Tariro

10 Lessons I Learnt from 10 Years of Remote Work

8 Comments / Remote Work /

Working remotely for the past decade has been an incredible journey. Through it all, I’ve learned valuable lessons that have shaped my career and my life. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned pro, these insights can help you avoid some of the pitfalls I encountered and make your remote work experience more rewarding. So, grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let me share with you the ten lessons I’ve learned from ten years of working remotely. Trust me, it’s been a wild ride and you are allowed to laugh at me in the comments or via email! Don’t waste money on useless things I have said this before and I will say it again, “Don’t waste your money buying things you do not (or may never) need!”. I made this mistake when I was starting out working remotely. I don’t know whether it was the thrill of “being my own boss” or I was just ignorant of what really mattered. Let me just tell you some of the things I blew some significant amount of cash on. I say, significant, because I only had saved for just about 3 months in the hope that my business would have taken off. First thing I spent some money on was designing of my logo and stationery. Knowing what I know today, and as a tech person, I had no business hiring someone to do these things for me. And it cost me more than US$100! Tsk Tsk. Canva was not a thing at the time (2013) BUT there were a lot of resources I could have used to whip up a logo and even used MS Word or PowerPoint to design the stationery. What did I even need stationery designs for anyway? Sigh. After getting so obsessed with my logo, I thought, I definitely need some business cards! “Design those and put them on my tab Mr. Graphic Designer!” And he did. Had my business cards with a QR code in at the back. I was proud of myself. I printed about 100 of them. “Woo! They will see me!” I thought. The QR Code had to lead somewhere so I also got myself a pretty expensive Domain and Web Hosting service (which I later discarded to a more affordale one after my website got hacked). I don’t think the idea of getting a domain and hosting service was a bad one. I just didn’t choose the service provider wisely and it cost me for a good year! Lastly, and this is the funniest of them all, I bought a printer! I am starting an online business, and I bought a printer. Not a scanner, ladies and gentlemen. A nice laser printer. I was burning through those savings like I had an ATM in my father’s backyard spitting 100s without a pin. Sigh! Get training and coaching early Just before I quit my job at the bank I had started following seasoned Virtual Assistants and Online Business Coaches who were providing some training programmes and opportunities for coaching and mentorship. BUT, I never signed up for any of these. I would only join the free webinars and I joined plenty. The moment they started selling their offers at the end I would leave. My rationale was, why pay for something I can get for free? Why pay for something I can google my way around or look up on YouTube? It took me 3 years of shooting in the dark with no clarity around what I was doing with this online business thing before finally committing to hiring a coach. It didn’t have to take that long. But those are some of the consequences of pride, unfortunately. We lengthen seasons that were supposed to be short because we refuse to humble ourselves to learning under the guidance of someone else. We are not ready to be accountable to another who has walked the path we want to walk, acquired valuable training in it or both. The truth is, you don’t know what you don’t know. The first coach I hired helped me make a serious mindset shift around many aspects of running an online business as a Virtual Assistant. She wasn’t a Virtual Assistant herself but her group coaching program included a Virtual Assistant whose lived experiences also helped me gain clarity and valuable insights around what I wanted to do. This coach helped me find the courage to take bold action in areas I was otherwise hesitant or fearful to take action for one reason or another, like social media or collaborating for podcast features. Since then, I have grown comfortable with investing time and finances in training, coaching and mentoring which have all helped increase my confidence in how I approach working remotely today. Talk about what you do (often!) So let’s rewind a bit here. When I was at the bank, I worked in an IT Office with restricted access and we were locked away from everyone else. We never had to go look for problems. Every day, users and their problems looked for us. I never had to call someone in Corporate Banking to ask, “Hey, are you guys processing loans well today?” Silence meant everything was fine, as far as I was concerned. If there was an issue, they would call. For us, it was a good time to resolve our very long and backed up Jira backlog and sort out other admin related issues in our office. Now fast forward, I’m a VA and trying to get clients for my online business. I had no idea how to navigate talking about what I could do for the small businesses I wanted to work with. The thought would make have back-to-back anxiety attacks. I mean, if I have written on my LinkedIn profile and in my website that this is what I can do, why do I need to convince you to work with me? This is how my mind would

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Degrees vs. Certifications in Tech: Which is Better?

8 Comments / Tech /

This one is always a hot conversation wherever you find aspiring or seasoned techies and I am so excited to give own take on this topic having pursued both and also having worked with professionals who explored these paths exclusively and also combined. Anyone who has wanted to work in tech or in IT has at one point or another found themselves having to choose whether they were going to pursue a certification or a degree. A Little Background I studied Computing in High School at A level so I knew that I wanted to pursue something IT-related in University. So whilst I was waiting for my A Level results, my dad came home one day and told me that he had found a college in town that offered specialised IT programmes and he wanted me to choose a diploma I would be able to complete by the time university opened. That was going to be about 6 months. So I looked at the flyer and there were programmes like Web Design, Programming, Databases, Networking just to name a few. I went on and picked out Networking. I wish I could have given a very convincing reason why I picked this track but looking back, I suspect it was possibly the thrill of getting to learn how computers can communicate with each other – something I hardly ever got the opportunity to do practically whilst in high school. My dad didn’t really care what I picked. He just needed me occupied and “doing something meaningful” with my time. I was also working for him during this time, by the way, so my days were very full and that’s an experience also loaded with stories (for another day, of course) having worked for my dad since I was about 12. Anyway, so for six months before I started college, I studied for this Networking diploma. I wrote exams but unfortunately failed one of the modules and never got around retaking it. So I never got the Diploma. I had since started university, was now busy with pursuing that and just moved on from that program. Fast forward to my internship year, I found myself working for an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and had to revisit the ghosts of my past – my incomplete Networking diploma. Of course it wasn’t an issue but I remember wishing I had just completed the program and earned my certificate to, you know, strengthen my CV. Whilst working at this ISP, I got interested in the work we were doing because internet usage was on the rise. The learning possibilities and opportunities were plenty! I was encouraged by my supervisor to take up a Certification program in Networking. It made sense to me so I signed up for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certification. I really enjoyed those classes but, again, I did not end up taking my Certification exam. Sigh! By the time I was due to take the exam, it was time to go back to Uni and start my final year and I just didn’t manage to allow myself to work around scheduling to take the exam since I learnt in another town 4 hours away. I wouldn’t say they were complex logistics. To be honest, if I wanted to, I would have. That’s the bottom line. After University I got a Graduate Trainee position at a bank and one of the things that actually stood out for one of the interviewers who was going to be my future boss was that I had CCNA training and was looking to be certified. However, once work began, I was initially placed with the team that was supporting the banking applications. I did serve my time doing networking and infrastructure support but my interest was now in the banking applications so I ended up doing that. Now, by this point in my career, I had met many people who were working in or studying in tech. When I was at that college in town studying for the Networking diploma, I had classmates who were working full time jobs and did not have degrees. They were upskilling through this program at this college and had other similar qualifications or short courses gained by this point. When I was going through my internship at the ISP, a number of my colleagues were in full time permanent roles and did not have degrees. Some of them were studying towards degree programmes whilst working and others were studying for some certifications or short courses. They were amazing at their work, trained me even and the fact that they did not have degrees was hardly ever an issue because, they got the job done. When I joined the bank, I had colleagues in our IT office who did not have degrees but, they not only trained me, they were also getting the job done. Again, a number of them were also studying towards a degree or some certification or short course. I also had to work with external consultants who were vendors of the applications we used in the bank and from speaking to some of them, they did not have degrees. Some had taken the paths of certifications whilst working and learning on the job. Now, back to the question: Which is better – a degree or a certification? I had to give you my own back story and experience so that you understood my take on this. First of all, for the benefit of those reading this and they don’t have a background in the terminology. Let’s get that out of the way. According to Oracle, IT certifications are credentials that IT professionals earn to verify that they have the skills and knowledge to perform a specific role within information technology. Certifications give professionals at all levels of experience the opportunity to develop deep knowledge of a particular area of IT and demonstrate their skills and expertise. Most software and hardware technology manufacturers and vendors have developed different

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Embrace Expectancy, Overcome Expectation

2 Comments / Life /

I was today years old when I learned there was a difference between these two words: expectation and expectancy. Seriously…They meant the same thing to me! It actually took me back to a few years ago when I had a friend lecture me about having expectations of people. “That’s how you get disappointed Tari,” she said to me. At the time, it didn’t make sense to me. I expected people to behave in a certain way, to treat me in a certain way because I had been kind to and considerate of them in past interactions. But, I quickly learned that that’s not really how life goes. Another friend is always telling me, “Stop expecting other people to behave or react how you would in a particular situation.” We are all different. We have different priorities, levels of integrity, moral compasses, you name it. We are not the same, and, most importantly, we are not perfect. Then a few weeks ago, as I was listening to a discussion on an episode on Better Together TV, I heard one of the ladies talk about why we need to stop having expectations and instead have an expectancy. Huh? Yes, that was my reaction, literally. I rewinded. What are you saying? Immediately, I started looking up definitions for these two words as a start, because to me, “it didn’t sound right”. But how they unpacked it all blew my mind away and I immediately put this title in my drafts because I needed to share it with someone. Now, according to Oxford, expectation is defined as a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future. It’s rigid, it’s fixed and 99.999% of the time, it’s tied to a specific expected outcome. I hate saying this, but it actually reeks of entitlement. Of course, going back to my conversation with my friend, I started thinking, was I being entitled? OK, let’s keep going. I did create a picture in my mind of how things were supposed to unfold and, as my friend literally put it, I set myself up for disappointment because what then happened to me in reality didn’t match what I had established in my head. Sigh! Think about this: If you are expecting a promotion at work because you’ve been putting in extra hours, you are going to be very frustrated if and when it doesn’t materialise. I remember when I used to work at the bank, very long hours during my time as a graduate trainee. The major reason I was doing it was because it gave me an opportunity to learn more. There were so many distractions during the day from colleagues needing help and support and we would only get that focus time after hours, when everyone had gone home. That was the major reason. Now, on another side of my brain and soul, I was thinking, if they see me putting my head down like this, working hard (and late) they would see that I deserved a raise, a promotion and more resources on my team to support the work we were doing so that we didn’t have to put in these long hours. That was my expectation. And when it hardly materialised in the way I pictured in my head, it led to a great deal of frustration on my part. I’m sure you all know by now how that story unfolded. Outside of work, let’s think about friendships or any social relationship we can think of. This is where I was struggling with this because if I had been a good friend (sister, daughter or partner) to you, I expected you to extend the same “kindness” or “graciousness” or “loyalty” to me when I needed it. And if I didn’t get that, best believe, I’m going to be beyond disappointed. I’m going to be pissed! And this is what my friend was trying to rescue me from because she could tell how disappointed I was. And I remember thinking, how can I just go through life expecting the worst from people because that’s how I then translated it. It was either black or white. You either do or you don’t. And because I kept having these expectations, I continued to feel a lot of disappointment and sometimes even resentment and bitterness. Now, expectancy on the other hand, is the thinking, hoping or feeling that something, especially something pleasant, will happen or be the case – as the Cambridge dictionary puts it. It’s more fluid, open, and adaptable. When we live with expectancy, we are hopeful and optimistic without being tied to a specific outcome. That last part – without being tied to a specific outcome. Expectancy allows us to remain positive and open to various possibilities, reducing the sting of disappointment. Personally, it actually reminds me to maintain the posture of knowing that “No experience is wasted”. Everything is happening for my better good and this scripture has never been more true “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 NKJV In my journey of life, shifting from expectation to expectancy has been a game-changer, especially for my emotional and mental well being. When I expect people to treat me a certain way, any deviation from my script leads to hurt feelings and resentment. But embracing expectancy means I can hope for positive interactions while understanding that people are complex and unpredictable and also making space for that. This mindset shift has not only improved how I approach and navigate my relationships but also my own sense of peace. Consider this: with expectancy, you can still hope for that promotion, but you’re open to other opportunities and outcomes. Maybe you won’t get that specific promotion, but perhaps another exciting project or role will come your way. Expectancy keeps your mind and heart open to the myriad of possibilities life can offer. So,

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How Getting Help Changed My Remote Working Life

10 Comments / Life, Remote Work /

A few months ago I moved out from my mum’s house with my son to live closer to his school. I, like many other parents I know, really don’t enjoy school run. And with the way the roads in Harare are at the moment, I am super grateful I don’t get to experience the traffic nightmares at different times of the day. But venturing out on my own wasn’t the breeze I thought it would be. Leaving the comfort of my mum’s and her helper’s support really shook me in many different ways. Getting my son ready for school, taking him to school, picking him up from school, planning his meals, preparing his meals, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, managing him whilst I tried to do my work, all quickly started taking a toll on me. Frustrated, I went to vent to a friend who told me, more than once, that we were not meant to raise children alone. You can’t go around trying to do and be everything. In my head I was like, But I can! I just need more time. More hands. More legs. More strength. LOL! That would really translate to another person right? But no, I was not ready for that. So I soldiered on. A few months down the line, I had tried to improve my situation by getting help in once a week to take care of cleaning and laundry. I would look forward to the cleaning lady’s coming so much that, the night before my mood would actually be different. Things got a bit better. But something made me super anxious as the months went by. The holidays were approaching. What was I going to do with my son? I already knew what it was like trying to work with him around for just part of my day, what was I going to do with him for the whole day? I decided I was going to look for help but I didn’t quite know where to start. In the middle of me thinking about it, one of the mums in our Autism Support Group posted that she provided child minding services for children with autism. I quickly reached out to her, checked out her references and decided to give her a go. I was very reluctant to do so because this was a complete stranger and I had no idea what to expect. The first day she came in, she took my son and they were in one room playing whilst I tried to work in another. Sonny didn’t like that. At any given opportunity, he would try to escape and come to the room I was working from. I understood – I mean, it was their first time together. Thankfully, the days that followed started getting easier. In fact, my son was now grabbing his new friend by the hand the moment she came, take her to what we had turned into their playing space and literally shut the door in my face. My heart was at ease. It was as if I was I alone in the house. They would play all day without my son even crying for me to open the door for him. But, as the holidays were coming to an end, that anxiety set in again. I started thinking about going back to that after-school fiasco where I am fighting for focus time in the last part of my working day. I didn’t want to go back. I remembered what my friend had told me. Tariro, we are not meant to raise children alone. We are not meant to do this alone. I had also had my colleague and friend at work advise me to consider looking for help because, besides improving my productivity, it would give me an opportunity to extend my self and do more on the career front. So, I pulled the plug. I looked for a more permanent helper to support me on a day to day basis as I navigate parenting my son. And I can tell you, looking for help is one of the best decisions I have made for myself this year. Remember the more hands, more legs I was longing for? Getting help buys you back some time which you can use however you want. For me, I am glad to have more time to allocate to reading book titles I have been sitting on for years, furthering my studies, participating in some church activities and even writing this blog! Support doesn’t always have to look like a hired helper. Sometimes it’s asking a friend to help you watch your kids whilst you go to the salon or even just take a nap. Sometimes it’s asking your little sister, brother, niece or nephew to live with you and help you out whilst they wait for their O- or A-Level results or whilst they are on their college semester break. Sometimes it’s negotiating a parenting style with your spouse or co-parent that give you both some much needed balance because we all know, especially in our African society, the burden of parenting is usually heavy on the mother. It really does take a village and tapping into support helps us to extend ourselves and improve on our physical and emotional well being. Besides getting more time to do other things, I actually am able to show up better for my son when I am in the right mood. Prior, I was constantly tired and frustrated, struggling to match my son’s energy. It’s so ironic that I have always needed so much convincing when it comes to getting support for my son because I spent years trying to convince business owners to let go and delegate parts of their business operations to me. I guess I’m very protective of that little human, it’s always hard for me to delegate his care to another. Let’s just say, I’m working on it and we are slowly figuring it out.

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Navigating Career Changes: My Return to the Tech World

2 Comments / Remote Work, Tech /

Four years ago, after giving birth to my son, I found myself desiring to “relaunch” myself as a Virtual Assistant. I had spent the last nine months brooding and waiting for the little man to arrive. I had hardly worked on anything related to my remote business. Not that I didn’t try. My efforts were sincere in the beginning, but then the pandemic struck. Days and nights were spent glued to the news. Grey’s Anatomy and reality TV were my escapes. There were shows I watched during the pandemic, pregnant, that I wouldn’t touch now, even if you paid me. Could never be me. LOL! Anyway, back to my story. I wanted to relaunch my business and become a Virtual Assistant again. During that time, while I was nursing my son, one of my clients in Zim messaged me randomly. He said something about people finally understanding the value of the work I do remotely. Seriously, FINALLY! Before COVID, selling the idea of working remotely to many small business owners was a hard mountain to climb. Even those who agreed often still wanted to see me face to face at least once a week or something. I was excited about getting back to it this time because I knew the environment was now different. People were more open and accepting of this mode of working. And this time around, I had a plan to “up my game” a bit. With the experience I had gathered over the years working as a manager in corporate and running projects for clients as a VA, I felt ready to show up as a manager. I rebranded myself as an Online Business Manager (OBM) and landed several amazing clients and projects over the following months. Now, one of my clients, after working together for about four months, offered me a full-time role. I thought to myself: What about all the BIG things I planned to do as an OBM? What about all my other clients? I didn’t want to leave them. We were doing great work. With this client, we were also doing amazing work together. What was I going to do? This would mean going into a full-time tech role. I still had a bit of PTSD from my time in full-time corporate as a tech manager in banking. I feared I would end up burnt out, frustrated, and seeking the nearest exit again. But something encouraged me. Over the months prior to this offer, I had immersed myself in some of the most relatable learning and development content I had ever come across, which addressed many issues I experienced while working in corporate. Back in 2013, I had no idea how to navigate office politics, show up with confidence, build a personal brand, or network. As I watched, I actually messaged one of the instructors who delivered some of the masterclasses and told her that had I known then what I know now, I don’t think I would have left my bank job when I did. I believe I would have made completely different career decisions at the time. Please don’t translate this to regret. I strongly believe in the statement, ‘No experience is wasted.’ My time as a tech manager in the bank, a VA, and an OBM led me to this moment. So, I thought to myself, given the opportunity for a career do-over, knowing what I know now, would I take it? Would I take the opportunity to actually work on a team developing the professional development content that was now influencing this very important decision? By the way, the instructor I messaged was actually my client who offered me this full-time role! This was an opportunity I could not let pass. As I accepted the offer, I felt scared, but I was also excited about the learning and growth opportunities that lay ahead. I felt excited about experiencing new things I had never done before. I was excited about connecting with new people from different parts of the world. I was also excited to apply what I was learning in all the content I worked on as part of my job to accelerate my own career. And that’s how I found myself returning to a full-time role in tech and actively seeking to pursue it further. I am still a strong advocate for working remotely. But as much as I still mentor and coach aspiring virtual assistants, I feel that the next chapter of my career involves me falling back in love with tech to impact how people learn. It’s something I genuinely enjoy doing, and I’ve met and worked with some amazing individuals on this journey. The lessons have been vast, and my goal is to positively contribute and impact through the work I do with my colleagues.

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10 Steps to Start Your Successful Remote Career

4 Comments / Remote Work /

If I had the opportunity to start all over again launching a career working remotely or running an online business as a virtual assistant or online business manager (OBM), there are a lot of things I would do differently, knowing what I know now. Ten years ago when I decided to become a virtual assistant, I experimented a lot and spent hours and even weeks on end working on activities that didn’t bring value to my journey. They didn’t develop my skillset and neither did they translate to dollars. It took time before I figured out what actually moved the needle for me and I believe that had I invested my time differently in the early years, my chances of achieving success much sooner may have been higher. I say “may” because I’m also a very firm believer in God’s timing as we prepare to meet our opportunities. Anyway, to anyone who would ask me today, these my top ten steps to kickstart your career working remotely. 1. Audit your skills and strengths I have met many people who want to work remotely but have no idea what they want to do exactly. It’s tempting to copy what the next successful person is doing because it seems to be working for them and, to be honest, that is what most of us just do. We then quickly get frustrated when we jump into the pool of remote work and completely hate the work that we might find ourselves doing because (a) we were not skilled in that area in the first place, and (b) we are just not passionate about doing THAT kind of work. Take time to audit your skills. Identify what you are good at and what you enjoy doing. If you are already working in a job, it is a good place to start. Don’t say, “I am good at transcription or copywriting” because you imagine this is something that would be easy for you to do. If you have never done that work before, then you don’t know. At this point, stick to what you know and work with that first. Skills can always be learnt and developed, but as you start, you want to establish where your strengths are and then work up from there. 2. Choose a path I speak of being a Virtual Assistant and Online Business Manager a lot because that’s the remote work path I chose when I was starting out. However, that is not the only path and even when you choose these, you can still choose to specialise in a certain area. Think Content Writing, Social Media Marketing, Graphic Designing, Web Designing, Software Development, Video Editing, Tutoring, Podcast Management, Online Event Management, Community Management, Project Management, Customer Support… I could go on for the rest of the day. Choosing a path will help you narrow down your focus in a specific area and develop on that skill. Post-pandemic remote work opportunities are definitely much better than when I first started. I do not need to explain my tongue out anymore to anybody about how it is possible to work remotely. You will even find that some businesses are choosing to operate entirely remotely thus creating more remote roles. Sometimes choosing a path is obvious if you have a specific skill like design or programming. However, other times, you may have skills that can be applied into more than one role. For example, if you are currently working as an office assistant or administrative assistant, it’s highly likely that you have developed skills in office management, managing operations, setting up systems etc. You may pick out the role of an Online Business Manager or Operations Manager and then see where you have skill gaps that may require for you to fill in later with training, experience or both. You may even choose to pursue a career as a remote Project Manager. Bottom line is, there are so many transferrable skills across industries. That’s why it’s important to be able to articulate your skills and areas of strength in the beginning. 3. Hire a trainer or coach One thing I wish I did early on in my journey was to hire a coach or trainer who would shorten my learning path on pursuing a remote work career because, to be honest, you don’t know what you don’t know. One thing I did though was immerse myself in every free training or resource I could get in the beginning but I later learnt the value of investing in a “shortcut”. Working directly with someone who will guide you as you launch your remote work career or business will help you fill in gaps that may exist for you in terms of your own skillset or knowledge. It will also expand your mindset. One of the most popular questions I get asked by aspiring remote workers, for example, is: Where do I get clients? And I can tell you, if you have worked with a coach, trainer or mentor, you will hardly ever have to ask this question, because they will guide and teach you how to do so with confidence. So, look for a program you can join or a coach you can work with and get help packaging your offer to attract the right clients for you. I only did this 3 years into my Virtual Assistant journey and it changed the game for me. Being intentional about your learning will go a long way in impacting your remote career positively. 4. Build your personal brand If you have no idea what personal branding is, you need to prioritise diving into this topic soon after reading this article. Personal branding is how you present yourself to others. It’s an intentional effort to shape people’s perception of who you are, what you stand for, and what makes you unique. This can include your skills, personality, values, and expertise, all tailored to create a distinct and memorable impression. I had to experience

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My Awakening To The Autism Spectrum

Leave a Comment / Life /

For a long time I was having an internal struggle whether or not to share about my journey with my son who was officially diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) last year. There were a lot of things I was scared of but topping that list was definitely judgement because I honestly felt I had had enough of it dealing with plenty comments at gatherings or public places that usually started with, “Your son does not talk because you…” or “Leave him to walk on his own otherwise…” I got tired trying to explain the challenges he was (read: we were) having and ended up just avoiding accepting invites, and paying visits as much as I possibly could. Now, fast forward to December 2023 when I was planning to start this blog, I really was having this strong inkling to share about my journey caring for a child on the spectrum because I felt besides the need to raise awareness around this neuro-developmental condition, there was need to also reach out to that person who is probably dealing with this alone, in silence. I used to be that person. And I know how lonely it can get in that world. That’s why I decided to start sharing about it first here. So, I’m mum to my very energetic toddler son who turns 4 this year. If you had asked me 4 years ago how I would have envisioned my motherhood journey, the story would definitely not look like the reality I am living now. First of all, let me say this: Motherhood is a very humbling experience. Well, at least that is the summary of my own story. Nothing seems to go according to plan. From the pregnancy which literally rules your life for months, to teaching them how to poop in the potty and everything in between all of that. Nowhere in my journey through pregnancy and child birth did it ever occur to me that there was a possibility that I would have to deal with developmental challenges with my son. I don’t know whether it’s naivety on my part or I just had too many other things to think about like, Huggies or Pampers? Boob or bottle? Push it or C-Section? Why is my nose getting so big? You see? My mind was always racing. I remember being so excited when my son started to crawl and then walk, and would respond when I told him to clap his hands or say “Thank you”. “Progress!” I thought. But some of it just went away. One day, he woke up and he was no longer responding to those prompts or clap his hands or showing gratitude. It was like a part of his brain that stored those little bit of skills had been wiped clean. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. He was just 18 months and was walking and making baby noises so he was fine. Just before he turned 2 we enrolled him into day care. That’s when I started noticing some things. He struggled to integrate into the classroom environment and cried EVERY DAY. I remember being ridden with guilt thinking, “Maybe it’s too early for day care” but then I would look around at his classmates, some even younger than him, and they would be “calm” and seeming to do well. I know people say don’t do this but many parents are guilty of “comparison-i-tis” when it comes to their children. I also noticed how it was hard for him to concentrate on class activities. He would just want to do his own things and not follow even basic instructions like, “Sit down”. Deep down inside, something didn’t feel right so I asked the teacher what she thought and, unfortunately she dismissed my suspicions and said that if there was anything wrong they would know and take necessary next steps. Anyway, fast forward to the end of that year, I wasn’t keen on us continuing there for this and other reasons. We had also then received a referral from a paeditrician that he needed to see a neuro-developmental specialist for an assessment and evaluation. So we changed schools and moved to another which my son seemed to love IMMEDIATELY. He spent a year at this school but, again, we noted there was hardly any improvement in some developmental milestones which we considered basic. In the middle of that year, we had finally decided to go for that assessment and had officially received a diagnosis that he was on the Autism Spectrum. So in the middle of trying to accept our reality, seeking support and making decisions around what was best for our son, we found ourselves wanting to pick another school for the following year. This time, our need was clear, we sought to enrol him into a special needs school that specialised in helping toddlers with autism and other developmental disorders to thrive because that is our greatest desire and prayer for our son every day. I’m happy to say, for now, we seem to have found a place that ticks a lot of the boxes for us and as much as I would love to say our son is thriving, I’m going to be real with you at this point for the sake of managing expectations of those who may be on the same path. You have to know how far we have come with him to understand why we celebrate the tiniest of milestones like saying, “Mummy” or “Bye” or even just agreeing to shake another’s hand in greeting. We have come such a long way. But I am immensely grateful for those who have dedicated their lives to learning about this condition and mastering how to support those affected by it. The greatest gift I have received whilst on this journey is the gift of community. Understanding that I am not the only one experiencing the unique challenges I face as I try to raise my

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9 Common Myths About People Working In Tech

Leave a Comment / Tech /

Have you ever been judged based on your profession? As someone in the tech industry, I’ve encountered my fair share of misconceptions. From assumptions about my coding skills to the belief that I can miraculously fix any gadget (trust me, you need to meet my mother), these stereotypes often paint a humorous, yet mostly inaccurate, picture of what it means to work in tech. Join me as I unravel some of these misconceptions and shed light on the reality of a career in tech. Let’s set the record straight! Techies Are All Geniuses Myth: Every tech person is a certified genius who can hack into classified government files during their lunch break. Reality: We’re just really good at Googling stuff. Back in college, there was a popular phrase we used: “Google is your friend,” and it truly was (and still is). Navigating the vast internet to find answers is a skill every techie masters early on. It’s not about being a genius—it’s about knowing how to use the right tools effectively. Techies Never Sleep Myth: Techies survive on a diet of energy drinks and code through the night. Reality: We value our sleep and most of us have mastered taking power napping throughout the day. I have my days that I am by my laptop till midnight but they are quite few. Rest is very important to us. But to be honest, for those who do code, I know it’s also normal to wake up at 2.14AM after “suddenly” figuring out how to resolve that bug that was stressing us all week! I have done this before and I know many coders can testify to this. Techies Speak a Secret Language Myth: Techies converse in complex jargon that sounds like a mix of binary code and some seemingly ancient symbolic patterns, Reality: Contrary to belief, we don’t speak in a secret language. While we do use technical acronyms and terminology, it’s not to confuse others. Personally, I cringe when techies throw jargon at non-techies without explanation. Effective communication in technology requires clarity and understanding. Unless we’re deep in code or discussing specific technical details among ourselves as colleagues, there’s no need for a secret language. Let’s keep it clear and accessible guys! Techies Are Socially Awkward Myth: Techies are all introverted hermits who communicate solely through memes. Reality: We love memes. A lot. BUT, we’re far from being socially awkward hermits. In fact, we’re capable of engaging in diverse conversations beyond tech topics. You might be surprised by how interesting and enjoyable we can be to be around. Wink*Wink Techies Can Fix Any Device Myth: Give a techie any broken gadget, and they’ll magically resurrect it. Reality: Sorry, I can’t fix your toaster or your BP monitor, mummy. I’m really serious about this one. My mum believes I can fix ANY and EVERY tech problem she would have. The truth is: I don’t even know how to fix my own computer beyond basic software troubleshooting. I actually have a workshop I take my Macbook to if at any time it “coughs”. Tech is really broad and it is normal to find techies who are great in one area but are completely clueless in another. Techies Are All Gamers Myth: Techies spend every free moment gaming. Reality: Some of us do, but not all—some are into knitting or fishing. I must confess though, when I was in college I almost fried my motherboard playing Need For Speed. I would wake up in the middle of the night to study and after a few hours I would just find myself picking a ride and cruising through virtual hills and forests. Gaming is fun but not all techies are into it. Today, I prefer to spend my free time away from my screen – most likely preparing a delicious meal. Techies Live in Their Parents’ Backrooms or Basements Myth: Techies dwell in poorly lit rooms surrounded by stacks of old computer parts. Reality: This stereotype often stems from exaggerated stories about Silicon Valley. Thanks Hollywood! In truth, most techies live in regular homes with sunlight exposure. While some of us may have lived with our parents well into our 30s (guilty as charged), our living spaces are just as beautifully decorated as anyone else’s. No superhero figurines cluttering our decor shelves! Techies Have No Fashion Sense Myth: Techies dress exclusively in hoodies and flip-flops. Reality: Okay, I’ll be honest—I’m currently rocking a hoodie and flip-flops without a second thought. But hear me out: we can dress up when necessary! We just appreciate comfort, functionality and minimal decision making. Fashion sense? It’s there when needed. Alright? Good! Techies Are All Code Ninjas Myth: Techies effortlessly churn out flawless code in minutes. Reality: No we don’t. Most of us actually cannot code AT ALL and for those who do, learning and debugging takes up a significant amount of our time. Just visit Stack Overflow and you’ll see what I mean. I know these are just a handful of the many stereotypes out there around people working in tech. What have been your experiences? Let’s continue the conversation to help debunk the myths and allow others to embrace our diversity and individuality in the industry.

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What A Mighty Fall Taught Me About Healing

Leave a Comment / Life /

A few weeks ago I fell soon after walking out of a pharmacy where I was getting some medicine for myself. I bruised my knee, was bleeding and had to go back into the pharmacy to get some bandages. It was so painful. I limped back to my car thinking, what’s next? Because I had scratched my skin off my foot just a few days before and was struggling to wear shoes. Why was I scratching, you might wonder? I have been battling eczema from birth and when it gets hot, I get so itchy. And Harare had been hot for a minute. The next 2 weeks, wearing shoes was a mission. Thank God I work from home and don’t have to be wearing them ALL THE TIME. Playing with my son also became dreadful because he would just (unintentionally) poke at my knee. He also seemed to not understand why I had bruises. The confusion on his face seemed to rise when I put a bandage on. Poor boy, couldn’t even ask mummy. He just would sometimes softly try to touch those nasty wounds. Besides wearing shoes, kneeling was difficult, something I do a lot when I am trying to pick up his toys. “When will this end?” I thought to myself. But slowly, the wounds started to heal. And when I realised that the pain was getting less and less, I remember thinking to myself, Finally. Because it honestly, felt like it was going to last forever. I also started having thoughts about difficult seasons that we go through in life that seem to have no end. The shock we get at the onset of the difficult events, the bleeding (physically, emotionally or spiritually), and the many attempts we make to heal. Right there, in the beginning, it really feels like there is no end in sight. But healing comes, we start to cope and, eventually, pain ends. Seasons are not permanent. I’ve just told you earlier how I scratched my skin off because the heat was really affecting me. But as I type this, it’s a cool 19 degree morning and you can tell that “Winter is coming”. The hot season is coming to an end. I know that before we even blink, everyone here will be complaining about the cold and, even that will end too. I am writing this post for that person who is going through a difficult time, a pain or discomfort that seems endless. It will end. The sun will shine oh so beautifully again. The heat you are feeling will be cooled off. You will not feel like this forever. It’s been about a month since my mighty fall outside the pharmacy, my wounds are completely healed but the scars are there and very visible. When I look at the scars I think about that fall, I remember the pain but I also am so grateful that the pain did not last forever. Touching those scars doesn’t hurt me at all now. I can play with my son without worrying about him poking at me and inflicting pain. He still looks at the scars in wonder but, if he was to ask me about it, I would only have a story to tell about a difficulty I went through and a pain I once felt. As much as there are scars left, the pain is gone and am not even triggered by any pokes at them now. Think about about the physical and emotional wounds you carry. Have they healed? Are you giving them time to heal? I know you want it to happen right away so you might want to take off scabs prematurely off your wound. I remember how badly I wanted my knee to heal. I did take out a scab and, my goodness, started bleeding again. Pain can feel like such an inconvenience. It is also very uncomfortable. But give yourself time. You have been hurt. You will come out on the other side – healed. Another thing is healing doesn’t leave us the same. There are scars which may manifest as changes in our character, personality, preferences or life choices. Whatever it is, I hope you emerge stronger, despite the pain.

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My Journey From A Stressful In-Person Bank Job to Remote Work

2 Comments / Remote Work /

The year was 2013. I was working on average 12 to 14 hours a day for what now felt like forever. This was now my third year and third role at this company. From the outside looking in, I was crushing it. I was climbing that corporate ladder. I was 27 and now in middle management. It was thee dream for anyone graduating from a university in Zimbabwe where unemployment is the order of the day. Sigh. But I felt like my soul was dying inside. I was burnt out and I didn’t know how or when to stop. It also seemed like I was now beginning to doubt by potential. The worst! It was a challenging role and a challenging time. But I was so determined. You wouldn’t have been able to tell how much I was suffering inside just by merely looking at or interacting with me. I used to show up for that job with all the grit in me. I loved what I did deeply. I can pin point a specific time when I really felt I had had enough. It was around Easter in 2013 and (as usual) I was working over that holiday which I think even coincided with Independence Day as well in that year. I was going through an annual audit and if you have worked in a financial institution you can appreciate how daunting and stressful audits can get. I was going through it and unfortunately, I was losing my mind in the process. I must confess that I forgot that this was just work and I didn’t have to take things so personally. Any shortfall that was pointed out, I would take personally. I’m not even joking. I would translate it to “Tariro, you are such a failure. You have no business leading in the capacity you are leading. You are a FRAUD!” Oh yes, imposter syndrome had me by my throat and was choking me! I remember saying to myself, ‘I don’t want to go through this again. I don’t want to feel like this. I am tired and I want out by end of this year.’ Immediately I started Googling, “Should I quit my job?” and is there anything that Google doesn’t have answers to? My dilemma was not knowing what I would do after. I thought of looking for another job but I quickly hit a roadblock as I wondered, ‘What if it feels exactly the same?’ So I didn’t. I then started asking myself, ‘What do I want?’ Because at the time, I was living with my parents and there was absolutely no way I was going to walk to them to just say I am quitting my job without a next gig. I had to think of a plan. So I thought about the job I had done for years before joining the bank. The job I used to do during my school holidays and semester breaks throughout high school and university. The job I believed I had done so well too. I worked in our family functions equipment hiring business since I was 12. I had taken up plenty roles in there as a receptionist, PA, cleaner, delivery “guy”, IT “guy”, customer service “guy” etc. Anything that needed to be done and my dad believed I could do, I did. But as much as I had done the job so well, I did not want to go work for my dad. I felt like it was good for our relationship if I worked with him from a distance without being his employee. I was convinced he needed my help. That’s when it hit me! I realised that there were many other business owners like him who also needed my help. I started looking up “supporting small businesses” and later on “supporting small businesses from home”. One day during my endless Google searches I came across the term, Virtual Assistant! Mmmmh, this is new. I have never seen or heard about that before. What is it? The search that followed took me down the rabbit hole of Virtual Assistance and working from home. This was now August 2013. At this point the desire to quit my job was stronger than ever and I felt like God was giving me sign after sign to do it especially after discovering the world of Virtual Assistance. Everything I found was so enticing. Work from home. Be your own boss. Define your hours. Travel. Make six figures! You should seriously see my face as type all this. I am literally laughing out loud right now. Anyway, I started looking for people who were doing similar work in Zimbabwe. I remember messaging a lady on LinkedIn who had indicated that she was a Virtual Assistant in her profile but I never got a response and she was the only one in Zimbabwe I found. So I figured I was going to be the next person. Between August and October 2013 I decided I was definitely going to quit my job. I decided to come up with a business plan because remember my parents? Yeah. They needed to see something SOLID. I came up with my business plan and even a name for my virtual assistant business, Twenty47 Virtual Assistant. I had found a community online of (mostly women) from the US and UK who were virtual assistants and actually living off income from that. So I could see the possibility for me even though I was in a different environment (more about this hindsight in future posts). I decided I was going to register my business formally and have a logo. In my head, this was serious business and with everything I had laid out in my plan it was going to work. Around this time, the love-hate relationship with my job didn’t get any better. I was still stressed out, burnt out and seriously questioning my value in the position I was in. I felt I didn’t deserve

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