We need Simon Cowells in Ghana.

I love entertainment to the bone, be it music, arts, movies, comedy or any other form. I love to be cheerful just about everything. Main reason? We can’t afford not to be happy. Happiness is all around us; that’s if we take a moment to look at the lighter side of things.


I find the “American Idol” show a great source of entertainment. Probably because I love reality shows. I love the fact that one doesn’t know what to expect and is kept glued to their TV sets in their insatiable quest to quench the suspense.

With ten seasons organized so far, the highly-ranked American television voice talent search has gained roots in entertainment circles around the globe with each new season getting more interesting.

For some, the first few seconds of showing “what they’ve got” is enough to wow the judges and guarantee their entry into the next stage of the competition. Upon exiting the audition room, some skillfully play out some suspense on their families who wait for the “verdict” with bated breath. Almost immediately, they snap their “green light” tickets to “Hollywood, eliciting thunderous rounds of applause from elated family members.

The show, having turned the lives of some fortunate few around, has also unfortunately given others a bitter pill to swallow with their disqualification from the competition due to their not-so-impressive voices.

With your granted permission (and I hope so) to be a little sarcastic, witnessing the not-so-good display of voice talents is in actual fact my “fun” part of the entire competition. (I wouldn’t give this part up for any errand!) With croaky and husky voices which send judges like pretty Paula Abdul and sexy Kyra going under tables, who wouldn’t laugh?

The drama staged by contestants during these auditions is enough to cause uncontrollable rib-cracking. From a lady who brings along a heaped file of songs she has personally composed and is still turned down, to a young man in suit who takes centrestage and makes a mess of the mike with a croaky voice which sends judges into a seemingly perpetual state of shock!

The ultimate question is, “Did these people know they had horrible voices? Why didn’t their family and friends talk them out of it, with regards to the fact that some of them thronged the audition halls with their family and friends?”

This is where British born music producer, Simon Cowell comes in. Although there’s a current flurry of criticisms surrounding the handsome looking American Idol judge, his incredible knack for honesty seems to keep the show on the up and up.

With mainly "sugar coated" words likely to emanate from the other judges, Randy, Paula and new entrant, Kyra, the worst of singers are most likely to be deceived into thinking they can try again the next year or so if they work hard at it. Unfortunately, that’s the bad thing with exercising too much caution so as not to step on “deserving” toes.

Back to Simon Cowell. A horrible singing performance is likely to meet an even more horrible comment from Simon. Reason? He never minces words. “Excuse me, but I think your performance sucks!” or “Don’t try a career at singing. Concentrate on something else”, he’s likely to say. Nevertheless, he showers the needed accolades where the delivery is excellent.

I think we need a million or more Simon Cowells in Ghana who will say it as it is and not mince words. The biggest problem with most people in Ghana is that if someone’s not good at something, they don’t want to talk the person into admitting it because they feel the person might feel awful.

But what they forget is that, if the person tries his hands on something that is not his turf, and does not (and will highly probably not) succeed, he will still get hurt anyways.

The fact that the person is horrible at singing doesn’t mean that he will be horrible at teaching. Its rather up to us as friends, family and loved ones to help that person find himself so that he can channel his resources in pursuit of that dream that is right for him.

Meanwhile we need to also take care not to sound offensive in our pointing out “the truth”. You can say something like, “Sweetheart, I’m sorry but singing is not just for you. I think you will be a wonderful teacher because you can really explain your points to the admiration of all”. Don’t say, “With this kind of voice, do you really think you can be the next American Idol?”.

I entreat all and sundry to emulate Simon Cowell’s good example and not to be too quick to “badmouth” him in his pursuit to help young people understand what they are and not made of.

So what do you think? Your comments are highly welcome.

Don’t give off YOUR best.

When you aren’t giving off THE best and you bask in the glory of average performance, you are said to be mediocre or exhibiting mediocrity.

Naa Ashorkor (actress/presenter in Ghana) wrote this lovely piece on the most popular social networking site, facebook : “If you try to fit in, you can never stand out”.

In practical terms, you CANNOT be great at everything. Picture this situation where one person is the best footballer, best presenter and best doctor? How can that most possibly be?

Everybody’s got unique talents and gifts. Michael Essien may be one of the best footballers in recent times but he may NOT be the ideal personality to consider when looking for a great presenter for the Miss Ghana Show. You need to make sure that where you are great at, you are REALLY the greatest.

It doesn’t matter where you’re from or which country you are in. Mediocrity must not and should not thrive! Mediocrity never gets you to the top.

Some of the big wigs in recent times who showed mediocrity the door are namely Jennifer Aniston, David Beckham, Halle Berry, BasketMouth, Genevieve Nnaji, Kofi Annan, Jackie Appiah, Yvonne Nelson, Doreen Andoh, Jessica Omane Saforo, Samini, Michael Essien, Agya Koo, etc. The list is endless.

If I want to become a presenter (and in actual fact, I do), I should be the best presenter Ghana and the world has ever seen. If you want to be a doctor, you should be the best doctor, better than your predecessors. There’s nothing like trying to be like someone even if that person is great. You must be an original best.

There is a saying on the wall at my ad agency reception which reads: “Life is too short to be mediocre”. My agency may not be the all-superlatives kind of agency but I try to ensure (as much as possible) that whatever I contribute to the drawing board is my best, my very best.

Sometimes it may be very difficult not to be mediocre in your current work environment. But you must strive. Cos’ the ones who were and are average never got noticed.

Don’t give off YOUR best. Your best may be mediocre. Give off THE best.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to flow. Thanks. 

Career Is Not The Same As Ambition.

Okay, I really needed to clarify this before I’m ‘skinned’ alive. Like I have a choice. Dull!!!!! My blog address is careerandambition.blogspot.com.(wink wink).

Career means ‘an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress’. It describes a situation of working permanently in or committed to a particular profession. I guess a typical example in the Ghanaian context would popularly be a regular ‘8am-5pm Monday to Friday’ job such as a banker.  

However, you’ve got ambition when you have a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hardwork. Its the desire and determination to achieve success.

Ambition is not necessarily a chosen career path although it is in some instances. 

Like someone could have an ambition to be a banker and his chosen career path would also probably be banking. For others, career and ambition are totally different ball games.  

Nevertheless, you need to have ambition in order to be successful in your career. Career without ambition is just sheer mediocrity. 

Bottom line: Whether it’s career or ambition, its still who you wanna be. So go on and be.