Now What!

Today my day started on a high, got to spend time with family over the weekend, and even got to see my little nieces and nephew and our cute little dog back home. Moments that can never be taken for granted.

Got to work psyched and had to start my day with my favorite quotes from good reads, the one on there today read, “When you have confidence, you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun, you can do amazing things.” What a good way to kick start your day, after a super crazy and fun weekend with family.

The craziest thing happened immediately after, my bubble got busted. As soon as good reads, my computer couldn’t start. Tried shutting it open a couple of times and ended up rebooting it 100 times over. What a BUMMER! After all that excitement and jovial eruption and now this! Had to meet as many deadlines and all I could think about was my boss being on my case immediately he entered the office. Who was I to wait? Had to look for an IT guy ASAP. All my documents, my files, my music, my blogs, books! And my pictures! If there’s one thing I treasure, moments, taken on camera. Can never be taken back. Didn’t want to believe they were gone. So in the meantime had to pretend and act not disturbed and mad and gloomy. IT Guy, IT guy..

I have two machines so luckily I could work from this other one. But still, everything else was on there. At some point I heard me speak to myself, you have control over your mind, you have control over your mind, you have control over your mind and was prompted to turn all my misery and gloom into something productive. It was only 8AM anyways. I mean my confidence levels were boosted, thanks to good reads! It's now time to have fun.

You can do anything honey, absolutely anything when you put your mind to it. I was almost re-doing everything I did last week on this other computer but told myself everything will be okay. So my boss came in, had a good chat, luckily enough he didn't ask me about my assignment and left. Cathy God’s got you. Prayed the entire time and when 4pm hit I had to ask this IT guy what was up and he was like yo! Your computer crushed..and I almost swallowed my heart. BUT..BUT WHAT? I managed to restore all your files. I have never been happier.

It takes one thing to ruin your day and one thought to reshape all that and make it worthwhile. What a lesson learnt early in the week and almost early in the month. That even in your rockiest, you can still cause that petal to blossom, that light to burn even brighter. That positive thought to merry up your day. See there's so much about fate that we cannot control, but other things do fall under the juriscdiction. We can decide how we spend our time, money, and energy with . Select what to read, study, and even eat. We can choose how we are going to regard unfortunate circumstances in our lives-whether we see them as curses or opportunities. We can choose our words and the tone of voice in whcih we speak to others. And most of all, we can choose our thoughts.

Moral of the lesson is, what’s your ultimate measure as a man in moments of comfort and convenience, and where do you stand in times of challenges and adversity. No matter how small.

Tonight and going forward, keep shining, keep marveling, keep up the positivity and most of all remember your greatness is within. Always has, always will be.

My day ends as it started. On a high, but on a thoughty high.

Goodnight loves.

XX 

Stop using this Word!!

So i've been on this PR Series online learning about ''Pro'' ship and becoming a better communications person and this particular article got me. Michael, the PR pundit in this series,  attended one of PRSA's (public relations society of america) events and was talking about people feeling inadequate about themselves and never wanting to appreciate who they are in their business cycles. Came across two typical examples of most of us out here who don't want to come off as braggarts and would rather lay low.

So Michael(the PR Guru) meets up with these young energetic professionals in the inner circle program whom he's immediately prompted to have convos with.

The article starts by saying we need to ban some words from our vocabulary. Some which are prevalent in the PR field lol. I don't think its in that field only, every other space whether in the creative industry or not.

Michael is like , That's great you're presenting! Tell me about it!"
He said ; I'm just the third person on the panel. My mentor invited me to join her''

The second convo came at a reception when a young woman introduced herself as a reader of Michael's posts. As they chatted he asks where she works and she said, “I’m just an account coordinator at a small agency in . . .”

What’s the offending word again ?

Yes, you saw it: just.

I read that and said bummer bummer, Never say “I’m just . . .” There are enough people out there who will diminish your standing in the world, you don’t need to help them by doing it to yourself. 

Michael goes on to say that guy on the panel is one of THE sharpest young PR pros he knows. He'd actually recommend him anywhere. He called him out for saying “just on a panel” and he explained that he thought he should be humble about it. That’s true. But when someone asks you about your presentation, it’s not bragging to answer it straight-up. And he killed it on the panel.

And beginning your career as an account coordinator is a noble start. Me and my aggressive self is here speaking my lungs out saying whether an entrepreneur hiring out sound for events big or small or just starting out an online shop for selling veggies, starting that company that offers cleaning services to these gated communities....my dearest young proffesional, all of us have been there. As i'm also trying to preach this to myself, so many times we feel inadequate and for you to even get to where you are today it took so many sleepless nights trying to reassure yourself of the future and if you're gonna make it, going through mocking to be someone. And look at you today. You did it! Or you're still in the running towards becoming that figure you've always wanted to be!

Getting to understand how does one talk about themselves without selling themselves short? Say the same thing you would normally say without any modifiers. Michael uses an example of a young lady called Alyssa.

She showed up at a small gathering he organized one evening. She introduced herself to him and the others there by explaining, “I’m attending with my CEO (name) at a boutique public affairs agency in (city). She is on her way to join us.”

And then she actively participated in the conversation. She listened, offered her opinion, and answered questions directly. If one would have thought about it, you would have put her at about 10 years’ experience, the way she held her own with the experienced PR pros at the gathering.

She didn’t say, “I’m just filling in for my CEO, who is running late” or “I’m just a junior member at a small agency . . .”

Later he asked her when she finished school, and she said with a smile, “Two years ago.” He told her she carries herself the same as someone much older, and that’s a good thing. Her CEO is lucky to have her.

What is this teaching you. So much is expected of us in the business world, whether starting or not and don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you should brag. Don’t even humblebrag. Simply avoid saying, “I’m just . . .”

You’re better than that.

Thanks for reading XX

That Extra Mile

Yesterday i had the privilege of attending one of Agriculture's best exhibitions and conferences held annually at the KICC and it was such an amazing experience.
I think one thing we lack as young people is the opportunity to venture into different opportunities and diversify some of the talents we have. Agriculture for instance, is a driver and a spear header of Kenya's economy and if the young, the future of this great nation learn to embrace it. Kick the name 'third world' into our history books.

I think we shouldn't be afraid to go an extra mile, or want to get our hands dirty, let alone want to eat and never really know the effort it took to plant whatever we're putting into our mouths. Its like giving a one year old a remote and expecting them to find the next channel. Sounds silly right?
With the conversations i made with some of the CEO's and the founders of those big companies from all over the world it was evident that through Agribusiness, they not only carved out successful careers of their own but also helped local farmers from their end reach global markets, and create jobs for other young people - especially women 😄.

On a serious note, whether woman or not, Agribusiness is the way to go, Gloria Muliro, Former Tanzanian President and the likes of Gladys Shollei who is an awesome example of a young woman who ditched politics to enter into farming,now runs a successful dairy farm at her home in Uasin Gishu. As if you need any more inspiration!

I think it can start by leasing land? or owning? Either of the two. Join a sacco, or have some sort of savings plan. It will go a long way. That aside, develop some interest..and the next time you come across Cathy Matete's all natural hair line made with natures finest herbs in your local store, think about how you can start up a business in Agric to help both yourself and the rural poor. Trust me its fun!

XX

Smell the Roses!

Cathy, 99% of everything you want is first owned in your mind. So stop complaining you don’t have this, you don’t have that when you can own it within and eventually have it. Oh and don’t forget,working towards it.

Thank you for making me think Mr. Anonymous 😊 . When we all grow up we think of doing so much,our goals are usually in place,our minds ready to execute them and then something just happens along the way,could be love,or silly ventures or just getting caught up with the hustles of life, the small moneys we get that can only sustain us for a couple of weeks along the month and then we’re back to square one...

The sadness that comes with breaking those precious glasses you’ve always set aside for your visitors or that special someone hehe…When all you ever think of is when you’re getting your next bus fare from, depressed in the house without gas or oil (this is real life )..When you're always moody towards everyone as if its them who put you in that slack, when you're friends leave the office to go have lunch and leave you on your computer pretending to be busy working yet deep inside you know its nothing like that,just that life is happening. Oh crap! Lets get real here for a second. When did your life stop? When did you call yourself for a meeting and thought about you for once?  For how long will you sit down in despair and whine about how terrible your boss is or how ‘peanuty’ your salary is..when you suddenly change to that person who’s always wondering what is happening with other people’s lives? Why are they succeeding and you're not?  

When you wake up so early, rejuvenated to only do the same things you were doing yesterday, same paraphernalia,different day.. and it in turn becomes a cycle that never seems to end! Meeting the same boss, getting the same threats and endless pressures...when Mondays are a nightmare and Fridays your solace Gosh! Smell the coffee! Wake up! Not until your intuition and the rational you come knocking and you decide enough is enough,hunnie we’ll bury you alive..dying of depression,regret and gloom.

Sit up,shake all that sadness and dust off,man up and be your own boss. "I’m not working for anyone, I’m no longer making this fat man rich! I’m going to be my own boss"..period! We are the shapers of  our own destinies and the sooner we get that the better.The challenge is worth the road they say,plus the prettiest and the well-dressed seldom change the world *wink......  so Woman, Man. Its about that time. The future awaits, get that crazy and proactive side of yours up and running! The future’s bright, wear em’ sunglasses and get on with it. You'll thank me later.

 xx 😊

Just Right

Did you see these scars,trying to eat through this flesh making their way to my heart and wanting to destroy what's left?
Did you see how my heart lost its melt when you went away? when we were slowly deteriorating to smaller and smaller sparks? Did you feel my heartbeat slowly fade to the night..my glam and fire slowly diminish? 
Out to the ocean,swept away by the wind and straight to the sun..burnt! To the edge and straight to History..



What you saw was at the start of destruction at its best. Is that why you appeared?
Cause I can feel your endearment slowly pulling me back.Brick by brick, your benevolence is building me up.
Your strength so perfect. Your embrace so tight,
From my heart to my knees. To my mind to my reverie,
Wait till you see my smile,Wait till you see what's next,
Wait till you see this light that's burning through my chest,
Watch how high I fly,how fast this feeling spreads..

Never would i have thought this would all be available to me again,
Oh, but then I felt your heart!
It's pulling me back brick by brick, your fortitude has built me up,
Your strength so perfect,Your allure so right,
You let me in like never before,and took away all the pieces that I didn’t need and now I’m free.
My beaming truth,You are everything i've ever looked for.
You are just Right.


XX 

Woman

Girl you are rich even with nothing because you know your tenderness comes from pain. It’s a ragged road you’ve come and hunnie you have every reason. You’ve come down, gone up, the waves have rushed over you but somehow you made it to the other side. Just know you dint suffer in vain. You dint come undone.

Trailed down the Babylonian walls like a maniac. Hoping the reverberations of the night won’t follow your tracks. Your mind, semi blue because of the dark thoughts that surround you. Your effervescent eyes blurred, now you’re not even able to see. Sigh, this roller-coaster.

So much brokenness and uncertainty.All this from within and without. Though all this has happened to you in recent years you have emboldened me in the mission of spreading love and hope.Doing all that with the power of my words. Ease up and Heal my love. So much awaits you.

In the great scheme of things,the world will keep turning and there will be striking beauty and adversity and somehow no way around it,so let’s live in the moment and let us give thanks for this life we live even if it’s hard. Let’s Live more and complain less.Love more and hate less,appreciate more and expect nothing in return for when we give,so we receive.

Above all things lets never give up hope. It’s the only thing that holds the world together.Hope heals,hope mends,hope revives and hope binds.Its the best route to take.

xx

The Kenya We Want..

Spinning like a ball of dice
Inside the sphere of this startling world
A world so free yet has shuttered itself in shreds of partisan filled mindsets,fighting and looting
In the terror by the day the irony remains that no one fears death no more
The men in blue vandalize with literal bullets
Innocent lives wail in sheer terror in a world that is full of insecurities and prejudice
Will we see the end of this day
Will this come to an end

I'm afraid history is repeating itself
I'm afraid we are too blind to see
I'm afraid we are so deaf as we willfully will neither hear nor see
I'm afraid dictation is finding its way in our systems
Afraid assertiveness lost its way somewhere inside the realms of our irrational wits

Through an iron sheet comes death like a raging tornado
Innocent toddlers get hit by the object of Oppression
Tears and endless tears,groans and endless aching
What happened to humanity,what happened to the human race
The leaders wear the same faces,yet we the people participate in electing them
Is emancipation a hard of a thing to understand?

All i want is One Life,
One Blood,
One God,
One Kenya,
One Race,
The Human Race.