SINCE the dawn of commercialism, marketers have been trying to influence customers to choose their products or services. The challenge is that a customer’s decision making process is based on a vast number of factors. It is virtually impossible to influence them all. The smart marketer usually aims to establish a balance by appealing to the emotional as well as the rational side. If you’re interested in the field of psychology and the role it plays in marketing, consider reading Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Dr. Robert B. Cialdini. With more than two million copies sold and available in 26 languages, the book was named one of the ‘Smartest Business Books ‘by Fortune Magazine. Often on the required reading list of marketing students, the book has been on the New York Times Business Best Seller List. The reason for the book’s phenomenal success is the concept of the six pillars. These pillars govern our social behaviors. So whether you eat noodles with a fork and call it spa...

Once upon a time, there were two stores next to each other, separated by a wooden wall. One store belonged to the oil maker, and the other belonged to a perfume seller. In the wooden wall, there was a hole big enough to see through. After a weary day, the oil maker was counting the days profits, and the perfume seller watched him through the hole. He saw him count all the coins. They amounted 120 dinars. Back then, 120 dinars were worth about $1000 dollars. Anyhow, the oil maker put his coins in a red napkin, hid the napkin, closed the store, and left for the mosque to pray. When the oil maker left, the perfume seller knew he had a chance to get all the money. He threw himself onto the street, screaming, "My money! My money! A robber stole my money!" A police officer ran to him. "When did you lose your money?" aksed the officer. "Just now!" "How many dinars were there?" "120!" "Where did you put them?" "In a red napkin!...

Council of Governors outgoing chairman Isaac Ruto is headed to a global body on devolved governments after leading governors for two non-renewable terms. Mr Ruto will be the focal person for Africa in the United Nations for sub-regional governments, a body based in Colombia, Latin America, that enhances sharing experiences on running of counties. The body had representatives in the just-concluded second devolution conference in Kisumu. From Africa, Nigeria and Ghana are some of the members of the organisation The chairman was, however, not willing to give details of the appointment. “I’m sure an announcement will be made at an appropriate time if that happens,” he said. The association brings together all countries with one form of decentralised government or other. The position will hand the governor another lifeline. As Council of Governors chair, Mr Ruto robustly took on the national government and particularly Deputy President William Ruto as a champion for devolution. The positio...

“Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck somewhere you don’t belong.” Don’t beat yourself up! True growth takes time. It’s a process that requires self-love and compassion. Learn and grow every day, with each experience, and in every loving moment. Celebrate how far you’ve already come, make loving choices, and peacefully continue on your amazing journey. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it. You are only confined by the walls you build yourself. Don’t fear change, change fear. Have compassion for yourself and know that you change and grow with every forward step you take on your journey. "

President Obama released his 2014 tax returns with reported income of $477,383. The president, who filed jointly with his wife Michelle, paid $93,362 in taxes at a rate of 19.6%.They also paid $22,640 in state income tax to Illinois, where they own a home. The first couple donated 14.8% of their total income to charity with $70,712 in donations to 33 non profit organizations. The largest contributions went to the Fisher House Foundation ($22,012) and Sidwell Friends School ($5,000), the DC private school where daughters Malia and Sasha attend. They also tithed $1,500 to St. John's Episcopal Church in DC, where the family has attended Sunday services. Obama also made good on his promise to donate to the ALS Association with a $200 gift, after he opted not to take part in the Ice Bucket challenge in support of the group last summer. Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, also released their tax returnsand reported joint income in 2014 of $388,844. They were taxed at the rate of...

Aden Duale wants to be the first Muslim and Kenyan Somali deputy president – and probably president — despite lingering questions over his family’s links to terrorism. As Jubilee’s most rabid defender inside and outside parliament, the Leader of Majority in the National Assembly believes the job is almost half-done.He never stops reminding friends and rivals that there’s only one post that he will gun for at the transition in 2022: the running-mate of William Ruto, the URP leader and Uhuru’s deputy. Duale has been doing everything possible to continue currying favour with UhuRuto, while at the same time growing his clout in Garissa and among the Muslim constituency inthe north.Duale has also been in a rush to amass wealth to mount a serious campaign for the post he so much covets, and to which he fears he could be beaten by Abdikadir Mohammed, the former Mandera Central MP who is currently presidential advisor on constitutional affairs.When the list of corrupt politicians, public serva...

Being Kenyan is becoming an insult. When did I attain this identity that just because I am black I should pave the way for the whites? In bank queues, interview queues e.t.c. I am a local and so it's okay to kick me out of the presidential suite just because a white brother wants it too? When did being black become our favorite punchline? You can see this attitude everywhere. I know of such one case where my bosom buddy and her family toured Mt. Longonot during the festive season. There are these business ladies who sell artifacts and other African items at the entrance. These ladies wouldn't give them a second glance. When they enquired how much a tiny elephant carving would cost, the lady retorted back angrily " Elfu Tano, NA kama hamnunui muache kushikashika!" Good gracious! That is just so insulting! So rude! So arrogant! So obnoxious! It hurts to the core of my black African heart. Why are we doing this to each other? Why are we culturally tripping? Why do we sti...

One of the fourAlshabab militants who stormed Garissa university college killing 148 plus students has been identified as Abdirahim Mohamed Abdullahi the son of a Kenya Government administrativeChief in Mandera Abdirahim is a university of Nairobi Law graduate and is described by a person who knows him well as a “brilliant upcoming lawyer” Before his admission to the University of Nairobi where he studied Law LLB he was a student at WAMY High School and scored an A-in KCSEin 2007 according to one of his teachers “He is the man in stripped shirts. He graduated from the University of Nairobi in 2013” a source based in Mandera known to Abdirahim and family told me “He is the son of Chief Daqara” he concluded AbdullahiDaqaraisthe Chief of Bulla Jamhuri in Mandera county A second source who identified himself as Abdirahim's English teacher at Wamy High said he was an obedient student "I taught him. He was a very close friend before he got radicalized" said the teacher. Wamy is...

John and Derek were neighbours. John was a poor farmer. Derek was a landlord. John used to be very relaxed and happy. Even without money , he was peaceful . He never bothered to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He always had deep sound sleep. Derek was always very tense . He would never forget to to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He found it difficult to sleep well . He was always afraid that somebody would break open his safes and steal away the money. He envied the peaceful John. One day, Derek called John and gave him a boxful of cash saying, “Look my dear friend. I am blessed with plenty of wealth. It really bothers me to find you in poverty. So, please take this cash and live in prosperity.” John was overjoyed and happy. Night came. John went to bed as usual. But that day he could not sleep . He closed the doors and windows for the first time . He kept on looking at the box of cash. The whole night he was disturbed. As soon as day broke, John ...

By the time the Lord made mothers, He was into the sixth day working overtime. An Angel appeared and said “Why are you spending so much time on this one?” And the Lord answered and said, “Have you read the specification sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not elastic; have 200 movable parts, all replaceable; run on black coffee and leftovers; have a lap that can hold three children at one time and that disappears when she stands up; have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart; and have six pairs of hands.” The Angel was astounded at the requirements for this one. “Six pairs of hands! No way!” said the Angel. The Lord replied, “Oh, it’s not the hands that are the problem. It’s the three pairs of eyes that mothers must have!” “And that’s on the standard model?” the Angel asked. The Lord nodded in agreement, ” one pair of eyes are to see through the closed door as she asks her children what they are doing even though she already knows. Another...

real-winners-dont-give-u.jpg This is a true story of a young woman who went through the most gruesome fire. When you read her story, you’ll realize that your trials are absolutely nothing compared to what this young girl went through. It was September 25, 2000. Maricel Apatan was an 11-year old girl in Zamboanga. On that day, this little girl went with her uncle to draw water. Along the way, four men met them. They were carrying long knives. They told her uncle to face down on the ground, and they hacked him on the neck and killed him. Maricel was in total shock, especially that the men were their neighbors. She tried to escape, but the men ran after her. She cried, “Kuya, ‘wag po, ‘wag n’yo akong tagain! Maawa po kayo sa akin!” (“Don’t kill me! Have mercy on me!”) But they weren’t listening. With a long knife, a man slashed her on the neck too. Maricel fell to the ground and lost consciousness. When she woke up, she saw a lot of blood. She also saw the feet of the men around her, but ...

“No matter how badly people treat you, never drop down to their level. Just know you are better and walk away.” We can deal with bad people in many different ways which they depend on the situations we are in, sometimes we can choose ignorance, or keeping silent by putting a smile on the face, or do and say things not in their ways but in ours. ~ Alisar Al Haj Ali None of us are better then the other. Just some of us are in more pain or more dysfunctional then the other. I think if we can take a step back n see things for what they are it makes it less painful. ~ Michelle Hansen Keep your head up and your heart open. Move slowly and gracefully. Accept things for what they are. Find peace and stillness. Be love.

dnelduhuru1107f.jpgUhuru Kenyatta I am saddened to inform the Nation that early today, terrorists attacked Garissa University College killed and wounded several people and have taken others hostage. The full details of casualties will be communicated in due course by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government who is coordinating operations with the Inspector-General of the Police in Garissa. On behalf of my Government, I extend condolences to the families of those who have perished in this attack. We continue to pray for the quick recovery of the injured, and the safe rescue of those held hostage. I also assure the Nation that my Government has undertaken appropriate deployment to the affected area, and is fully seized of the situation. I also urge Kenyans to stay calm as we resolve this matter, and to provide the authorities with any information they may have in connection with any threats to our security. This is a moment for everyone throughout the co...

i-was-offered-a-bribe-to.jpgThe anti-graft deputy boss has accused a top government official of trying to bribe her to resign from the commission. Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) vice chair Irene Keino has said that she was called Tuesday night and advised to resign. Keino says that she was promised a deputy ambassadors position in Brazil should she comply with the advise. The commissioner said that the 11:30 pm call was related to the ongoing investigations into mega corruption scandals that have hit the headlines recently. Keino noted that the Karen land scandal, the Mumias Sugar saga, the Anglo Leasing scandal and the Geothermal GDC scandal among others. Her sentiments were echoed by the commission’s chair Mumo Matemu who accused powerful forces of being behind the purported wars in the commission. Executive interferences Matemu said he was also not going to resign despite calls from a section of leaders asking him to vacate the position over integrity issues. The senti...