Being a creative entrepreneur is exciting, but it can be overwhelming. This blog post shares easy tips to help you protect your well-being and avoid burnout as you navigate the world of creative business.
1. Set Clear Work and Life Limits:
Decide when work starts and ends, and create a space just for work. This way, you keep your creative energy safe and find a balance between your job and personal life.
2. Make Time for Yourself:
Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Sleep well, eat good food, and move your body. Doing things that make you happy and relaxed is crucial for a healthy mind.
3. Break Big Tasks into Small Steps:
Don’t let big projects stress you out. Break them into smaller tasks that are easier to handle. Achieving small goals feels great and keeps you from feeling overwhelmed.
4. Ask for Help When Needed:
You don’t have to do everything alone. If things get too much, share tasks with others. This could mean hiring someone or teaming up with fellow creatives.
5. Plan Relaxing Time:
Schedule breaks for yourself. Whether it’s a short break during the day or a day off, taking time to relax prevents burnout and keeps your creativity alive.
6. Find Inspiration Outside of Work:
Look for inspiration beyond your business. Explore different arts, try new hobbies, and appreciate the simple things. This variety can spark new ideas and keep you excited about your work.
7. Connect with Other Creatives:
Don’t be alone in your creative journey. Connect with other creatives, online or offline. Sharing experiences with people who understand can make you feel supported and less stressed.
8. Don’t Overcommit:
It’s okay to say no. You can’t do everything. Focus on what matters most to you and say no to things that might make you too busy or stressed.
9. Take Time to Look Back and Celebrate:
Think about your journey and celebrate your achievements, big or small. This helps you feel good about your progress and motivates you to keep going.
Conclusion:
Being a creative entrepreneur should be fun, not exhausting. By taking small steps to care for yourself and your work, you can enjoy your creative journey without burning out. Remember, your well-being is the key to your creativity and success.
Together, we meet the Founder of Kathrah Enterprise in an exclusive interview. Ayobami Makinde is the CEO of Kathrah Enterprise, which produces good quality honey with the brand name Kathrah honey, bee-wax and honey derivatives.
She has been in the business of farming honeybees and processing honey for the past 7years and has been educating people about the benefits and myths of honey using social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram). Recently, she has been sensitizing the public about the adverse effect of climate change in the production of honey which has led to the loss of sales, discouraging the young beekeepers from abandoning the profession. It is my pleasure to be having this exclusive interview with the Founder of Kathrah Enterprise.
*To know more about the products, simply click on the images*
Please introduce yourself and your background
My name is Ayobami Makinde, a differently-abled, resilient and smart young lady farmer. I am an Alumni of the University of Ilorin, where I studied Pure Chemistry. I am a trained beekeeper, health research consultant. The founder and owner of Kathrah Enterprise. I hail from Orile Owu town in Osun State and am also a mother of two smart boys.
Tell us about your work. How did your company start?
I am Agripreneur, apicultural sector to be precise (Beekeeping). I keep the honeybees, harvest, process and package honey into shelf sizes (for retail outlets, stockists and end-users), in bulk (20L galloon) to honey vendors/resellers. We also infuse beneficial herbs spices and fruits into honey to help health-conscious individuals in achieving a wholesome healthy lifestyle. Sales of other honey byproducts such as Bee-wax are used in cosmetics, drug and candle industries.
Also, add shades of colours to events with our honey or infused honey favours as souvenirs in preferred package sizes.
Kathrah Enterprise started 2014 in one room in my parent’s house with the sum of 15,000naira only with support from family and friends. The business was registered with CAC 2016 with the guidance of my mother’s friend, interestingly as at then I had no clarity on the specific type of business, so I chose sales of agricultural products and general merchants.
How did you come about the name and what does it mean?
The name Kathrah was coined from the Hadith on a surah in the Quran, Suratul kawthar. It means Abundance. Honey is an abundance gift from God that flows too, so I related it to the meaning I read about, and I fell in love with it and used it.
What is your niche and how did you know it was a market to get into?
My niche is Food, (natural). Food is a fast-moving goods. The profit margin is small but because it’s consumed daily, this makes it profitable mostly with volume. Honey is a class of food that has diverse usage ranging from cosmetics to pharmaceuticals. The food industry uses honey for therapeutic purposes.
Where do you get the inspiration for your products?
I got the inspiration to start a honey business from my experience when I used honey for medicinal purposes. On a fateful day, February 12, 2012, I had a road accident along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, leaving a very deep wound on my leg with my right hand partially paralyzed. I mixed honey with Shea butter and apply to the wound because the wound wasn’t discovered early which could no longer be sutured. During my school days, I had heard about the therapeutic ability of honey so I decided to try it, so I used myself as an experiment.
The results were amazing within two (2) weeks. That is how the journey started and In order to be an authority in the business, I did learn about the art and science of honeybees. Today we keep honeybees, sell the by-products and intentionally build a household honey brand in Nigeria and Africa at large.
Furthermore, we added new variants which are all NAFDAC certified to my products list. The pandemic made a lot of individuals more conscious about what they eat and their preference for natural food increased drastically. As a researcher, I thought to create a product that can help achieve a wholesome healthy lifestyle, not just flavour. This led to creating five (5) different variants that can serve as a natural remedy in managing some common illnesses among people. All variants solve a pain point in which all ages above 12month can use.
Can you remember one of the first products you made? What makes it memorable?
A 350ml,500ml size of Kathrah Honey. it’s memorable because it’s my first. We’ve come a long way since then, from the packaging to the company’s growth.
What are some of the challenges you face in your business?
Honey business is a very controversial business. There are lots of misconceptions about raw honey. Majority especially in Nigeria mistaken original honey for adulterated honey because of the myths attached, which is a major challenge. Also, insecurity is affecting access to the farm and charges in logistics as results of the weight of honey. It’s a highly viscous liquid.
Do you have any regrets about venturing into this line of business?
None. I have no regrets.
What is your most popular product?
Kathrah honey (plain), 1L size.
To what extent do you draw upon your Nigerian (African) heritage for your work?
In curating the new product line, infused honey, I ensured that at least three of my raw materials are native to Africa, specifically Nigeria. Asides, the health benefits, it is to promote our own homegrown, which are Zobo leaves, lemons, gingers and Cocoa.
What are some of your short term and long term goals, both in your business and life in general?
My short term goal is to distribute the new honey variants and plain honey to strategic retail outlets such as pharmacy retail chains, and superstores in Nigeria.
My long term goal is to create a manufacturing /processing hub for honeybees by-products, thereby profferring easy manufacturing process to MSMEs,startups and smart small businesses either for contract manufacturing or toll manufacturing.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I know how to process locust beans (Iru) and have the knowledge to water a mass number of building blocks manually. Also, I consider myself quite handy [LOL], as I can roll a lister Generator.
What profession would you be in if you weren’t in this industry?
I will be in the pharmaceuticals company, a laboratory or a Lecturer.
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start their own business in your industry, what would it be?
I will advise any newbie in the honey business to ensure to invest in learning the art and science of processing honey and be willing to invest in educating people via marketing mediums.
Colour me impressed, enlightened and pleased!
There you have it. An exclusive interview with the Founder of Kathrah Enterprise. To connect with her, you can follow her via:
Maryam Aliyu-Baba is a verified member of Bellafricana and the winner of the best innovative product of the year 2021 at the recently held African Creative Exhibition and Awards. A military wife, mother of four, an entrepreneur and CEO of Clay by Marienne. I had the opportunity to meet the Founder of Clay by Marienne for an exclusive interview.
Please introduce yourself and your background
I am Maryam Aliyu-Baba C.E.O. clay by Marienne. A passionate designer with a BA in Industrial Design (ceramics major) from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, M.Sc. Hazard Management and Emergency Response IRGIB Africa University and the Winner ACE Awards (2021) best innovative product.
Tell us about your work. How did your company start?
The company started as Marienne art as a student experiencing the pleasure of creating, and the joy of seeing your creations add elegance to spaces. This passion took a back seat as I started having babies. We resumed mid-2021 and evolved into Clay by Marienne after learning that clay is much more than just art but indeed what we were made from and is indeed one with our bodies, possessing amazing healing abilities. It is also good for the environment and has no negative effect on climate, making it the next best thing and an amazing replacement for plastic and other culinary wares.
How did you come about the name and what does it mean?
Marienne is French for Maryam, so the name is pretty straightforward.
What is your niche and how did you know it was a market to get into?
The average global citizen with an awareness of personal health and overall wellbeing, people with health complications who are looking to make a holistic lifestyle change. The market is viable because we as humans are constantly seeking ways to improve wellbeing.
Where do you get the inspiration for your products?
Having children, and being exposed to a whole new set of health issues and remedies, and brought about the move to this range of products. Design inspirations come from my creativity and imagination, brainstorming with team members, ideas online and feedback from our esteemed customers.
Can you remember one of the first products you made? What makes it memorable?
Yes, I can. It was a set of 3 long neck tabletop vases. They are so memorable because I created them while trying to answer my 300level first semester exams.
What are some of the challenges you face in your business?
Introducing this new product range to the people and getting them on board. It Is quite challenging to get people to make a lifestyle change.
Do you have any regrets about venturing into this line of business?
None; except that I did not come across the knowledge to kick start earlier.
What is your most popular product?
It will have to be the alkaline water bottle series.
To what extent do you draw upon your Nigerian (African) heritage for your work?
To a very large extent, as it is common knowledge that traditional African homes would bury clay pots to store drinking water.
What are some of your short term and long term goals, both in your business and life in general?
In business, I look forward to spreading the word and getting as many people as possible on board this journey to a healthier more intentional living; growing the brand and becoming a household name home and abroad.
In life, I look forward to continued learning and being the best possible role model for my growing children and the upcoming generation.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I started out as a B.Sc Chemistry student and made the switch partway after discovering the beauty of the design.
What profession would you be in if you weren’t in this industry?
I would be a counsellor or a Teacher.
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start their own business in your industry, what would it be?
It would be that you should start where you are and with what you have. There is never a perfect time/ situation.
There you have it. An exclusive interview with the Founder of Clay by Marienne. To connect with her, you can follow her via:
While I’m not about to bore you with a lecture of the harmful and beneficial effects of cholesterol. You also need to know that it is found in most of our core traditional African meals. Continue reading
Health is wealth, and these health tips would keep you looking great and living your best life everyday.
1 TAKE CARE OF YOUR BONES
Half of all women will break a bone because of a weakened skeleton caused by osteoporosis.
A vitamin D supplement helps promote calcium absorption and bone health.
Weight-bearing exercises such as working out three times a week with light weights can strengthen bones too. 2 DEAL WITH STRESS
Stress contributes to every disease, directly or indirectly. It shrinks the brain and increases the waistline.
So find a way to deal with it. The best option is to try meditation.
However even a few minutes of relaxed deep breathing several times a day can be a big help.
Did you know that onions are actually classified as vegetables? Well if you just went on google to search and confirm, then you were in my shoes a few months ago. Wow! Continue reading
Today on African Platter map, we head over to Tunisia for our next delicious dish called Shakshouka (Eggs in Tomato sauce). The name almost got me biting my tongue, I can only but imagine how tasty it would be. African platter takes you to countries around Africa showcasing different delicacies and recipes on how to make them. Continue reading
Successfully transitioning from the comfort of paid employment to become a full time entrepreneur and going to Business School are the two ventures that made Ogochukwu believe in herself. Ogochukwu Nwachukwu, also known as OG, runs a healthy life style business called Bounties HoneyContinue reading
[dropcap custom_class=”normal”] ‘Corporate Sustainability’ can be a difficult expression to use in these days of high risk, low margin business environment due to Oil price induced macroeconomic disturbances. According to the European Commission, Social investment is about investing in people. It means policies designed to strengthen people’s skills and capacities and support them to participate fully in employment and social life. Key policy areas include education, quality childcare, healthcare, training, job-search assistance and rehabilitation. [/dropcap] Continue reading
[dropcap custom_class=”normal”] LiveWell Initiative (LWI), a public health NGO, is a registered health-promotion focused organisation, which empowers the people through health literacy. LWI has empowered nearly 2 million Nigerians and 3,000 Ghanaians directly and indirectly by proxy contact, inclusive of over 60 blind and disabled adults through health literacy. LWI is excited to announce their 5th Annual Cross-cutting Multi-sectoral International Healthcare Event, the Grand Health Bazaar (GHB2015), a corporate carnival for trade, commerce and mutual synergy and networking with healthcare as a value addition. [/dropcap] Continue reading
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