CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS:MESSAGE OF GOODWILL

Merry Christmas dear friends!!!

What a year it has been? Gracious God bless our hearts that it has been well with us so far. Its Christmas time: Time for deep reflections. Last year we did reflect on Christmas as a time to enrich the merchants, do you remember the discussion?

SEASON'S REFLECTIONS

Welcome back to my media space. My message and reflections during this season are highly inspired by events of annunciation and birth of Jesus Christ. Concerning Mary, the Virgin mother of the incarnate God, we learn that angel Gabriel appeared to her and announced she would have a baby through the power of the Holy Spirit. And as we all would react to such news, she was amused at first. She was shocked as how would that be yet she had not known any man.

Obviously conceiving without sexual relations was something unheard of. But she almost immediately chose another attitude. It was completely different from her initial shock. She chose to have faith, to believe she was blessed among all women and whom God had found her worthy to carry the savior of the world. The humble young virgin chose to take God at his word. She kept "these things, till they came to be. That's wonderful. She wouldn't let anyone bring her down. To her the angel's words were God's words that are undeniable. She let them lie in her heart and blossom at the right moment.

TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD

As we go through this season, it's my wish that we would be like the Holy mother of Jesus. That we would have like her spirit, heart and attitude. Times we have conceived dreams, visions and dreams but end up giving up, saying in our hearts "how can this be." We think it's impossible for us to have such "big" things in life. Other times, for lack of faith we abandon what we already have. We fail to hold on our visions; we let them go because we think this is beyond our abilities. What's more? We adamantly pursue, life complaining. We approach life, with fear of what other people will say of us in the eventuality of failing. As if that's not enough, we fail to watch out for the invisible hand of God which strengthens us to achieve things and pursue his given agendas in life through other people, through our talents, through nature and through his creation. 

And as such, it can't be better for us to walk in hope of better days and life with God on our side. Taking it we are fit to be carriers of game changing models of doing business will go a long way in helping us be diligent and faithful in our search for success. We are equally people who should and can be excellent in our own world. We've been trusted with great, wonderful and awesome innovations and inventions that could make the world better. Our futures are bright. We have greatness instilled in us. God created us to be successful, he has given us ability to overcome evils, diseases, curses and we have power to acquire wealth.

CONCLUSIONS

Why don't we take his word? Why don't we pursue what we were meant to be? Why don't we pursue our business aggressively knowing we can make profits and build business empires that go beyond our generation? Why don't we strive to be excellent in our families and be role models to our kids. Why not we pursue peace this season even with your arch rivals? For me, I'll take the risk of doing what you'd consider impossible, unimportant and laughable because I know it's possible, important and good. I'll enjoy life more, I'll serve God more, I'll be more glad to be patient for what God has in store for me.

I won't fear to try new things. I won't give up. I'll love more. I won't doubt my abilities. I won't dismiss the vision in the days of small beginnings, coz though the vision is blur it'll be clear. I will write the vision down on paper, display it on my bed room, read it every day, pray about it every day, walk in faith, hope to pursue it every day till I achieve it. I'll make the world better by pursuing compromise for the sake of peace. I'll be fruitful this season. And this is the true spirit of my Christmas which I hope u'd join me in reflecting, living and practicing won't you? 

Have a reflective life. Remember to stay in touch with me at jeremiahwakamu@gmail.com or on Facebook Jeremiaho Wakamu to keep this discussion going. And again referrals though you social media network/connection and word of mouth is the best you can do for this blog.

Merry Christmas!!! SEE YOU IN NEW YEAR

THE POWER OF DAILY SIMPLE CONVERSATIONS

It’s a couple of weeks to go before the curtain raises for the 2015 year. What a year! It has had its fair share of remarkable successes and its low moments. Yes indeed, I may have wished to have accumulated a lot of career experience over the year, but was not lucky enough to secure a formal job opportunity. I’ve just had to be content and do the simple things in life at least “to survive” as they say. Out of it all, I’ve had a good opportunity to try out different things. I think I didn’t lose anything – times I’ve felt it has been a “wasted year”. Well, I have had to honestly engage in deep reflections throughout the year and that all have ended up with great plans for the future. If you’ve been a careful and ardent reader of this blog I need not say more. Part of my vision has ended up here. In case you’ve missed the juice, please revisit all the blog posts and you will up to date with my story.

Welcome back to my media space. I’ve some fear that I have had so much that I wanted to share with you before the year ends but won’t make it to post everything. And so for the remaining weeks, I want to focus more on personal stories that I hope they will inspire you more and help you join dots of excellence in your life.

INNOVATIONS THROUGH SIMPLE CONVERSATIONS

This post’s reflections has come as a result of inspiration and interaction with friends through suggestions, discussions both online and offline. Harnessing the power of daily simple conversations, drive innovation. It has also proved to me, at times you may have a vision say to start a business, but unless you have people to drive it, it will go nowhere. People you meet daily in the lifts to your office, spouses, your own children and the not-anyone in the society sometimes are the best partners to work and do business. They do not ask what you are bringing on the table, but they ask what they will bring on the table. Such is the language of true conversations.

With nothing to show off, only talent, skills, excellence and honesty will save you from god fathers. Of course that will be coupled with a strong faith. It’s the silver bullet in the impossible world.

THE UPCOMING PROJECT

Mmh, let me remind you that I promised that I have a social networking web application that is currently on my ICT Lab. Hope you remember, see previous article. Yes it’s still there. The vision has not been lost. In fact it’s now on the edge. A few more days perhaps a month and it will be launched. I trust you are eagerly waiting for it. Please be the first to sign up and to tell your circle of friends to connect with you. I now hear the drums and shouting, signs it’s now nearer than when I first conceived it. It’s about to be born. It’s a Brand new feather to the cap of humanity. A revolution in how people interact, share ideas and learn from one another.

OF WHAT FORM?

What form will it take? I won’t disclose much about it today. However, I will just skim over the main idea and then as days go by will give more details. Our tagline for this new forum is Real Relationships. Real Identities. Real People. We simply want you to hang out with people you will trust and like. We know you want to find people you’ve similar interests, tastes and like to accomplish things in life. And this is more specific when you want to be the best in things that matter most in life like in parenting, finding a life partner, and so on. We are here to help you find help. We will enable you to talk out with people whom you share identities with. We will provide you with a tool to find people you need to, share what you know, be supported and/or support others. We believe when you come together, no issue becomes insurmountable. There will be something for everyone. We believe everyone has something to offer and something to take.

CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER

We want you to find people who will coalesce around your idea, talent, skills, and personal issue and help you find assistance from them without much effort. In our new platform, we want you to find a community of people to interact with. These are helpful people who will gravitate around your personal issues be it in relationships that matter most. We want you to have real conversations that matter most in life. It’s a platform to have dialogue with people who you should meet every day but may not be able to physically.

You will be able to interact with people – (voyagers) who you work with or compete with or just orbit around but a huge impact on how you make decisions in life. They may be people you know or strangers but simply people who will help sort you out when stuck. We simply don’t want you feel alone when you can interact with people. We don’t want you to be alone because people who are around you cannot help you when you need them. Our community will make you feel right safe interacting with. Communities are unsupervised but captains of each community will act as leaders in community of your interest so that meaningful discussions take place. This will ensure that what you will gain from gainful discussions will be helpful and most beneficial to your specific issue.

LIBERTY OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Sounds great, does it? Anyone will have the liberty to ask and/or answer any question(s), initiate and/or take part in a discussion, give and/or take a suggestion(s), update their thoughts, feelings and emotions. All members will treat each other with high dignity and respect.

CONCLUSIONS

Can’t wait for this project to be out, hoping you too. Be the first one to sign up and invite your circle of friends. Special thanks for Patrick Kathuku who is dealing with the technical part of the project.

Have a reflective life. Remember to stay in touch with me at jeremiahwakamu@gmail.com or on Facebook Jeremiaho Wakamu to keep this discussion going. And again referrals though you social media network/connection and word of mouth is the best you can do for this blog.

The Girl I'll Propose to: She Loves me and not the brand

Every time I get thinking the girl I'll END UP marrying, my imaginations run wild and tame with all sorts of scenarios; good and bad. I also always tend to wallow in all sorts of emotions. If that's not enough, it allows life to gain new and dynamic meanings. I can't help it but ask questions regarding whats a good marriage like (what informs it), worth, purpose and basically if I am 'great enough' to be someone's husband on the least. Times before, I have written about the woman I will marry; First, She must love solitude, then she must be entrepreneurial and today we take it a step further, she must love me and not the brand or a strange version of me. Just me!

GIFTING AS A LOVE LANGUAGE

Welcome back to my media space and experience my thoughts. Gifting is one of the love languages. Being gifted with something nice, personal and well thought out... better yet if you'd express a liking of that particular 'thing', gets the giver so elated. This usually serves as more than enough motivation for your partner to love you more.

A GIFT THAT'S 'NOT ENOUGH'

But sadly, it's not always possible to buy a "wonderful and amazing gift" for him/her and especially if you are unemployed or other times coz you are not sure if your significant other will appreciate it. Too often, we think they will not. Perhaps, we reason it's not the best. We think it's less valued and they won't like it. What we can afford thus, we do not allow it flow to the lives of our loved ones. And so "our fear" keeps us from loving as we should through our gifts. We think it's not enough, it can't be taken. In vain, we think they deserve better than we are considering offering. We constantly hide under the veils of us not being able to afford an "enough gift". We therefore do not allow us to let love through simple gifts. And so at those times, when we realize it has been a while without showing love through a material gift, we become filled with thoughts and feelings of guilt and 'not enough- ness' and panic! In the process we think aloud "We've got to do something!" rightly so, we buy them gifts, priced to bribe our partners for love or rather make them happy to love us back. The cost of love!

LONGING TO BE ENOUGH

However, the most devastating moment of it all is the longing to just be enough for your partner. And so even then, wonder if you, just you, without the gifts, would be enough to elate them. What if you continuously show up empty handed, and only brought yourself, your emotions, feelings and stories, would you be 'enough', even daringly 'more than enough' for them?

Would they take you regardless and evidently unconditionally? When such a condition is presented to you, your whole being cries like you've to do something so that you become enough for them. But wait a minute, how do you become better than enough? You are just you. You can only be enough without having any makeup-artificial emotions, behaviors. Without glass masquerading. I mean without reasons why you should be accepted. You being you without any offer and ending up enough. Just like a ram being led to a slaughter house so you become. You become vulnerable to your him/her knowing they love you anyway. They would rather lose everything else than lose you coz they simply love you. There's an alternative, an open one for a fact but they choose you over it. The door is open to leave but they choose to ignore it in favor of you. The main reason they cling to you is simply you being you: unique, you help them fill the emptiness in them. They would find fault in you but instead choose to help you over it. They will not let you down when you fall but will find all reasons to help you come up again. You might have hurt them but they do not find enough reasons to walk out on you. In your mess, they take you. Just you! Just me! They cover it, they don't pretend it never happened, it did they know. That, they see it as an enough reason to perfect, Complement and make you better. Ego aside, that's the woman I want. This is the type my heart longs to meet some day.

'MY TYPE'- The Girl

I will marry "her" if she will be proud of me as his flesh and not because of my wealth- I actually currently lack much material. That’s not permanent anyway. In my poverty, I will only offer me to her and in my riches I will still offer me to her. If she will accept my proposal then I'll marry her.

When I have nothing particularly fancy to show off, I want to ask her to be my life partner. And as my love, the wife of my youth, to take me. Just me! No perks. Just me!

I want her to hang out with me for life time, even if there are pretty obvious reasons not to be with me. Me and me alone to be enough for them. Alone to be their enough security. Their enough expectation. Their enough in their fears, their enough in deferred hope, their enough trust in their trials and temptations, their enough when conflicts arise, their enough in discouragements, their enough in everything. When there's no reason to live, I want her to take me as their enough reason for living. When it's all systems go, I should be the enough for her to change her mind and have me. Yes, she to take me just their enough. Not my money, not my gifts, not my six packs, not my handsomeness and not my titles. Just me!

WHEN SHE SAYS 'YES I DO'

I want her when she says yes to me, and says "yes she does", all she wants from me is my company, me to be the source of her strength, comfort, fulfillment and everything else. Coz I’m just me. She must not ask for a better version of me. She must not demand long and better record of good works, fancy titles I don't even have. All I want is her "yes" and live with me when I have nothing to impress or give except me. She will have me, just me.

I hope I find one who is willing to say yes to this proposal. In return I will give all of myself to her. I will not distribute myself that she may have parts, but every day I will give all of myself as full as if there were no others. I will give her my personal best for this life. I will in turn brighten their days. I will fulfill their dreams and walk in hope for better days even in ranging storms and darkness. I will make a convent with them to live faithful, protective, understanding, honoring and respecting her. So if it's a "yes" it must be personal and binding. “Till death” do us part? A marriage kind of a yes. A forever and ever one. A total yes. Note am saying this A marriage kind of Yes because I believe when I ask for her hand in a romantic relationship it will end up in marriage.

OVERFLOWN CUP OF LOVE AND EMBRACE

 Her cup must always run over with love and tight embrace when it should run dry. She must ask for me, just me, as I am, even in my dirt she must be willing to hug and lead me home just to have me. She must choose me not my job, fashion or achievement. These are important but not eternal just as marriage is. However, it's part of a pilgrim’s journey to the beautiful shore. We must live it as so God would desire. We must live it as a an outward expression and the only comprehend able relationship that earthly kings - heathens will ever know of the eternal, indiscriminate and unconditional love of Yahweh the only true immortal God.

CONCLUSION

I want her who will forever take me just as I am and altogether with all the other things you come with. Are you there to say yes, a resounding yes?! A decisive yes, to take me alone? Am waiting for you

Have a reflective life.

Remember to stay in touch with me at jeremiahwakamu@gmail.com or on Facebook Jeremiaho Wakamu to keep this discussion going. And again referrals though you social media network/connection and word of mouth is the best you can do for this blog.

Pope's Visit to Kenya: Impact on Business Ethics

Greetings! It’s my sincere hope you’ve been well and at peace. Welcome back to my media space to experience my random thoughts.

KARIBU KENYA PAPA MTAKATIFU

As I write this today 26^Th November, pope, the global head of the Catholic Church, is in his maiden pastoral and state visit to Africa. The Pope St Francis I has chosen my home country (Kenya) to be the first destination in his trip to three African Countries. I feel he has honored The Kenyan Catholic Community, all Kenyans, Beloved President Kenyatta and the African People to land in Kenya first.

You can only imagine the excitement and expectations Nairobi and its people has from this Papal Visit. Kenyans are known all over the world for their generous welcoming hearts. It’s just African, to give you guest the best welcome. All over the streets it’s “KARIBU KENYA PAPA FRANCIS” (Welcome Pope Francis to Kenya). The People are ready to experience his love, spiritual guidance, blessings and have their faiths lifted just as the streets are ready for him. There is the African dance for his welcome - the Kenyan style. The roads are clean swept and the flowers well-manicured. The whole atmosphere is more than ready to receive him. You should visit Kenya and see the hospitality that we are lauded for world all over. I am actually willing to plan your visits for holidaying and experience Kenyan culture, Tourism and for Business opportunities for the non-locals who are my fans in this space. Just get in touch with me on +254 722 481 993 or hit my inbox.

POPE'S MESSAGE TO KENYA

The Pope has brought a revival to the faith of many People globally since his election and ordination. He is different from the previous popes. He has inspired new hope to the forgotten members of the society. He is a known lover of the poor, marginalized, sick, and disabled and the lost in the faith. He has endeared himself and wants to be associated with the same categories of people that Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, came to redeem for himself. He is also a global leader in many aspects. His word is taken as cannon. Wherever he goes he has branded himself an ambassador of peace, symbol of Unity, a humble and diligent shepherd of God’s flock, Climatic Change Activist and a mentor to the young people. He speaks passionately about the agendas of the youth where I belong.

IMPACT OF HIS PASTORAL VISIT TO BUSINESS COMMUNITY

For me, being both a Christian and an entrepreneur, his visit has so much significance. For starters, I just graduate with a First Class Honors undergraduate degree in Business Information Technology this year, I am the Founder and Director of JoinTheDots Stationers & Printers a start up the develops curriculum and revision books for Kenyan Students, and recently the Founder and Director of Silver Chain Technologies Solutions see here. I am also a motivational Speaker, Author and a Christian Leader.

Now in the last post I said that in the next few weeks we will now look into detail about pull and push factors in starting a business and make a conclusion on how they play in the life of successful entrepreneurs. Let’s just digress a little bit and look how this visit is significance to me and the business community.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH BUSINESS ETHICS

First an experience. Close to two months I was invited for job interview at a blue chip financial market leader in the Kenyan market in Banking, banc assurance, Stock market and mobile money. The panel had four members. It took close to 20-30 minutes. By the way I have never known the outcome of the same.  It was largely going well and two panelists had already asked their questions which to the best of my knowledge I answered excellently and fairly.

It was the turn of the third member. I had alluded that I was a business person in printing and stationery. Morris – his real name asked if I had a contract worth millions to sign to print books that had bleached copyrights law what would I do. I had all along been sat back. I sat forward looked directly into his eyes and told the panel what they did not expect. “I am a Christian before I do business. My business exists first not only to make profits. My primary agenda for being in printing business is helping my clients, the Kenyan students to get high quality materials that are authentic. I would not take the contract if it’ll corrupt my conscience. I would blow the feather away” that was my answer very decisive and authoritative. He looked at me and said that’s all. He was blank and could not ask any other question form his list. Even the other panelist a lady simply looked at me and said, “Thank you Jeremiah. We have no more questions for you.” I left proud that at least even if I do not get that job I have defended my faith.

That’s rarely common business skill of negotiating especially among the banking industry where you need to sell services at all costs. You just need to sign that loan agreement even if you do not disclose all terms just to reach the targets.

Quickly, I want to deal with two main areas in business where the Christian values and the Hebrew Bible apply. These are Honesty in Negotiating Contracts and honesty in delivering services.

Honesty in Negotiating Contracts

Negotiations are quite common in business. In particular, there are employer-employee and buyer-seller negotiations. The negotiation between Ephron and Abraham over the Cave of Machpelah provides interesting insights into proper and improper ways to negotiate. Abraham’s wife Sarah died, and Abraham needed a place to bury her. Abraham was desperate for a burial plot. Ephron, knowing this, realized that he could overcharge Abraham and probably still get his asking price. The Bible instructs us through this passage in the proper ways to negotiate business contracts. Abraham did not want to take advantage of Ephron, knowing very well that Ephron was simply posturing. Abraham desired to pay a fair price. Ephron’s behavior, on the other hand, was reprehensible. Knowing that he had the upper hand, Ephron proceeded to ask for an outrageous sum. The Bible prohibits asking a dealer the price of an item if an individual has absolutely no intention of buying the item. Asking a merchant a price when one has no intention of buying, causes the merchant to have a false expectation of a sale. Also a decent person (or organization) does not intrude when others are in the midst of negotiations.

Honesty in delivering services/labor

Employees are required to work to the best of their abilities and not waste time. Incidentally, companies that are hired on a cost-plus basis as contractors have the same obligation of working to the best of their abilities and not wasting time and money belonging to others. One sees this principle in the following biblical passages. Jacob ran away from his parents’ home in Israel to another country because his brother Esau wanted to kill him. When he arrived in Haran, he noticed some shepherds idling around the well. He said to the shepherds, “Look, the day is still long; it is not yet time to bring in the cattle. Water the sheep and go on grazing.”  A stranger in a foreign land does not usually question the work habits of others. This can be quite risky, especially with the wrong kind of people. Apparently, Jacob was surprised that these shepherds appeared not to be doing an honest day’s work. Many years later, Jacob described the kind of work he himself had performed for Laban. Jacob told his wives, “You know that I have served your father with all my strength.” Jacob also described to Laban the kind of work he did for him: “These twenty years that I have been with you, your ewes and your she-goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks. That which was torn of beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it.... In the day, scorching heat consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.” Evidently, Jacob worked to the best of his abilities for Laban this, despite the fact that Laban had deceived him by substituting Leah for Rachel at the wedding, thus requiring that Jacob work an additional seven years. Jacob believed that an employee should work as hard as possible and do an honest day’s work.

OTHER ETHICAL ISSUES

Other concerns of ethicists today regarding business ethics have their antecedents in the Hebrew Bible. It is especially critical of those engaged in the following unethical business practices: hoarding food in order to resell it at a high price, tampering with weights and measures, and raising prices unjustly.

CONCLUSION

The Psalmist describes some of the attributes of a virtuous individual as follows:

God, who may sojourn in Your tent? Who may dwell upon Your holy

Mountain? One who walks in total integrity, does what is right, and speaks

The truth from his heart. One who has no slander on his tongue, who has

done his fellow human no evil nor cast disgrace upon his close one….

Whoever does these things shall never falter.

I promise you when you will be dealing with JoinTheDots Stationers & Printers and Silver Chain Technologies Solutions we will be honest with you in our negotiations and deal with you justly. Try us and also we can arrange a tour of the Kenya for holiday makers at best prices for the people outside Kenya.

Have a reflective life. Remember to stay in touch with me at jeremiahwakamu@gmail.com or on Facebook Jeremiaho Wakamu to keep this discussion going. And again referrals though you social media network/connection and word of mouth is the best you can do for this blog.