IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING BRAVE AND BOLD by GLADYS MWAKITAWA

 Robert Mrawa, sitting outside his Hotel flips through the menu looking deeply involved in it. Determined is the word that suitably describes the energetic young man eager to make his mark in the world of business. Twenty-two-year old Robert Mrawa clearly proves a point on the saying, ‘Age is nothing but a number.’ He hails from Tanzania but is a student in Daystar University here in Kenya. He is pursuing a Degree on Business Logistics. Apart from being busy with his hotel business off campus, he enjoys reading mostly inspirational books, socializing with friends and getting new information and ideas from a variety of sources. This probably explains his wit.

Mrawa making business calls

Mrawa is the type of person who grabs an opportunity whenever it presents itself. His hotel business idea popped up when he noticed there is no restaurant that works for long hours. The school hall is open up to 9p.m. For other restaurants, the time is almost the same. He observed that these restaurants curfew, did not favor those students who were studying late in libraries and computer labs. This generated to the idea of opening a hotel, leading to the birth of Elah’s Grill Hotel.

His normal day programme begins at 5:30 a.m. He takes a quick shower, takes breakfast, flips through his notes before leaving. He has to ensure that everything is okay in the hotel. So before he goes to class, he passes by the hotel and checks if everything is in place. If he is satisfied he carries on to class. Immediately after classes he does the same. But with the supervisor he has hired, it lessens the trips he has to make there. The supervisors’ main work is to ensure team effort and satisfactory results. Though the hotel has a maximum of four employees, this is not a drawback. They are trained in terms of time keeping, handling customers and many other important issues.

One of his workers busy with the preparation of the lunch meal

 A year and two months has passed since he started the business. He admits that it is not easy. He emphasizes on three qualities of an Entrepreneur: Patience, Persistence and Consistency, assuring with these one can never go wrong.

We all know, the business industry is not for everyone and it is more like an art. You got to have the unique skill more so, an inborn talent to do and also to handle business. Mrawa is surely one of those who have the skill to do business. He recalls after finishing High School, he opened stationery business. His parents wanted him to come to Daystar and finish his Education first before engaging in any activity. He was not convinced by the idea because of the passion he has for business. Later, he changed his mind and enrolled in Daystar University in the year 2009. He wanted to do a Degree that he had interest in, so he chose Business Logistics as his Course.

He now acknowledges the importance of the course to his business. His school work corresponds with his business. It aids him in managing his workers, hiring workers, purchasing supplies and other aspects in the hotel.

 To him, multi-tasking is not a new experience. This is so as he used to be the Treasurer of ISADU (International Students Association of Daystar University). As the Treasurer, he was expected to attend meetings, go to various functions, issue documents among other activities. At the same time, he was expected to attend class-related meetings, do assignments, read for exams and most importantly get a good grade. He admits it was hectic. This experience taught him how to manage time. He has learnt to prioritize matters. He also keeps in mind that it is education that has brought him to Daystar University after all.

It is one thing to have a lined up queue of customers but it is another to be appreciated by these customers. Mrawa recognises the appreciation he gets from students, lecturers and the Daystar Community at large. Ann Nyambura, a 4^th year student gives credit to Mrawa for the good services she gets from the hotel.’ The hotel provides quality food and varieties that he has maintained’. How does he manage to retain his customers? Jeff Mwaura adds, ‘Mrawa is a good business man, he provides incentives and also offers to the customers which keeps us coming back.’ He explains that you just have to listen to your customers. He tries to keep up with the customers’ demands, comments, compliments and then works on them. He also tries to ensure that the customers get what they want.

Although the business is doing quite well, he admits he has come from far. For him doing a business in a foreign country is not easy and it took him long to adapt with the rules and everything. He says it is a process.

Mrawa explains how his life has changed since he started his business. He is now independent in that he sometimes provides for himself pocket money and also his parents view him as an independent individual. He has achieved a sense of responsibility and accountability. He has also grown mentally. One of the key things that keep him going is depending on God and trusting Him with everything. Support from his family is another. At times his siblings help him by sending foodstuffs such as rice, spices and other commodities.

He hopes to improve in general management, providing variety of food and also expand his business. By setting your priorities and accepting challenge he believes he can achieve these.

With the competitors flooding, he accepts it as a way of keeping himself on toes. For Mrawa competition is always healthy. He just does his part and let God take over from where he has left. Like any other business though, he faces challenges. Mostly being Finances and Funds. As a student there is only so much he can do. He explains how he might have an idea but lack of finance limits him to implement it. Another one is unpredictable customers; this leads them to throwing food which is a loss to his side.

As a businessman and a student, he encourages other students to act on an opportunity. Having a business as a student lessens dependency. He discards negative comments as this would affect ones business idea and opportunity negatively and only work on the positive ones. Mrawa as a Christian urges to always put God first, in every situation.

It seems like the determination in him is unstoppable. Outside the hotel the menu which he was flipping through is printed out in large letters.