What Will You Regret When You Are 80?

I guess everyone knows that Oprah has her OWN network. Which I have somehow missed till now. I am not a religious Oprah follower but strangely when I do catch a show, or the magazine or something Oprah-esque, it ends up being an AHA moment for me. I am dealing with some thing or the other and voila, the answer comes to me right there. Love it when that happens!

So I was watching the OWN network for the first time this week and I caught her show, “Lifeclass” where Oprah shares her life’s lessons with all of us. And one of the lessons really struck me. She was talking about “regret minimization” which she learnt from Jeff Bezos (yes, that Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com fame) years ago.

Jeff told her that he was having trouble deciding if he should take the leap and create his own company. He had a great job and though he believed in his idea he did not know if he should take the plunge. So he asked himself, “When I am 80 what will I regret not having done?” and he felt strongly that more than anything else he would regret not having tried and so he quit his job and started Amazon.com.

The idea here is to take a long term view of your life rather than the short term (what's in it for me now, today view). Make decisions and live your life to minimize your regrets when you are 80. And so I am sitting there watching Oprah replay this clip, this discussion with Jeff, and it hits me that there is one thing that I will definitely regret when I am 80.

And that is, that I did not take better care of my health. Blame it on the arrogance of youth. You think you will never get old, never get sick, you will always look and feel great. I have to say that I never thought this day would come. My body is not as strong as it used to be. I feel fatigued after a few hours of work. Aches and pains are a daily constant of my life. And at this rate, if I don’t do anything about it I may not make it to 80 to worry about what regrets I may or may not have about my life.

Yes, I know it is not earth shattering and, no, it’s not going to save the world but for me it is a very personal acknowledgement of both the frailty and strength of human life. When you are young and healthy and strong, use your time wisely. Make it count because one day you will not have the strength to do the things you need to do let alone the things you dreamt of doing. If I could turn back the clock I would take better care of my health so that today I could have the health and the energy to live fully.

What is your Grocery Shopping Personality?

I read an article on woman's day that had the same title as this blog post. My first thought was " what is a grocery shopping personality and do I have one?" It got me thinking about grocery shopping and how efficient I am. Typically, I like to do bulk shopping and pick up the perishables as needed while staying within a certain budget. With a busy schedule, I want to maximize my time so I try to keep my grocery trips to a minimum. I have tried the following tips given by grocery shopping gurus and they have not worked for me

• Shopping at different stores for different things
• Shopping on certain days for certain items
• Clipping coupons every week from the Sunday paper

However, there are some things I have found helpful with my busy schedule which have worked very well for our family.

• Having a consistent food budget: This has helped me shop efficiently and be a mindful shopper while at the grocery store. I compare prices and brands to make sure I am getting the most for my dollar. Because I have a certain budget, i make adjustments only within those limits because once I run out, thats it. 
• Knowing what to buy at the buying club such as Sam's club and Costco:The buying club is my friend and over the years I have learnt what to buy in bulk. I tend to buy certain things once or twice a year such as laundry supplies, batteries, paper goods and dry foods. Click here for an article on the 10 best bulk buying bargains. 
• Keeping coupons of things I buy regularly in my car: I am always available to pick up something we have run out of because I keep coupons in the car. I mainly keep the coupons that are given at the grocery store when you purchase a similar item. 
• Buy the same things often: This helps me not create a new grocery list every time. We have found that the same items can be used to prepare various meals. We try as much to stick to the list because we already know what things cost and can spot a deal without too much effort. 

Back to the grocery shopping personality, I discovered I do not  have one. I may be a wonna-be-planner with a long way to go to the real thing. Check out the article here and discover your grocery shopping personality. If you have some tips that have proven useful for you, please add a comment and share them with the Makuti family.

Thought For The Day—Success

So Long Fear and the Status Quo!

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome as an immigrant in a new country is fear. This is a hurdle we have to cross often and with almost every opportunity. Some of the effects of fear are

Procastination: Putting off what you can do today and giving excuses for not taking action. What goals do you need to set and fulfill?

Mediocrity: Settling for opportunities that are way below your potential and being afraid to stretch yourself. Are you living up to your potential?

Defensiveness: Fear makes you fight more battles than are worth fighting for. If you are clear about your position, you can allow others to have a different position without feeling threatened. Is there a true threat to what you are currently defending?

To address your fears, consider writing a letter to fear? It will help you gain clarity and allow you to take steps to overcome it. I got this idea from reading a blog post by Franyora Clophus. To get started with your letter, check out her letter here.

When you say goodbye to your fear, you say goodbye to the status quo.

Five (5) Take Aways from this year's US-Africa Business Conference

Two weeks ago, I attended the us-Africa business conference in Washington dc. In attendance were some of America's Fortune 500 companies already doing business in the continent or looking into it, a great representation of Africa's leading companies, an amalgamation of accomplished American and African business owners and professionals who have interests and also government agencies and officials from the US and various African countries.

Here is what I took from the conference

1) The next untapped market is Africa - There was a general sense that with some African countries' GDPs beginning to grow at the same rate as China and India, Africa's economies are now viable truly emerging markets. Couple that with the rising cost of doing business in China and India and Africa's educated English and French speaking countries, the continent quickly begins to look very attractive to investors. The continent has also come online and in the last 5 years has installed massive fiber cable lines into different parts of the countries to increase services and improved road / rail infrastructure to move goods.

2) Trade not aid or remittances - First point is that even though I applaud the millions who provide aid both in terms of money, effort and time, in 2011 what Africa needs is far less aid and far more trade. Lifting Africa out of chronic poverty will mainly happen because profit driven entrepreneurs make products and services not because governments or organizations gave or received aid. 

Second point is that even though African families must be grateful to those in the diaspora who support their African families by sending them money, this too is emblematic of the problem. According to the World Bank, $1.9 Billion in remittances found its way to Kenya alone last year. I suspect that’s an undercount since that’s what can be tracked electronically through banks and wiring services. However, very little of that was used for production and growth. 

For Africans in the diaspora this is a huge catch 22. We all want the countries we originate from to do well but most of us know that aid and remittances won't get these countries there.  But if you have family and they depend on you for basic necessities including food and healthcare, you are compelled to provide support and there's just no two ways about it.

What I saw during the conference were creative products and services including health insurance and co-operative products that could help get Africans out of the cycle. Just five years ago these were unheard of and hopefully the thrive going forward. Ultimately, we've got figure out how to offer products and services so that both the country of your residence and country of birth can truly benefit. 

That's the goal of the visionary life i.e. always looking for a win-win solution. Those who are able to figure that out become the driving force of getting Africa out of its dependency on aid. 

3) Leveraging networks is a must - In speaking to the Kenyans in the diaspora, the head of Kenya's Vision 2030, Mugo Kibati pointed out that as much as Kenya appreciates the aid/remittances going into Kenya and Africa in general, "What is really needed most are your networks". Those of us who live outside Africa after all have the networks to make things happen to increase the level of trade. Even I am guilty of this. With all the colleagues and friends I've been fortunate to know and do business with, I am simply not doing enough to show that Africa is a credible and profitable market to consider. We must realize it's a win-win in that those who start engaging Africa now will be the early birds that catch the worm while Africa benefits from the increased trade.

4) Get involved in constitutional reform - Most African countries are going through or about to go through a constitutional reform process. It's important for all of us who care about Africa and especially if you leave in a country that has a matured constitutional process to be involved both in voicing your opinion and participating. Who better to be involved in the reforms other than those who have experienced and seen it work.

5) Governments realizing and refocusing: At the conferences there were various government representatives showcasing their countries plans to make them more business conducive. Kenya, for example held its first US/Kenya embassy conference geared to improving business relations between the two countries and also provided a progress report of its 25 year growth plan. 

With most of us at the conference tired of talk, it was a relief to see precise actionable steps that Kenya has taken to become an attractive place to do business.

6) Education, it was a matter of time: - In one of the presentations in response to an analysis of Census Bureau data by The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, “African immigrants to the United States are more likely to be college educated than any other immigrant group. African immigrants to the U.S. are also more highly educated than any other native-born ethnic group including white Americans. 

Want to know my thoughts? Education is a tool and is nothing to proud of if we can’t use what we’ve learnt to elevate the standards of living for the world’s poor wherever they may reside. Education is ultimately a responsibility much more than it is an achievement. 

Bernard Wambugu

CEO Lantel Systems

http://lantelsystems.com How we work continues to change. We provide the technology solutions to allow for that change.

Let’s stay in touch 

http://www.facebook.com/bernardmw

http://twitter.com//bernardmw

It's Not Too Late To Apply For College

Yesterday, a co-worker mentioned that her daughter is graduating high school in May and so I asked about her plans . . . "what does she want to do?", "is she going to college?" . . . the usual small talk.

To my shock, my co-worker replied that her daughter had not applied to college yet. Both mother and daughter felt that there was enough time as she did not have to enroll until next September. They planned to start the process in January, which is way too late. It's late now but they can still meet the deadlines if they work really hard and move very fast. Not an ideal situation.

Why are they in this situation? They are immigrants who are not familiar with the educational system in the US, the process, the deadlines, the hyper competitive environment. I explained to her that most colleges have application deadlines in December and January and that they need to spend several months preparing the applications instead of doing them in a rush.

I encouraged her to take a day off and go visit her daughter's teachers and ask for assistance. I also promised to find her some resources that can help them tackle this process.

I searched the internet and the best website that I could find that explained the process clearly was College Board whose stated goal is to, "ensure that every single student has the opportunity to prepare for, enroll in and graduate from college".

It's a very informative website and I encourage anyone with children to review the website even if your child is not yet old enough for college. You will know what to expect when that time comes and you can ensure that you start the process earlier rather than later.

Click here for the College Application Calendar to see all the recommended steps. Do it now before it's too late.

Consider Joining a Chamber Of Commerce

A chamber of commerce is a local business network found in almost every major city. It is a great place for entrepreneurs to meet other business owners and make important connections. If you are a business owner or trying to get your business up and running, check out your local chamber of commerce and explore some of their benefits:
A channel for advertising your goods or service: The more people know about what you have to offer, the wider your potential market becomes. A chamber of commerce is a great place to increase those connections.
Learning opportunities: Interacting with other business owners will help you become a better business person and will help you learn more efficient ways of running the business. There are  regular events
Pooled rates and services: Joining a chamber of commerce may also help you get better rates for essential operational services such as business insurance, marketing services and health insurance if applicable. The chamber negotiates better rates for various services that is extremely helpful for small businesses.
Access to Mentors: The chamber of commerce is also a great place to people who can provide advise and mentorship for upcoming business people.
Marketing opportunities: Most chambers publish a directory of their members with contact information and a brief description of their goods and/or services. This is a great marketing tool especially for local businesses. It helps other people find them.

Here is a testimonial of how one business owner has benefited from membership

Click here to find a chamber of commerce in your city.

How Do You Imagine Africa?

Exciting times at the Penn Museum. The museum is hosting a year long project called "Imagine Africa" as a research project to discover what people want to know about Africa.

They will use this information to curate and re-install their African Collection.

The current African Collection at the Penn Museum is one of the largest in the country.

How can you contribute and shape the story that is told of Africa?

1. Visit the Penn Museum and check out the African Collection. Freely give your comments on the installations, participate in discussions and workshops, and engage with museum staff and other visitors to contribute to the project.
   
2. If you cannot visit the museum, then take the really fun "Imagine Africa" survey and answer the question, "How Do You Imagine Africa?" The answers to this survey as well as the information collected from the visitors to the museum will be used to determine the story that the new African collection will tell the world.
   

This clip explains the project further.

A Short History of the United States

I have been amazed as I have learned the rich history of the United States. What a legacy the founding fathers left for its citizens. History has helped me to understand the pride of the people in their country. It has also helped me merge my own history with becoming part of the rich heritage "We the People".

If you would like to learn more about US history and civics, check out this YouTube video that gives a great summary of US history.

Source: USCIS YouTube Channel

Thanks Steve Jobs.! We plan to have you back soon

How many human beings can you say that have truly changed the way you do things?

Soon, in the not so distant future, right around the time cars drive themselves saving us all agony on the roads, we'll figure out how to project Steve jobs back. It won't be the Steve jobs we just lost last week but more so his hologram. After all, projecting someone alive into a room he or she is not, is already being done. We all remember the famous cnn hologram during the 2008 elections. 

Thus its a matter of time before we can take a dead person's image from existing videos and pictures. We’d then project him into a stage where he can speak both words he used at the time as well as current relevant new information. I can see him standing in front of a crowd launching a new revolutionary product the same way he did for several years. It'll be the ultimate evidence that his vision and actions will transcend way past his time. That’s the goal of the visionary life: To have what we think and do continue to be impactful long after we’re gone.

Steve called death “the best invention of life. It’s life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new”

The finality of death is also that life goes on and we will all move past the passing of Steve jobs. I'm confident that there will be others who come may equal or exceed what Steve Jobs did. Those who are able to do that have the great fortune of having a solid foundation to build upon.

This adopted son of Syrian birth parents was able to change

1. How we Listen to music
2. How we purchase and consume music and applications (apps)
3. How and where we work including how we run meetings
4. How we look at an alphabet letter. The letter (i) has come to mean something different. (iPhone, iPad, iTunes, iTouch)
5.  Even how we think about a fruit. I mean, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone says “apple”?

“Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish” – Steve Jobs

Even as a college dropout, he remained a life’s learner. Always remain in school and always continue to improve. He was able to stick to some few principles.

1. Keep it simple silly - He made simple look cool and sophisticated. 
2. Always innovate
3. Question everything

And so to the iGeneration that will witness a Steve Jobs iHologram. iHope I’ll be alive to see that. If not, iEnvy you

Bernard Wambugu

CEO Lantel Systems

http://lantelsystems.com

How we work continues to change. We provide the technology solutions to allow for that.

Credits

Steve Jobs quotes from Stanford University’s news site at http://news.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html

Terrible Experiences Faced By Immigrants in Saudi

I recently had some very disturbing news about the plight of immigrants in Saudi Arabia. If you think life as an immigrant in these United States is hard, then you have not heard what is going on in Saudi.

Many Africans and Asians have left their homes and taken up jobs in Saudi, prepared to work very hard so that they can support the families they have left behind. Like immigrants the world over they are searching for a better life.

Unfortunately for most of them, when they arrive in Saudi they find themselves in situations of near bondage and slavery. They are often held in confinement either within the home where they work as domestics. Or they are shuttled from their places of work to dormitories where they are housed and not allowed to leave the premises apart from a couple of times a month when they are escorted to the stores to buy food.

They are forced to work long hours with little time for rest and given very little to eat. Their wages are withheld while the employer deducts monies at will. And if you are wondering why don't they just leave . . . well, their passports are confiscated by their employers on arrival. With no passport and no money to buy a ticket home they can't just leave. They are also denied access to phones and so have no way to call their families back home to ask for help.

If you know of anyone in such a situation in Saudi, contact your consulate and ask for help. Also contact organizations like Human Rights Watch for assistance. If you know of any other resources that are available to immigrants in Saudi, please leave us a comment or send us an email so that we can spread the word.

What to Think About Before Moving to the US?

After living in the US for over 10 years now, I have observed a few things that make for a smoother transition. If you are considering moving to the US, here are a few things worth considering beforehand

1. How will you support yourself for the first 6-12 months? If you are not worried about money, your transition will be much smoother than if you are scrambling to find a job. One of the toughest hurdles will be finding your first job. Give yourself time to explore your options and having some savings will help you do that. 
2. How will you develop your support system? I hear so many people say that once they move to a new place, they avoid anyone who comes from their home country. That may not be a wise thing to do. The main goal is pick carefully and find a supportive group of positive people. You can start the process by building a network before getting to the US. If you do not know anyone personally, ask a few trusted friends for a few recommendations. Be specific about the type of people you would like to connect with. It is ideal to start making the connections before you arrive through email, facebook, skype etc. 
3. Where will you live? It is important to start looking for accommodation options as soon as you can. Find out the options in the city you will be moving to. If you have some connections, consider renting a room from them for the first 6 months. This will help you save some money and provide a smoother landing. It is important that you show good faith in making your payments or even consider paying for the first 3 months upfront to establish a trusting relationship from the beginning. 
4. How will you get around? Some cities in the US have great public transport options while others do not. Be sure to do your research before moving as this will help you determine where to live. If you are coming to school, consider living near the school if at all possible. It is also a good idea to contact the school with some accommodation options. Your international advisor will be a great resource and it is helpful to establish a relationship with them through email. 

America is a land of opportunities but it also requires working smart and working hard. Thinking about these questions will help you get started on the right foot and not get stuck living below your potential. This happens when people are in survival mode and start living from paycheck to paycheck without a a plan for the future. Find options that help you find a build an edge that will set you apart. Having the time to think about these questions will make it easier to explore your options. 

Important Documents to get you started in the US

The following are the two most important documents to get you started with life in the US

Drivers License: This document is probably the most important and needs to be obtained the first or second week upon arrival. My recommendation is to take driving lessons in your home country and get the international driver's license if you can. This will help you buy you some time and adjust faster on the road if you intend to drive.  If you do not drive and will take a while to get a car, you can apply for an identification card. 

These documents are issued by the Department of Public Safety in each state but many of the requirements are pretty similar. To obtain the drivers licence or identification card you need proof of identification such as

• Birth certificate
• US passport
• Immigration documentation indicating status 

A drivers licence or ID card shows proof of identity, established residency in a particular state and is necessary for business transactions. This website gives you the requirements and sample test for various states. 

Social Security Card: This document is very important especially if you intend to work in the US. In order to get one you need to provide the following documentation. 

• Original documentation proving the following
• Work authorized immigration status
• Age 
• Identity
• 
  
• If you are an F1 student you must provide a letter from your designated school official that
• Identifies you
• Confirms your current school status
• Identifies your employer and the type of work you will be doing
• Evidence of the employment such as a letter of employment signed by the supervisor that describes the job, the start date, hours and name and phone number. 
• If you are authorized for curricular practical training, the form I-20 with a signed an completed employment page. 

The Internal revenue service requires employers to report wages using a social security card. The social security card establishes a financial identity in the US and allows to apply for accounts, credit cards and is used to track your credit score. To learn more visit the Social Security Administration website.

When you obtain these documents, make copies and keep them in a safe place. You do not need to carry your social security card in your wallet. This is especially important to avoid identity theft. 

New to Social Networking Sites by Tausi

Have you wondered what the buzz is about social networking sites, what is different with each one and if you are missing out? Most of the social networking sites are free to join and offer many benefits some of which include receiving the latest information on what is happening around you and in the world, connecting with others, creative self expression, marketing opportunities for businesses, rallying for a cause and many more. The following are some of the common social networking sites and the general features each provide. Perhaps you should consider joining one and give it a try.

Facebook:  It is free to join and has over 800 million subscribers. Once signed up a personal site is created and you add to your profile information such as name, city, school, work, marital status, birthday, interests etc. To interact with other facebook users accept their friendship requests and invite others by sending them a request and you become “friends”. The site will suggest people you might know so you can connect with them. You can post thoughts, comments just about anything that you like on a workspace area that is referred to as your “wall”. It’s faster than writing out an email and provides real time interaction. You can upload photos of a special occasion or a trip. The site provides security settings to control visibility of who sees your information. A page on the site referred to as the “newsfeed” provides frequent updates on any recent postings. It has email and chat features that allows for private conversations between friends.

Twitter: It is free to join and has 200 million registered users. It is like online text messaging limited to 140 characters with quick updates to subscribers. The updates are referred to as “tweets” and members that see your updates are considered “followers”. By default the messages sent are public but can be restricted to only your followers. Businesses can tweet to target customers and announce product and services updates.

LinkedIn: It is free to join and has more than 120 million registered users. You can use this site to highlight your professional, academic achievements and volunteer activities. It allows you to be connected with colleagues from work, school and other professional connections. Colleagues and clients can post a recommendation to your LinkedIn page which is an asset to your career profile as it provides visibility of your accomplishments. It can also be used to seek new business opportunities. Employers can post jobs and search for potential candidates.  The site provides recent news on industries to keep you up to date. There is an email feature and paid subscription to access additional functionality.

Blogs:  They provide a place to share stories and creative passions on a regular basis. This is ideal for anyone eager to share with others about anything you are interested in, passionate about or experiencing. Check out wordpress.com or blogger.com to get started.  Some of my favorite blogs that inspire, educate or just make me laugh are:  Makuti Lounge, the green calabash, circle of moms, making this home, Jon Acuff, Christopher Avery; fabulously broke

RSS: Real simple syndication is a content management web interface that provides real time updates on blogs and news headlines. Any new information that is posted appears on an RSS feed. For more information on how this works and how to subscribe check out RSS in plain English.

Written by guest blogger Tausi.