 Welcome back. Welcome back. This is still why in the morning. Thank you for staying with us. If we're just joining us Well, you're on time for the fast conversation of the day on career and today we're talking about Goal set goal setting and career alignment and with us to help us with this discussion is PG Wesley who's a youth mentor and Life coach you can interact with us Of course on our social media handles are 25 for the hashtag is why in the morning You can send in your questions and of course we will sample them. Yes, uh, Wesley Welcome welcome to the show. We're glad to have you as auntie. Okay You can introduce yourself just in case I missed something Yeah, thank you so much Uh for inviting me to this station. Yeah, my name is Wesley g P or pole Wesley Uh, I'm a life coach and a youth mentor So generally I deal with dealing with young people Especially those between the ages of as early as 13 To around 35 generally Yeah, okay So we have the youth falling in that category and yeah, you know our audience of course Most of them are youths and we want to just Have it clear, you know How to set the right goal and to align our career in the right direction So, how do we start? What's the foundation of it? What's the basis? First thing, uh, this I think this is one of the best topic that uh, somebody has ever asked me in in life generally And uh, I must say first. I'm a I'm a trained lawyer Oh, okay. Yes. I'm a trained lawyer and also, um, I'm also, um a criminologist so I think That topic for me will be ideal Especially with what I'm doing currently because I'm not practicing what I I studied I ended up doing something different in life. How so? Uh, because I realized that, uh, you know, you did well in your national exams and There was no alternative and you decided let me do this career because Everybody's saying it's good, but nobody was there to guide me to tell me, you know Do this this is how to choose career So I ended up doing something with which I thought was lighter for me. But at the end of the day I came to realize that was not my thing. It was not my passion. So I was in a wrong place So you can imagine uh, regrouping yourself and trying to find now the real meaning of life Yeah, after studying for that's about six years. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. So all that Wasted to some extent, but at least above the knowledge not really wasted, but uh, but it was not my thing It was not your thing. Yeah, because I can still use the knowledge I can still practice if I want but it was not my thing. Okay. Yeah, and I'm not comfortable there Even if you put me there, I'll be like I'm in a wrong place So, uh, taking you back, uh, if you were to go back you would choose something different very different Because now I'm at a point of knowledge and knowing what really I want and what Life has taught me out here. Okay. So yeah, talk to that, you know person who's At that point at that stage Just finished school high school wants to join college and you know Probably passed the exams and they're being told to go for the lower job for the doctor, you know those Flushy careers. I know You know, that is one of the things that I think messed most of us When you were in high school There were these people who were being brought to talk to us and you know, most of them were in this lucrative kind of careers Like medicine engineers. So we used to admire them But we didn't really You know, we were at a point where we could not really interrogate much because we didn't know much But so it was them to like tell us, you know, everything you are being told and Most people are in that category today, especially young people. Somebody has finished school Maybe they expected a certain grade. It didn't come through the way they wanted it. And now they are at that point where What do I do now? I got a c I expected a c plus or even I got a c plus or a b plus or an a Look, I was told medicine is good, but I don't feel like doing it. It's not my passion. It's not my passion. Some of them are even taken to For medicine people are taken to the To the lab for the first time, you know Then the first thing the specimen is the dead body and they're like, no, no, no, I can't stand this So they realize I mean a wrong career. It's already too late because the revision They've already done the revision whatever but because of the influence out there. So fundamental when you want to go and Decide what career you want to do the first thing I always tell people Check yourself. What is this that? When you do or when you Think about you don't struggle With it. It's something that it's just you love it comes natural natural You don't struggle. You don't put a lot of effort into it. That is what you should go for it. All right. Yeah So for example, you for example, maybe I want to be an engineer But I got a c plus. Of course, you're not qualified So in life one thing somebody has to know you have to pick option one and two and three In life, we just you just don't decide I'm going to be this Because that's what I wanted and you have to also adjust have an open mind open mind exactly So if I I wanted to be an engineer, but I can't because of my grades. What alternative do I have? In other words one I can't go to university. So there are other alternatives Basically, I'm not pursue degree, but I can pursue diploma in a polytechnic, which is still okay In the same in the same field If maybe you still insist me I wanted to be an engineer and you didn't even qualify to do a diploma You can still do a certificate in the same field as long as that is your passion. Yes Yes, okay to you know the results don't matter much as your passion is what should be the driving force Your passion is the driving force. Let it be the driving force Okay. Yes. And now for someone who's in the wrong career path Is it okay for them to now go back and start again to where they want to actually pursue what they actually want to pursue? Yes, uh, yes and no because there are many fundamentals That will uh, will Make you to make that critical decision and one of them and uh, especially in today's world is the pocket The pocket money, I mean you you can you can't pursue any any career without uh footing some bills Yeah, plus availability of also that the chance to go and pursue There are many people who have many Other factors like a age factor. They're like, man. I'm aging. I can't go back That contributes but for somebody who is passionate and realize I'm in a wrong career and has found the right career I always tell them it's worth sacrificing saying, you know what I messed up here But I'm ready to go back to school as long as there is will and there is availability of finances to Propel that program that you want now to do. Okay. They say whether there's a will. There's a way. There is a way Okay. So now, uh, let's talk about goal align goal setting and alignment. Yeah, so now you're in the right career You're in school. Yes. So how do you set the right goals? How do you plan your career? Um, now this is where Life coach life coach comes in or a mentor comes in. So for example, uh, Let me pick a career like somebody who wants to do journalism. Yeah, what you're doing and This is or rather they already in that career or that field or they're studying already How do you set your goals first first thing first interact with people who are already in that field and get to know You know, how is your field? What are the probabilities in area a bcd? What are the probability of employment because everybody at the end of the day? I want after this course I get employed. So let them get the skills or the You know those two minor details which will help them Now to set the real goals like at the end of the day after my two years or three years or four years in college This is what I want to achieve. You know, and this is the avenue I'll use I'll start by getting Through this maybe channel program or rather maybe in a station or you can even start a you own blog or vlog You know, so at the end of the day, you need people who are already there They'll help you to work or help you walk through this journey and help you to set the goals So you make sure so how someone might ask, you know, they're still in college How do they get to this people that's already in their career maybe for someone in journalism? How do they get to someone maybe who's their role model to just guide them through To to get them to be their mentor to work with them through that, you know that journey Uh now this is where I I always say you need to be a go-getter in life If I want something for you information, I will go and get it for instance one of the person who made me to Kind of admire law Was professor loma. So I was I I did all I could To interact with him to make to make sure I I found out where they his office Office was and what have so I had to go and look for them So there is this person maybe in the media for a journalist or an engineer or somebody in a different field, you know a nurse You can volunteer go to a hospital. Just Human beings are approachable Excuse yourself. I have some courtesy. Talk to somebody like excuse me. I'm so and so introduce yourself Tell them what you do and what you want to know So people are people and people are good Kenyans, we are open to help Go and approach people be a go-getter Be a go-getter because life is I always tell people life is a fight for territory If you stop fighting for what you want what you don't want will automatically take over So if you want something you go you go to fight for it You go to find it If person a says no look for person b if person b says no look for person c at the end of the day Three people cannot Disagree or we will not want to listen to you or want to work with you through that journey Okay, I love that He you've said if you don't go for what you want what you don't want will get to you. Yes, okay And now and now on still on goal setting So now you have interacted with the people that you uh, you want to interact it and Interact with now on goal setting Do you set long-term goals and short-term goals and what's the importance of setting? You know setting a distinction between the two if you you know if you agree that's necessary Yes, both apply When when it comes to goal sweating because at the end of the day Even in let's take a normal project. I want to simplify it for a youth who is a hustler out there Sorry to use that term or a youth is trying to Make it out make it out there You you decide I'll I'll I'll pick a business like uh because that can also be a career A business like I'll be going to gikomba Buy shoes second-hand shoes Bring them to town and sell them You see you just don't sit down and make that decision. You go to set goals Short and long short in what perspective How Will I get the finances? That is a short term because it's a it's a need a quick need a quick one a quick one Yeah, I'll I'll I'll go get it from my mom. Maybe borrow I'll ask my uncle Or I'll go If I'm gonna Get some money then get capital to do or I'll approach a financial institution or a circle If they can give you a loan Then or a full isa then you go and and and take then long term at the end of the day What do you want to achieve after doing that business? Do you want to save the money? Do you want to eat? Do you want to go live a happy life a good life? So even even even in careers it applies the same when you're setting goals you need to apply both sides Short term and long term long term And that's the difference between someone who has this goals and someone who's just there and just knows I want to study this and you know get a job Uh, sorry come up again. So what happens, you know, uh in goal setting Someone who has a short term goal and a long term goal and someone who's just there in school Who knows i'm finishing school and going to get to look for a job It is like telling me, um I'll use an example. It's like somebody telling me Me, I just want to go out there stand in the street Any man who will call me for a lady Will we spare or call me I'll go and settle down with them I mean everybody in life you have to set goals Even you can just say I'll study then after I finish school. I'll just go out there and get a career. How it is next to impossible So you need to have a plan you you go to have a plan basically you go to have a plan because at the end of the day Life is not a rehearsal. This is the real the real deal. This is a real deal. Yes. Yeah. Yes, okay Now still speaking on on on the same thing getting out and wanting to look for a job. There's something that I'll quote you on something that you posted You said the richest man in china said if you put bananas and money in front of the monkeys They will choose bananas because they don't know that the uh the money can buy them a lot of bananas And you continue to say in fact if you offer job and business to people They will choose job because they don't know that uh a business can Make more money than a salary and you continue But now comment on that, you know, many people in their career. They're looking for employment Instead of looking to create the opportunities themselves now that is where That is what creates a difference between a go-getter And somebody who is okay with life Mm-hmm What propel people why I I I I I used that uh a story in my post or rather in my facebook post I wanted to challenge people out there Based on uh, actually that was That was uh alibaba who who gave that story Okay So The truth is people out there They don't want to Take risk in life. They're okay. You know me as long as I'm employed And I don't blame them It's okay. Not everybody who was born with that passion to be a go-getter or being a risk-taker But the strongest person Or somebody who can go find life is somebody who is a risk-taker We'll go and try many things at the end of the day. You'll get a sport A soft sport and that sports Soft sport will create the job Um I I grew up seeing my mother Being an employee Of the government And I never used to enjoy when she sometimes she could complain So to not find a cause wake ups wakes up very early in the morning goes to work Uh, I don't blame I still admire she's my number one fan But her lifestyle made me to say, you know what I'll not take that path I will go out there and create something Even when I decided to be a life coach and a motivational speaker it didn't just start It had ups and downs a lot of opposition Okay, and speak of the challenges, you know, the people go through in, you know, uh Pursuing their career and breaking, you know through the hurdles that are there So what should one, you know keep on, you know, what should one Use to just motivate them to keep on At the end of the day, I still insist. This is where a mentor And a life coach comes in because there is there is that time in life you feel like I can't take it anymore. I'm done. I quit man. This is too much This is where you need somebody will propel you will tell you. Hey, don't give up keep on And sometimes you don't really need a life Life coach it can be a book It can be a program that will propel you you just watch and you you hear somebody's story and you're like what if that person made it Then I can also make You can read somebody's text and you see the struggles they went through, you know At the end of the day, you're like this guy persevered 26 years in robin island prison And I'm just six months down the line and I'm already giving up. So somebody's story can be A motivation point where you'll be like, you know what I'll keep on keeping on when you fall down I always tell people Always rise up and look up Because as long as you can look up you can stand up and you can walk and you can make some steps Amazing. Yes. Yeah. So just find a way to keep yourself motivated. If it's a mentor, it's a book If it's not a book, it's someone you can watch and get inspiration from. Yes. All right. Speaking of books and goal setting James clear wrote the the author of atomic atomic habit. Yes. He said that He's not for goal setting. He's more on the systems behind the vision or the goals And what do you take on that? Um It depends on the school of thought, you know life is based on schools of thoughts that each is somebody decides to subscribe to You know, like him, he decided to subscribe to that thought which to me I don't agree Basically based on my experience Since I started doing mentorship programs and and motivational talk Uh, I I I find the opposite side of that or I I decided to subscribe to the opposite of that. Why? Because you see I'm a bit structured in a way. So I believe in a process of seeing Doing and learning seeing doing and learning but and You know, you've talked about having the goals the short term goals and everything But he says that you can you know, you can have a goal to uh be number one Maybe okay not really uh to maybe if someone is pursuing Join battle in journalism Their goal is to get a first class degree uh first class owners. Yeah at the end of it But you can have that as a goal and do nothing about it. So that was his argument You can just look at a goal But the systems that are behind the goal are what actually are what are actually important You're walking towards that Putting systems in place that will actually propel you to get that that first class degrees owners So like for example, let me ask you Let me throw the question back to you now. Okay I know I know the the the the interview now is the interviewer. Yeah, let us try Yeah, now now the question is When you're going through the structure of school Will you subscribe to that? Did you did you follow that kind of uh or philosophy? Did it work for you? Well That's a tough one. I am not sure how to answer it Well, it's it's a bit tough because to some extent I would I would agree with it But I also agree that goal setting is actually very important having that goal But actually both of them working together would work Uh, I don't believe there is a middle ground. There's no middle ground to it It's either cold or or hot. Okay. It can't be warm or lukewarm can't be warm Okay, so Next to it You you know people say uh, you are not your success or you are not your failure What do you say to this? You are not your success and you are not your failure In terms of career, you know people pursuing their career and then you fail at it or Somewhere along the way you fail and then you feel like you want to blame yourself for it So people are saying that uh, okay There's actually another mentor that came to the show and said you are not your failure So if you failed, it's okay. That was a failure on on its end, but you still you Wow, it can be looked in different perspective Depending on your approach of life because there are people who they start something and they believe that, you know At the end of the day, this is what I want to achieve Then they don't achieve it. So they end up blaming themselves and they end up living that life of Regretting could I have done something wrong? You know living a life of the past But there's another person will be like it's okay. I failed today tomorrow. I'll rise up and I'll do it again And I'll do it again and again and again and I believe in that School of thought of of that That thing yes You are not your success and you're not your failure. Yes, I I believe in it. All right Something else that I want to put you on you said on your post Shake off the victim mentality and have a victor mentality When you have a warrior mentality an attitude of faith knowing that You've been equipped and empowered then all the forces of darkness cannot stop you. Yes Yeah, talk on that What is the victim mentality for someone who doesn't you know understand it victim mentality is that mentality of more of Blaming yourself all the time And not believing that you have the capacity to do what it takes for you to do Like you cannot be a winner like aquetu You know like there are people who always believe in patterns in their family structure My father never went to campus or never went to school So basically there's no need for me to also study. My brother never made it. I'm the last born now I also not make it. I always tell them no each one of us are individual best And you have your own life to live So It is upon you to decide how to Live your life and not look at others. So you need to have a warrior mentality like I don't care what other people went through Me me I'm different and I was born different and I was born unique and I have my own purpose Which is not their purpose. I have my strength. Which is not their strength Okay, yes have a warrior mentality have a warrior mentality you say okay now back to career planning And you know goal setting is should there be a difference or a distinction between someone in college A fastest student and a graduating student in terms of their career plan Of course, of course, you see now A fastest student generally in most of the careers and Different faculties They learn general things based on on on that specific career But you see a finalist or somebody is about to finish You know, they are a bit they've narrowed down of the they've decided to take a path of we call it specializing You know All of you started well as a group, but towards the tail end Each person they say it found that m. M. Gooden Photography another person videography, you know for a journalist So so is the medicine or medicine field all of them they get into one class But towards the tail end you find somebody has gone To pharmacy another one General practitioner and what have you and what have you and so is law every career has its own special So they don't have the same Kind of It doesn't look the same the outline is different. The outline is different. Yes, okay And now, you know on the outline, how should a career plan look like should it be You know, should should someone write it down And if so, what is the importance of writing it down other than just having it in your you know in your memory You just know this is where I want to be and someone who has it written down and they can see it That is the main reason that question is the main reason why The educationists or people in the ministry of education reviewed Our education system Because they realized they realized that you know The 844 system I'm not I'm not I'm not good in that field But I think I've done a bit of research and I wanted to know why did they decide to do that And I realized that you know, we were just learning, you know We were just going through the school education and people are being bound to do things that We're not even making sense to at the end of the day in their lives. In fact, it was a waste Of of an individual. So like we we have a lot of problems in Kenya today because of a wasted Sorry to say this to the country, but we are majority of the people The system that we had I'm not against it. The people who brought it. I'm I'm sure they did a lot of research But majority will agree with me the 844 system was a typical failure to an entire generation And that's why the cbc came because you know, we were being bound to do everything, you know Everything you'll find your way And decide to know, you know to do what you are good at Imagine since childhood somebody is just being forced to do something that they don't really They won't pursue they want to pursue at the end of the day then When you're going to campuses when you're told now, I think you can now decide what you want to do Are we together? And that's why cbc came where a young person can be nurtured the talent can be tapped at a younger age Yes, okay So we are going to take a short break and then we're going to come back and wrap this conversation up All right, tell us some few tips on how we can set the career plan how we can put it down possibly on a vision board So let's take that short break and then we'll be right back stay with us Star eight one one star seven five eight hush Police Seven five eight hush star eight one one star seven five eight hush Life can be handful with these ups and downs highs and lows I went to now for the diary negotiation. Yes, the dad refused me to go to their home We gave a voice to teach when somebody says I do basically at this point is when now the real you Begins to come out inspire You know like I had totally lost it stories that inspire you to greatness And the voice of god spoke to me and I knew that was the voice of god and god told me i'm calling you to ministry Right, it's like what? Yes, it's all about achievement picking yourself up and making a difference Cabin in the summer and I can't go on number come in a tunnel number nine number two I can't go on number emoji. I'm kind of university of Nairobi. It's a discussion. You should never miss right here on the next I for Imagine back. Welcome back. We are still on our first conversation on career you setting the right career goals and Propelling your career in the right direction and for that we are joined by my guest here Mr. Wesley Wesley pg Wesley. Yes, and just before the break we were talking about You know putting it down and you know the difference between you were talking about cbc and 844 And now I want you to tell me about putting it down now the vision board The vision board aspect of it how important is having a vision board for someone Who wants to you know follow their goals? You know basically At the end of the day the question I'll beg to ask what is vision? That is the first thing for anybody who wants to get into any career. What is my vision? So you have to define what a vision is. It's what you want to achieve at the end of the day Your long-term thing. So putting them down. It's important because it will help you You know, it's like more of a a work plan a manual that will help you Revise every time you're losing focus or you're getting it wrong So it will be something that will be going back to to do reference, you know a reference point So it is important to put it down because anytime It will give you an agenda to go towards a certain direction without allowing any distraction or external forces To try and come and manipulate the original vision that you want to achieve So putting down that is where that is why it is important because it helps you to go back and review and reflect If you're losing it, you go back and check and check. Yeah. Yeah. So basically that is what It helps So would you say someone with a vision board has an added advantage? Someone who doesn't yes a lot because you see somebody who doesn't have is is easily manipulate A book any any idea will come and try to win them over. You see at the end of the day, they'll not achieve their original intent In life or what they had said that this is what we want to do So putting it down will help you because if any external distraction will come You not give it a lot of energy or focus, but we'll be like wait that one can wait. Let me finish this first Yes, okay, and how should that vision board look like, you know Just visualizing it for someone who doesn't have an idea of you know a vision, but should it have pictures? How should it be just to keep you motivated? It you know at the end of the day The good books say if you want to achieve something put it down On a plan So it can be in different forms. It can be in form of a writing. It can be form of pictorials You know, I want to be an advocate and I have my small house or my small bedroom or a bedroom I will go and Get pictures of different lawyers or people in that career and just go and you know Put like charts in a class or something where I can always look and like wow I want to be a doctor You can every time you wake up and you see that picture and you're like, I have a reason to To work out what's this direction It can be through writing in your personal Diary where you are like in this year I would want to do this or personal journal where you remind yourself every now and then that At the end of the day, I want to be this and that and this. Yeah, so it is it can come in different forms It can be pictorials. It can be Even having a mentor who is already there and now They you see their life and you try to emulate or you try to ask them hard questions. How did you do this? Yeah, so it is in many forms Yeah for someone watching they might feel like, you know, what we're talking about is only for the white college jobs But someone in the entertainment industry someone who's a musician someone who's an artist You know, how is it for them? Is it the same? Does it apply? It is the same um I once had This group of musicians south is all They were being interviewed and they They were asked what has made you to be This group what has made you people to be intact for after many many years Then it was clear to it was clear We knew what we wanted We had a vision We had a plan And we knew by this by a certain time in life. We will be in this place. So Even Athletes even whoever Whoever is in a different in in any field you need to have a plan You need to have a plan. You need to have a plan. It doesn't matter what you want to pursue Yes, a plan is will guide you will guide you because even a musician you need you see you have to see the relevance If I write this music will it be relevant out there? Will it be making sense to this generation? So you need to even put it down? They just can't You take the mic and start singing. They have to plan. They have to write it down And for parents, you know Because uh, there are big factor in the direction we choose in our career So what would you say to parents, you know pressuring kids to go towards this career? Like uh, your case for instance, you went into law, but this was not something you wanted to pursue So what would you say to parents? I'll also add teachers Because I've seen this in many schools where a teacher identifies a certain student because maybe she's a performer She's a a student or a b-plus student and they try to impress them you you can be good in this field So this the student really doesn't want that field and and and most parents are victims of this Thank god my mother was not that type. My mother was do what you're comfortable doing But most parents out there I want you to be a doctor because maybe that parent wanted to be a doctor But never made it to be a doctor. So they want to push it to their children. So Maybe that that that daughter or that son of theirs doesn't have that you know that Capability to be to be what you're forcing them to be So the end of the day the kids they go to school study medicine But at the end of the day they're in a wrong career at this point. This is where I advise My young generation I tell them if they force you and you don't have any way out don't fight with them Go study after you study Finish school after graduation give them the certificate go back to school and do what you want to do Go back to school and do what you want to do You have lost a lot of time It is okay. It is worth it. You say I wasted my four five years for them But I can start mine now. It's never too late for anybody It's never too late. Okay. And what if you know, how would you now advise parents to identify the strengths, you know In the children in their teenagers, you know So that they advise them rightly in the right careers to pick because honestly, sir You know when you finish high school, you don't some people are not very, you know Clear with what they want to do. So they are open to anything that their parents Have for them. So how would you advise their parents the parents now to Identify the strengths in this kids and then point them towards the right direction friendship friendship friendship friendship It is important a parent to be a friend to their child Because you cannot just tell you cannot just guide a child who you you you never you are never Friends with you know at the end of the day, you don't know your child most parents are busy You know after their careers and chamas and what have you they never have time to interact with their children So at the end of the day, they cannot be the best advisors to their children Especially today's parents. I'm sorry to say this At this point if a parent you feel like you've never been there for your for your for your child It is important at this point. You look for there many people who are Who are in this field, you know called a career mentorship program. You can approach them Take your child there pay some fee so that they can walk this journey with your child They can be able to see their potential their strength what they like and at that at the end of the day Whatever they the child and the and the counselor or the the coach will come up with As a parent I'll I'll say don't push What you want but agree with what they've agreed with because at the end of the day This is a different life and they have their own path. So parents should be free Parents should be free with their children with their children Yeah to make them their friends. Okay. So now, thank you very much for this amazing conversation I would want you to have your parting shot on this camera As you also tell us your social media handles and where people can get you. Okay My parting shot is this Life is a fight for territory for anybody who is in career If you still fighting for what you want what you don't want will automatically take over So career is a choice It is you to decide what you want to do at the end of the day And it's never too late for anybody. You might be at your age of 30 and maybe you wanted to do something Different and you feel like I'm in a wrong place at the end of the day. It's never too late You can always regroup yourself Pick up yourself and go back and do what you want to do in life People can get me through a facebook that is Grace Wesley That is my social that is my facebook page I think I'm mean when it comes to contacts so allow me Not to give my contacts social handles right now. Yes. So people can follow me through the facebook And I think that is enough for now. Okay. Thank you very much once again for dressing the interview This has been Paul Grace. Yes. Yes. Paul Grace Wesley who's youth mentor and life coach talking to us about Goal setting and dream alignment, you know, if you have not put in anything just remember this If you don't go for what you want what you don't want will automatically get to you So be the go-getter that has been it's from career talk But we'll be taking a short break and then Ram Aguco will be coming up with youth and politics