Tariro

What Does Success Mean When You Work Remotely?

2 Comments / Remote Work /

There are many reasons people choose to work remotely. Some are looking for a supplementation of their income, whilst others are looking for a more flexible way to work because they have a disability, young or special needs dependants, or they just want it that way. Whatever one’s reason is to choose this mode of working, it’s important to define the reason you want to work remotely for yourself because this is how you will be able to measure whether or not you are being successful on this path. Personally, when I started out working remotely over a decade ago, I really wanted three things. I wanted to help small businesses and individuals operate more efficiently. I wanted to be able to work from anywhere. I wanted money to fund my desires to travel to different places as and when I wanted. However, here’s my truth. The first and the second were almost easy to attain and say, I am succeeding at this. I was working with small businesses in various industries and really could do it from anywhere. I was not obligated to work in one place. The third piece, though, was a rollercoaster. A seesaw. Up and down. There were times when I would make money to spare to travel, and there were times when I would really be on struggle trips, counting those coins with a racing heart in the middle of those travel moments. But you know what? I was happy (for the most part). However, because my goals have since shifted, especially after I became a parent, I have days when I say to myself, You know what? Maybe I shouldn’t have gone on that trip. Could have saved those coins for something better. There are days… OK? So given this background, I really want to talk to you about what success should look like when you are working remotely. Should you make $20K a year? $50K? Over $100K? Should you travel to Europe every year? Should you buy a car every year? Should you buy a stand every year? Should you be able to rent in a certain part of the city without having your finances cough? Should your children be in a certain kind of school? Should you frequent certain restaurants where you can work and take cute pictures from? Should you positively impact businesses and make a difference in how they operate while also contributing to their revenue? Should you be able to define your working hours and have time aside for your family and friends without having awkward conversations with your boss about why you cannot work this weekend? I could go on. Do you know why? Because success looks different for each one of us. What is a priority for me in 2025 may not be a priority for you. We all want different things at different times in our lives. And it’s so easy to get caught up in wanting all of these things at once. But do we really? Personally, I am on an ever-learning journey of prioritising my needs and wants. Of the many things I want out of this life, there are a few that are incredibly important to me when it comes to defining success in remote work—and they haven’t really changed much from my initial reasons, to be honest. What Success Means to Me Firstly, flexibility. This is so important to me, especially considering my son’s condition and being a single parent. It’s important to me that I am able to show up for him as and when he needs me. Not to be mistaken with showing up with mediocrity, though. Far from it. I am still going to work to deliver my best for my clients. However, it’s very important to me that I don’t get side-eyed when I have to cut a call because he’s having the mother of all meltdowns or I have to assist him with potty routine in the absence of my helper. I don’t want to feel awkward because I have to show up for him or any other loved one. A few years ago, my dad was in hospital suffering a long battle with pancreatic cancer. I would go visit him at nearly every visiting hour and stay the full hour. In between, he would see me on my phone responding to messages. One time, he asked me, Aren’t you supposed to be at work? And I said, Daddy, I’m working remotely. I can respond to messages anytime and can just step out if I need to be on an urgent call. Then he asked if me being there that often wasn’t an issue. I said no. They know I’m here, and they know you are not well. He would ask me the same questions on some occasions when I would need to take him or pick him up from chemo too. However, on this day, he told me, You work for good people. I don’t even remember what I responded back, but I felt what he said. It’s important to work for kind people. It’s important to work for people who afford you the opportunity to show up fully in other parts of your life outside of work. It’s important to have flexibility because life happens to everyone, anytime. I’m blessed to have worked with people who understand this over the years. They make my work more pleasant and motivate me to show up as my best, most authentic self. Secondly, money, money, money. And it’s not even to travel to some resort somewhere for vacation every now and again. Money for basic living. Everything is expensive! From child care to food to the internet itself that allows me to do all of my work. I’m not even talking about luxuries (yet!). I’m sure you’ll agree with me that, the world over, the cost of living is not to be messed with, especially after the pandemic. I’m not even going to dance around this one.

What Does Success Mean When You Work Remotely? Read More »

How To Find Remote Work Clients in Zimbabwe

4 Comments / Remote Work /

Some time last year, I shared a blog post in one of the WhatsApp groups I’m part of, detailing my experience working remotely. Shortly after, someone messaged me privately, claiming I didn’t understand what I was talking about. According to them, it was impossible to get a remote job while living in Zimbabwe. Are you also curious about how to find remote work clients whilst in Zimbabwe? Then this blog post is for you, but first let me tell you how this conversation unfolded… Curious, I asked why they believed this. Their response? Most companies require you to have a visa to work for them, and some just don’t want to hire Zimbabweans or people from Africa in general. I countered these assumptions, explaining that this wasn’t true and suggesting that they probably needed to change strategy of the kind of roles and opportunities they were looking for. Then they hit me with, “Anyway, you wouldn’t understand. Hanti you’re based in the US.” Ladies and gentlemen, I am not based in the US. I live in Harare, Zimbabwe. I understand how the confusion arose, though. At the time, I was using a US number for WhatsApp, so it’s easy to see why someone might jump to that conclusion. For clarity’s sake, here’s how I got that number and what I also explained to him: I purchased an eSIM via an app called Numero. This app allows you to pay an annual fee for a phone number from any country of your choice, mostly the US and European countries. The number works for receiving calls and SMS within the app and can also be linked to services like WhatsApp. As long as you have a debit or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, etc.), you can buy one too. The world is becoming increasingly connected, opening doors for those who might otherwise be excluded because they cannot receive an international call, for example. But that’s not the main story here. Today, I want to address the myths about working remotely while living in Zimbabwe and the mistake I see a lot of aspiring remote workers make as they are looking for clients. Many people believe it’s nearly impossible to land a remote job, that there’s no way for clients to pay you given the complexities of our financial systems, or that employers simply won’t hire someone based in Zimbabwe. I could go on. Here’s the truth: There are clients around the world who are ready and willing to hire you remotely, even if you’re in Zimbabwe or its neighboring countries. There are also clients who are based in Zimbabwe who are ready and willing to hire you regardless of where you live. The key is demonstrating your value and articulating how you can help their business. But (and this is a big but) you need a certain mindset to succeed. You’ll need to take ownership of your work, promote yourself, and clearly communicate your value. Be comfortable talking about what you do, the problems you solve, and the results you deliver. If you struggle with articulating your value, I strongly advise you to consider working with a coach. If you’re like me, you probably weren’t born with this skill. I had to learn while working with personal branding and business coaches, and you can learn too. Now, when I look back on my journey over the past decade, I’m struck by how many of my clients have been in or from Zimbabwe. Like many aspiring remote workers, I initially thought I needed to look outside Zimbabwe to find paying clients. So, I set up profiles on Fiverr and Upwork, hoping to land gigs. Unfortunately, I didn’t succeed there. Instead, I encountered more scam enquiries than genuine opportunities. To this day, I’ve never landed a client through those platforms. They’re highly competitive, and the current “pay-to-play” dynamics (i.e. if you pay for visibility it boosts your chances of having your profile seen) make them even less appealing to me. My profiles still exist and are up to date, but I don’t put much energy into them. What I’ve learned is this: dismissing Zimbabwe as a viable market for remote work could mean missing out on significant opportunities especially as you are getting started. Many freelancers and aspiring remote workers focus solely on earning in USD because of how volatile our local currencies are. USD is seen as a store of value. But in Zimbabwe, USD is part of our day-to-day trade, so finding clients who are willing to pay you directly via bank transfers, EcoCash, other mobile money services or even in cash could actually be an easier way to get started in the world of remote work. Remote work doesn’t mean masses of land or water have to separate you and your clients. It just means you are where you are, and your client is where they are. You could even be in the same neighborhood! Anyway, here are some of my tips if you are looking to find remote work clients in Zimbabwe. How To Find Remote Work Clients In Zimbabwe Start Talking to People Network online and offline. Attend local events, and connect with business owners who might need help. Many businesses are looking for ways to leverage digital tools or improve their operations but can’t afford full-time hires. Offer solutions tailored to their needs. Flexible hires are usually welcome by a lot of business owners today. Build Relationships Ask for referrals. Don’t be shy about this. Many opportunities come from word of mouth. I used to feel embarrassed when clients mentioned me at networking events, but those glowing reviews were often the key to my next opportunity. Embrace them and use them as opportunities to shine. Understand Local Needs Many Zimbabwean businesses need assistance in areas like digital marketing, tech solutions, customer support, and operational efficiency. Position yourself as someone who can deliver value in any of these areas. Ready to Work Remotely in 2025? Are you based in

How To Find Remote Work Clients in Zimbabwe Read More »

Are You an Imposter? How to Overcome the Syndrome That Holds You Back

4 Comments / Remote Work, Tech /

Have you ever felt like you’re just one mistake away from being “found out”? Like all your achievements are a fluke, and it’s only a matter of time before someone realises you’re not as capable as they think? That nagging feeling, as it turns out, has a name: imposter syndrome. And trust me, it’s more common than you might think. I know this because I’ve been there. My first real encounter with imposter syndrome happened about 12 years ago when I landed a manager role less than a year after finishing my graduate training. I didn’t even know what to do with that promotion. I am so sure on the outside, it looked like I had worked incredibly hard to earn this, but to me, I was just working the best way I knew how and wasn’t exactly aiming for a promotion at the time. Needless to say, I didn’t just struggle to celebrate for this achievement, I struggled to settle into this role as well and was so affected by how this reflected among my colleagues, especially some those who I had found there and I considered “my seniors.” If you come from a culture of seniority, you know what I’m talking about. I struggled to call out bad behavior, for example, and would just take it. I will never forget one remark a colleague once made after someone complimented my work. He literally said, “Some people work hard. Some people work late.” I knew he was taking a jab at me because I used to put in long hours resolving some complex issues with third-party service providers. Unfortunately, at the time, our department was rather understaffed, but I never wanted that to get in the way of the level of support I would give users. So the end result? I had to put in more hours to compensate. As much as I didn’t like what he said, I actually unconsciously started to believe it. I started thinking that I didn’t deserve to be recognised for my efforts. I thought maybe my bosses were just feeling sorry for me. Years later, I heard about imposter syndrome for the first time. I think it was at a networking event. I realised, “Oh, that’s what THAT was!” It had a name, and I was suffering from it. Well, that’s not a good thing. In case you are hearing about this term for the first time, let’s get the terminology out of the way and I have also plugged in this segment where Michelle Obama explains this. Imposter syndrome, also known as imposter phenomenon or impostorism, is the tendency to believe your success is undeserved and that someday people will realise you’re a fraud. This is exactly how I was feeling. Every time I would be asked to join a boardroom full of executives, I used to think, “I’m really not supposed to be here,” and the feelings of inadequacy would heighten even more when I made a mistake or faced an issue beyond my control. Years later, having gone through coaching and therapy, I learned that imposter syndrome is actually linked to other conditions like anxiety, perfectionism, and low self-esteem. I have a friend who happens to be a coach who, when asked about imposter syndrome, always counter-asks, “Are you an imposter?” Seriously, that question would always get me and helped me start healing from the chronic levels I was experiencing. Was I an imposter? Did I not know how to do my job? Did I not know how to help others do their job? Did I not know how to learn those (other!) things I didn’t know? Did I not have a track record of resolving issues and getting things done? Yet, here I was looking for the slightest possible reason to believe I didn’t deserve recognition for my efforts. Here I was thinking I needed permission to be recognised for the work I had done. The truth is, we all carry insecurities. All of us. OK, maybe many of us. There are places we are bound to feel inadequate for one reason or another. I know I feel it from time to time. But each time it happens, I remember first that question: “Are you an imposter?” If the answer is no, then I know I need to shake this off. But if the answer is yes, then I know I need to identify where I feel the gaps are and address them. Here are three tips I’ve found helpful in dealing with imposter syndrome: 1. Acknowledge Your Feelings and Reframe Your Thoughts It’s OK to feel like you don’t belong sometimes, but recognise that feelings aren’t facts. Start reframing those thoughts with evidence of your accomplishments. Remind yourself of the skills, experiences, and successes that got you to where you are today. Following the advice of one the instructors on Career Masterclass, I try to keep what she calls a brag sheet to remind myself of my achievements because I know if I don’t shake it off, I will go on a downward spiral that could even lead to me feeling unnecessarily stuck. 2. Celebrate Small Wins Imposter syndrome can make us downplay our successes. Take a moment to celebrate even the small wins. Recognise the effort you put in and give yourself credit where it’s due. I started journaling religiously in 2022 and I write about anything and everything including those small career wins. Going back to read some of these entries is always encouraging and helps remind me that the small wins lead to the big ones. 3. Seek Support and Share Your Experience Talking about imposter syndrome with trusted friends, mentors, or a coach can be incredibly freeing. You’ll realise you’re not alone and might even find practical advice or a fresh perspective to help you manage those feelings. My friends and I never get tired of talking each other out of imposter syndrome. We all know we experience it and we all know

Are You an Imposter? How to Overcome the Syndrome That Holds You Back Read More »

5 Transformative and Proven Mindset Shifts for Remote Work Success

2 Comments / Remote Work /

Let’s get this out of the way quickly before I start: I am assuming that “aspiring remote workers” are those who want to look for opportunities online to apply themselves as freelancers, contractors or full time employees with the skills that they possess and not necessarily migrate to a remote mode of working with their current employer. When I started working online in 2014, I didn’t even realise that I was getting myself into a whole different world of work. I had been working in IT for a bank for just over three years before I decided I wanted to become a Virtual Assistant (VA) supporting small business owners around the world. Working in tech, from our very limited access IT office, I woke up every day with work to do, business users clamouring at our door and in our IT Helpdesk inbox. I’m not going to lie – I really thought that it wouldn’t be any different after I announced that I wanted to be a VA and was ready to serve. I got the surprise of my life! I think this was the first reality check I had as I was starting out, and each time I speak to aspiring remote workers, I want to start with getting their mind right about what they are about to get themselves into. If you are reading this and are looking to dive into remote work in 2025, this message is especially for you. I am speaking directly to you. Working remotely requires that you make some significant shifts in how you view and approach your work because, oftentimes, the mindset, culture and systems required for you to succeed are not necessarily the same as if you were working on-site or in-person. It’s easier now to have this conversation given what the entire world had to go through with the pandemic back in 2020. Some people had never used Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet until Covid-19 happened. We got to a point where this was now normalised. However, for many, this did not feel normal. They still felt like something was missing or struggled with achieving positive outcomes whilst working remotely, and it was actually a relief for them having to return to the office and do work “normally” again. So how do you prepare your mind for a career working remotely? 1. Your Personal Brand is Now Your Full-Time Job Your personal brand is what sets you apart in a crowded online market. When you work remotely, potential employers or clients don’t get the chance to meet you in person. Your LinkedIn profile, portfolio, social media presence, and even the tone of your emails are your first impression. You need to be intentional about how you present yourself and what story you’re telling about your skills, experience, and values. Consistency is key. Make sure your profiles align and clearly communicate what you do. Invest in a professional headshot, write a compelling bio, and showcase your work in a way that’s visually appealing and easy to navigate. Your online presence should make people say, “This is someone I want to work with.” Personally, I did not even know the first thing about this when I was starting out and because I didn’t know about it, I missed out of the potential value of having it in place in the beginning. I struggled with landing my first clients because I could not convince business owners I could do what I said I could so. They just couldn’t take my word for it. It was only a few years later I started appreciating that whatever activities I chose to engage in online, would speak for me 24/7 even during times when I was not actively selling my services and help build trust with my audience. I learnt the value of talking about what I do and the value I bring to business owners and their teams and with time it became easier to convince business owners to work with me. If you seriously considering building a career working remotely and positioning yourself for opportunities, you need to take your personal brand seriously and understand that it’s not just good looking headshots. It’s also what you say, the work you do and how you engage with others online. 2. Self-Motivation and Discipline Are Non-Negotiable Once you’ve nailed your personal brand, the next step is learning to motivate yourself because no one else will. Working remotely means no one is physically there to watch over your shoulder or remind you of deadlines. You’ll need to be proactive about managing your time and tasks. This shift can be challenging, especially if you’re used to the structure of an office environment. When I was starting out, I used to work from home and my mum would casually say stuff like, “Wanna go to Westgate and get some doughnuts?” I would love to lie to you right now and say I would tell her, “No mhamha. Ndiri pabasa!” (Translation: No mum. I’m working). I would not do that. Instead, I would just drop my work and join her to the mall, then come back and continue 2 or so hours later having lost my train of thought. This went on for the rest of that first year but I realised that I was not going to win behaving like that. I was lying to myself that this was the freedom I had signed up for, but was it, really? It definitely wasn’t. I then moved to my dad’s office the following year. It was better, because everyone there was in work-mode but because there was high traffic of clients coming in and out, it was so easy to get distracted. The following year, I moved again to a co-working space and for a number of years that followed I actually work in shared office spaces and that worked much better than working from home. Today, I work from home – 99% of the time. I guess because

5 Transformative and Proven Mindset Shifts for Remote Work Success Read More »

2025: The Year of Bold Moves, Intentional Progress and Empowering Others

2 Comments / Remote Work /

Happy New Year, fam! What a blessing it is to witness another year! I am so grateful that God has given me the opportunity to serve Him and others. This is a privilege I don’t take lightly. Last year, on March 1st, I started this blog with the intention of sharing stories about my journey in remote work, working in tech, and navigating life. Writing has always been a passion of mine—mostly as a way to entertain my friends through my social media updates. I honestly can be such a joker 🤡 But in 2024, I decided to take it more seriously because some friends and family have long bet that I’d be one of those to land a book deal. Well, let’s not disappoint them, shall we? 😉 One day is one day. Stepping into 2025 This year, I’m beyond excited about upcoming projects and collaborations. Towards the end of 2024, I decided to feel the fear and do it anyway. What did I do?I (finally) launched the audio version of this blog, Stories I Tell, to give my audience the option to listen to my posts. Why an audio blog? If you’re like me, sometimes you don’t have the time to sit and read, but you can easily multitask while listening to your favorite podcast. Plus, I believe some (if not all) of these stories deserve to be told in my voice and tone. To everyone who has taken the time to listen to the first few episodes. You are my Superstars! 🌟 Thank you for your feedback and support – it has been invaluable in helping me improve. But let me be honest: This wasn’t my first attempt at launching a podcast. Back in 2021, I recorded my first episode but never published it. Fear held me back: So, I shelved the idea indefinitely. But as I rekindled my love for blogging, the podcast idea came back to me. This time, I promised myself I’d do it differently by just being me. That meant that sometimes I would feel scared, sometimes it would not be perfect but I embraced that fear and imperfection and started anyway. Declaring 2025: My Year of Bold Moves, Intentional Progress and Empowering Others This year, I’m all about bold, intentional actions; whether it’s pushing past fear, launching new projects, or holding myself accountable. Speaking of accountability, towards the end of last year, a dear one suggested we start having accountability calls. At first, the idea scared me. The pressure! But I knew how valuable it would be, so I agreed. After all, intentional moves often yield positive results, even if we can’t always control the final outcomes. Reigniting My Coaching Journey Another bold move for 2025 is fully committing to coaching and mentoring aspiring remote workers. Six years ago, I started a community to equip Virtual Assistants with skills and support for success in the online marketplace. But (full transparency alert 🚨) I struggled with consistency and got discouraged by low turnout for my weekly live sessions. If you don’t know what I’m talking about see video below 👇 View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wahala Room Of Africa (@wahalaroom) Over the years, my perspective around coaching and training has shifted. While growing numbers are great, I’ve realized that sometimes making a positive impact is far more fulfilling. That’s why I’m reopening the door to anyone who needs guidance as they navigate remote work. I never tire of sharing what I know, and every call is a deep, meaningful conversation I truly enjoy. This year, I’m excited to offer even more support to aspiring remote workers looking to thrive in 2025. If you’re interested, book a call with me here. Let’s chat about how you can set yourself up for success in the world of remote work. I can’t wait to connect with you! Wishing You a Blessed 2025 Here’s to a year filled with happiness, love, peace, and prosperity. Let’s make 2025 a year of bold moves and intentional progress.

2025: The Year of Bold Moves, Intentional Progress and Empowering Others Read More »

The Day I Was Fired as a Virtual Assistant: 3 Hard Lessons Learned

4 Comments / Remote Work /

About 9 years ago, I was fired by a client. I was not made redundant. My client was not downsizing. I was fired for performing poorly in my role at the time as a Virtual Assistant. Here’s what happened… I had just started getting the hang of networking and was working with a client who used to tell anyone and everyone just how much value she was getting from working with me. Consequently, I started getting a couple of referrals and leads quickly turned into clients. One of the people I met at a networking event I was organising for my advocating client referred me to a wonderful, energetic gentleman who was working on a new project. I was pretty excited about the possibility of working with him and when I signed him up I hit the ground running. Things started well (or so I thought). Let’s call our client, Mr. Wonderful (Seriously, he was genuinely a lovely person regardless of how things ended + I’m also a Shark Tank fan). Mr. Wonderful was clear about the outcomes he wanted from me. Unfortunately, once I started doing the work, imposter syndrome crept in and I started doubting whether I was cut out to do what he wanted me to do. I quickly became overwhelmed as Mr. Wonderful was not playing with the task assignments, was strict on timesheets and asked for updates on a regular. And because at the time, my communication and organisation skills were still trying to make their way through the refinery, I didn’t do a good job letting him know how the workload and expectations were not aligned with my own capacity. It wasn’t long before Mr. Wonderful’s frustrations started to build up. In the middle of all of that fiasco, I decided I needed to travel out of the country because I still had the mentality of “I entered remote work for the freedom and flexibility.” However, at this point, things were not exactly stable for me on the client front and, in all honestly, I seriously needed to chill and focus on this client’s work without the distractions presented by travel. But I felt entitled to it and went anyway. The result? Mr. Wonderful couldn’t reach me for hours for something that was so crucial because I was mid-air and even after he did then reach me, he found out I had not done the work up to the standard he wanted and he got incredibly upset. I wish I still had the email to show here but unfortunately it was on another hosting. Have you ever been shouted at in an email and felt it? I have. Reading through that email was devastating. Mr. Wonderful called out my incompetence. Some of his text in that email was in red and he did not hold back on the exclamation marks. I could tell he was fuming and did not even know how to salvage the situation. I tried to deliver an apology with a dash of defensiveness but the milk was already spilt – it was a mess! And so, I was fired that day. I will never forget it because I don’t ever want to go through such an experience with a client again. I also don’t ever want a client to experience that with me. It was embarrassing to say the least and I think the worst part of it all was that this was a client who had been referred to me by someone I was also in the process of building a relationship with. What was she going to say? I held this experience over my head for a few years following the incident. I was struggling to forgive myself and the shame of losing a client in such a manner was haunting me. But through coaching, mentoring and actively working on improving how I engaged with clients in my online business, I started getting over it. In fact, I can say that with each client who then came after that I always tried to not just communicate as much as possible, but in cases where things were not working out as expected, end things amicably because, sometimes clients are not a good fit for us, vice versa or both. We are not always going to fit into each other perfectly. I haven’t talked to Mr. Wonderful since this incident but I sincerely wish him well. The lessons he taught me were not small and they have shaped my client engagement in a huge way. Here are the lessons that stick out for me. 1. Clarity in Communication Is Non-NegotiableEarly in the project with Mr. Wonderful, I should have communicated openly about my capacity, challenges, and timelines. Overpromising or staying silent in the face of mounting pressure only made things worse. Clear, honest, and proactive communication ensures clients are aware of your limits and progress.It’s always better to over-communicate. 2. Understand That Freedom Comes With ResponsibilityThe flexibility of remote work is a privilege that requires balance. Prioritising my own freedom over delivering on client expectations was a poor and irresponsible choice. I have since learned to create boundaries and manage my time responsibly to maintain both freedom and professionalism. 3. Failure Is a Stepping Stone, Not a Life SentenceLosing this client was a painful but necessary wake-up call for me. It pushed me to confront my shortcomings, take accountability of the impact of my actions, invest in self-improvement, and develop a more client-centric approach. Failure doesn’t define you but how you respond to it does. Have you ever been fired for incompetency? How did you take it? Let me know in the comments. P.S. If you are a newbie remote worker struggling to get and keep clients, I would like to help you. I have opened up just 5 one-on-one coaching slots (4 sessions over 4 weeks) in the month of January into February where I can hold your hand as you navigate building and nurturing sustainable client relationships

The Day I Was Fired as a Virtual Assistant: 3 Hard Lessons Learned Read More »

Celebrating milestones on the autism spectrum

9 Comments / Life /

Where do I even start? A few weeks ago schools closed for the year in Zimbabwe and as we were counting the days towards this closing and going through the meetings and conversations to review our son’s progress I couldn’t help but get all emotional. Looking at the journey we have travelled this year with him really needed me to stop, reflect and suck it all in. Well, this is me stopping, reflecting and sucking it all in. This is also me taking time to celebrate and express my gratitude to God and everyone who continues to support us on this journey. You see, milestones on the spectrum hit different. If you’re wondering how, keep reading. A new beginning: Finding the right school Our son started this year at a new school. This was now his 3rd school in under 2 years. We were transitioning from a setup where he was in a mainstream school and we would take him for his speech and occupational therapies outside of that school’s curriculum, to a setup where everything was now under one roof in a special needs school. To say this new arrangement was a relief (at least for me) is an understatement. I did not like driving to Speech and OT and having to wait for him to finish both sessions which happened at different locations. It was exhausting and took its toll on me even though we got to share this responsibility as his parents. I also struggled to see the progress he was making because he was only going for these sessions twice a week. Each session was about 30 minutes. With all the effort we were putting in, I honestly wished to see more progress. I think nobody watches the milestones of a child like the parent of one with special needs. We started out the year at the new school with an assessment of where he was developmentally as he was settling in. Following this, we got his IEP (Individualised Education Plan). An IEP is a plan that lays out the special education instruction, support, and services a student (typically with an educational disability) needs to thrive in school. In simple terms, the IEP is like a vision that the school will be working towards for your child. It’s also a good guide to remind us of what we as parents need to be focusing on as pertains his development. Challenges as a result of change Let me start by saying, embarking on this journey was not easy. We had to make a lot of commitments as parents. We had to be intentional about everything and it was not a walk in the park. Personally, my parenting journey has got to be one of the hardest responsibilities I have ever held in my life. For the first months of the year, I was somewhat all over the place as I didn’t have any after-school help. But I soon realised that we weren’t going to get far. Earlier this year, I actually shared about my journey on the transition from trying to navigate child care without any help to embracing getting as much support as I possibly could. And I must say, that was the beginning of slowly starting to see some change. Let me share with you some moments that blew my mind away (in a good way, of course) this year. Surprise Reading Breakthroughs A while ago, I got our son an LED tablet for him to scribble on. Well, he wasn’t interested in scribbling anything on it so one day I decided to take it and wrote his name. To my surprise, he was able to read it. I then wrote the words, “Mommy”, “Daddy” then his name. Once again, he was able to read all three words. I screamed! Like this boy could read this whole time? Anyway, wanting to push him a bit further, I thought let me write some other words. I wrote names of colours, animals, fruits and he managed to read most of them. We were at over 50 words at some point. I was so excited. Actually, this was probably one of the moments that brought me so much joy this year. I still remember how overjoyed I was and revisit the videos from time to time. Having a child who is non-verbal can be saddening. Oftentimes I see people in public places talking to their children and I just hope they know how incredibly blessed they are to be able to talk to their little ones. Those conversations are so precious. That’s why I was overjoyed because it ignited hope in me – that soon we would graduate from reading to actual conversations. This definitely was a moment worth celebrating for us. Small Wins with the Fork When the year started, our son could only feed himself using his hands. Using a spoon or fork presented a lot of difficulty and mess. But he needed to learn and at school they were already being intentional about making sure he eats on his own. So we started using hand-over-hand to teach him and help his coordination and I am so glad that today, he can eat his pasta with his little fork. We still need to minimise the mess with the meals that need him to eat with a spoon but I am so grateful we have made so much progress from where we were beginning of the year. I love that he is also keen to learn and I see him put in the effort. I am so proud of him and believe that things will only get better from here. The Potty Training Journey Moving along, another big item on our goal list for the year was potty training. Last year, at my son’s previous school, they tried to get him started on potty training. It was a disaster and we quickly just defaulted back to diapers. This was before his ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) diagnosis.

Celebrating milestones on the autism spectrum Read More »

5 Reasons Why I Picked A Career In Tech

Leave a Comment / Tech /

Growing up, I wanted to be a… Play the African drumroll… Doctor! Of course! That’s what my dad (and mum I think) wanted me to be, and going against the wishes of African parents was simply not an option. I genuinely enjoyed studying Maths, Biology, and Chemistry at the start of my O-levels, so it felt like a no-brainer to carry on with these subjects at A-level. This was my clear path to studying medicine and eventually becoming a dermatologist. But then, life had other plans. I had to transfer to another school mid-O-level, and the new setup split classes into Arts and Commercials, or Sciences and Commercials. Unfortunately, the Sciences class was full, and I’d have to join the Arts class. I really didn’t care – I was more excited about starting at a new school. However, my dad wasn’t happy. He asked the school head, “Can’t you just take a desk from the other class and place it in the Sciences class? Because ini mwana wangu akuda kuita doctor” (Translation: Because my child wants to be a doctor). The school didn’t budge. My dad, clearly disappointed, asked if I could manage Arts and what I’d consider as a career instead. Without giving it much thought, I blurted out, “I’ll be a lawyer.” His silence said it all – likely even internally rolled his eyes. He probably knew, deep down, that I wasn’t cut out for Law. What was I even thinking? 😂 Fast-forward nearly two years later, and it was time to decide which subjects to study at A-level. My dad called me to ask what I’d chosen, his tone almost carrying the unspoken “But these won’t make you a doctor, though, will they?” vibes. When I confidently said I wanted to study Computer Science, he was (kind of) stunned. He asked if I was sure. I was. And that’s how I officially began my journey into the world of computers, eventually studying Computer Science at university. The rest? Well, that’s a story still being written. Here’s why I chose this path: 1. My Dad’s Laptop When we were kids, my dad sometimes brought home his work laptop. It ran WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3, and we passed commands on it through the DOS prompt. I know this probably sounds so ancient and giving away my age but, at the time, navigating these felt like magic! We fought over it so much that we had to take turns. Most of our one-hour turn-taking slots were spent exploring these same apps, randomly pressing keys, and issuing commands that did absolutely nothing – but it was still exciting. I was obsessed with figuring out how to “talk” to that machine, even though I didn’t fully understand how it worked and my dad could only teach me so much. And he did teach me a fair amount of things to be honest – especially as I got older – spreadsheets & documents in particular. 2. Miss Indechi, Miss Kubi & Mr Nyamukachi In primary school, our first computer teachers, Miss Indechi and Miss Kubi, were my heroes! My first tech superstars that looked like me. They introduced us to monitors, CPUs, keyboards, and floppy disks. I adored them and wanted to be like them – confident, knowledgeable, and sophisticated in all things computers. Then came Mr Nyamukachi, my A-level Computing teacher, who remains my all-time favourite educator. He made learning about computers exciting, challenged me without making me feel inadequate, and inspired me to use tech to solve real-world problems. His influence even sparked my love for mentoring and coaching others such that to this day, whenever I have to step into a role I have to teach, he often comes to mind. 3. Bill Gates During my childhood, teenage years, and early 20s, Bill Gates was the world’s richest man. Seeing tech dominate global wealth conversations in the early 2000s and then those brave enough to innovate reap financial rewards and recognition, was inspiring. I mean, who doesn’t want to build some wealth? While I didn’t realistically imagine myself in Silicon Valley (yet), the idea of building a stable, well-paying career through tech was deeply appealing. 4. Hollywood’s Portrayal of Silicon Valley I’ve grown to not be a TV person but when I do make time, I’m a sucker for geeky movies and series about startups and Silicon Valley. Such shows fuel my imagination, and experiencing Silicon Valley remains the only long-standing item on my bucket list. It’s been there since way before I ever had a passport. While I’ve never pictured myself in a courtroom as a lawyer or a consultation room as a dermatologist, I’ve definitely held close a vision of me working in Silicon Valley. 5. Desire to Solve Problems If you scroll through the notes app on my phone or laptop, you’ll find scattered ideas for solving everyday problems. Many are quite odd and probably silly, but some are practical. I love seeing how technology can be applied to make life easier, and even when I’m not building these solutions, watching others innovate to address my problems really lights me up. That said, choosing a career in tech wasn’t something I had to agonise over. At some point, it seemed like a natural fit for my curiosity, interests, and desire to make an impact. While my journey to thinking seriously about my career started with a little twist of fate, it’s shaped who I am today. By pursuing a career in tech, I’ve learned how it offers endless opportunities to innovate, solve real-life problems, and positively impact communities. I know my story isn’t unique. Many people have taken different, sometimes surprising, paths into tech. Some stumbled into it by chance, like my university friend who ended up thriving in a programme he took as a default option. Others, like me, had an early spark of fascination that grew into a passion. What’s your tech story? Did you always know this was your path, or did you

5 Reasons Why I Picked A Career In Tech Read More »

Why I Abandoned the 100 Days of Code Python Challenge

8 Comments / Tech /

The other day I called my friend to catch up and somewhere in between our conversation she said one word, “Python”, that plunged us both in some fit of laughter. Why were we laughing? Well, because about 2 years ago we both (individually) embarked on journeys to learn Python – the programming language. However, for varied reasons, we didn’t really get far with it. Let me speak on my own. So around November 2022 I decided I wanted to start learning Python and I enrolled for the famous 100 Days to Code Python Bootcamp by Dr. Angela Yu. Out of excitement, I also decided I wanted to share my learning journey publicly so I used to post reels on my Instagram speaking on the different challenges I was working on. My friends and colleagues were incredibly encouraging and it made me want to show up even more. Initially, I did show up – for the first few days of the course. Then I started to lose interest and became less engaged. The challenges started getting a bit harder for me to complete in a day because this is something I would only dedicate about an hour or two in my day. After more than 100 days since starting the challenge, I remember recording my Day 10 video🤦🏽‍♀️. I was watching the video the other day and in it I actually said that at the rate I was going, this challenge was going to take me 5 years to complete! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tariro | Remote Work, Tech & Life (@iamtariromakina) And that was the last video I did. I stopped my learning at Day 14. I didn’t even make it out of the Beginner’s class, even though I was almost there! So what happened? You might be wondering: Did I even want to learn coding in Python in the first place? I did. I have always loved programming – SQL being the only language I can “speak & write” fluently 😉 . However, I never chose to pursue software development as a career for many personal reasons. One of them being, I tend to get so immersed. I was scared of one day forgetting to feed my children or pick them up from school because I was trying to debug something. I mean, I had seen myself in action before. I took debug issues so seriously to the point where I would wake up in the middle of the night to fix code because a solution would have come to me in my sleep. But, this is decades later. I thought I was ready. Was I though? I did some self introspection over the past few months around this and realised that I wasn’t ready but, this time, it had absolutely nothing to do with my initial fears. My motivation around taking the 100 Day Challenge wasn’t really purely to just learn the language. There was something else I was looking for. At the time when I decided to start this challenge, I was an emotional wreck. I had just lost my dad and life was generally showing me flames. I wanted something to go right. I was desperate for a win and, to be honest, I thought me taking up this challenge would give me that feeling of conquering and winning against adverse life situations. Remember I mentioned I was also sharing this journey publicly. I got to a point where my only motivation was when someone asked me, “What day are you on?” I would think, let me do another day’s challenge so that they can see how I am so enthusiastic with this – yet somewhere along the way, I had honestly lost all zeal for it and struggling to move forward. As much as I desired to learn coding in Python, at this particular point in my life, I stopped wanting to do it for myself and for my personal development. I wanted to do it for external validation, so that people would pat me on the back and say, Oh you are doing amazing! I was sick of feeling like I was losing in life and wanted to hear someone or some people tell me how well I was doing. Unfortunately, for me, that failed to sustain my learning journey and I soon fell off that wagon. Because I wanted to win so bad, I ended up feeling like it was now an impossible milestone to reach. I was too focused on the “prize” that I had made up in my head and not the learning experience itself. In the end, I felt defeated as I thought there was no way I was going to be able to master this skill and become a pro – not in a hundred days and not ever. I was pretty much done. It didn’t matter how much I loved the idea of coding. My life circumstances and mindset at the time completely clouded my approach to learning. That said, the 100 Days of Code Python Bootcamp is an incredible course and excellent value for money. I got mine for just $12, and I have lifetime access! The challenges were engaging, and the content was solid. My lack of progress had nothing to do with the course. It was all about how I approached it. Fast forward to today, and I’ve decided to give it another shot. This time, I’m taking a completely different approach. So, What’s Different Now? Will I Share My Journey This Time? Yes, but differently. I’ll post updates occasionally, particularly when I hit milestones like moving from Beginner to Intermediate to Advanced to Pro. I’ve learned not to let public validation dictate my pace or progress. This time, it’s all about investing in myself and celebrating genuine growth. Looking back, I realise how much I let self-inflicted pressures and personal struggles derail me. I’ve learned my lesson: never take on a challenge just for the bragging rights. It’s

Why I Abandoned the 100 Days of Code Python Challenge Read More »

How I Recently Discovered My Father’s (Massive) Wealth

4 Comments / Life /

Recently I was listening to an audiobook, Killing Comparison by Nona Jones and also listening to some excerpts from her most recent one, The Gift of Rejection. Both inspired me to write this post and I highly recommend them to anyone who is struggling to find their place in a world that is constantly pressuring us to place value in external approval (maLove nemaLikes 😉) and not necessarily making a genuine positive impact in this world. I have always been one to think that I am very lucky when I get an opportunity, regardless of how big or small it is. Whether it was being invited to a party, asked out on a date, chosen for a job, or even included in a friendship. These kind of moments filled me with gratitude. I was always happy to be “picked,” and it felt like an acknowledgment that, maybe, I was worthy of something good in my life. But if I’m being honest, there was a deeper layer to this belief that I hadn’t fully realised. The feeling of luck I had wasn’t just gratitude. It was rooted in a belief that I was somehow “undeserving” unless I was chosen, hand-picked, or given a chance by a parent, relative, friend, employer, client, church leader, boyfriend or spouse. I’m not really sure if middle child syndrome also contributed to me having this mindset. I just thought the opportunities I received were rare gifts, and therefore, I was always walking on eggshells, trying to please, trying to earn, trying to prove that I deserved them. Unfortunately, this mindset led me down some unhealthy paths. I became a people-pleaser, constantly sacrificing my needs and boundaries in order to keep others happy. I became a perfectionist, always pushing myself, and sometimes others, to be “good enough” or “mistake-free” even though it always felt like I never reached those states. I found myself tolerating (and at times even contributing to) toxic behaviours, toxic relationships, and even disrespect because, somewhere deep down, I convinced myself that this was the best I could get, and the best I could offer in return. I thought this was just the life I was meant to have, and that I should be grateful for it. I didn’t realise that I was worthy of more, or that more was even possible. I struggled internally with this for a long time, unable to imagine a better life for myself, because, well, I guess I didn’t know better. I thought that this was the reality I had to accept. But there was a cognitive dissonance that kept creeping up on me and would show up as me trying to stand up for myself, for example. However, I didn’t quite know how to shift from trying to please everyone to doing what I felt aligned with my personal values. I wish I could say the outcome of that was always pleasant. It wasn’t – but that’s a story for another day. Then fast forward to a few years ago, I found myself in therapy and that experience set me on a path that did two things. First, it helped me identify this unhealthy mindset. Second, it led me to God, my Father, and this knowledge of Him started healing the pain that came out of living with this mindset and ultimately altering my thinking patterns. My therapist at the time unpacked what salvation meant in a way I had never heard before. Most importantly, she helped me understand who God really was and the role He played in my life. I have always known God, but it was only at this point that I began to truly know Him and relate to Him as my Father. I must admit, losing my earthly father had a lot to do with me getting here as well. Growing up, I really had a surface-level understanding of who God was. I knew that He created me, that He had given me a set of guidelines to follow in His Word, and that my purpose was to try to live in a way that pleased Him. But there was something missing. I thought that to earn His approval, I had to follow His rules and guidelines to the T. I thought that I had to never make mistakes and never fall short. And when I inevitably did, I believed that I was one of the “lucky” ones if and when He still chose to bless me. It’s only now that I have come to realise and learn that my understanding of God was so limited. Because now I know that God isn’t about luck. He’s not about choosing a select few to be His favourites. We were already chosen. He’s not about making me earn His love or His blessings. He is good all the time, and His goodness is not based on my ability to be perfect. He is good because of who He is, not because of anything I can ever do. He already knows I am flawed. Now, as I spend more time with Him and continue to understand the depth of His love and the abundance of His provision, I realise that God created each of us with purpose. I wasn’t just placed on this earth to “get by” or to be lucky every time something good happened. I wasn’t an accident, a random being trying to earn His love. No. God intentionally knit me together in my mother’s womb. He had a purpose for me, a plan for my life, and that purpose was to fulfil a role in His Kingdom. There is no way God would create such a beautiful world and such beautiful people (His children) to hate them. So if God is good all the time and if He created me with a purpose then surely He would provide for me everything I need to fulfil that purpose, right? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the

How I Recently Discovered My Father’s (Massive) Wealth Read More »

Let’s Work Together!

Ipsum volutpat pharetra est dolor mauris in arcu congue at netus viverra scelerisque erat lorem sagittis hac risus sed id nunc ac quisque placerat lectus at sed laoreet cras ac vestibulum.

Get In Touch