EntrepreneuHER
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CONTENTS EDITORIAL
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PASSIONPROFIT
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FOLLOW YOUR BLISS
10 CONTRIBUTORS
COVER STORY Lynette Anderson
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Faith Mawia Janet Kibuthu Mwendwa Felly Oyuga Owiro
HEALTH Tips for a healthy lifetime Herbs that heal
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Wambui Karanja
ON THE COVER Lynette Anderson
ENTREPRENEUR FEATURE
DRESSED BY
Felly Oyuga Owiro
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Sharon Lumbasi
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MODEL’S JEWELERY
ETTIQUETTE Cocktail Etiquette
Tutti’s Designs
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ART & SOCIAL Creatives Garage
Afrostreet Kollektions By Yvonne Adhiambo
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PHOTOGRAPHY Versatile Photographers, Hazina Towers, 9th Floor The EntrepreneuHER Magazine assumes all articles published here are original
IMAGE
and are the property of the submitting persons
Dress to Impress
46 Opinions expressed in the articles of EntrepreneuHER are those of the author(s) and
WORLD CANCER DAY Courage and triumph
do not necessarily reflect the views of the
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EntrepreneuHER Magazine Fraternity
EVENTS & GIVEAWAYS
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FROM THE EDITOR
Welcome to the Second Issue of the Magazine. Days have flown by...hard to believe that February is here leaving behind 45 days of January. Speaking of January, how are your New Year Resolutions coming along? Have you started hitting the gym? Have you started looking for your dream job? Have you applied to any? Have you spend more time with your kids? Have you looked into the business opportunities you’re interested in? Have you? Have you? Have you?
A life without passion is boring and colorless. Take a look at the articles and features here-in and glean from the insights and lessons. Dare to follow your bliss as our three entrepreneurs have. Dare to leave the city for the wilderness. The beauty of life is that no lesson or experience is wasted.
I love the start of the year. A new opportunity to do things right. Another opportunity to forgive and forget the past and start afresh. A new year gives us a chance to regroup and pursue the things we really want.
Y: You O: Only L: Live O: Once
Nish EntrepreneuHER
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The EntrepreneuHER Magazine caught up with CEO of PassionProfit, Frida Owinga, for an insightful conversation on “HOW TO TURN YOUR PASSION INTO PROFIT”
By Nish
H
ave you been passionate about something so much so that the very thought of living without it is unbearable? Or at least difficult?
Are you passionate about your job? Do you wake up excited, ready to go at it ? If you do, congratulations, you are among the few “ living their dream”, if you are not, its never too late.
EntrepreneuHER Magazine turned to Frida Owinga, founder of PassionProfit in search of answers that will help a young entrepreneur to begin to understand how their passions can work in their favor. EntrepreneuHER Magazine: What do you do at PassionProfit? Frida Owinga: PassionProfit equips aspiring business owners with skills and tools to create, manage and grow successful world class organizations. We also work with people who are already in business by offering growth strategies. PassionProfit is rooted in the Word of God and the Parable of the Talents. We see possibilities through God’s eyes. EntrepreneuHER
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Chase down your passion like it's the last bus of the night. Terri Guillemets
EM: How does one go about discovering their passions? FO: Discovering one’s passions is a process. At PassionProfit we take the participants through a process to help them discover their strengths, talents and interests. A passion is not definitive by word, it’s a journey, not a destination. At the end of the training, a person is able to identify their passion and align it with a problem in the society and package it into a viable business. EM: How does one differentiate between an interest and a passion? It doesn’t matter what you call it, if it is something you love to do and enjoy doing it, go for it. What name we give it is irrelevant. That said, when we talk about PassionProfit, it is something that you love to do, something people look for you to do and they are able to pay for. EntrepreneuHER
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EM: Does passion alone guarantee success? FO: Absolutely not! To be successful, there are certain principles you have to follow, different ingredients to make up for success. Passion is one of them, it is important but not the only ingredient. Just like in baking a cake, you have the flour, and baking powder, a very important ingredient that if you do not mix in with the other ingredients, the cake will flop. Passion is the baking powder of success. EM: What questions should a young person ask themselves in the process of discovering their passions? FO: What do I enjoy doing? What comes to me easily? What do people look for me to do, or what do I get referred to do? It could also be something or a situation that you want to change. For example, Nelson Mandela was passionate about equality so he fought passionately against apartheid. EM: How about those interests and passions that are not thought to be professional or ‘mainstream’, how would one go about conceptualizing these into an income generating activity? FO: Generally, skills that are not taught in school are looked at upon like they will not earn money and you can’t earn a living from them, but it is not absolutely true. Times are changing, we have young people making money from music, and opportunities like TPF giving musicians a chance to win money and beyond that, get an opportunity to record an album. There are no professions that are better than others, we need all of them. For a business to thrive there has to be a need, there has to be an opportunity…there has to be a gap. So whichever career one aspires to pursue, be it dancing or singing or modeling,, one must ask, what gap there is to be filled ? Today, writers and bloggers are being employed to write for organizations and manage their organization’s social media as this is a growing need. They are beginning to find their space. Opportunities are emerging. The key is finding the need and filling it with your passion.
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EM: What programs does PassionProfit offer? FO: The signature program is Passion Startup which caters for people who desire to start businesses, they have the idea and are at the conception stage and have been in business for between 0-3 years. It gives the participants business skills to start right and grow right. It is a 2 day workshop that covers all the core areas of business and we continue to coach the participant for 12 months. We also have Growth Passion for people already in business but are either feeling stuck or need a roadmap to forge ahead. This is for businesses that are three years and above. EM: What advice would you give to parents of young adults/ children with regards to harnessing their children’s passion? FO: There may be factors informing parents that one profession is better than the other. The child might want one thing, while the parent thinks something else is best suited for the child. A parent’s greatest fear is that what a child chooses might not be the best choice for their future in terms of earning a living. A parent might therefore ask their child to provide information to show that there is actually a future in the chosen path. The parent might also want to find out if there is merit in their child’s chosen passion option. In this way, both parties make an informed decision as opposed to making a decision based on guesswork or emotions.
EM: Some passions can be very expensive, case in point, the Motocross, how can one handle such situations? FO: I believe that if one really desires to pursue a passion, they will always find a starting point. The key is to find a gap that the passion can fill and earn money from. That is what we call PassionProfit. Otherwise if it is just something you enjoy to do but will not earn you a living, then it is simply a passion not a business. So, find a starting point. If a child, for instance, loves to play the drums, let him play in church or in a club at school. Look for an avenue that will offer him the opportunity. God is not wicked as to put a desire in your heart that is unreachable. EntrepreneuHER
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“You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough. You must want it with an exuberance that erupts through the skin and joins the energy that created the world.� Sheila Graham
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“You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition... what you discover will be wonderful.� Alan Alda
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ost of us do not like what we do. Have you ever asked yourself how it would feel to earn a paycheck from what you
love doing?
BY Faith Mawia
One may claim that one’s passion is not enough to generate income or probably, one may be unwilling to leave a secure paycheck to lean on a passion that cannot guarantee the next month’s rent. Let’s begin here: you can turn your passion into multiple streams of income. The problem ,is most of us do not know what our interests are! So how do you make a venture from something that you do not even know? Success stories show that businesses created out of passion tend to perform better, grow faster and have higher success rates compared to those established from mere motivation to make profit. Social enterprises, which are becoming increasingly popular in the business world, are a perfect example of passion turned into profits. EntrepreneuHER
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A social enterprise is a venture which generates profit to the owner while solving societal problems simultaneously such as poverty and/or environmental issues. The winner of Spark Kenya 2013 Fellowship was a former street boy who, due to his passion to alleviate poverty among his peers, helped them sell the plastics collected from garbage sites at a better price. Joram, the winner, felt that tycoons were exploiting them by buying the plastics they collected under the sun for a whole day for very little pay. He would go up a Safaricom mast to lobby stakeholders to do something about their plight. He soon realized that no one was going to do something about it and resolved to do it himself.
He went directly to the buyers and struck a deal to supply the empty containers without the use of middlemen. It was not easy as he got threatened, even beaten by the intermediaries. . At the end of the day, out of his passion, Joram had changed the lives of fellow street boys, helped conserve the environment, received a lifechanging Fellowship and tot op it course made some money. Why do ventures created out of passion have higher success rates? They change lives, the owner delivers quality and they have patience to see the business through.
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“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.� Harriet Tubman
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Obviously, for something you love, you are going to dedicate all the time, energy, and best part of your brain. Passion-driven entrepreneurs give their businesses 110% dedication and they bear success characteristics; excellence, creativity (call it innovativeness) and perseverance. What comes out for me, is that passion gives one unparalleled power of perseverance to produce excellent results. It is highly unlikely that a profit-driven entrepreneur will keep trying when consumers resist their product, but a passionate entrepreneur will keep trying and make the product better until it is acceptable to the consumer. A passion-driven entrepreneur is also motivated by the need to change lives. If you want to make profits from your passion, master your craft. You want to deliver a quality product or service o the people. It is not enough just to have a talent, people do not appreciate talent rather, the end product of the talent. New knowledge and skills will enable you learn new ways of executing your passion, inspiring trends and blazing trails. This way, your passion will also generate a competitive advantage over other players in the market.
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I know you are still waiting for me to address the thorny issue. I love what I do, so how do I make money? I do not have a magic formula but I will tell you a few things. I believe by now you have mastered the craft, you are already good at it, and probably have a business running. Now, live below your means, only bargain for something equivalent to your value and check your spending.
Do what you love with persistence and patience, and the profits will surely come.
Get adequate financial education, for instance, read books, learn from people who have established their businesses through the same process (passion-driven entrepreneurs) learn from movers and shakers and success stories in the business world. If you need hires in your enterprise, look for those who will complement your skills set. For instance, hire good people that are good in Marketing, Budgeting, Production, and Financial and legal advisory. To handle those very crucial aspects of business. Today, there are options of hiring part-time or partnering with someone who shares in your vision. It is easier to achieve your goals when you have the right people. Finally and most importantly, overcome your fear.
Actually, the problem is not money, resources, or time – Fear is. The fear of failure and fear of success alike. So, take a step of faith, after all this is what you love. Show it to the world by using your God-given gifts and talents. Start small. Do what you love with persistence and patience, and the profits will surely come. EntrepreneuHER
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PASSION FOR FASHION She is Young, Beautiful and Talented. She is the brains behind the Nairobi Fashion Market. LYNETTE ANDERSON, sought to provide a platform where fashion enthusiasts can showcase their merchandise, shop and enjoy a weekend of fun and fashion. EntrepreneuHER Magazine caught up with the beauty for more...
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EntrepreneuHER Magazine: Please tell us a little yourself. Lynette Anderson: I was born and raised in Nairobi, in a family of 8 children. My father is half Scottish/Kenyan and my mother is Tanzanian. I have two children and run an interior soft furnishing business, a marketing consultancy and Nairobi Fashion Market. EM: How long have you been in business? LA: I’ve been in business since 2006, I set up NFM in 2010. EM: Describe your business. LA: The interior décor business, is all about creativity and craftsmanship. It’s coming out of your shell and creating products that would appeal to a diverse market. It’s fun and social and involves a lot of time and research behind it. Nairobi Fashion Market, is a fun, interactive brand platform, that allows industry movers and upcoming fashion and lifestyle curators to grow their businesses through brand awareness and sales. It’s a biannual event dubbed the “spring” and “fall” editions. EM: What motivated you to start your business, what keeps you motivated? LA: The very fact that I needed to promote my craft interiors businesses led me to come up with NFM. I needed to bridge the gap between the market and the creative designers and entrepreneurs that needed to promote themselves. So I started this platform, and have seen it grow to support more businesses than I had ever imagined. The success stories from my exhibitors keep me motivated. EM: The Nairobi Fashion Market is a huge success, how do you do it? LA: I can only say I’m truly grateful to the exhibitors who participate at the event and are positive all the way, it really contributes to a smooth running event. Although it is a biannual event…the business behind NFM runs 24/7. A lot of people ask me “what do you do when you’re not doing NFM?” I always find that hard to answer, although I do have my other projects, sometimes I feel like saying “nothing”. Because, it does take a lot of my time…you actually are always planning something, booking a stall, sourcing new talent, networking, marketing…it’s crazy, but it does pay off in he end.
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WEBSITE:
http://nfm.co.ke
BLOG:
http:// nairobifashionmarket.blogspot.com
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/ pages/Nairobi-FashionMarket
TWITTER:
@NFMKenya
EM: How much, in terms of capital did you start with? LA: My first event was not as successful financially. In essence the event should pay for itself. And that is what it does now. Most of the income comes from the stall rentals, and that is what should cover your entire budget. My first event had 68 exhibitors, however the costs for supplies and advertising was high and the stalls were cheap. We came out at a loss. But I learned from it and continue to learn even today. EM: The fashion industry is huge in Kenya today what with fashion blogs and websites popping up everyday. How do you harness all this positive energy for your business and what would you advice a young lady (or man) who wants to go into fashion? LA: The online and social media platform is definitely the key to spreading the word of your business at this day and age. This is one of our major stakeholders in the industry and in the business. NFM has its own website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Linked in accounts.
YOUTUBE
http://www.youtube.com/ channel/ UClH5FS3cxsfqcaOeLTzRc4Q
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Bloggers are awesome and I really like it when they attend NFM, they write about it and share the news of what they saw at NFM. And 95% of the time, you do get good reviews, for what I find is that the writers and reporters and bloggers come out to look for what’s trending and new, what’s inspiring and why we should go. Very rarely do we get negative publicity, but if we do…we take it seriously and try to reflect on it and correct it.
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There is a lot of online stores and boutiques, we see them everyday, but NFM provides the much needed opportunity for physical contact, to use your senses, to see, feel and touch these products, the richness of the textiles and fibres. To use your emotions…the interaction and smiles between the designers and the shoppers, listen to music, enjoy the day out with your family and friends and appreciate what the creative designers are doing for us and our country. A hub of positive energy. For the newbies coming into the fashion industry, I urge you to create a good profile, website for yourself to reach out to as many people as possible, and participate in NFM where they can take advantage of the platform. EM: Is there money in fashion? Should a young woman wanting to go into the fashion business expect a healthy return? LA: It depends what you are doing…If you are a designer, I know it’s hard to manage the production and the sales together. I know a lot of designers are comfortable in the production of their collections but hit a wall when they have to then get it out there and make some money to cover their costs let alone make a profit. If you have a good sense of business skill, you can manage and it can be quite profitable for you. If not, you can speak to a business development, or a marketing and sales consultant who can help you get on your feet. Also, be consistent with your venture.
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EM: In the course of business, what challenges have you encountered so far? LA: The costs for throwing an event are high, and suppliers take advantage of event organizers by constantly hiking their prices. This compromises the stall prices. EM: You were a model in the past, how has that experience shaped the way you run and manage your business? LA: Let’s just say nothing goes past me when it comes to our fashion shows. When I was a model, it was very different, we were trained to be models, it was a big deal to go through etiquette and grooming classes. Now it does not happen as much. That’s why I prefer to work with recognized agents such as Kinkey Modelling Agency and StrutIt Afrika. These are run by young entrepreneurs who make it their business to train models and give all their clients the best shows…no drama…just smooth sailing. When you have a good show, it keeps designers and audiences coming back. EM: Modelling, like cabin crew, has received very negative stereotypes in the past. How have you handled these stereotypes to get where you are today? And what would you say to correct these stereotypes? LA: In the past, modelling has always been a stepping stone to have fun, party and travel with little responsibility
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Zaramu HOUSE OF DESIGN
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except look good. Also, the stereotypes come from media, movies etc that models are sexy and happy go luckys. But it is actually not the case. I have met the sweetest, level headed models, studying, with families, with full time jobs and they take the job very seriously. It’s not all about showing off your bodies, its showing off the designers couture. How you strut it, hold your confidence when wearing the garments, makes or breaks the sale. I think we need to show models the respect they deserve in the industry. What happens outside there in their personal lives is a result of their own personal choices. So as a profession I think modelling is just as serious as any other corporate profession. EM: If you could start all over again, what would you do differently? LA: I wouldn’t change anything, I believe everything happens for a reason and everything that has already happened, all the ups and downs, the mistakes and the perfect plans have shaped NFM and myself as a person to who we are today. EM: Did you once encounter fear starting the NFM? LA: Never EM: What would you say to a young woman who is passionate about fashion and would like to start a business around fashion? What does she need to do, be, know? LA: You need to be consistent, and don’t be afraid to take criticism and to learn from those who are already there. Fashion is everywhere, you just need to be smart about it and apply the business behind it seriously. Think out of the box, be creative and don’t be afraid to come up with something new…you don’t have to do what everybody else is doing. EM: What is the secret to your success? LA: It’s a secret. Let others imitate you…it’s the sincerest form of flattery. EM: In your view, how important is passion in business. LA: Passion is everything…otherwise why are you doing it? If you don’t have that little fire in your chest you probably won’t take care of your business. EM: What is the secret to your success? LA: It’s a secret :-). Let others imitate you…it’s the sincerest form of flattery. EM: How important is passion in business. LA: Passion is everything…otherwise why are you doing it? If you don’t have that little fire in your chest you probably won’t take care of your business. EntrepreneuHER
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Women who WRITE
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JANET MWENDWA KIBUTHU, resolved not only to lose weight but adopt a healthy lifestyle.
She writes, in her book Weight Loss for Moms, “..soon after pregnancy, especially for first time mothers, it feels like the whole world is focusing on you and expecting you to go on a quick fix weight loss regimen. This is especially if you had accumulated excessive weight during the pregnancy. Losing weight after birth was a struggle for me. It seemed unattainable and it threatened every sphere of my life. Nonetheless, I purposed not only to shed off the excess weight gain but also conquer the battle to adopt a healthy lifestyle.”
In this month of love, she shares tips on how to treat your body with kindness and how to achieve (and maintain) your New Year’s weight loss goals.
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New (Healthy) Year’s resolution ... for a lifetime By: Janet Kibuthu
T
he wonder in each New Year is the clean slate it provides. This is a chance to exhale and start over, to forget the challenges and failures of the year past and find the resolute to make fresh plans for the New Year. At this time, one of the key New Year resolutions is weight loss.
My gym instructor is a fan of January. According to him, he has a constant flow of income from people who put down money as part of their decision to lose weight and get healthy. During this month, there are a record number of attendees who never miss a beat. However, should you really wait until the New Year to have a fresh start in regards to your weight management goals? There is a fallacy in this particular way of thinking. I came to realize one day that there was neither a beginning nor an end point regarding weight management. Achieving your weight loss goal seamlessly merges into managing your weight. You will need to do the same things you did to lose the weight in order to keep it off. As an individual, you are responsible and in control of when you choose to commit to this goal and any other goals you want to achieve. Some things require a lifetime commitment and discipline to not only achieve; but to also remain at the top of your game. Weight management is one of them. Instead of waiting until each year begins afresh, choose to start now. Here are a few tips to get you started; Begin slowly Make gradual changes that you know that can last you a lifetime. No crash dieting or crash exercising. These little changes are an opportunity to learn about your body and how it responds positively or negatively to changes. Keep a record of what you learn.
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Choose activities that you enjoy Try different forms of physical exercise until you zero in on the ones you enjoy. Try running, walking, swimming, Barre, Pilates, Zumba, Aerobics, cycling, hiking and man more. The idea is to just get moving and to vary your physical movement. Set weight and exercise control measures Once you narrow in on the workouts, set goals to ensure that you keep track of your progress. If you started out with an okay core, set a goal to strengthen your core. Do the same with your diet. Manage how many healthy meals you want to have each day and the content of each meal. Make a plan A plan is what tells you if you are on track. Keep a timetable and chart your progress alongside your control measures for diet and exercise. Here is something you may not want to hear. Losing weight is the easy part, keeping it off is the hard part. It requires discipline, resolve, and commitment each day, for the rest of your life. So if you thought that all you have to do is give up sausages for the next three months, that wont cut it. Make lasting decisions and changes regarding your health and fitness that will last a lifetime. Now that is a resolution for a lifetime! Writers Bio Janet Mwendwa Kibuthu is not a professional fitness guru. However, after becoming a mom she realized the need to have a planned and sustainable approach to achieve healthy living and fitness. This book is an epitaph to her continued triumph. It is a testament to all moms struggling with adopting a healthy outlook on life that it is possible. Ms. Kibuthu has more than ten years experience in marketing and communications. She is an entrepreneur, and a writer. She holds a BA degree in Communications and an MBA in Finance. EntrepreneuHER
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This Month’s
Two readers will get an autographed copy of Janet’s book, “Weight loss for Moms” HOW TO ENTER.. Write in telling us how your weight loss resolutions are coming along. Email: nish@entrepreneuher.co.ke
MOLLY’s up for GRABS!!! HOW TO ENTER Buy a ticket to the NAIROBI FASHION MARKET @ 300/-, post a pic clearly capturing the serial number on our page https://www.facebook.com/TheEntrepreneuherKenya And Stand a Chance to WIN!!!
WIN Free Tickets to the NAIROBI FASHION MARKET HOW TO ENTER Subscribe to the EntrepreneuHER Magazine here http://www.entrepreneuher.co.ke/ passionissue/
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DATES 8th Feb 15th Feb 22nd Feb 26th Feb
CREATIVES GARAGE FEBRUARY CALENDER WORDS GALORE
8TH
SPOKEN WORD, POETRY
GAMES NIGHT
13TH
BOARD GAMES, NETWORKING
ART AUCTION
14TH`
ART AUCTION
SHOW &TELL
21ST
MEMBERS SHOWCASE PORTFOLIOS
ARTSY MAMA
26TH
CREATIVES SEMINAR, EXHIBITION,NETWORKING,
TALENT NIGHT
27TH
TALENT SHOWCASE, MENTORHIP
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PASSION ENTERTAINMENT
FELLY OYUGA OWIRO brings your local to you. She is the proprietor of BAR MULE, a fully stocked mobile bar and TEZI MEDIA, an on-demand content channel.
EntrepreneuHER Magazine sought to find out what makes her tick. Read on...
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EM: You have recently launched TEZI Media, tell us a little about it. OO: TEZI Media is an online company that creates content on demand. I started with my children in mind, their names have important meanings that apply to my life and make up the acronym TEZI EntrepreneuHER Magazine: Please tell us a little about yourself Oyuga Owiro: I’m Marketing professional with experience in the events field. I am a single mom to 4 little versions of me. EM: How long have you been in business?
T for Tamara (Maria) Palm tree. Used as a symbolic oriental name due to the beauty and fruitfulness of the tree E for Esli (Matt) meaning ‘Reserved of God/near me/he who separates’ Z for Zawadi (Maya) Gift I for Imani (Mali) Faith
OO: I have been running Bar Mule from December 2012 EM: Tell us about Bar Mule OO: Bar Mule offers the following services: 1) Fully stocked mobile bars for events e.g. weddings, house parties, corporate events. 2) Home delivery services, we have a variety of spirits, wine, beers for your home use. 3) Bar consultancy service. EntrepreneuHER
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EM: What do you plan to achieve with the Maurice Show and 254RugbyShow? OO: The Maurice show is supposed to open a forum for people to be able to talk openly without being offensive, about their sexuality and relationships. The more information we have nowadays…the less we seem to understand especially about sex and relationships. 254 Rugby Show is a show whose main objectives are to EDUCATE, UPDATE, ENTERTAIN and INTERACT. Our Show Hosts and Partners in 254 Rugby Show, Benjamin Ayimba and Charles Cardovilis are rugby greats with a wealth of knowledge and insight. This has to be passed on and shared. Currently we do not have a forum that allows rugby fans to access any information…254 Rugby Show is that bridge. We source the information for our viewers and bring them quality and trusted content.
EM: What does self employment mean to you and what benefits are you enjoying being your own boss? OO: Being my own boss is the most frightening yet at the same time, the most rewarding experience. Self employment means that I get to spend more hours with my children. I can work from the balcony of my favourite restaurant and still be very productive. There is also the bit of working from home in sweats. LOL! EM: Take us through your journey into entrepreneurship from when you decided to go into business to where you are now…. OO: My mother always said I was never meant to be employed. Right from an early age I found ways to make the odd shilling. From combing and setting wigs for her mother and friends to selling fruit juice (which was meant to be part of my school snack). I have tried a couple of businesses and went into employment to try and stabilize my income however that didn’t work.
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TEL 0727 738345 FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ barmule1 https:// www.facebook.com/254rugby show YOUTUBE http://www.youtube.com/
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My last job was the proverbial final straw. Salaries would be late for months at a time. This was a blessing in disguise as I learnt to live on the side-business. I learnt to tighten my belt. When I finally left employment, my first gig was not as successful as I had hoped and I lost a bit of money. I started looking for a job again but after having a conversation with businessman who has been in the business for years, I realized I would be giving up too quickly. He challenged me to get back in and fight it out. The key to business is persistence and reinvention. My moment in the sun is yet to come but I can smell it...it’s near! EM: How much in terms of capital did you start your business with? OO: I started my business with my laptop, my phone , Facebook and no money in the bank.
EM: Self employment can be tough, what keeps you going everyday? OO: The wife to a close friend (he's a businessman) jokes that he likes ‘to suffer’. Self employment isn’t for everyone. It is tough, it’s like an addiction...you get some kind of ‘high’ when you close a deal or when you come up with a new idea or when your customers appreciate your services. When things are tough therefore, I keep at it for that ‘high’.
EM: What challenges have you encountered so far? OO: So far, the greatest challenge is knowing when to stop working and rest.
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EM: If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently? OO: I would definitely do it again only I would never go into employment. I would use my younger years to take bigger risks.
EM: Did you once encounter fear? Fear of starting out, fear of failure and how did you handle it? OO: I encounter fear of failure daily. I have decided to use it as a motivation rather than allowing fear to stagnate my growth.
EM: How do you differentiate yourself from the competition? OO: I’m passionate about alcohol, I take time to explain to my clients why they need a certain drink as opposed to the norm. I do my research on different alcohol brands and educate my clients.
EM: What would you say to someone who desires to go into business but feels stuck, scared or unsure how to go about it? OO: Just Do It!
EM: How important is passion in everything that you do? OO: Passion is the most important thing. When you have run broke chasing your dream, when everyone tries to reason with you to slow down or give up, when no one sees what you see, when you can’t eat or sleep because of your dream…Passion for what you do is the fuel that keeps you going. Without passion, you become reasonable, normal if you like. No great achievement ever came from a point of ‘normal’ or ‘reason’ just ask Richard Branson.
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Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilitiesalways see them for they are always there.
Norman Vincent Peale
The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning Ivy Banker Priest
Our passions are the true phoenixes when the old one is burnt out, a new one rises from its ashes. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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CH3CH2OH Etiquette for the Business Woman
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shunning alcohol may not be the best move especially for your business career. You are going to get invited to cocktails, launches, business dinners, parties and alcohol will be a part of all these functions. Staying away from these functions because you don’t drink might see you miss out on important contacts. Getting drunk or displaying clueless behavior at such functions may cost you contacts as well. Here are some tips to get you through some of these functions without coming off as overtly prude or worse, a drunk! EntrepreneuHER
*If you do not drink, order soda water with lemon wedge or virgin cocktails‌no one has to know its non-alcoholic and you will fit right in and mingle. Virgin Mojitos are my favorite.
*Know what wine goes with what, know what glass to drink in, know what an aperitif is. If you are unsure about what wine you should have with your meal..ask the waiter to recommend something..you will not look ignorant.
*Pace yourself. You are not in a race to see who can down the most drinks even if they might be free 36
* Know what mixers/ chasers go with your particular drink. You do not want to go to a business cocktail with movers and shakers and then order a Martel with a sprite. Easy rule to remember: whiskey ,cognac take neat or on the rocks (ice), Vodka ,Gin take with juice (lime ,orange) or soda (coca cola) or club soda Know when you have had enough. When you feel you are losing yourself, switch to water or juice. *Eat well before taking alcohol, By eating well I mean take a meal..not a snack. You will take longer to get drunk if your stomach is full. *Use your left hand to hold drinks. This will leave your right hand free and dry to shake hands. *Never turn down a drink. It is rude. I you really don’t want to drink it, accept it and pretend to sip it and then conveniently ‘forget’ it at a table..or pass it (secretly) to your friend/colleague who is always ‘down’ for a drink…we all have one of those. *When you are in doubt about what to order or how to drink a certain drink, follow the leader. We learn from copying. *Always buy the next round after someone has bought the first round. Don’t forget to carry your business cards and enjoy yourself.
Felly is a single mother to four wonderful human beings, wonderful sister and loyal friend, owner of Bar Mule and TEZI media . I love all things alcoholic; perfume and whiskey mostly.
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Healing Herbs
By Antony Kahonge
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sing herbs in cooking is perhaps the easiest way to introduce flavor to a dish adding neither excess calories nor toxic chemicals. On top of that, they double up as home remedies for all kinds of diseases and/or conditions.
Fresh herbs will deliver most flavor and enzymatic action but then again, on a quid pro quo basis, dried herbs have more concentration of nutrients especially antioxidants so all are great. Locally you can get fresh herbs from most markets and definitely in high end grocers and most importantly they are quite inexpensive, a bunch varying from Ksh 15 - 30.
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Rosemary This very aromatic herb adds great flavor to food. It has been credited to boost memory, relieve stomach upsets, prevent cancer, help with migraines and boost your immunity leaving you less susceptible to disease. The best way to deliver the rosemary flavor without overpowering your food is in a marinade. Just puree in a blender some extra virgin olive oil, fresh rosemary leaves, garlic, onions, lemon juice, Himalayan salt and cayenne pepper. Marinate kienyeji (free-range/organic) chicken overnight and then roast at 180C oven for about 30 minutes, turning the chicken pieces halfway. You can also grill or even stew the marinated chicken. Having rosemary in your marinade, especially for the grill, is very important as studies have proven that the herbs prevents formation of cancer-causing compounds formed when cooking on high heat.
Mint Perhaps one of my favorite herbs which might be less popular but lately grocers are stocking it. It is particularly amazing with lamb. Iced mint tea is an amazing way to enjoy this herb especially in the hot African sun, and there are many ways to go about it.
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A combination of dried and fresh mint makes the best tea, but using either still delivers an incredible drink. Bring to the boil 1.5 cups of water and then steep mint tea bags (as per the instructions on the packet). When using fresh and/or dried, you will have to simmer for about 10 minutes then strain and consume as is or allow to cool down and put in the freezer to make the ice tea, you may flavor with a good quality honey and lime/lemon juice. Fresh mint is an invaluable garnish to cuisine and also a great addition to smoothies and juices. Like rosemary, mint can be used successfully in marinade for not only lamb but also beef, game, fish, quail etc. Mint helps to relax the body and is great for stress and soreness after a work out. It has also been studied and proven to be very helpful in respiratory ailments like bronchitis. Mint is also associated with good digestive health.
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Iced mint tea is an amazing way to enjoy this herb especially in the hot African sun, and there are many ways to go about it.
Moringa Everyone has heard about this amazing super food tree/herb and it has gained the popularity and with good reason. The whole tree has a myriad of uses from the roots- helping to 'clean' the soil and the seeds, to cure diseases though they do not taste very nice. The dried leaves are more palatable and are nutrient-dense and wide spectrum nutrient diversity, more calcium than milk on an ounce-per-ounce basis. A good thing about this tree is that it grows in the wild and it is easy to farm organically since bugs are not so crazy about Moringa seeds as well. You can get it from almost all supermarkets and even at the organic farmer's market. The best experience I have seen with Moringa is my father who has high blood pressure and one day he also had malaria so he looked somewhat lethargic and the first thing that came to my mind was a Moringa + cayenne + Himalayan salt +lemon juice + warm water. After 20 minutes or so, he was back in shape and after continuing with these kind of concoctions, his blood pressure came back to normal. Lemon juice is really important not only does it make the herbs taste much better but they also work in synergy to deliver a much stronger remedy, and you need no prescription.
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There is POWER in numbers. More so, when these numbers are made up of WOMEN. The EntrepreneuHER Magazine spoke to SHARON LUMBASI, Founder of Kenyan Mompreneur & Mama Biashara Networks to find out what motivates her.
EntrepreneuHER Magazine: Please tell us a little yourself. Sharon Lumbasi: I am a mother of two adorable daughters aged 1 and 3 years. I am married and live with my family in Nairobi. EM: How long have you been in business? SL: I have been in several businesses for the past 3 years. However with my current passion and business; Mama Biashara Network, I started working on it last year. EM: Describe your business SL: Mama Biashara Network, empowers women in business by providing them with information, forums to network, marketing, online visibility opportunities and avenues to acquire skills that would enable them to grow and move their businesses to the next level. EntrepreneuHER
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EM: What motivated you to start Kenyan Mompreneur/Mama Biashara Networks, what keeps you motivated? SL: The fact that there are many entrepreneurship opportunities out there that women can take advantage of. For women currently in business, there are so many opportunities out there to get awareness about their businesses, that they have have not utilised and it is my job to let them know about that. EM: What are your future aspirations for Mama Biashara Network? SL: To see women support each other in business, to create more awareness about the concept of Biashara circles and to see more women support small businesses through the circles.
WEBSITE http:// www.kenyanmompreneur.com/ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ KenyaMompreneurs TWITTER
EM: How much, in terms of capital did you start with? SL: I started with less than Ksh. 30,000 considering that what I needed to start with was registering the company, a website, hire some part time content writers and marketing and advertising.
https://twitter.com/ kenyamompreneur Email: info@kenyanmompreneur.com Tel: 0733 249 599
EM: There are many women forums in Kenya today, what is different about Mama Biashara Network? SL: Mama Biashara Circles adds value to what is already being offered out there. There are networking groups, there are networking events. What MBN is adding on top of these are opportunities to get your business name out there. By taking advantage of the cost effective, affordable and unique marketing and advertising opportunities for small business women. EntrepreneuHER
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EM: In the course of business, what challenges have you encountered so far? SL: Lack of awareness about our services, capital for some of our projects that need a considerable amount of capital to execute them successfully. EM: How have you handled these challenges in the past? SL: I have created a marketing strategy and plan for this year, towards the end of last year and I am already seeing good results. Part of my strategy was to research my market and now that I know my market the rest of the activities planned should run smoothly should everything remain constant EM: If you could start all over again, what would you do differently? SL: Do more research, understand my market more, save up so as when launching and take off you have a good back up.
EM: What advice for you have for young women who want to become self employed and independent? SL: Go for it, understand who your market is, because with time they gain trust in your product or service and once they do the most important thing happens which is the core of every business, YOU CLOSE THE SALE! EM: What is the secret to your success? SL: Planning. Plan! Plan! Plan! If you fail to plan, you definitely plan to fail. And off course God in heaven above who instilled this dream in me EM: In your view, how important is passion in business? SL: Passion is very important because even when things don’t happen as you have planned, you passion gives you vision and the energy to move forward. This is especially important when they business is at the initial stages. If you are in business for the money and not passion, then you are in business for the wrong reasons.
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BY Peninah Wambui
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rtsy Mama is a creative seminar and exhibition for stay at home parents. LIZ KIPTUM, the Chief Mechanic at Creatives Garage is the one who came up with the concept of Artsy Mama.
It’s obvious that a significant number of mums and dads are opting out of lucrative careers and promising enterprises out in the marketplace, and deciding to stay home and raise their young children. This trend is primarily driven by their faith and convictions and has seen an increasing number of parents follow suit over the past few years. Several other parents have wanted to take the plunge, but are invariably hindered by two main impediments; social identity and financial security. Creatives Garage therefore decided to act to address the two impediments to the best of our ability, using living, breathing examples of how to go about it and what to expect along the way. Each edition has guest panellists who tell their stories of starting and running successful businesses from home. We held our first Artsy Mama on 17th July 2013 and got an overwhelming response on social media of women who wanted to attend this event. We managed to 200 attendees and 24 exhibitors showcasing creative businesses that were started at home while taking care of the baby. We had 4 stay-at-home-mums share their story of how they managed to take care of their kids and still run successful businesses. Three children from stay-athome-mums shared their stories too of their experience with being brought up with a parent as opposed to a nanny. We are holding the 3rd edition of artsy Mama on 26th February 2014 at MJCentre. The theme for this edition is Look Good Feel Good. We will have guest panellists who will share their journey as fashion designer and stylists, hair stylist and jeweller. They will give a tip or two to the parents on looking chic and trendy regardless of being home with the children.
Peninah Wambui is the Communications & Marketing Mechanic at Creative Garage iwho hasa passion in fashion design and creatives arts
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Fashion Tips:
Dress to Impress! BY WAMBUI KARANJA,
For Corporate Presentations
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hat personality do you intend to project on stage? Always go for the sharp look; a well ironed neat suit and a pair of comfortable heels are always in. Choose colors that align with your looks and grey, navy blue, brown and black suits will never disappoint. Keep it light and simple with the jewelry. The key is to always keep it sharp, impressive and colorcoordinated.
For Cocktails/Dinner Parties When it comes to dressing for a cocktail or dinner party, remember to follow the theme if any is applicable. If its casual, dress casual. If its an evening of dancing, dress for an evening of dancing. For a cocktail party in the afternoon where the theme is casual and the event is outdoors, dress comfortably and anticipate the weather. Sunny weather calls for a sun dress, a nice clutch bad and a pair of cute sandals or heels. Alternatively you can do a skirt. Cold weather calls in for a nice jacket on top of what you wear.
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http://www.facebook.com/ evokestyleredefined
Accessories should be light and uniform; if its gold then stick with gold all the way, if its silver then it's silver all the way. Weekend Wear Bold colors are trending, so don't be afraid to go crazy! Don't overdo it though. Mix and match the colors that work best with your complexion to achieve the look you want. If you think you can get away with color blocking then by all means do so. During the hot season, keep it light on the dressing by going for light-weight fabrics like chiffon and lace. You can also do vests and pair them with nice high-waist skirts or casual pants. Dresses are also a good option. A nice jacket paired with a scarf always come in handy during the cold season. Combining the above with colorful heels, sneakers, sandals or doll shoes that come in lots of colors and prints is always a good idea. You can either go light or heavy on accessories depending on your personality. As for handbags you can carry any type, be it a clutch or sling bag, of any color as long as its color coordinated with the rest of your outfit. Coffee Dates Dress down but not too casual. If you want to play it safe then go with business casual i.e. button down and slacks). A blazer or a jacket is always a good option if its cold. Keep it light on the jewelry and if you plan to wear dull colors
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then brighten the look by trimming with solid pieces of bold colors e.g. an orange jacket. General Tips Vertically striped trousers or skirts always make you appear taller while horizontal stripes make you appear wider. Your dressing brings out your personality so make sure you always wear something that you are comfortable and confident in. Most importantly, know your body shape and size.
Wambui Karanja is the Director of Evoke. Style Redefined. A clothing store with the latest and trendiest women outfits, and fashion accessories.
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To mark World Cancer Day, February 4th 2014, dubbed “Reduce stigma and dispel myths about Cancer�, the EntrepreneuHER Magazine celebrates the COURAGE & TRUIMPH of MERCY ADHIAMBO ORENGO, an ovarian-cancer survivor, who continues to fight this brave battle .
She loves to write. Loves to laugh...loves to love life
Tell us a little about Mercy MAO: I am 26 years old, married with one child. I work as a freelance journalist and I come from a family of 5 children. How is life in general for you now? Life is beautiful. Everything has shifted back to normal, and save for the drugs that I still take to boost my health, I feel fine. Its not been easy for you, how so? Cancer is painful. It drains you emotionally and financially, and sometimes, it feels like you are sitting on a time bomb that could explode anytime. There is also the physical pain that comes with it; the surgeries, the medication, the chemotherapy which was very tedious and emotionally difficult.
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http://tossingyoyos.wordpress.com
Take us through a day in your life when you were unwell‌ MAO: I would wake up to read the texts and emails from my friends and family who were very concerned about my health. Since my final treatment was in South Africa, I would get so homesick and I kept wondering if cancer would be the death of me. Sometimes my body would get so weak that I couldn’t do anything but sleep and I would swing from sleepiness to being half awake then sleep again. When I felt stronger, I would write down my thoughts and it would somehow help me cope.
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You beat Cancer …tell us your story of triumph. MAO: From the first time the doctor tells you: “We found a tumor and it has strains of Cancer cells…” to the time that you hear the doctor say: “It is clear, the Cancer seems to be gone…” you realize that you have to fight it with all that you have. The story of triumph is how passionately you decide to live and how you keep telling yourself that “I have to live…I have to lift my head up, I have to take my medication, I cannot give up….I have to live…” because Cancer has to be fought…it is something growing inside of you that you must help fight. And this is a battle that you can only fight if you have a strong spirit. Any life lessons you came out with? Any tough lessons? MAO: The ultimate lesson I got was that I am surrounded by people who love me. My family did all they could to see me through it. My husband is Godsent, and I cannot find the right words to define just how much he supported me without getting tired. My friends from college, Esther Mwangi, Caroline Wangari, Whitney Oromo, my lecturer Robi Koki who were particularly very helpful in my journey towards healing. The toughest lesson I got was that not everyone you consider a friend will sail with you when the turbulence rises. Some of them are not as strong as you think; but that’s okay, sometimes life situations are meant to help you identify people who really care about you.
Please give a word of encouragement to readers who are struggling with illness, theirs or loved ones. MAO: You have to keep moving, and you cannot give up in this fight. For those who are battling Cancer, they should know that it is not a death sentence. There is life to be lived beyond it and you cannot wallow in your illness and lose yourself. For those with loved ones who are sick: the best gift that you can give them is showing that you care…and loving them even when they feel that they don’t deserve to be loved. EntrepreneuHER
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Let us tell your story. Our aim is to tell success stories that inspire & empower. We love to hear from you; email us: info@entrepreneuher.co.ke nish@entrepreneuher.co.ke
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