Two Plans, One Goal

Hey, WAers,

For the past few weeks, I've been thinking about my next major step in life and work alike.

I seem to have two plans in front of me.

Plan A is to secure a scholarship to China, study for a Master's degree in Contemporary Chinese Studies, continue to a PhD in International Relations, and eventually teach and write as a China-Africa scholar.

Plan B is much simpler. Go back to Kenya, improve my collection of books, focus on one title at a time, print physical copies, market them through schools and churches, and continue building an audience through writing and live videos on Facebook (I've just realized most people prefer video over long texts of articles).

At first, I thought I had to choose between them.

Then something struck me.

Both plans require the same thing today.

Work.

Whether I study in China next year or five years from now, I still need to read. I still need to write. I still need to build an audience. I still need to publish. I still need to show up.

The scholarship is not the work.

The books are not the work.

The audience is not the work.

The work is the work.

Many of us in online business spend years waiting for the next breakthrough. More traffic. More commissions. More followers. More sales. More credentials.

I've done that too.

But the longer I do this, the more I realize that success often comes from continuing to move while waiting.

When I started writing, I had no audience.

When I started building websites, I knew very little.

When I published my first books, I had no idea whether anyone would read them.

The next step became visible only after I took the previous one.

So my focus now is simple.

Keep writing.

Keep learning.

Keep publishing.

Keep applying.

Keep building.

If China opens its doors, I'll be ready.

If it takes longer, I'll still be ready.

That's the lesson I wanted to share today.

Don't put life on hold while waiting for the next opportunity.

Prepare for it.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Let's keep building.

John Monyjok Maluth
Emerging China-Africa Scholar