By Gordon Opiyo
Thought for Sunday: Blessings of being SACKED: Last Friday, as I went through Soweto, I bumped into Wekesa, a former Estate Watchman that I personally sacked for coming to work when drunk and disorderly. I thought that the meeting would not be pleasant- but I was pleasantly surprised when he cheerfully greeted me and happily told me “Poss, asante kwa kunifuta siku ile- uli ni fungua macho pwana” He then walked me to his business situated at Embakasi Village, and explained to me what he has been up to after the big sack.
He told me that, being a Watchman gave him unique insights into what Watchies needed most… and instead of looking for another job, he decided to meet the needs of Watchies. He started a business of boiling maize very early in the morning and late in the evening. He targeted the Watchmen that were leaving work after the cold night or heading in work for the cold night. He then started making hot Groundnuts and Sim Sim- to “give the Watchies some steam as they go back home to meet “Matam””
In a nutshell, Wekesa told me that he banks about 1,200 bob per day after restocking. In other words, his net income shot up from 8,000 bob to about 40,000 per month. He proudly told me that he nowadays lives in Nyumba ya Self.
His positive attitude really touched me. And made me wonder, why people fall into depression after being sacked or retrenched. I believe employment should just act as a stepping stone, and should never be treated as the alpha and omega of our lives.
If you are working as a teacher, and you get sacked- this should be the chance to do something new with your life based on insights you got during your working days. Same to those working in the media, banking, security, transport etc. Every industry has its unique insights- and only those that have worked inside (Like Wekesa and Watchies) know what is needed, and how to meet the needs of specific sectors.
As I keep saying, never let that sacking letter or retrenchment define you… rather celebrate the new horizons the sacking has given you.
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