Focus on your goals and never give up

By LILIAN KIARIE

NAIROBI, KENYA: Frankline Akoko had a tough childhood after being orphaned at nine years and taken in by an uncle who squandered all his father’s benefits. As a result, he had no fees to join secondary school. Frustrated, Akoko travelled to Nyakach village in Western Kenya to live with his grandmother.

The grandmother was so moved by Akoko’s plight that she sold her only cow to take him to high school. His good performance enabled him get bursaries to go through Form Four. But a day before he sat for his KCSE exams, his grandmother died. Still, he went on to score an impressive B-plus.

Today, the 24-year-old Akoko has risen to be the CEO of a Sh80 million group of companies with more than 30 employees, including some of his classmates at the University of Nairobi.

Akoko is the brains behind Altime Management Consultancy, which is an umbrella company of Solartech Company that deals with solar installations. He also owns Hydrotech Company, which focuses on drilling boreholes and investigating the science of water.

He attributes his success to these factors:

• Undying need to succeed. A burning desire to be the best in whatever he set out to do has pushed him to achieve. “The undying need to succeed is what pushes me to keep developing new ideas and delivering new products to my clients out there.”

• Faithful employees. Without employees’ commitment and dedication, it is not possible to excel. 

• Clear goals and vision. “I know where I am and where I need to be and I work towards that.” To realise the goals, Akoko and his team track their performance and adjust accordingly. 

• Financial prudence. Financial indiscipline can collapse a business. Track all the company’s financial transactions and analyse them carefully to avoid unnecessary spending.

• Persistence and endurance. There are challenges along the way that can discourage those with little faith. Focus on your journey’s destination and never give up. Take criticism as a learning point.