I guess it is almost a year since I last posted an article on this blog. As a matter of fact I din't even notice a year had gone by. I feel I have an obligation to give some explanation as to why it has taken so long to post an article. About a year ago, I was employed and working for someone. I had a good job, more than most young people of my age can ever dream of. Don't get me wrong, I was not sucked, I actually quit after realizing I was not utilizing my potential to the fullest. I realized I had a lot of time at my disposal, I had even started blogging and doing so many other things during my free time. (Please am not saying blogging is a waste of time). Therefore I quit my job as you can read here http://evans-nyagei-amenya.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-day-i-quit-my-job.html
I have been so busy on my start-up company
I now have a start-up company which I have been working on day and night. I can assure you that, for the entire seven years I worked for someone I never felt the kind of purpose and fulfillment in life like I feel now. It has been a roller coaster but if I went back one year, I will take exactly the same decision I took. I know I am not yet where I want to go, but at least I know where I want to go and I know only I can take me there.
My company http://softmate-technologies.com/ develops financial applications for the emerging market. some of our products include:
- Agency banking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5L74h-86r8
- Core Microfinance solution http://youtu.be/HIRcoa7g3eY
- Core money transfer apllication
- Alternate banking Channels
We are currently doing some implementation for core micro-finance system and other applications in West Africa. And from a humble beginning of only one staff member (me), Softmate Technologies Ltd is proudly a home to five dedicated staff members.
General rules to consider when buying a car
Now back to cars. From the feedback I got in the previous post http://evaaggy-happyme.blogspot.com/2012/01/overated-toyota-nze-and-underrated.html where I compared Nissan B15 and Toyota NZE I made some analysis which will inform the content of this post. It is obvious that everyday first time car buyers are coming up and don't know where to start or what to look for in a car they want to buy. I therefore felt it necessary to outline three tips that I have learnt with time. These tips are mostly applicable to the developing countries where buying a second hand car is the norm rather than the exception.
1. Most cars in their class are the same, the difference is your taste
Most people list several cars (Cedia, Toyota 110, NZE, Nissan B15, Subaru, etc). The question they want an answer for, is which one from the list should they buy? Well the answer is, you may need a magnifying glass to really set any one of these cars apart from the rest. They are all small economy class cars that can endure a moderate amount of beating. Other than going to office and back and an occasional trip up-country, don't expect anything much from these cars. If you treat them well, they will serve you for long and are quite economical. Spare parts can easily obtained locally. Same thing applies to mid-size SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicle) like Pajero IO, Nissana X-Trail, Subaru Forester, BMW X3, etc. Of course in this class some are more luxurious than the others.
2. Go for your taste
The world is full of mediocrity because everyone wants to do the what the other guy did. Everyone is afraid to follow his/her own heart. We have been so conditioned to avoid failure at all costs. Imagine back in your life when you started going to school. If you made a mistake as small as mispronounce a word, everyone laughed at you. Our parents and guardians, from very early on life have always trained us to do things in a certain way. Whenever we are in doubt, we always want to fall back and find out what everyone else is doing. Our society, instead of producing independent thinkers and renew itself for future growth, it is making copy cuts of itself hence very little change. That is why I will insist, refer to point number 1 and then buy a car of your choice.
3. Cheap is expensive
Am not saying you buy the most expensive car available. All am saying is refer to point no. 1, then buy the newest car you can get with your budget. A newer car will have most components still in good working condition. A very beaten up car, though cheap, it won't be long before you start creating acquaintance with most mechanics near your homestead and office.
Please live your life and follow your dream. If you don't you will be part of someone else's dream. There is never the right moment to do anything. But we always want to take all the time to prepare and wait for that right moment. Guess what? The day you finally decide to start living, you might realize it is too late.
