Waiting in line is a common practice in our lives.  Waiting for our turn.  But,  You know sometimes, , 'ngoja ngoja huumiza matumbo.' Though they say great things come to those that wait,  sometimes those that come are the remainders, and sometimes nothing at all. Being proactive means deliberately going for the things you wish for. Knocking on doors long enough until they open. I Remember my mum taking me to an audition someday. She noticed the queue was long until outside the gate.  Auditions could have hundreds of us waiting in line to be picked.  I remember,  she said,  aren't the people auditioning you,  just like you? Why don't you find out,  what it takes to do this yourself? It hit me on another level when I attended one where people who had barely graduated were auditioning. Sometimes you have to choose yourself,  promote yourself,  cheer yourself on,  beat your own drums, and dance to your tune,  and along t...

A conversation with Nafula Kisiangani , the Executive Director of Ubuntu Development Solutions, will have you thinking about what have you been doing with your life. How have you been running without systems or policies in your business? How do you not have books in your organization? Nafula Kisiangani, Executive Director Of Ubuntu during a visit By USAID executives to her organization Last week, I was so excited to be part of the delegation that went to visit her at her office. She speaks of disorganized passion and how much many of us are solving non-problems and we are passionate and yet unprofitable, and this leads to frustration and mental health issues. I totally relate to this infinite suffering earlier on. Many of us have been victims of high disorganization due to lacking structures. Our businesses are as casual as they can get and yet we celebrate our own madness. Nafula Kisiangani supports of organizations, individuals & young people to convert their passions into sustai...

Do you remember when we were kids and we had cliques. The three people that you always talk to. Being in Business taught me differently. In as much as I had the extroverted gene in me, in many cases, my introvert gene was more dominant, clinging to my circle. I could attend a networking event without making a new friend or reaching out to anyone else other than who I already knew. I could be part of the event and easily be forgotten. Sometimes I was just not interested. We have the whole #NoNewFriends Vybe. Being in business, got me out of that shell. I remember the first time I had to sell fragrance that I had in my bag. I couldn’t just sit there being quiet in the meeting, it forced me to speak up, interact and share more. I mean, you can’t just keep to a small circle when you are a trader. People have moved across continents to make new friends, meet new people so that they can share what they have. Today, you can network on social media and have the whole world as your runway, no...

  Every day , I get to see and hear so many ideas that inspire me and make me think man, that is really an awesome idea, it would really be fun to have it. Interacting with people makes you see the genius in them, the innate potential that lays in all of us to be great and give our awesome contribution to the world. But guess what many ideas get stuck in business plans, early morning storytelling when people are broke and are daydreaming about possibilities. We get stuck in perfectionism and procrastination. Today, ask yourself, what can I do today to lead me closer to the Dream. Don't procrastinate or only write it down. Do it right away. Write the email, make the call, and pay for it. Don't postpone your dreams any longer. #JustDoIt #DreamStart #DreamTribe #DreamTips "A journey of 1000 miles begins with one step", the first one. Esther Neema (Top 35 Under 35) CEO and Founder Dream Tribe Network Africa

ENTREPRENEURS CORNER: FROM ZERO BOB TO IT HERO WITH TWO APPS IN 35 COUNTRIES #entrepreneurOftheweek #yepiinspirations Growing up, Ken Gitonga didn’t know who he wanted to become, he laughs and says, “ Maybe it’s because I’m from the village where there is little or no motivation at all.” But one thing for sure he knew he wanted money: and a lot of it. From the childhood struggles, he developed the culture of depending on himself whenever he wanted something. Starting a Business with absolutely nothing, just a big idea, laptops, and a dream. Today, two known start-ups; the e-Bursary System and StockApp, that have gotten the team awards, he probably becomes our Kenyan version of Elon Musk straight out of Mombasa to the global stage. From no business on the first round to having users from 35 countries. He also has been part of other consultancies. Ken Gitonga also referred to as Kenly or the T-shirt CEO is a serial entrepreneur and IT enthusiast. He is a twin last born, together with ...

DEMYSTIFYING EFFORT #7 Esther Neema: Founder Dream Tribe Each of us has a semi-part, that is fully introvert. The one that can be overly needing of excessive self-time, would prefer to be out there reflecting upon philosophical thoughts, drinking juice modestly as we think of Mahatma Ghandhi. That sometimes would rather not suffice out of our shell. It gives usno pressure to reach out to no body. You could just wait somewhere, wa iting to be greeted. People to cheer you up and excite you, while sitting pretty, like president Kingston. Rolling your eyes when people are not interesting enough. We all have such moments. Until when you get to trade, where, relationships and people are everything. It is you who makes cold calls, gets blue-tickedoften. Lliterally making most first moves. The worst when I walked straight to random four women discussing, ambushed them with greetings, trying to be cool. I had nothing to say, ehh. Until one by one started leaving me wondering, eeeerm, w...

Esther Neema: Founder Dream Tribe I had sworn to never get on to a horse, until the day I purposed to overcome my fears. This may not include activities such as Bungee jumping which I perceive as madness. So right infront of me was a horse. The only image I had was how I would be tossed in the air, and would not know how I would have to tell everybody, that this was brought about by my attempt to horse ride.  My image of being thrown on the air had been stronger than my desire to conquer it. But on this day, I did get on the horse, I rode for a while, though screaming, but was not thrown in the air. Infact I had the highest level of feeling of accomplishment on that day. It was amazing. Business and entrepreneurship is the same for many people. Before people came to terms with the idea that it was a possibility, everyone was afraid that you could sink. The struggle to success never seemed worth it to anybody. Such as if I came out having been tossed in the air, per...

Esther Neema: Founder Dream Tribe I would begin to see trade as something so noble. Only, shortly I would learn the perceptions towards it. Saying you are an entrepreneur, you get the feeling that you have probably been categorized as Al-shaabab or practicing some cult. The illusion that you may be posing like a model having a good time. Or outchea pulling a Wilkings :D, he he he. Half the time you are feeling ultimately crazy for an idea that sometimes doesn’t even make sense to even you. That you have to chant you are amazing on the daily to maintain sanity, before anything particularly shows for why you are gallivanting the universe. And you may wonder, why would anybody want to feel like this eh??? Far from the truth though, something is happening in your heart, your body and soul. You are probably working round the clock for something you feel strongly about, that sometimes wakes you at 3:00 in the am, because you can’t imagine never having given your dreams a chance. S...

Esther Neema, Founder Dream Tribe Leaving school, it never occurred to me that there was a world of entrepreneurship. Having studied PR, the government spokesman, Alfred Mutua, then was my role model. He he he, I know that is a bit funny now. I could see myself in that space, strutting the world as one, perhaps in red high heels, red lipstick and perhaps even a red dress. Well, this vision was until I got my first PR job, and I was bored to death in the afternoons literally having to lift my feet in the air daily not to dose, reaching work just before the 9:00 am, rushing in wearing my heels at the gate since it was a rule. And I remember being so unsettled, and thinking, yo, this can't be it!!! So the moment I was called for a play, I could never have been happier. The stage was my escape from all my "torture". Every evening, I would go without fail. You feel so elated and so alive. Before long, I was out of PR for stage, and every one thought I was mad. An...