Perspective
Credible Business From Our Lenses
By Pauline Warui
“ Oh, this is a brilliant idea! We shall definitely collaborate. I see a great opportunity for us to work together”. The booming voice in the corporate boardroom makes your tired heart pump at a speed last experienced in your teenage years. You can now see that big house in the leafy suburb like you’ ve always dreamt. You can see the family looking all gleeful as you finally show them the fruits of your endless nights with the faded laptop. Your app which you have worked for tirelessly and drenched yourself in endless debts, is finally birthed. It’ s a new dawn. You will be a dollar millionaire break at last.
Your appointment day to pitch to the big corporate. These are heavy guys and you are certain the breakthrough the pastor last predicted for you is finally here. You take a glance at the business development officer who clinched this mighty deal for you and you know it’ s a life changing moment for you. You’ ve read about Amazon, X, Uber, Meta and you are the next big thing. It’ s been five years of blood and sweat. You give a good handshake to these big boys who will finally make life a dream. In life and death, Its well! You unbutton your coat and your gait as you walk outside to your ever faithful‘ Hope’ your old Subaru. You are finally a big boy! You exhale poverty away as the rays of sunshine hit your face.
The presentation is a bliss. The boys in the dark suits really beamed after your presentation. You had crammed big corporate words that are trending to show that though you work in a dingy office, lack of air condition has not affected your mental faculties. Damn, the demo went so well you even defied the technical demon which jinxes every big day. The men in black in the amazing boardroom will get back to you by Tuesday. They assure you that this is a great partnership and the legal team will be reaching out. You can now write a book. Adrenaline is a real hormone. It’ s pumping you up
You need big boys in your company to protect your interests. You reach out to a famous fixer who will help you meet the big people. You take a quick loan to facilitate endless meetings and call it your last card. In the deep of the night, you are introduced to places where the who is who dines softly. Posh homes that reawaken your dream.
to the deep of your stomach. You shake hands with these magnificent people. The famous CEO even offers to escort you to the elevator. You have joined the big boys club. You are no longer a hawker. You are a partner. The next Kenyan big baller.
Your forehead is now glistening with sweat after dropping the presentation anxiety. The night to the big date was stressful. The presentation had to be picture perfect with the right font, images, devoid of any spelling mistakes. You congratulate your team and offer to buy them a big lunch from the Fuliza amount you have left.
What about it? You scorn the doubters. You are a big baller now and Fuliza will be a thing of the past. Your Madam can feed the younglings today. You call her and give her the big news. She has been sulking bigly in the last couple of months but today she has even called you babe after the news. You order your favorite poison as you pinch yourself back to reality. The bills have to be paid and school fees is due. You feel nothing, the millions are beckoning. You seat in a trance and throw a round to those who care to listen. You are the man now. In a week, you’ ll be loaning these poor earthlings who always wonder, what you do with your little computer.
A week passes very slowly and the big boys who promised to get back to you last Tuesday have not communicated. Your patience is tested but you know that you cannot spoil a deal with obvious anxiety. Your product is a master class. You are not a beggar. Didn’ t they even say they would start piloting the project this week? You take a deep breath as your fingers itch to dial the director who smiled at you with an open mouth like a Halloween pumpkin.
58 MAL64 / 25 ISSUE