Former PM adviser releases new book

People turned out in force at the Hackney Empire, London, to attend the launch of The Power of the Outsider, the new book by Samuel Kasumu, former special adviser to ex-Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

Interviewed by Tim Campbell MBE the first-ever winner of BBC TV’s The Apprentice, and the current special aide to Lord Allan Sugar Samuel reflected on his time in Number 10 Downing Street, where he says he was an outsider because of his background.

Kasumu stated: “The world is changing and is opening opportunities that have previously been the preserve of the elite. This has meant there are more people of different backgrounds entering different areas for the first time, often with limited guidance about how to navigate them. As one of those people, I want to share how this has been a journey of discovery for me, and I hope it will be for readers too.

“I want my book to demonstrate that outsiders have a unique value if they can seize the opportunity to flourish. It’s a guide for those who want to further explore what that means, and how they can use it to lead to success.

“But my book isn’t just for those who experience being an outsider; it’s also for leaders and those who are keen to better understand colleagues, friends and associates, who may find themselves in such circumstances.”

Kasumu, a local councillor and Christian, has won numerous awards, including Barclays Business Enterprise Award; the CBI ‘Young Star of Enterprise Award’ and Entrepreneur Champion of the Year. He is gearing up to go on a book tour.

The book is available on Amazon and all good bookshops.

A YouGov study, commissioned by elderly care charity Pilgrims’ Friend Society, this year has revealed that 54% of UK adults aged between 40 and 60 are afraid of later life. Almost half of those surveyed are also worried about burdening their families as they grow older, with 40% worrying about becoming lonely.

Pilgrims’ Friend Society provides residential care homes and independent living housing schemes, where older people can live fulfilled lives in their later years. The survey findings support the charity’s recently launched ‘Getting Real about Getting Older’ (GRGO) campaign.

The campaign includes a series of four short films with older people offering their advice on everything from facing physical limitations to moving home. From their experience, it is never too early to think about all aspects of later life.

Preparation is key, according to the survey: 92% of 40–60 year olds think financial preparation is important; 85% think physical preparation is important; and 78% think that emotional, mental and spiritual preparation are important.

Experts say that mid-life is the time to start preparing for later life so, alongside the films, the charity has put together a resource, the Mid-life MOT, to help people in mid-life take control of their future. The MOT encourages readers to ask some essential questions, such as “Who am I and what changes would I like to make?” to get them thinking about what they want later life to look like.

Both the resource and the films are available on the ‘Getting Real About Getting Older’ webpage: www.pilgrimsfriend.org.uk/getreal