Today’s episode is a raw one — a true 5 to 9 Diary entry. Raymond opens up about burnout, recovering from loss, relationship red flags, communication flaws, and the uncomfortable realization that sometimes… he’s the villain in his own story. This isn’t a themed episode. It’s the messy, honest, unfiltered mix of life lessons that don’t fit neatly into categories — but matter just the same.
If you’ve ever battled procrastination, held onto resentment, ignored red flags, or tried to grow past your own patterns, this episode will hit home.
🔥 Burnout — Why Taking No Break Is the Fastest Road to Collapse
Hustling without rest is not discipline — it’s self-sabotage.
A pause doesn’t slow you down; it prevents a burnout crash.
🔥 Recovery & Awareness — What Losing Something Valuable Taught Me
Losing his phone didn’t make Raymond bitter — it made him aware.
Awareness > paranoia.
Growth isn’t loud; sometimes it’s simply choosing not to resent.
🔥 The Power of Clear Communication
Articulation is an underrated superpower in work, relationships, and creativity.
The world rewards people who can think clearly and say it clearly.
🔥 Relationship Red Flags
Early red flags become long-term heartbreaks if you ignore them.
Love doesn’t fix patterns — honesty does.
🔥 The Inner Villain
Raymond admits he sometimes distances himself to control relationships.
But the same distance that protects you also disconnects you.
Growth is noticing the pattern before it ruins something good.
🔥 Procrastination & Stress Addiction
Some people only perform when desperate — and that’s a dangerous cycle.
Consistency beats crisis-mode excellence.
🔥 Identity vs. Stereotypes
Everyone has labels waiting for them.
What matters is building an identity from the inside out, not from the judgments thrown at you.
It’s relatable.
It’s messy.
It’s honest.
It’s you admitting the things everyone feels but rarely says out loud.
This is how you build connection — not by teaching, but by telling the truth.
If any part of this episode hit home — burnout, red flags, procrastination, stereotypes, or your own inner villain — let me know. Your feedback helps shape future episodes.
Share this with someone who needs a laugh, a lesson, or a little comfort.
Hit subscribe, join the family, and I’ll catch you in the next one.
Today’s episode dives into a feeling we all know too well: being stuck. Not unmotivated. Not lazy. Just… stuck. Working hard, doing everything “right,” but still feeling like your life isn’t moving the way you hoped. Raymond opens up about his own journey—from comparing himself to others after university, to battling burnout, to making progress so slow it sometimes feels invisible.
This episode is honest, practical, and deeply personal. If you’ve ever questioned where you are in life, felt behind, or wondered if you missed something… this one’s for you.
🔥 Why Feeling Stuck Doesn’t Mean You’re Failing
It often means you’re outgrowing your current environment.
It’s part of every growth cycle.
Even the people winning at life don’t know what they’re doing — they’re improvising too.
Feeling stuck is usually a sign of fear, burnout, or transition… not incompetence.
🔥 The Quarter-Life Crisis Reality
Everyone around you seems to be moving faster — promotions, masters degrees, marriages, travel.
Comparison kills clarity.
Feeling “behind” is a universal illusion.
🔥 How to Know You’re in a Stuck Phase
Procrastinating even small tasks.
Overwhelmed but not motivated.
Nothing excites you.
You’re questioning everything.
1️⃣ Move Your Body
Movement clears mental fog.
Even a 10-minute run or tennis session changes your mood instantly.
2️⃣ Make Tiny Decisions
Solve today, not your whole life.
Start small: one job application, one paragraph, ten outreach messages.
Small steps build momentum faster than waiting for perfect conditions.
3️⃣ Change Your Environment (Even Temporarily)
New café, new playlist, new routine.
New stimulation = new thinking.
Rituals matter more than people realize.
4️⃣ Journal or Brain Dump
Writing removes mental noise.
You can’t lie to yourself on paper.
This podcast is therapy disguised as content — same principle.
5️⃣ Allow Yourself to Be Bad First
Perfectionism keeps people stuck the longest.
Progress beats perfection every single time.
✔️ The “What If” List
Write 10 things you’d do if failure wasn’t possible.
✔️ The 5-Minute Rule
Commit to doing a task for just 5 minutes.
You won’t stop after.
✔️ Gratitude Speed List
List 5 things you’re grateful for.
It shifts your mindset from stuck → moving.
Life isn’t a straight road — it’s potholes, detours, redirections, and unplanned pauses.
Everyone hits seasons where nothing moves.
The difference between people who win and people who quit is simple:
They keep walking through the mud anyway.
You don’t need to feel ready.
You just need to take one step.
Then another.
Raymond believes in you.
Now believe in yourself too.
If this episode hit home, let me know. Share it with someone who feels stuck or behind. And if you’re new to the family, subscribe — more real-talk episodes like this are on the way.
What You’ll Learn / Key TakeawaysPractical Steps to Get UnstuckExercises from the EpisodeThe Big ReminderCall to Action
In this episode, Raymond breaks down one of the biggest traps young professionals fall into: confusing volume with value when it comes to their network, followers, clients, and connections.
He dives into the dangerous lie of “network as much as possible,” exposes why being everywhere can actually destroy your brand, and explains the real difference between networking and building a brand that people trust.
This episode is a wake-up call for anyone trying to grow professionally, build a social audience, or monetize their skills online. If you’ve ever been told to “just network more,” you need to hear this.
The real difference between networking and brand-building
Why chasing numbers can actually ruin your reputation
How to build a network that actually works for your career or business
Why credibility > visibility—every single time
The power of having the right 5–10 people instead of 5,000 random followers
How influential people amplify your brand far more than strangers ever will
How to protect your reputation before you try to scale your influence
The right network beats a big network—every time.
Brand = trust, consistency, reputation.
Networking = relationships, not crowd-collecting.
Your name is your biggest asset—you can’t afford to damage it.
People who know your work are more valuable than people who just know your name.
Inspired by ideas from Vusi Thembekwayo, Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, and Warren Buffett
Credit to all thinkers whose work shaped the frameworks discussed
Follow The 5 to 9 Job for more mindset, leadership, and professional growth episodes
If this episode challenged how you think about networking, share it with someone who needs this message.
Subscribe, leave a review, and let me know the kind of content that will genuinely help you grow in your career or business.
What We Cover
How to lead without a title: Influence > authority
How to negotiate a raise: Homework + receipts + confidence
The dark side of money: It amplifies who you already are
Office politics 101: Play smart, not dirty
How to say no without losing your job: Boundaries = survival
Honest, funny, raw, and painfully relatable — a full breakdown of the modern workplace and how to survive it without losing yourself.
What You’ll Learn
Why working too much destroys relationships — and how to fix it
How to command respect in any room
The truth about confidence (and how to build it from zero)
How to be liked without being fake or a people-pleaser
Why most managers fail — and how not to become one
How “bad people” are created
Why your salary can become a trap if you’re not careful
Raw. Honest. Vulnerable. Like a therapy session you didn’t know you needed.
Personal lessons, life experiences, and ongoing self-reflection.
Most people wake up, grab their phone, reply to messages, react to the world, and then wonder why they’re overwhelmed, drained, or feeling stuck.
But here’s the truth no one wants to hear:
👉🏽 If you don’t plan your day, someone else will.
Your boss.
Your friends.
Your emails.
Random “emergencies.”
Even other people’s laziness.
This episode breaks down one of the most underrated reasons successful people stay on top: intentional, structured planning. No magic. No hacks. Just clarity.
Inside, we unpack:
Why most people refuse to plan — and how it ruins their productivity
How planning turns chaos into control
The 80/20 rule and why you should only try to structure 80% of your life
How to stay on track even when surprise problems hit
How to plan as a creative without killing creativity
The exact nightly habit that will transform your weeks
This isn’t about micromanaging your life.
It’s about building a foundation so you’re not tossed around like a plastic bottle in the ocean — thrown wherever the tides of other people’s agendas carry you.
By the end of this episode, you’ll understand the difference between:
Living by design vs. living by reaction
Being productive vs. being busy
Having structure vs. being controlled
Plan your day.
Plan your week.
Plan your months and years.
Not because it looks productive — but because your future self is begging you to.
My name is Raymond…
Welcome to your 5 to 9 Job.
Most of us finish work exhausted… but what happens after 5 p.m.?
You get home, you tell yourself you’ll rest “for a bit,” and suddenly… it’s midnight. Netflix is still asking if you’re alive. TikTok thinks you died. And you realize you just lost four hours of your life.
Here’s the truth:
👉🏽 What you do after work matters more than what you do at work.
In this bonus Diary Episode, I break down what it really means to reclaim your evenings — not in a hustle-porn way, not in a “sleep when you’re dead” way — but in a way that actually builds your life, your identity, and your future.
Inside this episode, we get into:
Most of us aren’t resting.
We’re not working either.
We’re just… existing.
And those lost hours add up. I show you how planning your evenings with intention changes everything.
I share how my own failed business during my 9–5 taught me focus, resilience, and discipline.
Your evenings should grow you — not drain you.
Forget overnight success. Forget “grinding.”
Small consistent wins — waking up 15 minutes earlier, reading 5 pages, learning one skill — compound into real transformation.
Books, podcasts, YouTube… we consume so much.
But real growth?
👉🏽 Comes from action, not information.
I break down how to escape the “dopamine of completion” and actually apply what you learn.
Your CV stays at your job.
Your brand follows you everywhere.
I talk about how to build visibility, share your work, and create leverage — even with a full-time job.
It’s not glam. It’s sacrifice. Tired days. Late nights. Tough seasons.
But it’s worth it — if you understand the cost and commit anyway.
Your body is the foundation.
You can rebuild a business.
You can’t rebuild your health.
I talk about sleep, nutrition, workouts, and how to stay sane while juggling your ambitions.
And somewhere in all this, I give a life update:
We just hit 1,000 downloads (wild).
I took a break from the podcast.
I almost stopped completely.
But the calling came back… and now I’ve found a way to balance real estate content with audio-only podcasting.
It all ties into one lesson:
👉🏽 Sometimes you must sacrifice something to get what you want.
And if it’s truly meant for you, it will call you back.
Your evenings are your untapped resource.
They can shape your future.
Don’t waste them scrolling.
Use them to build.
Create.
Grow.
Become.
This is your 5 to 9.
This is your second life.
My name is Raymond…
Welcome to my 5 to 9 Diary.
⭐ 1. Why Your Evenings Are Hidden Gold⭐ 2. Side Hustle vs Skill Building (They’re The Same Thing)⭐ 3. Becoming 1% Better Every Day⭐ 4. The Execution Trap (Why You’re Consuming But Not Becoming Better)⭐ 5. Building a Personal Brand While Working a 9–5⭐ 6. The Dark Side of Side Hustles⭐ 7. Staying Healthy While You Build Your DreamsFinal Message:
I’ve always been a giver—emotionally, financially, mentally. I love being there for people I care about. But at one point in my life, it started draining me. So I did what the internet tells you to do:
“Protect your energy.”
But I went too far.
Way too far.
In this raw, honest episode, I open up about how setting boundaries turned into emotional avoidance. I cut off people who cared about me. I shut down from friends and family. I mistook coldness for healing. And in the process, I hurt people—not because they were toxic, but because I was overwhelmed.
If you’ve ever struggled with giving too much… or protecting your peace a little too aggressively… this episode is for you.
I wanted to stop this podcast.
Not in a dramatic way.
Not because things were falling apart.
Just… quietly.
I planned to pause for a long time — maybe months — but somehow I only took a few weeks off, and today, I found myself recording again.
And that made me ask myself:
👉🏽 Why am I still here? Why does this podcast keep pulling me back?
The truth is, I don’t think I “love” podcasting the way other creators do.
But I do get something from it — something that keeps me hooked in ways I’m only starting to understand.
In this raw diary episode, I talk about:
I realized something uncomfortable:
I enjoy some parts of this job… and I absolutely dislike others.
Those parts I dislike drain me, and they’re the reason I lose momentum, disappear for weeks, and then return again.
I noticed something I couldn’t ignore anymore:
👉🏽 I’m not growing.
Not my speaking.
Not my storytelling.
Not my delivery.
Even my company communications suffered — I was rambling even with bullet points.
This podcast is supposed to help me grow, and I wasn’t using it fully.
I don’t think I’m going to be “the biggest podcast in Uganda or Africa” anymore.
That dream doesn’t feel like mine right now.
But the mission?
Raising people.
Becoming better.
Learning out loud.
Sharing value.
Helping someone else grow while I grow too.
👉🏽 That still matters to me.
Deeply.
There’s something in this podcast for my personal development — speaking, writing, thinking, discipline, clarity.
If I don’t use this platform, I know I will regret it.
So this time…
I’m not trying to blow up.
I’m not trying to dominate charts.
I’m just trying to extract the value this platform has for me — and give you value in return.
If you’ve been listening…
Thank you.
Truly.
It means more than you know.
If this episode helps you, or if you have feedback, ideas, or even one simple suggestion that can make this podcast better — please let me know.
We’re building this version together.
Raymond out.
Do you constantly feel like you’re performing—at work, socially, even in your own life? I know I did. I spent months trying to prove myself, seeking validation, and living on edge, until I discovered a life-changing truth: your worth isn’t determined by anyone else.
In this episode of The 5 to 9 Job Podcast, we explore:
How stepping back and embracing your absence can help you reconnect with your true value.
Why self-worth doesn’t need to be earned or validated by bosses, friends, or family.
Practical ways to protect your energy, your thoughts, and your environment while still growing and showing up intentionally.
Lessons from Oprah Winfrey on returning to yourself and reclaiming your life.
This episode is for anyone who’s tired of performing, people-pleasing, or burning out. It’s a guide to becoming whole, fulfilled, and confident—without needing constant approval from the world.
💡 Your absence has power. Your presence has value. And learning when to step back is a gift you give yourself.
For years, I wore “I don’t care what people think” like a badge of honor. I thought it was confidence. I thought it was freedom.
But life humbled me. I realized I wasn’t being confident—I was slowly becoming cold, distant, and disconnected from the people and opportunities that mattered.
In this episode, I share my journey of discovering that:
Not caring can quietly destroy you—relationships, work, appearance, even your sense of purpose.
Caring the right way is empowering—it’s self-awareness, maturity, and real confidence.
How to navigate opinions—ignore the trolls and haters, but value the feedback and love that helps you grow.
I also discuss practical ways to walk through life caring wisely: from personal growth and relationships, to showing up authentically in the world. Plus, I highlight mental health resources across Africa and globally for anyone struggling with loneliness or disconnection.
The truth is: We rise together, or we don’t rise at all. This episode is about learning which opinions matter—and how caring can actually set you free.
How do you measure success?
Not by the money you make, the titles you earn, or the stuff you accumulate. Denzel Washington reminds us: “You will never see a U-Haul behind a hearse.” You can’t take it all with you.
True fulfillment comes from impact—using your skills, your talents, and your resources to lift someone else. This episode dives into what it really means to reach back and pull others up.
Why giving back is more rewarding than hoarding success.
How your achievements can empower others—beyond charity or formal mentorship.
How gratitude, recognition, and intentional action create lasting value.
We’ll also hear Denzel himself share his powerful perspective, and I’ll share practical ways you can make a difference starting today.
👉 Listen in, then ask yourself: Who can you reach back and pull up? How can you use what you already have to impact someone else?
Success isn’t just about what you achieve—it’s about what you give back.
This bonus episode is different.
It’s raw, unfiltered, and straight from the notes on my mind lately:
A dream that made me question how ready I am for my family to hear everything I say here.
Slipping back into an old version of myself—cold, distant, but highly productive—and whether that’s survival or sabotage.
The uncomfortable truth about why so many men (myself included) go out of their way to please women.
Professor Scott Galloway’s “3 traits every man needs” — resources, intellect, kindness — and why they matter more than chasing validation.
A lesson for creators and entrepreneurs: stop hallucinating your customer’s pain and start solving the problems they actually have.
And a final thought on fake productivity vs. the high standards that actually move us forward.
It’s messy. It’s real. And maybe—it’s exactly the conversation you didn’t know you needed.
👉 Listen in, then tell me: Which part of this episode hit you hardest?
We live in a world obsessed with quick wins—overnight fame, fast money, instant success.
And honestly? It’s not even our fault. The world has changed. Success is everywhere—more billionaires, more creators, more people “making it” than ever before.
But here’s the trap: when you see success everywhere, it makes patience feel like weakness.
The truth? Patience is one of the hardest skills to master.
I struggle with it every day. I want things to be easy. I want success now. I want the lifestyle that shows I’ve “made it.”
But life doesn’t work like that.
The long game teaches resilience. It teaches focus. It forces you to keep showing up even when the results aren’t visible yet.
Mark Manson wrote something I like in The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck*: “Choose struggles that are meaningful, not easy.”
Because when the struggle means something to you, it’s easier to endure. That’s what the long game is about—enduring the grind because you care about what’s on the other side.
It’s not about waiting. It’s about working consistently, trusting the process, and letting every small step add up over time.
So here’s my challenge to you:
👉 What’s one goal you’re willing to commit to for the long haul? Drop it in the comments.
Remember—success doesn’t come fast. It comes to those who stay the course.
What would you do differently if today were your last day?
In this episode of The 5 to 9 Job Podcast, we explore the third and final story from Steve Jobs’ legendary Stanford commencement speech—the story of death. Jobs shares how a cancer diagnosis forced him to confront his own mortality and why remembering that life is short became his most powerful tool for making decisions.
You’ll learn:
Why facing the reality of death helps us live with clarity and purpose.
The daily question Steve Jobs used to guide his choices.
How to stop living by others’ expectations and start following your intuition.
What it truly means to live a life with no regrets.
👉🏽 Life is fleeting. Don’t waste it living someone else’s dream. Tune in, get inspired, and start making every day count.
Who is the person you want to become in 5 years? 10 years?
In this episode of The 5 to 9 Job Podcast, we dive into the powerful practice of visualizing your future self—not as wishful daydreaming, but as a strategy for clarity, discipline, and action. By consistently picturing who you want to be, you’ll uncover the daily steps needed to bridge the gap between where you are and where you’re going.
You’ll learn:
Why visualizing your future self creates motivation and direction.
How to turn visions into actionable steps you can start today.
The life-changing exercise of writing letters to your future self.
Why even “falling short” of your vision can still move you forward.
👉🏽 Take 5 minutes today: picture your future self, then ask, “What can I do right now to make this real?”
Your future isn’t built someday. It’s built today.
Failure isn’t the opposite of success — it’s the path to it.
In this episode of The 5 to 9 Job Podcast, we explore Denzel Washington’s powerful philosophy of falling forward. Behind every success story lies a trail of setbacks, rejections, and struggles. What separates winners from quitters is the courage to rise one more time than they fall.
You’ll discover:
Why every failed experiment is a step closer to success.
How risk-taking and rejection fuel growth.
The mindset shift that turns setbacks into stepping stones.
Why the ghosts of untapped potential are scarier than failure itself.
👉🏽 Don’t fear failure. Embrace it. Learn from it. Fall forward.
Fear isn’t just yours — it’s everyone’s.
In this episode of The 5 to 9 Job, I get raw and real about my own fears — from the worry of failing in business, to the fear of being a bad dad one day, to the quiet voice that whispers: “What if you’re not enough?”
But here’s the truth: fear is normal. It’s proof you care. It’s proof you’re trying. The real danger isn’t fear itself, but letting fear stop you from moving forward.
You’ll learn:
Where fear actually comes from (hint: uncertainty).
Why waiting for “certainty” will paralyze you.
3 practical tools to face fear: Fear Mapping, Tiny Bold Steps, and Future Gratitude.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, anxious, or like you’re holding yourself back — this conversation is for you.
👉🏽 Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Don’t wait until you “feel ready.”
Start scared. Start imperfect. Just start.
What happens when the world’s most visionary founder gets fired from his own company?
In this episode, we revisit Steve Jobs’ legendary 2005 Stanford commencement speech — the story of love and loss. Jobs built Apple from his parents’ garage into a $2 billion giant, only to be forced out at 30. Broken and humiliated, he thought about leaving Silicon Valley forever.
But that painful ending became a new beginning. He launched Pixar and NeXT, reshaped modern technology, and even returned to Apple stronger than ever. Along the way, he discovered love, purpose, and the power of resilience.
This story is a reminder that sometimes the lowest points in our lives become the foundation for our greatest breakthroughs.
👉 If you’ve ever faced failure, rejection, or heartbreak — this one’s for you.
This bonus episode is a mix of updates, reflections, and big ideas that I’ve been wrestling with lately. From why choosing the hard road now creates an easier life later, to how to prepare for life’s unpredictable seasons, to saying “no” when a job offer threatened my integrity—even though I needed the money.
I also talk about the cost of chasing visibility (“If you want the spotlight, get ready for the shade”) and share a radical idea I’ve been developing: a Life Risk Fund—a safety net for dreamers to take risks and build without being crushed by survival needs.
It’s an honest, unfiltered diary-style episode that brings together everything The 5 to 9 Job stands for: growth, reflection, and building without a blueprint.
💪 Why doing the hard things now leads to an easier, more meaningful life later
🌱 How to organize yourself to outlast life’s seasons—the good, the bad, and the in-between
🚫 Why I turned down a job opportunity despite needing the money—and what it taught me about integrity and boundaries
🔦 The reality of visibility: if you want the spotlight, you have to be ready for the shade
💡 A bold idea: the Life Risk Fund—a financial runway for creators and entrepreneurs to build without fear of survival
Creator of the Week: Another Day of Growth with Moses Mubiru (TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn)
Original reflections from my LinkedIn post on the Life Risk Fund
Follow The 5 to 9 Job Podcast on [your platform] for weekly episodes
If this bonus episode got you thinking, share it with someone who’s building their own path. Subscribe, leave a review, and join me as we keep exploring the real, messy, and powerful journey of chasing dreams between 5 PM and 9 AM.
What You’ll LearnResources & MentionsCall to Action