Business Journal

Founder of Ke Nako Business Magazine — Tiny Jarvis

The Story Behind Ke Nako Business Magazine

Looking back at the first chapter of the journey.

In February 2017, I published the first edition of Ke Nako Magazine.

I did not have every detail planned at the time. I simply believed that entrepreneurs needed a platform where they could tell their stories authentically, using their own words and voices.

The support I received was more than I expected. People trusted the idea, shared their stories and helped make the publication possible. I remain grateful to everyone who contributed to that first edition. You became part of the beginning of a journey that continues through Ke Nako Business Magazine today.

When I look back, I understand that the vision was not the main challenge.

The real challenge was me.

Do you know the feeling of having an idea that other people seem to believe in more than you believe in yourself? That was my experience.

My fear was not really about failing. What frightened me was the responsibility of leading something that carried my name.

I was not sure whether I was ready to take charge of something that important. I sometimes delayed sending in work that was expected from me because I doubted myself. At other times, I passed some of my responsibilities on to others because I did not believe I could manage them on my own.

I was fortunate to have supportive people around me. They believed in both me and the vision during a time when believing in myself was difficult.

I had every intention of continuing with the magazine after the first edition.

Then my life changed.

My personal circumstances needed my attention, and the dream slowly moved into the background.

I felt embarrassed about what had happened. I pulled away from the project and carried a great deal of guilt because I believed I had disappointed the people who had supported me. Rather than dealing with the unfinished dream, I gave my attention to what was happening in my personal life.

The longer I stayed away, the more difficult it became to imagine starting again.

At one point, I wanted a completely new beginning. I wanted new dreams, new ideas and a different path. The truth is that I no longer wanted anything to do with business.

However, this journey taught me that a dream placed in your heart by God does not die. You may walk away from it for a while, but when it is connected to your purpose, it has a way of returning.

During those years, I began working on myself and changing the way I lived. One of the biggest lessons was learning to move away from always wanting other people’s approval. I started thinking more seriously about living with purpose.

I asked myself what I truly enjoyed, what kind of work challenged me and what reflected the person God had created me to be.

That change in my values became an important turning point.

The fear and doubt did not disappear at once, but I learned that being courageous does not mean that you are never afraid. Sometimes it simply means choosing to take another step while the fear is still there.

That is how I started again.

Behind the scenes, I slowly began working on the vision. I kept learning, building new skills and preparing myself for the responsibility ahead. What may have looked like a quiet period from the outside was a time of preparation for me.

During that difficult season, I deleted everything I had worked so hard to create. The magazine and all the files were gone.

For years, I kept searching for the first edition. I wanted to see what it looked like again. Perhaps part of me hoped that finding it would help me restart from where I had stopped.

I even asked some of the people who had helped with the original publication if they still had a copy. No one was able to find it.

In the end, I accepted that I would have to start again without it. If Ke Nako was going to return, I would need to rebuild it from the beginning.

This led to a new brand, a different look, a fresh design and a new start. I was no longer trying to copy what I had done in 2017. I was creating a version of Ke Nako that reflected the person I had grown into.

Then the unexpected happened.

Shortly after the first issue of Ke Nako Business Magazine was released, the 2017 edition appeared again. For some reason, I could suddenly see it online.

By the time the old edition returned, I had already moved forward. I no longer needed it to rebuild Ke Nako because I had already started something new.

Today, I no longer look at the 2017 edition with embarrassment.

I now understand that it gave me an opportunity to test the market, even though I did not know that was what I was doing at the time. Business owners are often advised to test an idea before fully launching a product or service. That first edition allowed me to do just that.

It became part of the foundation of Ke Nako Business Magazine.

The rebuilding process also helped me understand something important about myself.

For a long time, I wondered what would happen to my love for telling stories. Through Ke Nako, I discovered that creating content comes naturally to me.

It is not only something I enjoy.

It is part of who I am.

One of the greatest lessons from this journey is that you will not always know exactly what lies ahead when you begin. Sometimes you first receive the vision, and the plan becomes clearer as you keep moving.

There will be wins and losses along the way. Some days will go well, while others will test you. Through every stage, love what you do and do what you love.

Starting something from the ground up also means being willing to take responsibility for many different parts of the work. You may not know everything, and you will not always make the right decision. In the early stages, you may need to take on several roles. Each responsibility can teach you something that prepares you for what comes next.

No one can lead your vision better than you.

Other people can help you, encourage you and believe in what you are doing, but the responsibility of leading the vision remains yours.

Own it.

Learn from your mistakes.

Allow failure to teach you.

I do not know anyone who has built something meaningful without getting things wrong along the way. We grow by taking action, making mistakes and learning from the times when things do not work out as planned.

These are some of the lessons I have learned, and they have shaped the way we work with contributors at Ke Nako.

We believe that every contributor should have the opportunity to tell their story authentically, in their own way and in their own voice. We are not here to take someone’s story and turn it into something that no longer sounds like them.

That is part of what Ke Nako Business Magazine represents.

Today, Ke Nako Business Magazine is a quarterly digital publication under Keaobaka Publishing House. We profile local businesses in and around Kuruman, while not being limited to any region in South Africa.

Our core belief is in the power of storytelling and that every business, no matter its size or stage, has a story worth sharing.

Each quarterly issue features interviews, insights and authentic stories of entrepreneurs, businesspeople and business leaders that encourage meaningful conversations, build legacies and inspire innovation within the business sector.

As we continue to grow, Issue 03 marks another chapter in the Ke Nako story.

Alongside the quarterly magazine, we are introducing two new ways for our community to connect with the businesses and stories we feature.

The Ke Nako Business Directory provides readers with an opportunity to discover and connect with businesses featured within the Ke Nako community. It gives entrepreneurs an additional space to showcase what they offer and makes it easier for readers to find and support businesses.

The Ke Nako Business Journal extends the conversation beyond the quarterly magazine, bringing readers additional business stories, insights, conversations and perspectives throughout the year.

These additions build on what Ke Nako has always stood for: the power of storytelling and the belief that every business, no matter its size or stage, has a story worth sharing.

Most of all, I thank the Lord.

When I see Ke Nako Business Magazine today, I see more than a publication.

I see His faithfulness and His timing.

I see a dream He continued to hold, even during the time when I believed I had left it behind.

I gave the dream back to Him and trusted Him to lead me into a new beginning. Today, I understand that His plans were greater than my own.

Indeed, it is time.

Ke Nako for us to tell our own stories.

Ke Nako to tell them the best way we know how.

Share to Inspire.

Tiny Jarvis
Founder & Publisher
Ke Nako Business Magazine

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Explore the First Chapter

The February 2017 edition will always have a place in the Ke Nako story. It represents the beginning of the journey, the people who supported the vision and how far God has brought me.

Read the February 2017 edition:
Ke Nako Magazine – February 2017