KWAME

Next Monday, I wrap up four months of paternity leave. It has been quite an interesting time. The first several weeks were too full of angst as I tried to figure out a routine. I had high expectations for myself. I wanted to spend quality time with my new baby daughter while also setting things up for me to sooner than later have the control over my time I crave. I did not get to everything on my list, but I am grateful for the amount of time I have been able to spend with both of my daughters. Now, I prepare to go back to work and feel a deep hunger to get to a level of control over my time. I hope they are ready for me.

I want to spend inordinate amounts of time with my family, while doing the work I believe needs to happen for black folks to maximize our potential socially, politically, and economically.

That time looks like randomly going to Ghana to spend time. That time looks like sitting in bed all day with my wife, watching shows. That time looks like working with my daughter for extended periods of time on her array of projects.

That work includes what I am doing now, building ventures in industries that are fundamental to a societies ability to function – energy, natural resources, and manufacturing. That work also includes making sure we have places to live that are not only safe, but are environments where folks can thrive. That work also includes supporting entrepreneurs who are building a better future with emerging technologies that need a long runway before they are ready for gametime.

This time away from work has been quite good for me. It has given me space to assess where I am in making my vision real, and there is much to do. It’s Game On when Monday comes around. I need to get control of my time.