First Day in Campus

When I was admitted and oriented to Lower Kabete I thought this was my life time chance to turn around things.I was optimistic that my course mate&lecturers would leverage my mind into realizing my long-lived dream of getting business ideas and exploiting opportunities.But I was amazed and amused to get into my 'Quantitative methods of Business' class to start another impractical journey into realizing my goal...

In short buddies do you recall the Micro-economics question on Consumption,Income&sleep OK tell where in real world will you apply such stuff.After conversing with fellow comrades they told me you have to struggle with this 'things' so as to pass get a nice grade and a well paying job...it sounds good en he!Here is the trap very few will tell you how you can use your entrepreneurial skills to apply what you are studying,some students argue that they don't have the money to venture into business but the reality is they don't have viable business ideas.I know entrepreneurs willing to finance people with great ideas...

My worry is who are the job creators if the 'smartest brains' think just like any other person who didn't school who only want a job & a mere comfortable life for his/her family whereas he has potential to do more than that.Guys let's blow our minds & stop playing safe and limiting our self by societal expectations & our poor education system tailored only for us to be job-seekers.

I have worked on the shock I received but I tenaciously hold on to my goal through paradigm shift of what others expect from me.

GMO Kids

Being through with exams is the best experience as student,I went basked in the field....I laughed when I remembered the awesome moments in my childhood days.

Class Two:
We were learning a singing memory game going like this,"head,shoulder,knees and toes..."unfortunately I had forgotten where the knees were!,I touched the head,shoulders,(skipped the knees) and touched the toes twice,wa,this was the first time I was caned on my butts(I added weight due to swelling,the teacher didn't have mercy)

Class Three:
I used to perform well but there was competition from friends especially one Tony,Alice,Stane...but an incident I will never forget is when I was told to go and buy a queen cake,oh my what's this!,I just went and asked for a cake and I was given mandazi-like cakes,I forgot the word 'queen'!,took it to the teacher but said no ,'I want a queen cake",but because I was jumpy and hitting the ball...again I forgot,'queen' I bought some bans took them to the teacher.Trouble!,I received some tectonic pinches that awakened my memory and for the 3rd time I was headed to the shop again for a queen cake,this time round I didn't go with the ball but I was on a chorus,'queen cake ,queeeeen caake,quuuueeeen ....' and on arrival at the shop I just let it out  loudly that everybody laughed,"QUUUUUUUUEEEEN CAKE!".

Class Four-Eight.
Life was fuuuuun and crazy:
The order was  playing soccer,boring and scary teachers except the G.H.C,endless games,receiving gifts for performing well.
But two incidences are vivid:

I wasn't going with any book home,To do what with them?I  wasn't going to read anyway,so I used to leave them in one of my friends shop whom we were in the same class.I  convinced my parents that after all,I will pass whether I went with them or not and they were okay.It was the case anyway.
One day  I was late for school,hurriedly I went picked up my friends books from their shop.On entering class the teacher was marking assignments only to find I don't have my books,wawawa!,talk of beating...

The class teacher,(we used to call him Kababa)in another incident found out we were making a lot of noise with the friends we were sitting next to,a reshuffle of sitting arrangement was done.We were very unhappy with the current one and somehow we re-arranged ourselves.We were back to our noisy status.The teacher was furious,came and told the three of us to go and wait for him in the staffroom.
Enhe!,Stane and I decided no way,this man will kill us so we decided to go and hide in the loos in the hope that he will forget,but during break time we decided to go to the field,play soccer then back to our hiding place.From nowhere someone just grabbed my hand,and on checking who,I was close to fainting.Kababa!.He then called Stane and we were locked in the past papers room for some minutes as he sipped coffee and snacks.Boom!,the door was opened,and a pipe close to 'Nyahunyo',wawawa...That is the best exercise I think he has ever had with human beings,I thought he was a retired paramilitary guy,talk of  no-orthodox beating!

...When I see kids today what they do for fun and the easy life academies have subjected them into,n I recall the things we used to do.I can only pity  how GMO they are.
Lessons stick when the test is fairly tough.The 'kababa' style.Memories stick best when I look at my how my legs are scary and 'defaced' but sporty.

.....I wonder why campus exams have to remind me all this.

Goodbye Campus

 Aroma Springs at Ngong' Hills

I woke up earlier today.2hrs prior to my normal waking time,I mean at 6am(very early in deed,hee,small head).I'm catching up with my short notes,mwakenya,of my last paper in campus,Project Management(DOM 402).'Yauauauaaaaaa,wuuui',this are yawning screams of Simon ,'Hungu/Hawks' as we usually refer to him who stays directly down my room in first floor of Meru hostel,I have been staying in Meru 36.Another comical guy who uses English like Babu Owino having been my room mate in 2nd yr,Kape 55 (This reminds me of the other rooms I stayed at;Kape 43 with Nderitu and New York  G03 with Muragz).

...At 9am,I'm seated at Biashara hall,Onserio Nyamwange is the one administering the exam.Well,the paper is fair but one had to think since it was mostly application.I like it since cramming has never been my thing.I was lucky to have chosen a specialization from Department of Management Science,they've really taught me to think nonparallel(Though of late I thought it could have been a brilliant idea if I had majored in  Marketing,though all my electives have been from).By 11:30 I was out though I didn't manage to finish all the questions.Que Sera Sera,whatever will be will be....I'm done with 8-4-4,16 years of mental,social,physical and spiritual growth but most importantly but dangerous,the easy fuuuuuuuun life.

Off to my hostel I let loud screams,it relieves I tell you.Picked up my phone and  called my Dad,'Hallo there,your son is done with schooling','Oooh that's brilliant,I'm very happy for you',he replied.After conversing a little he asked,'Have you rented a place to live',I chuckled and replied,'Yeah,yeah'..I knew that was a technical send off from home,anyway I can't go back there to suckle or what?I gat to be a man,you know.Thank you parents for all what you've done for me,it's your turn to watch the pace,I won't let you down when it matters most.I'll be all what I've ever promised.Don't worry about me any longer let rubber meet the road.

I then knock at Willi's room(neighbor) with a stick I was walking with.On opening the door, phuuua!,All eyes on me Anno,Challis,Gakuha and Willi, 'mzimamzima' they lift me and take me to the bath tab,'Kuoshwa reloaded and cleansing' that I've misbehaved.Mind you Jackie and Diana were watching.Anno is more interested with my feet(the instep,foot sword,toes and arch) and as he claims that,I have the ugliest legs on earth,scars and scaly(I have to confess I don't lotion my legs,stop imagining),he even says that I have a weapon of mass  destruction by my side.That I'll be telling my kids,'Can you come here or I get rid of my shoes!(Anno wewe!,hizo maskwembe zako zinakaa kama ..[Chinku atamalizia]).This guys have made life to be fun.

Ushers Lower Kabete CU

I walk down from the hostel and sat on dunga...I'm through with my studies and have to vacate by tomorrow,Wa!...my memory take me back to my LASTS,lecture in Quality Management by Dr. Okwiri,Acting during Bible Exposition,Aroma send off bash at King'eero,Usher's farewell at Kabete for a Choma,Class Fellowships,Bible Study at Block B21,Friday and Sunday Services on 11th and 13th April respectively,Dstv watching Real Madrid and Bayern Munich(Champions League Semi Final-1st Leg),Greenhorn Farewell at Laico Regency...I'll go for my last table tennis game later in the day,and waiting for a bonfire/academic fire tonight.

Thank you all for making my life happy in my stay at UoN,School of Business,Lower Kabete.
I'll always cherish the moments.Wishing you all the best there is in life.

Day One 'Out Here'

Photocredit:Pinterest

I’m leaning on the grill from the fifth floor of the current place of residence, listening to hymn instrumentals. It’s 6pm.I’m enjoying one of the most beautiful scenery of nature; magnificent, dimly red-orange beautiful rays of the sun going down. I like it. It helps me get critical and deep about life as well as acting as a relaxer.

Last night I didn’t have a chance to sleep having gone to a sleep over organized by Rays of Hope. On arrival at the venue I’m thrilled by the creativity and entrepreneurial nature of the owner who has built a conference facility at his place of residence for hire. It’s in a low density estate gated community.

As introductions continue it really hits me hard and emotional to remember what had happened during the day. Parting ways with some of the most brilliant people I’ve spent my time with for the last four years. I remembered the laughter we’ve ever had, the team building activities, the challenge they gave me, the struggles we went through and here I was saying goodbye. For once I hated the closeness I created and endeavored to have with all my course mates.

Time flies, I’ve no single regret of how I spent the moments in campus. What mattered to me most is not the grades I’ll leave with like the social network I’ll have once I was out of Campus and also what I will leave behind once I’m out of that place. People were and will always be my true single investment I made in my four years. We learnt from each other not to forget those I interacted with even in lower years of study. As Randy Travis puts it in his song three wooden crosses, it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you, but, what you leave behind once you are gone.

  

Once again I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for finding a minute to have a chat

with me. I treasure you all and more so UoN, Bachelor of Commerce class of 2014.May the Almighty Jehovah see you through in all your endeavors. May doors open in all the places you knock and be received warmly. Despite the don’t care attitude in the world, for once it will be different for us.

…the introductions were halted as one the Alumni ray wanted to have a word with us. He was a brilliant speaker and had comical delivery skills. He left us with a classical scenario of what will happen to our lives, that despite the fact that aircrafts differ in the way they take off in the end they all fly at above 30,000 ft altitude,autopilot level. In the long run we will all be flying at 30,000+ ft it does not matter how long it will take us or the method we shall use. See you there.

Irreversible Mistake

Early this week I wrote an article begging for a 2nd chance but it is eminent that some blunders are costly and are meant for us to learn while the affected individual or entity languishes.
I still appreciate that we’re prone to make mistakes, to err they say is human but there are times that is just a mere consolation bearing in mind that there are irreversible mistakes.

 The Japanese, ’Just in Time’ philosophy is one of its kind that almost condemns errors & waste. Computers have revolutionalised the way things are done by enhancing precision and accuracy. 

The phrase, ’Quality, quality, quality!’ is not new in modern times all this is attainable via ensuring there is no mistake in their processes.

Think of the bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Kodak’s failure to revamp its digital camera, Nokia’s slow uptake to adapt to touch screen technology made its image tarnished and be overtaken by other mobile phone manufacturers, Think of our education system that hails only the A-students and sees the others as outcast bearing in mind the many talents that each individual is endowed with (This reminds me of a friend whose skills in soccer were amazing unfortunately he didn’t  get the much needed support from parents to nurture the same).

In 1994 Piper Bravo Oil rig during a routine check, inspectors removed and replaced all safety valves, except for one, which was never put back. Unaware that the safety valve was missing, a worker pushed the start button, and gas began to leak out.An explosion followed thereafter killing 167 of the workers.

There was a time back in the 20th Century when Pepsi was struggling with bankruptcy.Coca cola was offered a chance 3 times in fact to buy the struggling company but it shrugged off the idea.They now have to constantly be on toes to check on Pepsi.
...
We can recall what happened to Muamar Gaddafi for failing to read the signs,that it was time for peacefully quitting,too bad for him.

Work on giving the best every time leaving no room for possible errors,some are irreversible.

Risky?

Whenever the word risk is mentioned most people tremble.They think that the outcome of a risky undertaking is always negative.It's justifiable because from definitions such words as probability/threat/likelihood/possibility are used but none gives certainty that it must happen.So,does this mean that if a situation is risky they should be avoided?
Let's look at a 'risky' scenarios here:
-Not following what everyone else thinks is right.
The story of successful school drop out can be an example or those who due to circumstances,didn't get a chance to further their studies and they still turn out to be victorious.Also the fact there are people who have taken the path less taken and turned out to be heroes tells us a lot.


The best way I've found to analyze risk is looking at the worst case scenario of an undertaking.
An example would be between channeling our energy into getting employment and trying out business which is riskier?
Employment:

^What it takes to start get one
-Good formal education in advanced levels
-Faking that you Love the work and other hullabaloo during interview(I understand there are those whose    seek employment genuinely because they love what they do,but they are very few)
-Results oriented mentality and ability to meet crazy deadlines.
-.....
^Results
-Good pay
-Security(If it's a government job because in private sector it';s very dynamic)
-....
^Worst Case Scenario
-Losing your job
-Dissatisfaction
-Mind closure
-Financial rat race.
-.....
Business:

^What it takes to get started
-Passion
-Knowledge in your line of focus
-Capital
-Emotional stability
-.....
^Results
-Your own time master
-Financial Freedom
-Creativity and Innovation
-Job creation
-....
 ^Worst Case Scenario.
-One can lose their investments.

I'm tempted to ask which is riskier?

We risk death by being alive,why play safe anyway,let's take wise risks.We learn to walk by falling down simply because we took that risk,I doubt whether we could have ever learnt to walk.

And as Theodore Roosevelt in Strenuous Life put:
 “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

It's Like a Soccer Match

I'm an avid soccer fan.
I play and watch the game of any team with no loyalty or psycho-fancy to any club,only my national team.
Nonetheless,I'm inclined to love teams which play tiki taka soccer and so your guess is as well as mine.
I'd first wish to console the fans of club that lost over the weekend.I'm still wondering what's happening to the 'big' clubs,they're thoroughly being punished by 'small' teams.

Business,Life and Soccer are synonymous:

Not that we are weak in any way.
Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal (EPL,28-08-11)
At times life can heftily punish us,not because we are in anyway weak but it just happens.Even after the defeat the esteem should always be high,knowing that it's not the end there is still another chance to try being the best.
 Let the mighty have their way.Germany 8-0 Saudi Arabia (World Cup 2002 ,June 1)
At times we have to let the mighty have their way.There is little we can do;they have the authority,they're are powerful,they have all the support from all over,poor us,but let's just give it a trial.

Everything is at stake here.
Man.city 3-2 Swansea(EPL,2011/2012)
Time is running out,it's extra time,Swansea are leading 2-1 by 91th minute,they are safe from relegation zone
We haven't won the title for 44yrs and with the massive investment made,wa,..4 minutes will determine alot.
There comes a time in our lives where situations pushes us to the edge and every minute turns out is critical.
Each opposing elements are heavily fighting for their well being.

At times it takes individual brilliance to do it
Barcelona 7-1 Bayern Leverkusen(Champions League 2012)
In this game Messi scored five goals of the seven.Likewise in business and life at times it is not all of us who will did it,someone actually turned out to be outstanding to achieve

It's never too late.
 Reading 5-7Arsenal (Carling Cup fourth round 2011) 
 How can one explain going down 4-0 by halftime then Arsenal reverses the whole situation and at the end of the game they win 7-5,It shows it's not over until it's over there is nothing unachievable as long as one believes and fights for it

At times all the forces work for us/against us.
Starting with the referee,the technical well being,the home fans and everything sails/becomes difficult

When not in the action you only theoretically analyze a situation
Soccer fans are the best advisers but it may even be most of them don't know how to kick a ball.
When  player whose team is on away ground,listens to the booing of the fans,it can demotivate them.
Just do your thing the best way you know how having applied the best of practices,the rest is noise ignore and move on.

Passion & talent can enable us achieve a lot
Soccer players are talented in that area.They play with passion to see their teams through victoriously.They can do anything possible for the sake of winning.

....
Have a 'soccerific' week.