Experiences

Everything has a beginning

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Its Friday morning, the team and I are on our way to Donholm to interview Bernard Onyango Oduori, owner of Mareva Interior Decorators. There is a bit of traffic but we manage to get there in good time.There are soo many people, vehicles and businesses. Everyone is busy doing their own thing; the sun is out today which has been rare with the heavy rains in the past weeks. It’s a beautiful day. Wow! I couldn’t believe my eyes! The place looked like a home and not a shop. The beautiful seats filled the place. Coaches of every color, green, pink, blue, red were there. There was one seat that I couldn’t help looking at, a beautiful green sofa set. If I had cash with me right away men!! I wouldn’t have left the place without that seat.
Anyway let’s go back to business. Bernard used to work as a Fundi in a number of companies under contract. He was given duties and paid once done. He has never been employed permanently and had contracts in different companies. He worked for a number of people, he gave his best but he never felt like he was appreciated and so he decided to start his own business. It was never easy, nothing good comes easy anyway often we have to get out of our comfort zone and do the extra ordinary things that most ordinary people don’t do.

Everything has a beginningDuring the time that Bernard used to be in contract he used to save some money on the side and one day he had enough to start something with. It wasn’t much but it was enough to make him three beautiful seats. When you look at his shop right now the place is full.

In the beginning it wasn’t that easy for him, but he knew what he wanted and so he stayed focused and moved on. In his heart he believed that things would be better and everyday he did something small that inched him there. He is not yet there but he is in the right direction.

Everything has a beginningMareva Interior Decorators is now two years old. We interacted with some of the employees in there and they seemed to appreciate their boss. Bernard, in future, wants to have an even bigger shop and I could see potential in him. Five years from now I know he will get there.

Apart from business, Bernard is a caring husband and a father of three children. He said he has never seen a university door but his polytechnic skills helped him get where he is today. Education is important, but I feel that there is more to life than just the education you get at school. I feel like I’m writing a book so let me stop here for today.



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About Winnie Kibichu

Winnie Kibichu is a communications major with experience in print and electronic media. She studied at the East African School of Media Studies and loves to conduct interviews. Her interests include photography and blogging. She is hard working and has a passion to empower, grow and change the media industry.