A'ita Jaffer Joel
Twenty years have passed since we took on our first private project for a client.
Looking back, the journey has been anything but a straight line. It has been 20 years of ups and downs, difficult seasons, disappointments, sacrifices, lessons, breakthroughs and, thankfully, many moments of pride and smiles.
When we started in 2006, the projects were smaller, the resources were limited, and opportunities were not always easy to find. But every project became a classroom. Every client became part of our story. Every mistake became a lesson, and every successful delivery gave us the confidence to take on something bigger.
To the young professional, consultant, architect, engineer, contractor or entrepreneur who has just started and is currently handling the kind of projects we were doing in 2006: do not despise your small beginnings.
There is no magic formula.
It is a combination of hard work, networking, consistency, discipline, patience, continuous learning, putting quality before profit, protecting your reputation and, above all, prayer.
Sometimes you will work extremely hard and the results will not come immediately. Sometimes you will lose projects you thought were yours. Sometimes clients will disappoint you. Sometimes cash flow will test you. Sometimes you will wonder whether you are making any progress at all.
Keep going.
Your first project may not make you rich, but it can build your reputation. Your first ten projects may not make headlines, but they can build the experience that prepares you for the hundredth.
Quality first. Profit later. Reputation always.
Twenty years later, when we compare our first project in 2006 with the projects we are privileged to undertake in 2026, we are reminded that great things are rarely built overnight.
They are built one project, one relationship, one lesson and one year at a time.
The journey continues.
2006 → 2026. Twenty years of learning, building, growing and believing.
Joel Aita
CEO Joadah Consult
This post was created with our nice and easy submission form. Create your post!
Written by
An Infrastructure Consultant, Entrepreneur and Motivational Speaker. CEO Joadah Consult
Did this story move you? Every gift goes directly to A'ita Jaffer Joel — writers on Muwado earn from reader appreciation, not algorithms. Even $1 makes a difference.
Muwado weekly chart
Get Africa’s top 10 stories every Thursday
No account needed — just your email.
Want to follow A'ita Jaffer Joel and get notified every time they publish?
Create a free Muwado account →