Chris Kirubi is a complex man. One
of Africa’s richest and most successful businessmen, he’s that rare blend of Donald
Trump, Jeffrey Sachs, Richard
Branson and American music star DJ Khaled, in African skin. In
business, he’s got the cunning and clout of Trump, the economic intellect of
Sachs, the rebellion of Branson, and the musical inclinations of hip-hop act DJ
Khaled.
Here’s the reason why: In between
running one of Africa’s largest privately held business conglomerates,
delivering countless keynote lectures during frequent international economic
gatherings, writing a weekly business column for a daily newspaper and
mentoring young Kenyan entrepreneurs, Kirubi still finds time to make cameo
appearances in Kenyan hip-hop videos, movies, and even hosts a rock show on Capital FM,
a Nairobi radio station he owns. He’s the DJ!
Kirubi sits atop one of East
Africa’s most successful business empires. His business interests are varied
and far reaching. He is the chairman and founder of privately-held Haco Tiger
Industries, East Africa’s largest manufacturers of some of the
continent’s leading consumer brands in stationery, personal care and home care
products. He also owns the International House, one of Nairobi’s landmark
skyscrapers, and holds the largest stake in Centum Investments, a leading private equity
firm listed both on the Nairobi and Uganda Stock Exchanges, among other
holdings.
The Harvard-trained tycoon is one of
the most tech-conscious and social media-savvy businessmen on the continent. He
keeps a Twitter and Facebook account, blogs frequently, and was reportedly one
of the first people in Kenya to own an iPad.
I actively follow the wealthy tycoon
on his Twitter @ckirubi, where he gives his largely youthful followers
tips on business, success and life.
Here are ten business success tweets
in his own words, unedited:
“One
of the ways I believe you can find meaning of your life is by creating a
strategy that you can use through your journey. You need to keep the purpose of
your life, front and center as you decide how to spend your time, talents and
energy. Remember that without a purpose, life can be hollow.”
“Visualize
your past victories while visualizing and anticipating future victories.
Planting the seeds of positive expectancy in your mind is the best way to reap.”
“One
of the most important lessons that has made me be a better employer and
businessman is pointing out people’s strengths. I have come to learn that the praise
of others may be of use in teaching us, not what we are, but what we ought to
be. Enjoy your afternoon.”
“If
you understand an idea, you can express it so others can understand it.
However, if you can’t explain it, you don’t really understand it; and you
cannot invest in a business you don’t understand. So friends, do your research
well and understand the idea or concept you want to execute before investing in
it.”
“I
arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to
enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day…but because I want to
achieve my purpose and make a difference in society, I will stop focusing on
the frightful things I see when I take my eyes off my goals and instead fix
them there. With that said, I’m off to my meeting.”
No comments:
Post a Comment