Rumours are spreading

Where facts are scarce rumours thrive. Just look at the pre-season rumours in the transfer market here. Every paper has it's version on what's happening which player is moving where, how much a player costs... etc. Maybe that is the way it is supposed to be to create the hype and it is so easy to be sucked it all this rumour mill as a football fan. Football is worshipped here - I used to think I was a fan until I came here.

Steve Jobs
There are concerns about Apple chief’s health according to the business pages and some investors arguing it is no longer a ‘private matter’. He is so central to the success of Apple that it is starting to affect it’s shares. That is why analysts would dare ask such questions at the company’s quarterly conference call after discussing financial performance.

Talking of rumours there is a wild rumour that the President is ill and that is why he is not making any trips abroad at the moment. He might be down with malaria or even just flu the rumour mills are not divulging any infor. It is sad especially since we are far from home and someone knows that our major source of information is the Internet. So most of the articles you read here are not meant to inform as such but fulfill an agenda.

I told you guys are still bitter the truth is compromised in the process.

The start of another week. Watched 'Hustle and Flow' last night

"Sometimes I feel like... like I talked such a good game when we was young, man. About my own studio and my own label, that... s*!t, DJay, now I'm just payin' rent, man. This s*!t right here gotta work. It gotta work, man, 'cause it ain't over for me."

A brand new week it feels good - high temps finally summer is here!

Last Minute Mind Change

The beauty of life is the fact that once in a while one has to backtrack, change his/her mind. It is no point to be so rigid in life – circumstances keep changing and our previous premise may not be justified in the light of developments.
I remember saying I had better things to do than attend last weeks PM’s meeting with Kenyans in the UK. As fate would have I was not going for the event until someone coerced me into going for the meeting. I think my patriotism was being questioned if I did not attend – so I made up my mind at 5:30 pm that it wouldn’t do no harm making a technical appearance, after all I have never done this before. When I arrived at the hotel there was a sizeable quorum most of them happy to see their buddies – of course I was a stranger there.
Given the PM and his entourage of the coalition government had a busy schedule the meeting started late. It was noticeably obvious that Kenyans have not got over the infamous last elections. This Luo/Kikuyu rivalry has become boring – even the seating arrangement you could tell there were different sections for the two tribes. I wonder if it still like that in Kenya or those of us far from home still carry around our prejudices and biases. We haven’t moved. The climax had to be question time and the lady who clearly is tired of being robbed since independence and the crowd near me from the ‘other’ tribe loudly expressed their disapproval of her insinuations.

I think I would commend the PM for steering from that topic reducing it to ideological differences rather than tribal. The coalition government is in a tough situation as they pursue an economic agenda – I don’t know it will work out but it better. Promoting Kenya as an investment hub cannot go down well with the concentration on politics – full marks for the PM for downplaying the tribal angle (I just don’t for how long…)

So I changed my mind, the PM and his coalition team (probably) have changed theirs too, but looking around the meeting room and later on some chat rooms it is still a sad situation. This is something we need to change our minds about.

Moses Wetangula (MC): There is nothing wrong in identifying with you clan or tribe, but it is very wrong to use that to oppress other (paraphrased).
A milestone – first time I have been in a room full of Kenyans in the UK.

(The picture quality is not all that - but for an impromtu event the Sony Ericsson did not let me down!)

The Week Ahead

Each step at work seems to be a struggle. The boss is struggling with the changes after the departure of the systems administrator. She literally held everything in place (I remember mentioning that). Like they say you never know something is good until it is gone.

This week another senior accountant is going for holiday and I have been literally going through a crash course to do ‘his’ work. I still think that they are treading on very dangerous grounds – everyone concentrates on their work to the extent that they know very little of what the other person is doing.

So it is a tough week for me. Not the task at hand but juggling responsibilities – so I will be also dealing with the purchase ledger. Personally I don’t mind it is a long time since I did that – actually when I was in Kenya to be precise. Plus it will be dealing with guys from marketing even more.

I learned that I could take advantage and make my boss look better – after all he is the one I would like to be my referee in future. That’s what I anticipate this week – tomorrow a buddy wants to go and see some Kenyan politicians who are in London. I don’t know why I will have to give it a miss if there was like something new they would offer I would have considered. From what I read in the local dailies it is politics.

Another Self-Help Book

How can you put down a book that the author implies that its aim is make you win when you shouldn’t, get promoted when you’ve been coasting, but most of have fun while you work?
I went through the book in two hours at the bookshop on Sunday afternoon – nothing fundamentally new in Richard Hall’s flow of thought all the same interesting.
His 10 steps are worth following through – it got me thinking that life is like exams you do not have time to do everything therefore prioritise! – at least that is how I passed most of my exams.

Point to remember – It is not the cleverest who do the best in exams. Have a plan, a destination, a map and note that doing well in your career and being good are not necessarily going to be the same thing.

Well I’m seating here with a blank paper in front of me – I’m thinking. It was a Sunday afternoon well spent.

Summer?

Today I woke up unusually early had a quick shower, turned on the telly to watch the morning news before hitting the road. Unfortunately either the news was too good (I can't remember anything worth mentioning) or my time keeping was poor, because were it not for the fact that I am semi-fit I would have missed the train!

I had to sprint to get the train and the worst part is it was a warm morning. So from my station to London Bridge I was hot and uncomfortable AND SWEATING. Is it just me or have my sweat glands expanded? Of late it has been a common feature I take a stroll and once I get indoors I'm sweating. I know the differences in temperature is a factor - but it never used to be like this with me. It is uncomfortable. I take longer to cool down.

During my lunch break I had to a chemist shop to get some deodorant that will have to stay in the office - just in case. Nothing worse than torturing people around you with a funny smell - especially on a crowded train.

I have just read this: "Spending time - and money! - on our image and appearance can really pay-off." So even as it takes time to improve upon your strengths, build a strong skill set and present an impressive resume.

I plan to have a less intrusive week even in this hot conditions!

I have not forgotten!

Funny when you got friends who are married they always want to know what my next plans are. That's not so funny I'm thinking towards those sides too! You after I read all this business stories on M&A it gives me ideas.

I'm reading that Ronaldo agrees with FIFA President that players are treated like slaves! I felt sorry for the players too. He had just signed a new 5 year contract worth £120,000 A WEEK! yes and he is 23. Don't you just feel sorry for him? I knew something was up when I had he had just signed the contract - Man U and his advisors tricked him!

Imagine me making that in a year I could pull of any deal in the 'M&A' field! Yes I'm past thinking about it let me cut the chase. Let the weekend start.

Half Year Report

It is amazing how setting goals can do to one's ambitions.

It is already past June - the year is almost over AGAIN!. Time moves rather fast.

I realised that I am very poor when it comes to celebrating my ‘little’ achievements. Probably it is because I have been waiting for something grand to happen maybe being nominated for the Nobel Prize. Since it is almost year end I should think through what I'm up to - most important does it tie with my plans for the future?

I am happy at my new place of work. The beauty of working within a small department is that you get more involved directly and can actually sense your contribution. This few months have enlightened me at least giving me a clear perspective of what actually I want to do


Opportunities - by the end of the year we are starting to implement a new accounting software I want to see where that leads me

Loan:
This month I will finally pay my last loan instalment so my school is fully paid for. I came to the UK just others – with dreams work and study. I thought one could work part time and pay for a masters program. Not that it does not happen, it is a gamble – I know of someone we came at almost the same time who is a Phd holder now. Maybe it is because of being far from home, I have realised life is fragile – one minute you arrive at Heathrow full of hope and expectation next minute you seem to be stuck in a rut. I could do with the extra cash it was painful at times to get my statements and see the amounts taken off to redeem the loan. It's finally over.

Family Issues:
After my mum’s retirement I have been helping her build a house, thank God she was not entirely dependant on me to finish her project. So I have been contributing on the side just to encourage her – she rarely asks me for money. Every now and then I get a feedback of the progress – soon it will be over.
I need to follow on providing her with solar panels - I stumbled upon some being sold here and thought it would be nice for her birthday coming up soon. Actually I'm not sure whether it is better to get them here the prices I assume would be almost the same.
My small sis went to UG yesterday. Although she is working she has amazed me with the way she has turned out to be ambitious and always ready to take risks. I'm so different. Waiting for her 'report' but I see opportunity here not necessary for me.

Investment:


I managed to put some money in a Balanced Fund and started contributing privately into a pension scheme all in Kenya. I want to see where that leads me too - the stock market is still a no go zone at the moment, so I hope this small step would take be a success too. The best part is even with the overwhelming financial demands I have managed to put aside some money for a rainy day.
There is a promise to have access on the account online (I'm counting on that) plus regular monthly statements via email. The next challenge is tracking the performance and of course continually pump in some cash while not compromising my present commitments.

Present Commitment:
Top on the list is of course my French classes - I realise I am not staying here forever. Not just in the UK - but also at my work place. In a small setting you can see the team you are working with. I am next to individuals with families and mortgages to worry about I simply do not see them moving any time soon. I have to be honest with myself - staying here too long maybe detrimental. I 'stumbled' upon an internal auditor who has been contracted here she has worked in 4 continents speaks 4 languages.

Shifting Careers

During my brief lunch break during the week I have come across this blog in the NY Times in a nutshell shares tips on careers.

One particular entry recently on Networking Strategy caught my eye - and it was hilarious to read through the response. Someone has 'discovered' urban hike and was basically sharing the discovery which did not impress everyone - just reading BENBENEK and Zonal had me in stitches.



"This concept is offensive simply for the fact that it is a concept. Walking is, of course, the most basic and on a global scale the most widely used form of locomotion. The notion that some members of the hipster-yuppie axis of coddled wimps can ‘accidentally hit’ on the concept of walking through the city rather indicates a depraved
separation between people and their environments - a separation mediated by cars, cellular phones, television, urban design, etc. And this
separation must be fairly thorough and profound for someone to even invent a term such as ‘urban hiking.’ Of course, this separation isn’t
so thorough that everyone invests in its perpetuation.
‘Urban Hiking’ couldn’t possibly appear as an innovation to anyone other than the softest, most pathetic suburban reptiles...."

Read the rest in the blog. By the way Marci Alboher has an impressive CV worth reading visiting the blog once in a while.

Damsel in distress

I feel older with each passing day.

My friend has just forwarded me a CV for me to offer my opinion. Apparently she had sent it out to a recruiting agency and wasn’t getting the feedback she wanted.
Personally I’ve never been comfortable dealing with the so called ‘professional’ recruiting agencies maybe it’s because I do not understand how they operate. It has been a bad experience for me. If given a choice I would rather deal directly with any prospective employers.

Back to the subject. The young lady makes me feel old reading her CV she is just about to finish her professional exams looking for her 'first' job. It reminds me of my struggles here.

I hope she makes it - although as expected lack of relevant experience might be a challenge I think she will be fine. But it is London, very competitive but also the opportunities are there. That's my Saturday morning briefly.

PS: Damsel in distress was the heading of the email!

Another one bites the dust

Again politicians continue to baffle me.
And how remarkebly different politics and business run - I mean they are different.

M&S has just announced it is feeling the credit squeeze in its food section and the CEO has issued a profit warning - predictions are also rife that other retailers will do the same.
And the reaction has been instant following the profit warning announcement - the head of its food business has been immeadiately ousted. (I thought it was the credit crunch? Surely that should have been his defence to save his job). He had just been on the job for almost a year - was it the wrong time for him to leave Waitrose?

Then I go to read that Parliament has passed a vote of no confidence on Kimunya. The man is so desparate that he is still protesting his innocence. For an accountant he should have known better - an auditor should not only state he is independent, it is important that he/she is seen to be independent. Again I have no idea what the facts of the Grand Regency Hotel saga are. All I know the man should have known better now his reputation (does he really care?) is in tatters. This are the men I used to read about and think accounting as a career was surely promising. The problem is one builds a career I don't know what gets in his head he decides to get into politics... what I try to outwit other seasoned politicians like Orengo, Raila and company You must be mad!

Moral of the story - Avoid politics (Ask Gordon Brown!)