Plans - Is it for business or life?

Am I guilty of double standards?
It's so easy to judge others harshly and not think of what i am doing myself. What am I on about?

I remember this year watching Arun Sarin (Vodafone CEO) weathering strong opposition to survive another year. All through what has maybe kept others at bay is the fact that he has tried to sell a vision to the sceptical group of shareholders. Life is about setting goals and every now and then evaluating oneself.

On the same token I have suggested that Uchumi Management should be more vocal in setting out there plans. It is not enough to come and tell the public seeking more funds without sharing what or when we will start reaping the benefits.

It is polite and customary to wish everyone a happy new year - hope you all realise your dreams and the put nightmares behind.

So what are my plans for the brand new year?

From 'Adaptation'

I am thinking of going home for like two weeks preferably at the end of Feb - what attracted me was the fares on BA - I got a return ticket for like £368! that's a bargain at the moment (I'm yet to confirm - logistics)
The thin is I'm not just going to visit - I've been seriously thinking I should be planning my home coming. I was talking to this lady who was telling me she's afraid soon her biological clock will be ticking. For us guys we do not experience that but I can relate (I'm not aware!)
So it official I am looking for opportunities in Kenya - though I have to have an open mind right. Thinking outside the box yeah that's it.

Nothing much happenning? - you must be joking!

[At a seminar, Charlie Kaufman has asked McKee for advice on his new screenplay in which 'nothing much happens']
Robert McKee: Nothing happens in the world? Are you out of your f?*#ing mind? People are murdered every day. There's genocide, war, corruption. Every f*&king day, somewhere in the world, somebody sacrifices his life to save someone else. Every f$*king day, someone, somewhere makes a conscious decision to destroy someone else. People find love, people lose it. For Christ's sake, a child watches her mother beaten to death on the steps of a church. Someone goes hungry. Somebody else betrays his best friend for a woman. If you can't find that stuff in life, then you, my friend, don't know crap about life. And why the %!*& are you wasting my two precious hours with your movie? I don't have any use for it. I don't have any bloody use for it.
Charlie Kaufman: Ok, thank you.

... New year - Should I

Should I or should I not forget about new year resolutions?
Someone just told me his new year resolutions are last year's actually he only needs to change the dates. It is always good to feel that you are on the right path I guess that's why I have to join the bandwagon - experience has taught keep it short and simple (rather than large and sexy?). Sometimes honestly we try and I know I'm my worst critic. Most of the time I fail to celebrate the 'small' victories.

1. Anthropologically, we like to nest - mark out our territory and defend it. It is noble that this year should be one where I mark out my territory and defend it! I keep thinking sometimes I am too cautious - and it is all round. Which can be frustrating to some around me (I wish they understood that after careful consideration I sometimes decide not to make a decision). Strategy is not just what you decide to do - it is also what you decide not to do.This should be the year when I 'settle' down - I mean it's either here or go back home (easy to forget that I have a home!). I'm tired of just going to work, come home sit in front of TV and watch life pass by - well it is an exaggeration but there's a point there. I need to get a place of my own (finally!). There is always the temptation when you are far from home to tend to look for anything familiar and cling to it. It is understandable but also there is a danger of taking a myopic view - I must mingle more.

What a plan - simple yet insane!

2. Time is money. It's not something I have discovered but it came to light that maybe I am wasting some time. This should be the year when I appreciate time - it is a precious gift
The difference between a prosperous person and the majority of us is how they value time.
I am looking for a nice watch - a symbolic move. It's a long time since I owned one - thanks to my mobile phone. Does it reveal that I am careless as someone suggested? I hope not. (My phone can play music, take pictures and listen to the radio - that's massive savings on my entertainment costs!)

Logical incrementalism - Business success is about exploiting opportunities.

Exploit opportunities, Save time, Network more, Enjoy my 'small' victories more...

..It was the night before...

I'm made to understand that Christmas eve is the best time to make negative news - I mean who would be reading the press (of course except me?). Everybody is distracted by the festivities - mostly indoors. That is especially true here as no public transport is operating and for people like me we are stuck wherever we are. This are times why I think maybe I need to do the most stupid thing and buy a car!

"It's a deeply ingrained strategy with people in public relations. The purveyors of bad news — public relations people and politicians — are very apt to go out with it the night before Christmas, when all through the house, no one was there." Howard Rubenstein

I'm sure I'm the only one waiting for Christmas while surfing!
Get a life won't you!

... Season's Greetings...

Yes it's that time of the year when you go crazy with the financial discipline you have maintained throughout the year.I have managed so far to maintain some sanity amidst all the madness, and I note that I have not really been desperate to get anything from others. It must be an 'age thing' - i mean I give and not expect to receive back - well not very keen i guess. Is it just me or what - it's more beautiful to watch the smile on others faces when you surprise them with a gift. Especially kids I just love the looks on their faces.

I received a beautiful card all the way from Kenya - it is beautiful just to know they still remember me. I know my family is always supportive but getting a slow mail was a nice one. Good old days when emails, txt msgs were scarce.... best things in life are still free. You sometimes after I've sent cash to family I think I have done my duty. Actually I confess that I seem to think it seems that cash is the solution - I should send more cards from now on - not just emails and text messages.

Whatever the situation I hope everyone has a merry Christmas - just being here now is worth celebrating!

.... Big bonuses on a cold day

It was -2 Degrees and I was out there in the thick of it all.
I know its not the coldest but for me there is no difference anything freezing doesn't go well with my system.

Anyway as expected Goldman Sachs Lloyd Blankfein went it the record books today for the highest bonus on Wall Street - He's definately not feeling the freezing weather. I don't really bother quoting the figures it is difficult to relate to what they are talking about - okay maybe to me! $87m BONUSES just after 7 months on the job! In London of course there was debate about this excessive pay in the City. Jealous, maybe that's what the bankers think of the rest. And the mayor of London had an interesting perspective.

It is the time of the year when those who worked hard are rewarded - NOT EVERYBODY. Well the money will move around and therefore the financial hubs of London and NY will benefit. It is normal apparently for the rich to want to connect to others who have less!

I don't know about that.

Hey it's christmas maybe like me you got something small as a bonus or maybe you got nothing it's life (That's my christmas message). I'd like to know what others think - Do we have such issues in Kenya or Africa for that matter.

Irreplaceable?

One life to live. I try to enjoy life every now and then (believe me that is hard work for me!) Nothing to do with cash most of the times - I just think I try very hard (and I have perfected the art) to avoid having real fun. Real fun? - That could be anything to anyone.

Anyway I've been thinking if I have any regrets this week. Well on Saturday morning I was listening to a radio station here and there was an interview of Calvin Richardson (What? He was in London for a show this week! And nobody told me! Scandalous!) I just came to know about him through his current single that has been receiving rave reviews on this station (There goes my baby...). I also got to listen to some of his earlier works - highly recommended all I can say.
During the same week The Roots were in town and I missed it somebody at work keeps telling me how much i missed (aaarrrgghh!)

Simply put - IRREPLACEABLE! I could not have that back in a minute!

I know I can't attend all the shows - but.... forget it

Book I should read

Every now and then I read books review in newspapers/magazine and think to myself I should get this book. I still remember that I should get Malcolm Gladwell's books (any)among others. The thing is I've noticed that if I delay I tend to forget other pressing issues arise and before long it ceases to be a priority.

This week I came across James Jasper's 'Getting Your Way: Strategic Dilemmas in the Real World'. He was inspired by a mugging incident he was involved in at Times Square in the middle of the day with crowds of people all around (Reminds me of River Road!). Naturally one should be mad after such an incident but not Jasper apparently the incident drew some parallel to strategic action. His description of the event impressed me:

"Often, by the time you realise someone has begun to interact with you in a strategic fashion, it's too late to do much about it, sometimes you have already lost."

Understanding the social and cultural context in which you are operating is vital if 'you are to get your way' and achieve a strategic goal.

Not sure whether it is in the UK already but it will hit me like $28 (Damn just after I bought the Amy Grant DVD and Bebo Norman's CD!)

The Week That Was...

Fat cats.
So Kibaki thought it wise not to accept the generous offer from his fellow parliamentarians. Friends or foes? I mean surely did they expect him to take the salary hike? It is in the same week that Wall Street giants announced very high profits of course the Chief Executives are in line to get generous COMPENSATION packages. Reward is tightly tied to performance I think that is where our parliament went wrong if they would have given the pay rise and given reasons say pay was tied to the inflation level or the country was doing very well hence the need to be generous to the persons responsible.

The figures are not that important - just believe they are huge $50m in salary and bonuses after a 93% rise in revenues! The positive in all this is the fact that the average staff member will get $600,000 as compensation. Bingo! Good compensation package includes EVERYONE in the plot - so where is our cut?

On a positive the company that I work for won a government franchise this year - the two owners got to share £100m windfall. I got a small pay increase backdated 3 months - the very small gesture felt good. So it is not such a bad christmas after all.

My annual pay rise.

I got my annual pay rise the other day - at first i was kind of happy until I got home today and was watching Al Jazeera (one of those days) apparently Mr. Kibaki is getting the reward of running the country well. I think that is why whoever thought it necessary did that

So the president got a huge a pay rise - what's the big deal?
FACTS:
I am made to understand it is 186pc that raises the salary to $528,000 leaving GW Bush with just $400,000, while the Japanese Premier is going for a pay cut. Poor performance?
More than 1/2 population living under the poverty line.

It is not my business to say whether it is right or wrong (not that I don't have an opinion), but it highlights a serious issue in the corporate world - Executive performance review. It is from performance that reward is set. So when the targets are misplaced or wrongly set - usually the Board plays a huge role in all this. Unfortunately the danger is that the Board composition is always a matter of contention since the Directors just rotate chairs.
There is always the danger of

Mr President is laughing his way to the bank thanks to the parliament - I'm sure they must have thought through the whole process and the repurcussions. Should we be looking for new leaders? Preferably less eductaed and less experienced? Imagine the savings on taxpayers funds.

What were the targets that were met to warrant the pay rise or was it just due to inflationary pressures? I am honestly looking for information.

Invest in Kenya

Over the weekend we had a 'powerful' delegation led by the Finance Minister in London - promoting investment opportunities in Kenya. A noble cause but I was unavailable (I was getting paid!).

From different sources I have a hint of what went on (I have my sources) during the presentation. Depending on who you listen to the meeting I think by and large it was positive. I suspect it is politics as usual - but always good to give others a chance. Someone says the Minister was so eloquent 'possible presidential candidate in the future (!?) - honestly I hope not.
Most of today's papers had an article on immigrant population contributing to UK's economy. They are mainly better educated and work longer hours, yet the take up menial (elementary) jobs. There is an ever widening gap in wages yet statistics show that 17pc of UK born population has a degree compared with 45pc of new immigrants. Don't get me wrong opportunities are in plenty here with the right qualifications and experience of course and an endurance spirit. Although the fighting sometimes can be so intense if you are not good in office politics - you will be swept aside. Life is not quantity but quality - hard to find any positive role models.
All this are convincing on why this investment seminar might be a positive development that needs to be followed up. It is painful to see those 'stuck' here and not being able even to think of investing in Kenya.

I should know I've been trying to set up an account and put some money one or two investments I've been looking at but the logistics are stack against me. Actually my plan was to go to Kenya early next year to do something about it.

I hope someone told the minister and his entourage that most Kenyans here plan to go home someday. Whether that day will ever come it's besides the point - the point is it feels like fish that's soon will run out of water.

Soon we are going back home!

While I'm still on this age thing...
Is it just me or what - it's hard to beat the system!
Early in ones career usually we are so eager to move on and get resistance from the older guys (40s - 50s) and then you survive through the years only to be be confronted in your later years by fresh, ambitious graduates!

Move over granddy! I always imagine that happening in future - Why should I even bother - live now and let die!

Overbearing pride or presumption - hubris There is much hubris in the age groups about their superiority!

hehe.. Let me go to bed.

Feeling like a pensioner already

There's a song I used to hear back in the days - family FM/TV had just started and the song went something like ....I've been thinking about babies....' I've tried to look for the song or even remember who sang it to no avail.

I'm not growing any younger (duh!) and every now and then you will see something that will remind me of planning for my retirement. The pension schemes are in a mess thanks to the erratic stock market and employers failure to quickly arrest the situation (nobody saw it coming so the schemes are under-funded). Today was that day read of how the retirement is projected to rise to 70 here in the UK. Work till you drop dead! Then the Washington times had a story on planning and making the most of your retirement age. It's actually the time to think about this.

Strange or is it not life.
You work hard think you've got most of the things sorted out then something sets you thinking again

Hey Gotta make some plans are you?

Yeah I have to think about babies - it's an obvious secret on my part.

PS: I hope the link does not let me down....aaaaaarrgggh! And that song any ideas?

New Laptop? I'd rather bury my head in the sand!

Funny E-nyce should remind me one of my very few weakness!

Well as I was counting towards pay day to get me a new comp in the process of interviewing and doing a mini-research a friend introduced me to a friend (sic) who knew one or two things about laptops.

So he simply did some magic it is working fine but he strongly advised that I should be planning to get one soon. (Worries and problems never cease to follow a brotha!)

Procrastination??
With the arrival of Windows Vista I've also managed to buy sometime till next year. I've seen some adverts that the comps can easily be upgraded (?)
And matters seem to be even more complicated with christmas around the corner - I'm supposed to take a sister out.


Did I forget to mention the problem was sorted out with only £20s and even better the guy is around so some sort of warranty is guaranteed!
So for the time being christmas is on my mind and a possible mother of all dates - it might cost me a small fortune. Hey E-nyce are you with me? I think I'm just buying time for the time.

So if you see me closing my eyes, I' not sleeping - just resting my eyelids; I still got financial issues to deal with.

By the way did you say you are riding a new baby? Congrats. Good for you but I'm getting one soon, real soon!

Samuel L. Jackson

Watched 'Changing Lanes' - again!

Actually I almost missed it and for a good reason - had to The Premiership watch Man U Vs Boro - that happens when there's a vote and you are not at your place. I went to Luton my flat mate was meeting a gal he knew back in the day. I was supposed to be there and act like I was not there - literally.

I love Samuel Jackson's movies (well most of them!) forget most of his earlier stuff. He seems more real and kind of captures your attention - most actors are about looks and he's not blessed in that way - but he's good. I guess it gives some of us hope that our ability might go before us (what!)

He plays Rev Fred Sultan in 'The Great White Hype'

"I like you. You have a goal, and you have the balls to reach that goal. You have this blind stupid belief in yourself."

All in all a nice Saturday for me - one of those rare moments for me. I should do this often. I'm trying to believe me

Excuse me!

What to start a Saturday morning paper.
Apparently under oath the Nasdaq Chief executive Bob Greifeld admitted he did not understand how to calculate Gross profit margin (rudimentary formula in accounting) and add salt to injury he is an MBA! So you can understand the reaction in London keeping in mind that there's a hostile bid for the London Stock Exchange by NASDAQ.

Reminds of a book someone recommended (and yes I've never got the time! - for the past two years!)
Imagine him interviewing me and I had no idea what mark-up or margin is all about
Give the guy a break he can afford to hire guys who can do that for him!

Some of the things we learn in class why the torture? I guess that could have been his attitude when he was in ACC 101 - funny I can't see the same story in other papers. It's not that important is it? I thought not. But this only gives ammunition to those who criticise Business Schools. Whatever the case it costs a fortune to invest in this area