22/08/2024
In Kenya, we used to have a mandazi known as KDF. For those unfamiliar, mandazi is a type of doughnut without a hole in the middle. This particular mandazi earned the name KDF (Kenya Defence Force) due to its ability to keep the stomach full for hours.
In fact, eating three KDFs was nearly impossible—just two with tea would keep you satisfied for half a day. It was thick, heavy, and sweet.
The KDF mandazi became very popular, and the inventors made serious money from it. However, after some time, the producers began reducing its size, followed by a decline in quality.
Nowadays, it's no longer worthy of being called KDF because you can eat five and still feel no impact. There's a Kiswahili proverb that sums this up perfectly: When a brewer is praised, they dilute the brew.
The same principle applies to many aspects of life. When we start to do well, we often lose focus on quality, believing that people can’t do without us. This happens in relationships, too.
In the beginning, we put our best foot forward to please our partners, but over time, familiarity sets in, and we stop caring as much. Many people have lost their partners because of this complacency.
In business, the pattern is similar. We start strong, then neglect customer satisfaction, focusing solely on making money. What we forget is that people leave first, and then money follows.
Right now, no one talks about KDF because better mandazis have emerged. We should learn to behave like an antelope that eats with its head up, aware that predators are always lurking.
Someone is always eyeing what you have or what you do. Always strive to remain a KDF—consistent and valued.
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