Month: August 2018

Sometimes you want to get off the hassle of driving yourself. Sometimes you want to get to a deep remote area where a matatu can’t reach. Or sometimes you’d rather just want to drive yourself and avoid the hassle of a matatu. In all the above scenarios, the best alternative would be to hire car services to facilitate your movement around.

There are many services in the industry and settling for a good one may be a daunting task if you have not used one before. Below are some of the factors that you should consider making the process easy and efficient:

• When and where?
First things first, you need to know where and when you need the car. This is crucial to make prior arrangement depending on your schedule i.e. attending flight or just a normal cruise in downtown.

• Charges
It’s important to know how much they will charge you. The prices may be very high, and they can sideline you when you decide to ask for the charges after they have provided their services. Let them give you a breakdown of their services and charges before you make -a- decision.

• Who is travelling?
This is important since you will want to keep the cost as low as possible. So, if you are just a couple, or a small group with little luggage then you would opt for a smaller car which are normally cheaper. If you need more space, you can decide to choose a bigger car to suit your needs.

• Which car rental agent
Do you have a preference as to which car rental agent you want to use? Ensure to check other customer rating for the agency you want to settle for.

• Which car hire offer extras?
If you are looking for optional extras such as additional drivers, child seats then its worth comparing the overall cost inclusive of the extras. Sometimes you may find that the total cost of the extras you require is cheaper with a more expensive rental car.

• Know your rights
You should know of the safety policies that your prospect service providers offer. Another paramount factor is the insurance policies. You must know their policies and get an evidence. This is because some of them only cover the vehicle instead of covering both the vehicle and its occupants. It is safer to ride in a vehicle that has also insured its clients

It is after careful consideration that you should go ahead and settle on the agency and vehicle you need. Even though a driver’s license is enough document for you to drive on the Kenya roads, there are several factors you should consider as you drive around the country roads;

1. Seat belt laws
Although many Kenyan drivers don’t bother with seat belts, it’s a legal requirement for all drivers and passengers to wear one and, given the safety record of Kenyan drivers, its highly recommended too

2. Drinking and driving
For all drivers the legal maximum of alcohol in the blood is 80 mg per 100ml blood. Any level above this then you will be charged and face a fine.

3. Speed limits
The speed limits in Kenya are 50 km/h in town and 80 km/h outside of town and cities. You should adjust your speed for the road conditions and the type of car you’re driving.

4. Minimum driving age
Kenya sets the minimum age for motorcycle, cars, vans and trucks at the age of 18. To hire a car, you must be 23 years old and have held your license for 2 or more years.

5. Insurance
You must have at least third-party insurance on any vehicle driven in Kenya.

6. Speed cameras
Speed cameras are becoming very common in Kenya with mobile cameras being used increasingly. Its not unusual to not be warned that you are entering a controlled zone, so the best advice is always to watch your speed.

7. Using your mobile phones while driving
You are not allowed to use any mobile phones whilst driving unless with a hands-free kit and passengers may not use devices as they are likely to distract the driver.

8. Emergency
The emergency numbers in Kenya are 112 for the police and 999 for fire and ambulance.

9. What to do in an emergency
In an emergency, you are likely to be surrounded by a small crowd. If possible, call the police as soon as possible. Insist that none of the vehicles are moved and if possible, photograph the scene as the police may take some time to arrive by which time some of those involved are likely to have driven off.

The above precautions are supposed to guide you as you drive within the country. You are not limited to any of the points mentioned above, but rather you should always be careful as you drive to ensure you arrive safely in your destination.

Many offices nowadays opt for partitions in place of permanent walls, with increased options of floor-to-ceiling glass to opaque desk dividers meaning every workplace can find the right partitions to suit employees.

Below are some of the things to consider before deciding on which partition is most suitable for your work space:

Demount-able partitioning is effective in office areas and has the benefit of being easy to dismantle and re-erect if you need some flexibility making it the easiest to move around regularly. Sliding or folding doors partitions are great if you need to close or open up areas for different purposes.

Wood partitioning produces a practical but very pleasing office environment, as it creates a natural look and feel making them ideal for conference facilities, executive suites and boardrooms.

Glass partitions are an excellent choice if you want to make sure each office space has the maximum amount of light.

Types of partitions
1. Glass partition

Glass partitions aim to provide privacy and discretion without causing employees to feel cut off or excluded. These partitions are quick to install and are customizable, so you can add your corporate colors or logo to make your office unique.

2. Solid partitions

This offers maximum discretion and privacy. If your office requires spaces for high levels of focus, these partitions will fit the bill. These too are customizable and very fast to install to minimize interruption and distraction.

3. Acoustic partitions

This comes in a variety of designs including double glazed, single glazed and solid office partitions. Double glazed acoustic doors will provide better office soundproofing, while a solid partition will generally be more soundproof than a glass office partition.

4. Demountable partitions

Many workplace office partitions are demountable and locatable, meaning that they have ultra-fast removal and installation times. This ensures maximum flexibility for your business as they are easily interchangeable and can therefore help your business achieve the vision it has for its office more effectively.

The following are some of the advantages of office partitioning:
• Natural light
Glass partitions are effective in maximizing the impact of natural light. The clear glass in place of walls also creates a bigger impression of open space, providing a more positive, welcoming environment to work.

• Aesthetics
The range of styles and materials of office partitions available can contribute towards a modern, colorful environment. Solid partition walls can even be designed in keeping with your company’s color scheme. Likewise, opting for glass or part-glazed partitions instead of additional walls creates more space and light, features that are generally agreed to make for a more positive and appealing work space.

• Cost effective and practical
Office partitions, are a far more cost effective method of dividing the office than having a full, permanent walls instead. Likewise, partitions mean you can save on energy costs, as less rooms need to remain heated with lighting.

• Privacy
This reduces noise levels crossing the office , allowing staff to focus on their own work without distraction, and to take phone calls/hold meetings in a professional manner without excessive background noise.
The partitions create an element of personal space for each employee, clearly sectioning their work are. This can be useful for employees to feel secure in their work environment, and to be able to focus on their projects.

Majority of households will have a water- related emergency at some point. Whether it’s a blocked drain, a tap that won’t switch off or a leak under the sink, it’s often the case that professional assistance is required.
Regular, professional drain cleaning services should be part of the home maintenance routine due to the following reasons:

1. Reduce sewer blockages
Over time, blockages can build up in drains and pipes that haven’t been cleaned regularly. Although some small blockages may be fixed easily on your own, a more serious blockage could be developing inside of your drain pipes that could cause serious sewer problems. When that occurs, most if not all of the drains in your home may clog, water may spurt out of your drains when you flush the toilet, and eventually, an overflow or burst pipes can cause significant damage to your home.

2. Prevent foul odors
Without the periodic service of a professional plumber, mold and bacteria will accumulate in your drains and cause odors. The flow of water through the drains and pipes from normal usage is not sufficient to clean away the odor causing particles, which thrive in the damp, dark environment of your drains and pipes. These bacteria and mold can even make your family sick if they grow in large enough numbers. Regular drain cleaning will remove them completely, preventing odors and the potential for illness.

3. Fixing slow drains
Watching water sitting on the floor because your drains are slow can be very frustrating. Slow drains can indicate pipe blockage or issues with drainage in the main sewer line. Slow drains can promote mold growth, as well as the spread of odor through your home. A professional plumbing inspection and cleaning can help to clear drains and speed up the drainage in your home for a cleaner and fresher environment.

4. A clean and pleasant home environment

Poor drainage, clogged pipes, and sewage back flows can all detract from your home environment. Slow drains and dripping faucets can cause mold growth, sewage back flows promote the spread of bacteria and germs, while clogged drains can prevent your toilet flushing. If drain blockages and pipe problems are reducing your home’s cleanliness and your quality of life, call your plumber as soon as possible for drain cleaning and get your home back to normal.

5. Save your time and money

When drains and pipes aren’t cleaned, small blockages turn into large ones, pipes can become corroded, and backflow can occur from your toilet. The water that will spill into your home if this occurs is waste water which not only causes water damage, but also allows dangerous bacteria to seep into your walls and flooring. To repair this kind of damage, all the affected areas must typically be removed, which can be extremely costly and time consuming.

Drainage problems and pipe blockages can cause a range of issues in your home, but many can be easily identified and fixed by a qualified plumber. If you’re experiencing issues with your drainage, download CallMe2Work and get qualified, vetted and experienced plumber to identify and clear your drainage issues, and get your drainage flowing smoothly again.

Your birthday should no longer be full of “wishes” anymore. Infact you should not remember the last time you closed your eyes to really “wish” for anything. Rather, your birthdays should represent continual gratitude fest, filled with thoughts of all the ways you have been blessed by people, experiences, and limitless grace.

In honor of another birthday, here are some reasons for you to be happy. I would have shared very many reasons, but I know you don’t have all day.

You finally know who you are at your best.
You may not always live to the hype, but for you, recognizing your version of great brings clarity to your journey.

You are surrounded by love.
Your husband, your children, your family, your friends, your colleagues – you are surrounded by deep, abiding love.. the kind you don’t have to make excuses for.

Never run out of ideas
You may sometimes run out of answers, but never ideas. When you get stuck, just ask a new question.
Creativity is truly abundant.

Doors will open
You have been on this faith walk long enough to know that if you keep your eyes, ears, and heart open, the universe will provide. New opportunities will present themselves, and the path will emerge.

You found your courage
Your life is the culmination of countless leaps of faith. Just step out now… no more behind the curtains
Life is a learning journey
You may have made mistakes in your past, but you should know and understand that you are not your mistakes. You are pure possibility, and every day is new.

You are free
Free to be happy or sad. Free to sit or stand.. or fly. Free to be where you are needed, even if you are the one in need. Freedom is a gift.

You are healthy
Yes you are healthy

What’s before you is greater than what’s behind you
Your past might be pretty amazing.
But you should be ready for what the future holds and, at the same time, exceedingly grateful for the NOW. The now includes you. There are gifts available to everyone. All you have to do is open your arms to receive them, and step out and up with intention.

Here’s to another year of adventures. Here’s to more breakthroughs, here’s to more friends, here’s to more smiles, happiness. Here’s to your best friend, CallMe2Work, to bring you the best birthday gift of your life

Are you living with boring white walls, but hate the thought of painting? Painting is often a task many home owners dread. However it is one of the most inexpensive ways to improve the look of your home without too much effort.
Paint colors can dramatically change the mood and interior design of your home. Paint can make a statement with splashes of bold color, or it can be a soft backdrop to a more muted interior.
If you ask me, painting is one of the easiest and least expensive tools in the interior design world. And picking the best colors for your home is one of the interesting part of the process. With so many hues to choose from, where does one even start?
There are several factors to consider before you paint- things that will make your job much easier:

• Lighting

Does your room get a tone of natural light? Or not so much? Paint a color that looks very different depending on the light. As far as dark colors go, they can read elegant and cozy in rooms with good, natural light but can easily read claustrophobic in rooms with little natural light. Get a sample, and paint a square on your wall, paying careful attention to how it changes in certain lights through the day.

• Adjacent rooms

With open concept layout being such a sought after floor plan these days, many homes have rooms that floor right into another. If there is a half wall, or any other framing that technically separates the space, you’ll need to decide if you want to paint both spaces the same color or choose a complementary color for the adjacent space. If you are keeping the space adjacent to the room you are painting the same color, you’ll want to make sure that existing color makes sense in your home’s color story. Otherwise the entire area could just look disjointed.

• The size of the room

One of the common misconceptions about painting a small room is that you should stick to white to create an illusion of more space. While it’s true that white can certainly create a sense of airiness in some spaces, many interior designers swear by choosing dark colors for a small room to blend its edges and camouflage the fact that it is indeed small.
Alternatively, dark colors in large rooms draw the room in, making it feel smaller and more cozy. Lighter colors enhance the feeling of openness.

• Your furnishings

Unless you’re buying brand new furnishings to go into your room after you’ve chosen your color, you’ll want to think about how the furnishings you have will correlate with the hue you choose. Opt for a paint shade much lighter or much darker that the elements in the space.

• What vibe you’re going for

One of the favorite things about painting is that it can feel so trans formative. Color psychology is a real thing, and it plays out with the paint colors you seek in your home. Pale and cool colors create a sense of serenity. Warm colors, especially red, raise a room’s energy level and are great for fostering conversation and sociability. Bright colors, like yellow, are happy but can be hard on the eyes and can elicit negative feelings in some people. And neutral can lend a sense of calm and refinement.

• The future

If you’re dying to paint your bathroom a deep navy blue, do it! When all is said and done, this is your home, and your paint colors should reflect your personality. But first, consider what the future holds for the space you’re painting. Do you plan to sell your home in the near future? Will the room be re-purposed down the road for a nursery?
Knowing you will have to start the entire painting process over again may steer you towards a lighter shade than you were originally considering, given it will be easier to paint over down the road.

 

Technology is evolving at lightning speed and is forever changing the way the world works. And to continue improving our ways of life, we need to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and skills.

In order for you to have a professional advantage you need to display your skills beyond the basics. Setting yourself apart from the crowd in today’s competitive world. As an independent specialist or consultant, your knowledge and skills can be the difference between landing the assignment and the clients you want, and struggling to prove your value.

Keeping up-to-date on the trends affecting your industry is a key part of staying relevant, because it can help you see how your career fits in with your industry’s ups and downs. Do you know your industry’s biggest trends right now? What are people predicting in the next couple of years? How about 10 years from now?

Staying current in your field will require a strong mix of hard skills and the technical know-how needed in your line, and soft skills such as communication savvy.

Here are some of the ways to keep your knowledge and abilities up-to-date:

 

Join the conversation

Keeping up with the industry trends and insights require almost continuous maintenance.

Subscribe to newsletters, participate in workshops, and participate in discussions online. It’s only by keeping up on this front that you’ll even know about the technical changes on the horizon.

 

Make friends across generations

Don’t assume you don’t have anything in common with the new entrants in your field who are older or younger. Making friends who are not in your age group can help you communicate with a wider variety of people. Getting their perspective can help provide new ways of looking at the business. Finally, they can keep you dialed into big picture changes, as well as provide new tools and problems-solving approaches.

Make relevance a priority

As relevance slips away from you, the biggest danger is that you slowly become unemployable on the open markets. It’s possible to stick out safely in a certain job for a while, but always try to keep your skills fresh to the best of your ability.

Invest in continuing education and certification

While continuing education and certification programs typically require a more intensive time and financial obligation, they can help boost reliability, and demonstrate a commitment to your profession. Becoming proficient in a new platform, committing to uphold industry standards through a certification program, or staying on top of market trends by taking a class can position you competitively within your line of business.

Volunteer

Volunteer to take on new projects and apply the skills you’re working on. Your ultimate goal is to apply new skills which will lead you to a better placement in your field. Your volunteer work can be included as part of your experience on your profile just like paid work experience.

 

No matter what tactic you choose, maintaining expertise in your field shows clients you are well informed and dedicated. Set yourself up for success by investing in your skills and knowledge today.

The On demand economy has been on the rise for a number of years, and that fact can be attributed to two overriding factors: skilled millennia’s seeking more freedom and people looking to supplement their incomes.

Though finding great talent for a professional work you need done can be one of the biggest pain points,

The On demand economy made up of consultants, independent contractors, comedians, videographers, freelancers among many other on demand workers, represents a potential solution to winning the war for talent.

The On demand economy offers a number of potential advantages over the “traditional” recruiting of full time employees.

• Hiring independent workers can be faster, easier, and less risky

 

This is due to the fact that you get to hire specialists who are specialized in the specific field and have years of experience.

 

 

• It can be more efficient.

This is because you are hiring the right skills at the right time for the current initiative you want done or you are pursuing.

• The process can be cheaper in terms of cost

 

This is due to the fact that On demand employees are not subjected to the legal protection against work place such as minimum wage, overtime pay and medical cover. Your contract is simply based on the period in which the specific task you need done is running.

 

 

• It can be higher quality

In the On demand economy, if an independent specialist is not completing interim deliverables on time and to the appropriate quality levels, you can always seek for a better alternative as quickly as possible from the different platforms available for such services i.e. CallMe2Work

• Its strategic

 

With the emergence of platforms that offers link between specialists and the employers like CallMe2Work, you can easily find talent. This is even better as you can engage a specific specialist, re-engage for the same task and even find a completely new specialist on a different category of work you need done.

 

Even though companies and potential individuals can benefit from On demand workers, it has been hard to take the leap into a full-risk embrace of the On demand economy.

The firms and individuals looking for a moderate and low risk approach into incorporating independent workers can start slow with pilot test, evaluate the outcomes, and decide how to move forward based on the results.

 

 

 

 

 

The holidays are a time for rest. Relaxation and family time. But learning does not necessarily have to stop when the school gates close.

We should ensure to engage the kids in activities that get them curious and excited about learning.

Engaging them in such activities will help them embrace their education once their back at school, and the value of learning for the rest of their lives.

It can seem hard to find ways to keep your children well occupied while they are home. There are several activities both indoor and outdoor that they can engage in.

Some are free like nature walks, hide and seek, visiting museums, hand tracing, string arts among others. Others require expert supervision and guidance just as a safety measure. Such activities include swimming, skating, acting, dance lessons among many others.

Whether it’s free or includes a small fee, its fair enough to invest in activities that lead to a wholesome growth for your children. At CallMe2Work we offer experienced specialists for different activities to keep your child engaged and positively entertained during the holidays.

It is popularly believed that kids who actively engage in constructive activities during holidays:

• Demonstrate stronger critical thinking skills
• Display higher levels of social tolerance
• Exhibit greater historical empathy
• Younger children can benefit from focused exhibitions that encourage experiential play and problem solving
• Older kids and teenagers can learn about art, culture, the environment, and more outside of the school environment, and without the pressure of assessment.

 

With all the above considered, parents should also understand that children need time to themselves – to switch off from the bombardment of the outside world, to daydream, pursue their own thoughts and occupations, and discover personal interests and gifts.

Becoming prepared to enter the world of work is a process, and nothing promotes that process better than gaining real work skills. Sadly many youth lack opportunities for work skills. Though this might be attributed to many factors, it should not be used as an excuse.

So where are youths going to learn the work skills needed to be a success on the job?

In Kenya, the TVET ACT 2013 was designed to address the job skills issue and, more so, to ensure an increased and sustained enrolment over time. This was a ground-breaking move on the part of the government to revamp our entire education system with a view of making the lives of our youth better.

Youths who have acquired the necessary skills are more likely to be hired and build a wealth of experience, giving them an important advantage in today’s job market which has many emerging technological trends.

Many work skills also have benefits that extend beyond the work place. Learning work skills can contribute to a youth’s ability to function independently in the community, have positive experiences, and thrive in social situations.

The youth are, and will remain, a significant share of the country’s population for the foreseeable future, so make yourself ready to build a massive wealth of experience with the right skills.

 

 

We all would love to be financially independent, we all would love to start our own businesses and see them thrive. But one of the biggest challenges we get is figuring out how to fund our endeavors. Not every business requires a large investment from the get go, but nowadays it’s even hard to raise that 30,000 or even 20,000 to start off.

Unemployment is a major problem, not only in Kenya but in Africa as a whole. A majority of the unemployed are the youths. Whether you have a college degree or not, the joblessness strikes you.

This has caused lots of people to live in huge poverty. Recently we have seen a lot of Africans illegally migrating to other continents like Europe, risking their lives and being swallowed by the Oceans and Sea. They leave their ancestral lands to go look for opportunities in foreign lands.

Such scenarios should not be the case in modern world. Legally we are not under any obligation to share our individual wealth. But what joy can you have when someone smiles because you made him happy. What joy can you have when you know you have put a meal on another family’s table?

Let’s use the resources of the minority to empower the majority through offering both formal and informal jobs as well as development projects. I am not writing about something I only heard of but it’s something I have witnessed, lived and experienced it work. With the above, over time, Employment will rise, Innovation will rise and subsequently crime will decrease.

The maximum wealth of a country must be derived by utilizing all of its manpower and skills. Let’s employ the “SISI KWA SISI” mentality and take charge. We are the solution to the problems we face if we all are concerned.