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December 2023

Blog

We all have dreams.  In the journey towards achieving those dreams, we will encounter individuals who may not see our vision or understand the path we are taking. Sometimes, their lack of understanding can cast shadows on our aspirations, often making us doubt our own brilliance and abilities…
At the beginning of this year, I purposed in my heart that I would become a medal hunter. Actually this is something I said to myself towards the end of last year. My first medal hunting experience was in February this year, on the eve of my 45th birthday. That day was a first for me in many ways;…
If you know me well then you must know I love writing, though for 11 months now I haven’t written any blog post. I intend to change that in 2020. Having not blogged in a while, I hadn’t envisioned myself making a comeback on such a sombre note. However, the circustamces require that I do so…
“There is no such thing as a 'self-made' man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success.” George Burton Adams I used to…
If there is one thing that is certain in business, it is uncertainty; still some companies perform reliably well and with excellence in spite of changing circumstances and business conditions, while others completely collapse. Why? There is evidence showing that those that survive uncertainty have…
Hello my dear Esteemed Reader. Happy New Year 2019 to you and yours!   I am truly grateful that you and I are still here this year. It may look like it is just a normal thing but from some of the news I got towards the last few hours of 2018, I just cannot take being alive today for granted. I…
We only have one more day to go before we store 2018 away together will all the other years that have passed before this one. If I may be bold enough to ask you, on a scale of 0 – 10, how would you rate your 2018, 0 being the worst and 10 being the best? Secondly, on a scale of 0 – 10 how would you…
When I started the #52BooksIn52Weeks2018 Book Reading Challenge, I thought I had an idea of the kind of books I would read for the year. If you have been following my trend, you will realize that I started mostly with personal development books because that is what I really needed; to develop…
Every so often I allow myself to just sit and watch human beings being weird, as they do things that are truly embarrassing.    Let’s take a good example of the nicely dressed guy who just stepped out of his black colored machine. His ensemble suggested that while others were complaining…
This last week saw Africa lay down to rest a great statesman, the late Kofi Annan. As I watched the proceedings of the funeral live online, I was saddened by the realization that people of his caliber are fast diminishing from this continent, mostly due to age and age-related ailments. I was also…
Hello You! Thank you for taking the time to read this article today. If you are a first time reader of this column, I am completely convinced that you are not here by mistake but by divine connection. As for those of you who have been reading this column devotedly, I just want to take this…
Happy 9th Month everyone! It is September 2018 already, and yes, I am still trying to figure out where the other eight months went to. Honestly speaking, it feels like it was just a few weeks ago when we were wishing each other a Happy New Year. As of two days ago, its eight down and four more…
What is the value of your life? I believe this is a question few people can answer, and even fewer have ever bothered to think about it. Today I’d like to share the experience of a young boy who sought to find out the answer to this question from his grandmother. Here goes... Once a little boy went…
Two weeks ago right here on this column, I wrote an article that my editor titled “Why you should move on despite various negative incidents”.  On 11th of August, exactly one week after the article appeared here, the same article appeared elsewhere in a different local newspaper but…
The other day I met someone whose sense of humor is just on another level. We were talking about health and fitness, and how much people struggle to have a six-pack. Then from nowhere he said something that left everyone who heard him in guffaws, tears and rib aches. This is what he said, “You know…

Food For Thought

We all have dreams.  In the journey towards achieving those dreams, we will encounter individuals who may not see our vision or understand the path we are taking. Sometimes, their lack of understanding can cast shadows on our aspirations, often making us doubt our own brilliance and abilities. When this happens, try remind yourself this: Don’t ever let someone dim your…
If you were to ask me, I think the most challenging job is that of a Brand Manager. Why do I say this? Because this person is responsible for ensuring the brand (s)he is dealing with has the right image at all times; even when it misbehaves. It is their responsibility to ensure that even when the image is at the greatest risk of being tarnished, the brand still stands out.…
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  The other day I was at home and had the luxury of watching a movie starring an animal… an elephant called Bo Tat to be precise. Name of the movie is Operation Dumbo Drop; quite a hilarious movie….. or maybe I appreciated it a lot because of  Bo Tat… She was actually quite funny, and she happened to be the only female in the entire cast.... :-) Just to give you a…
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They say a change is as good as a rest and so for me, when I am tired, I stop doing what I was doing before and look for another distraction. One of the distractions I enjoy is reading clean wholesome jokes as a way of relaxing my mind. I recently stambled upon an interesting joke which I have shared with you here below: A guy from England, named John, had just arrived in New…
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The Routeen

2020 it is finally. Happy New Year 2020! What I call the teen years are now behind us and boy, didn't they behave like true teenagers?!? In case I've lost you, I'm calling the years between 2013 - 2019 teen years because of the "teen" element in the pronounciation i.e. thirteen, fourteen, fifteen..... I am also saying those years behaved like true teenagers because like…
Have you joined the #52BooksIn52Weeks2018 Book Reading Challenge yet?  If not, here are some 30 reasons (one for each day, I guess) why you should make reading a daily habit:   Gives knowledge One of the biggest reasons why we read books is to gain knowledge. Books are a rich source of information. Reading books on varied subjects imparts…
Have you joined the #52BooksIn52Weeks2018 Book Reading Challenge yet? If not, here are some 30 reasons (one for each day, I guess) why you should make reading a daily habit: Gives knowledge One of the biggest reasons why we read books is to gain knowledge. Books are a rich source of information. Reading books on varied subjects imparts information and increases the…
Many young people ignore this but the greatest gift your parents can ever give you (besides bringing you to this world and taking care of you) is a good education. Or should I call it an investment? Education is the foundation of all your future success. Now you might have read that and now you are wondering how you'll ever use stuff like algebra or calculus in your life…
A few years ago, I had an experience with my two older children that left me somewhat puzzled. You see, they were in one of these international schools in Dar Es Salaam that offer great opportunities for children. However, they were not performing to the “standards” set by the said school, not because they were dumb, but because among other reasons, they had just come from a…
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Finally it is December, and the examination marathon in the region finally comes to an end. It started in October for Tanzania Secondary school then later primary schools and finally in Kenya the same happened. Since October, there has been lots of drama with some student giving birth in class and another having no choice but to do the exam in a hospital bed, while under the…
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Survival Alphabet

Z For Zeal It’s been a while since I’ve been here, not because I didn’t want to, but because I was forced by circumstances to not be here. You see, I had an unwanted visitor in the form of a mammoth migraine. Let me just say the migraine migrated with its entire extended family and cramped itself into the tiny space that is my head. Needless to say, there is little I could…
Y For Yesterday A guy from England, named John, had just arrived in New York for the first time and took a taxi to get to his hotel. Being in New York for the first time, he had a lot to admire and so when they passed the great great statue of liberty, John tapped the taxi driver on the shoulder to get his attention so he could ask him a question about the impressive building…
My usual online companion defines x-factor as,“a noteworthy special talent or quality.“ It could also mean, “a variable in a given situation that could have the most significant impact on a specific outcome.” So, if I got the meaning right, X factor is a quality that one cannot really describe, but it is something that makes a person overly unique and special. It is an…
W For Wait   A few months ago I introduced a friend to someone who was looking for a good personal assistance. She went for the interview and was sure she had nailed the job, but two months later, she still hadn’t gotten any response from that interview. One evening I got a text message from her saying she never got the job. So I asked her whether she had received any…
V For Vitamins   As days go by, more and more conflicting information keeps coming up about Ms. Rona aka Covid-19. The worst part is that this information is so confusing that sometimes the confusion itself can give you symptoms of the disease .e.g. a headache.  I don't know about you but to be honest, I’m so fed up of hearing the havoc Ms. Rona has brought to the…
U For Upgrade Nowadays, the moment you mention the word upgrade people think of gadgets; getting the latest iPhone or Samsung, getting the latest MacBook or Dell laptop; getting the latest home theatre with the best surround, or getting the last model of your favorite ride. That’s what people think about when the word upgrade is mentioned. You will hardly hear people talking…
As a public speaker, I am often asked to introduce myself or say something about myself. I have to admit this is one task I find very daunting. Isn't it enough to just know that my name is Liz H. Wachuka? Anyway, there are times when I get away with just saying my name but others, I have no choice but to add those fancy titles they give us. So whenever I am asked to introduce…
S For Stop   Yesterday I talked about reflecting and I shared a few benefits you can derive from incorporating this into your daily routine. As you reflect, this will give you room to plan the next day with fewer chances of repeating today’s mistakes.​ I also mentioned that daily reflection helps you evaluate that day’s productivity. Of course to do this…
R for Reflect Reflect simply means, “to think deeply or carefully about a particular thing or subject.”​ ​It also means "show an image of something on a mirror or shiny surface ".​ Alan Cohen said, “Everyone and everything that shows up in our life is a reflection of something that is happening inside of us.”    Senora Roy, as if to affirm what Alan…
Q For Quarantine.   This word has been used so much over the last three months it is almost a household name now. As a matter of fact, I won’t be surprised if nine months from now we have some kids with first name Quarantine.     According to my usual online dictionary, the word quarantine can be used in two ways; either as a noun or as a verb. As a noun,…
P For Present The word present is quite interesting because it has a variety of meanings, which can be used interchangeably depending on what you want to say. Here's an example: I am here to present this present to the present chairlady of the club. One word, different meanings.   If I am to convey the same message using a different set of words this is what I would…
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O For Opportunity   Today we were having a conversation with my son over dinner and he “misheard” what I’d said about something. When he repeated to me what he thought I’d said, what he said sounded like a great business idea. Right there we started brainstorming on the possibilities of him activating that idea with an aim of turning it into a business. I honestly believe…
N For Nutrimental.   Yes! Nutrimental is a word in the English dictionary.  It means “any substance or matter that, taken into a living organism, serves to sustain it in its existence, promoting growth, replacing loss, and providing energy.  I guess this can be simply translated to mean FOOD!   But let’s break it down further.     The word “…
M For Manager   If you’ve been to a management class then you know the first thing they teach you are the functions of a manager. The functions are classified into planning, leading, organizing and controlling company resources to meet specific strategic goals laid by the company. Every other function such as staffing, coordinating, reporting and budgeting are easily…
L For Love “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection”, said Buddha Why do you think he had to remind people that? Because he knew that most people don’t really have any love or affection for themselves. If anything, most people feel afflicted and nauseated by themselves. Did you know that unless you are able to love…

Hope

At the beginning of this year, I purposed in my heart that I would become a medal hunter. Actually this is something I said to myself towards the end of last year. My first medal hunting experience was in February this year, on the eve of my 45th birthday. That day was a first for me in many ways; It was the first time to participate in a marathon as a runner, though it was…
Z For Zeal It’s been a while since I’ve been here, not because I didn’t want to, but because I was forced by circumstances to not be here. You see, I had an unwanted visitor in the form of a mammoth migraine. Let me just say the migraine migrated with its entire extended family and cramped itself into the tiny space that is my head. Needless to say, there is little I could…
Y For Yesterday A guy from England, named John, had just arrived in New York for the first time and took a taxi to get to his hotel. Being in New York for the first time, he had a lot to admire and so when they passed the great great statue of liberty, John tapped the taxi driver on the shoulder to get his attention so he could ask him a question about the impressive building…
My usual online companion defines x-factor as,“a noteworthy special talent or quality.“ It could also mean, “a variable in a given situation that could have the most significant impact on a specific outcome.” So, if I got the meaning right, X factor is a quality that one cannot really describe, but it is something that makes a person overly unique and special. It is an…
V For Vitamins   As days go by, more and more conflicting information keeps coming up about Ms. Rona aka Covid-19. The worst part is that this information is so confusing that sometimes the confusion itself can give you symptoms of the disease .e.g. a headache.  I don't know about you but to be honest, I’m so fed up of hearing the havoc Ms. Rona has brought to the…
U For Upgrade Nowadays, the moment you mention the word upgrade people think of gadgets; getting the latest iPhone or Samsung, getting the latest MacBook or Dell laptop; getting the latest home theatre with the best surround, or getting the last model of your favorite ride. That’s what people think about when the word upgrade is mentioned. You will hardly hear people talking…
As a public speaker, I am often asked to introduce myself or say something about myself. I have to admit this is one task I find very daunting. Isn't it enough to just know that my name is Liz H. Wachuka? Anyway, there are times when I get away with just saying my name but others, I have no choice but to add those fancy titles they give us. So whenever I am asked to introduce…
S For Stop   Yesterday I talked about reflecting and I shared a few benefits you can derive from incorporating this into your daily routine. As you reflect, this will give you room to plan the next day with fewer chances of repeating today’s mistakes.​ I also mentioned that daily reflection helps you evaluate that day’s productivity. Of course to do this…
R for Reflect Reflect simply means, “to think deeply or carefully about a particular thing or subject.”​ ​It also means "show an image of something on a mirror or shiny surface ".​ Alan Cohen said, “Everyone and everything that shows up in our life is a reflection of something that is happening inside of us.”    Senora Roy, as if to affirm what Alan…
Q For Quarantine.   This word has been used so much over the last three months it is almost a household name now. As a matter of fact, I won’t be surprised if nine months from now we have some kids with first name Quarantine.     According to my usual online dictionary, the word quarantine can be used in two ways; either as a noun or as a verb. As a noun,…
P For Present The word present is quite interesting because it has a variety of meanings, which can be used interchangeably depending on what you want to say. Here's an example: I am here to present this present to the present chairlady of the club. One word, different meanings.   If I am to convey the same message using a different set of words this is what I would…
Tags:
O For Opportunity   Today we were having a conversation with my son over dinner and he “misheard” what I’d said about something. When he repeated to me what he thought I’d said, what he said sounded like a great business idea. Right there we started brainstorming on the possibilities of him activating that idea with an aim of turning it into a business. I honestly believe…
N For Nutrimental.   Yes! Nutrimental is a word in the English dictionary.  It means “any substance or matter that, taken into a living organism, serves to sustain it in its existence, promoting growth, replacing loss, and providing energy.  I guess this can be simply translated to mean FOOD!   But let’s break it down further.     The word “…
M For Manager   If you’ve been to a management class then you know the first thing they teach you are the functions of a manager. The functions are classified into planning, leading, organizing and controlling company resources to meet specific strategic goals laid by the company. Every other function such as staffing, coordinating, reporting and budgeting are easily…
L For Love “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection”, said Buddha Why do you think he had to remind people that? Because he knew that most people don’t really have any love or affection for themselves. If anything, most people feel afflicted and nauseated by themselves. Did you know that unless you are able to love…