From Hustle to Purpose: My Journey and the Rise of the Cottlink Movement

“Financial independence.”
That was my dream back in campus. I didn’t want to call home for every little need. I wanted freedom, dignity, and something I could say I built.

Like many students, I tried every legit (and borderline) gig I could find.

🎓 My Early Hustles: Online Work and Genius Math

I started with online writing, but I realized quickly — I wasn’t passionate about words. I was gifted in math, and that became my door.

I landed contract-based work where clients gave me full access to their online class accounts. I did every task — from weekly quizzes to final exams — for clients across different platforms. Some stayed with me for a full academic year. I became their ghost genius.

I managed multiple accounts, kept strict deadlines, and made decent money. But something deeper kept bothering me…

Was I really building freedom — or just buying time?

💼 Searching for More: Bags, MLM & The Trap of “Quick Wins”

The urge to grow pushed me into network marketing and sales. I started distributing carrier bags — moving from shop to shop, town to town. It was rough. Rejections were normal. Profits? Thin. I pushed through it, believing the hustle would one day pay off.

Then came the realization: “Sex sells.”

I toyed with a bold idea — building a listing site for adult content services. But within a week, I couldn’t stomach the ethical implications. I shut it down.

👨🏽‍💼 Employment & Crypto: My High Point… and the Crash

I landed a job just before graduating. The paycheck was okay, but I still felt unfulfilled. That’s when I discovered crypto trading.

I loved the volatility. I studied trends, followed news, traded smart. For once, I was winning consistently.

I built my crypto savings steadily until I bought a new phone. I transferred all apps and data — except my Trust Wallet backup.

A week later, I factory reset the old phone. The wallet was gone. I couldn’t recover it. I’d just lost over Ksh. 133 million in crypto.

Everything I’d built… gone in a click.

🔁 The Rebirth: Cottlink Begins

I was crushed. I went completely broke. But I had one thing left — perspective.

I looked back at all my struggles and saw a pattern:

• Talented people were invisible
• Effort was not enough — we lacked systems
• Most platforms exploited us or took huge cuts
• Youth needed a central place to offer skills and services — transparently and fairly

That’s how the Cottlink Movement was born.

🌍 Cottlink: A People-First System

Cottlink isn’t just a directory. It’s a community-powered platform that connects:

• People to services
• Customers to businesses
• Skill to opportunity

Whether you’re a barber, tailor, tutor, mechanic, masseuse, or shop, you can be listed on Cottlink and get discovered.

Even if you live in Wajir, you can find reliable suppliers from Kariobangi — with no brokers, no bribes, just communication.

💯 The Rules of Cottlink Are Simple:

• You keep 100% of your money
• You don’t pay a commission
• You control your profile
• Your hustle is visible, verified, and respected

No one should lose everything to start again. Not in this generation.

🧠 Every Career Matters — Even in the Village

We’re building a future where:

• A parent in Kisii can find a STEM tutor from Nairobi
• A business in Turkana can list their products and get orders nationally
• A youth in Nakuru with a passion for robotics can become a local tech mentor
• A cleaner, cook, or delivery rider can grow their client base without agency cuts

Cottlink is a new way to view talent — no more classism, gatekeeping, or favoritism. Your skill is your key.

✊ A Call to Kenya’s Youth

Whether you’re a student, a graduate, or still figuring life out…

Don’t give up. Don’t hide your skill. Don’t wait for handouts.

“You are the solution someone else is searching for.”

Join the Cottlink Movement and let people discover you.

🚀 How to Join Cottlink

• Visit cottlink
• Sign up as a provider or business
• Add your profile photo, services, and location
• Share your profile link
• Get booked. Keep everything you earn.

We’re not building this in a day — it will take years. But we’re ready for it. And we’re inviting you to walk this journey with us.

From the pain of loss, we are building Kenya’s biggest empowerment system. The future is digital. The future is people. The future is Cottlink.