If You are a "Broiler" Chicken, Wake Up, It’s Dawn!
My dear reader, how are you doing? I am completely fine. I am ready to travel with you into our world of reflection. Fasten your seatbelt, and let’s go.
Let me start by asking you a question first. Are you a "broiler" chicken (exotic breed) or a local free-range chicken? Don't answer me right now. Let’s continue our journey, and you can send me your answer later.
While reflecting on what to write for you this week, I found myself with nothing deeply profound. However, let’s just have a friendly chat to reflect this way. There are a few things I remembered and thought I’d share—perhaps you remember them too, and through them, we will find something to ponder.
First, back when I was in primary school, we loved teasing one another in class. There were girls who loved to tease us boys. One day, a girl teased us saying, "I feel so sorry for you boys. Fight hard to pass. As for me, someone out there is sweating for my future. So don't copy me, okay!"
Remembering that advice from some of those sisters made me wonder: Does anyone actually still think like that today? Maybe back then it was okay, but today? Yikes, that’s dangerous!
Second, before taking a rest, I remembered a friend of mine from high school. While the rest of us were doing group discussions and studying late into the night, he used to laugh at us. If you asked him what he was laughing at, he would say, "I feel sorry for how much you guys are struggling. Me? Ah! My uncle is inside 'the system.' As soon as I finish, he is definitely going to sort me out. You guys will understand me later." But now that the "later" has arrived, well... I don't even know what happened; the wind blew in the wrong direction.
Third, there was this mindset that since mom, dad, or uncle is there, they will definitely handle things. They can't just let me fail. My dear reader, on my journey—and probably on yours too—there are many who neglected their studies or personal efforts under the pretext that a parent or relative is around. Alleging that because the parent, guardian, or relative loves them so much, they would never allow them to fail. Haven’t you ever met people with that mindset? Well, you’ll answer me later. Let’s keep moving.
Fourth, there was a belief that "things will just work themselves out." I have met people who refuse to suffer today for the sake of a better tomorrow. They always mock those who hustle by saying, "You could struggle so much today only to find that you won't even see that tomorrow." These people only hustle for today; the future will sort itself out. I don't know whether to call this negligence or laziness! Or whatever!
My dear reader, these examples have made me reflect on today's world, and I find myself pitying anyone who still has that mindset of wanting things done for them. Truly, every era has its own rules! Nowadays, "every goat grazes according to the length of its rope." If you lose track of yourself and keep a short rope, you’ll find yourself eating dirt once your few patches of grass run out. You must fight to ensure your rope stretches so you can eat well and have fresh grass every day.
In a capitalist world, everyone has become a commodity. Yes, even you right there are a commodity! If you doze off, you will rot in the market. That’s on you! Today, everyone is in a market that forces them to be highly creative, a constant student of everything happening around them, a seeker of new opportunities, and a fighter capable of cutting through the crowd. If you remain like a broiler chicken, you will be humiliated, you'll become needlessly envious of others, you will suffer, and ultimately, you will face a quick business death.
When I use the example of a broiler chicken, I have absolutely no intention of insulting anyone. I just found that this specific type of chicken serves as a great metaphor, and I thought it wouldn’t hurt to learn from them. A broiler chicken acts like a fool. Sometimes, even when the doors are opened for it to go out, it doesn't know what to do. It waits until the owner comes to ring the bell for food or do whatever else. My friend, we are in a world where you need to wake up and be a local, free-range chicken.
Nowadays, the smart ones—even if they have parents, relatives, kin, and friends inside the system—hustle as if they have absolutely no one to depend on. If you choose to remain a broiler chicken, that's your business! This life is unpredictable. A parent or benefactor can disappear at any unexpected moment. If you have someone to help you, let them just be an extra boost to your strength. Don't be a broiler chicken waiting for a "connection" or directions from the owner. Don't wait to be woken up to drink water, eat, get up, walk, etc.
If you are in school, I think you already understand what I want you to do. Fight like you have no parents or relatives. One day you will thank me.
If you were given a connection to get to where you are, then work so hard that people see your capability, and stand on your own two feet as if no connection ever existed. Refuse to be a broiler chicken ever again.
If your businesses are being propped up by someone, realize today that that person or those people will eventually disappear. Fight until you can sustain yourself. Toughen up so you can be a free-range chicken that doesn't go hungry just because of rain, heat, cold, dew, fog, hawks, or wild cats.
I am not telling you to reject help from others; I am simply reminding you that that person or relative is not a stone. At any moment, those people can disappear. If you don't understand me, when your benefactors disappear and leave you alone, you will feel like it's the end of your life—when in reality, it isn't.
My dear reader, let’s not accept being broiler chickens. Life has changed drastically. If I have offended you anywhere with my examples, forgive me. But never accept being a broiler chicken.
Thank you very much for reading my article. Have a wonderful Monday. Let’s meet again next Monday. By the way, if I asked you to sponsor me so these articles could turn into a book, would you be able to? Come whisper to me here in the inbox.
©️ Leonard Bakize, 2026
May 25, 2026
+255 755 643 590
eternalword2018@gmail.com