I wanted to stop this podcast.
Not in a dramatic way.
Not because things were falling apart.
Just… quietly.
I planned to pause for a long time — maybe months — but somehow I only took a few weeks off, and today, I found myself recording again.

And that made me ask myself:
👉🏽 Why am I still here? Why does this podcast keep pulling me back?

The truth is, I don’t think I “love” podcasting the way other creators do.
But I do get something from it — something that keeps me hooked in ways I’m only starting to understand.

In this raw diary episode, I talk about:

I realized something uncomfortable:
I enjoy some parts of this job… and I absolutely dislike others.
Those parts I dislike drain me, and they’re the reason I lose momentum, disappear for weeks, and then return again.

I noticed something I couldn’t ignore anymore:
👉🏽 I’m not growing.
Not my speaking.
Not my storytelling.
Not my delivery.
Even my company communications suffered — I was rambling even with bullet points.

This podcast is supposed to help me grow, and I wasn’t using it fully.

I don’t think I’m going to be “the biggest podcast in Uganda or Africa” anymore.
That dream doesn’t feel like mine right now.
But the mission?
Raising people.
Becoming better.
Learning out loud.
Sharing value.
Helping someone else grow while I grow too.
👉🏽 That still matters to me.
Deeply.

There’s something in this podcast for my personal development — speaking, writing, thinking, discipline, clarity.
If I don’t use this platform, I know I will regret it.

So this time…
I’m not trying to blow up.
I’m not trying to dominate charts.
I’m just trying to extract the value this platform has for me — and give you value in return.

If you’ve been listening…
Thank you.
Truly.
It means more than you know.

If this episode helps you, or if you have feedback, ideas, or even one simple suggestion that can make this podcast better — please let me know.

We’re building this version together.

Raymond out.

Do you constantly feel like you’re performing—at work, socially, even in your own life? I know I did. I spent months trying to prove myself, seeking validation, and living on edge, until I discovered a life-changing truth: your worth isn’t determined by anyone else.

In this episode of The 5 to 9 Job Podcast, we explore:

• How stepping back and embracing your absence can help you reconnect with your true value.

• Why self-worth doesn’t need to be earned or validated by bosses, friends, or family.

• Practical ways to protect your energy, your thoughts, and your environment while still growing and showing up intentionally.

• Lessons from Oprah Winfrey on returning to yourself and reclaiming your life.

This episode is for anyone who’s tired of performing, people-pleasing, or burning out. It’s a guide to becoming whole, fulfilled, and confident—without needing constant approval from the world.

💡 Your absence has power. Your presence has value. And learning when to step back is a gift you give yourself.

For years, I wore “I don’t care what people think” like a badge of honor. I thought it was confidence. I thought it was freedom.

But life humbled me. I realized I wasn’t being confident—I was slowly becoming cold, distant, and disconnected from the people and opportunities that mattered.

In this episode, I share my journey of discovering that:

• Not caring can quietly destroy you—relationships, work, appearance, even your sense of purpose.

• Caring the right way is empowering—it’s self-awareness, maturity, and real confidence.

• How to navigate opinions—ignore the trolls and haters, but value the feedback and love that helps you grow.

I also discuss practical ways to walk through life caring wisely: from personal growth and relationships, to showing up authentically in the world. Plus, I highlight mental health resources across Africa and globally for anyone struggling with loneliness or disconnection.

The truth is: We rise together, or we don’t rise at all. This episode is about learning which opinions matter—and how caring can actually set you free.

How do you measure success?

Not by the money you make, the titles you earn, or the stuff you accumulate. Denzel Washington reminds us: “You will never see a U-Haul behind a hearse.” You can’t take it all with you.

True fulfillment comes from impact—using your skills, your talents, and your resources to lift someone else. This episode dives into what it really means to reach back and pull others up.

• Why giving back is more rewarding than hoarding success.

• How your achievements can empower others—beyond charity or formal mentorship.

• How gratitude, recognition, and intentional action create lasting value.

We’ll also hear Denzel himself share his powerful perspective, and I’ll share practical ways you can make a difference starting today.

👉 Listen in, then ask yourself: Who can you reach back and pull up? How can you use what you already have to impact someone else?

Success isn’t just about what you achieve—it’s about what you give back.

This bonus episode is different.
It’s raw, unfiltered, and straight from the notes on my mind lately:

• A dream that made me question how ready I am for my family to hear everything I say here.

• Slipping back into an old version of myself—cold, distant, but highly productive—and whether that’s survival or sabotage.

• The uncomfortable truth about why so many men (myself included) go out of their way to please women.

• Professor Scott Galloway’s “3 traits every man needs” — resources, intellect, kindness — and why they matter more than chasing validation.

• A lesson for creators and entrepreneurs: stop hallucinating your customer’s pain and start solving the problems they actually have.

• And a final thought on fake productivity vs. the high standards that actually move us forward.

It’s messy. It’s real. And maybe—it’s exactly the conversation you didn’t know you needed.

👉 Listen in, then tell me: Which part of this episode hit you hardest?

We live in a world obsessed with quick wins—overnight fame, fast money, instant success.
And honestly? It’s not even our fault. The world has changed. Success is everywhere—more billionaires, more creators, more people “making it” than ever before.

But here’s the trap: when you see success everywhere, it makes patience feel like weakness.

The truth? Patience is one of the hardest skills to master.
I struggle with it every day. I want things to be easy. I want success now. I want the lifestyle that shows I’ve “made it.”

But life doesn’t work like that.
The long game teaches resilience. It teaches focus. It forces you to keep showing up even when the results aren’t visible yet.

Mark Manson wrote something I like in The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck*: “Choose struggles that are meaningful, not easy.”
Because when the struggle means something to you, it’s easier to endure. That’s what the long game is about—enduring the grind because you care about what’s on the other side.

It’s not about waiting. It’s about working consistently, trusting the process, and letting every small step add up over time.

So here’s my challenge to you:
👉 What’s one goal you’re willing to commit to for the long haul? Drop it in the comments.

Remember—success doesn’t come fast. It comes to those who stay the course.

What would you do differently if today were your last day?

In this episode of The 5 to 9 Job Podcast, we explore the third and final story from Steve Jobs’ legendary Stanford commencement speech—the story of death. Jobs shares how a cancer diagnosis forced him to confront his own mortality and why remembering that life is short became his most powerful tool for making decisions.

You’ll learn:

• Why facing the reality of death helps us live with clarity and purpose.

• The daily question Steve Jobs used to guide his choices.

• How to stop living by others’ expectations and start following your intuition.

• What it truly means to live a life with no regrets.

👉🏽 Life is fleeting. Don’t waste it living someone else’s dream. Tune in, get inspired, and start making every day count.

Who is the person you want to become in 5 years? 10 years?

In this episode of The 5 to 9 Job Podcast, we dive into the powerful practice of visualizing your future self—not as wishful daydreaming, but as a strategy for clarity, discipline, and action. By consistently picturing who you want to be, you’ll uncover the daily steps needed to bridge the gap between where you are and where you’re going.

You’ll learn:

• Why visualizing your future self creates motivation and direction.

• How to turn visions into actionable steps you can start today.

• The life-changing exercise of writing letters to your future self.

• Why even “falling short” of your vision can still move you forward.

👉🏽 Take 5 minutes today: picture your future self, then ask, “What can I do right now to make this real?”

Your future isn’t built someday. It’s built today.

Failure isn’t the opposite of success — it’s the path to it.

In this episode of The 5 to 9 Job Podcast, we explore Denzel Washington’s powerful philosophy of falling forward. Behind every success story lies a trail of setbacks, rejections, and struggles. What separates winners from quitters is the courage to rise one more time than they fall.

You’ll discover:

• Why every failed experiment is a step closer to success.

• How risk-taking and rejection fuel growth.

• The mindset shift that turns setbacks into stepping stones.

• Why the ghosts of untapped potential are scarier than failure itself.

👉🏽 Don’t fear failure. Embrace it. Learn from it. Fall forward.

Fear isn’t just yours — it’s everyone’s.

In this episode of The 5 to 9 Job, I get raw and real about my own fears — from the worry of failing in business, to the fear of being a bad dad one day, to the quiet voice that whispers: “What if you’re not enough?”

But here’s the truth: fear is normal. It’s proof you care. It’s proof you’re trying. The real danger isn’t fear itself, but letting fear stop you from moving forward.

You’ll learn:

• Where fear actually comes from (hint: uncertainty).

• Why waiting for “certainty” will paralyze you.

• 3 practical tools to face fear: Fear Mapping, Tiny Bold Steps, and Future Gratitude.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, anxious, or like you’re holding yourself back — this conversation is for you.

👉🏽 Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Don’t wait until you “feel ready.”
Start scared. Start imperfect. Just start.