Getting Through Hard Times

How to get through hard times the 2nd Chron 20 way:

• Do NOT be afraid
• Take action
• Take up your position
• Stand firm
• Praise God

How about that?

Success is not measured by what a man accomplishes, but by the opposition he has encountered, and the courage with which he has maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.

-Charles Lindbergh

Quotes

It has been a productive day. Feels very good. I have decided to just keep working on my ideas and start rolling out what I can on my own business. Not an easy task, but has to be done. The one thing I really have to combat is fatigue. After 8 hrs of work, I just want to go home and sleep. But I guess thats where delayed gratification comes in. I now have to go home and start working on all my ideas and dreams before I go to sleep. I read something really inspiring that I want to share with all you out there:

Behind me is infinite power

Before me is endless possibility

Around me is boundless opportunity

why should I fear?

- Stella Stuart

That gave me a lot of courage and strength and came right on time. I spoke to someone who was very discouraging. Maybe i'm living in a bubble, but I want to think the government is ready to move forward and implement all the ICT projects they are talking about. This guy seems to think not, pointing out the fact that many of the people in government do not even know how to turn on their PC's let alone the benefits of ICT to our economy.

I guess in the long run change has to start with me. There is no other way to change the world except one person at a time. I can only hope that in my own sphere of influence I will make a difference and pass on my positivity and enthusiasm for the development of this country to everyone I come into contact with.

Here is another quote for you that I hope will guide you as you also make your journey in entrepreneurship.

Plan Purposefully

Prepare Prayerfully

Proceed Positively

Pursue Persistently

-Anonymous

Dilemma

I hate working for someone else. I love my job and I love working, but not for someone else. I have been going through this transition and the more I think about it, the more I know that I can't work for someone else anymore.

I'm especially struggling today coz i'm not well. My throat is sore and I have been stopped up all day. I just want to go see a doctor and then climb into bed and sleep for 10 straight hours. This crazy desire to work for me is a great thing. It propels me forward in all my entrepreneurship endeavors.

I want to make a bold yet wise move. Is that possible? I'm so often tempted to walk away from the job then I think "will I sink or swim in the business world?". I want to take it slow and start something on the side while in employment, but somehow I don't think I can do that. I can't be employed much longer.

My knower glowed!

Gosh!! I went out 3 weeks ago with some friends and had a ball. I practically danced all night. While there I noticed this guy dancing kinda old school, but he was having a ball. Being the outgoing person I am, I started teasing him about his old school dancing. We hit it off, but I still kept to my friends and he to his.

Well, yesterday evening after work I was meeting a friend at Wimpy, but she was running late so I went ahead and ordered tea. When I looked up, I noticed this good looking guy also ordering and realised it was the guy from 3 weeks ago. When he looked up I waved to say hi, not sure if he remembered me. He did, and immediately came over to my table. We yupped for the next hour until my friend came.

He is a Doctor working in Embu at the General Hospital. He graduated in 2005 and is four years younger than me. He is one of those genuinely nice guys. We talked about everything. Work, medicine, our friends.... and we laughed a lot. I really like him. The kuku thing is that he is not really the kind of guy I would see myself with. He is not stunning, he is short though buff, he is in medicine and not business.... but he is just a really nice guy. He didn't hit on me at all. But he said that he had regretted not taking my number that night and not dancing with me enough. He said they went home talking about me that night.

He left to go back to Embu and Maggie and I hang out and talked about all kinds of other things. All the time we were talking I was thinking about him, how much I really enjoyed talking to him. Later as I walked to catch a matatu home I realised I was glowing on the inside. It wasn't physical attraction as I know it, or my heart flattering, or anything like that. But there was something happening on the inside of me that I couldn't quite place a finger on. When I got home I realised what it was: My Knower was glowing!!!!!

All I can ask is for an opportunity to get to know him better. He will be back in town on Friday and will give me a shout. I really want to see him again. There could be something there. Who knows? The only thing I know is that My Knower Glowed!!!!

So Glad!!

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am right now. My business plan has passed the first round of the BID Challenge International 2007. That in itself is an accomplishment (to me) seeing as there were over 1000 business plans from Kenya alone. One thing continues to hold true... God is faithful and as I trust him, I believe I will see his goodness here on earth. Here is a passage from Ps. 44 that I read today that was a blessing to me:

3 It was not by their sword that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
and the light of your face, for you loved them.
4 You are my King and my God,
who decrees victories for Jacob.

God has already decreed Victory over your life and my life, so we too must speak victory over everything we do. So I speak victory over this business plan and idea and declare Gods hand over it in Jesus Name. I will boast in the Lord all the days of my life for he is good and his mercies endure forever!!!!

KINGDOM FINANCIERS

So the Bible says that the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just. That God gives the wicked the work of gathering and laying up wealth for the sons of righteousness. Those are some powerful passages of scripture and I believe them. There are those who may think that God will just snatch wealth from some guy and give it to you like Mugabe taking the land from the White settlers in Zimbabwe. That is not the case. What he does instead, is present you with entrepreneurship opportunities, gives you wisdom, ideas and key strategies that then allow you, through business deals, to take the wealth from the world. Deuteronomy 8:18 "Remember the Lord your God, for it is he that gives you power to get wealth"

Some think that the wealth is so you can just have a ball, live in a big house and buy some designer clothes. As much as God wants you to do that, I believe the main reason for the transfer of wealth is so that you can finance the Kingdom. Finance missions, crusades, childrens homes, poverty reduction projects, create jobs and assist in the society as needed and directed by the Spirit of God. The Gold is for the building of the Tabernacle. Living large and flossing are fringe benefits of being the keeper of the purse (and make no mistake that is all you are).

We are always adviced to learn saving with what we have. If you make Ksh. 1000 save Ksh. 10 and as your money increases you will have formed a habit of saving. As a Kingdom financier, you need to start where you are with what you have. Pick a project to support and support it faithfully. Tithe to the Kingdom faithfully as well. Now, whereas the Tithe is mandatory, Giving is free will, so you need to set the amount you want to give according to what you have but remember also that with the same measure you meet it shall be given unto you.

I have discovered lately that there seems to be a direct corelation between my giving and my recieving business ideas from God. Interestingly enough, the ideas I get seem to then be supported by the government or another organization that even offers financing for the same. I am reminded of a sermon by my spiritual mother Rev. Kathy Kiuna that I am a woman with "No Limits!!"

I believe it!

OPPORTUNITY

I guess it's true. When you ask God to open your eyes to see opportunities you actually do see them. Opportunities for everything!!

I have been asking for opportunities for business and they seem to be coming in spades and with capital backing to boot. There is the Digital Villages Project - I really like this one. It offers a means to decentralize business and move it away from Nairobi. I want to set up shop in my home town and not have to come to Nairobi everyday. I have actually decided to do it and will. The commute , the bombings, the drama... none of it is worth it!!

Opportunities for giving are also everywhere. I decided that a certain percentage of all I make will be given back to the community through various projects and now they seem to be coming out of the wazoo. I like Esther Passaris' "one in a million" idea and have registered for that. There are also various projects I have decided to give to.

This morning I read about the Citi Hoppa franchise. I had been thinking about that and how to go about it, and now it seems that God has opened the door for me. This is the year of open doors. Lord knows I don't want to be an employee come next year. I can see him setting me up this year for that and I am blessed.

He really is good all the time!!!

Maiden Voyage

This is my first blog ever!! hence the title of it. I'm glad though seeing as we are totally into the information age and actually walking into the age of creativity (per Tom Peters).

I'm a very entrepreneurial mind, and I have actually started this blog to document my journey into the world of business. I am also very religious, and so most of my blogs will talk about what God has done for me, or the beef I have with him etc... That too, is a journey.

Right now I am totally excited about the ICT revolution that is happening in Kenya, and totally ecstatic that the government is backing young people up so we can develop our country. I am very patriotic, and already sold out to President Kibaki's vision 2030. I'm excited about it because I can see the economy growing and I want to be a part of that as well.

This morning I almost pissed my pants when I read the paper. The government will be training young people and then helping them set up village ICT centres in their various towns. I want to be a part of that so bad, my tummy is cramping from it. I'm putting in for it. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I will definitely keep you informed.

By the way, I also put in for the BID challenge. I should be knowing some time this month if my idea made it to phase II of the competition. Somehow, I have faith that God will work it all out for me. I will keep you posted on that as well.

Today I read an interesting bible verse in Habakkuk 3, that God's power is hidden in his hand and I remembered a prophecy I read not too long ago that said to declare God's hand over everything I do. I thought that was awesome! In declaring Gods hand, I am declaring his power over all I do. That gives me the courage I need to step out in faith and be an entrepreneur.

I think that's it on the maiden blog. Thanks for telling me all about it james.