My name is Patrick.
For years, I dreamed of becoming a respected businessman in my community.
I started with a small shop selling household goods. The beginning was not easy, but I was patient. I woke up early every morning, worked late into the night, and slowly built a loyal group of customers.
After five years, my business had grown.
I expanded my shop.
I hired workers.
I bought more stock.
For the first time in my life, I felt proud of what I had achieved.
My family celebrated with me.
My parents told neighbours,
“Our son has worked hard. He has built something from nothing.”
But success also brought new challenges.
As my business became bigger, more people became interested in what I was doing.
Some wanted advice.
Others wanted to partner with me.
I trusted many people because I believed everyone around me wanted to see me succeed.
One day, a person I knew approached me with a business opportunity.
He promised that if I invested a large amount of money, my profits would increase quickly.
The idea sounded attractive.
I wanted to grow faster.
Without doing enough research, I invested.
At first, everything looked good.
Then problems started appearing.
The promised returns did not come.
Communication became difficult.
The money I had invested became difficult to recover.
At the same time, my business started experiencing challenges.
Some suppliers delayed deliveries.
Some customers stopped paying debts they owed me.
My workers became unhappy because payments were delayed.
Within a short period, the business I had spent years building started struggling.
I became stressed.
I stopped enjoying the success I once celebrated.
Every day, I worried about losing everything.
My family noticed the change.
My mother told me,
“Sometimes when a person faces a difficult season, they need to seek wisdom and a new perspective.”
I decided to seek guidance from Dr. Magongo in Kisumu as part of a traditional consultation and reflection process.
I shared my journey.
I explained how my business had grown, the decisions I regretted, and the pressure I was carrying.
He listened carefully.
He encouraged me to reflect on my choices, rebuild trust, and approach business with more patience and wisdom.
According to the traditional beliefs shared during the consultation, a symbolic cleansing ceremony was prepared.
A calabash filled with water represented renewal and starting again.
A bundle of traditional herbs represented restoration and reconnecting with strength.
A woven basket containing seeds represented rebuilding slowly and creating a stronger foundation.
A small wooden key represented opening new opportunities through better decisions.
A pen and notebook symbolized planning, accountability, and writing a new path.
During the ceremony, I reflected on the mistakes I had made.
I realized that success is not only about making money.
It is also about making careful decisions, choosing trustworthy people, and protecting what you have built.
After returning home, I changed my approach.
I reviewed my business records.
I reduced unnecessary expenses.
I stopped chasing every opportunity that promised quick wealth.
I rebuilt relationships with suppliers and customers.
Slowly, my business began recovering.
It was not overnight.
There were many difficult days.
But every small improvement gave me confidence.
Years later, I look back at that season differently.
I lost money.
I made mistakes.
But I gained something more valuable — wisdom.
Today, I tell other business owners:
“Do not let excitement make decisions that patience should make.”
The experience changed how I see success.
A strong business is not built only with money.
It is built with discipline, knowledge, honesty, and the courage to start again.
