I want you to picture this: a storm raging on what was supposed to be a sunny day. You know the feeling, right? Suddenly, everything seems a bit uncertain.
So, what exactly is an economic downturn? It’s like when everything is going well, the economy looks stable. and everybody seems fine when suddenly, things start to slow down. Prices are increasing every day, people aren’t spending as much, businesses aren’t hiring, and before you know it, the whole economy seems to have a negative effect on people’s finances
Economic downturns can be tough. Jobs become harder to find, and prices go up. But here’s the thing: just like the seasons, economies have their ups and downs, and while economic downturns can be rough, they’re not the end of the world.
So that’s why I have come up with these tips that will help you navigate through these uncertain times, and definitely you would come out stronger.
Let’s dive into it.
1. Prioritize Essentials:
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with everything that’s going on, but now more than ever, it’s important to focus on the essentials. Identify the products or services that bring in the most profit for your business. Once you’ve identified them, double down. Allocate your resources; it can either be time, money, or manpower. Focus on these key areas.
But don’t stop there, there is somewhere else I want you to look at. Think efficiency. Now is the perfect time to streamline your operations, optimize processes. Look for ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality. Ensure that you’re focusing your time and energy where it matters most.
2. Get Creative:
There is a saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get creative,” and that’s never been more true than it is now. In this uncertain time, one of the characteristics of successful business owners is that they can adapt and innovate.
I want you to think outside the box and explore new ways to generate revenue. Also, keep an eye on market demand and look for innovative ways to meet those needs.
3.Get Closer to Your Customers:
Your customers are so important right now, they are the lifeblood of your business, Now is the time to strengthen those relationships with them. Reach out to them, listen to their needs, and find innovative ways to meet their needs.
You can also try providing personalized support, showing your customers that you’re there for them can go a long way towards building loyalty and trust. And I can tell you that this will pay off in the long run.
4. Be Flexible to Change:
Change can be scary, but do you know it can also be an opportunity for growth? Also, don’t be afraid to pivot your business strategy if you need to. What worked yesterday might not work today, so please stay open-minded and be willing to adapt, embrace change, and remain flexible.
Do you know what will happen in the long run when you do this? You’ll be better equipped to weather any storm that comes your way. I’m telling you exactly what will happen to you.
So, if you’re feeling a bit anxious about the economic downturn, I get it. But also remember, storms don’t last forever, and neither do economic downturns. Hang in there, keep your chin up, and before you know it, the sun will be shining again.
As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect opportunity for creative business owners to set the stage for success, taking strategic steps before the year ends can significantly impact the trajectory of your business. In this article, let’s explore 8 essential actions to ensure that your creative business enters the new year with momentum, innovation, and a solid foundation for growth.
Let’s dive into the 8 key things to do that will position your business for a thriving and prosperous year ahead.
1. Inventory Management
As the business year wraps up, it’s time to evaluate your inventory. Take a closer look at slow-moving items that may be tying up resources and affecting your cash flow. To proactively address this, consider running targeted promotions or sales. This not only helps in reducing excess stock but also paves the way for a fresh start in the upcoming year. By optimizing your inventory before the year ends, you set the stage for a more agile and profitable operation moving forward.
2. Set Year-End Goals
As we approach the end of the year, now is the ideal moment to strategically shape the future of your creative business. Consider setting clear and achievable goals that align with your vision whether it’s surpassing sales targets, enhancing customer engagement, or organizing impactful product launches. This precision also helps in providing a roadmap for the final weeks but also lays the groundwork for the upcoming year.
3. Financial Checkup
A periodic financial checkup is vital for business health. Take time to review your financial records, scrutinizing income, expenses, and profits. This not only ensures financial order but also lays the groundwork for a robust plan for the upcoming year. By understanding your financial landscape, you gain insights to make informed decisions, identify areas for improvement, and set realistic goals for sustained success.
4. Tax Planning
Approaching the end of the year, businesses must engage in strategic tax planning. Optimize your tax situation by considering actions like making essential purchases before year-end to leverage tax deductions and setting aside funds for upcoming tax payments. This proactive approach not only ensures compliance but also maximizes potential savings, contributing to the overall financial health of your business.
5. Customer Appreciation
As the year concludes, take a moment to express sincere gratitude to your customers for their ongoing support. Consider running special promotions, sending personalized thank-you notes, or offering exclusive discounts. These gestures not only show appreciation but also strengthen customer relationships. Acknowledging their loyalty fosters a positive connection, enhancing brand loyalty and setting the stage for continued collaboration in the upcoming year.
6. Update your website and Social Media
As the year concludes, it’s time to ensure that your business’s digital face remains fresh and engaging. Conduct a thorough update of your website and social media profiles, ensuring information accuracy, refreshing content, and making any necessary adjustments to align with your evolving business. An up-to-date online presence not only reflects professionalism but also captures the attention of your audience.
7. Evaluate Marketing Strategies
As the year ends, take a critical look at your marketing strategies. Evaluate their effectiveness, identifying what resonated and what didn’t. This introspection is key to refining your plan for the coming year. By learning from past successes and challenges, you can strategically optimize your marketing approach, ensuring a more targeted and impactful strategy.
8. Reflect and Plan
Before the year ends, take a moment to reflect on the highs and lows of your business journey. Acknowledge successes and confront challenges with a discerning eye. Transform these insights into a strategic plan for the upcoming year, laying the foundation for informed decision-making and continued growth.
In conclusion
The creative business landscape awaits, and with these strategies in hand, the stage is set for your unique masterpiece to unfold. May these insights inspire and empower you to not only weather the challenges of today but to shape a tomorrow filled with creativity, growth, and enduring success.
She was not a pap lover until she had the one her aunt made many years ago which was a combination of grains. She enjoyed it and thought to herself “what if this turns into a business and packaged properly for the sake of people like her who wouldn’t be caught taking the regular pap”… the rest as they say is history or shall I say led to the birth of Ogicentric. I bet you can’t wait to meet Adejumoke Solomon, the founder of Ogicentric in this exclusive interview.
With no further ado, let’s meet the Founder of Ogicentric for an exclusive interview.
Please Introduce yourself and your background.
Hi! I’m Adejumoke Solomon, a beautiful mum of three, graduate of Lagos State University, a freelance real estate consultant and an entrepreneur.
Tell us about your work. How did your company start?
I produce, package and sell our locally made pudding called pap/ogi/koko/akamu. I was not a pap lover until I had the one my aunt made many years ago which was a combination of grains. I enjoyed it and thought to myself ” what if I turn this into business for the sake of people like me who wouldn’t be caught taking the regular pap”..since then we have been able to create more variants to suit everyone.
How did you come about the name and what does it mean?
Well, it’s our desire to meet everyone halfway, a central point where both the young,old and even the aged on special diet can benefit from our range of products hence the name Ogicentric. “Ogi” is pap.
What is your niche and how did you know it was a market to get into?
The desire to see people eat healthy meals that are natural and affordable, also, we do our best to disabuse minds of the nation that pap is for the poor and sickly.
Where do you get inspiration for your products?
I get my inspiration from the needs of people God opens my eyes to, especially adults and the aging on special diet.
Can you remember one of the first products you made?
Ogicentric Big4. The fact that it was warmly accepted.
What are some of the challenges you face in your business?
Access to funds. We produce in batches and/as ordered due to poor power supply, because we are not 100% tech savvy, we appear inconsistent on our social media platforms as we are also unable to outsource social media personnel due to lack of funds.
Do you have any regrets about venturing into this business?
None whatsoever
What is your most popular product?
Ogicentric Big4
To what extent do you draw upon your Nigerian heritage for your work?
100% as all raw materials are locally sourced for
What are some of your short term and long term goals, both in your business and life in general?
Short term goal is to distribute consistently to major stores in Nigeria so our products can reach as many homes as possible and i would like to speak someday at the White House as ogicentric compliments the moimoi that made this milestone.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
That I’m shy
What profession would you be in if you weren’t in this industry?
Media, most likely
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start their own business in your industry, what would it be?
A lot of people make pap now, different variants and quite interesting ones but something singles you out and that is your target audience. Why are you venturing into this industry? Know your WHY, it keeps you going.
To connect with Ogicentric, you can follow and contact her via:
In 2020, the moment parties and events were banned during the COVID lockdown in my home town Lagos, Nigeria and I trade in party fabrics (popularly called asoebi), the yearn to make income led to the birth of Kisah Lagos. From selling fabrics to making premium quality shoes with asooke (a Nigerian woven fabric), I bet you can’t wait to meet Akinola Saheed, the founder of Kisah Lagos in this exclusive interview.
With no further ado, let’s meet the Founder of Kisah Lagos for an exclusive interview.
Please Introduce yourself and your background.
My name is akinola saheed. Newly married businessman.
Tell us about your work. How did your company start?
I make shoes from premium quality asooke. The lockdown birthed kisahlagos. Parties and events were banned and I’m into asoebi, man must chop o (meaning money must be made).
How did you come about the name and what does it mean?
Originally it was akisah(First 3 letters of my first and last name) but God forbid I use “akisah” as a Yoruba boy that I am. Akisah means rag in Yoruba so that’s a No No… so the A was moved up to be the logo, leaving me with kisah. So we have kisah lagos as a born and bred lagosian 😉
What is your niche and how did you know it was a market to get into?
There are a lot of shoe brands in Nigeria as a whole, but asooke shoes? Not very saturated, we are not many hence why I’m excited to build the brand. I have designed different unique shoes for the young and old, even children. The fact that I use asooke is already a selling point. Not everyone believes it can be done.
Where do you get inspiration for your products?
Asides my asooke background, I have people around me that mentor me. I also did a leatherwork training. I didn’t just start stitching asooke together. So seeing what can be done with leather, I’m like why not asooke. Just like that the mixing started (asooke fabric and leather).
Can you remember one of the first products you made?
My very first product was a shoe made by Gandyfootwears (mentor). It was just a trial, I supplied the material and she went to work. She delivered, I rocked it and the acceptance was wow! That was the ginger I needed to get started. Just like that I found myself in Mushin, Nigeria learning shoemaking.
What are some of the challenges you face in your business?
Asooke weavers disappointing, scarcity of thread to weave colours being requested. Of course dispatch trouble, we are still outsourcing that.
Do you have any regrets about venturing into this business?
No regrets so far alhamdulilah.
What is your most popular product?
I call it the krisskross, bestseller any time any day
To what extent do you draw upon your Nigerian heritage for your work?
100% as Asooke originates from Nigeria
What are some of your short term and long term goals, both in your business and life in general?
Well we are still online(Instagram/WhatsApp) at the moment, so no walk in store yet. It’s coming in the near future by the grace of God.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I actually sell gele and asooke for asoebi
What profession would you be in if you weren’t in this industry?
Most likely a tech guy, I know my way around computers. Studied computer information systems at Babcock university.
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start their own business in your industry, what would it be?
Just start, it’s as simple as that.
To connect with Kisah Lagos, you can follow and contact her via:
Have you ever met a female string artist? Yes you heard that right, one who uses strings and nails to make an artwork! I am excited to introduce you to the Founder of Artini (string art), Omisakin Temitope in this exclusive interview.
With no further ado, let’s meet the Founder of Artini for an exclusive interview.
Please Introduce yourself and your background
My Name is Omisakin Temitope, I’m from Osun state in Nigeria. A graduate of economics.
Tell us about your work. How did your company start?
I found out about string art when I was surfing the internet for church stage decor ideas, we needed to come up with something creative and I was a member of the decoration team. And that is how my love for string art started.
How did you come about the name and what does it mean?
Coming up with a brand name wasn’t an easy task but at the end of the day we came up with ARTINI which means: A creative piece (craft, literature, filmmaking, etc.) that causes emotion or a new awareness.
What is your niche and how did you know it was a market to get into?
ART and HOME DECOR is our niche and it was pretty easy for us to know our market due to the nature of our products
Where do you get inspiration for your products?
I’m a strong believer of JESUS and I believe my creativity comes from him. So I pray for creativity and inspiration. I also believe he lead me to string art in the first place for the church stage decor. Apart from this I watch tons of YouTube videos and also check out art pages, art blogs and Pinterest.
Can you remember one of the first products you made?
As the JESUS girl that I am, the first string art I made was “GOD” I just felt like it should be the first Art I make even before we did the stage design.
What are some of the challenges you face in your business?
For challenges I’d say string art is not taught in this part of the world so I was only left with Russian YouTube videos that where often times not translated, calculating geometric patterns and designs where hard at the beginning. Another challenge was sourcing materials, I did a lot of improvisation when I first started out, especially with nails since they weren’t available in Nigeria
Do you have any regrets about venturing into this business?
I have faced a number of challenges but no regrets at all.
What is your most popular product?
I have two actually. “The African woman” and “Red hat lady”
To what extent do you draw upon your Nigerian heritage for your work?
To some extent actually, I’ve realised African inspired work are easily accepted and look unique. Like the “African woman for example “
What are some of your short term and long term goals, both in your business and life in general?
For my business I’d say getting a work station that would also serve as a training centre for students and also double as a mini gallery for walk-in clients And to also be a leading and learning art centre in Nigeria. In life generally would be to teach, impact and empower people.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I’m not sure it would be a surprised but for what it’s worth I’m “Left handed “.
What profession would you be in if you weren’t in this industry?
I would probably have a business consulting firm.
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start their own business in your industry, what would it be?
Whatever mistakes you make, learn to move on from it, you’re only human. Just work on improving yourself and your business so it doesn’t happen again
To connect with Artini, you can follow and contact her via:
I am honoured and thrilled to introduce you to the Founder of Scents Pro, Boluwatife Adeife in this exclusive interview.
With no further ado, let’s meet the Founder of Scents Pro Luxury for an exclusive interview.
Please Introduce yourself and your background.
My name is Boluwatife Adeife. A Nigerian and the creative director and chandler of Scents Pro, an indigenous fragrance company where we create premium quality, hand crafted home and space fragrances in diffusers, scented candles, et al.
Tell us about your work. How did your company start?
Scents Pro was birthed from the love for scents generally and how particular I’ve always been about my space and it’s general appearance. I was (still am) a fragrance lover, but when I did my research on home scents I realized at that time, there wasn’t a lot of indigenous brands, accessibility to international brands was a challenge and the quality of these international brands, as regards raw materials for production, was not 100% in most cases.
So Scents Pro Luxury came in, to bridge the gap by providing eco friendly, toxic free and luxurious home scents that’s would bring some level of comfort into homes and spaces.
How did you come about the name and what does it mean?
An expert in any field is called a PRO. An expert with Scents, is a Scents Pro.
What is your niche and how did you know it was a market to get into?
Indigenous and Toxic free(eco friendly). These were what seemed to be missing at the time we were going to start. These days, people are more open to buying locally made products and the fact that they are vegan and eco friendly makes it even better as people have become more conscious.
Where do you get inspiration for your products?
I get inspiration from everywhere, from different people and brands.
Can you remember one of the first products you made?
A scented candle. I was over the moon excited even though it was obviously not perfect.
What are some of the challenges you face in your business?
Running the business in general. It can be overwhelming
Do you have any regrets about venturing into this business?
Not at all.
What is your most popular product?
To what extent do you draw upon your Nigerian heritage for your work?
Scents Pro is an indigenous brand. Our products are all 100% locally hand made
What are some of your short term and long term goals, both in your business and life in general?
Short term goal is to evolve and improve generally in every area of the business. Long term goal is to be the leading and most preferred home fragrance brand in the Nigeria and West Africa.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I speak French
What profession would you be in if you weren’t in this industry?
Sales and Marketing
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start their own business in your industry, what would it be?
Build your brand at your own pace and not compare with existing brands.
To connect with Scents Pro, you can follow and contact her via:
I had the utmost pleasure of meeting this beautiful soul during the ACE Awards 2021, where she won the category for the best home & lifestyle brand. I was beyond awed at her graciousness, humility and positivity that she radiated at every point. Hence why I am honoured and thrilled to meet the Founder of Yasmin Crafts in this exclusive interview.
Hamsatu Aliyu-Afegbua – Founder of Yasmin Crafts
*To know more about the products, simply click on the images*
With no further ado, let’s meet the Founder of Yasmin Crafts for an exclusive interview.
Please Introduce yourself and your background.
My name is Hamsatu Aliyu-Afegbua and I’m an architect and hand-crafter. By the grace of God, I juggle 2 businesses: Eden Signature Limited, an Architectural and Interior design firm as well as Yasmin Crafts Limited which is my handicrafts business. Both of them are situated in Abuja, Nigeria. I am a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with an M.Sc in Architecture. I also hold a certificate in Entrepreneurship Management under the EDC, from Lagos Business School.
Tell us about your work. How did your company start?
We produce handcrafted products in the form of furniture, home decor and multi-purpose baskets. We use locally available raw materials to create these products. The brand Yasmin Crafts was born to satisfy the need for a custom crafts provider that could give better quality handcrafted products in Abuja.
How did you come about the name and what does it mean?
“Yasmin” is my proposed first daughter’s name. The “crafts” I derived from the general term “handicrafts” which is the term used to describe our niche.
What is your niche and how did you know it was a market to get into?
My niche is Handicrafts. Known by some as Arts and Crafts. Living in Abuja for over 2 decades, I came to realise there was no craft maker who could skillfully add on accessories like real leather, fabric, logos, and art on products to enhance them. Most of the attempts to customise crafts, that I saw by the roadside or in the local markets did not turn out looking too good. One day, I decided to buy the basket from the market and then, customise it to my taste. It turned out great and everybody asked me where I bought the customised basket from.
The rest is history. 3 years down the line, here we are 😊. I started out with baskets and decor and within a year into the business, we had begun furniture production.
*The Lidded Laundry hamper with removable liner is available in 5 different colors including natural, you can tuck this hamper away in a corner of your bed or bath room and keep those clothes off the floor.*
*These stunning natural wicker planters are a nice way to add interior plants into your home. They come with bottoms designed to drain water away from the plant pot you intend to place inside the basket. Great for both real and faux plants.*
Where do you get inspiration for your products?
From my imagination and from observing the needs in the market. I sketch ideas down and develop them. I also draw inspiration from nature.
Another source of inspiration is listening to feedback from our customers, especially negative feedback. We take the feedback and examine our way of doing things as a business. We change what we can and fix what we can’t.
I tell my entire team that here at Yasmin Crafts, customer service is not just one department, it is all of us. Working as a team and sharing feedback has helped us grow as a business.
Natural Lani trunk
*Giving gifts are an essential part of life and relationships. The packaging container is what will be seen first, so make it a memorable time for the person who is receiving it. This trunk is a classy woven gift box that you can be proud of placing your luxury gifts in.*
*With the high quality interior lining be ready to wow your recipients and make a great impression. You can’t go wrong with this as your choice of container when it comes to gifting. The best part is, the gift recipient can use the trunk as an extra storage, extra seating to give another gift or even as a decorative piece afterwards!*
Can you remember one of the first products you made?
Yes. It is a 2 tone coiled raffia basket that I made to store my small jewellery pieces in. I was just learning how to weave at the time, and I had to push myself to try and finish it. I’m very proud of that basket.
What are some of the challenges you face in your business?
Lack of funds to expand our production. Buying large scale woodworking equipment and conducting more research on product development.
Do you have any regrets about venturing into this business?
Not at all.
What is your most popular product?
Our Aisha set of 3 multi-purpose baskets is one of our best sellers. This is because they can serve a multitude of purposes like storage, home organisation, home decor and gifting purposes.
Aisha baskets are available in 2 designs: a Plain basket with no fabric lining and our fabric lined baskets.
*Customised Aisha storage baskets. These gorgeously lined baskets can serve a wide variety of purposes. They come in 3 different fabric lining as pictures unless you say otherwise. There is a touch of Ankara to symbolise Africa.*
Top uses among our customers for these baskets include:
Making a set of gift hampers with each basket.
Decluttering table tops.
Storing small items.
Displaying products for sale at a store.
Using them as a tray for serving snacks.
Hanging them as a wall decor basket.
Styling a shelf or console.
These baskets are dry use only, please note.
To what extent do you draw upon your Nigerian heritage for your work?
We spice things up with touches of popular Nigerian cultural items like sewing beadwork on the handles of our baskets. We also make use of African fabrics to customise our baskets, decor and furniture.
What are some of your short term and long term goals, both in your business and life in general?
Short term, we hope to be able to invest in large scale woodworking machinery and power tools that will help scale up production and cater for the time demands of our customers. Handcrafting is a slow process, having the right machinery speeds things up.
In the long run, we hope to expand our sales and grow the naira through large scale exports. Promoting quality African crafts all over the world is another long term goal we hope to achieve through expanding our locations.
For my goal in life, I’ll say I hope to be recorded in the history books as the founder of a premium Nigerian lifestyle brand that created employment for millions of women We currently employ a majority of women in our workforce and we intend to keep it that way.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I do some of the metal and carpentry work at Yasmin Crafts.
*This handy piece of furniture helps you save space. With varying sizes of storage baskets, you can organise and display products or decor items on these ladder shelf. Ladder shelves makes for an eye catching display and are great for small spaces where you need a tall storage option. Available in 3 colors: Dark brown, Black and White.*
What profession would you be in if you weren’t in this industry?
I would be in the building profession, which I am already privileged to have been doing long before I founded Yasmin Crafts.
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start their own business in your industry, what would it be?
Learn the skill of crafting if you can. Knowing how to make your own products or some of them, is definitely an added advantage.
Take your failures as a part of the success to come. It may take a lot of time, and you will have to be committed and disciplined to be able to launch and sustain a business in hand-crafting.
It has been an absolute pleasure having this exclusive interview and getting to meet the Founder of Yasmin Crafts.
To connect with Yasmin Crafts, you can follow and contact her via:
Introducing the “Happy Collection” from Bosh Designs. The collection as the name implies, is one that is very fitting for this season that we all are in!
It’s for those who have made a conscious decision to stay happy despite everything going on.
You know that saying that “You are what you wear?” Yes you’re happy when you wear the “Happy” Collection.
Happy CINDY is made from soft denim, she’s actually softer than what it looks like in the picture😃. She is subtle on your skin and ready to make you comfortable.
She would look great, rocked both indoors and outdoors. Which is your preference?
Made from breathable Italian linen, Happy Bawwy is sure to make you ooze out good vibes all day! Did I mention that they are super comfortable? Now you know! Bosh Designs did a sterling job on this one. Trust me.
Meet Happy Bawwy’s Twin. If you’re looking for a more daring, outgoing look, then Happy Nikky is the one. It’s also made of breathable Italian linen. All shades of comfortable. Don’t you think?
KIFAN is conservative and your perfect buddy in the kitchen, can absorb one or two splashes and not reveal you’ve been cooking all day!😍👌. Her colorful pocket shows she’s happy to hold your phones, keys and even napkins when you need her to do so!
KIRAN on the other side, doesn’t mind drawing attention to herself😎. That’s the reason she loves to grab her car keys, put on a pair of sneakers and dash off for her grocerery shopping😷. Her cool pockets houses her phone and wallet conveniently freeing her from the burden of carrying a bag or holding too many things. KIRAN is just a HAPPY BIRD
Happy Abby is the perfect definition of Vibrance. It reminds me of waterfalls, and sunsets too. Can you see it too? This beauty pairs well with hot pants to give you that “Boss Lady” look. You can throw on a pair of jeans and some sandals to look laid back and relaxed. Any how it’s paired, you’ll give off the look of a confident, happy lady.
Now there are only limited pieces in the Happy Collection, and if I were you, I would grab mine now! Not later, but now!
Hi! Do you know that a lot of us have been doing some things wrong when it comes to caring for our handbags? I was guilty of some of these “Bag care Sins” but now I know better. I will be sharing them with you soon, but while I am doing that, feel free to browse through some beautiful handbags by Bellafricana Members. Are you ready? Let’s get started:
I know you love staring at your bags in their little boxes, sitting pretty. But leather cracks when there is no air. Imagine sitting in a choked up place without ventilation. That’s exactly how your bag feels. What you can do instead is to put them in drawstring bags to avoid dust settling on them, as well as preserve the fabric.
Sin #2. Using your blow-dryer to air out a wet bag:
If you notice a water spill, using a blow-dryer, or any other form of heat that isn’t natural, can cause serious damage to your bag. So, why not allow it air out naturally? Remember not to also put it out in direct sunlight. Instead, store them in a cool, dry place.
Bags tend to lose their form or shape when empty. This period when most of your bags will not be in much use, you can stuff them with a mass of clean clothes, or throwpillows to help retain the shape.
How many of us are guilty of this? Putting a bag up by the handles can cause the handles to lose shape, or even crack. If your bags have been out-living their handles, this may be a reason why.
It is interesting to note that businesses exist, who have managed to sprout amidst the creativity drought in today’s African business space. One of such businesses is Mitimeth (a Bellafricana member), founded by Mrs Achenyo Idachaba.
Thanks to her initiative, an invasive water weed (known as the Water Hyacinth) which obstructed water ways, depleted water nutrients, thereby reducing the population of fish (and by extension, the livelihood of fishermen) found use in a much more sustainable, eco-friendly way.
This “Eco-preneur” (Achenyo) has been featured on CNN, and her TED talk has garnered over a million views.
After reading the full story here, I thought of so many lessons and I wanted to share some of them with you:
1. Perspective is Everything
After reading her story, one word came to mind: Perspective.Thanks to my Boss, this one word is something I doubt I’ll ever forget.Where others saw a menace, Achenyo saw a business opportunity. This reminds me of a quote by Alphonse Karr :“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.”
Sometimes, a positive outlook on a seemingly threatening problem is all the boost we need to turn things around for the better.
2. Passion first, reward later.
I’m quite certain that we’ve reached that point in our careers/ businesses/ lives that the only thing stopping us from just packing up and leaving, is that 7-letter word.
Passion is that burning fire that should never be extinguished.This is because, when all else fails, it is the one thing that stands the test of time.
This makes me want to go back and do a thorough self assessment. What made me start this in the first place? If the monetary reward were eliminated, would I still be motivated to do it?
3. Add Value
Today, Mitimeth has empowered over 400 people with skills to provide them with daily sustenance, and hopes to do more.
While we might not be in the position to achieve similar feats, we can apply this in our business dealings with our customers (both prospective and current). John C Maxwell says : “Adding Value to others is the best way to add value to yourself”.
4. Enjoy the Process
These days, people appear to be focused on the end result, and rightly so. I mean, why start up anything if you don’t have the end goal in mind. Right?
However, understanding that the journey is a very integral part of the destination will help us live in the moment, thereby refueling that zest that will take us to the end.
I hope to let these four points be my guiding principles henceforth. Will you do the same?
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
