UPGRADE

I have been going through a blog upgrade phase, rethinking things about my blog and its future. I had to change a few things here and there. I promised myself not to blog until everything was finalized.

I got lazy along the way, failed to meet the timelines, gave myself excuses for not doing it. I got sad and just lost morale to do it all together for a while until one day I woke up with a renewed determination.

I did a back and forth with a few friends asking for their opinion on the blog lay out, colours, etc. During the feedback sessions, I had to learn this truth:

Never ask for feedback if you aren`t ready to receive it. Your heart might be shattered. Usually because you`ve put in too much and you think other people don`t understand. I took the feedback regardless of how I felt and incorporated it in.

I am happy to say, I finally got the job done and here is the new site http://rachealkizza.com/. Be sure to check it out and follow so you don`t miss out on dope content.

For everyone who has visited me since this site was opened,thank you so much. See you on the other side.

Image:Google

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Day 16 of #BOTY2019: Business/service you started using

As we have gotten older,some of my friends have started businesses and I have showed up to support them. This I have done through  using their services,sharing about  their services on social media and recommending people. It`s no wonder that some of the best businesses or services I have on my best of 2019 list include my friends.Here we go;

Hweza creations-I have my own collection of items from Hweza Creations ranging from  vests,tees,and a Pearl of Africa jumper. They have a new collection of tie and dye products out and you bet I`ve placed my order already.

Kitiibwa designs. They manufacture beautiful and strong shoes. I talked about them in this blog here-https://rachealkizza.wordpress.com/2019/11/22/my-friends-hustles-part-1/

Sheraton hotel-A friend invited me over for an evening at the Sheraton hotel,on a day when they had live band and I loved it. Sheraton hotel has live band from Wednesday to Sunday -evenings only. Try them out this festive season.

A friend recommended Nadia`s salon as a place where my hair could get colored.I had searched in vain for natural hair salons that color hair but in vain. Adrine colored my hair so well that I have had it out since October and the color gets better with each wash.If you are in Uganda and want to color your hair,call Adrine on 0772 319956.

I have worn the hair in various twists since October. I originally had put red wine or maroon and with wash outs,this is what I have now. 

 

What  business or service has made it to your top 5 in 2019? 

Royal Sisterhood 2019: Harnessing Influence

This year’s Women`s day was special to me for a number of reasons. One reason was – Royal sisterhood. I had always wanted to attend the Royal sisterhood gathering held at Worship Harvest Naalya but never got around to it. This year I got to be apart,thanks to a friend who decided to sponsor me even though I had put it in my budget😂😂. Surely God was speaking, right or right??!!

This year`s theme was,“Harnessing Influence’’ and the speakers did the theme justice right from Cindy Adong who talked abit about skin care to Eunice Adubango ,Beatrice Byemanzi and lastly Moses Mukisa. There was soothing music from Charlene and her crew. This gurl can siiiinnnnngggggggg y’all.

Anyway, since many people were asking for snippets of what was shared, this is me laboring to share a 3 hour event into a few words.

Cindy Adong a make- up artist emphasized the need to invest in good skin care products and make up products.

Eunice Adubango shared her story and one quote stood out for me

“You are the light of the world. When light is switched it asserts itself ‘’ –For some reason the scripture reference of this quote made me think hard on it. When I walk into my room and turn on the light,it doesn`t light just a few areas of the room,it asserts itself everywhere,unashamed.

Beatrice Byemanzi

Bee 3 kicked off her session with asking ladies for the meaning of harnessing .The answer we settled for was harnessing means to make use of. In our context, making use of your influence.

Make use of your influence but remember it starts from within. You can`t add new wine to old wine skins, they will burst. Why? Because they don`t have the capacity for the new one. In the same way, you need to shade off the old thinking patterns, the old rhythms of your life and create new ones that will help you make use of your influence. Stop playing small, the world needs to hear your voice. (Scripture reference Luke 6:36-39)

Practical exercises from Bee3 that you can do at home.

Do you think you have influence over anyone?, How far have you seen yourself go with your influence?, 5 categories of people you have influence over

Mosze`s sharing was titled Honey we are expecting-Luke 1:39-45

He left us with questions to ponder on during the session and for life;

1.Do you know the value of what you`re carrying? (Luke 1:42-45)

Many times we never know the value of what we are carrying and I am a culprit,I get torn between knowing and forgetting and people always jolt me out of the not knowing phase. Mosze admonished us to be super encouragers, call out greatness in others.

2.Are you choosing the right environment for your baby?

When you know the value of what you`re carrying, you choose you`re environment carefully. Find people of like minds, people who have been where you want to go, People who cheer your dream on.

3.Have you made the decision to carry your baby to full term?

There was no doubt people were stirred up to think practically about harnessing their potential in whatever fields of work and stages of life they are at.

PS: Take note of the scriptures and go back to your room and eat them .Answer the questions embedded in this article not for me but for yourself and go ahead and harness your influence.

Photo credit: Worship Harvest Ministries

©Racheal Kizza 2019

Bitature talk #2

Part 2 is finally here and this will mark the end of Bitature talks on the blog. Part 2  covers the business tips that stood out for me and the ones I am looking to implement. Feel free to pause and think critically on ever point and write down your answers. PS;They are in no particular order.

+Have a plan.You can`t do anything well without a plan. For any business to succeed, you must have a proper plan, short and long term. Never start anything without a plan.

+What product/ service are you offering. You must be sure of what you are offering.Your surety is what sets you apart from the already existing products/services.

+What`s your marketing strategy? Now that your certain about your product/service, what`s your marketing strategy? How ill you get your product/service known?

+Do your research. Know all about your business. The pros and cons, who else is doing it, seasons for the business.

+Keep the business system simple-tailor it to suit you and those your working with.

+Have your accounts straight. I have personally run a business before and one of the things I struggled with was a financial system. I was the law and I got into the habit of using business money to meet my personal needs. Now I know better.

+On partnership in business, partner with people who have what you don`t have. Get people on board who compliment you. They will add flair and spice to the business.

+Find out what your strengths and weaknesses are. These help you to know where to specialize and who to hire for the business.

+On decision making, As the leader in your business, hear other people out and appreciate their opinions. However, make the right decisions for the business.

+Don`t be afraid to experiment. In experimenting, you learn the right way to do and not to do something. Your business will benefit from this greatly.

+Learn business language. Learn from those who are already in business,use google, network. Learn how to write a business letter, make receipts and  quotations. Learn all you can learn on this matter.

+Know where things are. Mr. Bitature narrated an old story where Uganda lacked sugar but he knew where sugar was-in Kenya. He got onto the bus and went to Kenya. He purchased lots of sugar and brought it back to Uganda and sold it off and made profit.

+Stay around progressive people. These are people who are achieving their set goals, taking on opportunities and progressing in all areas of their business. You can`t be around such people and not be challenged to be better.

+Read widely. Leaders are readers. Read on your business, read about people in the same business and learn from them.

+Pace yourself. He built Protea a four star hotel to host guests for  the common wealth meeting held in Uganda in 2007 and now he has built Naguru Skyz Hotel 10 years later. Don`t be in a rush. Understand your business patterns.

Protea hotel. Source: protea.marriot.com

I hope you can apply these principles from Mr. Bitature to your business whether a start-up or one already running.

Share business tips you have applied and have worked for you. Let`s learn together.