Author: Esther Muchemi
Pages: 159
Price: Ksh1,450
There’s no denying; Esther Muchemi is one of the most successful women entrepreneurs in Kenya. She is a seasoned business magnate who has created an empire through sheer resilience and hard work.
Her inspiring book, Give Me My Mountain, takes us through her winding journey into entrepreneurship.
She plunged into the uncertain world of business two decades ago when she quit her well-paying auditing job to start her own practice.
Esther Muchemi & Co grew in leaps in bounds. As she revealed, the business was doing so well that she was able to buy a Mercedes-Benz car within five years.
One of the hallmarks of entrepreneurs is that they never quit even after achieving tremendous success. Instead, they look for bigger challenges. Esther never settled for less. She thirsted for more. In 2000, she ventured into the telecommunications industry when she founded Samchi Telecom.
Alluded from the Bible, the title of the book is symbolic. It’s derived from the story of a man called Caleb, one of the only two Israelites to set foot into the promised land of Canaan. Caleb, an 85-year-old man requested God for his mountain, knowing very well that the mountain was infested with giants.
Despite his advancing age, he had the conviction and the will power to fight the giants and to reach his destiny.In her journey, she talks of challenges as mountains, saying that once she conquers one mountain, she sets her sights on the next one.
“I got the title from the Bible. Caleb is a man I have come to admire. He had the courage to ask for his inheritance even at his old age. The youth should have the courage and the boldness to ask. The worst answer they can get is a “No”.
The book tells us how a combination of vision, focus and resilience played out to gift her a successful business.
What started as a single shop selling airtime has morphed into a business empire, consisting 60 shops and grossing millions of shillings in turnover.
The book is captivating as it tells the story of the odds that were stacked against Ms Muchemi, and how she overcame each challenge.
It also shows her knack for spotting new opportunities. For instance, when mobile money was introduced in Kenya, she saw an opportunity and jumped into it. As the holder of till number 0001 for M-Pesa, she was the first person to transact with it. Importantly, her company was used to pilot the new service.
Divided into 18 chapters, the 159 paged book provides readers with a fresh insight into leadership and entrepreneurship. Most importantly, it distills key values and traits that are useful in business. Ms Muchemi’s draws true story lessons from her journey to the top. The book is a handbook for any entrepreneur wishing to start and grow a business.
“I wanted to document my story and to share it with the world to inspire others. Through the book, I feel like I’ve shared a part of my life with the world,” said Ms Muchemi. The book, whose foreword was penned by Safaricom’s CEO Bob Collymore, retails at Sh1,450.
Where to buy: Any Samchi shop, Comrades Bookshop near Quickmart, Kiambu Road, and online through www.africanbookhub.co.me/givememymountain
