First years - Advice

The registration for the coming semester is going on at the moment and the quote from a a certain academician..


STUDY VOCIFERIOUSLY AND THINK CRITICALLY
That's just what is expected from me.

Help!

I know I'm on my own here. How comes my links on this blog are not leading to the pages I wish them to lead to?

Lest I be accused of plagiarism. Would appreciate any help from whatever source - I see some of the blogs are well laid out.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Sunday papers had speculations that there is an imminent merger of Schering-Plough and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Actually it is a reverse merger - which would create the world's largest drugs group with a market capitalisation of around $80Bn.

Now I know why accounting moved from merger accounting - this is not a merger is it ? BMS is by far larger than Schering so definately they are not equal - one party will definately be dominating. True and fair view.

By the way in Kenya we never seem to hear much about M&As - it's big business here. Businesses are always on the look out predator and prey relationship.
Another interesting article was the most respected companies and Johnson & Johnson was the leader - it is interesting to note that the management of JnJ have steered off acquisitons that are contested - It destroys value. Once value is destroyed shareholders are mad and the company attracts negative publicity. The poll was conducted among fund managers.

I should find out which are the respected companies in Kenya - not solely in profitability terms. Other criteria would include clear business strategy laid out by the management (I'm still waiting to hea what Uchumi is up to).

As if that was not enough there is talk of Corus the indstrial steelmaker is desparately searching for a suitor! (Is that how it feels to be in a crowded dance floor and you are not the most attractive?)

Merck is after Serono with the aim to be the leader in the Biotech industry.

In all these activities underlies what drives capitalism - the need to be the strongest and always leadier. Why didn't think of this? You need to keep competitors running for their money, utilise the fact you have the brand name - all households in Kenya know Uchumi, like WalMart it could have controlled its suppliers
STRATEGY: Let the small competiton see the reason to run from you.

Ethics? Everday we hear the Boeings, WalMarts, Tescos among others being criticised - but guess what - they are the still the leaders. (OOoops I conveniently ignore Enron)

Another week!...Aaaaaargh!

Yes that's how I feel after sleeping late trying to fill out application forms. I'm hoping and keeping my fingers crossed this week - I sent out some application forms. Life should have been simpler - why the complication.

By the way it has not escaped my notice the fact that I've been involved in what psychiatrists describe as 'financial infidelity' - failure to disclose my true state of affairs financially. Apparently I notice it very obvious I have not kept an update of how I'm doing (yeah I was supposed to!).

The idea though good and my intentions were just to keep myself up dated with what I was up to I find it hard to write some of things. It has crossed my mind that maybe I should change my blog title. Go through the naming ceremony again looking for a suitable name - they say you should be careful what you name your kids; names shape their personality!

What's in a name?

London Fashion week

I heard somewhere that the London fashion week is on. I am not so much into all that fashion stuff but I remember back in the day when CNN was just coming to Kenya when there was a 30 minute programs on fashion every week. For some reason better known to myself I used to watch the girls on catwalk - honestly I fear I know why I used to do that but I will not own up.
Strange now I even haven't got a clue when this events happen - lost interest? Maybe my fears have been confirmed that it is abnormal for a lady to look strictly like the traditional model - they are just too skinny. This week I saw a piece of news that they are turning away all the overly skinny girls from the catwalk - I think it was in NY. Apparently someone has realized that they do not project a good image of what women should look like - this is especially to protect teens.

With that in mind this weekends NY Times had an article I only read the introduction and loved it.

SPEND a week looking into the glass of fashion and you soon realize that the individual actually is the universal. Almost nobody, not the rich, not the celebrated, not the occupationally beautiful has any true sense of how they're perceived.
Models do not think they are too skinny. Actors do not find themselves handsome. Stars claim not to know what all the fuss is about. Our crazy cultural obsession with the perfected surface has become so absolute that everybody ends up having to work off some obscure psychic debt.

Read the rest of the article - I got to find out and get a true sense of how I am perceived.

Not out of the woods yet!

Earlier I indicated how I get cheap copies of the Financial Times as a student. I pay £0.25 as opposed to the cover price of £1 during the week - this is massive savings for someone like me. An opportunity to reaarticleses that are relevant - there so many newspapers sadly most of them are kind of 'shallow' (I can't believe I said that)

Anyway I had today's copy and loved when I saw they had a list of ACCA finalist and my name in the FT! Now what more could I ask for. I have decided to learn to celebrate the small victories that I come across.

The challenge is I got to get RELEVANT experience - I just have to work hard (REAL HARD!)

On a light note there was an interview in the paper of the two founders of Pret-A-Manger they are currently doing different individual projects. One of them is struggling with his 8 year old sushi chain. When asked how he was doing his only comment was: "The higher the monkey climbs the tree, the more you see of its arse"

What can I say - well as I climb higher I hope my behind is covered.

5th Anniversary

Today I'm celebrating 5 years since I came to the UK - I was watching the TV on Americans remembering the terror attacks 5 years ago. I was just leaving Heathrow airport when the streaming live pictures started being relayed.

Sad day indeed. I remember how I had to look for a calling card to get in touch with my family.

So Yes 5 years! Time is moving so fast. It is time to count my blessings.
I'd say the biggest achievement was to finish university here and gain ACCA Affiliate and of course managed to put aside some money in my account. On that front I have been blessed. It is easy to make plans before you arrive here but totally another thing to actually realize what you set out to do.

The Pressure.

Only yesterday I was thinking maybe it's time to move (Not maybe - IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON!)I guess it is because as they say time is not a friend to wait for you. Generally though the 5 years have been successful. The friends I came with are all doing well, we are scattered but keep in touch and life has treated us well. We all still agree that home is always the best place for us.

So I'm happy for myself, the small achievements - I believe my stay here (God knows how many more years!) has been good - I've grown older and wiser to the ways of the world. Even believed I can be who I want to be and actually stand on the verge of being just that.

It's been real.

Next step...Bring it On

I'm off today and have the whole day to myself - Only that I got so much to do - cleaning up. I'm the kind who really struggles like ensure my place in order. I'm one of those spoilt kids I guess.

Anyway since I do not have a washing machine I had to go to the local launderette. I'm proud of myself today - I can proudly say I did well today. (Only a brother wants to be praised for doing what he is supposed to do: I take care of my kids!)

Anyway since the real battle has started I received my application form to be an ACCA member - God knows how I would love to gain full membership. I have to keep a record of the relevant experience I gain from now hence forth. This is foreign in Kenya where I worked for a while. Does all that previous experience go to waste? I hope it has changed but still things might not have changed. We do not place any enough emphasise on practical experience. Very few employers are even bothered. That is the difference here - without the normal restrictions for foreigners - one can get very relevant experience.

The dreaded part I'm looking at is how much it will cost me - a quick glimpse at the forms I got it would cost me £170 to be a permanent Affiliate or £85 every year.
Hey I have to gain full membership soonest!

I can forsee this next few days will be interesting.

When the Tough Gets Going....

There is still issues to be settled at Vodafone - I'm sure the CEO is feeling the heat.

Well Vittorio Colao is back. He is the same guy who was overlooked for the position of CEO when Arun Sarin was preferred. He did what any man in his position would do - RESIGNED and went back to Italy. He's back as the deputy to Arun! He is running the European division (80% of the business!) - you do not have to understand rocket science to know something is brewing.

Of interest is the opinion some believe that the 'Anglo-British' are against Mr Sarin because he is not 'British' (I think this definately means he is not white) - That was the opinion of a shareholder during the concluded AGM.

Shouldn't Mr Sarin be looking for a job?

Aha and what's happening at FORD? William Clay Ford Jr has been forced out!
Honestly this is are tough times for some of these guys.

The blacker the berry.......

Another week another murder!
It ended well (AGAIN!)... curious that I interesting story on marriage. I have a buddy in America living with his girlfriend but has ruled out marriage for now. He has many reasons (I suspect ladies would say excuses!!!lol)

Anyway he is not the topic of discussion!
Latest figures show that divorce rates here in the UK have fallen - good news because personally I believe it is something worth fighting for. The statistics continue to reveal that couples in there 20s are the most likely to divorce.

All this is disturbing for some of us who are aspiring to enter the exclusive club. Interesting that I got the article after explaining to this lady why am still single. (I can't remember the reason I gave!) I was raised to believe a man should be the bread winner - currently I'm bringing home crumbs.
It reminds me of a discussion I found on the Harvest Show when they were reviewing a book "When the Man in Your Life Can't Commit"
Nobody in there right minds enters into marriage with the plan to divorce (okay maybe gold diggers!) Maybe it's just the fear of failing - divorce is so easy nowadays I understand.

"It's vital that people are able to leave unhappy marriages, but the fact is that many over-estimate the benefits of divorce and under-estimate the costs - both financial and emotional."

On the subject of marriage, the sage of Omaha got hitched. Warren Buffet on his 76th birthday got married to his long time companion of 29 years - sweet. 29 years we definitely should be learning something.

I wonder if I am commitment phobic?