LETS TALK ABOUT .... EMPLOYMENT Vs. ENTREPRENUERSHIP PART II

“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”  ― Steve Jobs

Source: Google Images

 The road to success sometimes feels like a relationship you give it your all - time, prayers, creativity, heart, love, attention till there is nothing left of you to give.

My little brother who is not so little anymore vowed right from his school days he would NEVER be employed. Simply because he would not spend his life making someone else rich.
Growing up were taught to study hard and get into the best high schools, then study hard and get into the best universities, then study harder to get employed in the best companies. We were never taught to be independent and build a company that would employ the best brains in the industry.

So, it didn't come as a surprise that my parents protested my brother's choices. They sent his C.Vs everywhere, talked to who was who to get him jobs in some of the best companies. The rest of us were never as brave as he was or maybe we just believed that life's blueprint was made up of what we were taught to believe.

An incident happened in my country recently. The Authority in charge of the local ports adverstised for two job positions. They asked candidates to drop off their applications at their offices. Well, the management expected at most 20 applicants LO! and behold 3,000 applicants showed up!! WTH! yes. THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE all competing for TWO SLOTS!! This broke my heart to pieces. The situation was wanting. I thought to myself, who do we blame? Do we blame the system that taught us to be dependent on other people for our survival or do we blame ourselves for not thinking up solutions for our own problems?? Who do we blame for this kind of tragedy?!

I mean, 3,000 people translate into 1,000 companies employing another 3,000 people? How do we solve this catastrophe? We have a country of highly educated and talented individuals sitting at home waiting to hear from the hundreds of companies they sent their resumes to, hundreds of highly educated and talented people desperate to work for free just for a little work experience because they probably rushed on to get their masters degrees with NO work experience at all. le sigh! WHY? are we slaves to this system of thought. Lets break free. Lets think up solutions onstead being part of the problem.

TO BE CONTINUED....

BEAT THIS!

"You can walk away and say "We don't need this." but something in your eyes says "We can beat this.”  ― Taylor Swift

Source: Google Images

5 years of research + 3 years of ridding a "dying horse". Well, that's what it looks like from my view.
I will not even get into the numbers of hours that i have invested in product innovation?!
Yesterday, i got really emotional i literally threw in the towel. Yes! i took the towel and threw it in the laudry pile. But that's not the point!
The big question is: WHEN DO YOU WALK AWAY? HOW DO YOU WALK AWAY?
The answer is: YOU NEVER WALK AWAY!

You see, your desire to succeed must out weigh your failures no matter what!
It all boils down to how badly do you want success? wealth? opportunity?
Truth is, it's easier written than done.

Am not a boxing fan, never been. I don't get the idea behind people knocking each other out for fun?! teeth and blood everywhere?! Bleh!
After the May Weather-Pacman fight i was curious to know the stories behind the men.
HBO had a one hour series about it.
They both started off really young.
May Weather Senior would take his son to the gym from the age of three.
Running miles by age eight.
Hardcore training by age thirteen.. first big fight at nineteen
I mean, he never gave up. He believed he was the greatest from a tender age.
Time and chance needed to come together to prove it.
One thing i give him credit for, is that he is his own #1 cheerleader! This man can run his mouth for days. And he puts his money where his mouth is for sure.

Moral of the Story: The world's successful people didn't start off with millions of dollars, perfect environment, All resources stacked up neatly.. NO! they started from where they were, with the little resources they had at that time.
They never achieved success on the first try either, They failed more than they succeeded.
Success takes time. Alot of time. It has to be nurtured. that's the hard part about the road to success.
It ain't for the faint hearted. It ain't for the quitters either.
I have decided not to faint or quit. In the words of taylor Swift, "I can beat this..."

LESSONS

By Frank Morrison

As the year draws to a quiet close, i CANNOT put into words the number of lessons i have learnt this year!
Especially during the last quarter of the year.. TREMENDOUS ACCELERATED LEARNING.
I am still reeling from the experiences.
I learnt  that you CANNOT manage anything else, if you CANNOT manage yourself.
I have learnt  #KEY lessons in Self management,Money Management, Image management, Business Management, Faith Management etc etc.
And the lessons keep coming ....
I have also learnt that i don't have to buy them all.... AT ONCE. lol. Everything in moderation :)

You CANNOT manage anything else,
if you CANNOT manage yourself.

You have to LOVE the body you are in, otherwise it will get SICK of you, not loving it!
Health is wealth.. After a trip to the hospital in the wee hours of Thursday morning, i am valuing my health like NEVER before. I NEVER want to go through that again.
I am living in ever increasing health! There is no turning back from that fact.
So far am loving that schools are out for the holiday \O/
Less traffic in the mornings.. so refreshing. TWO whole months of enjoyable morning drives to work  *bliss* :)) The holidays are definitely here with us.Putting together my christmas playlist.

 HAPPY MONDAY.

THAT POINT.

“There are two types of Pain in this world: Pain that hurts you, and Pain that changes you! ~ Unknown”
―
Today am not okay...
See,
I do a great job at hiding it..
behind my cute smile..and strong spirit ... and that lousy " Am Fine" punchline.. ;)
The perfect soundtrack for this point would be...

AMOS LEE ~ VIOLIN
Lately I, I've been heading for a breakdown
Every time I leave my house
Well, it feels just like a shake down
Lately I, every time I try to lie down
My mind just gets away
I can't even close my eyes now
Between the wood planks I've been pacing endless
Impossible dream that I've been chasing
Oh God why have you been
Hanging out in that old violin
While I've been waiting for you,
to pull me through ....

Painting by Frank Morris

Well..today am counting the blessing of That Point
That "below the belt" point where there is no place to go but only up from here.
That inconsolable point,
where all you want to do is just lay flat on the floor,and sob like a tiger!!
That point, where there is no faith..no hope..no light in the tunnel..
That point, where nooothing seems to be moving..and clearly you are not getting anywhere??!
That point..where you can't run or hide
You just have to face up like that crying tiger you are..
That point, where you finally find God and let go of control
Because you have discovered that without HIM you are NOTHING!
That point...that scarey point that gets you out of your own safety zone..and into the safety zone of another
That is no longer considered a safety zone, because you have no control over...
That point, filled with endless lessons..and endless victory speeches, That are tailored made for the moment when you will remember that point.
Well...there you have it folks..my point.
And after scribbling these few words, i feel alive again. :))))

{ First. Born.

I think of my business as my firstborn ...
I conceived the idea, carried it to term, birthed it and named it ,
Nurtured it and instilled in it values that represent me ...
So, as i prepare to invade an 'almost' neglected part of the market,
Releasing my child out into the scary world,
Hoping that the world will accept it and love it, Just like I have... 
is like a mother releasing her child, on the first day of play group or pre-school.. sigh :)
You can't help but want to hang around just in-case.. they'll need you? Or want something?
Its a huge emotional transition!!
I have invested all of my heart. my mind. my energy into this.
It would literally mince me into pieces if it turned out otherwise.... *kill the visual*
And just as a parent would want for their child to prosper and thrive through the good and tough times,
So do i want the very same for my business.
I am scared, anxious, excited...and a whole lot going on.
Am following my heart on this one, my mind will thank me later....

{ TGIF! TGIF!

... happy graduation Alice Mercy. And everyone from the office graduating today :) You sure deserve to celebrate!!

Happy weekend!