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The Company Is Winning — Are You?

You’re excited. Your boss is sharing a big vision — expansion plans, revenue targets, new markets. It sounds impressive. Maybe even inspiring. You start seeing yourself as part of something grand.

But somewhere in the quiet moments, you realize something:
Just because the company is winning doesn’t mean you are.
Your salary hasn’t changed. Your title hasn’t changed. Your workload has.
You start to wonder — am I helping build a vision that has no space for mine?

Poem (to keep the spirit of your other pieces):

They built the dream,
And I gave my days.
They earned the billions,
And I stayed the same.
Now my rent is due,
And their name is in the news.
I forgot to dream my own dream
While building someone else's.

The Illusion of Shared Progress

In Kenya, company branding can be seductive. We love to be associated with the “big names.” Safaricom, Equity, Google, KCB. There’s status in saying “I work there.”

But here's the honest truth:
Company growth is not employee growth.
Equity might post KES 50 billion in profit — but that doesn’t mean Peter in procurement saw even a fraction of it in his payslip.

Just because the CEO is building a house in Karen doesn’t mean you can afford a plot in Joska.

Let’s Talk Salary Ceilings and Role Limits

Some roles, no matter how critical or loyal, will not scale in pay the way a business does in revenue. A driver in a logistics company is not going to make CEO money — even if that driver helped the company expand across East Africa.

Here’s what’s even more sobering:

  • A Personal Assistant with 10 years of service might still cap at KES 150K–200K per month in most Kenyan companies.

  • A Customer Service Officer could stay in the same salary band for years — especially if the company’s structure doesn't allow for upward movement.

This is not about lack of ambition or poor work ethic — it’s about understanding the design of the company you work for.

If your dream is to own land, start a family, or retire early — you have to ask:
Can this role, in this place, within this time, actually support that?

Mistaking Loyalty for Strategy

Loyalty is not a retirement plan.
It’s noble, yes. But it must be strategic.

Remaining in a role that no longer meets your evolving financial needs, just because “the company is doing well”, is like staying in a relationship because your partner is getting promotions — even as you remain stagnant.

Your employer’s vision may be grand, but you weren’t hired to own it — you were hired to deliver on it. Unless there’s equity, profit-sharing, or clear upward mobility tied to performance, your reward is likely fixed.

Signs You’re Caught Up in a Dream That’s Not Yours

  • You’re working overtime and giving your all — but your salary hasn’t changed in 2+ years.

  • You feel proud of company success but frustrated by your personal stagnation.

  • You’re turning down other jobs because “this company is going places” — but there’s no real plan for your role to go with it.

  • You delay personal goals (buying land, going back to school, starting a side hustle) because “maybe next year” things will improve at work.

  • You feel guilty even thinking about leaving — as if the company’s dream depends on your sacrifice.

How to Reclaim Your Vision

1. Be Honest About Your Ceiling

Research salary bands in your industry. Understand what the highest realistic pay is for your role. If you’re already near it, then growth must come from another path — promotion, change of role, or a career pivot.

2. Map Your Personal Timeline

Ask: Where do I want to be in 1, 3, or 5 years — financially and personally?
Then ask: Can this job help me get there?
If not, it’s time to re-strategize — not necessarily to quit, but to adjust how you treat the job: maybe as a stepping stone, not a final destination.

3. Prioritize Personal Progress Over Employer Vision

If your boss is dreaming of taking the company regional, that’s great. But you are dreaming of buying land. Let that dream guide your choices. Take the role that helps you get there — even if it pays less prestige and more money.

4. Learn to Say: “This Season Is Over”

Too many Kenyans stay in jobs that no longer serve them because they once did. Let go. Your loyalty should match your season — not exceed it.

Mantra:

I was not born to only build dreams for others.
I have a vision too.
I can be grateful for this role — and still choose better.
I can outgrow a job without shame.
I owe my dreams the same devotion I give to theirs.

Call to Action:

If your boss's dream came true today, what part of it would benefit you — and what part would leave you behind?

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