Joel Macharia, known on Twitter as @TheMacharia is an entrepreneur and thhe founder of the Money Academy and its parent company, Capital Associates, an investment firm. He is also a lover of cartoons, books and jazz music. He has a habit of suddenly shouting ‘Who’s your daddy?’ when something works as it should, and his favourite phrase is ‘Pink elephants float in my marmalade’
@TheMacharia
We had a few questions for him and this is what he had to say:-
1. What was your first phone?
Nokia 5160.
2. What do you prefer? Facebook or Twitter? Why?
While Facebook makes for good stalking, I prefer Twitter. People have to be succinct, it’s a lot more active, and I seem to follow people who like to share knowledge.
3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Where do I see myself? On my farm somewhere in Kiambu, reading and writing short-stories and satirical books.
What will I most likely be doing? Buying, starting or selling another business.
4. Any question for us? We’ll publish our answer as well
To quote Diasporadical, who’s your mother?
- To quote JJ Kamotho, KANU ni Baba na Mama…
5. What would you do if you were president for a day?
Dissolve parliament and call for elections
6. What’s your favourite book & movie?
I read anywhere between 6 and 10 books each month, so my list of favourites is in constant flux. Let me try a few:
1. Bread Upon the Waters – Irwin Shaw
2. British as a Second Language – David Bunnun
3. Last Chance to See – Douglas Adams
4. The Discworld Series – Terry Pratchett
5. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
I am not a big fan of movies, so I’ll rarely go out and get one myself. What happens is a friend telling me “I know you’ll love this!’ and they end up being right. My top 3:
- V for Vendetta
- My Fair Lady – Prof Henry Higgins is one of my favourite characters in any form of entertainment
- Snatch
- The Shawshank Redemption
- The Green Mile
7. Who/What inspired you to do what you do now?
I have always been a business bloke, from trading chapatis for WWF stickers in Class 3, to selling bread in high-school, to selling cars and now the companies, so business is in my blood. One of the things that made decide that finance was the path for me was reading somewhere that at the peak of his career, George Soros, the Man who Broke the Bank of England, made $3,000 a minute. Where else can you do that, besides in finance?
I get a lot of inspiration from music and reading as well
8. If you were to change jobs, what profession would you get into? Why?
Lawyer. Always wanted to be one, originally because the first BMW I ever sat in belonged to a lawyer, then because I absolutely like its subjectivity of interpretation and delivery of arguments and third, because the people I annoy think I’d make a damn good one.
9. If you had a superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation.
10. If you were deserted on an abandoned island what 5 things would you want to have?
- A genie with more than 3 wishes
- My Kindle, and a solar charger.
- A shotgun to make sure the island stayed deserted
- A lot of water
- A pen and unlimited supply of paper
11. If you were a car, what car would you like to be? Why?
1954 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing.
It was, and is, an icon by a brand that is in itself an icon.
12. If you could be in any band in the world, which one would you like to be
in? Why?
Playing bass in a band in my head called Jazztify that plays hip-hop and reggae covers (akin to Hidden Beach Recordings) in a bar called Jazztice. (Corny, much?)
13. Share something interesting about yourself with our readers.
I am a lot younger and a lot less serious than you think.