If we had more people solving problems than those being part of the problem or complaining about the problem, we would all be better off. Mark earns a six-figure salary in a well-known multinational corporation. His career has over time grown in leaps and bounds. He is often invited to forums to speak about the work he has done. Mark is the sort of person who could use his network and platform to actually solve problems. He has thousands of followers on twitter and he recently tweeted about the horrible state of some schools and even posted a picture of a school where rains had destroyed the roof. His point was that the relevant authorities are dropping the ball and should do something about it. Many people jumped on this conversation, saying what should be done and complaining about who is supposedly in charge of fixing these problems. Akoth noticed the same problem in a school in her hometown. Instead of complaining she did something about it.
Akoth visited the school and sat with the teachers to understand the problem. Apart from dilapidated infrastructure, the school was facing very low attendance. Over several months, and without even giving a Shilling to the school, she helped them come up with a vision and a business plan. She also got them to see what they have as opposed to what they don’t have. Even how to use an old calendar to teach Maths! They were also able to have a forum for the parents to encourage them to re-enrol students. The enrollment of this school has increased and students are now being able to sit national examinations. Akoth doesn’t even have the platforms Mark has and the social medial following. However, she solved a problem. She refused to join the complaining bad wagon and joined the ‘What am I going to do about it?’ team.
We could do with less Marks and more Akoths. Mark, with same time, effort and characters could as well have said that he is looking for resources/volunteers to help that school rebuild their roof. The complaint did not help anyone and definitely did not spur the relevant authorities into action. However, we seem to have embraced the Marks of this world. We think it is our right to complain. And many of the people complaining don’t actually have reason in their own lives to do so. Like Mark they have the education and prospects. They are able to pay bills and sustain their lifestyles. Surely that’s cause enough for one to think about how to be a solution. Kuria is watchman and on face value has a lot to complain about. His salary is hardly enough to meet his needs. However, he was disturbed by all the plastic bottles littering the street near his house. Every day, Kuria picks up the plastic and takes them to the factory where he works as they have their own system of disposal. His neighbours have now become very conscious about collecting litter. That’s another problem solver. They are many people tweeting about the plastics problem as it accumulates right outside their office buildings and they do nothing about it. Oh that’s right only the city council is responsible for cleaning up after we have bought and had our drinks in that very same plastic bottle!
If God decided to zap us into heaven today and asked why we did not fulfill His purpose, I highly doubt that the fact we were complaining and waiting for relevant authorities to up their game would suffice as an answer. He may show us that we bothered enough to talk about it or tweet it, was a sign that we should play a part in fixing it. Yes, we should be aware of problems. If a certain road is jammed up, it’s good to know so that you can take an alternative route. To be able to do that or use the information to get out of danger is important. However, we have too many people complaining beyond this scope and it is time to get out of this scarcity mentality. How many people meet at lunch time to complain about the boss rather than how they can be problem solvers in the organization? How many waste time complaining about other people and what they should do? You may not have run or won a seat in parliament. You may not even agree with the actions (or lack thereof) of those in authority but it does not excuse you from being a solution provider. Neither does not having money. I dare you to solve a problem and be among the few that stand out. At the very least stop talking about problems you intend to do nothing about. It doesn’t help.
Waceke runs programs on Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship. Get in touch with her on waceken@centonomy.com|Facebook/WacekeNduati| Twitter@cekenduati