Taking Stock 13

November was a good month.I felt exhilarated from day one and by the last week,I was jittery. I had forgotten ,all about my stock taking series because my queen mother was unwell ,and that was all I could think about. Now that,we are well and back home,I can tell you all about my November.

Making: blog drafts for #BOTY2019 (Best of the Year ),a challenge created by Afrobloggers for bloggers.https://twitter.com/AfroBloggers

Source: Afro Bloggers

Eating: healthy food-salads,boiled Irish potatoes with avocados,millet porridge.

Drinking:Water

Reading: Daughters who walk this path by Yejide Kilanko

Wanting:more of God

Playing:music. It soothes my soul

Wasting:no time in reading a good book,getting what I want

Creating: blogs for #BOTY2019

Wishing: for an overwhelming December -in a good way

Wondering: about life and death, why we can`t seem t mind our business

Hoping:for an overwhelming December-in a good way

Marvelling: at the power of collective effort,power of social media

Smelling: Christmas.Do you smell it?lol

Wearing:sweater and scarves. Ugandan weather is playing to the tunes of rain and sunshine but I`m ready for both tunes.

Following: God`s leading or at least trying

Noticing: how growth attracts opportunities,money and so much more.

Knowing: that I have the best support system .

Bookmarking: birthday messages from friends.These revealed to me what they think and know about me. It`s a humbling experience.

Feeling: HAPPY

Rest in December,

Love on Love

Kizza❤️

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27 onto 28

So today, I turn a WHOLE 28 years old.I`m getting closer to the 3<sup>rd</sup> floor and I am as excited as I am scared. I want to share with you some lessons I`ve learned over the last few years. The lessons could be more but I chose 27 as I step into my 28^th season.

Here we go:

1. Have a belief system. As a Christian, my belief system is hinged on/in Christ. Everything I do has a background to the bible. My values are formed by this.
2. Find your calling and purpose and pursue them wholly. This answers the why, reason for your existence. Take it a notch higher and invest in your purpose.
3. Don`t be afraid to say NO! When I had just started saying NO, it felt strange on my tongue and left me wondering if the person I had said it to, still loved me, liked or even wanted to be my friend.
4. Don`t criticize what you aren`t and can`t do. This lesson has been my motto since 2018. Appreciate the fact that someone woke up and did their thing. Hope you are doing yours too.
5. Mind your own business. Chilleeee *in Sarah Jakes Roberts voice*

Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You’ve heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts. – 1 Thessalonians 4:11, MSG

Image source: Sarah Jakes Roberts

6. Have a healthy support system. I emphasize healthy because the support needs to be balanced. These friends cheer on, celebrate you but also call you out when you are doing foolish things, rebuke you ,ask you the tough questions and you do the same for them.
7. Read extensively. Forget the notion that, if you want to hide something from an African, put it in a book. Reading keeps you alive and on top of your game. Reading gives you insight into a world beyond your physical environment.
8. Speak up-Know what you want and speak up. Speak up against things you don`t settle well with you like injustice, sexual harassment, corruption, foul play, et cetera. But also speak up for things you like and love.
9. Die to opinions of men. I know in Uganda we are raised with the, `What will people say?’ line. It`s crippling and you need to outgrow it.
10. Support your friends and their hustles. It doesn`t have to be monetary all the time, broadcast their businesses, share their posts on social media, advise them when things aren`t going well, etc. Help them build their empires and careers.
11. Mentors are gold, find one. Mentoring sets you on a path of discovery, adventure, helps you push your limits and achieve over and above what you expected. I encourage you to find a mentor. I have had a privilege of being mentored by amazing people.
12. Acknowledge good things and dwell, savor them. We easily acknowledge bad things.
13. Don`t settle for less. Always aim for more and the very best.
14. Make that money and don`t apologize for it.
15. Have boundaries and respect them, others will too. In return, respect other people`s boundaries.
16. Keeping time is a thing. Dear Ugandans, it’s not just for bazungu –white people.
17. Run your own race and avoid the comparison disease.
18. Celebrate small victories/wins. These make up the big wins.
19. Spend time with people you love.
20. Travel. It is therapy. Start with small tours of the places nearby and go on expanding your territory. Don`t let people`s Instagram posts get you broke. Travel grows your perspective on people, cultures, mannerisms and a wider view on life and the world.
21. Seasons are part of life. There will be summer, winter, autumn and spring. Grow through all the seasons. Embrace them.
22. Practice letting go. It is a painful process but one that has to happen. Sometimes we have to let go of longtime friends, clients, lovers, clothes and pieces we acquired over time.
23. Be generous with your resources.
24. Practice MDD. I said it. lol!! Listen to music, its therapeutic. Sway and dance to that beat. Welcome drama, not every drama is 100% dramatic. Some has lessons, fun, revelation and so much more. Live life to the fullest.
25. Don`t give up on love. Sometimes being in love hurts but pain has never stopped its beauty. Love wholeheartedly and unapologetically.
26. Self-awareness is bae. Know thyself well. What makes you happy? What do you believe? What makes you sad? Be honest with yourself on every level.
27. Enjoy being alone but not lonely. I have learned to be with myself and still be comfortable. Years ago, I had an itch to be with people all the time but I`ve learned to be alone, have quiet moments and still be comfortable. Try it.

Here is a bonus;

Don’t hinge your happiness on other people.

Share with me some lessons from your years of living.

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.

 

Bitature talk #1

I had the opportunity to hear business mogul Patrick Bitature speak. Oh boy!! I was clearly in the presence of greatness. I have divided the lessons learnt from Mr.Bitature`s talk into two parts and today I will share part 1.

Our gang alongside other gangs had a date with Mr Patrick Bitature,like you just can`t call a rich man plainly,you should show some level of respect.

First things first, he is a normal man, doesn’t have extra hands or feet. He has the same 24 hours like you and I .God has n`t favored him with extra hours to make money. hehehe. Therefore you and I can make it big like Mr. Bitature.

Source: patrickbitature.com

A few tips from Mr. Bitature about habits of successful people. There is no harm in trying them out. I mean these are Mr.Bitature`s habits and see where he is now. There is wisdom.

Here a few things he shared that hit home for me:

+ Success is about forming consistent habits. Why? Because habits protect from you, keep you organised and form your character. These habits give you an edge. Do you have consistent habits? What are consistent habits?

+Set goals. There is power in goal setting. Do this by writing them down on paper and remember to go ahead and achieve them. Keep revisiting them until they physically manifest. What goals have you set?How far with achieving them?

+Let achieving set goals be your consistent pattern. Don`t relax the habit.Keep doing it, until it becomes apart of you.

+Keep your focus. Don`t let your clothes, shoes, phone, hair, etc affect your focus.

+Take care of your body. Good health must be a priority for us all. To achieve your set goals, your body ought to be at 100%. Don`t ignore your health at the expense of making money. Start now to indulge in proper eating habits, drinking lots of water, get a workout routine that suits you, have enough rest and do whatever it takes to keep your health at 100%.

+Read. There is something you don`t know that can be found in a book, online material. Get reading every day, every week, month and learn something.

+Be consistent in all you commit too.

Go ahead and try these habits .If you have been practicing them, be consistent to have greater results.

Follow Mr. Bitature on twitter –https://twitter.com/patrickbitature  for more nuggets on entrepreneurship,finances and business.

Look out for Part 2 of Mr.Bitature`s talk on the blog.