Alex Milenye is the founder and managing director at Kijiji Cuisine Group, a corporate catering services company based in Nairobi.

Greatest milestone: This has to be my ability to bounce-back after failure. For example, I scored a mean grade of D Minus in my KCSE. There were no collages accepting students with such a grade. I had failed. It seemed like the end of the road. I decided to settle for whatever came my way. I got a chance to work in a hotel as a trainee and worked there as an apprentice for eighteen months. I also worked as a steward at NAS airport and pursued a certificate course in food production, and later a diploma in hospitality. I turned around what seemed like a doomed future. Today, I run my own business and have my own qualification papers.

Biggest money mistake: I borrowed Sh. 1 million from a friend and ended up paying twice that amount. It was a bitter lesson. I signed on the loan without paying attention to the terms and conditions. Back then, my knowledge of financial numbers was limited.

Biggest career loss: I once had a very resourceful communication employee who made all the difference in business administration, public relations, and strategic partnerships. He suddenly left, something I had never imagined happening. We spiraled into huge losses and lost business. The business almost shut down. I realized that in business, it is very critical that you become intentional with redundancy measures by creating succession plans, encouraging replication of special skillset and trainings, so that when a gap appears, it is almost instantly filled for continuity.

The secret to success: You must put in the work and walk the process. Nothing that’s ever quick lasts. You fall, you rise and keep going. Success, just like happiness, is not a destination, but a journey. Prepare well for the navigation with skills, mental strength, correct attitude and a befitting character.

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If I could go back in time: I would look harder at my business vision, create a stronger and robust foundation, think through all possible eventualities and know my numbers. Success would have come a lot earlier if I had done this from onset. Knowing my numbers would also have prevented me from some of the financial losses I incurred during my entrepreneurship teething years.

Saving method: Allowing your money to sit pretty in the bank isn’t a very desirable way to save. Like ideas, the whole benefit of money depends on the speed of its circulation. I prefer saving through investments that provide higher returns with time. I have also become a more calculated risk taker because the higher the risks, the higher the payoff.

Entrepreneurship versus employment: I would have favored entrepreneurship, but come to think about it, I am here, resolute and rearing to achieve greater heights because of the foundations set by the experiences I learnt during employment. I have a lot of regard for creativity, limitlessness and profits that comes with entrepreneurship. In the same token, I am sure such environments can also be cultivated in organizations that appreciate and encourage intrapreneurship, which is more satisfying to staff with healthier career progression and reward systems, which break off the silos of normal workplace routines and boredom.

My parting shot: Use money to get money. Invest wisely and widely to set yourself apart and be outstanding. Invest in knowledge, assets, research and financial passive investment options.

This feature on Alex Milenye was first published in the Saturday Magazine. The Saturday Magazine is a publication of the Nation Media Group.