Goodbye Employment

There comes a time when you have to make a choice between the ideal reality and the real reality.
Every day we make  choices that will make us who we will be tomorrow.In fact our today is as a result of our yesterday choices and it goes without saying that our tomorrow will be as a result of today's choices.

Some times back in my 3rd year of study in Campus my room mate asked me why I'm studying.Without much thinking I told him,'I'm studying to make myself unemployable'.I hadn't understood what's all the fuss over with employment but I can now guess a few things being faced with such a situation of whether to look for a job or not.Employment is secure because at the end of the month one is assured of a salary to foot off the bills.Job gives one a higher social status.It also offers a career growth.

Having gone through the curriculum,one is faced with several alternatives;Get into trying their hand in business by applying the skills they learnt,Get a job,Self-employment,Invest(few can take this route because of informational &financial constraints),Volunteer.The easiest paths is getting a job,one only needs to apply without ceasing till it comes by and volunteering.

I've chosen to take the path less taken,though majorly in Africa venturing in business is seen as for academic failures or dropouts it bothers me less.It's a choice career I've made,to be an entrepreneur regardless of all the papers I have and will acquire.I must confess it's one of the biggest risk I've ever taken with my life.Family and friends were surprised but have rendered their helping hand.That's all I need, someone to believe in me and leave the rest.

It's  more satisfying for me to rub shoulders with hustlers and look for connections and business networks than be in an Italian suit and bow tie in an elevator,faking a smile while dying inside.It's more satisfying for me to earn little and watch it grow to an empire than be a slave.It's more satisfying for me to fail once ,twice,thrice,struggle to foot off my bills than get reprimands that will never add value to my later life only pressure.

Some may think ooh,this dude has received  some financial back up to start off,ooh,..honestly no,in fact my net-worth as we speak now could be negative,but you know what something keeps telling me I can do excellent in entrepreneurship.And as we know that faith is the substance of things hoped for,the evidence of things not seen,this is enough for me.I have the end in mind and that is what will keep me going despite how rough the journey might be.At times life may even get to that of a Boxer a character in Mumford & Sons song ....but the fighter still remains.

Wish you well my corporate friends and former course mates,I'll be more than glad if you buy one or two of my products.
See you at the top.I'd also appreciate so much to get a entrepreneur mentor via this platform.

Use Your Common Senses.

The core part of every vehicle a mechanic will tell you is it's engine.Likewise human beings have the core part that controls all their activities and that is the brain.The brain reacts to impulses that are received from the sensory organs via common senses.There are 5 common senses these are the sight,hearing,touch,smell,taste.I can add a 6th one the instinct.The 6th is when we are describing scenarios we say,'Something told me...','I sensed...','I felt uneasy...',others describe the instinct by saying say God spoke/communicated.

When I was in Secondary School,there was a Chemistry teach who I liked and I still like till today but was hated by many,Mr Ndegwa. He used 'harsh' language,others said he was rude/snobbish but somehow I liked him.Most of the time especially during Chemistry practicals he used to 'insult' by saying,'Can you use your common senses!','Are you thinking!'.I saw this  as 'insults'.I felt pierced in the heart and I was like,'Kwani what does this mwalimu think I'm using my head for'.


One day during a practical lesson,we carried out an experiment and he asked all of us to  say what we observed.As he used to say, that's when I realized that common senses are not common to all.The answers that people gave from what they saw,heard,touched and smelt turned out to be the one of the most comical classes I've ever attended.Some probably had problem expressing in logical language what they observed but all the same it was just,Wa Wa!

In an exam set up it also turns out that what you observed is what you recorded and is what you used to make conclusion with.And I remember during KCSE in Chemistry Practical exam after carrying out an experiment the colour changed to pale green but on looking back at the person just one index number behind me,he had done the same experiment and the colour was deep blue!.I paused,closed my eyes and recalled what Mr Ndegwa used to say,'Write what you can see not what you think it's supposed to be or what  your friend has observed'.I must confess that his deep blue colour was more convincing than my pale green but I used what I saw for explanations,that became my chemistry results.

In life we must use our common senses wisely,if we make the wrong observation(In this case the information we hear/see,things we touch,smell and taste) that is what we shall record in our brains and is what we shall use to process decisions and choices that will ultimately give us our results an A or an E in our life behaviors and actions and finally shape our destiny.

Mwalimu also used to warn the student who scored highly in theories that most of them fail in practical papers simply because they think they know a lot.They are not humble enough to follow and observe simple instructions.It's the same case in life,observe keenly and following simple instructions they will spare us a lot of anguish and at times spare our lives.A simple example is using the pedestrian bridges in Super Highway,I saw a man being hit by a car just below the bridge,Did he really deserve that death?,This leads me to asking how will watching pornography help one in processing worth decisions and choices,listening to hardcore punk naughty music,alcohol taking...

It's also worth noting each person should use their own observations in tackling life exam.Who said what he/she observed is right and they've not received the results yet.This is where courage and faith comes in,to believe that as long as you've followed instructions,you're are right!

Campus Confession III

The clip below genuinely speak of how life was like in campus.
 It speaks volumes,but it was part of life.

Joining the Dots

Photo Credit:Pinterest

Steph alighted from a Matatu in Nairobi at OTC bus station.
He had travelled for one and half hours from his home County.
The thoughts of the warm welcome by his parents and the delicious 'aromatic' food are still fresh in his mind.He had first to reset his mind and body into aggression mode and ready to hit shoulders,as well as apologize to several whom he will have stepped on their toes.

Before making a step  further he watched the hustle and bustle of Nairobians he chuckled and wondered,'Why are this people running up and down,can't they be relaxed?,Why can't they shop online?At this point he tapped his red bag pack which had his Laptop,a few clothes and 10 chapati's.
He had to tightly adjust the shoulder straps and waist harnesser...otherwise he might realize why not everyone has a laptop.

He started maneuvering his way through,..then a thought hits after seeing how everyone just minds their own business, 'What is my business in life?'. He relaxes the steps,he is headed to the stage to pick a Matatu to drop him off in Campus,'School?,not now',he changes direction and connects with Haile Selassie Avenue headed to Bomb Blast Memorial Park,he pays 20bob at the entrance,buys  Picana and njugu and sits in one of the pews.

He needed an answer.He rested.
He remembered when he was eight years old how his dad started a shop back in the village.
He smiled at thought of  first customer who bought the filter-less cigar 'rocket' and sweets 'koo'. Though they weren't well up financially,but this became the milestone for their well being.His dad by then was an employee with a firm dealing with diary milk collection from farmers,later till now he does dairy farming.During weekends as young as from class three he was the shopkeeper,he was  brilliant with figures.

Steph checked on his passions and behaviors,how he used to sell watches and radios at school.How he took advantage of sports day to supply refreshment.How he loved issues to do with health but at the sight of blood he puked.How he loved making profit.He remembered during JAB applications how he was torn in between Nursing course(which he chose as first choice) and B.com (2nd choice) where he was admitted to the latter.How some of his Inshas used to be hailed and even read to other classes.How he enjoyed soccer and table tennis....

He started joining the dots of what he still loves today,a couple of years have passed now...He had registered a company while still in campus,in the table tennis campus team,enjoyed writing.He joined the dots for his Dad from being an employee in dairy business to doing dairy business.He remembered Abedi Pele and how his sons Andre Ayew,Jordan Ayew,Abdul Rahim Ayew..all became footballers like their dad.He connected the dots of  the likes of William Ruto & Kabando wa Kabondo were student leaders and ended up being politicians.....He sipped the remaining drink and left,his question partly answered.

We cannot ignore our past because with it comes lessons and acquired traits.How we've been brought up,who we admire,who we relate with,the choices we make........>present state .........>future state.

Campus Confession II

I love change,as a result I was eager to know what there is after campus,though it came with mixed reaction of happiness(no more books) and uncertainty(what next).There were so many unanswered questions(not yet fully answered even as I write this).All the same I had to face it.I told God to reveal to me directly(Plan A) what he wants me to do otherwise I will apply to 100 companies for job in Logistics and Supply Chain,Marketing & Graduate Management Trainee(Plan B).If a job comes,I will conclude it's God will, if it doesn't He wants me to go ahead with plan C which I love more than B.

My plan C is being in business.Unfortunately when business is mentioned there are some people who start seeing me busy selling unga,salt,sugar,or something of the sort.A kiosk or even better a tuckshop. Nooo,a business is a system that makes you money even when you are absent for an year because it has structures.

Most of what we call business is self-employment because they die when the owner leaves or dies as well.E.g, A lawyer who freelances his services,if he falls sick,there will be no money to be made,but if he has established a legal firm where he has employed other lawyers,even when absent his firm still makes money.Business should outlive us and be enjoyed by many more generation to come.

My colleagues and most of us,especially in Schools of Business want to do their 'own thing' in the near future but as it is said that there is always a starting point,which most of us think it's a job.So that one can go 'acquire capital' and 'skills and knowledge' to go start their own business.I beg to differ.If one has no interest in starting accountancy firm what skills and knowledge will they acquire working as an accountant?.If one is paid net of 50k,pays rent 10k,transport 6k,Food 6k, Entertaintment &Miscleneous 5k,Sambaza(Friends&Relatives) 5k,Tithe 5k...what remains is 10k,...Eeeeh,what can we say about acquiring capital.To make it worse when will one have time to think business when  being overworked as a donkey.When one get's to their house they just hug the bed dearly.

Campus teaches us that, we get good grades so that we can get good jobs.I'm slowly stamping that LIE,I signed while still studying.Jobs are as scarce as illiterate Chinese.I'm not shocked to have applied to 20 firms so far,5 regrets and 15 don't cares(no reply)...and my hunger to continue with my all time favorite plan C intensifies.

Dr Iraki,Mr.Mulwa, Dr Bitange Ndemo,Dr Njihia were right,thank you for giving me the real knowledge...leave alone those proud minded finance and accounting lecturers who thought within the box.They made me hate those subjects by challenging our minds into things I'm finding very stupid out here.Now that jobs are scarce,how will that question of Sleep,Consumption & Income in economics help me find a job or pay bills,how about those sets, how to account for assets instead of how to acquire assets.

To those studying and out here we have to find a solution in a creative way.I'm a testimony that one doesn't need money to start a business,just throw away that old way of thinking.As you study just know you are doing your best to get a profession, in whichever the field you are in,not to get a job or get rich but for self-satisfaction and actualization,it's no wonder one is supposed to study what they love.For one to make big chunks of money think business system.

I understand perfectly that not all can be entrepreneurs and therefore wish them well,ensure you get as many papers as networks as possible(watu wamesoma huku nje,haija!).

Despite all being said and done we will emerge victorious regardless of the route.See you at the top!

If you missed,check it out:Campus Confession I.

Why I joined O.D.M Camp

When  O.D.M is mentioned most of us perceive this are political news but nope!. Politics is another days' article...In  this context it means One Disappointed Man...and that person is me.Yesterday was a day of it's kind,I was having a C.A.T in one of the units I'm taking in my Undergraduate studies referred to as Accounting For Equities.When it comes to studies there is no time that one will fully say that She/He is ready to tackle that exam,there is still some doubt as to whether you've fully covered what is expected of you.

I convinced myself that I'm Ok and walked towards the exam station,from the hostel I was sharing with a friend how campus life is different from what everyone thinks when joining...like there is no working hard to pass,Every one is evil in campus...but on the contrary Campus can frustrate you if you lazy around, n this is a place where we have extremely good people but also extremely bad...lukewarmness ain't the language,you've to choose where you belong...

On entering the exam room the question paper was brought & what I saw eeeeeh,shocked me,I went through the question for the first time,no Idea,The 2nd,still no Idea n the 3rd,still no Idea,I resigned to fate folded my hands looked up,sideways,jotted a few things to gunner me a mark or two and majestically walked out knowing that's failure in one way,but success in another...

I hated the experience,the unit...n the lecturer.I condemned my brain...but I came to appreciate one thing Accounting is not my thing,I'm relieved.I'm not weak in any way it's only that my brain is tailored towards other areas in life and talented in other fields.

Cheerio Accounting.

Life,Just Started

I asked my parents how my life was when I was a toddler,the response: fun -oriented,inquisitive,vulnerable to diseases( Had even been admitted to a  hospital for Pneumonia) & wanted to be in the company of my Dad.

I recall my first day in Pre-Primary school,it was war,I didn't want to be separated  from the warmth of my parents.With time I got used,but I can't forget several incidences:

One is the porridge we used to take(hated it,but you had to take under supervision).

Second,the final exam used to be oral where you had to identify colour and alphabets.(Failed to talk, therefore it was decided I can't proceed, but my Dad insisted I had to re-take it in the presence of the head teacher and him too,it's then that I gathered courage and was allowed to proceed primary).

Third,the do's and don'ts and the final prayer of the day that used to go:"Thank you Lord for your care from morning till now Amen"And chuup! run out of class like we were from a jail.

Life too is so,has such experiences even as we get older and older:

#We tend to Love to the status quo.It will always drag us behind never to cherish the coming opportunities.

#Separation is part of our day to day lives,via circumstances,it will happen,we get separated from our old friends,acquaintances,colleagues,parents,fond times

#At times we will be forced to do things that are not pleasing or we even fear,but they are of great help to our endeavors.

#No Matter what we're going through  it will soon pass,and chuup! we'll be free  at last.