8 Killer Skills for Business and Life

As a recruiter I have observed certain skills that help people move up in an organization. In my opinion these are the skills that most A-players have in common

1. Written and oral communication
2. Critical thinking and problem solving
3. Political savvy and networking
4. Planning
5. Passion and energy
6. Decision making and Execution:
7. Learning:
8. Creativity

Thought For The Day: What Is Entrepreneurship?

Quote Source: Houston Lifestyle & Homes Magazine, August 2011.

The Strauss-Kahn Case; Who-is-who vs who-is-not?

The recent developments in the Strauss-Kahn case have made me think about what I would do as an immigrant in various situations. Nafissatou Diallo is the hotel maid from Guinea who claims that Dominique Strauss-Kahn sexually assaulted her. She gave interviews to Newsweek and ABC news this week to tell her side of the story. Since the case has not been tried yet, I do not have any comments about whether Mr. Strauss-Kahn is guilty or not.

However I am watching this case with fascination because it is a classic case of who is who vs who is not. It is also an inside view on the plight of the immigrant and how immigration applications come up repeatedly to determine character. Very rarely does a prosecution question the credibility of their witness. I would think that by the time a prosecutor takes on a case they have made a commitment to try the case based on the evidence.

As an immigrant woman I am watching this case because it tells a different side of our  story. Life in the west is not always rosy. Sometimes it is long hours doing a job that you desperately need to pay all the bills that you are responsible for. This case raises a few questions in my mind

1. Can a woman just cry rape with no reason? 
2. Does power make people careless?
3. Does money buy justice? And if so is there such a thing as justice?
4. How do you measure a person's credibility? 
5. Is it worth it to take on the rich and powerful? 

Perhaps these questions tell which side I am leaning on. Let's talk about it....today is conversation Friday! 

Culture—Learning about Business (and Life) from the Movies

We have talked before, in our post about "Culture Shock", about taking active steps to learn the culture of your adopted country. The more often you engage with the new culture, the easier and faster it will be for you to settle down and feel at home in your new country.

In a narrower sense, the same applies to your career. What is the culture surrounding your chosen career? Bloomberg Businessweek has profiled the, "Top 30 Must-See Movies for Business Students". What sets these movies apart though, is that they were selected by deans at the top 30 business schools in the country. They were asked to name their favorite business movie and explain their choice.

The list contains movies you are likely familiar with. I watched several of them long before I went to B-school and so was focused on the entertainment value of the movie rather than the lessons contained therein. If you are in the business of making money, it would be insightful to watch these movies again.

I recently watched "Wall Street" again and in the light of the recent and not-so recent shenanigans and excesses on the real Wall Street, it was a stark reminder of the choices we are all faced with: ethics and integrity vs money and power.

With movies on the list like "Wall Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life", that 1946 classic that shows business is not all evil, you have a rich list of movies that you can immerse yourself in and emerge smarter and wiser about the business world and life in general.

The Great Equalizer

A few weeks ago we posted a 10 minute fix video where one of the guys was talking about meeting a renown cartoonist who he may never had a chance to meet in Kenya. They also talked about getting the opportunity to talk to women they may not have been exposed to or meeting business men who were out of reach. They referred to America as the great Equalizer.

Many immigrants come from class societies where your lot is defined in life depending on your family name, your skin complexion, your tribe and many other factors. Immigrating to a western country is an opportunity to start over and become whatever you want to become with no limitations of tribe, family, social status and other social factors. Oprah often refers to her grandmother who cleaned houses in Mississippi. She tried to teach Oprah her craft many times but Oprah rejected the idea internally because she knew that she could be so much more. Many of us have rejected things that have been pushed on us internally because we had a greater dream.

The opportunities in the west can be a catch 22. Some immigrants often start out with great dreams and then settle into the daily grind of making a daily living. It is easy to get comfortable with just making a living and forget to make the life you know you can have. If you have not given this some thought lately. Ask yourself the following questions
1. What do I know I can achieve?
2. Have I achieved it?
3. Why have I not achieved it?
4. How do I overcome my obstacles?

Do not sell your dream to the latest theater room and big screen TV just because you can afford it. Pay the price to pursue a life that brings you fulfillment. Glance back at Red Jade's article on 8 Immigrant contributions to the American economy and be inspired. Are you making your greatest contribution?

Kenya Open Data Portal

The Kenyan government has introduced an open data portal to make government data accessible to all. Think about easy to access census figures, economic measures, government expenditures, parliamentary recordings and you have an idea of what is available on the portal. The data is presented in maps, charts, tables and files that can be downloaded for analysis.

According to the portal the goal for this project is to, "improve transparency, unlock social and economic value, and build Government 2.0 in Kenya".

The force behind this project is Dr Bitange Ndemo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communication. I believe Kenya is the first country in Africa to launch such a project. Congratulations to him and to all the people who worked on the project.

The rest is up to us, the people. It is up to us to use the data to improve transparency and develop the socio-economic potential of Kenya.

Click here to access the portal.

Does School Kill Our Creativity?

This TED video makes a compelling argument.

What do you think? Do we need a different system and how can we create it?

TED is a small non profit that is committed to ideas worth spreading.  Check out other great videos on http://www.ted.com/

8 Immigrant Contributions to the American Economy

From a report by the "Partnership for a New American Economy", comes these staggering numbers that show the positive impact of immigrants on the American economy. The report is based on membership on the 2010 Fortune 500 list.

1. 18% of companies had at least one immigrant founder.
2. 23% of companies had at least one founder who was the child of an immigrant.
3. 41% of companies were founded either by an immigrant or a child of an immigrant.
   
4. 20% of companies started between 1985 and 2010 were founded by immigrants.
   
5. 45% of high tech firms had a founder who was either an immigrant or a child of an immigrant.
6. 50% of medical equipment and device makers had a founder who was either an immigrant or a child of an immigrant.
7. 7 of the 10 most valuable brands in the world are American companies created by immigrants or children of immigrants. They include: Apple, Google, AT&T, Budweiser, IBM,Colgate, McDonald's and eBay.
8. Companies founded by immigrants or children of immigrants generated revenues of $4.2 trillion. If this were a country, it would have the 4th largest GDP in the world after USA, China and Japan.

Source: The "New American" Fortune 500—A report by the Partnership for a New American Economy.

Do you have a $1,000,000 idea?

Next Level Venture Capitalists wants to give entrepreneurs with a great idea a shot at a million dollars.

Eligibility
Open to all adults over the age of 18 who are legal residents of the US. The competition is free but you can pay $50 for value added services such as professional feedback and access to business professionals etc. To learn more click here.

Dates
Registration begins on July 1st, 2011 and ends September 30, 2011 at 11:59:59 EST. The contest will end on March 30, 2012 at 11:59:59 EST. Click here to enter the competition.

Prizes
Grand prize: 1,000,000 in equity financing subject to terms agreeable to both parties
First prize: $50,000 unconditional grant for 1 contestant
Second Prize: $25,000 unconditional grant for 1 contestant
Third Prize: $5,000 unconditional grant for 5 contestants

*Click here for the official rules. 

Website
http://www.youreinbusiness.com/million-dollar-idea-competition/

Makuti Lounge Review: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Dear Makuti Loungers,

We would love to hear from you.

What articles have you enjoyed in the lounge?

What articles would you like to see more of?

What topics have we not addressed at all?

You can post your comments anonymously. To open the Comment box, go to the top of the post, and right under the title, you will see the number of comments. Click on the number in brackets (parentheses) to open the box.

Thank you,

The Makuti Lounge

Living the Dream: Meet Leonard Mudachi, the brain behind Blanco's Holdings

Leonard Mudachi is the brainchild behind Blanco’s Holdings Limited. He is a passionate, driven and innovative hospitality professional. He started his career as a Management Trainee at the Hyatt Regency Downtown in Houston Texas. He has held various positions in the restaurant industry in kenya since then. 


He has since developed three restaurant concepts in Nairobi, Kenya; Blanco’s Lounge & Grill, an African fusion restaurant concept, The T-spot, Kenya’s first branded tea house & Blanco’s Sports Grill Ltd, the premier sports viewing entertainment restaurant in East & Central Africa. Having studied and worked in three continents, Leonard continues to combine his overseas experience with local knowledge and innovation to continuously create new and exciting hospitality ventures. You can read his complete bio on http://www.blancos.co.ke/management.php. We recently interviewed Leonard Mudachi and this is what he had to say. 

What attracted you to the culinary world? 

"As much as I enjoy the culinary world, I would say that I was more attracted to the Hospitality World. I loved parties when I was a kid…the organization, the anticipation, the cooking, the serving, the merry making"

Who is your inspiration for Blanco's? 

"I draw entrepreneurial inspiration predominantly from my Dad and host of other older mentors. In the restaurant industry my inspiration stems from a wide variety of restaurants I have visited around the globe."

How did you get started? 

"I started by pitching my concept to several potential investors, mainly people who had taken an interest in my career since my return back home. Investors ended up being family, friends and close relatives.  Once I had secured the capital and the first location at Timau Plaza we began renovations. We opened shop on Dec 21 2006."

What has helped you the most on your journey? 

"A strong support network of friends and family and unwavering & commitment for what I love doing."

What inspiration (if any) did you get from living abroad? 

"Exposure to and appreciation of a multi-cultural, multi-faceted restaurant and hospitality industry."

How did you make the decision of going back home? 

"It was always my plan and intention from the onset. I wanted to gain the knowledge and exposure and come and apply it at home. I think Kenya and the rest of the East & Central Africa region hold great potential for those willing to take the risk. It is virgin territory suitable for developing new concepts."

What words of wisdom would you like our readers to keep in mind? 

"Thirst for Knowledge but ultimately trust your instincts."

Not Your Mother's Kitenge - Vlisco July 2011 Ad Campaign

We have written before about the beautiful fabrics made by Vlisco and their sensational Ad Campaigns. Their July Campaign does not disappoint.

It is aptly titled "TRESOR BRILLANT: MYSTIFYING BRILLIANCE" and features glamorous designs to inspire you, as you create a gown for that special evening. Click on the link above to see the images from the campaign.


Click here to purchase the July Fabric Collection.

Be encouraged!

Monday Blues - How Smart Are You?

Was off to a sluggish start this morning. Blame it on the Monday morning blues. While surfing the net (instead of getting started on the work day) I came across this test, "How Smart Are You?"

"Aha", I thought to myself "just what I need; once I am reminded how smart I am then I will feel motivated to get some work done".

Spent 5 minutes taking the test only to find that . . . er . . . I am not as smart as I thought . . . not quite what I was hoping for . . . hmm, what to do now? . . . I have all this work to do and now I just found out that I may not be smart enough to do it . . . time for a tea break.

I am sure that you, our dear reader, will do much better than I did, so click here for some Monday fun. Enjoy!

8 Inexpensive Things To Do With Your Kids

With summer well underway many parents are wondering what to do with their children. Here are some inexpensive things to do with kids this summer

1. Go camping. This is my ultimate favorite vacation idea. It is great for family bonding and also teaches kids to spend time outside with less stimulation. 
2. Go to your local beach and spend a day in the water.
3. Find a hiking spot in your area and spend time in the great outdoors as a family.
4. Check out free live music at your local parks and spend an evening together.
5. Drive to a neighboring city, see the sites and have a picnic.
6. Visit your local zoo. Many of them have free days during the week. 
7. Find a church in your area that hosts a free vacation bible school.
8. Volunteer together in your city.

Solo-preneuring™ - EmbracingThe Concept

On Wednesday, we talked about Solo-preneuring™. A big, unfamiliar word that sounds very foreign, very American. However, not only is it a very simple concept but it is actually one that many of us are familiar with. Most of us grew up with parents who had a side gig….it was (and still is) the only way for most people to make ends meet in Kenya and I am sure that is the same in other developing countries. Even some parents who were professionals had a side gig, some did it for extra money and others as a hobby e.g. the vegetable garden that not only fed the family but also brought in some extra shillings.


However, the lesson that was instilled in us was that there were certain careers (law, medicine, engineering, accounting) that we should aspire in part because that eliminates the financial need for a side gig. Those who had “made it” did not have side gigs. Consequently, most of us have been trying to establish and cling to these kinds of careers even though we dread the work. This approach takes the view that the only reason anyone would work is for financial reasons therefore find the best paying job even if you don’t like the work. It explains why Rafiki said that expressing a desire for a career in fashion, writing, hair styling would not have been met with the support and encouragement that such talent deserves.


Further, I think it is difficult for us to embrace Solo-preneuring™ because it does not have the same cachet that some jobs give us. Even here in “the promised land”, society has determined a hierarchy of professions and the jobs at the top of the food chain command respect though not always high salaries. As a result people identify who they are with what they do. If you ask someone, “What do you do?” most people answer “I am a teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, a manager,” rather than answering, “I work as a lawyer, a doctor, a teacher, a manager”. However, this is for jobs that are “higher up the food chain”. I have never heard anyone say “I am a fast-food worker” rather they say “I work at McDonalds or I flip burgers”.


I believe that current employees who want to transition to Solo-preneuring™ will have to let go of deeply ingrained beliefs that tie the type of work one does with self-worth. If you have spent a lot of time and money, getting a degree (or two, or three, or more) and spent even more blood, sweat and tears working long hours and navigating office politics to climb the corporate ladder, you may feel that you are throwing it all away, that you are giving up before you achieve the goals you had set for yourself when you embarked on your chosen career.


But don’t look back on what you have invested so far. Look forward and ask yourself is this what I want to do for the rest of my life? At this point, where you are going is all that matters. That said, your investments in yourself, in your education, the skills and knowledge you have garnered from your work experiences have not been in vain. If you want to use those skills, you can maintain a part-time position or do consulting work, only this time you are working on your own terms.


All this requires doing an honest assessment of your goals in life vis-à-vis where you are today. For some people, losing their job may be their greatest regret . . . there are certainly some jobs out there worth keeping. However, for others keeping their current job may be their greatest regret.


If you are reading this today, and are not happy with your current job, consider your options and have the courage to try something else. Life is too long to spend it working in “jobs that are too small for our spirits”.


Any Solo-preneurs™ out there? We would love to hear from you . . . tell us what you do, how you do it and why you do it.


In future posts we will feature resources we have found that will help you transition to a life of Solo-preneuring™.

Lights! Camera! Action! Lets talk about the great equalizer and other topics

Have you heard about the ten minute fix? It is a ten minute video by some Kenyan guys in the US chatting it up. Enjoy one of the 10 minute fix episodes.

Check out more great videos at http://10minfix.com/. Great job guys!

Ladies lets us step it up and share our perspective on conversation Friday. Send us an email at themakutilounge@gmail.com and let us know if you would like to get involved.We would love to hear from you.

Hate Your Job? Time For Something New? Try Solo-preneuring™!

Rafiki’s post last Saturday. “Overworking and Underthinking” did get me thinking. It reminded me of a quote from the Pulitzer Prize winning book, “Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do” by Studs Terkel. In the book, a woman called Nora Watson says in an interview with Terkel,



“Most of us have jobs that are too small for our spirits. We are on a quest for more fulfilling work, work that is equal to the size of our spirit, our energies, our passions”.



That was 1974 but it doesn’t mean that much has changed. Many people today, despite their advanced educations, more sophisticated jobs, more options for work, still feel the same way. Their jobs are unfulfilling and do not demand much from them. But they need the jobs; they need the money or the health care benefits that the jobs bring.



Like Rafiki said, we spend too much time working and not thinking about what changes we can make. The little time we spend thinking we do it at a surface level and the options seem near impossible to attain . . . a new career requires possibly going back to school; entrepreneurship requires a good-to-great idea or massive capital. Of course, nothing good comes easy but most of the time it seems easier to stay where we are than to try something new.



Rafiki’s article reminded me that a few years ago I had attended a talk on Solo-preneuring™ by Cathy Stucker that was very eye-opening, mainly for its simplicity. At the time I decided I would attempt it immediately but I let life and that soul-draining job get in the way i.e. I did nothing.



I dug through several cartons of books to find the manual I bought when I attended her talk. The manual is called “Solo-preneuring™ - The Art of Earning a Living Without a Job; The Self-Help Guide For Those Who Want To Escape Corporate Bondage And Find Success Doing What They Love!” by Cathy Stucker. It is available on her website at http://www.idealady.com/.



In a nut shell Stucker says, “The Solo-preneur™ is someone who has found a way to make money from her interests. One can earn money from a part-time job, contract or temp work, direct sales, a business, investments or any combination of these sources”. She exhorted us to ask ourselves:

What do I know that others don’t?
What can I do that others can’t?
What can I do that others won’t?
What can I do for others faster, cheaper, better than they can do it for themselves?

What I learnt from the talk was that I can quit my job if I can combine several interests that can generate the combined income that I want while doing work that I enjoy.



When I look at my options from this angle, suddenly it seems a lot easier to start doing the things I want to do. I don’t need some grand plan or great idea or massive amounts of capital to start. You too can start small and depending on your drive and ambitions you could scale up as much as you want, if you want.



Solo-preneuring™ is an unfamiliar term but it is one that we are actually very familiar with. Think about it—I will explain in Part 2. Stay tuned.

Do you use Skype?

Living far away from home can be very difficult. Loneliness is a reality for most people who live away from their family and friends. Methods of communication have improved over the years and there are many great options which are relatively inexpensive. My favorite communication method with my loved ones across the seas is

If you are not using Skype, you should check it out. Here are some of the benefits

Free: The best thing about this program is that it is free. Some services such as calling landlines or mobile phones are offered at cost but calling other Skype users is free.

Face to Face conversation: Though I enjoy instant messaging nothing beats a real conversation. It is great to hear the other person's voice and have the capability to see the person that you are talking to when using the video option.

File sharing: You can share pictures and videos of special events at no cost. This has helped our family remain close as we continue to share our everyday experiences though we are far apart.

To start using Skype, just download the free software, register and start using the software. Learn more about this great service on the skype website.

Other great services for keeping in touch include
Yahoo messenger
Windows live messenger
Google chat

What are you using to keep in touch?

Thought For The Day

Congratulations to Southern Sudan

I do not know about you but living away from my country of birth has heightened my interest in what goes on around the world. As we celebrate the birth of the 193rd nation of southern Sudan, let us not forget the bloodshed and sacrifice of so many southern Sudanese people to get to this point. There has been a bitter war between the north and the south since 1955 and so many people have lost their lives.
The people of Southern Sudan are now faced with unsurmountable challenges as they build their nation, some of which are highlighted in this Newsweek article.

• Extreme poverty
• Government made up of rebel fighters who are not seasoned in building a democracy
• Only 24% of the population can read
• Very poor infrastructure

However I am excited to see what happens in Sudan in the days to come. I am confident that there many  Sudanese people who live all over the world who will go back to help rebuild this nation. What a great opportunity!!. I salute the likes on John Garang and so many others who fought hard for this day. It is a great day that it finally here!

Click here to read an article on the 34 countries created since 1990. 

8 Interesting Statistics about African Immigrants in the US

Figures are based on 2007 American Community Survey by US Census Bureau

1. 3% of immigrants come from Africa for a total slightly over 1 million people - 1, 023, 363.



2. 37% come from West Africa and 28% from East Africa.



3. 15% come from Nigeria and 11% from Ethiopia.



4. 8.8% of African immigrants live in New York City and 1.6% live in Chicago.



5. 54% are male and 46% are female.



6. 36% are naturalized citizens and 64% are not citizens.



7. 36% have been here for 5 years or less and 27% have been here between 6 and 10 years.



8. 42% have a college degree.

Source: "The New Wave of African Immigrants in the United States", by Holly E. Reed of Department of Sociology, Queens College, and CUNY Institute for Demographic Research, City University of New York (CUNY) and Catherine S. Andrzejewski of Principia International, USA.

Overworking and Underthinking

Over the last couple of years I have wanted to radically change some things in my life. The motivation behind that is the discovery of a strong pull to various creative activities that I have never developed. Though I am very grateful for my upbringing, I realized that my background and education did not build on my creative skills in any way. Over the recent years I have wanted to find out if I could be any good in the creative world.

I grew up in an academic environment where we were encouraged to set our sights on professional careers. I wonder what my parents, teachers and peers would have thought if I told them I wanted to be a hairdresser, fashion designer, event designer or a writer. I cannot even imagine how that conversation would have gone. They obviously did not know Andre Walker-Oprah's hairdresser who has done her hair for years and has launched his own product line. This has obviously afforded him a very comfortable living.

One of my biggest obstacles is my current career. I am not unhappy with what I do and have enjoyed learning what makes people tick and builds a successful business. I work an average of 50 hours a week on most weeks and many times longer hours during our busy seasons. Because of this busy schedule it has been difficult to find time to consider and build my creative skills and find out if I would be any good.

One of my biggest frustrations is the lack of time to plan and think. I get my best ideas when I sit for long periods of time with no interruptions and just allow myself to hear my thoughts. With my current lifestyle, I fall asleep most times I try to relax and think. Because of this, I have realized I need to make a major life change to create the time needed to grow other areas of my life. The questions I am faced with are

• How can I incorporate what I want to learn with my current skill set and make something worthwhile? 
• Can I live with the decision of completely ignoring my creative side and embracing my current path for the rest of my life? 
• What am I afraid of? 
• What do I have to lose if I make a change? 
• How can I best make this transition and merge my past with the future I want to see? 
• What is the first step? 

As immigrants we are faced with a world of new opportunities, many of which we may not have been exposed to in our countries of birth. Are you facing the same issue in your life where you are overworking and under thinking? How much could really thinking about your life change your path? What might you contribute? Lets overcome our fear and dare to discover what may be in the unknown. After all we left our friends and family and started a whole new life. 

Incidentally I work for a software company so I am surrounded by creatives. Some of the best and most gifted programmers we have are the ones who spend a lot of time thinking up solutions. You can tell by the quality of their output. It has given me a new appreciation for genius which comes from within when we are not so busy trying to find it from without.

Happy thinking weekend!!

Riverflix - The African Movies Superstore

Am I the only one late to this party? I just learnt about Riverflix and I am in high heaven. If you are not familiar with Riverflix, go to www.riverflix.com and prepare to be thoroughly entertained.

Riverflix is a collection of African Movies, Tv Shows and Documentaries that you can watch online. You can search the website by different parameters including country, genre and language. Some of the movies offered are free and others start at 99 cents. Really good deal.

For those who love African movies, Riverflix should come with a warning label echoing the Eagles' "Hotel California" memorable line, "you can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave".

So if you don't hear from me in a couple of days, you know where to find me . . .

Have a fun movie watching weekend and let us know your Riverflix favorites.

Kenyan wins CNN African Journalist 2011 Award

Fatuma Noor was the winner of the top prize at the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2011 for her investigative journalist work on the Islamic insurgent group Al Shaabab.  It makes me proud that an African has been recognized for her journalistic contribution by CNN an international world news leader. She wrote three news articles that explored the stories of young Somali recruits from the West on their journey to joining Al Shaabab. 

From the first to the last the article you almost feel like you are watching the scenes of a movie unfold as she interviews and travels with the recruits into Somalia where she narrowly escapes becoming a victim of the militia.  The young men are willing to discuss the factors that led them to return to their country of origin even when they’ve had the chance to live and study in the western world.  Majority of the young men feel they have made the choice not because of monetary gain but to preserve and fight for their religion. Fatuma’s courage is evident as she gives you a peek into this unfamiliar world through her narration by showing the other side of the story. 

Congratulations Fatuma for your commendable accomplishment and bravery!!

 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2011

The news articles by Fatuma Noor on Nairobi Star

My encounter with American – Somali Jihadist in Nairobi

On the Road with Al Shabaab Recruits

How Al Shabab Recruits saved my life




Submitted by Tausi (guest blogger on the Makuti Lounge) 

Using Professional Tools In Your Personal Life

Last night I received a couple of meeting invites for different mid-year reviews for different projects that I am involved in at work.

Why anyone is sending meeting invites late at night is beyond me. I guess I could always stop looking at my emails but it is kinda hard to ignore the blackberry . . . sometimes it does deliver good tidings.

Anyway, I went to bed thinking about a couple of things:

1. How did it get to mid-year so fast? Seems like just last week, when I had a wonderful time at my friend's New Year's party.


2. And has it really been 6 months? What happened to all the goals I set at the beginning of the year? How am I really doing?

In our professional lives (by that I mean your life outside of your home, regardless of what work you do), there are structures that ensure that you are plodding, marching or racing along in pursuit of the goals of the organization. There are meetings and deadlines and productivity charts and reviews to ensure that at the end of the day, the week, the month, the year, certain things get done. Of course if you are the business owner, you are the one responsible for creating those structures.

In our personal lives, such a structure does not exist unless you create one. And then you have to work within that structure to track and measure how well you are doing. Think of all the tools you have at work that create those structures and figure out how to use the same for your personal goals. It could be as simple as setting up meetings on your calendar for weekly meetings to review progress or it could be as transformative as writing a mission statement for your life.

So I think I will schedule my personal mid-year review for this weekend and also schedule monthly reviews for myself. I don't want to get to December and realize that the year went by so fast and I have nothing to show for it.

Are there any tools you learnt at work that you have used successfully in your personal life?

African Girl with Natural Hair Series: Lessons from the Kink

I did a length check this weekend and here is my current length.

As I was going through my whole afternoon process of washing, conditioning, blowdrying and flat ironing my hair, I realized that growing my hair has taught me so much. My hair is now between arm pit and bra strap length when straightened but it is hard to tell because with the Houston humidity, it shrinks back pretty quickly. Hereare some of the lessons I credit to my hair....

Challenge the status quo: When I first started thinking about cutting off my permed hair, I did not know any adult who had done it. I was in the process of starting my career and I was really worried about how I would be perceived. I had not seen any natural haired beauties in corporate America and I was worried that I was setting myself up to be viewed as a rebel. Natural hair was not even common in my city. The thought persisted and eventually I decided to do it no matter what anyone thought. I was driven by cusriosity about how my natural hair looked. I took the hair plunge and did the big chop and my career has continued to grow. I am still met with a few raised eye brows but as I have grown to accept myself, people accept me as well. 

The majority is not always right: I grew up with a very narrow standard of beauty. They were pushed at me on television, billboards and even by the kind of women that male family members brought home. It seemed to me that the more European your look, the more beautiful you were. Thankfully I was able to reject this notion internally because I had a father who valued me and taught me how to value myself. He taught me that I was beautiful but that there was so much more to life than being consumed by how I looked. Because of those life lessons I learnt to question what the majority said. I am dark skinned woman and in Kenya where I grew up, dark skinned is not considered beautiful obviously the amazing Lupita Nyongo is changing that. This same principle helped me challenge the idea that straight hair is better and that I should go to great lengths to get it. I think people should be free to wear their hair how they want as long as it is not driven by an internal need to fit into the very narrow box defined by the beauty industry. 

The other widely accepted idea I found hard to accept was that black hair does not grow except for the lucky few who have good genes and therefore good hair. I do not think that long hair is more attractive than short hair but I think that every kind of hair can be healthy and long if given the proper care. I was determined to find out if this was true even though I was not of mixed race.  

Sometimes you should go with your gut: My sweet friend Chebet shared her reason for going natural.  She did not want her daughter growing up thinking there was something wrong with her. That resonated deeply with me. As a side note she ended up having two boys and I have two girls. I wondered what we were telling young black girls and I decided I would be one of the women that had hair that looked just like their. I wanted to help them not question if their hair is acceptable. This was a confirmation to the gut feeling I had for a long time that maybe we needed to reverse the message we were passing on to the next generation. I wanted to be part of a new generation that was at home with who we were no matter what everyone else said. Hair goes deeper than the scalp. 

You do not have to know everything to get started: I had no clue how to take care of my hair when I first got started. All I knew is that my hair needed moisture so I washed it all the time. I did not know what products worked for my hair or where I could find help to take care of it. I went to the office many times looking like I had just been electrocuted because my wash and go would stand up straight when dry. I did not even like my hair in the beginning because it was so different from what I was accustomed to but I have come to really love it. We just needed to get acquainted. I have made many mistakes along the way and have had many inches of hair cut off to show for it. I finally got on a stable regimen that works for me. If you are afraid to take the first step because you do not see the full picture, remember you do not have to know everything at first .... you can learn as you go. 

You can find a new set of cheerleaders: I have so many natural sisters to thank for giving me inspiration through their blogs and YouTube channels. Once I got started, I discovered that I was not the only one who was tired of getting perms every two months. I do not know any of these people personally but I have stuck on the journey because of their inspiration. I am surrounded by a great community of friends but none of them shared my passion for natural hair at the time. I gave myself permission to look elsewhere, to people I do not know and who have no idea I even exist. Most of us wait to get started on our goals because we are looking for others who share similar goals or to get approval by those around us. You may never find them in your current circles but if you start looking, you will be surprised by what you might find. 

As I pondered on these lessons I realized that my hair has taught me just as much as being an immigrant. I also realized I can apply the lessons to other areas I want my life to change in the next few years. Maybe we can take the journey together.

America - The Promised Land

I am sure most of us felt the same way Mary Antin felt, more than a century ago, when she came to America.

As we celebrate Independence Day, let us remember the joy we had when we landed on these shores, full of dreams of a better life.

And despite all the trials and tribulations that we experience as immigrants, let us give thanks for the opportunities that we have had and the persons we have become through this journey.

Above all, let us not forget the promise that is America . . . the right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

8 Facts About Fourth of July

The fourth of July marks the Independence day in America commemorating the adoption by the declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 declaring independence from the kingdom of great Britain. It is a holiday marked by patriotic displays.
Here are 8 facts about the holiday

1. Families celebrate the day by hosting or attending a picnic or a barbecue.
2. Decorations for celebrations are generally colored red, white and blue.
3. Cities often celebrate with a parade in the morning and a firework display at night.
4. The population of the US during the first Independence day was 2.5 million and the current population is 311 million. 
5. The declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776. You can read the full text of the declaration by clicking here. 
6. The major objections to being ruled by Britain was taxation without representation. 
7. Independence day was first celebrated in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776.
8. The first reading of the declaration of Independence was done by Colonel John Nixon on July 8, 1776. 

To read some more fun facts, click here!

Sources: http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Independence_Day.shtml

http://www.purpletrail.com/partytrail/featured_fourth_of_july/4th_of_july_history_trivia_and_facts

Carjacked In Broad Daylight! How Can You Protect Yourself?

Last week I was carjacked, and my car, purse etc were stolen. It happened at about 7:15 am on my way to work on a busy street, in broad daylight. Fortunately, I escaped with only a few bruises caused by a stupid action on my part. A few days later the car was recovered with the wheels missing and the stereo system ripped out.

How did this happen and how can you protect yourself should you find yourself in this situation?

The thieves rear-ended my car. When I got out of the car to discuss the "accident", one of the thieves raced past me, opened the car door, jumped in and sped away. I have since learnt that this is a very common tactic called the "bump and rob". Here are several things that I did that you should never do.

1. I left my keys in the car.


2. I left my purse in the car.


3. When the thief sped off in my car, my first instinct was to run after my car. In the process I twisted my ankle and fell on the street. Lying there on the street, with cars whizzing past me, I realized that that was a very dumb move and I have the bruises to remind me.

Now what could I have done differently? After the incident I talked to the police and asked them for tips on how to handle such a situation.

They cautioned me that each situation is different and the main thing is to be very aware of your surroundings and your own personal habits that could put you in danger. Generally speaking;

1. Talking on the phone while driving puts you in danger because you are less aware of what is going on. Though, I was not talking on the phone, I was listening to the news on the radio and that too could be a distraction. Listening to loud music or simply day dreaming are also other distractions that make you less aware of your surroundings.


2. Think about your current driving habits and if you have ever been in an accident, think about your reaction and what you did then. Now think about what you could do differently in case it is a setup and not a "real accident". Thinking through potential scenarios creates the likelihood that you will remember what to do when you are in an emergency. It's the reason why we have fire drills.

Here are some specific tips:

1. If your car is rear-ended, quickly assess the situation and decide if you think it was a "real accident". If you sense that something is fishy or perhaps you had noticed that you were being followed, then it is best if you do not stop. Now many of us stop when we have an accident because that is what the law says to do. And the thieves are counting on you to do that. Call the police and tell them that you were hit but you did not feel it was safe to stop.


2. If you decide to stop, stay in your car for a minute and see what the other driver does. In my case I could clearly see 3 people in the car. In retrospect one of the red flags that something was not right, was that the driver did not come out of the car to "check the damage". When I got out of my car, it was the guy in the front passenger seat who came out and started talking to me. If again you sense something is not quite right, then drive off and call the police.


3. If you decide to get out of your car, then take your purse, lock your car and put away the keys. Such actions may cause them to realize that this will not be an easy job and they may then speed off.


4. However, and this is the most important part . . . if they demand your keys, give them up. Don't try and act tough or play hero. In such cases it is clear they want your car, so by giving up your keys you can escape unhurt which is the most important thing.

Has anyone experienced anything like this? What did you do? What do you wish you had done? What other tips would be helpful in such a situation? Click here to add your comments.

Do you Still Dream?

Are you the Joseph in your circles or are you his brothers? What have you always wanted to accomplish or be a part of that you have marked off as being impractical? As you take time to relax and spend time with your loved ones this holiday weekend, take some time to dream a little....it is great for the soul. You never know what your soul wants to illustrate.

Have a Happy Freedom Weekend and give yourself freedom to dream a little.