Entrepreneur Cris Njoki has offered a refreshingly honest glimpse into the realities of running a business, admitting that becoming a chief executive has forced her to abandon many of the leadership principles she once promised herself she would uphold.
In a candid video shared on social media, Njoki reflected on the gap between her expectations of being a CEO and the realities of entrepreneurship. From sending late-night messages to skipping meals and working through weekends, she confessed that the role has transformed her routines in ways she never anticipated.
The entrepreneur framed her reflections as a humorous story but acknowledged that many of the habits she once criticised have become part of her daily life.
“Let me tell you a funny story about all of the things I had promised myself I will never do as a CEO,” she said. “And I do all of them.”
One of the biggest promises Njoki made to herself before stepping into leadership was that she would never become the kind of boss who sent emails or WhatsApp messages long after the workday had ended.
However, she admitted that reality quickly challenged that ideal.
Rather than sticking to traditional office hours, she now finds herself sending messages late at night whenever ideas strike, explaining that creativity rarely follows a schedule.
The entrepreneur also revealed that self-care sometimes takes a back seat to business responsibilities.
She recalled promising herself that she would always make time for meals, only to discover that busy schedules often leave her eating breakfast late in the afternoon.
Njoki also admitted she rarely enjoys weekends or public holidays as she once imagined.
Instead of disconnecting from work, she now spends Sundays and holidays handling business matters, acknowledging that entrepreneurship rarely follows a standard calendar.
Among the lighter moments in her reflection was her confession about adopting corporate jargon she once mocked.
Like many professionals, Njoki had promised herself she would avoid phrases commonly associated with boardrooms and business meetings.
That resolve, however, did not last.
“I always promised myself I wouldn’t use any of these corporate terms. But let me tell you, there’s times in business where you actually genuinely don’t know the answer, and I’m just like, ‘Okay, we’ll circle back.'”
Despite admitting that becoming a CEO has changed many of her habits, Njoki said one promise has largely remained intact. She explained that she had vowed never to yell at employees, even when frustrated.
While she acknowledged there are moments when workplace situations test her patience, she maintains that she has resisted raising her voice. Instead, she believes her team can tell when she is disappointed through subtle changes in her tone rather than shouting.
“Being a CEO, I’ve learned, is not everything I had envisioned it to be. And that’s okay.”
