I count myself blessed to have had the chance to read this book at
this particular time as it is just the perfect time to have this information. I
am at the beginning of my first job and therefore my career journey and from
the book, I now have a clear picture of the kind of thinking I should apply so
as to make the most of my employment.
Some of the most interesting things I have grasped from the book
was that a job has so much value to add to me other than money. I should make
use of the opportunity I get to gain exposure and sharpen skills that will help
me in my career and life generally. The riddle about a house, spouse and a cow was
also thought provoking and this is all about priorities. I will also now begin
planning for my retirement as soon as I get my first paycheck. I want to reap
the fruits of my labor now and when am old.
Every employee in Africa should get a copy of this book so they
can realize the ways in which they can maximize their potential in employment
and also develop themselves through proper management of their finances. If there
is an opportunity to learn from the experiences of others, both good and bad,
we should all go for it. Thanks for the free copy. It is an honor that I do not
take for granted.
- Caroline
This book has a
very personalized touch to the African working environment. Reading it, I came across real life experiences
I have been through albeit my very short employment history. The continuous postponement of having a
savings culture and lack of a clear working career plan particularly hit close
home. Having a close family
member who had nothing to show for having a long prestigious working career
even makes it more surreal.
The lessons in
here are meant to be learnt from others as experiencing them personally will be
quite costly. Employees in Africa must
learn how to manage and get the most out of their careers and be ready for
retirement as it is inevitable. The approach
used is very simplistic and anyone in whichever occupation can be able to
understand the advice given therein.I have learnt
to have a clear plan on managing my finances, prioritize and learn as much as I
can in any role that I find myself in. Going the extra mile will also not go
unrewarded.
I have realized
the important of owning my career journey and treating each level as a learning
and growth opportunity instead of waiting to get higher in my career which is
the mindset I had before. I also will be
owning my choices and realizing that I determine my future.This book came
at the right time and I will forever be indebted.
- Emily
Prosper in employment is a book that guides you from
the point of job entry to the exit. It explains the basic thing we need to
understand while in the job, actions we need to take to maximize our stay in
the employment. It starts by bring out the purpose of employment. The author
argues that money as valuable as we may perceive it, is not the reason for
working. He says if money if as important as we purport, why then do we spend
it all? He argues that there is more to employment than the income we receive.
He says that what we believe about our work affects our attitude to work. In
employment we should learn how to work, the keys to enterprise and how to
prosper and create wealth. We need to project our future life after employment,
perhaps after retirement. We should use our income to create wealth.
I have learnt that we mature through five stages or
levels in life. Dependence level, independence, dependable, developers and
donors. He argues that we should be able
to understand and act our levels. At dependable level, people rely on you and
therefore one should be consistent in all that he or she does. In this stage we
are role models.
Finally I learnt that in marriage as opposed to my
earlier perception of liability, it is point of unity and boosts your ability
to achieve goals and make decision. This is because two are better than one. I
also learnt that paying rent is not an investment rather is an expense, owning
a house will help you channel the money that you would have otherwise paid as
rent to investment.
-Kelvin KK
It is very
important to place the copy of ‘How to prosper in employment’ in the hands of
employee because it will help them to know why they are working, what they need
to do with the income, how to spend, save and invest, how to manage their jobs
carefully to achieve their life goals, how to plan for their lives while at
work and not to wait until they are sent home in order to plan for their
retirement..
People have
different views and ideas on jobs, work and employment. The book has very
important advises and good examples and tackles many things people leave out
when telling their employment history, life goals and achievements. It gives an
insight into the mind of employer, employee, trainee and potential job seekers
like (Mary and John).The book also teaches us to love our job and have positive
attitude every day given by the example of the TRENCH.
I have
personally learned a lot from this book apart from being motivated and
educated, I have learned to have a positive attitude towards my job and that a
job is not necessarily a career and that it’s a platform for greater things. I
have learned also on the need to do investments and plan for the future as
early as possible and to advance my career as well as live in my own house as
illustrate in the story of the house, spouse and a cow. I also realized that
people miss opportunities not because of not having all what it takes, but not opening
their thinking capability. I also learned that people are tied to jobs in a way
that they can’t think outside that job. In conclusion, every employee should
have a copy of this inspiring, uplifting and motivational book.
-Norah
This read could in the long run impact the continents
economy by reducing the after retirements dependency levels. Employees will
have an investment mindset as opposed to current trends of retiring with no on
job in investments. The Africa working population will begin to appreciate the
ignorance there is in the comfort of employment. The words in this book are
truly deep, ruthless and convicting. It will be a wakeup call to a lead of
wealth creation, personal development and appreciation of our gifts, abilities
interests and talents.
MY LESSONS: My
financial behaviors have to change has got to be implemented immediately am on
the job, Having a mentor to keep me in check with my plans and progress will be
crucial to attainment of my plans and goals, My employment should not be a
routine and I should equally build a fulfilling life outside my career. My
retirement strategies should kick in immediately am on the job. Understanding my emotions and those
of others will make me an all-round competent person. As a youngster, financial
freedom should come with intelligence and discipline. Profession progress
requires patience and hard work.
-Gatwiri
Many books have
been written on the subject of prosperity. A fair amount of those books focus
on entrepreneurship as a tool for wealth creation and self actualization. The
book “How to prosper in employment” by Allan Bukusi captures a modern African
mindset on what employment, and offers a contrary view.
A change in
mindset: As we grow up, many of us are made to understand that jobs exist for
us to creat wealth for the already wealthy. That it’s a routine that leads to a
paycheck that can barely sustain us. Allan Bukusi challenges the perspective that a job is a life sucking routine meant to
frustrate us and shows that with the
right attitude we can excel and create wealth within employment.
It is no longer about being number one: Africa
still wallows in the mentality that only high paying jobs offer opportunity. We
give more credit to those who are number one or to a CEO than we do others. So
we fight for the few positions at the top. Our focus on competition blinds us
from the opportunities for self improvement at our workplaces. The book shifts
emphasis from the positions held within organizations to what else can do for
ourselves within those positions. There is a lot of disregard for the way in
which we can use the same skills we offer employees to take a step up in our
own personal lives. This book offers an insightful look at our attitude towards
employment and how we can milk the opportunities we have.
-Beatrice
It is necessary to place a copy of the above named
book in the hands of every employee in Africa because this book is a powerful
guide for employees, in early and mid-career, to enjoy a fulfilling life,
realize personal development and create wealth during employment so that they
finish well. I learned a lot from this book. First, whatever kind of job we are
doing we must realize the purpose is to help us prosper. To prosper means you
are able to realize your full potential, develop yourself and create your own
wealth.
Second, the income we get from a job is not wealth.
If you are able to save and invest your income, you are making profit. Only
then can you create wealth. When investing you should do it wisely, buy items
of long-term value, say land. Do not put your money in risky ventures such as
gambling and pyramids. A wise investment can take care of your family for many
years. Also, do not wait for retirement to invest. By this time it will be
almost too late and you may not have sufficient funds. The best time to invest
is while you are still receiving your pay checks, especially early in your
career.
Lastly, to succeed we need to plan. We cannot just
work aimlessly and hope one day to wake up to success. We need to come up with
some personal goals that will motivate us and steer us towards success. These
goals will also help us identify our financial priorities since we cannot spend
money on every item, only those items that lead to our goals.
-Eddy
How to prosper
in Employment is an amazing and eye opening book for professionals who are
young in their career. It gives an open minded view to employment and how one
can enjoy a fulfilling career, realize self-development and reap full benefits
from employment which is very important for all employees.
It teaches
employees that they can still develop themselves and live a fulfilling life
while still being effective in their work and still give their employers
results. It emphasizes on setting individual priorities and goals and working
hard to achieve these throughout our employment in order to leave a good legacy
for the generations to come. It highlights how it is important for employees to
cooperate with their employers in order to get the best from the mutual
beneficial relationship.
The book
encourages employees to have a plan while pursuing success in their careers
hence creating wealth for themselves using the same skills they use to grow and
progress in their career. If employees are able to save and invest their
income, they will be making profits hence creating wealth for themselves. The
only way this will happen is if we embrace a positive attitude and learn to
milk the opportunities that we have however small. I believe this book is a game changer for
employees and I am glad I got the chance to read it this early in my career!
-Eunice
The book “How to prosper in employment” by Allan
Bukusi is a must have for all employees in Africa. The author uses rich
empirical observation and simplicity to convey deep wisdom to his audience to
help them understand the dynamics of employment in a new light. From it I have
learnt the following that all employees would find pertinent:
The purpose of work is to help us prosper. Prosperity
is a function of daily growth. Growth is reflected not only in promotions, but
also in efficiency in using all available opportunities. Our self-worth should
not be tied to our jobs otherwise it would be lost if we lost these jobs.
Employments are an opportunity to learn lessons which we reapply to build our
own wealth.
Employees who learn from the mistakes of their
employers should be able to prosper faster. Planning, investing and saving are
disciplines that are learnt with time. People who integrate such disciplines in
their lives do better in life than others given the same opportunities.
Investments should be done using goals that give us satisfaction, to motivate
success, early enough before commitments sets in. Money from employment should
be used to fund these dreams. Despite the many challenges in employment, they
are a learning opportunity that makes it possible to create wealth.
Focusing on the top jobs make people forget what
really matters. Employment should prepare us for financial freedom. There is
seldom a chance to live the same twice, each opportunity should be used wisely.
-James
The book cites
real life employment experiences in Africa, from graduation ceremonies to
celebrations, to job searching for independence and believe of a successful
career. Many African graduates yearn to leave home, earn an income with no
plans or realistic goals. More often than not, graduates wait for long to get
jobs, work hard to be successful and concentrate on employment routine rather
than personal development. Surviving from pay check to pay check is common and
after years in employment, dreams to work fade and search to do something
different begins. In Africa, employees hope to better their lives, this book
give lessons on how to avoid anger and frustrations. It teaches the need to
cooperate with employer for mutual benefit and need to prosper in all we do. I
learnt that a job is an opportunity to realize potential and build a better
future, we need to leave work with knowledge of the enterprise, avoid debts to
generate ownership. I have learnt not to pursue my career but enjoy it. As we
consume our income, we should also generate/ create wealth. Each capital I
earn, I should make it work for me, get profit, grow and develop skills to
manage money from medium and long term goals. Setting my priorities right will
help me plan my time, actions and spending money. It has instilled in me how to
be a smart employees through expertise, hard work, enterprises and wealth
creation as a personal responsibility. I should further my growth inside and
outside work. This book is important for all people in various levels of their
careers. If I do not understand what colleagues in other departments do, I may
start to build walls, more often than not, it takes major change of pace to
break those walls. People change, cultures change, markets change, but “How to
proper in Employment”, is a book that shall stand the test of time.
-Karen
It is necessary to place a copy of How to Prosper in
Employment in the hands of every employee in Africa because it is time Africa
did things differently. It is about time for all employees to realize that
income is more than the money one earns from the job; it also includes the
experience we earn from the job which no one can take away from you no matter
where you go. The book also helps us realize that employment is not a mere rat
race to the top but it is about being excellent in whatever field you are in.
Understanding that we need to turn what we earn into
capital is also a key point to note from the book. We need to do this if we are
to become developers- people who enrich the world around them, which is
something Africa really needs right now. If we are also to become donors and
empower developers, we need to turn our salaries into capital.
Having said this, I have also learnt from this book
that saving without a goal is like putting money aside just postponing its use.
Setting clear goals, both short term and long term enables one to put their
savings into proper use thus creating a “cash cow.” Having acquired this
knowledge, I hope that I will not be … as sad as a person who can and will not
…or as mad as a man who could but does not (pg. 94).
-Linet
Majority of the
young people graduate from campus thinking they’ll get jobs paying Kes. 60,000
and above, and that life is pretty simple. This book, in my opinion, suits them
best. The book uses vivid examples that I can personally relate to. This helps
in having a picture of how the employment life is, and have guidelines on how
to prosper in employment. It therefore prepares them for their employment life,
and thus avoid disappointments when they land at jobs with minimal salaries or
none at all.
My personal
take home from the book is that: I need to use my employment to create wealth
not only for the bank but also for myself. This is so that I can have something
to go to after retirement; I need to have functional goals that act as a guide
in my career advancement; This will help
me work harder in order to achieve them and therefore lead me to success; I
need to put in a lot of effort to ensure that am an expert at what I do; For me
to invest, (buy a cow), I’ll need to be able to do personal financial management
for it to be possible, Lastly, I should strive to do above and beyond what is
expected of me.
-Malot
Why is it necessary?
The book entitled, ‘How to Prosper In Employment’ is
important for every employee for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the
book shows the importance of understanding that the purpose of employment is
not to live by hoping from salary to salary but to look into the future of your
life and those around you. That is, that we should stop seeing employment as an
end but a means to an end. Furthermore, with its tag line: A house, a spouse, a
cow, it is tailor made for the African society. It is also necessary because it
opens the eyes of a regular employee to the hurdles that the future in
employment holds.
What do I
learn from it?
I have learnt a lot from the book. First off, I have
learnt to manage my expectations of the workplace. By this I mean that I should
not be naïve and expect everything to go as I would like. There will be as many
challenges as there are opportunities and progress is made through hard work.
Secondly, I’ve learnt on how to save while looking towards my future instead of
immediate gratification and satisfaction of my wants and needs. I have also
learnt to never forget my God in all undertakings.
-Mark
Allan has
written a very powerful book that cuts across generations of people in the
labour market. He looks at the lives of employed people as well as job seekers
in order to help us avoid traps and pitfalls that may hinder a successful
career. This book goes beyond motivational books as it speaks in a practical
language that I found easy to relate to and understand. Therefore, this book
should be placed in the hands of every employee in Africa so that its power can
transform their lives. The book is thought provoking and will definitely help
many people at various stages of employment especially because we are never
really prepared for life before, during and after employment.
I learnt the meaning of
employment. A job is not simply a source for my next pay check. This book has
taught me to look at employment as a platform with limitless opportunities for
personal development and wealth creation, for example, my job should enable me
fulfil my life’s mission completely by the time am retiring from my own
business long after leaving formal employment. Furthermore, I feel empowered
after reading this book because it teaches how I should open my eyes while in
employment so that I do not lose my years just repeating one year experience,
for example, I will try to identify opportunities that are provided by
employment.
-Kelvin KN
The book How to prosper in Employment is very
important for every employee, in whatever stage of their career. Most people go
into employment blindly; they do not understand what they want out of
employment. Society expects people to live in a certain way, when thy have been
employed for a period of time. In Kenya, you expect one should be driving,
living in a fully furnished house in the posh areas of Nairobi and probably
hanging out in the most “happening” entertainment joints in the city.
Most youth in Africa believe that they need to be
employed to work. They tie their self-worth to the job they have and seem to be
helpless when they do not have a job. The book is a handbook on getting the
most out of one’s employment life which could span anywhere between 25-30
years. A tragedy would be to work half of your adult life and have nothing to
show for it at retirement; or worse leaving ones family paying loans you could
have avoided.
The greatest lesson I got from the book is that
employment is a personal journey. The messenger had gained financial freedom
working what many would regard as a small job. He knew what he wanted to achieve
from the job and took it to his advantage. I saw employment as a means to
finance one’s dreams. The network made at work is essential to fulfill my own
goals. Employees in Africa should aim to be business owners, as well as develop
their careers.
-Cinday
Everyone looking for a job fails to understand what
the job is for. To them, a job should help them solve their problems through the
salary they receive. What they forget is the main purpose of the job. The job
is only there to help us prosper in life. The book takes an interesting approach
by taking the reader through stages in life that are common to all. From graduating
to landing their first job and to progress in the work place.
Employees need to understand that the job is not an
asset and therefore, it will come a time when they will have to pass it over to
(the) someone else. But the beauty of it all is that Africa is blessed with so
many natural resources and labour such that, while on the job, the employees
should be able to create wealth from their income in order to exploit the
resources available to us rather than relying heavily on a job as the only
source of income. A great problem amongst Africans is that they cash the income
they receive. In no matter how small the amount may be. Africans need to
appreciate that Rome was not built in one day. Therefore no matter how small
the pay check may be, following it through diligently can help one create
wealth from it.
One of the biggest problems in Africa today is the
increase in the number of borrowers. We rely so much on debt in order to create
and maintain a certain lifestyle. Therefore, it is important for Africans to
get hold of this book in order to understand that ones’s income can be their
capital in something that will create wealth for them and enable them purchase
these items debt free.
It is therefore necessary to ensure that every
African employee grows, develops and gains expertise in their job and from this
create wealth for themselves by understanding that their income is not wealth and
use their job to prosper in life. The concept is well grasped in the book “How
to prosper in employment: and therefore every employee should get a copy of
this.
I have taken with me more than I can put down. But
for now, I will try and put it to summary. The very first lesson is that my job
is here to make me prosper. In as far as my education is concerned, it is an
enterprise. We are taught how to do things and, on the job, we gain experience
and expertise with which I can take away with me. I should be able to take full
advantage of the job and gain even new skills and use the skills and exposure
to develop myself.
Another valuable lesson is that, from the income I
receive, I can choose to either spend in totality to satisfy my behaviors or invest
it somewhere to create wealth therefore turning it into capital or to collect
it and save it or cash it. From every salary, I should make a profit from it. I
should aim to earn more, but still spend the same amount. This “excess cash” I
should use to create my very own cash cow. An investment that generates enough
to sustain me and my family and itself.
Especially at mu young age, I have the ability to
rescue my future. I need to take charge of my career development and prosperity
in my job. I should be able to create wealth from my expertise while still
employed such that if I were to retire today. I would be able to live the same
life as I did on the job and even open up more exciting doors for myself.
In as much as I may want to progress in my career, I
should not allow myself to get caught up in attractions such as titles, money and
promotion that would make me forget the benefits of employment. But I should do
my job, take pride in it and gain expertise on it because my work reflects who
I am. With set goals and a plan, I can be able to develop my career and learn
along the way.
Needless to say, the book is very informative and
challenging to any employee in todays world. I would encourage others to read
the book as well.
-Cynthia
How to prosper in employment is necessary for all employees
in Africa since it educates job seekers, employees and retirees. Having this
book will change the way you view employment. For example many people view experience
as the number of years of employment, but experience is more than the time
spent at work or in the office. It is the total value of the knowledge,
exposure and confidence on the job, it is the skill you gain to know how to
manage attractions that cause us to neglect the benefits of employment ie
title, identity, money and promotion. We also have to learn how our work earns
money since it makes use of our skills. Employers use these same skills to
create wealth for the business. African employees should learn to milk the opportunity
since many people want good jobs yet those who have them do not make use of
them. In addition to that we should mature through the 5 level knowing there
are no specific timelines for each stage. Interestingly, when one fails to achieve
their career goals we always say that it because we were not meant to be, but
the truth is that we are not ambitious and also we do not take stock of just how
much work is needed to achieve goals.
The secret of income: we should know is that income is more than money and
to get all the income on hand you may need to do more than your assigned job, taking
interest to learn about things beyond your normal scope of work. The route to
success involves having priorities right a) determine what you will not do, b)
decide where you spend your time and c) dictate how you use your money.
-Cyrus
This book is an eye opener and has completely changes
my view on employment. I only viewed employment as a source of income that
would finance my livelihood, but after reading the book I have realized
employment can be a perfect platform for an individual to improve their
competence in a wide variety of fields – not only their area of specialization –
and most importantly to create wealth. I would definitely recommend it to
anyone who is seeking employment or is in employment. The following were my
major take outs from the text. They include; 1) in order to prosper in
employment, I need wisdom, understanding and no little skill, 2) My job is not
just career but a platform for achieving greater things in life, 3) the experience
I will gain during employment should not just be the time I will send in the work
environment but rather the total value of knowledge, exposure and expertise
that I will develop on the job. 4) In order to prosper in my work, I will need
to have a clear definition of what the job I will be engaging in has to offer
to my career. This will enable me to be able to manage the attractions that may
cause me to lose focus on the merits of my employment venture, 5) the best way
to retire is to give all the best to my job and to ensure that I engage in the process
of creating wealth while I am employed. This will enable me to venture into my
own initiatives once I lead the job in the near future.
- Steve
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