Substance over form...

Yaay, major improvement, was here last just a little more than 1 year ago!

In my school of thought...where I am both the teacher and the student...if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck...its is not always a duck!!!

It is super cold (East African winter)...filing tax returns for the world,1 day to deadline!

I have come a looong way, more confident, more focused, better skills and super grateful!

My pond, horses, swans dreams looks like it will come true, sooner than later!

2 hard things...

Hey, its been almost 2 years since my last post... not marveling at that.

I have since discovered two things am finding sooo hard to deal with:

1. Why do people place expectations on others?! I do too, cant wait to learn how to drop that.

Being a born again christian is harrrdddd, first trying to live right when living otherwise is way easier; second, when trying to live right seems to place you at a disadvantage when dealing with others, third, when others living as they choose seem to prosper way more, faster, and they just look cool and the big one; everyone seems to know the rules that Christians should live by,so if you say or do something that seems unchristian-like, wow the look of surprise on everyone's face; I just immediately become self aware..how come everyone knows these rules? I don't like rules!!!!
Why being a christian is cool to me is simple; I like principles and I appreciate motive!!

I get really confused when my friend who in many conversations, I have picked that he dislikes the colour red, shows up smiling ear to ear with a red car, a new purchase! Another friend goes on and on to explain how they don't enjoy the company of certain person, then when this certain person suggests an activity,my friend is first to jump in excitement and anticipation... They don't do it on purpose, maybe they say things that they think are in line with society, but their actions sell them out.
I can't wait to stop build up of expectations in others and put an end to such confusion.

2. Convincing someone to see things from my point of view...

I think am convinced that everyone is rational being, even the irrational ones; I am willing to share my opinion and open to listening others and end it at that. Who knows one of us could be right, other wrong, both wrong, both right...so based on your rational thoughts, the opinion that appeals to you the most is the right one for you; and there is absolutely no room for regret for your choice, because given the same set of circumstances you would still pick the same choice.

Hindsight is a different animal altogether! 10years later we will find out who was wrong/right and it won't change anything anyway.

year flies past really fast...

Hard to believe, my last post was one year ago!!!

Aloooooot has happened in that 1 year!!!

Became friends with some guy slowly, turned into mind boggling quickly, ran away fast (younger), remained friends somehow, goal is not to trend near mind games again...

Ups and downs in the office, maaaannny but somehow turned to be more ups for me and down for a couple of other people. The best part, I got to work in a neighbouring country (Uganda) for 4 months. That has been excellent, the work especially as I feel I have grown in leaps and bounds in my accounting career, increased confidence, better organisation skills (still needs some improvement), good leadership and what I have learnt about myself is - am truly results oriented.

I had my 1st phone job interview, just scouting the market to see if am ready for it, it was a disaster... learned from that one, it was random and one of us was wrong for the other. Wise words from an old friend, 'now we need to do more homework for where we are aiming', no more shooting blindly.

I need to sit for my final accounting exams (2 papers), I have pushed it forward far enough. Its now time!

I am too interested in learning golf, its an expensive game, thinking hard of how to go about it.

Watched great movies, Good. Will. Hunting, The Great Gatsby, A beautiful Mind - very late to the party discovered its about John Nash -Nash Equilibrium.

Read and acquired several books, a friend brought a book written by a decent writer from Kenya but she got it in Canada called 'One Day I Shall Write About This Place' I loooved the title, even before I read the book by Binyavanga Wainaina, a memoir.

Earlier in the year, my bother fell ill...that was the scariest, craziest, sobering, terrifying experience in my life, ..he was 100 more times my reactions. God was really gracious and am absolutely greatful he is well again. Super Super Greatful!!!!

I was on my cousin's wedding line up, she was a beaaaautiful bride and nicely surprising, the pictures taken of me turned out to be splendid!!

I think am different, getting convinced little by little, day by day...the things I want now are complicatedly simple! A golf course, a library, a bookshop, a pond, hobby farming, watches, soft and cuddly stuff, a souvenior shop, raise funds for the foundation, peace of mind...my peers want to hustle and get rich & famous... I think I want to be wealthy...how different is that? If I get the things I want and am not rich yet, am tempted to think that I will be ok/content.

Saw this on twitter 'Know someone who's 31 years of age? They also happen to be 1 billion seconds old'.

I have soooo much to be thankful for this past 1 year. Thankyou God very much for helping me recognise the different situations I/We have gone through as opportunities to see, learn and experience new things and most of all realise God's faithfulness in our lives! Thank you!

little exciting things...

Yipeeeeeee ..... done with my Msc. school project, whaaaat that was a tough task and I now regard those who write research projects with renewed respect especially my big brother who was awarded a PHD in Economics this year. I defended the project a few days ago and most exciting was when one of the panelists said that I have very good writing skills (project writing)...he had a small 'but' somewhere... I didn't hear it!!!

My teen cousins called me early yesterday morning to inform me that they had performed decently in school last term...awesssooomeee...one of them is about to break a record we set together, I'm going to be broke soon if they keep performing so well! proud mother hen.

The landlady called me a few days ago to thank me for always paying my rent in good time...unheard of!!!

My aunty is graduating tomorrow (undergraduate), she has survived being in school with much younger classmates who are her children's age and some younger. So proud of her for doing it despite, and boy she has an outstanding GPA!

Finally got a car....have to let my brother have it first though and then we start looking for another that suits me soon after he sells the one he currently has.

I haven't started the bookshop...I don't have a good explanation/excuse... not sure I want it so much now...If not it, I have something at the back of my mind, will not talk about it, pretty embarrassing to talk and no action..

Palmhouse Foundation mentoring session was awesome this term, I go there to work, to organise and coordinate the tasks and I end up learning so much from these sessions. This time my pal whom I dragged there once came on his own accord and brought a friend too... nicely infectious!

I am about to complete the Msc, I give lots of credit to peer pressure for this far we have come. I had awesome classmates whom we've pushed each other all through, I actually enjoyed learning it despite the high pressure to complete it in 1 year rather than the standard 2 years.

Its the really little things that get me really excited!

promoting a reading culture

Still turning around the idea of a bookshop in my mind, its not going away, its sounding exciting day by day. One of the things I have thought of that I would love to do for my community/ society is to promote a reading culture.

Location - My mama has a small kiosk, next to it is a vacant room which leaks so no one wants it but I want it now. I'll have it fixed to a decent state in the next couple of weeks.

Margins - The population lies somewhere between lower lower class and lower middle class, its is not high end therefore low margins expected and have to be creative to move volumes.

Inventory - I visited a large book retail and wholesaler in the city and they have a couple of requirements I have to provide before they can sell to me on wholesale (business registration etc) will request my brother to assist here.

Crazy - Was once asked at a meeting to share a dream, a lofty dream - my dream was to own a whole street in the city, the large book retail and wholesale shop I visited is located on 'this street' and there are several publishing houses next to it, its official, am keeping that dream!

Environment - There are many nursery and primary schools in the area so there's a basic level of education, many households, a few slums, 2 small dispensaries, churches, one factory. I think this society could find great use for books and the education could improve our society significantly.

The journey of a 1000miles has already started in my mind...

The Ultimate Gift

Yesterday I re-watched (the hundredth time) the movie The Ultimate Gifts the 12 gifts Red Stevens gave Jason were:

• The Gift of Work
• The Gift of Friends
• The Gift of Money
• The Gift of Family
• The Gift of Learning
• The Gift of Problems
• The Gift of Laughter
• The Gift of Giving
• The Gift of Gratitude
• The Gift of a Day
• The Gift of Dreams
• The Gift of Love

The kind of gifts easy to overlook...but are gifts anyway, great gifts!

Borrowed from Robin Sharma's blog

Robin Sharma recently posted on his blog 10 quotes changed his life, 62 tips to get unstuck in 2013 and 50 business + life lessons that 2012 taught him ... I borrowed the few below from his blogs.

“To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded.”
—Bessie Anderson Stanley

  

Start your day with 20 minutes of exercise. Exercising for 20 minutes first thing in the morning is a game-changer.

Be on time (bonus points: be early). Don’t be on time–Be early.

Do a collage filled with images of your ideal life. Look at it once a day for focus and inspiration.

Take on projects no one else will take on. Set goals no one else will do.

Spend more time in art galleries. Art inspires, stimulates creativity and pushes boundaries.

World-class begins when you think you’ve done a great job but know you can do a better job.

 

I have a lot of work cut out for me, but I'll show up and deliver!

Book Affair

I poke holes in arguments/theories, I want to touch or feel things, I question and analyse alot, I defy trends, I say alot of bu...tttss; until I understand. It is not a very good thing, sounds like approaching everything from a doubt angle but not really, it is seeking to understand. After it makes sense to me, I can be confident in sharing my opinion about it. Consolation, Bereans in the Bible were considered of noble character as after they were taught by the apostles, they went home and examined the scripture to confirm what they were taught was true.

I have enjoyed reading Linchpin by Seth Godin, he has aroused the question of the difference between Art and Craft. In primary school/elementary school we studied a subject art and craft where we learnt mosaic and collage, wood work where we would learn carpentry joints etc.
He says that our work is our Art. He also says that Art is not it until the receiver appreciates it and admires it, therefore It has to be realy outstanding. The people who create Art enjoy it, they would still do it even if no one noticed but once it is recognised they make history. Picasso, Van Gogh, Stephen Covey etc.

I have also enjoyed reading Dead Aid: Why Aid is not Working and How There is a Better Way for Africa by Dr. Dambisa Moyo. It was interesting to discover Switzerland is a landlocked country - some of the poor performing countries in Africa are landlocked and it sure looks like that is the reason why it is hard to excel but nope... Something else that comes across from the book is when you receive free things, there's higher chance of waste and not using it for appointed projects. China's role in Africa is more of business. They offer a service which requires payment over time. Their finances are definitely used for the appointed projects.

The other books am reading are my school books....whaaat....things are thick but I shall excel.

I am learning and appreciating new things. I am looking forward to start the project, I hope I shall end up with an enjoyable topic which I can deliver well on.

I think I should start a bookshop...