Don’t throw your stuff into my wheelbarrow

Liaison Group Managing Director Tom Mulwa interview. [David Njaaga,Standard]

Tom Mulwa, Managing Director at Liaison Group.Liason Group is an independent Risk, Insurance, Healthcare, Pension and Investment firm.

On weekdays, I’m up at 4.30am and earlier if I’m travelling. I spend 25 minutes in my makeshift gym and another 25 having breakfast - my favourite meal. I eat breakfast like a king and that gives me enough energy for the day. My lunch is usually light and dinner even lighter. Because there’s no traffic at that hour, I get to work at 5.45am.

As managing director, I lead the team in strategy execution. I don’t like calling it a job as that can wear you down because of the must-do connotation that come with the term. I like to think that I’m on a mission and my responsibility is running a mission to give our customers value.

The greatest challenge we face is time. We want to deliver more within a limited time period. We have a culture of using the journal system which helps us overcome the time pressure with proper planning. But then we’re in the risk and insurance business, uncertainties do crop up and we have to respond very fast. Sometimes it means working longer hours when things are go off course.

When I get to the office, I work on my journal. After my day is planned, I check my mail and from there on run my show. I have a principle I call “Push my wheelbarrow upside-down”; I don’t let people throw their stuff into my wheelbarrow. It means I try not to do other people’s work so I’m in total command of my day. I plan and make sure whatever comes in that is urgent and important gets done, whatever is not urgent or important I will try and ignore, and whatever is urgent and possibly not important I will delegate.

The fact that we’re adding value keeps me motivated to go to work every day. The success of our clients translates to success of the economy and that means the success of the rest of the population. What excites me as a team leader is when I see individual members achieve their key responsibilities and they’re happy to execute within the mission. From a personal standpoint, it’s when I periodically check my personal scorecard that’s divided into mind, body and soul and see that it is balanced.

I get home fairly late, sometimes at 9pm. I don’t go through my emails then. In fact, I avoid gadgets, including the television. Outside work, I enjoy sports, although it is not an obsession as it used to be when I was younger. I love golf. Also, I grew up at the Ngong Racecourse where my father worked so I love horses. If there is a horse race, I’ll be watching that after church.  Apart from that, I will be hanging out with my friends. I also love spending time at the gym. Sundays are for church with family.