What you Water Grows

Lately I have joined the habit of observing people and listening to several conversations on careers, job searches, job losses and more positively, how to bounce back after losing your job. It is clear from all these encounters that we all agree on the universal truth that we are living through extraordinarily tough times. Getting my first job was a challenge but it fades in comparison to what most first time, job hopefuls have to endure today. Sadly, we have also been cultured to think that you must seek employment in an industry similar to the degree or academic qualification that you posses and if that doesn’t come by, you are ‘’doomed’. Today I want to take you on a short journey that will shift your mindset and challenge you to think differently, interested?

Three and a half years ago I quit a stable, gainful job to go and start a business. Everyone thought I was crazy but I felt quite mentally fit. In fact everyone I talked to was afraid on my behalf; what scared me was the fact that I wasn’t scared at all. What’s the worst that could happen? I asked myself. If I failed then I could always go back to seek employment, that didn’t sound like such a bad worst case scenario. I was driven by this incurable urge to do something different and getting another job was not on the list of “different”. My obsession to  move on was further catalysed by what I had encountered interviewing people in my HR role.  It often pained me having to bid bye to so many talented people just  because the organisation had one slot to fill! I decided to start a business so I can create jobs; the kind that allow people to exploit their skills, not the ‘permanent’ kind; the kind that provides flexible working hours, not 8-5 jobs; the kind that doesn’t necessarily require working experience;the kind that promotes small businesses like my own.

The long and short of this;I have walked this journey and although it is early in the day to call it, I have learnt valuable lessons. While ‘’out here’’ (as people out of employment in Kenya refer to their space or situation), I have accumulated great learnings, gone through invaluable experiences and seen opportunities. Let me share a few of these with you:

1)     As a business owner, I have seen that we have the gift of youthful talent, complete with matching energy; if you find the right ones (with right attitude and skill), they will do wonders for your business, while also growing! Give them gigs when you get a chance

2)     Your network is your net worth; promote your products and services to people who are familiar with your work or know what you can offer. The best jobs I have done so far came from referrals

3)     You don’t need to have worked anywhere to succeed in business: I met so many entrepreneurs who have never been employed and they still made it.

4)     “I know myself, running a business is not for me” …I used to say that, many times to many people. I surprised myself, you could too, if you try

5)      My greatest inspiration is that when you are employed, you have a chance to feed yourself and your family. When you run a business, you have a chance to feed many other families, it has a multiplier effect

6)     Your passion is your gold, monetize it. The photos in this article are from my mum’s garden, she is very passionate about gardening and she surprises me with the number of crops that she harvests from her small ‘shamba’. If she was to start a business this would be it! What do you love doing that people would pay you for?

7)     If you’re afraid to fail, that’s a lame excuse because we all fail at one point in our lives, it’s what we do with the lesson that counts. I have failed many times but I am still here, going strong…

8)     Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly in the beginning. Keep going. You will Learn to Fail Forward (Marilyn Atkinson)

9)     Running a business is not a bed of roses, just plant the seed, keep watering and practice patience. The roses will start sprouting

10) Diversify so you have some buffer during the ‘dry’ season; the banana tree in my mum’s shamba takes about 9 months to mature while the potatoes take about 8 weeks. Just as in the law of the farm, variety is key in business.

What if the job you are looking for doesn’t come by? What is your God-given gift or talent that you can explore today? What is holding you back? You will be surprised about the power and potential that lies within you. Share that with the world for the world is ready to receive what you have to offer. Step back for a moment and look for a problem to solve – there are enough in our day!

Musings of a Coach