Tings and Things

It's officially February, and there's no running from it: Valentine's Day is right around the corner...actually it’s tomorrow if you weren’t paying attention. 

For some people, Valentine's Day is a fun holiday to celebrate friendships, family and romantic relationships. And for others still, Valentine's Day is just... another day.

It's important to say that Feb. 14 can be a source of stress for all of us — from the cuffed up, to the single, to those in a poly relationship with six people. Yet, the middle day of the shortest month of the year doesn't need to be determined by your current romantic status. Valentine's Day can be a special time to reflect on the beautiful friendships you have or your own strengths and abilities. Love is, after all, romantic, platonic, familial, or self. If the red hearts and pink candies are making you feel blue, Valentine's Day is a great time to get some face masks, pump the self-care, and recenter your mind about all the gifts you give the world.

“Brian Msafiri” is a jack of all trades, stylist, film photographer, creative director, and Traveller. Born and raised in Nairobi, Msafiri has been able to take us on multiple journeys through his mediums of storytelling for the new and ever learning digital African creative. His work through collaborative ventures in and out of East African keep pushing the African narratives to new spaces and heights. 

During our conversation, we discussed the importance of how he reinvented himself, constantly sought out mentorship and how he developed the intestinal fortitude to chase what was his, regardless of the circumstances. His hustle is unmatched, but his work ethic is even greater. 

Keep up with Brian and all of his escapades on instagram 

Human interaction is something each of us encounter on a daily basis. Some people are introverts, others are extroverts and some people find themselves somewhere in-between. Learning to deliver a message correctly is a unique skill. So many of us always raise our heads when we hear someone speak a certain way. In this episode we explore some of our social interactions and the art of talking to people and getting your message across in the right way.

Njiri Karago is a huge friend of the Tings and Things family and one of the first people we ever pitched the idea of the Tings and Things Podcast. He is a fantastic producer and DJ. He is one half of the Low Tones Collective that has taken Nairobi by storm in 2019. Their alternative sound has been such a breath of fresh air in the African scene. The Low Tones collective has been taking over the scene and you want to kick a big eye on the in 2020. Follow Njiri on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mawingoknows/

We have also added his soundcloud so check out his work here too

https://soundcloud.com/mawingoknowswagwan

Success doesn’t occur in a vacuum. In reality, there are a number of factors that lead to the success of an entrepreneur. Hard work and drive are always necessary for entrepreneurial success, but your personal improvement leading up to your success can be greatly driven by other people.

The people we choose to surround ourselves with impacts the way we think, act and feel on a day-to-day basis. In many ways, entrepreneurial success is determined much like success in any other aspect of life. A young football player is going to succeed if he surrounds himself with people who push him to become better, not people who distract him from his potential.

 As young entrepreneurs and creators we are responsible for ourselves. Surrounding yourself with the right type of people can help success come more naturally to you than being around those who might hold you back. Here are some people you should keep close throughout your pursuits.

Karun is an alternative R&B Musician/songwriter hailing from Nairobi! She was previously a member of BET nominated hip hop group Camp Mulla! This episode is centered around her solo career and the fantastic work she has been putting out. In this episode we delve into her journey as a musician, what she has been getting up to and all the work behind her upcoming “Glow EP” which will be out at the end of January on all streaming platforms. Keep up with Karun on Instagram and Twitter!  

These few days around New Year's, when everything feels festive and special and you get a break from your usual day-to-day routine, is the perfect time to reflect and look back on everything you have experienced, discovered and achieved during the last 12 months. A yearly review is also a great exercise in mindfulness and conscious living. It’s a way to slow down, reminisce about your favorite moments, make you sure you take the time to appreciate all the little and big things that were a part of your life in the past year, and also to draw some conclusions about which kinds of things make you happy and which don’t. We're sharing our thoughts and reflecting over the events that have transpired over the last year.

Milestones are important for any person or entity. Today is the 50th episode of the tings and things podcast and we are going to use this episode to reflect regarding the most amazing time we have had with you over the last year. We are so proud of everything we have accomplished and it wouldn’t be possible without our Tings and Things fam. Thank you for being with us on this first 50 and we genuinely can’t wait for the second 50 with all of you. We appreciate you for being part of the tings and things family and going us on this incredible journey over the past year.

“Faiza and her team have literally changed the game in Nairobi through a number of avenues. Qe pick her brain about her ventures, how she has gone against the grain and changed the Nairobi scene and curated one of the sickest vibes that people genuinely rock with. 

Check out her personal page @faysflow. Also keep up with the best events, personally curated by Faiza in the +254, follow @nairobirnb”

Our social media feeds can have a huge impact on who we are and the kind of mood that we have. For some people they find that they follow certain accounts promoting material gains and then find themself being depressed. What is the link between that and what causes this? We decided to switch up our feeds recently and this is the resulting conversation that stems from say action.