End of a decade — 2019 at a glimpse
2019 was an interesting year, a blend of amazing and horrendous experiences. However, since the year is almost closing I thought it would be best to focus on the highlight reel — the experiences that stood out for me
a. I graduated
Finally!!! A lot of people assumed I had already graduated and those that didn’t think I dropped out. Albeit I finished school in 2017, I had to wait two years to put on the cap and it happened on 20th December this year. The afterparty is blurry but all is well that ends well.
b. Crossed one thing off my bucket list
One of the things on my bucket list had always been to travel outside the continent and this year I got to cross that off my bucket list, seven freakin’ times. I made a lot of great friends and had an amazing time learning from others.
c. Managed to hit the majority of my goals
I had about 11 goals that I set out to achieve during the beginning of the year. Usually, I do a scorecard of how I performed on each goal before the year ends. I’m yet to do a thorough analysis of how exactly I performed but based on “quick math” here’s how I faired on each of the goals:
1. Stabilize roometo: We are on track to attain this although this goal could be made smarter. However, a lot was done in setting up processes (communication, financials, technical & business development, KPIs, etc), product development and growing the team’s capacity. Ergo, despite not being able to quantitatively say how we performed on this goal I can say steps were taken towards it
2. Grow my savings 10X: Grew it by ~8X. I became frugal, aggressive in my savings and started investing the majority of my cash in bonds, equity, and recently money market fund and life assurance. The goal would have been attained had these investments not been undertaken
3. Travel outside Africa at least once: Attained
4. Hit 155 lbs in weight: Ending the year at 133 lbs, so I guess this goal wasn’t attained.
5. Practice more zen and mindfulness. Grow in spiritual connection: This was the hardest goal to achieve. As my comprehension of zen grew, I realized that I can’t have this as a goal. The whole point of zen is doing just because; it’s being. It sounds melodramatic, but the point is that there is no point.
6. Move into a bigger space: Attained
7. Become a Google Android Associate Developer: Set to do my AAD exams on 15th January 2020. This goal made me believe in serendipity. Whilst setting it, I had no idea of how I’d go about attaining it. Then came the ALC Google Africa Developer Scholarship that I was part of and by some luck, I was among the 1,000 candidates selected to take the certification out of 133,000 applicants. Of course, work was put in at each of the stages to maximize the chances of being selected, but I still can’t discount the role luck played.
8. Improve general productivity, efficiency, and prioritization both at an individual level and at a company level: Yet another goal that lacked metrics but I’d feel like it might have not been attained. I became endlessly busy and felt I lacked control of my time.
9. Grow more meaningful relationships: I felt like this was a poorly set goal. I intend to refine it and explicitly define it going forward. I also realize that it would be pointless to have metrics on this, because how do you value something priceless?
10. Go Skydiving or bungee jumping: No I did not. Epic fail
11. To have fun and learn while doing all these things: I forgot what fun felt like and I intend on bringing this back. I forgot how it felt like to do something just for the fun of it. The majority of my decisions my driven by ambitions
d. Finally did archery
Sometime this year, I went on a retreat where we went ziplining, archery and paintballing. Now, I’ve zip lined before but I enjoyed the thrill, even more, this time. Maybe it was the company or the fact that it was raining that day and I felt like Rambo zipping across that line.
The highlight of the day had to be paintballing though. We were on some C0D sh&#t and I loved it. The gun in my hands, yelling cover me as I went to take our flag, screaming I’m out.
And then afterward, as we headed back to Nairobi from Limuru, the car got stuck and we spent hours pushing. At the time I hated it, especially guys yelling “Mwanaume hachoki!”. In retrospect, it’s one of those stories that you look back and laugh at.
e. I’m a grandpa — again!!
I know, I don’t exactly look or behave like your typical grandpa but I’m a grandfather again.
I wrote a piece sometime back about my best friend Sia getting married. Well, their union has officially been blessed with a beautiful (I’m yet to see the child but I know) baby girl. She almost shared a birthday with Jesus.
f. Had a documentary done about me
I walked around for days with a microphone attached to me because someone thought my story was worth sharing. Yes, I had a documentary done about me and the company I co-founded, Roometo. If there’s one thing the whole experience confirmed for me was that I’m not fit for showbiz.
g. I appeared in a book
I was part of the profiled entrepreneurs in Damaris new book titled “Different journeys, one path”. Besides being officially quoted and someone taking the time to write my story, I hope that I inspire someone. I’ve always told my best friend that I wish someday a kid looks at me and says “I wanna become that guy”.
A lot more beautiful experiences happened this year; I’m just not sure if they would all fit in one article. Nonetheless, I’d like to say thank you to everyone that made the year special:
• Huston Malande for being more than just a CEO, for your mentorship, guidance, and faith in me
• mwangi micha, Kahiko Joshua and Mike Shago for believing in me to lead you guys as we figure out the value we are creating in the company, friendship, and counsel
• Brian Wangila for being the elder brother, a friend to bounce off ideas, mentor, and therapist. I don’t even want to imagine how this year would have been without you
• Damaris for believing that my story was worth sharing and for taking the time to write about it
• Martians for being awesome colleagues, pushing me beyond my limits and for having faith in me. Special thanks to Ben and Sheila.
• The entire Moringa School for giving me an opportunity to mentor and have an impact in shaping someone’s life
• David Mwangi for rendering your services at such discounted prices, for your advice and counsel and for being there whenever I needed someone
•Family and especially Lynette for all the support and love
•All my friends: Ally Salim, Megan Allen, Churchil Winston Jr., Elizabeth, Joph, Norman (I still have your game), Shimanyi Valentino, Ally “Fresh”, Mercy Joseph (For all the headaches I have because of you 💏), Anita Sharon O, Mercy Ndanu, BobKevin Shoo, Fifi, Renee, Hattie, Bonz and each one of my friends. Without you, this year would have been cold and meaningless. Thank you for being there, for taking the time to listen, advise and making this one epic year.
Before I make this a Luo song with all the mentions, I’ll end it there and wish y’all a merry Christmas. I hope the next decade comes bigger and better and most importantly that your path is filled with serendipity.
My eyes are now set on the next decade. I intend to take this break to focus on breathing; leveling up for the AAD certification; purging/detoxing social media accounts, messages, contacts, and IMs; reviewing 2019 goals and setting new goals for 2020 (on both individual and company levels).
See you on the other side and happy holidays.
