When life puts you in a waiting room, you should to talk to those who’ve already survived the surgery.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been doing exactly that. Coffee by coffee. Conversation by conversation.
Three meetups in Nairobi with remarkable people: Joshua Wathanga, Emmanuel Nandokha, and Esther Muchiri.
Each conversation left me wiser and humbled. I’m slightly suspicious that God might be orchestrating something behind the scenes.
Four Months Ago…
On November 7, 2025, I hosted a webinar titled “Surviving and Thriving in Lean Seasons.”
A conversation born out of personal experience and reflection. The unexpected wisdom that shows up when life slows you down.
You can watch the promo video here.
Since then, there have been milestones worth celebrating. Besides roadblocks that have been both liberating and enlightening.
Along the way, reflections from this blog, like my review of Forced Reset, have sparked thoughtful responses and unexpected conversations.
What began as casual catch-ups has quietly turned into something deeper.
Stories of reinvention, resilience, and rethinking the road ahead.
And somewhere between cappuccinos and life lessons, I realized something important.
Lean seasons are not empty seasons. They are classrooms.
Four Months After the Webinar That Started It All…
At the time of this webinar, I was still figuring out how to survive life’s turbulence.
Since then, a lot has happened.
Some milestones. Some roadblocks. Some doors opened. Some doors slammed shut with the enthusiasm of a Nairobi matatu conductor.
But through it all, I’ve kept writing.
If you’ve followed my blog, you may remember reflections like:
Those posts were honest snapshots of life in transition.
More recently, two posts sparked a surprising number of conversations:
Apparently, when you write honestly about uncertainty, people respond with something unexpected.
Their own stories.
And that’s how the coffees began.
Coffee #1: The Man Who Thinks Backwards
Joshua Wathanga is the kind of man who has lived three careers, three continents, and roughly fifteen lifetimes of experience.
A seasoned policy facilitator and executive coach. He helps leaders across Africa shape strategy and drive institutional transformation.
We met at ArtCaffé, The Hub Karen.
I expected wisdom.
I did not expect strategic philosophy served with cappuccino.
Joshua shared stories of studying, working and living across Kenya, the UK, the U.S., and South Africa.
Veterinary medicine (BSc. & MSc.); Population and Development (MSc.); Economic development (MBA); Leadership and Change Management (DBA).
At some point I stopped trying to keep up and simply started taking notes.
Then he said something sweeter than salted caramel cake.
“Most people plan life from Point A (present) to Point B (future).
The strategic thinker plans from Point B (SMART goal) back to Point A (reality).”
Silence. GROW coaching model! 🤷♂️
I stared at his Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. He was scribbling with a digital pen.
My cappuccino suddenly tasted more philosophical.
Joshua explained his 15-year life planning framework.
Start with where you want to land. Then walk backwards: 10 years, 5 years, 1 year. Adjust when necessary.
But always keep your eyes on the horizon.
I left that meeting realizing something profound:
Some people don’t stumble into reinvention. They design it.
Coffee #2: The Man Who Wants to Teach Wealth
Earlier, I’d just met Emmanuel Nandokha.
One of Kenya’s leading human-centred design consultants. He helps organizations to use design thinking to solve complex challenges and spark innovation.
We met at ArtCaffé, The Hub Karen.
Because clearly Nairobi’s most important life conversations happen between pastries and samosas.
Our discussion began with a simple question:
What if we helped people build wealth intentionally?
Not motivational quotes. Not Instagram wisdom.
Actual learning. Frameworks. Tools.
Emmanuel has taught a program called Wheel of Life before. Helping professionals align purpose, finances, and personal direction.
At one point he paused and said something that stuck with me:
“Financial clarity is not just about money. It’s about designing the life your money will serve.”
That sentence deserves its own (coffee) mug. 🍵 We began sketching possibilities: A training program. A cohort experience.
Maybe even something people could access online.
Nothing finalized yet. But the seed has been planted. 💡
Coffee #3: The Woman Who Refuses to Hide Her Light
Then came Esther Muchiri.
A mentor and social entrepreneur. She supports youth and professionals across Africa to navigate life transitions through mentorship, skills development, and personal growth programs.
We met at ArtCaffé, Village Market.
Esther has lived one of those stories that quietly makes you sit up straight.
Seventeen years at USAID. Survived a reduction in force (layoff) in 2007.
Then… reinvention.
For nearly two decades she has been mentoring women.
Supporting vulnerable children’s education. And building a mentoring platform connecting leaders and young professionals.
At one point she leaned forward and said:
“I need to give the world this gift. I can’t keep the light under the table.”
That sentence stayed with me all week.
Because it’s the opposite of what uncertainty often makes us do.
Uncertainty whispers: Hide. Shrink. Wait.
But Esther is doing the opposite.
She’s building. Mentoring. Serving. Even now.
What I’m Learning From These Conversations
Each of these meetings left me with a slightly different lesson.
- From Joshua: Think from the future backwards.
- From Emmanuel: Design wealth intentionally.
- From Esther: Never hide the gift you carry.
Put together, they form a powerful picture.
Reinvention is not accidental.
It is intentional, relational, and deeply human.
Something Interesting Is Happening
Over the past year (since I lost my job), something unexpected has been forming.
Not a grand master plan.
More like… a series of conversations.
Readers writing back after blog posts. Friends sharing transition stories.
Professionals asking, “How are you navigating this season?”
These interactions are quietly shaping what may become a larger conversation space for professionals navigating change.
Not a seminar. Not a motivational rally.
Just honest conversations about:
- Reinvention
- Resilience
- Career transitions
- Life after disruption
Still thinking through it. Still listening. Still learning.
Which brings me back to that webinar from November 2025.
I promised an update. And it’s time.
Soon I’ll be hosting another conversation where I’ll share:
- Milestones since the first webinar
- Roadblocks that forced deeper reflection
- Lessons from this unexpected season
- And some ideas that are beginning to take shape
Ideas sparked partly by conversations like the ones above.
Closing the Loop
When life puts you in a waiting room, you should talk to the people who’ve already survived the surgery.
It’s the least you can do.
These coffees were exactly that.
Three mentors. Three stories. Three reminders that uncertainty is not the end of the road.
Sometimes it’s simply the beginning of a different path.
And perhaps, soon, we’ll gather to talk about that path together.
Stay tuned.
#Reinvention #CareerTransitions #NavigatingUncertainty #LeanSeasons #StorytellingForImpact #GrowthCommunities
Comment Prompt
Have you ever had a conversation that completely changed how you think about your next season?
Who was it with? And what stayed with you?
Share in the comments.
I write because people’s stories matter. If yours is ready to be shared. Triumph, tragedy, or something in between, my inbox is open. 📩 j.mungai@hotmail.co.uk
Curious to go deeper? Visit the Home Page or explore Growth Communities.
thanks for sharing your journey, learnings and findings as you navigate through a path that wan’t planned.
I have many views on what you have written about, and am so happy to learn that you have found light throughout your journey
This is great. Looking forward to the event.