The Altar of Purpose

 

Hebrews 12:1-2 (AMP)

Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (who have borne testimony to the truth) let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly)  clings to and entangles us and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, Looking away (from all that will distract) to Jesus, who is the leader and the source of our faith (giving the first incentive for our belief) and is also its finisher (bringing it to maturity and perfection). He for the joy (of obtaining the prize) that was set before him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Purpose is your reason for being. Have you ever posed and asked yourself why you are here? When you are clear on why you are here, you will realize that it automatically calls on you to give up a lot.

Looking back over your life, what would you say you have given up, in the pursuit of purpose? If the pursuit of your purpose has never cost you anything, you may want to question how strongly you believe in it. It calls for sacrifice. Your Purpose is an altar on which you will sacrifice many other things. That readiness must stay with you at all times because when you least expect it, the call to sacrifice will come up. 

It’s a Marathon

Think about Marathoners. It takes long hours of consistent practice to win a marathon. It means giving up most if not all early mornings, braving the cold, sticking to a diet, creating time for recovery and a lot of practice. If you talk to Eliud Kipchoge, you will understand that marathons are not won by accident. The intentionality needed is not something everyone is ready to give. When you think about, the same principles apply in life, business, ministry, work, you name it. To experience wild success in any pursuit calls for you to make certain trade-offs without coercion.

Cristiano Ronaldo has consistently paid the price to continue functioning at the very top of the game for over two decades now. The amount of discipline needed to make this possible is out of this world. He has had to steer clear of many distractions and keep his head focused on the most important outcomes of his life. To succeed with purpose requires the same level of focus. We do not fail because we don’t know what to do. Our failure arises from the unwillingness to do it long after it stops being exciting. It arises from realizing that the price is higher than what we initially thought.

Let’s also look at some Biblical examples.

Moses gave up the temporary pleasures of Egypt in pursuit of his purpose as a deliverer. He was in line to succeed the Pharaoh. His name would have been written in Egyptian folklore. He left the soft life of the palace for the uncertainty of the jungle. He sided with the oppressed when he would have aligned with the oppressors. Hebrews 11:24-27. Going against Pharaoh in this era was akin to rebelling against the super power of the day. It was unthinkable.

Queen Esther makes a profound statement in her pursuit of purpose. She says if I perish, I perish. She got to understand that she had ascended to royal office for a noble cause. Esther 4:14. Based on this understanding, she was ready to lose her life if it came to that. In those days it was criminal to enter the King’s chambers without an express invitation from him. Her choice to risk this is the sacrifice she offered on the altar of her purpose. Thankfully she survived the challenge but she had to go all in. the survival came only after the fact.

Our anchor scripture talks about Jesus who went through humiliation, disgrace, shame and every unimaginable horror in his pursuit for the redemption of men. His purpose was so overarching and he was so focused on the outcome that he willingly gave up everything in exchange of it. Have you ever thought about the implications of following through on your purpose? Have you ever posed to think what would go wrong if you abandoned your pursuit of purpose? Jesus remained focused on his purpose and paid the ultimate price-his life. Sometimes your purpose demands your life. How ready are you to give it up?

A reward

The consolation is that when you pay the price for purpose, you get to reap the fruit in the long run. We see numerous examples in the Bible of men and women who sacrificed and got to enjoy the fruits of their sacrifice. Whenever the priests offered sacrifices, the sins of the people were forgiven, calamity was averted and favor obtained.  Jesus got to experience the purchase of souls by his sacrifice. The book of Isaiah 53 speaks about the sacrifices of Jesus and the reward it brought and continues to bring him. Healing for the sick, release for the oppressed, forgiveness for sinners. In Philippians 2 we get to understand that this sacrifice gave him a name above every other name. At this name every knee bows and every tongue confesses his lordship. His sacrifices have bought him the loyalty of the nations.   Moses was able to lead Israel out of captivity, in our days, we have seen the Kipchoges of this world win multiple marathons and accolades. They have also secured financial fortunes in the process. If you remain faithful, the fruit follows.

Travel light

The pursuit of purpose requires that you travel light. All you need to do is take a look at how athletes show up on the race track. They don’t show up in their pyjamas. They dress for the occasion. The outfits must be light and brief enough for the race. Same case for swimmers. Those who climb mountains have learnt to carry only the essentials. The pursuit of purpose is a game of elimination until you are left with just the bare essentials. If you want to succeed, you have no options but to keep shedding excess weight. I am reminded of how spaceships keep dropping their packaging as they go higher. What was necessary at the base is not needed at the final destination. The question we all need to answer is how much baggage are we carrying?

Be comfortable with no.

Warren Buffet says “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say ‘no’ to almost everything.” To succeed in the pursuit of purpose requires priority. Priority means you will have to say no to very many things. Good really is the enemy of great and you must be willing to drop even the good.

What do you need to sacrifice today in the pursuit of your purpose? What have you had to sacrifice recently and in the past in pursuit of your purpose? If your purpose costs you nothing, is it worth pursuing? Food for thought.

What’s the one thing you are going to drop in order to align more closely with your purpose? There comes a time when a choice has to be made. What choice will you make? 

 

 

No-A complete sentence

 

A famous Nigerian preacher-Sam Adeleye-says If you try to make yourself El Shaddai, the only thing that will happen is you shall die. El Shaddai is God’s attribute of All-sufficiency. Anyone else who takes it on himself will suffer the consequences.

Entrepreneurs often find themselves in a space where they need to say yes to many different requests. You see, we are problem solvers. It feels like we are always on the lookout for problems to solve as long as someone is paying us to do it. While this is a good thing, it is possible to cross a dangerous line. If you are not careful, you may say one yes too many. For your overall health and well-being, get used to saying no unless you have no other option.

Every no you fail to say may mean you spend money you didn’t have to, hire employees you don’t need, sanction a product that adds zero value just to mention a few issues. If you want to remain on the cutting edge of what you do, you must get comfortable saying no.

Warren Buffet one of the most successful investors of all time has some good advice for us when it comes to saying no. He says, The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say 'no' to almost everything. This is because they realize every yes you don’t think through will tie up your money, time and energy unnecessarily. It is better to take time and think through alignment before you say yes to any proposal brought your way. Every unnecessary yes you say will come back to bite later.

When you say no to the good, you create room to focus on the best. Sometimes the enemy of great is good enough. Before you say yes, ask how it affects your core deliverables. Every job has deliverables. What are your KPI’s as an individual or a business? Unless you define those, it will be difficult to decide what adds value and what doesn’t. Once your KPIs are in place, weigh every proposed activity through the lens of the value it adds to your achievement whether directly or indirectly. You should have no time for misaligned opportunities. Not every open door is one you should walk through.

No is a vote for your time. Time is the most finite of all resources. Everyone can make more money, no one can make more time. You need to spend your time working on the stuff that matters most and exclude everything else. Saying no to what hurts you means saying yes to what will enhance your life.

Keep your interests few and deeply meaningful. In a world of competing interests and priorities, take time to vote for what matters most, what aligns with your purpose and let everything else slide. Derek Sivers says ‘If it’s not a hell yes it is a no’ meaning if you don’t buy into it wholly from the onset then maybe it is not worth pursuing. While this is not entirely accurate, it is a good rule of thumb for deciding where to devote your attention. There is value in doing a few things really well than becoming a jack of all trades. It wears you out and produces nothing spectacular when you are all over the place. 

Say no to pointless meetings. One of the things that can steal a lot of your time is unnecessary meetings. A good way to look at it is ‘if it can be texted, don’t call, if you can call about it, don’t email, if it can be emailed don’t call a meeting for it. Spend as little time on meetings as possible and set a specific time for every meeting you must have. Steve Jobs used to do walking meetings with people so that he keeps them short and useful. Maybe you should adopt something similar.

Why does it matter?

Besides your business, you have other priorities like faith, family and whatever else lights up your world. Saying no to wrong/misaligned requests frees up time for the things you treasure most. Your wellness depends on the number of no’s you say daily.

How to say No.

Be clear and direct-No is a full sentence. Stop with the explanations.

Offer alternatives if appropriate-Can someone stand in for you, let them go.

Delay your response-You don’t have to respond to everything right when it is asked.

Prioritize your values and limits. Be clear on why you can’t take this on.

Be respectful but firm-I appreciate you thinking of me but I will have to pass this time.

Avoid over explaining, vagueness and rudeness in your responses.

What do you think of the need to say no? How does it aid your own wellness? Have you ever found yourself in a space where it was hard to say no? How did you handle it without losing the person? Your experiences might just help someone therefore feel free to share them in the comments. 

Check your Why-It is critical to your Wellness.

 

Simon Sinek wrote a book entitled ‘Start With Why?’ This is very good advice for any entrepreneur who wants to do well for themselves and in the process achieve the greater good. It is easy to answer the question by simply saying I want to make money which begs the follow up question why do you want to make money? The next logical answer is that you have bills to pay and want to give your people a good life. Does it mean that if I gave you all the money you will ever need and add a blank cheque for you to draw from anytime you need to you would close down your business today? A few people would answer yes but I guess many would still wake up and open shop the following day. What is this that would push you to keep going when your own issues are well taken care of?

What does your vision and mission statement say? For some people, it is possible that they hardly think about this when they wake up in the morning to go and open shop. If this describes you, then you need to sit down and rethink your motivation for going into business. I have an untested theory that says many businesses in Africa die with the founder because they weren’t started with the thinking of being passed on to the next generation. The vision wasn’t big enough to be fulfilled in subsequent generations. It is very easy to find businesses in Europe and Asia spanning more than 3-4 generations because they are built with that in mind. Many of our businesses in Africa are subsistent in nature just like our Agriculture. Divorce the need to pay bills and many collapse.

Your business should be an answer and a solution to problems bigger than you and your needs. Elon Musk for example didn’t build Tesla, X, Space X and every other company he has interests in simply to pay his bills. These are companies worth billions of dollars solving some of humanity’s biggest headaches both present and future. What challenges are you helping people deal with as an entrepreneur? What problems does your business solve for people? How does it contribute to a better quality of life? When do you get to say I have done what is required of me and I can now pass it on to the next generation?

We burnout because we do not know when to stop. We are not clear what it is we are chasing. This leaves us going in many different directions and as a result we fail to know when to say it is enough. The motivation behind you is very important to examine. When you are driven by greed, you will never know satisfaction. You will keep going without caring about the impact it is having on your health, family and many other important aspects of your life. When you are chasing money just for its own sake, it will never be enough.

For your own sake, make effort to define your why. Seek clarity on the demographic you are meant to serve. Understand the geography your business is meant to serve. Find the niche that you are meant to take care of and focus your attention on it. This will determine the opportunities you chase and those you leave for others. It will guide the hiring decisions you make, the business resources you need to acquire, the skills you should pursue and a lot more. You will stop being a jack of all trades which leaves you exhausted, burnt out and not really world-class at anything. This leads me to pose another question: What can you say you are world-class at or well on your way to becoming? You will realize that it is a narrow path and it requires you to cut off a lot of the baggage that you carry with you everywhere you go.

I recommend that you read the Book Essentialism: The Disciplined pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. A strong why is a catalyst for a smoother how.  

Here are some wellness benefits to help you consider building a purpose-driven enterprise.

🧠 Mental & Emotional Wellness

1. Reduced Stress & Burnout
• When your business aligns with your values, the daily grind feels less draining. Even tough challenges feel more “worth it.”
2. Greater Resilience
• Purpose acts as an anchor during setbacks, giving you the emotional strength to keep pushing without losing hope.
3. Enhanced Fulfillment & Joy
• Work stops being “just business” and becomes a meaningful mission, which brings a sense of joy and pride.
4. Clarity & Peace of Mind
• A clear mission reduces decision fatigue. You know what to say “yes” or “no” to, which lowers mental clutter.

 

❤️ Physical Wellness

5. Healthier Energy Levels
• Founders driven by purpose often report higher energy and stamina because their motivation is intrinsic, not just financial.
6. Reduced Risk of Stress-Related Illnesses
• Lower chronic stress can protect against issues like hypertension, migraines, ulcers, or sleep disorders.
7. Better Work–Life Balance
• When your work feels meaningful, it’s easier to harmonize it with personal life instead of feeling like you’re sacrificing yourself.

🌱 Spiritual & Social Wellness

8. Sense of Meaning & Contribution
• Having your work tied to something bigger than money gives you a sense of legacy and spiritual satisfaction.
9. Deeper Connections & Support
• Purpose attracts like-minded people (mentors, partners, employees, clients). This support network contributes to your social wellness.
10. Alignment Between Who You Are & What You Do

• Living in alignment reduces inner conflict, guilt, or feelings of “selling out,” which boosts overall wellbeing.

✅ In short: A purpose-driven business helps the founder thrive personally—mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually—because the business stops being just a hustle and becomes a life-giving mission. 

How differently will you approach your business after this? What will you do to inculcate purpose into your thinking and strategy for the business? Share your thoughts and resolutions. 

Gratitude Leads to Miraculous Multiplication

 

In the book of John Chapter 6:5-13 we come across the story of Jesus and how he fed a huge multitude with five loaves of bread and two fish. This story has a number of great lessons for us.

Like Philip we find it hard to understand how so much can come from so little. When Jesus tells him about the need to feed the multitude Philip puts on his thinking cap. His conclusion: It would take a lot of money to feed this multitude so if I were you Jesus, I would abandon the whole idea.

Philip knew only the natural dimension of things. Jesus introduced him to the supernatural. Gratitude is a lever in the supernatural dimension of things. It causes a shift in possibilities. Philip failed to understand that Jesus was present and with him the backing of heaven. How many times have you been in a situation that seems impossible and because of fixing your eyes on it alone, you fail to grasp the truth that Jesus is present? Like Philip we need to appreciate the presence of Jesus in our situations however dire they may seem. So gratitude here seems to go beyond just the bread to the one who gives bread-the bread of life. May we never forget to appreciate Jesus and what he represents just because we are in a tight spot.  

Andrew was slightly better but still wondered how things would unfold. Andrew went a step further than Philip. He saw the lad with two fish and five loaves. He appreciated that there was something on the ground to work with. His view was also limited because he adds a statement that says ‘out of the realm of possibility’ He also fails to note the presence of Jesus and his ability to turn things around. You and I are likely to think: What’s wrong with these guys? But wait a minute. How many times have you been in the exact same situation and maybe acted worse off? Our natural tendency is to do the math and conclude; impossible. We never look beyond ourselves and our resources and that marks the beginning of our issues.

Jesus does two things which are important for the miracle. He teaches us the formula for multiplication.

He gives thanks-Gratitude. The first thing he does is to give thanks for what is at hand. Many times we despise what we have at hand and as a result, we fail to capitalize on it. The truth is you will never tap into the fullness of what you have until you learn to embrace it. Jesus appreciated what was available and he saw in it the possibility of sufficiency. The appreciation and celebration of your small wins paves the way for bigger wins. David got the courage of facing Goliath because he had already seen God give him victory over lions and bears. He didn’t despise the formative victories and they formed the basis for his greatest victory.

He distributes-breaking it down. One way to look at the whole issue of distribution is to think about him breaking it into pieces and spreading it around. When I think about it (and this is just my thinking) breaking it down means looking beneath the surface. On the surface he only had two fish and five loaves but beneath the surface was potential to feed the multitude. One of the challenges we have as humans is we gloss over the good things and over analyze the negative things that happen around us. We are very good at meditating on our low moments and experiences and very poor at meditating on the good side of things. Next time you are about to complain about your lot, take a moment and appreciate the intricacy of God’s goodness to you. It will go a long way in unlocking greater levels of goodness.

Let’s think naturally for a moment. Take the case of two children you have. You give every one of them a gift. One walks away happy about it and expresses zero gratitude. The other one is very happy as well but they remember to express gratitude and remind you of all the good things you have done in the past. Who between the two would you be more inclined to do more for? Remember I said you think naturally. If you are honest with me, you would be driven to do more for the second child. Everyone loves to be appreciated. And when appreciated, they are driven to do more. That is part of how gratitude leads to multiplication.

The result-Enough food for everyone and some of it remains. On account of Jesus breaking the bread and giving thanks for it, there is an overflow of food for the whole multitude. Instead of going on and on about many things, why don’t you challenge yourself to be more grateful for the next thirty days and see what it will yield. Gratitude changes your perspective and you begin to see more than you were seeing before. Try it.

The lesson-Do not despise what you have at hand. Search the depths of it by breaking it down and be grateful for it. What you are grateful for you attract more of, increases in value and as such can go a longer distance.

This is one of the lessons I pass on in the book Blessed to be a Blessing. It is a call to gratitude as you reflect on the various manifestations of the blessing of God upon your life. If you want a guide to help you reflect on God’s goodness then feel free to order a copy by sending me a message on +254725832477.

Thoughts on Retirement Planning for Men.

 

Men,

No one is coming to save us.

The day you turned 18 and left the comfort of your Mother’s house or whatever you left behind-it doesn’t matter, you signed up for life. From that point onwards you became responsible for yourself, your family and everything in between.

If your life follows a normal trajectory, you will spend the years between 25-60 working and taking care of your wife and children plus your extended family in some instances. What this means is you spend your most productive years fending for the people you care about.

If you are not careful or fail to plan for it, your woes are likely to start after 60.

While you toiled tirelessly in your good years, it is possible you lost something important which is creating a bond with your children. That is a dangerous place to be in.

Many men find themselves in that place where they are distant from their children and worse still with zero money to take care of themselves. That’s a potent combination. It partly explains why so many men die within 5-10 years after retirement.

If you left their mother as the present parent, she will have cemented her position in their hearts. If she is not a wise woman, she will use this to her advantage and sideline you. A wise woman will see to it that the children understand the significant role you play/played in their upbringing whether you were present or not.

Here is some advice on what you should do.

Strike a balance between your presents and presence. Your presents come in the form of your provisions and the goodies you send home while you are toiling far away from your kids. Your presence cannot be delegated or substituted. I know we live in tough times where every shilling counts. The bills are out of this world and you need to make enough to take care of your family but for your own sake, ensure you are intentional about creating time to be with the people who call you dad. If it takes a small drop in quality of life to ensure you are more present at home, go ahead and make it happen. Those formative years of your child’s life mean a lot to them and you in the long run. Be there for them.

Build your nest egg. Don’t play games with your retirement years. The needs then are many and you no longer have an active income to depend on. What you do in your active years has a bearing on how you live in the years of retirement. Invest enough in income generating assets to cover yourself financially. I help people in planning for retirement by discussing options available. I invite you to book a session with me here to discuss this all important matter while there is still time.

Be good to your wife and children. Especially if you are the predominant bread winner. In your active years, you are all powerful, after your active years, power shifts significantly. How you treated your wife and children when power was in your hands, determines how they will treat you when it shifts towards them. Keep a good record and they will defend you with their lives. They won’t let you suffer in the village while they chop life in the city.

Think about taking care of your family as a responsibility. Because it is. It is not an investment. You should not look at your children as an investment. Let their support for you in your old age be voluntary. This is why for every 5 shillings you spend on them, you need to spend 1 or 2 on yourself in the form of investing in your future. That way you secure the future even as you are taking care of the present.

Think from a posterity perspective. While we are debating how to take care of ourselves in retirement, the bible recommends that we plan even for the next generation. It should never be lost on you that you need to give the next generation a better platform to start from. It is a responsibility we carry and we must embrace it wholeheartedly. Prepare a financial and knowledge/experience package to pass on to your progeny. In case you do not know where to start, let’s explore options of getting this done together. Book a slot here.

Will the real Africa stand up? A response to the USAID fund freeze

 

The Us of A has sneezed and the whole world has predictably caught the cold. The only way this might have bypassed you is if you don’t live in this world or you are super preoccupied with important stuff that you have no time for small talk like the rest of us. The flu that is wreaking havoc across the world comes in the garb of the USAID fund freeze. President DJT through the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) if you still haven’t caught on has just come to the realization that the USAID has been bleeding dollars with little to show for it. I cannot completely agree with this statement. There are many organizations that have used USAID funds to make a big difference in the communities they serve. What I agree with is that there are people and organizations that have also used the same funds to do some not so helpful things around the world. Those people have defeated the purpose of the funds and necessitated a fresh look at it. This one decision has sent the development world into pandemonium.

The Cause

President DJT campaigned on the America First platform. He is of the opinion that the rest of the world has been ripping off America and getting away with it for so long. This is not entirely true because America has also received a lot from around the world. What is true is that the relationship has been abused by some not so clever individuals leading to undesirable outcomes stemming from the use of these funds. A deep look at the spending patterns by DOGE has identified the USAID as one of the agencies that needed to be repurposed quickly. Whether it continues to operate after the freeze is not clear at this moment.

The Effect

I do not know the extent of the effect globally but I can tell you that in Kenya a lot has changed courtesy of this one decision. Primarily, people have lost livelihoods overnight. There are many who have been serving in various organizations courtesy of USAID funds. Those people are in a terrible place as far as their livelihoods are concerned. Breadwinners have just lost their ability to bake bread with the stroke of a pen. Estimations have put the number at over 35000 Kenyans. You have no idea what this means in the developing world. I do not want to get started with the black tax conversation but let it suffice you to know that this income loss has affected more than the nuclear family of the employees.

Programs in many sectors have suffered a big blow. One of the worst hit sectors is the health sector where these funds have been critical in providing comprehensive care for those dealing with HIV and many other significant interventions.

In terms of financial inflows-it is estimated that the freeze has lost Kenyans about 85Billion Shillings a year. Pulling out such funding will create a shock in the economy no doubt. The spending power of some people has been cut off completely. The ripple effect on industries that have depended on these funds will be huge. We are talking hospitality and leisure here.

Courtesy of the freezing of funds, a lot has come to light. It is now clear that many governments in the developing world have left the management of crucial sectors at the mercy of donor funds. When your health, education, sanitation and such other needs are at the mercy of donors, you should look in the mirror and ask hard questions about whether you still qualify to be a government. We have also come to learn that some people have used USAID funds to push foreign ideologies in their host countries. There are reports about organizations that have been pushing LGBTQ ideology in conservative countries. This is an unfortunate use of critical resources that would make a difference on other things that really matter.

The reaction.

People in different quarters have looked at this new development through different lenses. Governments are feeling exposed because the carpet has been pulled from right under their feet. You can hear them shouting at the top of their lungs about why this is a bad idea. Those vulnerable members of the communities which were receiving help through these programs are pleading for mercy from DJT asking him to reconsider the decision. I feel strongly for them because they are caught up in a game of chess they know nothing about. We have a Swahili saying for it-fahali wawili wakipigana nyasi huumia loosely translated it means when two bulls are having a go at each other, the only thing that suffers is the grass beneath their feet. This is what those vulnerable members are going through now. We also have the local staff working within the said programs. For them, there is a loss of livelihoods. This is also something to empathize with. Most of them have been caught unawares with no idea how to proceed from here.

Many of these people are in a state of shock as we speak. It becomes important to navigate them through the stages of grief until they can pick up their lives and move on. The truth is that we are going to see a rise in issues of mental health as people try to navigate this complex web. What should our response be? It depends on where we stand. We could be observers, beneficiaries, employees or the government. I will attempt to speak about what our responses should be in each of these cases.

Observers

You occupy a unique position. You have the greatest ability to see things from a balanced, rational perspective. You can filter through the noise and offer practical help.

I know there is a temptation to castigate the government, employees and beneficiaries of the fund at this point. Let me say, this will not help at all. It will only aggravate the situation.

The best gift you can give them at this point is support and affirmation. This is the time to tell them that they are capable of coming out of this situation. It is the time to call out the greatness in them. It is time to tell them that they have what it takes to turn around the situation. This applies especially to the employees and beneficiaries of the various programs.

It is also good to point them away from and towards God. No matter how good a person is, they will never replace God in your life. They have limits they can take and distances they can cover after which they wear out. America is just tired of carrying the burdens of other nations in this day and age. I guess it is Ron Paul who said that foreign aid is an arrangement where money is taken from the poor people of a rich country and handed over to the rich people of a poor nation. This is a hard hitting truth we might not want to acknowledge.

Your government needs to be called out albeit respectfully. You have to find out why they are super dependent on foreign aid to run matters that should be basic for the government. More often than not, the countries that need too much help are suffering from a more serious pandemic in the form of government sanctioned corruption and abuse of office. Those are situations that demand hard questions and commitments to change.

Organizing protests against the US government is barking up the wrong tree. They are not responsible for the social burden of your country. They have their own issues to deal with. The rage needs to be directed towards our own local administrations.

You must also be ready to point out again respectfully the fact that certain NGO’s have nothing to show for the many years of work and dollars spent in certain communities. They have lived up to the mantra of nothing going on. We have heard stories about statistics being exaggerated to justify the flow of funds-Kibera anyone??? Such organizations are taking away money from people who genuinely need it for their own benefit with little happening on the ground. As an observer, you have a responsibility to call this out.

Beneficiaries

We are talking about the people on the ground who benefit from the various programs. What should the response be?

You need to drop the entitlement mentality which tells you that people owe you anything. Just because you have been supported for many years shouldn’t make you turn around and think it is my right. I know how hard it is to take this in and I truly empathize with you but I have to say that gratitude is what should be flowing from your lips. You should be grateful for the far the US has carried you. It is not their responsibility.

Your anger and confusion are justifiable but if you stay there, no help will come your way. The question you must start asking is-how can I start doing for myself, that which I have constantly depended on others to do for me? You have to drop that victim mentality and start seeing yourself as capable of handling this latest challenge. If you summon it, there is greatness within you. Decide today that you will take steps to solve the problems you have to without referring to others. Own your challenge and do what it takes to surmount it. Start where you are, with what you have, right now.

If you must direct your anger somewhere, direct it to your government not the US government. Let your anger be known at the ballot box. Let it be known on the platforms social or otherwise available to you. Demand for more from your leaders at both the local and national level. Be a voice for good governance, against corruption and abuse of office. Do not resign to the fate of helplessness. You are better than that.

Look at this as a wakeup call to take charge of your destiny. The fact that you are here means there is more to you than being a dependant. There are others in a situation similar to you or maybe worse who have actually moved on from dependency to being dependable. If they can, so can you. If they have, so will you. Rise up to the challenge and become who you are meant to be.

Employees

Kudos to you if you have been working tirelessly to turn things around in the community where you are based. Thank you for the good work and sacrifice you have made. You will turn out just fine if you have been a great person serving your community. You should only worry if you have been a leech reaping where you have not sown. If that be the case, brace yourself for an awakening. The good news is you have what it takes to be great from now going forward.

I know you may be having feelings of guilt asking yourself whether you made the right spending decisions when the money was flowing in. Well that is water under the bridge. The only thing you should do is learn your lessons and do better going forward. If you are good at what you do, another opportunity will come your way. When it does make sure you spend better on the things that will outlast your next assignment.

For some of you this might be a call towards your destiny. Sometimes the devil uses money to bribe you into forgetting what makes your heart race. It is time to do a deep introspection and ask yourself whether this is all you were meant to be. Some of you have gifts and talents that you have never put to use. Maybe this is the hour for them to spring forth. God may have been asking you to walk away for a long time but this was your comfort zone. Things may have been shaken up so that you wake up out of your slumber and find the place of your function. Some of you have capacity to create employment for others yet you are stuck in employment.

If you were prudent enough to save up a few shillings here and there, they will give you options. Find a good financial advisor who should help you make sound choices. If you need help in this regard, let’s talk.

The one thing you shouldn’t do is panic. Things are under control and if they are not, you will soon get them under control. The wisest thing to do when you are at your lowest is to look at where you are, what you have and where you can start. Unbeknownst to us, we carry more than we care to admit. A long focused look at your life will unearth gems that you can channel towards a productive life whether you have a white collar job or not. You got to where you are courtesy of your abilities. Just because you have lost an opportunity doesn’t mean you have also lost your ability. Transfer your skills to the next assignment that needs you.

There are many things I can say but now is not the time. One thing I will conclude with is that this challenge will bring out many different results. Some will go on to build successful futures out of this setback while others will fade into oblivion. What matters is what you have on the inside of you. How will your story end? Will you be one of those who couldn’t cope with the reality or will you like a phoenix rise from the ashes and go on to conquer? I am rooting for you. Don’t let yourself down.

Governments

I acknowledge that you found these programs in place. Some of them have been running for decades. Fortunately or unfortunately, you have been chosen as the one to make the move in a different direction. To speak to the Kenyan case this is what I will say. 85B is such a small amount of money if we tighten the loopholes we have in government. Our former president spoke about the country losing 2B daily to corruption. What that means is that we have the capacity to recover close to 720B annually if we just close this one tap. The question is, do you as government have the balls to make this hard call? The funds we are crying foul about are available in our current budget. Why should we proudly say that a third of our budget is usually lost to corruption? Why does our procurement have to be at exaggerated rates.

If I was in government today, I would form the equivalent of DOGE to probe wastage and make recommendations for making things right.  This is not hard to do. The hard bit comes when we talk about implementing those recommendations. What has happened in the US in less than a month is that action has been taken on the recommendations of DOGE. The problem we have in this country is that we have good reports gathering dust in various government departments.

Any self-respecting government will look within and ask where did the rain start beating us? Donor dependent countries will start talking about looking East, finding alternative sponsors. Isn’t it shameful that over 60 years after independence we are still depending on foreign aid to run basic programs? Isn’t it shameful that the founding fathers of our nation spoke about fighting disease, poverty and ignorance yet today 60 years later we still talk about the same things in our manifestos? Don’t you have the slightest respect for your manifesto? DJT is not a perfect man. He has many issues we can talk about but one thing you cannot accuse him off is lip service. When he promises the electorate he will do something, you best believe he will. Is that too much to ask of you as leaders? When will we move on to bigger fish? For how long shall we talk about being sabotaged by the West? What have we done with our natural resources? What about our human capital? Are we saying the best we can do is to send our people to the Middle East for menial jobs?

My advice to the government of the day is decide to do what needs to be done on the matter of basic programs. Recover that money from our current resources. Make corruption and abuse of office extremely costly that no one thinks about doing it. Move on from lip service and become intentional about transforming the country. Decide that you will no longer bear the shame of passing around begging bowls to see who will be merciful. Where there is a will, there is a way.

In conclusion I see this move by the US as a blessing in disguise for the developing world. It is our opportunity to rewrite our history. If we as Africans can find a way of weaning ourselves off depending on foreign aid, our voice will be much louder on the global stage. We have a responsibility to bring out the greatness of Africa and it begins with us becoming self sufficient on the basic needs of our continent. We need to get to a place where our best and brightest want to stay around and build our continent. We must work to ensure that we are the solution to our own challenges. Homegrown solutions work best. It is time for the real Africa to stand up.   

Men, Love and Money-A Valentine's Day Special Issue

 

Men

Valentines is coming up in a few days. Let’s talk about money, love and Valentines

Are you excited about it as an opportunity to display your love or are you feeling the pressure because you know the finances are just not in place to create a memorable experience?

As a fellow man, I have known those moments where you want the day to be over and done with simply because you have nothing to offer-at least from a financial perspective. I have also known days when I was looking forward to the day because I was all set. I don’t know many things but this one thing I know-I am better off with scenario two than one anytime.

Before I go any further, I must put a disclaimer. Money is not the only way/tool you can use to display love to your significant other.  Supporting them, being present for them, taking a genuine interest in them and their passions will go a long way in winning them over. Different people have different love languages according to Gary Chapman author of ‘The five love languages’. Your job is to find out what the love language of your significant other is and express it to her like she wants it. 

Having said that, it is important to understand that money plays a significant role in the sustenance of any relationship. Love needs to be expressed. No one is interested in secret love. If you doubt it, check John 3:16. Because God loved, He gave. Money is not just a medium of exchange, it also doubles up as a medium of expression of love. Even those who do not necessarily find much value in gifts will appreciate being spoilt occasionally. My wife is like that. Such people are at risk of being neglected because they don’t speak up often about these things. The onus is on you to be intentional about showing love in this dimension. While money is not an end in itself, it facilitates you to express love to the people who matter in your life.

What makes things more interesting is that true love is expressed moment by moment not just on some special occasions. Those special occasions like Valentines are good because they remind us of the need to appreciate our loved ones away from our busy schedules. We must cherish and make the most of them. In addition though, we must put ourselves in positions where we can express love to our own randomly, without any special occasion on the horizon. I am of the opinion that doing this takes away the pressure of having to put up a performance every 14^th of February as a show of allegiance.

I know you have some deep love for your bae. What you need is to have a plan in place for displaying that love as and when the need arises.

The big question becomes. What should you do given your current realities?

We live and operate in different realities. Here are a few suggestions from yours truly.

Be honest about your current reality. Be clear about where your finances are at the moment. A lack of clarity here will lead you to make irrational decisions which you are likely to regret later. A good assessment of your situation will determine how much you can handle without overstretching yourself. I have a great tool you can use to assess your current financial state of affairs in case you are not sure what to look at. Talk to me if you are interested in making use of it. If the numbers make good reading, spare no expense in spoiling her. She deserves it. If the numbers don’t look good, cut your coat according to your cloth.

Manage Expectations. When you know where you stand, it also becomes important to manage your partner’s expectations well in advance. Have a sit down to talk about where things stand and what is possible. It is better to state the way things are early on than disappoint her on D-day.

Go out of your way. For the one you love, it shouldn’t be too much for you to make a small sacrifice here and there. While I advocate above that you do not overspend, part of expressing love is the sacrifice you make for the one you love. Let it be known that you are ready to inconvenience yourself a little to show love to your beloved.

Commit to improving your lot. There is nothing wrong with being in a tight spot financially at the moment. A lot of things could have led you to this point. The tragedy is if you resign to this reality and believe that you will never be and do better. 12 months is a long time if you are committed to turning things around. You can make up your mind to be at a different spot this time next year. Look at the present as motivation to turn things around fast.

Don’t go into debt. Going out of your way doesn’t mean you should go into unmanageable debt just to get things done. In these days of Fuliza, Tala, Branch and similar micro lenders you might be easily tempted to take on unsustainable debt for 1 day of fun. My advice… don’t.

Budget for it. Part of being intentional in expressing love to your personal person is to decide that from today onwards, you will have it as an item on your budget. This puts you in a position to give her mini treats without breaking the bank and also splashing on her during those special occasions like Valentines.

Create an income generating asset for her. Imagine having an asset that generates income to treat her. This could be an MMF account where you decide that the interest generated goes towards treating her. I can almost guarantee you that you will make more money from it than you need to treat her. This is what I call a win-win situation. If you need help setting up an MMF or a discussion on other available options, do not hesitate to contact me.

Remember there is life before and after Valentines. Valentines is not the end of the world. As a man. The responsibilities on your shoulders go beyond Valentines. You must think about your overall financial well being beyond the special occasions you have to contend with. The provision for your family is your responsibility. Their education is dependent on you. After you are done taking care of them, you are also expected to take care of yourself in your old age. How do you ensure that you remain focused and maintain your frame as all these things unfold?  At Optimize Institute we help you get a firm grip on your finances through our training, coaching and consulting programs. 

Do not sweat out the details all by yourself when help is available for you. Let us know if you need a hand navigating the web of the Financial intricacies we occasionally find ourselves in. It is possible to come out stronger and better when we hold hands and push in the same direction. You can reach out on +254725832477 or asenasam@gmail.com to initiate a conversation. 

I pray that wherever you find yourself this Valentines you will enjoy the moment as you make the most of it. Happy Valentines. 

Glimpses of Greatness

Many times in life we fail to take note of glimpses, passing glances. They can be so mild that our senses will miss them. We love grand gestures and dramatic shows. Those excite our emotions and take us to cloud 9. But did you know that those glimpses are a precursor to the grandeur. Did you know that taking note of and appreciating the glimpses opens the door to the dramatic show you are waiting for. This is an article about an attitude of gratitude. How would you rate yourself when it comes to appreciating the little things in life? I am reminded of the song Simple tins by Tarus Riley if I am not wrong. 

There is nothing wrong in wanting to see great things happening. We all want to see it and that is fine. The only issue is when we fail to take note of the simple ones and express gratitude for them. There is a lot we lose when we are focused only on the mindboggling occurrences of our daily life.

Focus on the Journey

Do not be so focused on the final destination that you fail to enjoy the journey. Taking the SGR or bus to the Coast is a good example to use here. There is so much beautiful scenery along the way. It would do you a great disservice if you only focused on the beach you are going to see at the coast. You would miss out on the beauty of the Tsavo, the distant view of the Taita Hills, the stopover at Mtito Andei and so much more. The loss would be significant. Appreciating the glimpses of greatness along the way sets the stage for the grand experience of the vacation at the coast.

Mercy drops

Before the Showers of blessing, there are drops of mercy. Ezekiel 34:26. Before a heavy downpour, there are light showers to prepare the way. Don’t put off your celebration until the heaviness comes down. Enjoy the build-up. Be grateful for the build-up. Revel in the build-up. The victory tastes much sweeter when you remember the process you had to go through.

The leper

Luke 17:11-19. A story is told about a group of lepers who went to Jesus and received healing from him. While 9 of them went on their way as though they were entitled to it, one remembered to go back and say thank you. Something profound happened when he did so. There was a perfection of what he had received. Jesus told him your faith has made you whole. The concept of wholeness is such that nothing would be missing as far as his wellness was concerned. Gratitude opens the door for God to be and do more for you. It’s the secret sauce to the best God has to offer. Don’t be stingy with your gratitude.

Balance

I have noted something about the Israelites when it comes to giving thanks. They are extravagant. Just read Psalm 137 to see an example. Or check out Stephen’s sermon in the book of Acts. They have a way of enumerating everything that God has done for them through the ages. Unfortunately some of us don’t remember to do that. We are quick when it comes to asking for stuff from God but very stingy with our gratitude. I am calling us to a place of balance where you spend as much time giving thanks as you do asking for the same blessings. The God who gives delights in the gratitude of his people. We must learn the art of thanksgiving.

Bears, lions the Goliath

David’s story is also a good reminder. 1 Samuel 17:34-38.  When it came to facing Goliath, he had the confidence that he would triumph. The reason for this was that he had seen earlier victories in his life facing lions and bears in his daily grind. The little victories prepare you for the big battle that is coming ahead. They show you what is possible if you trust in God. Remember to reflect on the far that God has brought you and be thankful for it. It will energize you to go to the next level. So go ahead and celebrate that small opportunity, make the most of the current hand you are dealt, how you handle it will determine how tomorrow looks like for you. He that is faithful with a little will be entrusted with a lot more. Don’t be ungrateful because you are waiting for that big break to testify.

Awhile back I wrote a book entitled Blessed to be a Blessing where I delved deeper into this conversation. If you would like to know some of the things you can thank God for, grab yourself a copy by placing your order through CLC Kenya https://kenyaclc.org/shop/blessed-to-be-a-blessing-2/ 

Pros and Cons of Money Market Funds

 

I love the fact that Kenyans are increasing their literacy when it comes to Finances.

It is good to hear many people asking after MMFs and other asset classes.

I would like to explore a few pros and cons of this asset class in this article

Pros

Ease of liquidity. It is so straight forward that you can deposit money today and request for it after three days and it will be readily available much like a regular bank account. This makes it ideal for money you need to access speedily. Unlike the bank which will keep your money at little to no benefit to you, this will give you the benefit of returns no matter how short a duration the money stays.

Ease of joining. Just like a normal bank account you will fill a form and submit your identification documents and KRA PIN. That alone will be enough to get you started once you deposit the initial amount. This varies across different providers.

Modest returns. Most of them will give you returns above 10% per annum. The returns are also compounded meaning the longer you stay and maintain discipline the more you will earn from it. This is one of the easiest ways to generate passive income.

Flexibility of contributions. You are at liberty to top up your contributions at any time with any amount though some will have a minimal top up amount.

Spread of risk in low exposure instruments. The fund utilizes call deposits, T-bills and bonds. These are low risk instruments which have little risk of default.

Cons

A challenge to maintain saving discipline because of zero safeguards. Since no one requires you to contribute regularly, you are likely to slide into indiscipline when it comes to growing your money steadily.

Ease of liquidity makes long term saving tricky-requires great restraint. Unless you are highly disciplined or put an automated system in place to grow your long term savings, you will not be able to go too far. That liquidity is a blessing and curse in equal measure depending on how you navigate it. You need to be clear on what you are saving or investing towards and if you realize the MMF is derailing your long term goals, then switch to an alternative that will make it easy for you.

Variable disparity in gross and net return. It is important to know that there is a gross and net return. There are fees and taxes applicable to the return which you need to take note of as you sign up. Think about the net return because that is what you should be expecting.

Returns Subject to market forces-applicable to majority of asset classes. While the MMF is low risk it is still subject to the movements of the market. Any shocks will touch the returns but the beauty is that this is not exclusive to MMF but affects majority of classes

Laissez faire approach to contributions takes away predictability of position. It is difficult to predict your own growth as an investor except you put in safeguards in the form of automated savings.

To choose or not to choose MMFs as an investment vehicle? That depends on your goals and aspirations. 

A little on Money, Savings, Investment

                                                    

Savings are the beginning of the journey to Financial Freedom. How much of your income are you saving currently? Where are you saving? What is the Rate of return? How secure is your money?

Before you save

First things first. You cannot save what you do not have. How are you making your money? Utilize your skills and abilities to generate as much income as possible right where you are.

Considerations

When you are looking for a place to save, it is important that you find a place with a mix of benefits to you.

Returns

Put your money where it will labor hard for you. Do not keep it where the rate of inflation will wipe away its value. Worse still, do not put it where there is close to zero in terms of return. Enlighten yourself with the knowledge you need about the alternatives you have.

Security

It is good to pursue high returns but you must also be careful not to sink your hard earned cash in a Ponzi scheme. The security of your money is and remains a key consideration.

Access

How easy/hard is it for you to access your money when you need it? It is important that you decide from the onset what your goals are with regard to your savings. Knowing the why behind your savings will dictate a lot of things. If these are emergency savings you will definitely want a place where you can access the money on short notice. If you are thinking long term you want to be in places where there are restrictions on access. Let your goal dictate the vehicle you choose.

Reputation

What is the track record of the institution you want to put your money in? Can you vouch for them unashamedly? Do you have social proof that they deliver on their promises? While some institutions rely on their good name with nothing to offer presently, skin in the game is an important consideration when you are choosing an institution. If possible seek to understand the top leadership of the institution and their track record. If they have questionable reputations, it is m=important to tread carefully because leopards rarely change their spots.

Financial strengths and fundamentals.

Are you able to tell the financial strength of the institution? Do your due diligence before you hand over your money to anyone. Make sure the institution is fundamentally sound. Look at its financial statements, line of business, associates and affiliates among many other things. They will give you a clue as to the safety of your money.

Fees involved

Seek clarity on any fees, taxes and other charges the plan attracts. Without this info, you might find yourself eating into your gains without noticing. The charges need to be as low as possible to maximize on your potential return.

The options of a saver

Money gives the possessor options. This is where the elements of financial freedom start to kick in.

With money I can set up a business responsive to my strengths and a good fit for me. When I go into a business I am well suited for, then I am no longer working but living my dream.

I could also choose to continue working where I am currently but from a position of strength knowing that should I be let go, I have a soft landing.

I have the option to buy into a portfolio of stocks, bonds, REITS and many other investments that will earn me interests and dividends. Depending on the size of my savings, I could easily replace my income with the interests I gain from my investments.

Wealth creation is a marathon. The problem with today’s generation is we want to make a sprint out of it. It is important to know that wealth that comes easy flies easy too. Wealth that respects process will outlast any shakeups.

Are you ready to start running the Marathon of Wealth Creation? Talk to me today and I will be your guide along the way. Reach out on +254725832477 or Samuel.asena@advisor.jubileekenya.com

Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

From the Closet to the Pulpit

Private victories precede public victories. What you do in private defines who you are. The closet is a place of formation, the pulpit is a place of showbiz. Many people are saints in public but beasts in private. We have a persona we display before the people to make ourselves likeable but in our private moments we are something totally different.

We grew up with phrases like Sunday Best, creating good first impressions and the like. While impressions are good and helpful, what is more important and lasting is character and integrity. When you develop and display integrity, you don’t have to worry about impressions because they will come naturally for you.

Many have defined integrity in different terms but for me integrity simply means that my thoughts, intentions, words and actions are aligned and consistent. I am not one type of person to this crowd and a different person in another crowd. I do not mean that I shouldn’t play my different roles with what is required. What I want to put across is that whatever I am doing, there needs to be clarity and consistency in terms of my values. Values mean nothing if they can be adapted and discarded as you deem fit. You cannot be a flip-flopper.

In today’s world we hear about closet gays, lesbians as an example. You might not believe it but we have many people who are closeted in their respective areas of fault. If we were to pull back the curtains and see what goes on behind the scenes, we would be surprised at what we would see. There are many closet alcoholics and drug addicts, closet fornicators and adulterers, closet liars who will lie through their teeth if it will get them out of a sticky situation, closet corrupt people who will seize whatever opportunity comes their way.

There’s a classmate I had back in college who had a T-shirt which had the caption-Virginity is not dignity, it is lack of opportunity. While I don’t agree entirely with this statement, there is a segment of people for whom this is applicable. The question I have for you is, are you an inherently decent person or are you conditioned by lack of opportunity and societal expectations? Some of us haven’t been named in corruption scandals simply because we are not at the table where deals are happening. Given the opportunity, we would end up worse than those we point fingers at. It disappoints to see some people blowing the whistle on abuse of office and such other vices only to end up behaving in the same way once they are given the chance. Many Whistleblowers; especially on the political arena speak up only because the corruption isn’t benefitting them. Give them a seat at the table and the chest-thumping stops.

We have rules for everyone else but ourselves. We want others to toe the line but excuse ourselves and give room for error. If you deserve a chance to make things right after slipping up, the same chance should be given to others as well. It doesn’t make sense to demand of others what you are not willing to do. It is a lack of integrity to expect others to follow set rules while you as the enforcer are doing the opposite. It is pharisaic to ask others to do what you tell them without looking at what you are doing. The English call it preaching water and drinking wine.

My question to all who are reading this is; who are you in the closet? Does it match with your words and actions in public? Do you like the person you are in the closet? If we take the mask off, will we like what we see? How can you bridge the gap between the man in the closet and the man on the pulpit?

Speaking of the pulpit, I am not referring to that place where the preacher stands to deliver a sermon. I am talking about the public square where you and I perform to the audience that is watching us. About the place you report to for work daily. I am speaking about the way you act when your boss is around. About the way you behave when your children are watching, when you are in the presence of your parents or other figures of authority.

It is my submission that if you aren’t proud enough of what you are doing that you are ready to do it no matter who is around, then there is still a gap between your closet and your pulpit. I write to encourage you to do what it takes to close the gap between the two. Decide who you are and who you want to become. Be consistent in thinking, speaking and acting like that person. Someone said your thoughts become your words, your words become your action, your action determines your habits which determine your character. And when all is said and done, your character determines your destiny. You must choose to die daily to the person you don’t want to be and become alive to the person you want to be.

 

What it takes: Sacrifice

“If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery--isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you'll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is.”
― Charles Bukowski, Factotum

Anything worth having is worth sacrificing for. If your dream doesn’t cost you anything then I guess it is not all that important to you. The reality of life is that you can’t have it all. Whenever you talk to people adept at climbing mountains, they will tell you that you cannot carry everything with you to the top. The secret to getting to the top is in traveling light.

Think about space shuttles. The further they go out of the earth’s atmosphere, the more they have to drop off some parts. The challenge we have today is that people want to get to the top but carry everything else with them. Looking back at the Bible, we see Jesus saying that the way that leads to life is long, narrow and winding.  

These few examples serve to show us that sacrifice is a huge part of the journey towards our goals and dreams. While others are having ‘fun’ you need to be grinding so that you secure your desired future. Those who reach their dreams have learnt to pay now so they can play later. They have embraced delayed gratification.

My question is, how have you sacrificed today for your future? What have you deliberately given up to ensure that tomorrow is better? Your dream needs to matter so much that you don’t mind spending and being spent for its realization.

For your dream you will allocate time, money, expertise, experience and anything else it asks of you. Are you ready to go all the way? Is your dream important enough to make you put everything on the line? Sacrifice is the fuel that enables dreams. The thought of your dream should make you do whatever it takes to get things done.

If it was so easy to reach your goals, everyone would be where they want to be. Many wish for it but few will get to realize it. Since we have established that wishes are not horses, we are left with just one option. We must go get our horses if we want to ride. Are you ready to pay the price for the horse that will take you to your destiny?

Character-Resilience, tenacity, discipline

 

Goals and dreams are beautiful. The hard part is staying on course until they are accomplished. At the beginning of the journey, everyone is excited and the energy levels are very high. There is momentum and it doesn’t feel like work to get the ball rolling. As the journey progresses, fatigue begins to set in, distractions arise and your peers begin to drop off. It is at this time that you have the choice to make. Will you keep going or quit like the rest.

This is the time that reveals what you are made of. Many of us talk big in the moments of euphoria, few have the character to back it up. When challenge begin to arise; because they will, are you able to stand up for what you believe in and discipline yourself to stay on course? When you meet shiny new objects, are you able to tell what they are and cast them aside? It is easy to wake up early for a few days, the struggle comes when you need to do it for an extended duration. Do you have staying power.   

Character is about staying power. When you are able to bounce back and keep going after every setback, then we can say you have developed character. Nothing develops your character faster than the pursuit of a heartfelt dream. Think for a moment about a salesperson with a sales quota to hit. I am privileged to work in a sales environment and I can tell you, sales and targets will make you work miracles. When there is a reward attached to whatever it is you are pursuing, you will move mountains to get it done. You will not only think outside the ox but throw the box away. As a sales person, I have encountered obstacle after obstacle in the course of my work. The need to deliver has seen me go above and beyond what I thought possible and every time I have challenged myself in that way, I have received the results I was looking for. You need a certain enthusiasm to succeed in such an environment. Prospects will dismiss you, disappoint you, stand you up, take you round in circles, tell you no but you have to keep moving until you get what you are looking for. To put it plainly, there are more nos than yeses in the sales career. The trick is to move on to the next prospect with the same energy and enthusiasm you started your day with. That is what resilience is all about.

Discipline is another aspect of character. There are many forces that seek to pull you away from your pursuits in life. You should never let that happen if you are committed to the realization of your dream. Once your mind is set on the path you want to follow, don’t allow anything to stand in between you and your destination. You must become ruthless with yourself. The human mind and body prefer the path of least resistance. If you allow it, it will take you to places you never imagined you would end up in. Discipline is about being ready to pay the price. It is about walking out of your comfort zone consciously and pushing yourself towards your desired future. It will have you waking up at a specific time every morning and carrying out certain tasks religiously until you see your dreams take on life. It is that willingness to do uncomfortable, unpleasant things because they will lead you to where you want to end up. It is showing up even on those days when sleeping in would be a better option. Apostle Paul speaks about disciplining his body because he realizes that it is very easy to go off track. 1 Corinthians 9:27. You cannot permit everything and still reach your dream. Something has to give somewhere.

You also need an adaptable spirit. Some mountains need you to go through, others need you to go around while others will call for you to go over. A person with the resolve to get to the other side, will do whatever it takes no matter how difficult. When you are persuaded of the significance of your pursuit, nothing can stop you from going for it.

Character is about honoring your commitments to yourself and others irrespective of the price you have to pay. Many of us have no problem disappointing ourselves and others. It needs to pain you every time you fail to honor your word. You must become bound by every word that proceeds out of your mouth and be willing to stretch yourself to get it done.

Without a strong will, you will never be able to actualize your dreams. The amount of resistance you need to push through to come out victorious at the end is immense and only a few have what it takes to persevere. Character is about being long suffering and willing to hold out through the storm. Every dream will have to navigate through a storm of some kind before it is realized. The one thing that will keep you sane through it all is the strength of your character. More than anything else, you need to develop that grit to come out victorious when all is said and done. Dreams belong to those who will remain steady throughout the storm.

What are you adding to your character to ensure you achieve your dreams?