AGRIPPAH ODHIAMBO

Saying yes to something you don’t want to do prioritizes being polite over being genuine, argues uniquely HR CEO Mikaela Kiner — and all those extra yeses will cost you. Saying no isn’t easy, but it’s essential. To get started, Kiner suggests you start with a simple question: “If I don’t do this, will it matter in three weeks, three months, three years from now?” Putting requests in context can help you determine what’s actually critical.

 WHAT IS DEPRESSION: Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home. Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include: Feeling sad or having a depressed mood Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much Loss of energy or increased fatigue Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech (actions observable by others) Feeling worthless or guilty Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions Thoughts of death or suicid...

By now you must have noticed that a majority of those ‘lucky winners’ in major, jaw-dropping jackpots in lotteries are from humble backgrounds. Samuel Abisai, winner of the SportPesa Sh221 million worked with a Chinese firm and lived in Nairobi’s Roysambu area off the Thika Superhighway. But if lottery is a game of chance, then anyone from any socio-economic background should stand a chance of winning. So, how come there are never jackpot winners from upscale areas such as Karen,Lavington, Runda, Kitisuru or Muthaiga?! Social scientists agree that there is an inverse relationship between socio-economic status and betting. Low-income earners spend a larger share of their incomes on lottery tickets than those with higher incomes. Demand for lottery tickets correlates not only with the level of income, but also with a general lower socio-economic status as measured by low education level, employment status and minority status of one’s ethnic community. Although it is well establi...

Are you suffering from corruption stress disorder? Kenyans are not apathetic, but we may just be suffering from Corruption Stress Disorder (CSD). CSD is a mental condition triggered by a series of terrifying events over the last five years. Many of us have experienced it. All of us have witnessed it. In case you are wondering whether you are affected, there are three symptoms. They include: - Vivid flashbacks of scandals, -Recurrent moments of anxiety about the quality of aspirants that will be on your ballot paper and -The feeling that nothing will come out of the #RedCard20 national conversation. If you have any one of these three key symptoms, you probably need to see a psychiatrist or mentor. Alternatively, you could tap into some inner courage and face the fact that unless we do something to interrupt the quality of leaders now, the past is about to consume our future. Over the last seven years, Kenyans have crafted a new Constitution and several laws. We have g...

The investments we make in ourselves will always deliver the most profitable returns,” noted American author Samner Davenport. This means that if you’re in business, or are planning to go into it, you need to learn to prioritize your well-being, rather than being overly focused on your company, to get the best return on investment. Whether it means getting a life coach, dropping some habits or forcing your aside, it’s your responsibility to do whatever you can to take care of yourself so you can give the best to your business. Here are seven ways to invest in you. 1. Relax (find a way out) Contrary to the misconception that running your own business gives you control over your free time, entrepreneurs will find they’re required to put in more and more hours as the business grows. However, working non-stop compromises your ability to work effectively. If you don’t take a break, you’re unlikely to be able to deal with the highs and lows of business, like competition, profits...