The Bachelor of Commerce organizing committee left to right: Front  – Jimmy Oluoch, Caroline Kamau, Pauline Kuria, David Sperling. Back – Eli Njeru, Tom Ager, John Mwangi, and David Ndolo

There is one advert that rubs Dr Caesar Mwangi the wrong way. The advert goes something like: If you are lucky to win a green card, you will live in the best country in the world. "The concept of a better life through a green card is flawed as it suggests that if you are lucky, you will live in the USA happily ever after.  It also unfortunately suggests that if you are unlucky, you will have to continue living in Kenya and continue to suffer sadly here after," Dr Mwangi says.

"This is not true," Dr Mwangi told a gathering of alumni of Bachelor of Commerce. He should know better. Dr Mwangi lived, worked and studied outside Kenya for 11 years. He now runs a consultancy firm – Executive Training here in Kenya.

Many people accept these myths and end up ignoring the numerous possibilities that this our beloved nation has to offer.  It is my view that we can rise to our God given potential in our own country without relying on myths propagated by marketing agents".

"I am a proud alumnus of Strathmore and I must admit that as I look back on my time studying there, I must admit that it is the one institution that had a very positive impact on my personal work ethic," Dr Mwangi said.

"I noticed a bumper sticker on a car ahead of me and it struck a chord deep down in me. It read: 'Kenya is each one of us'. It is easy to complain, to blame politicians, government, civil servants, school teachers and University lecturers, the business people who overcharge, inflation, the January skirmishes etc... ad nausea.  We however need to forget the blame game and ask ourselves very personal question regarding what our personal contribution is in alleviating these challenges because complaining and apportioning blame dis-empowers the complainer and cripples his/her ability to take positive action."

Dr Caesar Mwangi

Complaining goes with denial. "There a certain disease that is very common and it has been around for long.  It is called 'excusitis malitis'.  Symptoms of the illness manifest themselves in the patient not taking any positive action on any important issue but being proficient at providing excuses.  These excuses include lack of time, money, ability, etc..."

"An acquaintance of mine started a business and out of sheer determination and hard work built a vast business empire over a period of ten years.  He told me that often his friends and relatives came up to him and congratulated him and told him how lucky he was that he had a successful business.  They were never there with him when he slogged late hours to build up his business. He often spent days away from home seeking new clients and travelling long distances by road alone to ensure that his business grew."

 

"He always answered and told them, indeed they were right in congratulating him for being lucky, but he always reminded them that he indeed was lucky because he was not lazy.  He reminded me of the famous quip by Thomas Jefferson: 'I am a firm believer in luck, and I've found the harder I work, the luckier I get'."

"This I think captures the essence of an appropriate attitude towards work.  It is not that successful outcomes occur by chance or luck, but they emanate from some effort and sacrifice which is not compatible with laziness." 

Possible plans of action that an alumni network such as Strathmore's can be involved in:

"As individuals, you need to ensure that you strive to do your best in the work that you have.  You should strive to ensure that you learn the needed skills, both social and professional to ensure they can develop to the highest echelons of business and public life."

"The challenge of inequality and poverty can be addressed through education and indeed there is a great opportunity to support the efforts Strathmore is making to provide affordable education to those who can and to those who cannot afford."

"This group has the opportunity to have and nurture the shared vision of a better Kenya and have initiatives to resolve the myriad of challenges we experience as a society.  These include initiatives to positively influence public opinion and to propagate truth and meaningful progress in your families and workplaces."

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