Friday 19th November 2010
True Success
This week, I've been reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad's Guide to Investment by Robert Kayosaki and First Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham.
Both books have helped me appreciate how far we have come as PMG. It takes me back to my University days when PMG was just an idea Susan Mumbua and I tossed around while in class and I find myself laughing at the memories.
Statistics show that 7 out of 10 of companies started fail in their 2nd or 3rd year. I began to ponder about why that is so. The obvious first guess would be that the companies could not meet their targeted profit margins and were not productive.
Though this is factual, I believe that companies fail because of these underlying reasons:
1. Putting profits before employees needs
A company is non-existent without its employees. They are the backbone of any company's success and the reason behind the profits. If they are unhappy, it will manifest in your annual reports. Business owners should not be greedy.
2. Bad employers/managers
Just as Marcus Buckingham says in his book 'First Break All the Rules', an employee does not leave a company, he leaves his immediate employer.
3. Mundane work environments
Adding on what Marcus Buckingham says in his book, if you do not allow your employees to be creative in how they carry out their tasks, you are essentially stifling their creative outlet and lowering their morale. When giving any employee a task, define the final outcome and not the means by which he/she should undertake it.
Even in the midst of these everyday problems organizations encounter, PMG is still here. Ten years and going strong with our success growing exponentially with each passing day.
As you prepare for the weekend, it is my hope that everything that you do is a piece of your life plan. No dream that the mind conceives is too great for you to achieve.
Keep the example of Platinum Media Group in mind. Susan and I started this organization in our third year at Daystar University as a project. We were the only employees when we began and today, we have over 3000 members of staff who help PMG to be the successful company that it is today.
If you don't have a life plan, write one. If you do, don't give up. Work on it night and day. Your determination and passion is what will drive you to true success. Do not be cheated: Dreams do come true.
Love,
Lilian Koki,
Tuesday 9th November 2010
ELEVATOR WISDOM
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Yesterday, as you all probably noticed, there was a problem with the elevator. I was one of the few to be so lucky as to get stuck in it when it got jammed. With me were Zuena Aziza from Corporate Affairs, Magdalene Wanjiru from the kitchen and Robert Njeru from Finance. It was eight in the morning and I was expected at an important financial report meeting which I was obviously was unable to attend.
The first hour passed by uneventful but had us sharing stories about our mornings. As it turns out, we had all arrived to work earlier than normal so as to beat deadlines and free up our schedules for Friday. We laughed at Robert's jokes on how stereotypical media events can be and how 'working a room' is essentially playing the frienemy card.
Soon enough, the air supply started receding. Zuena had called downstairs and we were told that the repairmen were on the way to fix the problem. As we waited, we shared the little snacks we had luckily carried with us. I had an apple and peach, Zuena had a shake and Magdalene had some biscuits. We ate and talked about our lives, family and work.
After a tedious two hours of inconvenience, the elevator doors budged open and we said our goodbyes and went our seperate ways. Later that day when I got back home and told my family about what happened to me, my 15 year old son had this to say, "Getting stuck in elevators surely makes people hungry."
"How do you know?" I asked surprised.
"TV," he said as he walked away playing a game on his phone.
I realised how right he was. Being stuck in elevators makes you hungry. But that wasn't quite what I had learnt.
What I got from the experience was that:
1. We all need to take time to know and appreciate the people we work with. Those few hours were eye opening and humbling as I got to know some of the things our dear employees go though and yet remain strong.
2. If you must get stuck in an elevator, please make sure Robert Njeru is with you. He is definatey PMG's funny guy.
3. I think installing a juice box or snack box in the elevator in case of emergency is a good idea. No? Oh well.
Enjoy your week.
Love,
Lilian Koki,
C.E.O
Wednesday 3rd November 2010
THE NOBILITY OF EACH ROLE
I love it when I get up in the morning and have piles of work waiting for me to attend to. It keeps me motivated. Of course, the idea is not that I enjoy feeling busy but that I love having something to do.
Everyone in PMG is important. Down from the One Way cleaners who ensure that the premise is spick and span for you to work efficiently to the kitchen that makes us those appetizing meals some of us consider the highlight of our day to the reporter on a beat trying to get news to the newspaper vendor who makes sure that every Kenyan gets our Daily Patriot by dawn.
Every single role at PMG is noble. No matter how simple it may seem or utterly difficult, what you do helps our organization be the best at what it does. Our core values; excellence, teamwork, integrity and commitment help us all play an important role that adds to the success of PMG as a community and as an organization.
So this week, as you exercise your roles in your various departments, I hope that you find a new found appreciation for what you do.
Without you, there would be no PMG.
Love,
Lilian Koki,
C.E.O
