If you would START!

NEVER despise the days of humble beginnings! The important thing isn't to do something GREAT but to START. Starting is the one single thing that freaks out many would-be great men/women of this world. Many keep on living in dreamland and coming up with endless dreams about the great things they will one day do but that's where it all ends. They never START! Yet, as my friend Sudip Thiagi discovered, the secret to any achievement worth mentioning lies in ceasing to just dream and to start doing.

For example, if you wanted to start an orphanage, you don't have to start by doing a $100 million fundraiser for a super complex with a school and children's hospital. You can begin just by buying a textbook for that disadvantaged kid who lives down the street in your neighbourhood. It seems a little thing but all great things are simply small things multiplied several times over. I once shared this very example with a friend of mine who dreamt of starting a children's home. I let her know that if she did that, she would have given Jesus the little boy's lunch of five loaves and two fish and then she would  watch Him feed the five thousand men. You may be familiar with this Bible story in Luke 9:10-17 where Jesus used a little boy's food to feed a multitude. Indeed, the 5,000 must be fed but the little boy MUST surrender his little lunch for the Lord to multiply.

However big your dream might be, you can always start out a portion of it with the little you have at your disposal right now. The important thing is to start and consistently keep going and you will get to your desired destination. I am very sure that when you do this, even God will notice your faithfulness in the little things and will without doubt download torrents of blessings to multiply your efforts. 

Don't you forget that whoever is faithful in the little will be given much more to manage and he that isn't faithful in the little will be given no responsibility. (Luke 16:10-12) In fact, whoever has something started will have more added to him and he who has little even the little he has will be taken away! So will you start? TODAY?

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Honouring the #ForgottenFathers

Sunday June 15th was international Father's day and several people took time off to celebrate and appreciate the role that their fathers have played in their lives.

However, while we celebrated the biological fathers, I felt that we should also reflect on the wider role that men have to play as fathers to society. You will find that a father figure is absent in many homes and as such, the women and children in that home have to look up to someone who is not their biological father. Sometimes, this could be an uncle or mature family friend who provides that fatherly oversight and protection for that home.

In many African settings, that father figure happens to be even younger. You see, when you find yourself the first born in a family of about 15 siblings, you have no choice but to man up fast! Often times, you have to fend for your younger siblings, even when your parents are still alive. So by no choice of your own, you find yourself already a father, sometimes even before you have your first girlfriend! You find yourself with huge responsibilities that you gladly fulfill because of your love for your family.

These kinds of fathers are often forgotten and it is my prayer that this father's day, we remember them and honour them as they truly deserve. Those big brothers that have provided love, care and support for us and showed the way ahead of us. They deserve kudos because it was never easy to be a big brother! Not at all!

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A story behind every face

It has become a custom for humans to greet each other every day or whenever they meet. The typical greeting goes; "hi" followed by "hello" and then "how are you?" followed by "fine, and you?" "fine"!

It's amazing just how many people say "fine" when they are the exact opposite of that. People are walking by loaded with problems and troubles on their hearts and minds. And this is the reason why we sometimes hear of extremities like suicide concerning people that were living very "normal" lives. Some one had an issue but no one seemed to listen to them and off they go. Of course it's understandable that we all lead such busy lives and can't simply go around giving an open ear and a shoulder to lean on for anyone who's hurting. But the fact is that we often times have the answers people are looking for and we can do a small part that leaves someone better than we found them.

Are our smiles genuine or they are hiding sadness?

There is always a story behind that smile or sadness you see on every person's face. And this story might have several others interwoven into it that makes life so complex for that individual. We all have problems but that doesn't mean we should let each one sort themselves out. And it also doesn't mean that we are unable to help others solve their dilemmas, even while still in our own. It may be obvious that the other person needs help that we can offer at a very low cost but we chose to conveniently ignore them. 

The next time you meet someone and inquire "how are you?", please mean it and give a few extra minutes to really find out how they are doing. You just might be the angel they have been praying for that morning.

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Hope is alive in Africa!

Being a dreamer myself, I have come to love the experience of dreaming along with other people and seeing their dreams start to blossom into reality. Last Friday, I had this opportunity to again see a dream take shape; the launch of the “I’ll be there” Foundation.

Moses Kabagambe

Moses Kabagambe is a young man, with a mission; a mission to see a generation save another. His humble background, raised by a single mother from an early age, has not deterred him from dreaming that he can change the world. And he’s started doing so, one step at a time. Only in his second year at university, his dream has seen him together with a tight team of about 28 others traverse the country mentoring, training, counselling and restoring hope for thousands of high school students. And as if that’s not enough, he’s gone on to dream bigger. The man has set out to rescue disadvantaged children from the streets and raise a home for them worth US$300,000. All this is entailed in a campaign code named “Project 500 Days”!

An artist's model of the Children's Home that was unveiled at the launch

Hearing him and his colleagues telling riveting stories of sacrifice and adventure, sometimes emptying their lean bank accounts to rescue children who were complete strangers yet in great need, I felt challenged and asked myself more than once what I had done for humanity. Indeed, one of them emphasized  if you can’t do something for yourself, at least do something for someone else. 

Moses speaking to school children at an earlier outreach

One thing though stood out for me; if there are young people who without being prompted can set out not only to change their lives but those of the next generation, then there’s hope alive in Africa. And I’m sure there’s many more like them out there.

Just a few lines that stuck to my memory throughout the event from various speakers;

• When God gave me a chance to become better and different, I promised that I wouldn’t leave my village the same way I found it.
• Let’s stand up and be counted, that our generation saved another generation.
• Your university education is simply a password to bigger, better and more things in life.
• When we decide to love children, we shouldn’t simply love some. We should love them all. 
• Charity is injurious unless it makes the recipient independent of it. 
• Persistence wears out resistance.

To connect with the I'll Be There Foundation, please click the links below:
 I'll Be There Foundation on Facebook
 Launch of Project 500 Days
 More photos of the Launch of "Project 500 Days"

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Life lessons at a Career Talk

My life is at that point of time when job-searching is about to become centre-stage. It happens in the lives of several other fresh graduates or soon-to-be graduates. I happen to be in the latter category and I hence often find myself pushed to attend every other recruitment-related event that I get wind of.

Today was another of those days and I went to a Career Talk organised by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The presenter was Cedric Mpobusingye, a partner at their Kampala office. As an engineering student, I really didn't have much interest in the entire business of audit and tax advisory at first and I had gone there out of curiosity in the first place. However, I learnt a few great lessons (call them quips) which I, after mulling over for a while, will share with you here, for free!

• The purpose of life is in a life of purpose: Have you yet discovered your purpose in life? What is that one thing you'll devote your entire life to? What are your major interests? Making career choices is much easier once you have these questions answered.

• Money ain't everything about life: If money is going to be your sole aim as you seek to progress in your chosen career, then you are headed for a great fall. Do something you love and focus on adding value to your clients and employers and the big bucks will surely come your way!

• Life is about sharing: Too many of the problems in the world today arise from selfishness. Don't live the rest of your life focusing on yourself alone. You indeed have something that you can share with the rest of the world. Share a service, knowledge, a skill, advice etc.

Well, at least I'm already practicing tip number 3!

PS: You can find out more about PwC and their Graduate Recruitment program by clicking here.

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