It's been three months and six days since I left Lagos, Nigeria for Nairobi, Kenya and finally Lusaka, Zambia. While its immediately easy to see the differences - its quite exciting to see the similarities that Africans bring to the table.
There are vibes that every city gives off - Nairobi reminded me of Lagos - the traffic was almost a shock to discover. More than an hour from the airport to the hotel. Spent a few lunches in the same mall that was bombed and it reminded me how much terror has started to surface on the continent.
The mall has a new look and reconstruction taking place would have you believe that it never happened however the security checks and scans tell a very different story.
Now Lusaka...
That's a different kettle of fish. It has been two years since my last visit here around february or march of 2012 and so far there have been so many changes. A lot of new constructions, lots more traffic and cars but nowhere near the scale of Nairobi or Lagos.
Still the thing that makes this city unique are the people and their attitude - forever friendly and open. Polite and helpful. Not that this means that GOD has made his home here - GOD is of course everywhere but most times - we prefer to throw him out because he doesn't look or act like GOD.
Back to the story at hand...
I am here to find fortune and fame and as always - it requires a persistence bordering on lunacy. This is a forgiving land full of great promises but the seeming easiness masks a lot of work that needs to be done and followed through. The pace of life here is almost idyllic and tends to create the false illusion that there is alll the time in the world.
Three months later you suddenly realize that you're still standing almost at the same spot you were when you arrived. Suddenly you start to push for things to happen but at the back of your mind - you just have to believe in yourself even with the delays and hold ups - you require patience and trust that GOD always sees thing through if you're prepared to commit fully.
Business is somewhat a funny matter - it requires a commitment from us greater than what we are usually give - it forces us to commit more with less guarantees and every potential for failure. There are rarely an backups or fall back positions.
That's the excitement and the danger.
I have been at this for a almost one year and six months and frequently - I still question my sanity for wanting to exchange comfort and conformity for this danger.
But...
I realized that there is no other way to push for a fulfilled life - I would rather live a life that tried than one that simply stood by and wished.
I also came to more fully understand why people prayed in such situations.
The uncertainty and feeling that GOD or the FATES were playing game a dice with you - ho things sometimes stood on the tip - threatening to collapse at every given moment. Sometimes you did your best and things simply didn't go through and other times - you didn't do anything and things came along.
These fates of ours and our role in them indicate so many variables - we may not control those variables but we can control our attitudes and reactions to them. It will also help us keep an open mind to ALWAYS search for possibilities
You can't do it if you don't believe in yourself and i what you're doing - you need to be passionate (like crazily passionate and persevere even when the odds look bad - rest if you must, restrategize if you will BUT never ever give up.)
There are vibes that every city gives off - Nairobi reminded me of Lagos - the traffic was almost a shock to discover. More than an hour from the airport to the hotel. Spent a few lunches in the same mall that was bombed and it reminded me how much terror has started to surface on the continent.
The mall has a new look and reconstruction taking place would have you believe that it never happened however the security checks and scans tell a very different story.
Now Lusaka...
That's a different kettle of fish. It has been two years since my last visit here around february or march of 2012 and so far there have been so many changes. A lot of new constructions, lots more traffic and cars but nowhere near the scale of Nairobi or Lagos.
Still the thing that makes this city unique are the people and their attitude - forever friendly and open. Polite and helpful. Not that this means that GOD has made his home here - GOD is of course everywhere but most times - we prefer to throw him out because he doesn't look or act like GOD.
Back to the story at hand...
I am here to find fortune and fame and as always - it requires a persistence bordering on lunacy. This is a forgiving land full of great promises but the seeming easiness masks a lot of work that needs to be done and followed through. The pace of life here is almost idyllic and tends to create the false illusion that there is alll the time in the world.
Three months later you suddenly realize that you're still standing almost at the same spot you were when you arrived. Suddenly you start to push for things to happen but at the back of your mind - you just have to believe in yourself even with the delays and hold ups - you require patience and trust that GOD always sees thing through if you're prepared to commit fully.
Business is somewhat a funny matter - it requires a commitment from us greater than what we are usually give - it forces us to commit more with less guarantees and every potential for failure. There are rarely an backups or fall back positions.
That's the excitement and the danger.
I have been at this for a almost one year and six months and frequently - I still question my sanity for wanting to exchange comfort and conformity for this danger.
But...
I realized that there is no other way to push for a fulfilled life - I would rather live a life that tried than one that simply stood by and wished.
I also came to more fully understand why people prayed in such situations.
The uncertainty and feeling that GOD or the FATES were playing game a dice with you - ho things sometimes stood on the tip - threatening to collapse at every given moment. Sometimes you did your best and things simply didn't go through and other times - you didn't do anything and things came along.
These fates of ours and our role in them indicate so many variables - we may not control those variables but we can control our attitudes and reactions to them. It will also help us keep an open mind to ALWAYS search for possibilities
You can't do it if you don't believe in yourself and i what you're doing - you need to be passionate (like crazily passionate and persevere even when the odds look bad - rest if you must, restrategize if you will BUT never ever give up.)
