Life after University

This photo was taken 6 years ago – this was my very first job a cashier in a supermarket in Mbale. Before the big 4 happened and knew of the existence of this app ; a phase of my life I rarely talk about the life after University with my Bcomm Degree.

28 May 2018: I wrote my last paper Ugandan economy to be exact. I would thereafter pack my bags get unto the first bus out of the noisy busty Kampala City for Mbale- a city where the sun sets within the ranges of the mountain .My entire body and mind shrugged out from the routine of morning lectures course works, discussions et others I was tired of school ! All I needed a sabbatical to just go on vibes and “Ishallas” as we had a had a good time The excitement that filled my soul could be equated to the world cup – once in a life time as I was closing off a phase of my life.

Its there that I had the indelible opportunity to serve with a man I greatly honour to date. I called him the Warren Buffet of Uganda a because he was in the business of buying out supermarkets and scaling them off to profitability then selling them off for a profit. That was his model of business. Unfortunate for him, he didn’t have the necessary skills to carry out valuation for the business and that how I came in handy to him as hands and brains.

My JD was simple- Just get into the business, kick start it until its profitable enough to be sold off! It became complicated when I realised, I would have to do stock taking Inventory counts and refills, cash counts, debtors and creditors reconciliations, staff recruitment literally everything just 2 months out of campus awaiting graduation! Graciously for me I learnt from day one I should never enter a no win situation when anyone turns to me for help because of the cons it hasHe didn’t pay me much equivalent to what I did that’s a fact but he sure taught me the things that aren’t taught in business school. That have stayed with me todate.

LESSONS LEARNT

Never disdain an apprenticeship with no pay as ;long as it’s in line with your vision and long-term aspirations, just do it because this is what they don’t tell you that sometimes you will have to give out your skill for free until it has grown and been harnessed.

Infact it is the height of wisdom to find the perfect mentor and offer your services as an assistant for free and that’s what my relationship with that gentleman turned out to be to date He would close out his supermarket and join government but one thing is certain our relationship is liken to that of a surrogate son.

Such mentors will divulge more than the usual trade secrets for he taught me emotional intelligence for example how do you deal with illiquidity, how do you tell your kids that the money in the safe isnt profit but capital when they pass by after school? How do you deal with a loss? What’s your reaction when your business idea is rejected? Now these life skills aren’t taught at Harvard business School. They are learnt in the school of Hard Knocks that many never pass through.

I was privileged to observe how he navigates them in my early 20s – skills that I leverage upon to date At the end of all this it will add up you see the stage for your creative expansion and the money will soon come – I would eventually grab an interview with PwC and question on business acumen was “How have you applied your BCom Knowledge” You and I can agree that with all I have told you in the passings, I did perfect justice to that question

All the verbosity is to encourage a recent graduate not to grow weary for life is in phases and this is just a phase of life.As long as the job is adding to your vision do it..as long as it will give you a mentorship and help you build and important relationship -Do it because relationships as you grow up are an asset. It might not be the ideal job but could lead you to the desirable job.Like Nike says Just do it !