Fanning the Flames: The Slow Burn of Building a Business

Oh, Oasis. This month marks six years since I officially embarked on this journey, and I was employee number one. Six years of building something from the ground up, and let me tell you—if anyone had told me it would be a smooth ride, I would’ve politely handed them the steering wheel and asked them to drive for me. But here we are, six years in, and I wouldn’t trade this slow, sometimes frustrating, but always rewarding journey for anything. It’s been heartwarming to see my LinkedIn community start celebrating this milestone with me, with messages and posts marking my six-year anniversary. It’s a surreal reminder of how far we’ve come and how many people have been part of this story, whether they know it or not.

A Place of Abundance and Hope

I named my company We Are Oasis for two very personal reasons. First, an oasis is a symbol of abundance, a place of hope in the middle of nowhere. If you’ve ever felt lost, you know how important it is to stumble upon some hope. That’s what I wanted Oasis to be for young people in Kenya—especially those like me, who needed a way out of “the middle of nowhere” and into something bigger. Through outsourcing, we’ve been able to create jobs in Kenya for some of the most talented, tech-savvy young people you’ll ever meet.

The Long Game: Years of Slow, Steady Growth

When you start a business, everyone tells you about the “hustle” and the “grind,” but nobody warns you about the “slow burn.” The truth is, most of it isn’t glamorous. We didn’t explode onto the BPO scene in Kenya. We didn’t go viral. Heck, we didn’t even have a working website for the first few months! But what we did have was consistency.

We showed up every day. The clients weren’t rolling in (yet), and the competition was fierce. But every small win—a new project, a client referral, or just keeping the lights on—felt like scoring a last-minute goal on the soccer pitch. Each one gave us the momentum to keep moving forward. We built this thing brick by brick, and let me tell you, I’ve had blisters from every single brick.

The Messy Middle: Challenges? We Had Those in Spades

Now, I’d love to tell you that everything went smoothly after that first year. But that would be a lie—because, you know, life. There were times when we didn’t have the resources to compete with the larger BPOs, just like Oasis FC didn’t always have the fancy gear to take on bigger teams. Yet, we showed up.

There were moments of doubt—moments when I questioned everything. “Why am I doing this?” I’d ask myself. Especially when clients were slow to pay (or just didn’t), or when we had technical issues that made me want to hurl my laptop out the window. But just like soccer taught me, you don’t quit in the middle of the game, even when losing. You keep going, because sometimes, that last-minute goal is all you need.

Small Wins, Big Celebrations

Looking back, I realize the journey was never about that one big win but a series of small victories. Gaining our first international client? Huge. Expanding the team to include more young professionals? Even better. Every time we brought on a new partner or hit a milestone, it was like winning a championship game, even if no one was watching.

One of the biggest highlights? The company should grow enough to create more jobs for young people in Kenya. That’s been the dream from the start. It’s not just about profits (although those are nice); it’s about making a tangible difference in people’s lives. You know, one of those things that makes you feel good when you’re alone at 2 a.m., fighting insomnia.

Why the Slow Burn is Better

If someone had told me six years ago that this journey would be a marathon and not a sprint, I probably would’ve rolled my eyes. But they would’ve been right. Oasis Outsourcing has grown slowly but deliberately. And looking back, that’s the best way it could have happened. The slow burn gave us time to adapt, to learn, to build something solid and sustainable—something that isn’t going to fizzle out when the going gets tough.

Like on the soccer field, where the team with the best gear doesn't always win, in business, the company with the most resources doesn't always succeed. Sometimes, it’s the one with the most heart and willingness to push forward, even when it’s hard.

The Fire Still Burns

Six years in, and we’re still burning. Slowly, yes, but steadily. There’s still so much ahead for Oasis Outsourcing, but we’re in no rush. The journey has taught me that patience, resilience, and a little humor go a long way.

So here we are—that hopeful oasis in the middle of a bustling desert. Still, that scrappy soccer team is competing against the big guys. And the best part? We’re not done yet.