Not taking risk is the greatest risk of all.
“Whatever doesn’t kill you just makes you famous,” an interviewee with Fast Company once said about taking risks to achieve a particular goal. Depending on how you look at it, risk-taking is one of the toughest steps people have to undertake to achieve their dreams. On this front, Philemon Nyagaya scores a straight A.
A replicate of Zaccheus’encounter with Jesus in Jericho those days, when he climbed on top of a sycamore tree just to have a glance at Jesus, Mr Nyagaya did the unthinkable – he shouted at the top of his voice to tell the President to get him a job.
Thing are looking up for Philemon Nyagaya after taking the risk of calling out the president.
In both scenarios, the risk-takers achieved their dreams with the former having dined with the son of God and the latter landing impeccable opportunities – first, a phone call chat with the President and the prospect of a lucrative job in the Public Service.
Just four hours after he did his magic in Obunga slums, Kisumu, an action that would have landed him in jail, the St. Paul’s University graduate’s life is now destined for greatness. The tiring job of finding a job is over now as his CV rests with Cicily Kariuki, the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service. “I am still perplexed that the President called me himself and asked for my credentials so I could get a job. I took a step of faith when I saw him as the only one who would solve my problem. I am glad he did,” Mr Nyagaya told Daily Nation.
But why take the risk of slipping past presidential security? Research suggests that great and unforeseen opportunities often come after taking a risk. Successful people view risks as an opportunity to succeed as opposed to a path to spectacular failure.
“I was standing at one of the bumps on the busy highway. Many people had blocked the road to see the President. It then dawned on me that he could help me find a job. I shouted Rais! Rais! Rais! Rais! He looked back in my direction and beckoned me to go to his car,” Mr Nyagaya narrated.
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“I pushed my way through the multitude and reached the nucleus of his security detail. They tried to ward me off, but I kept calling out the President’s name. It was at this point, when I was too close to the President that they let me talk to him. I told him how much I have struggled to get a job. His aides handed me a notebook and a pen to write my contacts,” he added.
Risk taking in life can lead to great rewards. It simply requires one to break out of the comfort zone and chase an unprecedented personal growth or set an entrepreneurial objective. It worked for Nyagaya.
“At 7.30pm, a lady called me and asked if I had talked to the President. She asked me if I wanted a job or internship. I was told that I would be given an email address to send my CV to the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, Ms Cicily Kariuki,” he said
With planning he got his name out there and suddenly a breakthrough has come knocking. His bravery, going above and beyond, can be used as tip to success based on different levels of risk, especially with risk being a component of business.
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