Coarcive and collaborative negotiations

Negotiation is an art. Weighing interests and making judgment of whether the deal is a deal or it's an energy-sapping undertaking with no returns.

Some essentials of making a negotiation include having a strong case for yourself and not appearing like a begger looking for underserved favors.

If it's a worth venture, it should not come cheap. All high quality productions cost an arm and a leg. If they were not costly, everyone would be having such, driving down the basic rules of demand and supply.

There are terms that need not be varied lest they cancel the current contract and new one is negotiated or it's ended. Of course, some issues get ironed out by good communication rather than a top-down method that is coarcive rather than collaborative.

Why it's hard for women to change names

Just learned by observation that it's pretty hard being a woman. Though it's something worth writing a book about, one thing that intrigued me much is that the basic concept of identification is both depriving and predatory.

It's already complex being referred by their parent's surnames. Then a stranger comes and adopts her just to go back and make her obtain an affidavit of what the government knew her as a few moons ago at the national registrar of persons offices.

Still, as if that is not most unfortunate, the marriage fails to work and they seek divorce. Hence another need to change name again. This time, it's not known whether they will go back to their dad's or the Christian middle name which they never live up to since they're already judged as hypocrites [which is true anyway]. 

Some religions disenfranchise women to their own advantage and that of the enterprise. If you want to steal from a woman, start a church.

How newspapers lost mojo

Seen both PDF of DN & Standard in another forum that should be professional. No reprimand. Those guys lack content. Hata hakuna big ads to reckon with.

It's time to move. Move from traditional media because something happened to time and space. They lost control and monopoly.

Personally, I subscribe to both Nation and Standard digital editions. Especially for reading features. But when you go to town, you won't find people around newspaper stands. Most will be on their phones. Yet journalists should pay bills. 

Newspaper lost its mojo when it stayed long to embrace change. Now facing extinction, it will take a big deal to put these back on the road of imagination.

As for TV, that has better promise. It still needs to go digital if it is to escape the curse of content drought. This is because you don't have to wait for 9PM to know how the day was.

TV still controls much of living room eyeballs. Both in urban and rural areas. If electricity outage is reliable.

It's time to interrogate the survival tactics of veterans and newcomers, some embroiled in big scandals that still make kids think again of ever taking the media path. Because much of action needs explaining to outsiders. Since no brief is owed, no need.

BALOZY: Your Reliable and Affordable Service Provider

Kenyans have been suffering from a lack of a place where they can order essential services, until Balozy entered the market. In the bustling heart of Nairobi, countless individuals juggle busy work schedules and never-ending household chores. Each day feels like a marathon, leaving many exhausted and yearning for a simpler solution. 

Enter Balozy. This innovative service is easing the burdens of everyday life. Kenyans are downloading the Balozy app from Google Play and the App Store, intrigued by the promise of high-quality, pocket-friendly services at their fingertips. Within moments of making their first request, they receive notifications from friendly, experienced professionals ready to help.

Visiting BALOZY.COM, people are amazed by the variety of services available. From affordable home painters to skilled plumbers, reliable landscapers, and event organizers, Balozy offers it all. The excitement grows as they browse through offerings like TV wall mount installation, refrigerator repairs, hot shower electricians, and make-up artists. The list seems endless.

Many start with something simple, like a cleaning service for their home. Within minutes, cheerful and efficient cleaners arrive, transforming messy apartments into spotless havens. Kenyans are hooked.

But Balozy doesn’t stop at household chores. They offer child care, tutoring, and family services, making life even easier for busy parents. On weekends, people unwind at their favorite bars, often served by Balozy bartenders, or treat themselves to relaxing spa days, courtesy of Balozy’s skilled therapists.

Privacy is a major concern, but Balozy assures users that their data is safe. They implement strict security measures, including a One Time Password (OTP) system and double authentication codes to protect personal information. There’s no worry about invasive calls or spam messages, which is a huge relief.

As the cost of living soars, many learn they can also become Balozy Pros. By signing up on the website, they join a network of independent contractors delivering top-notch services across Nairobi and beyond. It’s an opportunity not just to receive help, but to give back to the community.

Kenyans share their discoveries on social media, spreading the word about Balozy on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). The tech-savvy professionals quickly embrace this innovative solution, enhancing their businesses and personal lives.

Balozy values customer feedback, so people don’t hesitate to share their positive experiences. The customer service is responsive and eager to improve, ensuring every interaction is smooth and satisfactory. The ease of communication via email at customersuccess@balozy.com adds another layer of convenience.

The best part? Balozy offers all these services without any hidden fees. Users receive regular updates about new services and features, keeping their lives organized and stress-free. With over 40 service categories available, Balozy has something for everyone.

Thanks to Balozy, life in Nairobi and beyond is transforming. Kenyans are regaining their time, reducing their stress, and enjoying the comfort of knowing that help is just a click away. Balozy isn’t just a service provider; it’s a lifeline in the fast-paced world of Kenya.

Why we editors hate portraits

 Most newspaper editors have come across a photo which is so good only that its sin is the height is longer than the length. Technically, that photo is called a portrait.

 

An image shot in landscape rich it detail of what the activity is about. Photo/FILE

The opposite is a landscape which is more detailed and deeper. Despite many photo editing apps coming up, none has entirely cured the curse of portraits. Most media illiterate folks excitedly send photos to journalists when told to have some courtesy contributions but the photos have to be cut to fit the house style guide.

Most of this comes at the expense of distorting the pics.  Some may come off as irregular oblongs.

It is now an open secret that we editors hate portraits. We do. Because they don’t say much. Because some are shot from shadows. Others are blurred. Even worse, some lack focus.

There is no sense and detail in those shots.

Then when patience is tested and all the portraits are lined up in a horizontal line, they don’t exactly make a landscape even if that was the aim of the creator.

When I see people smiling for group photos, cheeky crowds getting to shoot a memory photo that will create nostalgia of moments spent, I often see some being condemned to portraits-which we have no love lost.

I shouted at an amateur that they should make their smartphone slide sideways before taking those shots. Because it was a repeated mistake. This cost them a smile of the next photo but at least it was shot in landscape. Not portrait.

By MUSYOKA NGUI

The author is Editor-in-Chief, Mwingi Times

 

Do something for yourself

Today I was woken up by two good morning texts which did not need a reply. One was from my bank and the other one was from a fintech which is allowed to lend.

 Happiest birthday bro, friend and colleague in the infamous meat wrapping enterprise

Musyoka

Ngui

. May you live longer to reach the apex of the trade. - Benedict MUTUKU.

Much later, the telco which eats more of my data than YouTube remembered as an afterthought that Musyoka is having a big day today. And it did the necessary.

But the messages that I will humanize are that from my friends and family. One of my friends asked how old I am. They then said I am young. But I do not agree.

I have not reached an age where I am concerned about legacies and memories. But I already have some.  

In an AlJazeera English sitdown with Nigerian Poet Wole Soyinka, Folly Bah Thibault asked the Nobel Laureate what he would wish to be remembered for.  He shook his greying beard and said “Simply the recollection of the fact that I passed through”.

 Now, as an author who has won a national award and mentored many upcoming reporters, I have a few words for those who want to join my industry.

When we were in high school, our teachers advised us to put a lot of efforts to be better. There were motivational speakers and career coaches. But I dare hold that some advice given then has been overtaken by time and technology.

A decade ago, I formed a website called Youth Issue. I believed that the forum will be used to air the views of the young people who are lied to by politicians that they are leaders of tomorrow in a country where retirees take up government jobs which the youths have spent decades specializing in.

Today I got a glimpse of how people can describe me if I go missing. Silent, young man, serious and unassuming.

Today I take this opportunity to tell everyone my age that they should do something for themselves. Be it a hobby, art or a business.

I do not think most of us have passed our sell by dates.  Reform years of self-rundown in drugs, dangerous leisure and wastage.

This is the time to re-evaluate your priorities. Cut the chase. If you’ve been spending time and money on something, examine it and see if it works. If it doesn’t, follow your head not heart.

Listen to those who have gone ahead of you. Mostly, majority of the competition want you to succeed. It is only that you will render them irrelevant that makes them insecure.

Brush your image. Dress well. Meet people and make worthwhile friends who will help.

Be contented with what you have. That way, you will not steal and you will return something that belongs to another person if it lands on your desk.

I have not achieved some of my own goals in life but it doesn’t mean that I won’t try again.

I will celebrate and do something for myself.  I won’t forget myself.  Yours. Truly.

 

There are reasons for all things that happen

 BY MUSYOKA NGUI

In today’s world where people are busy with many things, priorities tell what one values and what they don’t, even if they claim to.

 

Sometimes, a funny joke is told to pass a serious point, although this may be taken out of context.

Jokes can be very subjective and cultural sensitivities are required to be observed. Some jokes are too in-house that what’s funny may be hard to decipher for others.

There is a reason for all things that happen in this world. Nothing is for nothing.

Vai sere wiserasya. This Kikamba proverb can be loosely translated to mean every effect has a cause.

But truth is, with the dawn of digital technological advancement, people have become mean and inward-looking.

Often, I bump into old friends and new acquaintances. We have banter, we laugh, and we share stories. But days later, months later or even years, they call.

Others complain that I didn’t call them first. They say, wina namba yakwa na ndwinguniaa simu (You have my number and never call).  But they also forget they also have my number and do not call me.

So the net effect of that is that we all got busy with other things and claiming I am the one who dropped the ball on my side of bargain is very unfair and ill-motivated.

To their credit, we may have different clocks and may be free when others are busy or we are busy when others are free.

But understanding that fact may provoke arguments which have a with-all-due-respect prefix.

In other instances, I am the one to blame.

I rarely take prisoners and will be keen on flagging duplicitous conducts that appear well-meaning but in the broader analysis, they are selfish and narrow-interested.

This world has becomes so ingrained in what’s-in-it-for-me perspectives that people don’t care about others even if they have a history of benefiting from the latter.

Right thing

But still, there are selfless individuals who don’t do things to be noticed or applauded. That they are doing the right thing is enough motivation to take hours fixing it.

Owning up one’s mistake is a great step in having better engagements going forward. Especially when the error is meant to improve the relations of the parties involved.

Unfortunately, some puff up and question even the most good faith intentioned gestures.

At all times, it is great to stand up to bullies and let them know that there are boundaries that they cannot cross.

People who regard their own time better than others’ cannot differentiate between public and private needs. They just want their own interests to override that of the better good of the communities they are in.

Luckily, with the advent of mobile apps, these insights can be quantified and qualified in real-time. Some people reach out when they are in need but won’t help others who helped them when they were desperate.

What they cannot admit is that they are enslaved in deep self-pity and self-aggrandizement  and they need help to see the bigger picture and read the wall that big is not always better and small may be subtle, nuanced but yet pass a point that a big and hollow can’t.

It is worth it. It is worth helping others and welcoming others to help those in need. Likewise, never bite the hand that fed you.