Who Is The Cooliemon?
Then...
For more than 150 years, the Jamaican sugar and coffee industries were held afloat by African slave labor. That long period was marked by numerous violent uprisings, resulting in significant loss of life and property. Although slavery was finally abolished in Jamaica in 1834, slaves remained bound to their former owners for another four years under what was called the Apprenticeship System. With the termination of that system, however, there was a serious shortage of reliable, productive, knowledgeable, and affordable farm workers on Jamaican plantations. The result was that sugar production and imports declined significantly.
Meanwhile, the productivity of India's sugar industry was flourishing, and the quality of its products was clearly superior. Jamaican planters wisely began importing skilled farm workers from India; those workers' compatriots had already revolutionized the sugar industry in Mauritius and British Guiana. Naturalized Jamaicans referred to these new workers as the "West Indian Indians," "Coolies," or "Cooliemon."
The Cooliemon quickly adapted to their new environment and culture. They harbored a powerful hunger for freedom from indenture, and knew that the only way to improve their lot was through hard work and goal-setting. They not only saved the Jamaican sugar industry, they carved out a new life for themselves in the New World. Their strong work ethic was passed down from generation to generation: a truly lasting legacy that lives on today.
Now...
Although the word "Coolie" was originally nothing more than a descriptive term for manual laborers from China and India, in more recent years it has also morphed into a derogatory term for people of Asian descent, including those from India and Central Asia.
We prefer to focus on the positive aspects of the Cooliemon legacy. The fact is that we are unabashedly proud of that legacy, and it shows in our company name. The parents of our founder, Ralph Williams, shared their Coolie ancestors' hunger for a better life – as well as their work ethic – and brought those Cooliemon values with them when they immigrated to London. They passed them on to their son long before he came to the United States.
Meet the modern-day Cooliemon®.
Ralph has always been guided by the values he was taught from childhood, and he brings those values to Cooliemon®. He also brings a formidable list of qualifications and credentials that make him one of the most active process improvement experts in the world. His unique ways of communication through storytelling, and his creative consulting style, have secured him a solid reputation in the business world and have made him an in-demand speaker at international conferences.
Ralph has recently completed a book that he hopes will be the beginning of an amazing improvement journey for many companies and individuals: Stomp Yer Croc! He is currently at work on the first of a new series of books that expand upon the Cooliemon® legacy.
Cooliemon and you: on the road to
success...together.The Cooliemon® vision, adaptability, focus, and work ethic - applied to our unique approach to modern appraisal, business improvement, training and product development methods as well as other powerful business tools - can help set your company on the road to success... and ultimately to finding your gold.
To find out more about what we do, click here.
If you're ready to find out more about what we can do for you, send us an email today.
Copyright© 2008 by Cooliemon®
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