Best Shows Of 2016

It's been a pretty laid back year for me, I wasn't too out going because I devoted most of my time to building a new business so naturally I binged on a lot of shows in between. So here's my top ten and what I thought of them in order of preference starting from the best.

The Walking Dead

Talk about living under a rock that's under a rock.. Lmao. The Walking Dead party didn't get to me soon enough. Out of sheer boredom I gave the first season a try and the rest is history. It's not the typical zombie apocalypse story and it explores the worst that humanity has to offer. After crushing the cannibals I thought I had seen it all but the current season has a bad ass muthafucka called Negan. Simply put, this dude is the worst villain on television. I cannot wait for the show to return in February coz it's fucking lit.

Best Quote:

Negan: Hi. You're Rick, right? I'm Negan. And I do not appreciate you killing my men. Also, when I sent my people to kill your people for killing my people, you killed more of my people. Not cool. Not cool. 

You have no idea how not cool that shit is. But I think you're gonna be up to speed shortly. Yeah. You are so gonna regret crossing me in a few minutes.[smiles]: Yes, you are.

Game Of Thrones

I don't have enough superlatives to describe how epic season 6 was, what made it special for me is I returned to the very first season so I could fully appreciate how far the story has come coz it's been 6 years since Ned Stark was beheaded. When I finally got to season 6 the momentum was colossal and the show didn't disappoint. Jon Snow back from the dead, mother of dragons burning hot, the white walker king and his cold ass army and of course episode 9, The Battle Of The Bastards. The dopest hour of television ever and the dragons are finally going to take the iron throne and face Queen Cersei , a worthy adversary. 

Narcos

The Life story of Pablo Escobar was so captivating last year and  I'm pretty sure I can spit a little Espanol now. Season 1 chronicled the rise of the Don as he ascended to the summit of the Narcos world to become the richest criminal in human history. Second season was the inevitable fall. As the world started to crumble around him you could sense the vulnerability and the fear he had to deal with. Best moment was when he burns stacks of hundreds to keep his family warm.Sad ending for the life of a king pin.I have a crazy childhood memory about Pablo, my Mom was tuned in to everything in the world when I was young. I think I was about four or five when Escobar was killed and I remember her screaming hysterically at the TV in the middle of the night when the news broke, so that moment stuck with me and watching the show carried a little nostalgia. It was crazy that I even remembered it as I was so young. 

Best quote : “I read in a book somewhere about a rich guy who goes broke. When he’s asked how it happened, how he lost everything, he answered, ‘Slowly at first, and then all at once. For Pablo Escobar,'All at once had finally come.'

The People Vs OJ Simpson

Brings back memories again. OJ Simpson was all adults talked about back in 96. I knew the whole story just from being around them. This mini series about the OJ trial is totally captivating from start to end. John Travolta, Cuba Gooding Jr and Ross from Friends who plays OJ's best friend Rob Kardashian who fathered the undesirable lot who also feature in it as kids. Star names aside the guy who played Johnnie Cochran and the the chick prosecuting OJ stole the show. It's an incredible dramatisation of the story making lawyers appear to be the coolest people in the world and I loved it.

Queen Of The South

This one caught me by surprise, you could call it the female Narcos I guess. This chick goes from riches to rags when her drug dealer boyfriend is gunned down in Mexico. Then she starts to work her way up the food chain doing lowly work for a ruthless woman who runs a huge drug cartel. Real life drama backed by her 'tough as nails' personality etc. The honey killed the role. Her perseverance and humility in dealing with difficult times without feeling sorry for herself impressed me. Cannot wait for the second season.

Insecure

I saw this trending on Twitter and downloaded it when I was out of shit to watch. Quite relatable for me as a young adult. Black couple dealing with life, cheating and the basic shit that comes with adulthood. Watchable with a few corny moments but I do like shit I can relate to. I especially resonated with male character who has to deal with a demanding chick who doesn't see the big picture of where he's going with his life while he's getting his shit together and she cheats on him fucking up a solid relationship etc.

Atlanta

This show is hilarious, refreshingly different and well written in a goofy way if that means anything. Up and coming rapper and his broke manager trying to make it through the day without fucking shit up. Simple but hilarious and low key weird, Paper Boy!!!

The Crown

My Mom was a little obsessed with Princes Diana and the royal family when I was in primary school so when I read Netflix invested a 100 million dollars into this show I was naturally curious. History has always been a favourite subject of mine and this show chronicles Queen Elizabeth's life from just before she inherited the throne, the abdication of her Uncle and her relationship with Winston Churchill. It really goes deep into the challenges and sacrifices of being a monarch. The saying 'Heavy is the head that wears the crown' is the accurate way to describe it. Rich and captivating.

Planet Earth II

I love wildlife and all that weird encyclopedia shit. In another life I could've been a scientist or some other weird shit. I can totally fuck up a whole day watching national geographic or animal planet. Planet Earth 1 came out in 2006 chronicling animal life on different continents and terrains, captivating shit . 10 years later Planet Earth 2 is the second edition. With the advances in filming technology you really get to appreciate nature from a different perspective. There's a crazy lizard & snake chase that went viral and some dope Eagle fight and that's just the tip of the iceberg. It's remarkable stuff, a break from the monotony of regular television. They even discovered a new species of fresh water dolphins. Loved it to death.

The Exorcist

This show is scary as fuck. Acting isn't top notch but when there are demons terrorising people, who gives a shit about the dialogue. I like religious themed horror flicks with all that dooms day end of the world shit coz it feels believable to a certain degree so I fucked with it. Scary though, reminds me of Constantine.

What 2016 meant to me..

What 2016 meant to me?

Let's see, I guess this has been a really unsavoury year for most people but as always I like to take the good with the bad. 

The beginning of my year was anything but ideal, weeks earlier I knew someone really close to me had a few weeks to live. It was devastating and when doom's day finally came I just had to take it in stride. 

I felt so vulnerable not just because of the loss but with everything around me. 
Life was asking a lot of me in and I really had to be decisive. I had no time to mourn, had no one to comfort me and had a shit load of things that needed addressing the first of which were fly by night tenants that had to be taken to court. 

I toughened up, got my shit together and started working on a new business. I prayed a lot which I don't do as often as I should but slowly but surely I emerged from the dark cloud. 

Throughout the year I totally reinvented myself, I read dozens of books, conducted intensive market research, ironed out my weaknesses, got into shape and out of shape as well. It was an edifying and metamorphic process.

In retrospect as I sum it all up and put it all into perspective I can only smile.

It's been a difficult trip but I've grown in leaps and bounds. I'm fearless now, more decisive, very stern and confrontational when I need to yet I'm not afraid to put myself on the line and feel vulnerable. I've always tried to be too slick to avoid pain and rejection and now I embrace the growth that comes with it. 

My business savvy is at an all time high, I've charmed numerous suppliers to put the new business at a vantage point. My business paradigm has shifted, I've evolved, I look at things differently and I'm operating at an incredible level. 

I've read and listened to over 30 books this year and I feel 10 times smarter than I was 12 months ago. I notice it in meetings and seminars that I attend that I've really elevated the level that I operate at and I'm doing a lot of my work mentally, I don't need a notepad to clarify my thoughts and decisions much. I'm not afraid to speak up in a large group or confront people in uncomfortable settings. I care less about what other people think of me. 

I've laid the foundation and if I don't build a million dollar business in the next few years, God Willing, I would have failed myself because I have really levelled up in every important area, it's just a matter of time . 

This year has been tragic for a lot of people, I'm not the only person who lost someone and my heart sinks when I think of a recent accident that took the life of close friend's Mom. 

Not to turn this into a morbid post but the losses this year had me reevaluate what really is important in life. We all have grand schemes and dreams hoping that we will live forever but the truth is we aren't in control. God is the DJ, he's got the aux chord and he can cut you off at any time. 

The solemn conclusion is that you take nothing with you when you leave this Earth. You come in with nothing then you leave with nothing. So then the natural question is what's important, what should you treasure. 

The sobering question really is who will genuinely miss me when I'm gone. What's my legacy gonna be, what will I leave for my children and what impact and impression have I made on people and who have I connected with. 

These are all uncomfortable subjects most people are forced to confront when time eventually catches up. I would much rather embrace my mortality and make the most of my time here than be ignorant like spending money without a budget expecting your pockets to be deep as an ocean. 

I may not have thought of it explicitly when I was working on the new business I've launched but it was heavy on my mind that I needed to change my approach. 

I was in a meeting with a guy who founded a massive brand who made a comment about the regret of missing out on family life and time with his children in exchange for success. 

In the past my plan was to grind hard, sacrifice my personal life, save and build an organisation that can take care of me so I can enjoy the fruits of my labour and build a family. 

That plan worked remarkably for two years and just as I was comfortable enough to start living the political landscape changed again in Zimbabwe and plunged the whole economy into the abyss. It was survival mode all over again and more sacrifice of the things that actually matter. 

I realised I couldn't take the same route again. So for the first time in my life I'm building a business around the life that I want to live. It's weird but liberating. I may have done a lot of market research but the further I progress, the more I realise this is a reflection of who I am. 

Building a business around yourself is really fun, it isn't a chore. When I would collect a big payment from my previous business , these were my guilty pleasures but there was always that monkey on your back that I first had to establish a large enterprise before enjoying myself. 

What I'm working on is how I felt I would want to live when my old business had matured.

I've got plans for the coming year. 2016 was a necessary sacrifice but I've done my time and in the spirit of my legacy. I don't want to be that 40 something dude mourning about lost time. 

I'm building a business that complements my life and I'm convinced I've laid the perfect foundation. Life has to get richer as it grows without sacrificing my personal life as before.

The impressive thing I've got from all this is I'm a better version of myself. I'm more discerning. 

Much more than the sales I'm making are the connections with prospective customers and those I've converted. I liked the connections I made with my employees in my previous business but this has potential to be greater. 

I'm grateful for all the pain and growth that was 2016. 

I'm a laid back person but I'm a free spirit as well when I want to which I get directly from my Mom. I like nice things, I like beautiful women and all the best things but early on I knew I had to sacrifice if I was going to become a great business person, so it's been a bogey area of my life. 

Balancing personal and business is easier said than done. It's been an elusive area because you don't have time to waste, if you're going to invest your time on someone, it's gotta be someone real and finding someone real who will ride for you is difficult whether you're searching or not and it's much harder as an entrepreneur. 

My principle is that regardless of your current circumstances at any given you should be prepared to approach any woman so I'm immune to most insecurities. 

In recent times I've met interacted and connected with some great people so I guess I'm knocking on the right doors. 

I'm not a party animal anymore, I pick my moments. 

What sucks about business is that it saps your personality. When you're swimming in uncharted waters that are emotionally draining you can't be consistently spontaneous and electrifying because you're dealing with real life challenges and emotions that you're tying to make sense of. 

The real struggle is finding someone who understands that you can't be a fireball all the time. Being a player is easy, living reckless is easy but being a real man takes guts and sacrifice. 

I read somewhere that the process that produces enduring happiness is the ability to sacrifice what you want now for something greater that you want eventually. 

I've done the hard time this year especially and all the years before. 

In 2017 I want to bloom, take my foot of the gas a bit and embrace life. 

The only real change comes from inside and I've taken care of that. 

If I could sum up my resolutions for myself and my business in the coming year I would say.. After I've taken care of my basic needs, I want to be free . . . To do what I want, when I want, where I want, with whomever I want. For as long as I want, without having to worry about money... 

I owe myself at least that much but it's been a great year filled with the good and the bad and the ugly..

2016

As I sit back and analyse this year looking at how far I've come and the challenges I've scaled I get a surreal feeling. 

I cannot think of a worse start to a year than 2016. I usually set clear resolutions and targets for where I want to be and what I have to achieve in the ensuing months but this time was different. 

I learnt that someone I loved dearly who had been  a solid rock and father figure over the years was dying from cancer and they had less than a month to live . They were dark times. The sad news came 11 days into the new year and for the first time in my life I felt alone. 

People I've known all my life didn't even send a message of condolence. I had to sit down and face the world all alone. 

Apart from being a beacon in my life, the person I lost was my mentor and business partner. 

The previous year hadn't been kind to us on the business front. We lost a lot of money and leading to his death we were  trying to carve out a new plan. 

Essentially the timing couldn't be worse. The storm always comes when you're least prepared. 

So there I was, left to carve out a new path by myself dealing with meagre resources and shattered faith and confidence. It was fucking scary. 

I thought about a conversation we had when he said to me, it's time for Mike the Man to emerge. You have all the necessary experience to be great but you have to step up. Reminded me of my favourite Game Of Thrones scene when the grand maeister tells Jon Snow to kill the boy and let the man be born. 

Only difference is I had to do it  all alone with no safety net or voice of reason to consult. 

I dug deep, I put God first and credit him for staying faithful this whole year even though I always stray. I confronted each and every one of my personal and business weaknesses. 

I decided to build my life bouquet with the flowers closest to me. I read a lot. Over 15 books and counting. Mostly non fiction. I sold some of my property to fund the market research for the new business I was working on. I worked out consistently and watched my diet. 

Slowly but surely I ploughed back my confidence. I looked better and fit. I remember flirting with the idea of getting into a relationship and when I picked up the chick in question for a lunch date , I caught her gawking at me a couple times. I still haven't managed to get back to my physical state from those months since the winter came through and smashed my gains. 

But anyway my vision was finally shaping up into something tangible though I was still a long way. 

Financial management and interpersonal management in business were by far my greatest weaknesses and I've made decent strides to iron out those kinks though I still have a long way to go. 

So with all the focus I slowly put together a robust business model. It was finally taking shape and I tried to make it as personal and objective as possible, learning from others and seeing things from other people's perspective. 

I'm grateful for all the people who were patient enough to lend an ear and help me progress. 

God's timing is always perfect and each and every time I reached an impasse or roadblock he always provided a detour. 

I'm eternally grateful for my Muzukuru and best friend Munya who provided massive support in more ways than I can count. 

It's been a crazy journey for me. I've grown a lot. I'm smarter, more adept at decision making. More confident and fearless. I'm a tougher negotiator and love the aura I'm bringing to every new interaction. I've learnt to trust in my own council and make room for other people's views. 

If anyone would have told me I would be in this position back in January, I'm not sure I would have believed them but the Lord does work in mysterious ways. 

I'm ready to put what I've been working on into the world. It has my DNA written all over it. 

It might be a flop or it might be a success but what I've enjoyed the most is the journey and process of self discovery and growth it has provided me. 

For what is life if you cannot celebrate the little things. 

As difficult as things have been this year in my country, 2016 has given me a reason to dream afresh. God willing, those dreams may actually see the light of day.

The greatest challenge of my adult life stared at me and I stared back. Brought the best out of me and I like who I've become over the past few months.

Gambit

Life is like a card game. 

The cards constantly get re-shuffled and dealt out again.

You merely get  better at the game, more sure, and know what to expect from a situation.

The next card you flip  over may be a two or a five or a ten or a QUEEN!

You take it as it comes at you, dealing with what you have the best you can.

You learn in the process.There isn't a pinnacle of success, a moment when one becomes 'Omniscient'.

The game never stops.

The only major difference is that you can become game-master and the other players react to you rather than you reacting to their actions.

But you don't know what number is coming out of the deck next.

It could be an Ace. It could be a 10. It could even be a  Queen.

Readiness is all. 

The Dark Horse

No one despises the innocent Nice Guy who happily takes orders.

But everyone envies the one who knows what he wants and takes it, the guy who won't be played, and the guy who manages to unite dream and day.

Most people remain static all their lives. They do not change and cannot change. 

They are basically the same now as they were five years from now.

Imagine they are gathering in a circle around you and your life.

They are all taking bets on when you will stop and fail. When you do, they will let out a sigh of relief.

People do not want you to succeed, especially people you've known your entire life.

They want you to stay the same or fail. Their lives can only succeed by seeing you fail. 
 
For nothing can overtake the power of Endurance! 
 
We are the sum of our endurance.Endurance alone is power ultimate. 

So endure.  

[sic]