in the airport.) In addition, hand sanitizer dispensers have been added to every building lobby I enter.
Today, as reported in the Nigerian Bulletin, President Goodluck Jonathan said there are no more active cases in Nigeria. Yes, seven people did die, but the remaining others have recovered. He proclaimed, “ The virus is under control.”
I met up with a longtime friend last night. John Walker and I used to work together at WTTG Fox News in Washington, DC. Now, he’s with the Voice of America and here to train journalists at Channels TV. I’m here working with other professional groups. Imagine us meeting again after all this time in Lagos!
We laughed and caught up at the popular local restaurant Yellow Chilli. The place was filled with other patrons – who watched the football match on TV and enjoyed themselves.
Before entering, each of us had had our temperatures laser-checked by the hostess.
It’s good to be careful.
Till, next time, take good care, everyone!
Copyright Gina London 2014. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome to Ireland! Or, er, Failte!
We’re one week into our new home here in Cork, Ireland and it’s funny how the more things are the same, the more they seem different.
It’s called the Emerald Island for a reason. You might think a simple color would not be enough to market an entire country, but as Lulu and I looked out upon the landscape stretched out before us as the bus drove us to the coastal village of Crosshaven, the word “green” is what kept coming to mind.
“It’s like Indiana,” Lulu said, reminded of my rural home state where we spent much of this summer getting reacquainted with family.
What with its cows and farms and pastures, indeed it does.
And yet it doesn’t.
The architecture is different. You’ll see fewer wood frame homes here and most are slathered in a gravelly cement coating. Grey seems to be the predominant color with neighborhoods accentuated by a few bright creamy yellows.
Unlike Paris with a patisserie on every corner or Tuscany with a trattoria or pizzeria on the same; here on every corner blooms a pub.
The interesting names painted on the signs outside may vary but the interiors are relatively the same. There are cozy, dark wood tables and chairs, and a collage of photos, paintings or other knickknacks covering the walls. Menus so far seem heavy on things fried. I haven’t had a salad in over a week but I have had plenty of cod and chips.
As for the language: “Everyone speaks singy-English and says ‘Grand.’” Lulu has observed.
I can read every billboard and every newspaper. I can overhear conversations in the pub and understand them. The words don’t blur into a faint white noise like when we lived in Italy.
We moved into our new apartment a week ago today. It's tiny but cozy and within easy walking distance to Lulu's new school. We had a nice visit the first evening from our landlord Liam, who, like every Irishman I have met so far, is a very easy-going and humorous person. Having an enjoyable conversation - even when it is mainly about the heating, washing machine and other apartment things - is so much easier when you speak the same language.
In the short single school week Lulu has attended so far, she has already gone to a birthday party and had two separate play dates. I have already been invited to go out with some of the moms this Friday to a chic trendy restaurant on the River Lee named Electric.
The people here are so kind and cheery, we make friends just by saying, “Hello.”
And yet, the ease with which it is all happening makes me pang a little for the rush of being in Italy. There, I felt an extra sense of accomplishment after even the littlest exchange or transaction I managed successfully. I sort of miss it. There are no extra points for clearing the language barrier for me now. ;)
Hmm. It has been unusually sunny every day since we have arrived. I better wait until the legendary Irish rain arrives before I am convinced there will be no major challenges here.
As my lovely Italian friends would say, “Piano, piano” – take it slowly. Or as my Irish friends might say, “Tis no bother at all.”
No matter where you are. Another day presents opportunity for another little adventure.
To adventures great and small.
Gina
Copyright 2014 Gina London. All Rights Reserved.
The I’s have it! Italy, Indiana and Ireland
Yesterday, the family gathered at my parents’ house here in Arcadia, Indiana.
I chose a simple red dress and came upstairs to greet everyone. My sister Andrea, her husband Tony and their daughter Sophia were to drive over from near Cincinnati, Ohio. My brother Brad was flying in from Florida and coming here with his girlfriend Leah and her daughter Kyra. Friends-like-Family, Eric, Linda and their kids Maddie and Max were driving from over a nearby Hoosier town. My niece Patience and her mom Celeste were driving over from near Cleveland. Even my 99-and-a-half-year-old Aunt Anita, aka Neatie, was here. Party!
My mom was already up in the kitchen wearing a bright lime green shirt and mixing up some home-made potato soup. I said, “Potato soup! That’s perfect since we’ll be leaving later this month for Ireland.” She just looked up at me and smiled.
It was right about then that my sister, in a green sparkly shirt, remarked that she and I were like Christmas since I was in red.
Right about then, Brad and Leah arrived, wearing bright green wigs and sunglasses.
It finally dawned on me. EVERYONE was wearing green.
And then I saw the cake in Brad and Leah’s hands.
The potato soup was on purpose. This was not just a simple family gathering at my parent’s lake house on a sunny summer day.
This was an Irish celebration for Scotty, Lulu and me as we prepare for our next adventure in Ireland.
Here in Arcadia, Indiana named after the Greek philosophy of living in harmony with nature and family - it's certainly something I am drawn to no matter where I travel.
Warm hearts and loving families. In Indiana. In Italy where we lived for three years. In Nigeria where I spent the past month. And yes, I do so look forward to experiencing it in the verdant rolling hills of Ireland.
Thank you, family, for throwing us such a heart-warming party this weekend.
I cherish these moments.
Baci! Gina
Copyright 2014 Gina London. All Rights Reserved.
Nigeria Diary - The key to success in communication is: Preparation
Today, after I finished swimming my laps in the hotel’s lovely pool here in Lagos, I relaxed by flipping through the pages of this month’s Harvard Business Review. (What’s your relaxation magazine of choice?)
I usually find all the articles so relevant, but one in particular leaped out of the pages to me.
The CEO of Zoetis (which is a recent spin-off of Pfizer, and now the world’s largest animal health company) gives a compelling first-person account of the two-year preparation and intensive training he undertook before he embarked on his top management role. He paid for a former CEO of a big European company to aggressively mentor him and he paid for two years of communications training.
TWO YEARS OF COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING? Wow. That is real dedication and commitment. I read further.
Juan Ramòn Alaix was already a successful general manager with Pfizer before being tapped to head the animal health business. But he was also self-aware enough to recognize that as CEO, he would have even greater responsibility to communicate strategy to the outside world, “including the media, analysts, and investors.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OclPEwZrPuo
The many places where strong communications make the difference
Alaix writes that he had to learn to be comfortable and engaging:
- Giving TV interviews
- Speaking with the print press
- Delivering keynote addresses
- Talking with small groups
- Meeting one-on-one with key investors
- Handling earnings calls
- Responding to key stakeholders Q&A
Getting expert feedback is critical
The communications expert Alaix hired sat in on both smaller meetings and larger town hall meetings - and"provided a lot of feedback." Feedback that Alaix was eager to accept and apply writing that he was “challenged to think differently.”
Don’t forget Non-Verbal
Alaix also applauded the work the trainer providing by focusing on non-verbal communications, speaking simply about complicated uses and paying attention to pacing while speaking. All critically important.
Dedicate time to properly prepare
Not only did Alaix spend two years of his life - on top of his regular Pfizer duties - preparing for his upcoming role as the Zoetis CEO, he also testifies to the amount of time he dedicates to prepare for any significant speaking opportunity:
“Before I did my first TV interview.. I spent more than eight hours doing mock interviews… by the time I gave the first road-show pitch to investors, I’d rehearsed it at least 40 times.”
Incredible. But not surprising. In today’s global marketplace, where almost anything you say can be instantly online and rewatched a thousand times, to NOT be able to communicate engagingly and effectively is a true liability.
This CEO’s embrace of improving communications makes for a terrific lesson. No matter where you are in your career, a commitment to improving and polishing your communication skills is key to you and your organization’s continued success.
On Saturday, when I met a group of impressive ladies from Nigeria's WISCAR organization (Women In Successful Careers), I spoke that it is never too soon - or too late - to refine these skills.
So, what are you waiting for? There is no time to lose.
I am in Lagos, Nigeria with my local partners Amplio Consulting and SwiftThink Limited for the next three weeks - conducting a series of communications training sessions for leading businesses and other organizations. It is not too late to meet me for a consultation. Please reach out!
In gratitude,
Gina