Dr Leonard Mwithiga, BSc, MBA, CISA, PhD, a former Group Shared Services Director at KCB bank, is in the headlines for ruining his own life. In his photos, we see a soft, bald-headed bewildered man who seems at a loss.His wife allegedly left for the US with his kids after falling out with him. After thinking about this situation at length, he got angry as most men suffering from oneitis often do. With dark thoughts coursing through his mind, he requested voluntary early retirement, leaving behind a cushy job that many could only dream of. Unbeknownst to many, he was a simple man with simple problems about to become a simple man with complex problems.With the serpent of revenge coiled around the branches of his mind, he traveled to Connecticut in the US where, at some point, he asked a taxi driver to get him a hitman to murder his wife. The taxi driver got the police involved and now Leonard is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and will probably spend a considerable time in the can. There have been rumours that money was involved, not just passion.What can we learn from his case with the limited information that we have?First guys, nothing in this world belongs to a man. I learned this maxim from Chigozie Obioma’s Orchestra of Minorities. At your highest self, you possess nothing.That woman you are obsessed about owning, you met her as an adult. If she can detach from you, why can’t you do the same? Why are you so in need of her? This is why Rich Cooper keeps reminding you that she is not yours….Give your best in everything you do but be outcome-independent.Men must learn to detach from all material things. That’s a central aspect of being stoic. You can lose everything in a flash anytime so do not hold onto things or people.Secondly, the harder you squeeze anything in your hand, the more likely it is to slip between your fingers and the less capable you are of picking something else into your hand.Letting go is a sign of wellness. Yielding is a sign of wellness.Bend. Don’t break.Do not cling to people who do not want you in their lives. Even your kids, if you have fought for them and have found no legal or reasonable way of accessing them, let go. Do not kill yourself in the process of getting them. Many men have died because of being attached to their kids.Three, there are no unicorns. There is no soul mate, there is no one special woman meant for you. Such beliefs may sound romantic when things are nice and dandy. But when things go sideways, they can become very harmful. If it doesn’t work with one woman, let her go. Try with another woman. This life is about moments. It is not about permanence. All we have are those brief periods. There are no guarantees.Four. Work on yourself. Put yourself first. This guy did not put himself first. If he did, he wouldn’t be risking jail time because of a woman. If he did, he would have been building something to his name, not seeking to destroy a woman.Five, crime does not pay. Do not commit any crimes, even as a retaliatory measure. This guy, for example, had no clue even about how to hire a hitman. He didn’t even get close. Do not resort to extraordinary measures when you are still an ordinary guy.If you have your health and your life, just be grateful and move on. You will recover from whatever temporary loss you have suffered.Six, do not involve your wife in your crimes. If you have to do things like financial fraud, do it with your co-conspirators out there. Not with your wife. All wives, given enough leverage, tend to apply them at some point. We saw this in the case of Gichurus and it’s the same reason Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos got divorced. Many men have used their side chicks as proxies and harvested premium tears. Seven, get UNPLUGGED.
Tag: insights
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End of the Road: How Money Became Worthless
Introduction
In an unprecedented turn of events, the global financial system has witnessed a significant shift over time, resulting in the devaluation and ultimate worthlessness of traditional currencies. The phenomenon, aptly named the “End of the Road,” has raised numerous questions about the nature of money, its intrinsic value, and the forces that have led to its downfall. This article aims to explore the factors that have contributed to this extraordinary development and its potential consequences for the world economy.
- The Rise of Digital Currencies
The emergence and widespread adoption of digital currencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, have challenged the traditional fiat currencies issued by central banks. These decentralized cryptocurrencies gained traction due to their perceived advantages, including security, transparency, and the ability to bypass intermediaries. As trust in traditional monetary systems waned, people sought alternative forms of exchange that were not subject to the whims of governments or central banks.
- Inflationary Pressures
Historically, governments have resorted to printing money to stimulate economic growth or finance budget deficits. However, excessive money creation, coupled with unchecked government spending, has led to rampant inflation. As the purchasing power of traditional currencies eroded, people lost confidence in them as a reliable store of value. This loss of faith further fueled the adoption of alternative assets like cryptocurrencies, precious metals, or even bartering systems.
- Economic and Geopolitical Instability
Global economic instability and geopolitical tensions have played a significant role in the decline of traditional currencies. Economic recessions, trade wars, and political crises have eroded trust in the stability of national currencies. Investors and individuals alike sought refuge in alternative stores of value, such as gold, real estate, and cryptocurrencies, which are perceived as more resistant to economic turbulence and political volatility.
- Technological Disruption
Advancements in technology, particularly blockchain technology, have disrupted traditional financial systems. Blockchain offers a decentralized, transparent, and secure platform for transactions, making it an attractive alternative to traditional banking systems. As blockchain technology continues to mature, it has the potential to revolutionize the way we perceive and transact with money, further undermining the value of traditional currencies.
- Loss of Monetary Sovereignty
The rise of digital currencies, whether issued by central banks or developed independently, challenges the notion of monetary sovereignty. Governments and central banks have traditionally held the power to control and regulate the money supply. However, with the advent of digital currencies, this control is shifting to decentralized networks and algorithms. This loss of control raises concerns for governments, as it limits their ability to influence economic policies or respond to financial crises effectively.
Consequences and Implications
The erosion of traditional currencies carries significant consequences and implications for the global economy. The transition to alternative forms of value exchange raises concerns about financial stability, taxation, and the ability of governments to manage monetary policy effectively. Additionally, the proliferation of digital currencies poses challenges in combating money laundering, terrorism financing, and other illicit activities.
On the positive side, the shift towards alternative currencies and decentralized systems may enhance financial inclusion, reduce transaction costs, and promote innovation in financial services. Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize industries beyond finance, including supply chain management, healthcare, and voting systems.
Conclusion
The “End of the Road” phenomenon marks a turning point in the history of money. The devaluation and perceived worthlessness of traditional currencies have prompted a global search for alternative means of exchange and stores of value. While the implications of this shift are still unfolding, it is evident that digital currencies and blockchain technology will continue to reshape the future of money and redefine the foundations of the global financial system.
As societies grapple with the implications of this transformative era, policymakers, economists, and individuals must adapt to this new reality, exploring innovative ways to navigate the evolving financial landscape and ensuring the stability and inclusivity of the emerging monetary systems.
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What Christianity Before Christ Taught Me
Introduction: Throughout history, various theories and claims have arisen regarding the origins and influences of religious beliefs. One such theory suggests that Christianity borrowed elements from the ancient African story of Horus in Egypt. This article aims to explore the alleged parallels between the two narratives and shed light on the historical context surrounding these claims.
The Story of Horus: In ancient Egyptian mythology, Horus was a significant deity associated with the sky, kingship, and protection. His story involved battles, resurrection, and a divine mission. Horus was believed to be the son of Osiris and Isis, born miraculously after his father’s death and subsequent resurrection.
The Alleged Parallels: Proponents of the theory argue that certain aspects of the story of Horus share similarities with the narrative of Jesus Christ in Christianity. Some alleged parallels include:
- Virgin Birth: It is claimed that Horus, like Jesus, was born of a virgin. Horus was believed to be conceived by the goddess Isis through divine intervention, mirroring the biblical account of Mary’s virgin birth.
- Death and Resurrection: Another parallel pointed out is the death and resurrection motif. Horus, after battling the evil deity Set, was said to have died and been resurrected, similar to Jesus’ crucifixion and subsequent resurrection.
- Miraculous Healing and Miracles: Horus was credited with performing various miracles and healings, such as restoring sight to the blind and walking on water. These miracles are seen as precursors to similar accounts attributed to Jesus in the New Testament.
Examining the Historical Context: While these alleged parallels may appear intriguing at first glance, it is crucial to examine them within their historical context. It is important to note that the development of religious narratives often involves shared themes and motifs across different cultures and time periods. Ancient mythology often encompasses supernatural births, heroic battles, and divine intervention, which can be found in various mythological traditions worldwide.
Furthermore, historians and scholars generally agree that Christianity emerged within the Jewish context of the first century CE, influenced by Jewish religious beliefs and Roman cultural and philosophical traditions. Early Christian teachings and texts primarily drew upon Jewish scriptures and the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, as recorded by his disciples.
The absence of direct historical evidence linking the story of Horus and Christianity further challenges the theory of direct copying or deliberate manipulation. Historical records suggest that the development of Christianity was rooted in the teachings and experiences of Jesus and the early Christian community.
Conclusion: While it is fascinating to draw parallels between ancient mythologies and religious beliefs, asserting that Christianity is a direct copy of the ancient African story of Horus requires careful examination and critical analysis. Similarities in mythical motifs and themes are not sufficient evidence to support claims of direct copying or intentional fabrication.
It is crucial to approach the study of religious beliefs with academic rigor and respect for historical context. Understanding the cultural and historical factors that shaped religious narratives allows us to appreciate the rich diversity of human spiritual experiences while recognizing the uniqueness of each tradition.
As we explore the tapestry of world religions, let us embrace the opportunity to foster dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect among different faiths, rather than seeking to diminish or dismiss the profound beliefs of any particular tradition.
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Driving Community Engagement: A Financial Growth Roadmap
A Worthy Mission
The Msanidi Online mission is to foster a vibrant and collaborative community of developers, designers, bloggers, creative minds, and more. The power of shared knowledge, collective growth, and economic empowerment cannot be stressed more. To drive engagement and fuel the financial growth of the community, the website has established a central depository, ensuring that payouts and rewards are provided to members.
But real money has to come from somewhere and, since most people have prior engagements and responsibilities, few members may be willing to reinvest in the community and may opt for the KES 1,000 payout if it made itself available.
In this post, we’ll discuss the financial justification for a reinvestment schedule and highlight the benefits of holding onto the points gained on the website to reach a potential goal. For purposes of this justification, we will set the goal at KES 396,000 which can arguably be enough to support a business or technological development project or solution in some form or fashion ensuring return on investment of equal or more than the principal. This amount is also equivalent to being able to give each member of the “WordPress Community KE” WhatsApp Group exactly KES 1,000 at the time of this writing.
The Power of Reinvestment
As we embark on this exciting journey together, it is crucial to understand the significance of reinvestment. By earning points and maintaining higher and higher balances, we create a cycle of growth, allowing us to expand our opportunities and better reward members in the future. This strategy ensures that the community can sustainably thrive, with the ultimate goal of moving towards a self-sustaining ecosystem where community-driven projects and initiatives take center stage.
Incremental Growth and Increasing Engagement
To facilitate the growth of our community and encourage engagement, I propose a structured schedule for increasing the amount of money available in the central depository while keeping the withdrawal limits generally low unless in the case of an agreed upon project or venture. It appears more and more like a savings plan but what should be guaranteed is that the amount in the central deposit represents the cumulative amount of real money that community members have and can earn from and transact with. By adhering to my proposed schedules, we can gradually expand our financial resources, unlocking new opportunities and benefits for our members.
Take, for example, a community member (John) that has accumulated KES 10,000 points on the website and requires a service from another community member (Jane). They have negotiated and agreed that the service would cost KES 5,000. John transfers his points to Jane which Jane decides to claim for real money through the central depository that initially rewarded them the points for creating content, surfing, and participating in any other special tasks that could earn points.
By utilizing the points instead of real money, they foster a sense of trust, collaboration, and value exchange while contributing to the overall growth and success of the community.
The Strategy: Crunching the Numbers
Premier consideration before delving into the calculations is that these numbers need to be reasonable enough for anyone to be able to contribute without feeling like it is a financial burden. I have made the assumption that a typical member would be earning KES 30,000 to KES 50,000 a month in their professional engagement and would be willing to part with (at most) KES 250 a month to support the cause and participate in reaching the target funding goal.
Target Funding Goal: KES 396,000
Current Funds in the Central Depository: approx. KES 8,000
To calculate the incremental weekly increase needed, follow these steps:
Determine the funding gap:
Funding Gap = Target Funding Goal – Current Funds Funding Gap = KES 396,000 – KES 8,000 Funding Gap = KES 388,000
Decide on a timeline for achieving the funding goal:
Let’s assume you want to achieve it in a very reasonable period of 36 months (156 weeks).
Calculate the weekly increase needed:
Weekly Increase = Funding Gap / Number of Weeks Weekly Increase = KES 388,000 / 156 Weekly Increase ≈ KES 2,487.18
Therefore, to reach the desired funding goal of KES 396,000 within 156 weeks, the amount in the central depository should increase by approximately KES 2,487.18 every week. It may sound like a lot of money and yet another financial commitment but it’s imperative to remember that the points are fabricated. It is the duty of the central depository to ensure the figurative amount is available in real liquid currency.
Let’s assume that the website is getting at least two new members to join the community every week and each new member is willing to contribute KES 250 to the central depository every month (an amount that can be earned as points through website interaction and activity).
Let’s break down the calculation:
Monthly Contribution: KES 250
Weekly Contribution: KES 250 / 4 (assuming 4 weeks in a month) = KES 62.50
Increase in Community Membership: At least two new members every week
Additional Contributions per Week:
Number of new members * Weekly Contribution per member Additional Contributions per Week: 2 * KES 62.50 = KES 125
Total Weekly Contributions:
Weekly Contribution from the original member + Additional Contributions from new members Total Weekly Contributions: KES 62.50 + KES 125 = KES 187.50
But remember the central depository has committed to increase its funds by approximately KES 2,487.18 every week.
New Total Weekly Contributions:
KES 2,487.18 + KES 187.50 (assuming two new members contributing KES 62.50 each)
New Time (in weeks) = Funding Gap / Total Weekly Contributions Time = KES 388,000 / (KES 2,487.18 + KES 187.50)
New Time to Reach Target Funding Goal ≈ 135.67 weeks.
That would shorten the time taken to reach the goal by 7+ months. However, it is important to note that this relies on the community members’ willingness to contribute to the central depository and does not take into account some external factors. The actual time may vary depending on the consistent contributions and growth of the community membership.
Getting Started
Before winding up I wanted to explore some ideas on what members can write about or design in their first WordPress post or page to begin earning points and reinvesting in the community:
- Showcasing Personal Projects and Experiences: Members can share their personal projects, experiences, and achievements within the community. They can write about their development journeys, design processes, or blog about topics relevant to their expertise. This not only fosters knowledge-sharing but also provides inspiration to others, fostering a sense of community pride and engagement.
- Collaborative Initiatives and Challenges: Members can organize collaborative initiatives or challenges that encourage members to work together on specific projects. Members can document their progress, challenges faced, and lessons learned. By highlighting the success stories and the impact of these initiatives, we emphasize the value of reinvestment and how it can lead to meaningful outcomes.
- Expert Insights and Tutorials: Members can contribute insights, tutorials, or guest posts on specific topics of interest. These contributions can range from technical tutorials to career advice or industry trends. By sharing their expertise, these individuals inspire members to actively participate in the community and recognize the potential for personal and professional growth.
- Exploring Prompt Engineering on AI: Members can leverage AI to easily create content given they provide an accurate enough prompt to the machine. There already is a category dedicated to ChatGPT content on the website. I believe that may be the best and easiest place to start.
- Feedback on the Msanidi Online User Experience and Ways to Improve: Members can suggest and/or guide on ways to improve the end-user experience when using the website. It could be design improvements, plugin/widget suggestions, or entire pages that serve different purposes.
The last parting shot is a vision of how the website can inform the community on the current market environment and what to expect, especially for new entrants in the business and technology industry. Eventually, the points earned for creating content on the website should ideally match the industry standard and require the same amount of dedication or attention to detail as regular work would. The community itself can come to consensuses on whether to raise or lower the rewards for work done on the website based on the strength of the central depository and community members’ willingness to support one another.
Conclusion
As we move forward with our vision of a thriving community, reinvestment becomes the driving force behind our financial growth and member engagement. By incrementally increasing the amount of money available in the central depository and emphasizing the benefits of holding onto the points earned on the website, we pave the way for a potentially sustainable and prosperous future. We can collectively reinvest, collaborate, and explore the endless possibilities that lie ahead.
Maintaining the points on the website means you are reinvesting your resources and actively engaging with the community. This creates a positive feedback loop. As the central depository grows, so does the potential for greater opportunities, collaborative projects, and financial rewards for our members. We are building a sustainable ecosystem where everyone benefits from their involvement and dedication.
As we continue on this journey, it is crucial to remember that the points earned also represent our commitment to the growth and success of the community. It is through patience and reinvestment that we lay the foundation for future projects that will benefit us all.
Together, let’s harness the power of collaboration, creativity, and shared knowledge to make Msanidi Online a hub of innovation, connection, and success. By staying committed to reinvestment and nurturing our community, we can achieve remarkable milestones, generate economic opportunities, and create a lasting impact.
Join us on this exciting journey, and together, let’s shape the future of Msanidi Online, where collaboration, growth, and prosperity await us all.
I welcome any and all feedback to improve my propositions, assuming the website will continue to develop technically and communally to allow more ways to engage, collaborate, and earn.
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A Humble Introspection on Millennials
The height of the millennial generation is quickly passing, if it is not past already. LeBron James at 16, just starting out in the NBA, feels like a distant memory. Our experiences in the 90s have been condensed into the simplicity of a social media post. Our successors, the Gen Z, have taken over the reins of social media and short-form entertainment, reshaping how we interact online. With these changes, where does this leave the millennials today? Are we to accept our predecessors’ methods of designing our lives and futures? Or should we embrace the changes that technology has introduced in the nature of professional interaction and push forward like our successors are doing?
As millennials, we are at a critical juncture where we must navigate the evolving landscape of technology and social interaction. We grew up with the rapid rise of the internet, witnessing the transformation of traditional communication into the digital age. We understand the importance of technology and its impact on various aspects of life, including professional interactions.
However, it is essential to acknowledge that while technology has altered the way we connect and interact, it should not dictate our values or define our paths. The advent of social media and short-form content platforms has undoubtedly influenced how we present ourselves and engage with others, but we must recognize that real connections and meaningful interactions extend beyond the digital realm.
As millennials, we possess a unique blend of experiences and skills. We have witnessed the transition from analog to digital, from landlines to smartphones, and from handwritten letters to instant messaging. This puts us in a prime position to bridge the gap between the traditional and the contemporary, combining the best aspects of both worlds.
Instead of merely accepting or rejecting the changes brought forth by our successors, we can find a balance that allows us to leverage technology while preserving the essence of authentic human connection. We can use social media as a tool for networking and professional growth, but also prioritize face-to-face interactions and meaningful conversations. It is crucial to recognize that technology is a means to an end, not the end itself.
Moreover, as millennials, we have a wealth of experience and knowledge to offer. We can bring our adaptability, resourcefulness, and willingness to learn to the table, embracing new technologies and methods of communication without losing sight of the fundamental values that guide us. By embracing change and continually upgrading our skills, we can remain relevant and successful in a rapidly evolving professional landscape.
Ultimately, the choice is ours. We can either resist the changes and cling to the past, feeling overwhelmed or left behind, or we can embrace the opportunities that technology presents and adapt our approach accordingly. By blending our unique experiences with the advancements of the digital age, we can chart our own paths, leveraging the best of both worlds to design fulfilling lives and shape a prosperous future.
So, let us acknowledge the differences between generations, but let us not be defined by them. As millennials, we can draw upon our diverse experiences and the wisdom gained from witnessing the transition to the digital age. With an open mind, a willingness to adapt, and an appreciation for genuine human connections, we can navigate the evolving landscape with confidence, making our mark in the professional world while staying true to our values.
The future is ours to shape, and it is up to us to seize the opportunities that lie ahead.
