In this episode I am now on my own in Nairobi, Kenya. I needed a job so I turned to my riding career. Kenya is a former British colony so there are many British residents and expatriates. I knew the British love their horses and the wealthier groups often own horses as a hobby but not always have time to ride them. I had to get in contact with them to see if there was any job opportunities and i did not know anyone. Remember this was the time when there was no mobile phones, no email, no internet.......I went looking for hoofprints in the dirt on the outskirts of Nairobi. I saw some from the local bus (matatu). I then left a note in the local shop looking for work as a rider and to leave me a message through my backpackers accommodation. I was contacted within that day. I was invited to spend a weekend at a horse event being introduced to potential employers. I readily accepted but I did not look the part as an equestrian rider and so was immediately judged. However, two families were willing to give me a trial on their horses and after one ride, I suddenly had a full-time job riding horses and training people to ride their own horses.  There were two life lessons from this period of my life. 1) I needed a job and I managed to get one in a foreign country within 24 hours. This was with no digital technology to help me. Where there is a will, there is a way. Using my initiative and perseverance, I came up with an idea and did not give up on it until I was successful. Having that drive to see things through has got me a long way in life and I have used it continually in my travels and other aspects of my life. Have a vision, set some goals and don't give up, even if you have to ride some setbacks along the way.   2) I mention I was judged by my looks when I was looking for horse employment. I did not look the part as a professional rider neat and tidy in the "right" clothes. However, some people took a chance with me and let me ride their horses. Once I got on the horse, I was able to prove my worth by the way I was able to train the horse. If no one took a chance with me because of the way I dressed, I would have been out of a job but also I would not have been able to help these people. I had recently come from an Austrian barn where I as riding up to 15 horses a day, so I was a good rider and there were very few horse trainers/coaches in Nairobi at the time. So be careful how you judge someone by their looks, the way they dress, their background and associations. They may just be a diamond in the rough waiting for a chance to shine. Give them that chance to help them be the person they are meant to be. On the flip side of the coin, you do not have to act, dress or be like anyone else just to try and fit in. You are unique. Given the right opportunities, even if you have to make those opportunities happen, you can shine your own light and be yourself.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/justine-murray0/message