I must be one of the few people in the world who fulfilled most, if not all, of their key 2021 New Year resolutions. If you all remember, I resolved to end the year as a HM. Did it happen or it did not? Believe it or not; I am only the fourth human being in the whole world to head Mwisho wa Lami School!
On finances, I had planned to start a business to supplement our income. I may not have started a business but the end justifies the means. I supplemented our income by ensuring that Fiolina got a big job in Kakamega, a job that is changing our lives — financially, socially, economically and psychologically. Forever!
This year is no different. Following extensive research, intensive consultations, after long hours of detailed drafting, redrafting and un-drafting, after deep; expansive and long-drawn discussions and deliberations with those who will be impacted by my actions; I have come up with amazing New Year resolutions. If I fulfil just 50 per cent of them, I will finish the year ahead of the curve.
Unlike previous years when I just made statements, this year, alongside each resolution, I am including the expected outcome, success criteria, completion dates and the resources needed to accomplish them. Also included are the next actions, the expected risks and my plan to mitigate them. In short, my resolutions are SMART! If you are floating here, I would recommend that you read more strategy books. Allow me, therefore, ladies and gentlemen, to give you a sneak preview of my resolutions for 2022, the year of our Lord! While they are many, I will share a few from the four broad categories: professional life, finances, health and family.
School governance. Under the disastrous reign of Bensouda, this school had her cronies in the Board of Management, people who had no foresight and whose ideas were not only archaic but outdated. I will seek to change this by appointing a transformative, forward-looking board. Unlike Bensouda who just handpicked her friends, I will do a mix of wise appointments and competitive recruitment. Be on the lookout for adverts soon.
School deputy. There is no teacher in my staffroom who is ready to be a deputy HM. None. My New Year resolution is to coach one of the staff members for the role, with the appointment likely to happen in September after six months of intense, intimate coaching. For those asking, Kuya will not be considered for coaching to be deputy. He is a know-it-all yet I want someone who is keen to learn-it-all)
Before I go to finances, another professional New Year resolution is to ensure that Kuya is transferred as soon as possible, whichever comes earlier!
Loans - God willing, by the end of this year we will be debt-free. Right now we have a big loan to pay for the money Fiolina used to take us to the Golf Hotel and buy Jug Daniels. We are sure that we will be done repaying by November even if we will take another loan in 2023. (I plan to take a loan to build a gate in Jan 2023.) But come December 31, 2022, we will be debt-free.
Secondly, and in line with the resolution above, I will neither borrow nor lend money to anyone. I am shocked to learn that I loaned out Sh8,540 in the last two years to different people, of which only Sh1,970 has been repaid. As regards to borrowing, today evening I will delete all the loan apps on my phone: Goodbye Tala, Branch, KashPlus, FairKash, Okash, Okolea and ZenkaLoan. Mshwari, KCB Mpesa, and Equity Bank will also miss me. But I will remain a loyal user of Fuliza, as those of you who stepped in a finance class will tell you that Fuliza is an overdraft facility, not a loan!
Ever since I participated in Kakamega Forest Marathon in 2019, I have grown physically lethargic and a little unfit – while remaining handsome, sexy and attractive. This year I plan to start running again, to exercise more and to start pulling weights, even if they will be human weights. I have already bought new running shoes and I will be partnering with Rumona for a weekly joint run. Further, I will be in charge of athletics in school.
On spiritual health, I have closely studied what Apostle Elkana does. It is not complex, and together with Fiolina, Rumona and Tito, I am sure we can open a new church this year — to offer the people of Mwisho wa Lami more spiritual choices. Handled well, this will go a long way in helping us financially.
On family matters, I have many resolutions but I will mention just two.
To begin with, I have to take my family on holiday. The plan is to take them to Mombasa for two days so that they, too, can see the ocean with their own eyes. Pius told me nikijipanga from January, it is doable. Already, I have started learning how to swim to avoid small embarrassments. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, you will all agree that Branton has been an acting Last Born for long. Last year, Fiolina got a big job, while I was promoted to a HM. God, and Fiolina willing, this is the year we will ensure that Branton is promoted from acting Last Born to First Born. I would wish to give you more details on how we will go about this, but for obvious reasons, allow me to spare you the details.
Did I also mention that come what may, I will graduate from KU this year; and that, come rain, come sunshine; I will be a senior electoral official during the 2022 General Elections? Now you know!
The above, friends and enemies, are my well-thought-out 2022 New Year resolutions. What are yours? Let us exchange notes on:
