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!