JOBISM

As a fledgling person, having been born and raised in Kenya, studied here, Living here and currently working here and definitely going to be buried here, the conviction of the guys I’ve grown up with, looked up to and who look up to me have been earnestly besmirched from when they first stepped in to a class room. Pravin, a young lad, talented in sports, football to be specific, wants to be a neurologist when he grows up. For a boy still his age, 10, his dreams are valid (LUPIRER hehehe…). He still has room to change his mind and spoilt for choices on what to take up. He can be a barrister, a dentist, a lecturer, an engineer, a banker, an artist or even the president. See what I did there? All the raved up careers we have inculcated and made believe to the people around us that have attractive rewards are what these fresh minds endeavor to be. It’s okay, every one of us wants to see their son, daughter, brother or sister be something worth being allied with in the community. Vanity, a sense of belonging, self-worth and self-importance is what we all strive to achieve. But does this come at a cost of having a whole generation being over reliant on employment? Job hunting? The education system being corrupt since we all want to pass assessments and get good grades and join a blue chip and having to introduce yourself as so an so from this place?

The situation, JOBISM. Definition, over reliance on employment. This is corroding the creative young minds leading to a redundant crop of citizens. Employers are looking for people with so much involvement than the average graduate can qualify for to take up a position. Psychometric tests given to interviewees to analyze their logical capacity before taking up a role. Its no longer what your papers say about you but what the outcome of your engagements and decisions reveal about your disposition.

JOBISM can be likened to a person having 100 chicken. He pays you 1 cent per to feed the chicken and clean the houses and all other chores around, sells each egg laid Ksh10 and keeps both the chicken and the profits. Few tend to deviate from the norm and cut a niche for themselves and the other few are just too petrified to take a leap of faith. Scared that they won’t afford to pay bills and other expenses that we impose on ourselves. Some prefer to take a futon and relax once employed. They wouldn’t want to risk whatever small they have over uncertain situations. Not risking in life is not living, one Virgin Airways founder and CEO, Sir Richard Branson said. So, stop viewing investing and setting up your own enterprise as a very long time to get returns. Don’t you think being employed is a very long time to remain broke?

Get over JOBISM or die from *BROKE-ISM! CHALLENGE YOURSELF, LIVE, INVENT, FAIL, LEARN, BREAKTHROUGH ACHIEVE!

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THE MATATU MENTALITY

 

The Kenyan roads are always a buzz with hooting, strident music booming from the speakers and neck break speeds from the public haulage vehicles. Some people however may like the kind of milieu that they are subjected to; others completely detest this atrocious type of environment. Posters such as, “KAMA UNA HARAKA SHUKA UTEMBEE” , “KONDA NI MOTO DERE NI STIMA LETA FUJO UONE”, “ HATUSEMI UMENONA LAKINI UKIKALIA VITI MBILI LIPA”, “ KAMA HUPENDEZWI NA MUZIKI, NUNUA GARI YAKO” and so many other such posters insulting the same people who are responsible for giving you business. Being such an economy with the level of awareness on the consumer rights, one cannot enjoy the luxury of public transport and get the value for their money. No matter how much you try to complain about your predicament in the vehicle, its’ met by a rude and unwelcoming reply, no one in support of you and blank stares questioning your utterance.

Loud shouts from everywhere luring you to enter their vehicle, they are so generous that they will most certainly run after you to help with your luggage. Telling you of how best their car is and even showing you to “the best seat in the house”. Incase you are in a rush, they will tell you that they only need one more person to fill the vehicle and they will be ready to leave. The tainted windows of the car do not give out even a soul of the secret that is hidden within. The door is open and yes, you can see that there are people inside, all looking at you, their eyes implying that you enter the vehicle so that they set out on the journey. You decide to take a leap of faith and board it, only to your surprise, you are just but a fraction in the car. As more sufferers like you to this deception are lured in, its’ even more surprising that others are walking out. Functioning just like your wallet, as soon as the razor sharp notes from the bank are in, the old ones go out. Turns out that the people who were initially in the vehicle, were just a lot of paid distraction to make the car appear loaded and ready to leave. If you try to protest and seek an alternative way out of this predicament, a rude answer that leaves you dumbfounded straps you in back to your seat and tight-lipped for the entire journey to your destination. Another rude shocker is the fare prices just shoot up and you are forced to pay more than you ought to, just because of a simple shower of rain befalling the roads or slow moving traffic. Woe unto you if you fail to raise the amount asked for, the kind of treatment you get is worse than what a stray dog gets. Once you alight, you swear to yourself you’ll never board that car, but for some reason, you still fall victim of the same welcoming smile and the same devious plans as the day before and the day after. This is a RAT RACE with THE MATATU MENTALITY.

So what is “THE MATATU MENTALITY” and how is it related to the organization? This mindset implies that you are only vital before you board a public means of transport, once you are on board; your significance is quickly thrown out of the window. Many organizations will present a very attractive package for you as an aspiring employee. The benefits will be coated in all kinds of splendor and will paint a perfect picture of what every member of staff would like to hear. Attractive remuneration, tasks and qualifications you can easily meet, or probably have surpassed. But what you don’t know is the other side of your duties. The people you work with or work for. What level of psychological pressure is required? What else has the employee advertising for the vacancy not incorporated in the job description and requirements? This will ultimately lead you to leaving a perfect and well paying job for another, though better remuneration but tasks you can’t handle. As an organization or as an employee or employer, iron out all that is required to a specified position. This will not only give you the upper hand of getting the right people for the job but also save on costs incurred to train the employee on the tasks at hand. So, organizations should not swindle unsuspecting clients or employees only to discover later that what was is not what is. This paints a downbeat image of the organization and in the end, loss of valuable assets towards realization of organizations’ goals. Recoil from “THE MATATU MENTALITY”. Not only should you train your workers well, but also appreciate them even better, and they will stay and give their superlative. Delight a client well, and provide all the essential information, full disclosure, and more clients will follow for satisfaction.

HOW DO YOU START A BUSINESS WITHOUT INVESTORS?

Everyone has a magical idea that they think is a money minting venture, viable in their own way because they know the right keys to hit or the right strings to heave. But what most people, (the youth in particular) lack is funds. Youth Empowerment and Development Funds, UWEZO Funds etc; we have seen the ascend of many such initiatives in a bid to give the wherewithal to the young minds to perk up economically and build an realm in their own jurisdiction, from setting up a vendor stall to creating market for agri-products to endowment of a novelty that will change societal discernment and operation. The youth are an ambitious and entrepreneurial lot. Inspired in their own ability and diverse in operation and beliefs of the business world, go getters if you may call them. Every young person will tell you that they want a certain lifestyle for themselves. Drive flamboyant cars, dress in the latest designer wear and hack money like rapper Lil Wayne when they hit their favorite joint. But do they have what it takes to acquire such a lifestyle? Do they know what it takes to reach to such levels? I candidly don’t think so. Majority of the young generation lack the restraint to contain themselves, keep calm and be serene. They want to stick out their middle finger to the world and show that they have made it. Truth of the matter is they have scarcely scratched the surface of what needs to be done to say that they are there. They need guidance, mentorship on how well to exploit funds meant for starting and maintaining a business venture. They need to create a clear merit between their own lives and that of the business. The aspect of separate entity needs to be outlined. Failure to this is one of the reasons why SME’s fail desolately a short time after start up. So how do you start and maintain a business to success without investors and low funds? These are just some of the ways;

1.      Prioritize

This is where many people fail and it’s also the death bed of the business. Just like making a budget for your household after the pay check has been received. Put more emphasis on the most important units of production that is bound to give you the objective of the business incorporation. They can be likened to the basic necessities whereby, if you deprive off your business, its health will deteriorate. So, drop your low priorities for the time being and focus on your mantra.

2.      Plan for your salary

The other major problem faced by startups is that the proprietors are quick to reward themselves for the work done before they have achieved maximum profits. Take the growth cycle for example, before you crawl, you need to learn how to sit, then before you walk, you learn how to crawl later, and you’ll be sprinting like Kemboi in the Landon marathon races. Point is, bootstrap yourself. Bootstrapping means no salary from the new business for some time. Plough back the profits to develop even further, and in the long run, once the business is self sufficient, remuneration will be mind blowing.

3.      DYI but know when to ask the expert

You have probably heard of the do it yourself strategy. This is vital and key to the success of any start-up since you will be saving on a lot of resources that would go in having others produce for you, units that would be cheaper done internally. In as much as this is being advocated, don’t lock out professionals. They will be of much help in resolving some tricky issues likely to be encountered.

4.      Co-operate with other entrepreneurs

Co-operation will help a venture in accessing information that would be out of sight as a solo trader. It will also help in keeping up-to-date with the latest market trends in terms of policies, designs, prices and specifications.

5.      Scrutinize expenses, negotiate contracts

The purpose of this is to ensure that there is minimal wastage of resources especially in activities that do not add value to the business. No particular stage of the business cycle has an escape card to use resources for other purpose other than the intended one. Also, negotiate on contracts with suppliers. Let them know that you are a start-up and you are bootstrapping to avoid purchasing at inflated prices.

6.      Build audience early

This is the best way to build your market before operations start. Take an example of movies, before the actual release, the give viewers a preview of what to expect. Once the movie is out, everyone rushes to purchase it, which is why movies sell. Create a blog or website for your business. A social media site displaying actual items of your products such that if a customer wants what is on display, they will get it, thus satisfying their want and creation of brand loyalty.

7.      Don’t skimp on PR

Public relations are vital to the success of your business. Well represented business and well treated clients will go a long way in ensuring that businesses capitalize on their target market saving a lot of costs incurred in marketing activities.

8.      Soft launch of first product

The saying the higher you climb the harder you fall applies in the launching of a new product; whether in an already existing market or a new one. Launch a soft campaign and analyze the market response. This will save in costs incurred to manufacture the products in large batches by doing it in smaller batches.

Having gone M.I.A for the past months or two, it's yet another new year with loads of unfulfilled resolutions spanning some few years back. The whole process of re-living and failing to achieve my resolutions became a constant bore after a while, roughly a month into the new year. Then things get tough, you start making excuses about failing to accomplish what you set out to do as the year started. Well, enough of self chastition, we all have a weak point and I have recognized one of mine and eradicated it. So, from hence forward, no resolutions.
  2014 marks a big step in my life. First because I am graduating college second I'm setting out on a quest to start my own company, third is that I want to manage and develop this blog and fourth but not the least in my new year activities is the fall-out of a friend who I thought was one in a million. Well, true, people change so look  at life in your own perspective and not through someone elses eyes.
  Well, speaking of registering a company, I had a few difficulties in trying to get the correct information of all the requirements one needs to do so in Kenya. Courtesy of the office of the Attorney General's' website, these are some of the documents and procedures for registering a local private limited company and international company for they that wish to do so.

1
Name search: You write a letter to the registrar to reserve your desired name. The name may be accepted or rejected based on a similarly named business or offending the rules on name reservation. This part takes two days. If accepted the registrar will reserve the name for 30 days.
2
Prepare Memorandum and Article of Association and Statement of Nominal Capital: These documents describe the objectives, rules, subscribers and authorised share capital of your company. They are prepared by an advocate
3
Pay Stamp Duty: The amount of money that you pay depends on your declared nominal capital, but the minimum is KES. 2,140 based on the minimum nominal capital of KES. 2,000.
Situation of Office Form 201: Fill this form that notes the registered office address of the company, and to be signed by one director or the company secretary
List of Directors Form 203: Fill this form that lists the directors and secretary of the company. This is stamped by the company secretary
4
Declaration of Compliance Form 208: Get a commissioner of oath must sign this form on your behalf
File Documents at Registrars office: You then need to file your documents at Companies Registry and pay the registration fee. This includes your memorandum and articles of association. There is a varied fee attached to this. You should receive a certificate of incorporation after a period of about 21 days
Get your Company Seal: This is a device that embosses your company name on documents and is used as a signature of the company.It can be purchased from a stationer.
5
Statutory Requirements
• Register for a Personal Identity Number, Value Added Tax & Pay-As-You-Earn with the Kenya Revenue Authority.
• Register for the National Hospital Insurance Fund. This is mandatory medical contribution for your employees.
• Register for the National Social Security Fund. It is mandatory to contribute to your employees retirement fund.
• Register for a Business Premises Licence. This application is made to the local county office. You will need a premises prior to submitting this application.

For more information, visit the government website to get detailed data.

The Genesis

CORPORATE GENESIS

The synonym for interloper; well I thought to myself, this must be an invader as I slowly filled my acrostic puzzle at home. Jaded that the universities were closed for the summer and I had nowhere in particular to travel to as compared to my equals. Then on a more familiar movie series to some of you, the illustrious 90210 that I had been following since high school, I got a brilliant idea. Why not occupy the commercial world and segment my understanding with others who are too much enthusiastic to read articles on the various business topics they ought to know about the industry.  Alas! CORPORATE INVADER was born, and using the ultimate weapon (which in this case is my lecture and research work) the great and entrepreneurial earthlings will get some few tips here and there on how to manoeuver in this jungle called THE CORPORATE WORLD.

To start off, I own up and appreciate all the folks who venture into the business world. Whether accomplished or not. It’s a jungle out there and only the apt and smart are able to survive. In this jungle, information is influence,risk is a requisite and most importantly, know your rival. You are at war with other minds, pronounced, smart or creative. What matters the most is what diverse item are you presenting on the table. Beforetaking up any role, whether in life, occupation or liaison, carryout a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat) analysis on your self and also the field. Do you have the guts to do what is done in that particular arena or will you chicken out and be but a spectator?

Life is one big game, the earth is the playing field, people are your adversaries, prospects your life’s and yourself, the nemesis. What matters is how cut out you are to thrive in this game christened life. Do not guise at other people and say, “I’ll probably never be like that fellow, I mean he/she is successful, drives a deluxe car, lives large and all.” Everyone is successful in their own way. A supermodel that is on the cover of a renowned magazine but is emaciated as hell is successful in her rapports. An activist who fights for a just course is successful. A mason who builds a tower is successful. A student who completes eighth grade or high school is successful. Success is what you want to realize with your life and not how much dough you have in your account, or how posh you live or drive. Success is the state of being contented with your existing situation and sustaining it. It is being free and peaceful at heart. Know your background. Use it as a reference point for all your endeavors. Look at life as a game of basketball. Think of home, shoot the ball. Do not be influenced to take part in an activity you customarily don’t do for the sake of being accepted.Acceptance and retribution are the pleasures of a narrow mind.Intellectual people care more about their life than how people see them. Be yourself, believe in yourself and others will believe in you.

Well this is not an inspirational blog but rather, a forum for the generation Y or the chaotic generation as we are termed to share knowledge and exchange ideas to how to go about the day-to-day life in the corporate world. This is a revolution. Let us show the world that we too know what we do and how we do. Operation “OCCUPY CORPORATE WORLD” is now effective. Good luck combatants!