Father Sez

I have acknowledged that 2007 was a year of a paradigm shift for me. 

With this has come the drive to be a lot more frugal, a lot more organized in managing our finances, and a stronger drive to earn more money. 

Two plans have been set in motion in 2008. 

Launch our goat farm 

My wife and I have long wanted to start this. Procrastination came naturally as we consoled each other that we had not found the “right piece of land”. In late 2007 all the pieces fell in place. 

A piece of land owned by relatives of my wife came available. This was the only “asset” the family had, so we did not make any attempts to offer to buy. Rather we proposed a joint venture and it was accepted. 

My wife and I provide the capital to start up and operate the farm. Zai, my wife’s cousin brother, (who had been planting mangoes on the land before this), will be handling the work on the ground and manage the farm when completed. 

The farm is taking shape now. The land has been cleared, fenced, access roads improved and the goat sheds are now in progress.  

We have targeted 1^st April 08 as the completion date and have marked 5^th April 08 as a date where we’ll have a small “kenduri or thanksgiving prayers” to launch the farm. 

A little on Zai and his family.  

His family consists of his grandma, his mother, his 3 sisters (one elder and 2 younger), his nephew and his children(two boys and a girl). His family has always been very close to us. His grandmother stayed with us and helped nurse our son and the little girls when they were born, whilst his mother is one of my wife’s closest confidants. (They have kindly agreed that the farm be named after my mother). 

My wife and I both know that Zai will do his best to make the farm a success. On our part, we have to make sure that there is adequate funding for the farm, and assist in marketing etc. 

Once a week, I drop by (about an hour drive from our home) to see the progress. So far it is looking good. 

The company in which I was literally gifted a 25% stake, has secured a  project in Indonesia. (I am writing this post from Jakarta).

This project is for the building and leasing of common telecommunication towers for the telecommunication operators in Indonesia.  

There are still a number of issues to be resolved, and the prospects look great. God Willing, we should be starting work around the same time as the farm is launched, i.e. beginning April 08.  

We have done our business plans for both these projects and there are some spin offs that can be created once these two take off. There is a lot to be done and 2008 looks like it is going to be a busy one. And also looks good for the wallet.  

A number of years ago, I was holding a senior level management post in a PLC.

During my tenure, the company I worked for issued out several large tenders. The winners of one of the tenders was a company, we shall call “A”. Though I was not involved in the technical and financial evaluation of the tenders, nor in deciding on the final recommendations leading to the award, by virtue of my position, outsiders would have inferred that I was a major influencing figure. 

I left this PLC before the final recommendations were made to award to “A”. One of the directors and shareholders of this “A” was, shall we say, Mr. B. During the tender period and process, I had interactions with Mr. B and I liked and respected him, but the relationship sort of tapered off after I left. 

About 2 – 3 years later, I received a call from Mr. B. He had sold off his shares in “A” and was about to invest in another small company and wanted me to join him as a fellow director and shareholder. 

Whilst I had faith in the business model and prospects of this company, I had no money to invest.  

And Mr. B offered me an interest free 5 year loan for the full investment. 

This was at that time, the biggest loan I had ever been offered, about 1.5 times my mortgage. This was the biggest monetary amount I would have had in any investment, even bigger than the value of the house my family was living in. And it was the only interest free loan that had ever been offered to me.  

I took him up on his offer. 

And just look at the returns I received from this investment and what I did with that: 

a)    The loan from Mr. B was paid back in full, though I went slightly over the 5 year period, 

b)    My mortgage was paid off, 

c)     This company, in partnership with others, secured a contract in Ghana and this gave rise to my working stint in West Africa. The first time I had ever been to Africa. 

d)    The 3 years in Africa was my best ever working experience.  

e)    The interactions with my Ghanaian colleagues somehow led to me writing a book titled with the long name of “We wish we knew these 20 years ago”. This book was meant to be a guide to my children. Working on this book created changes in me, changes which I consider “paradigmic”, if there’s such a word.   

f)      When that Ghana contract ended, one of our partners offered me a job which took me to India, where I spent 2 and half very eventful years. 

I can go on with quite a few more returns. And it is still ongoing.  

The point, I am trying to make is, what is really my best investment? 

i)                  Is it the investment in this company? 

ii)                Or is it the investment I had made in myself? The investments that given me certain qualities and values. Qualities and values which had made Mr. B offer the interest free loan to me, so that I could be his fellow shareholder. 

You tell me. 

I have never asked Mr. B, why? Neither has he ever volunteered to tell me. Though I have thanked Mr. B profusely, I guess he may never ever fully realize what a great opportunity and favor he has done me, my family and a host of other people, who have benefited indirectly. 

Thanks a million, again, Mr. B!