Lady Entrepreneur Issue 3 by Lady Entrepreneur Magazine

Contents 05 |

Publisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note

43 | Reflections

Tips and Trends

06 | Essentials 11 | Insight 13 | Technology

Grow

Business Skills

7 | From the Shelf

13 | Advertorial

9 | Focus on Business

20 | Leadership

11 | You: The Brand

23 | Momprenuer

Features

Unwind

20 | The Entrepreneur

26 | Stand out

16 | Social-preneur

32 | Health and Fitness

18 | Be Inspired

35 | Reflections

Publisher’s Note

Welcome to the final 2011 issue of Lady Entrepreneur. It is actually true that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I didn’t even realise I had this dream way back when I was still in campus until a friend of mine pointed it out from a note I had written. What a journey this has been! Full of twists, turns, challenges, changes and unexpected surprises. We have a new look website that features the magazine even more. We have so much more planned for the coming year. Looking back I am so thankful for all the wonderful amazing people i have been able to meet. I am so grateful for all the women that have allowed us to tell their stories. Women are amazing and powerful beings! In our final issue meet The Entrepreneur Muthoni Njoba Proprietor of the Make Up Lounge as she introduces us to the business of make-up. She gives insight into the beauty business and her personal journey. Our Be inspired Section features Dr. Paula Felligham who has made it her life’s purpose to travel all around the world and preach the message of the power of networking and working together. She seeks to write a communiqué based on women across the continents that put across their voice on a global platform. Our socio-preneur Agnetta Nyalita showcases the power of a one woman army as she delves into her social entrepreneurship concept she has

Janet auctioned to give back to her community. If you are a first time mom, learn how to navigate the challenges facing working moms in the mompreneur section. As we get closer to the New Year, find tips on building your business profile in the from the corner office section. As you wind down the year, take a look at our exclusive feature on the Angsana Spa at Sankara and do take advantage of the Lady Entrepreneur individual and group packages just for you! Enjoy your reading and end of year festivities. Let us catch up in 2012. All the best and Be Inspired. Janet

The Team Publisher: Janet Kibuthu janet@kenyanlady-entrepreneur.biz aav Associate Editor: Fineword Play Creative Direction & IT BrandSpark clientservice@brandspark.co.ke Cover picture - courtesy of Riz Mehar www.facebook.com/rizmeharphotographer janetadongo@gmail.com

Contributors: Angela Maina; Janet Kibuthu; a; Tammy Atieno For more information, to send your feedback and if you are interested in being a contributor Email: info@kenyanlady-entrepreneur.biz. For more resources visit our website: www.kenyanlady-entrepreneur.biz All rights reserved

Essentials

Networking business Tools

So you have a business up and running but how do you get your name out there? You will need tools that will give visibility and brand recognition for your business. They are to assist you to engage potential clients and even use them for referral business.

1• Business card holder/ Sample business card These are imprtant for handing out whenever you meet someone. Use every opportunity you can to hand them out.and delicious scent.

5• Mini laptop/ phone It is important to be able to have out of the office meetings. It also enable you to work and engage your clients from anywhere. Use every opportunity to read up on potential clients like visiting their websites. Save clients’ contacts on your phone for easy access.

3• Company Profile sample Always have your company profile handy on your desktop and email to show clients who you are at a glance and to forward to referrals.

6.social media plug ins for twitter, FB, Sample website Ensure your business has an online presence through social networks. They are businesses that run entirely from online platforms which they use to draw customers. You must consistently engage potential clients online and separate your personal and professional persona.

2• Note book First rule of meetings, never go into one without a pen and a notebook. Sometimes to note down those contacts without business cards.

4• Business Bag If you need to walk around a lot make it comfortable and have a complete professional look.

Essentials

Dr. Jim McFie of Strathmore School of Business addresses guests at the eZee Business Management Software launch at a hotel in Nairobi. eZee Business Management Software is an accounting softaware that was developed to cater for the needs of small and medium sized enterprises many of which lack proper accounting systems.

From right to left, Dr. Jim McFie of Strathmore School of Business, Ms. Dorcas Rina of Dataguard Distributors, Mr. Jeremy Craig Fulford, and Mr. Jonathan de Kock of eZee Business Management Software take questions from the guests in attendance during the launch of eZee Software. The accounting software is user friendly and can be customized to suit the needs of individual businesses.

Mr. Craig Jeremy Fulford of eZee Business Management Software and Ms. Dorcas Rina of Dataguard Distributors explains how the eZee Accounting Software works to the guests. eZee software has been launched in East Africa to cater for the accounting needs of the growing Small and Medium sized enterprises . The software can be effectively used by even those who are not accounting professionals.

Mr. Jeremy Craig Fulford of eZee Business Management Software answering questions about the accounting software launch at a hotel in Nairobi. eZee Business Management Software is accounting software targeted to Small and Medium sized enterprises that lack proper accounting systems. It is available in two versions, eZee Gold which includes payroll and the eZee Silver that excludes Payroll functionalities.

For more infomation visit www.phoenixsoftware.co.za

Off the Shelf

Know How to Own a Room A

n essential business skill is networking. To build a business, an entrepreneur has venture into the world and create and maintain business relationships. How to work a room: Your Essential Guide to Savvy Socializing is about improving communicating and socializing skills in business and life. The book lays down the fundamentals for savvy socializing, whether at a party, a conference, or even communicating online. The author clearly shows how to overcome the five roadblocks that keep most people from making new contacts; mix chutzpah and charm to start and end conversations smoothly; know when to use humor––and when not to; and follow simple rules of etiquette. Incorporating years of feedback from hundreds of presentations, as well as anecdotes from around the globe, the book’s content is fresh and on target. What do I say next?: Talking your way to Business and social success beginnings with the author’s observation that “conversation is the core of communication, the key component in leadership and overall success”. Successful conversation is within our reach as long as we prepare, practice, pay attention to and respect others, and make a personal commitment to developing conversational prowess. The author concludes with “Ten Commandments of Conversation,” which include “Thou shalt prepare for conversation by being well read and well rounded” and “Thou shalt listen, listen, listen (with ears, eyes, face, heart).”

About the Author Susan RoAne is the leading international authority and original expert on how to work a room®. She has written seven significant books on connecting and communicating to build better business relationships. Her best selling books, popular interactive presentations and media interview help companies and organizations successfully develop, build and manage client relationships that increase business growth. Known as The Mingling Maven®, she gives diverse audiences the required tools, techniques andstrategies they need to connect and communicate in today’s global business world. information from-www.susanroane.com www.amazon.com

Insight

Enhancing Your Business Relationships

ny business is built around relationships; relationships with your suppliers, customers, your banker, employees among others. Each of these relationships is a key cornerstone of your entire business and it is imperative that you include each of them as part of your strategic plan. The first step is enhancing business a relationship is to first understand who the key stakeholders that are important in the day to day running of your business. Many businesses tend to focus on the customer and forget that it takes an army of relationships to keep the customer happy and meet their needs. One of the most quoted authors Dale Carnegie wrote a book that has been used for decades the world over to help people learn how to build relationships, â&#x20AC;&#x153;How to win friends and influence people. For some people building relationships is part of their genetic makeup, it just comes easily. For others, this is a skill that they have to cultivate over a long period of time. The best news is that anyone can work and build on it.

A few tips to building and enhancing your business relationships. 1.Develop a genuine interest in people. When you meet someone, ask them about their background, family, professional life. Learn as much as you possibly can about them. This information will help you know how best to connect with them. Understand what the key driver is for most decision makers and use this to make a long term connection with them. 2.Remember a personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name. Nothing annoys a potential supplier, or customer than receiving a letter or event invitation card with a mis-spelt name. Most people will not evne let you off the hook for getting their name rong. It amplies the lack of a personal connection with each individual. Ensure your keep an updated database of your main key audiences and your business continues to gorw. 3. Make them feel important. Each and every person you meet has the need

to feel important to you. It is one of the simplest and best ways to build a lasting connection. When having a conversation focus on them and the details of their life or business and place high value on their ideas and opinions. Once in a while give them a call to ask a question even if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need the answer. It is a sure way to make them feel like an important part of your business. 4.Avoid arguments. If you think about it, what is the point of an argument? Once you have stated your point and won, all you have achieved is making another person look and feel bad. This will not generate sales leads or build your relationships. It will not make a supplier go to the ends of the earth to deliver and make you happy. Each person holds the key to building or ruining your business. In some PR circles it is said that when you do something a customer appreciates they tell their friends, when you do something negative, they tell the whole world. As the internet and social networks make the world smaller nothing is more threatening than the power of word of mouth. 5. Learn the art of conversation. According to Dale Carnegie, the secret to being a great conversationalist does not lie in knowing and preparing great stories and anecdotes. It is in being a good listener. Most people when involved in a conversation are always thinking of the next thing to say instead of listening to the other party. Get engrossed in the other person and ask probing questions into the conversation they are carrying on. Get them to talk more about themselves and listen to them. 6.Remember the 6 degrees of separation. You will not always be aware of the key connections between people. Each person you meet is an opportunity for a referral that can change your life. Always treat them as such.

Technology

Make your Adroid Smartphone a mobile office The great advantage of Android powered smartphones is that you can turn them into excellent business tools when you are on the move using the apps from the online market.

Thinking Space Pro

Below are some other best business apps available:

Calendar Sync

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If your Outlook calendar is all you need to keep in sync, Google’s own free Calendar Sync program may be the tool for you. The Google Calendar Sync runs on your PC - but not Mac - and, as its name suggests, provides an ongoing two-way sync between your Outlook calendar and your Google Calendar (which is by default linked to your Android smartphone). The program is free to download and use.

Need to do some mind-mapping on the go? Check out Kinesthetic’s Thinking Space Pro. The app gives you everything you need to create visual maps for your thoughts and plans. It integrates with several desktop-based mind-mapping programs, including Freemind, Xmind and MindManager. Plus, it lets you embed live hyperlinks in your maps and create both folders and tags; there’s also a free, adsupported version.

Expensify Expensify.com’s free Expensify app gives you everything you need to manage expenses while out and about: It offers simple forms for entering expenses, photographing receipts and invoices, and syncing the data to your account at Expensify.com. Accounts are free for individuals, but companies are charged per user.

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Catch Notes It is a great tool for on-the-go notetaking and organisation. Catch provides an easy-to-use interface for jotting down messages and reminders: You can tap out a note on your smartphone’s keyboard, speak a note via Android’s builtin voice recognition, record an audio note to be saved for future playback, or capture a visual note via your smartphone’s camera. All of your notes are saved into the app and can be synced to the Web and other devices using your Google account or an account with Catch.com at a monthly fee.

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Focus on business

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m quite gutsy, and have no reservations about taking calculated risks. Be your own number one critic and fan, in order to have an objective view of your stuff.

Accessorize Unique-Fully

angui Munyue is on a path to save women and men from the cheap Chinese and mass produced jewellery from Maasai Market. Under Fully Accessorize, her unique pieces of jewellery that she has made passion can be found. Lady Entrepreneur talk to her about her company Fully Accessorize.

Fully Accessorize is about three years now, quick buck keeps people very happy. Also, cordial what inspired you start making jewellery? relations with clients makes them feel appreciated, I have always had a love for jewellery and accessories from a young age. Over time, I began to desire unique pieces, and got to a point where I’d go out of my way to seek out one-of-one’s, or wear nothing at all. Delving into creating my own pieces was only natural at this point.

and they are free to make suggestions on design, changes on a piece etc.

Some people feel that with beads and string anyone can make jewellery. What is your view on this assumption?

Anybody with a sufuria, some cooking oil, and a Making jewellery requires a lot of patience, matchbox can cook good fo od. Is this true? Case what keeps you motivated to do it every closed.

day?

The end-result; it is very gratifying to see a beautiful, complete piece, and the pleasure of seeing clients proudly wearing my pieces makes it even more worth the effort. And oh, let’s not forget the money! In the near future, I aspire to enter business on a full-time basis, and to truly succeed, I must be engaged in something that is dear to me. Pay or no pay, I would still create jewellery, so staying motivated is less of a challenge than lack of time.

What do you do to ensure that your designs are not replicated? There isn’t much I can do to stop people from copying my work, so my task is to stay ahead of the curve. By the time others are putting out something I did, I’m looking at ways to improve, and put out something new. It doesn’t bother me though, short of stealing my brain, there’s not much anybody can take from you. The vision is always secure.

Marketing is one of the important pillars What advice would you give someone of business success and can be the most looking to start making jewellery? Establish that you are passionate about it FIRST, expensive. How did you go about this? The secret formula: Word of mouth, based on the quality of my work, and social media. It appears a bit obvious, doesn’t it? I started with my friends, then my mum’s friends, people at work, church, and so on. As the brand grew, it commanded more attention on social media platforms, and this got me invites to trade fairs, exhibitions etc. I’m quite gutsy, and have no reservations about taking calculated risks. Being visible at the fairs & exhibitions caused people to trust the brand, and this is a great benefit, sales or no sales. They saw me at events that are known and respected and that was transferred and the brand became known and respected as well. Beyond that, my repeat clients are walking advertisements, and I strive to keep them satisfied.

What makes people coming back for more Fully Accessorize jewellery? Quality and unique pieces. When I do an amazing, out-of-this-world design, suppressing the temptation to mass-produce it and make a

before anything else. If you are, you will thrive. If not, you will survive .Be your own number one critic and fan, in order to have an objective view of your stuff.

What does the future hold for the Fully Accessorize? Watch this space, that’s all that can be said. As Fully Accessorize, we are always increasing our product range and looking at better ways to do business. Let’s conquer the sky and look for the limit once we’re there!

Contact Information +254 720 296 009 +254 735 296 009 info@wangumunye.com

You: The Brand

Building Your Brand Through Online Media

he increasing need to keep up with user driven preferences and functionality has seen the digital age continue to experience high speed technological advancements. In this age, ignoring the technology and social media at one’s own peril. It has become increasingly important for brands to establish a strong presence online. The current generation has grown up with internet driven media interaction that does not know that a few decades ago, there was only mainstream media (print, radio and TV) to choose from. The advancement in mobile handsets, smart phones, has changed the way of life. It has made it easier, one does not need to queue to pay their utility bills; one can send money; can watch the news; can follow their favorite stock online or through updates; can shop for movie tickets, clothes, music, books, shoes, computers. I remember watching a cartoon; Kick Buttowski, whose best friend Gunther was appalled when asked to use a pay phone and remarked, “that is like going back to 1996! “

According to the June 2011 Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) report, 12.5 million Kenyans are internet users and 98 per cent of this figure accesses it through their phones. They are also 4.2 million internet subscriptions. This means that online media is becoming more accessible. Therefore, online media provides a portal into an unlimited supply of potential consumer niches. It is the largest consumer market in the world! The best part is that most of it is free and is designed to help one get in touch with the target niche directly, efficiently and in real time. So what are the key steps to building your brand online?

Define your online Brand Strategy The first step for any online brand strategist lies in the clear brand definition and the main target audience online. Ask yourself, “where are my consumers and where do I go to network with them?” Understanding the consumer interactions and behavior online will allow you to know what is needed to be to gain the most visibility. It is also crucial to define your voice and online presence.

17 Define your Niche The next step involves defining and finding your niche. This is the content profile of the specific online media that your consumers are interacting with in relevance to the brand’s character. If you are looking to interact with techies for instance, you would consider technoratti. Defining your niche will enable you to find the leading consumer communities that are dedicated to your specific type of content. Thus would be more susceptible to hearing what you have to say.

Nature of your Website A website is a résumé of who you are and what your organization does. Make your website as interactive as possible and ensure that it has a feedback instrument for your consumer. Update your content regularly to get good traffic. Create online publisher relationships and back links to drive traffic to your site. Keep track of user profiles and data to ensure your content continues to appeal to your audience.

Get social Network Exposure In the same CCK report, it states that they are 1,241,720 Facebook Users and Twitter- Users 70, 000 in Kenya. Obviously, the numbers have increased. This makes social media the key to increasing your exposure potential. However, building a credible online profile and content requires commitment and tactic. Social networks are an essential tool to assist in building your web presence. Web presence involves the establishment of the necessary links and networks that will ensure that your brand gets maximum visibility. To get this visibility is by posting content that is relevant to your target audience and consistently updating it. Focus on providing value to the end user of the content. Once consumers’ online behavior is understood, ensure your brand

...12.5 million Kenyans are internet users and 98 per cent of this figure accesses it through their phones. Create online publisher relationships and back links to drive traffic to your site. has a presence within those networks. Popular social networks such as linked in, Face book and twitter. Look at these as a key to getting a referral on a sale. The high number of referrals means a good rate of conversion and brand loyalty. A word of caution: The internet is a world of free and uncensored speech. Be ready to get backlash if your brand/service fails to deliver on its promise. The following are some cool innovative examples of brand building online; 1. Nissanforumns.com is a web portal dedic ated to Nissan car consumers. They share information and exchange ideas about their cars 2. Virgin America has launched its first twitter hash tagged named and branded plane #nerdbird 3. Check out Nikes joga.com dedicated to football enthusiasts 4. The worlds’ greatest brand shows how to build a consumer driven site mycoke.com 5. Proctor and Gamble gathers consumer insights of its target audience through beinggirl.com 6. Tusker All Stars had a twitter driven campaign for their October concert featuring Shaggy, Eve and Cabo snoop. They awarded tickets to users through twitter. Who said only radio promotions work real time!

Cover Story

Ladies, Lipsticks and Eye Pencil is not Make-up!

yeshadows, lipsticks, eye liners, is what Muthoni Njoba knows and loves. Make-up is her life and she has made it her career. Her love affair with make-up started at the tender age of nine years. She vividly remembers â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;being obsessive about eye linerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. She is still obsessed with eye liner to this day! Her dreams of pursuing a career in make-up artistry began in university whilst studying for a degree in Communications at Oxford Brookes University, England. She would do make-up for her friends for extra cash. On moving back home, she entered the industry working as an assistant for the

19 late Hassan Maburuk – the go to person for a variety of make-up needs in Nairobi. Working with him really ignited the fire within her. After a year of working as an assistant, she got a formal corporate job in communications. However, she continued doing bridal make-up on weekends. In December 2009 – after two years of working in the formal sector, Muthoni finally quit her job to be full time professional make-up artist. The decision put a strain on her relationship with her father, who felt that she should have continued with the job. But, the job had taken over her life that she did not have time to spend with her son or do make-up. She re-entered the field when the importance of make-up artist was beginning to grow. Her first challenge was how she was going to brand herself. “It is really tough try to make it in this market as a make-up artist,” says Muthoni. She adds that most people want to work with someone they already know. Her break came when Suzie Wokabi of Suzie Beauty – another leading Kenyan professional artist - handed over her client list to Muthoni as she took maternity leave. It gave the much needed opportunity to show her skills as a professional. She did this for three months. However after this opportunity, jobs stopped coming as she had expected and sometimes would go for an entire month without any. During this time, she started to pull in favours with photographers to build her portfolio and build a website. Luckily she had invested in a good make-up kit and equipment, however this meant that she was charging slightly higher than the industry charges. “People would use this as an excuse to not use my services,” she says. Muthoni’s mistake was thinking that the calls would start coming in. It was until she started sharing her experiences in her blog that people got to know her and the passion she had for make-up. “When I started blogging jobs started coming,” says Muthoni. Her blog on her website www.muthoninjoba. com covers different make-up topics regularly;

“To build one’s name as a professional make-up artist, one has to do many free jobs in order to build a portfolio and learn their style.” The lounge is a place to empower women with the knowledge and confidence to use make up to accentuate their natural beauty.

Mondays’ entries are “Make-up Madness” these are tips; Wednesdays’ “Product Craze” and Fridays’ “Personality Special” were local well known women share in their beauty regiments and secrets. She is now one of the foremost make-up artists in Kenya catering to the needs of magazines, advertising/commercials, catwalks, bridal parties and celebrity/personality appearances. Apart from make-up, she offers body painting with her friend Ayako, a fine art artist. They called this new venture, Evolve. “Queen of the Birds”, inspired by Tinga Tinga art, was their first body art project which took over twelve hours to paint on the model. The body art is her niche and it has helped bring in clients. “To build one’s name as a professional make-up artist, one has to do many free jobs in order to build a portfolio and learn their style,” she says. She adds that above all else, an artist must work with a good photographer, whose knowledge on lighting can help build a good portfolio.

20 Working with people means that an understanding and since they have to be so close to people’s faces they have to be comfortable with this. Not so long ago, the perception of a make-up artist was a woman in a salon with a few makeup items like blush. Now it is slowly changing, women getting more educated, exposed to the internet and influx of local and international glossy magazines. As a result women are seeking information that would enable them to use make-up frequently and on or for special occasions, Muthoni wanted to create a platform for sharing make-up knowledge. Her father finally came around to understanding her vision and gave her space to open the MakeUp Lounge. Situated on the Slip Road on Waiyaki Way, it is a one stop shop for consumers and professionals to access the best in international brands as well as service in order to gain the necessary know how and self belief in make-up – both its application and use. The lounge is a place to empower women with the knowledge and confidence to use make up to accentuate their natural beauty. “I believe a good make-up artist wants you to look like the best version of yourself,” she says. The lounge offers one the chance to learn the basics of make-up with Muthoni’s Ten Step Guide at a fun FREE workshop that happens only once a month for a maximum of 15 people. She encourages people to book early to avoid disappointment. “Or have a private one-on-one consultation in which you learn what make-up best suits you and the required application style for your unique features and skin tone,” says Muthoni. Muthoni is eager to share information to those who cannot make it to her workshops. Apart from her blog, she also contributes to the Kenyan Kitchen magazine on natural beauty remedies. Skilled make-up artists will be at hand late on weekends to glamour up the ladies going out to party. Apart from the make-up, the lounge also offers

facials, natural skin care remedies on order. There is also an exclusive nail bar that stocks unique nail polish colours. The nail specialist caters to acrylics, nail art, manicures and pedicures. On special request, a hairstylist can be called in to style one’s hair. The lounge has an annual membership packages; Stunning Student Membership that gives a 20 per cent discount on all services and the Fabulous Working Woman Membership gives a 30 per cent discount on all services offered at the lounge. To play the important role of growing the industry, the lounge is a place to train the future artists. It is an on the job training for men and women who want to pursue make-up artistry as a career. She believes in creating opportunities for other make-up artists to facilitate their growth in the industry having herself been given a once in a lifetime learning experience. “After passing interviews and make-up application tests, we are happy to help in taking it to the next level by training on location and compiling a professional portfolio,” says Muthoni. She believes that bring more professionalism in the industry will increase the charges and artists can live off it. This limits the growth of the industry. One way to build is encourage bidding for jobs, instead of the usual picking up the phone and calling a make-up artist. Starting the Make-up Lounge has helped people understand make-up and artists to hone in their craft. “I have so many people who come to me feeling unsure about make-up but leave with a newfound confidence,” says Muthoni. “I also believe that showing girls and women how to do their own make-up leaves them feeling great about themselves.” Side Bar The Make-up Lounge was started: • To give Kenyan women the information they need to start wearing make up with confidence. • To give Kenyan women access to international brands at fair prices. • To provide Kenyan women with the

21 knowledge and skills to use these international brands effectively. • To give make-up artists in Kenya an opportunity to grow within the industry in this country. • To raise the standards of make-up artistry as a service in Kenya to international standards. • To be a one stop shop for all make up needs across industries, ranging from bridal parties to production houses to editorial spreads. • To offer a network of other service providers in the fashion and beauty industry; these will include wardrobe consultants, fashion stylists, hair stylists, nail specialists, beauticians and many more. • To provide Kenyan women with a place to relax, and have fun getting glammed up with their girlfriends. Other services offered at the Make-up Lounge: • Make-up applications for shoots done by professional photographers. • Make-up application and Body painting packages for model portfolios, private events and branding. • The Make-up lounge offers a tailored Make-up bar set up, at which you can enjoy the Make-up services as well as customized cocktails at a venue of your preference like your home. • At home services such as Make-up application and consultation. Avoid the traffic; we come to you! A travel fee will vary from Kshs500 to Kshs1000, which can be sent via

Mpesa to guarantee your time slot. • You can now forget the hustle of sending friends and family for product; at the Makeup Lounge we order Make-up products from international brands of your choice & only charge a small fee above the cost of each product of 1,200Kshs to deliver your make-up to you. Our rates are very reasonable; we want you to enjoy using international Make-up brands. • Get your specialized Make-up needs for Bridal Parties, Hen Night celebrations, Prom, Princess parties, Birthday parties, Family Portraits, Girls night out and much more. For those of you of legal age you can enjoy the specially customized Make-up lounge cocktails while you get your Makeup done.

Social-preneur

Volunteering To Build Her Community

or Agnetta Nyalita, volunteering comes easily to her like breathing and helping her community in that same breath is what keeps her working hard. She wants to ensure that the youth group and non-governmental organisation that she has founded succeed in elevating poverty in her home area. During the International Women’s Day, she got the Top Service Award for the Women International Network (WIN) for her dedication to helping her community. This same network got her in touch with an artist, Claire Waithera to raise funds for roofing two classrooms in her former primary school. With just eight paintings, Kshs 100,000 was raised to this cause. Agnetta has developed a youth volunteering through social entrepreneurship concept has gotten the recognition in the top five internationally. She is independent and following her passion makes the challenges worthwhile and the achievements serve to reinforce her purpose of volunteering and empowering the youth and women. She also belongs to several networks like the Youth World Leadership, Shabaa, International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE), National Volunteer Network Trust(Kenya) (NAVNET), Youth Agenda and Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) to assist her to achieve her purpose. She has been volunteering since 2008 while in campus but had been helping her community long before then especially on education. When she finished primary school, she gave away all her textbooks then while in high school she would borrow books for her day scholars friends back home to study during the holiday.

“The idea of forming this youth group is for them to move up as I move up. I didn’t want to leave them behind” “I will only join a group if its value based, principled and non-political”

“I did not want internship because I felt that I would not be able to utilize my skills properly,” she says. She volunteered at the Volunteer Services Overseas as a report writer for a month before moving to NAVNET as a volunteer programme co-ordinator. During her time there, she built databases of contacts and profession as well as a profile for each volunteer ant this greatly ended the communication problem. She also trained as a trainer. After graduating with a B. Com in Management Sciences, she got a formal job at a bank. However, after six months she quit and joined NAVNET as a programme co-ordinator. The inspiration to put more effort in helping her community can be pegged on one orphan boy. He was a class behind in primary and was bright however due to lack of school fees, he remained at home. Like most impoverished areas, without the hope of advancing most girls get married young and boys turn to drug abuse.

“Then the insecurity in the community becomes an Agnetta has been declining the Ministry of Youth’s offer to give the group funding. issue,” says Agnetta. In December 2009, Agnetta called some of her age “We are not ready yet. We need to build capacity especially on finance and group dynamics to be mates in the village to register a youth group. “The idea of forming this youth group is for them able to manage any funds,” she says. to move up as I move up. I didn’t want to leave She stresses the need to think long-term and it them behind,” she says. beginnings with building a strong foundation. Three signed up that day, but talking in church This will help get funding and eventually be self about the benefits of joining the youth group 15 sustaining. signed up in the second meeting. Using sports as a community mobiliser, the Ministry of Youth gave “Funders have such a network that a NGO can be the newly registered Itaava Development Youth blacklisted, if they are seen to be misusing funds,” Group (IDYG) two balls, nets and her siblings says Agnetta. donated a third ball. Another thing that she discourages is having In May 2010, the IDYG was – for two days - officially IDYG used for political gains. The group’s focus is launched with friends from Nairobi. She did this to development and she refuses to join those that ensure that her community is exposed to other are. In their meetings, there is a strict rule of no opportunities and different kinds of people like talking politics. IT specialists and doctors. It also coincided with “I will only join a group if its value based, principled Global Service day. and non-political,” she says. Thus far, group’s name is spreading and more young people are joining. It has grown to over Invest to transform and the community takes the 100 members, who are less than 20 years and willpower translates into action, changing the the age limit is 30. And the ripple effect is been attitude and turning ideas into reality, she adds. felt in Makueni as more youth groups are being “Africans can help themselves only if we change our attitude,” says Agnetta. registered. Swedish International Development Cooperation To get in-touch with the group, the Facebook page Agency (SIDA), a NGO operating in the area, is - Itaava Development Youth Group- Kenya (IDYG) going to send one of the members to Canada for is the best bet. the World Youth Exchange for six months to learn about community development, environment and conservation. With the registration of Partners for Growth, a NGO, will allow the IDYG to promote education more effectively. Apart from the roofing of the two classrooms, there is a community library for the primary and secondary going children that hold up to 40 students at a time. During the school holidays, a tent is put up to accommodate more. The self-help group will help with income generating activities like growing vegetables or putting up a tree nursery.

Be Inspired

Bringing Women of the World Together

etworking for an entrepreneur is about meeting the right business people and turn those relationships into viable business transactions. The WIN (Women Information Network) is a premier media and social network for women. It is a global community of women helping women in their personal lives, in their families, and in their businesses. Launched in 2009, the network has a presence in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, UK and USA. Their mission is to “to strengthen women and families worldwide through education, enlightenment, and entrepreneurism in an effort to eradicate poverty and hunger and increase the level of love and peace on earth.” In 2010, a powerful global movement to celebrate and educate the women of the world

called Global Women’s Summits, a division of WIN, got underway. “The story of Global Women’s Summits began in the spring of 2010. It lies at the very heart of my mission to strengthen women and families worldwide, beginning with my own family,” says Paula Fellingham, Founder and CEO of The WIN, author of best-selling Believe It! Become It! and international speaker. As a mother of seven adult children and the grandmother of 18, Ms Fellingham has worked with women around the globe for decades. In her travels, she frequently asks herself how she can help support all women. “I’ve learned, through the years, that meeting faceto-face (and heart-to-heart) is the very best way to really connect. Therefore, I believe that going

“....meeting face-to-face (and heart-to-heart) is the very best way to really connect.” It connects with women experts and leaders in each nation and helps them share their messages “in person” at events, and on a large network online.

2. Strengthen women’s roles for increased peace and development in communities, nations, and the world 3. Live in dignity and contribute to the well being of women and families in communities, nations, and the world

“The mission of The WIN is magnificent in its simplicity ~ to strengthen women and families worldwide. And it is massive in its potential to truly enlighten women’s minds and empower women’s hearts on a global scale,” she says. WIN seeks to empower women in each country and give their experts a platform instead of assuming that they know what participants need. It from country to country and meeting with women connects with women experts and leaders in each to learn exactly how I can best support them is the nation and helps them share their messages “in person” at events, and on a large network online. first step,” she says. It encourages their speakers/experts/leaders to This year, the Global Women’s Summits will be offer solutions to the challenges women in their countries face. held in 12 Countries including Kenya. When she began the summits, she did not want it to be to be simply one more women’s organization doing what others are doing. If she was going to work long hours and leave her family for extended periods of time, she wanted it to be of lasting value. The events must have long-term impact on the lives of participants.

Women in all nations know how they want their roles strengthened; they know how they’d like to live in dignity and contribute to the well-being of others. Women want their voices heard by those who can truly help and support them. The WIN is a caring community of women worldwide who strengthen and support one another. And the leaders of The WIN are well-connected to influential world leaders who also want the best for all women and families.

With the help of her long-time friend and international mentor Ambassador Mokhtar Lamani, a well known international diplomat, she crafted how the Global Women’s Summits could be unique The great hope of the women of The WIN to help and truly make a difference for women worldwide. lighten women’s loads and lift their burdens as they fulfill their mission to strengthen women and After hours of discussion, she and Ambassador families worldwide. Lamani created a Master Plan for Global Women’s Summits. It was during this time that her heart After the Global Women’s Summits, the discussions filled with the belief that these events can be are shared with local and national leaders so they’ll know what women want and can take steps powerful forums for global change. to initiate positive change relative to the particular The two decided on three discussion points that women’s issues in their nations. participants will discuss at all Global Women’s Ms Fellingham’s hope is that the Global Women’s Summits. Summits of WIN can spark the fire of profound 1. Acknowledge similarities and respect improvement and be catalysts for powerful change in the lives of attendees as well as in their in differences communities and nations worldwide.

Leadership

Strength Based Leadership

t is a human flaw to always spot the weaknesses in ourselves and others. We find ourselves in an endless circle of trying to make those weaknesses into strengths especially so when you are an employer looking to reduce the weaknesses of each staff member.

our mistakes, less mistakes will be made if we play to our strengths. The dialogue of this kind of leadership began with the US research giant, Gallup, igniting a global conversation on the topic of strengths when it unveiled the results of a landmark 30-year research project in the late 90s. The research concluded Some employers have found this out and are that spending time building strengths was far more instead decided to concentrate on their employees productive than logging countless hours shoring strengths. They are investing, like training seminars, up weaknesses. It created a virtual revolution in to make those strengths even more productive to the way people think about their natural talents. the bottom line. One of the bestselling books on strength-based This focus on strengths is not a new phenomenon. leadership, Strengths Based Leadership by Tom In the ‘80s, the process of ‘Artificial Inquiry’ was Rath and Barry Conchie, says “chances are you first employed to enhance organizational and will have many opportunities to lead during your individual growth. The idea was to focus more on own lifetime. As you will learn, the path to great successes and learn from what worked, which was leadership starts with a deep understanding of in contrast to the prevailing notion at the time, the strengths you bring to the table.” The Myth that individuals and organizations would learn of the Well-Rounded Leader One of the most more from mistakes. Although we do learn from startling conclusions of Gallup’s research is that

comes to those who have clearly identified and demonstrated their strengths, who have identified their passion and know how they can and will add value. There can be no argument against the fact that we are most engaged in our work when we feel that we are doing our best and competently contributing every day. But this is only possible when we play to our strengths. The Four Domains of Leadership Strength

Over the years, Gallup has studied thousands of executive teams, in most cases interviewing a team’s formal leaders and each member. It came up four distinct domains of leadership strength there is noone strength that all good leaders that are necessary components of all great teams. possess. What’s more, the most effective leaders It serves a team well to have representation from are not well-rounded at all, but instead are acutely each of these domains -- whether in the leader aware of their talents and use them to their best or in the team members. The four domains of advantage. The late Donald O. Clifton, the Father leadership strength are: of Strengths Psychology, was asked a few months before his death in 2003 what he considered to Executing: they time and again implement to find be the greatest discovery in more than 30 years of a solution. They work tirelessly to get something leadership research. done. They have an ability to take an idea and transform it into reality within the organization Clifton responded, “A leader needs to know his they lead. strengths as a carpenter knows his tools, or as a physician knows the instruments at her disposal. Influencing: they are innately good at influencing What great leaders have in common is that each and always selling the team’s ideas inside and truly knows his or her strengths -- and can call on outside the organization. They take charge, speak the right strength at the right time. This explains up and make sure your group is heard. why there is no definitive list of characteristics that describes all leaders.” It also explains why Relationship Building: they are the glue that holds the calm and quiet approach of Mahatma Gandhi a team together. They either keeping distractions was equally as effective as the domineering and at bay or keeping the collective energy high confrontational style of Winston Churchill. -- transform a group of individuals into a team capable of carrying out complex projects and goals. If you think you can be anything you want to be Strategic Thinking: they are able to keep people but you don’t know your strengths, you are wrong. focused on what they could be are constantly And, if you think turning a weakness into a strength pulling a team and its members into the future. will give you an edge, again you are wrong. The They continually absorb and analyze information key to success is clearly identifying your strengths and help the team make better decisions. and weaknesses and deciding to develop your strengths rather than getting frustrated and Leaders who are strongly self-aware and realistic wasting energy trying to improve your weaknesses. about their own talents and strengths are the most You will become more effective and experience likely to pick a team that helps shore up their more career success and advancement. Success

28 weaknesses. A strong strategist, for example, will recognize the importance of having a relationship builder on board. This ability to build a wellrounded team is the mark of a successful leader, no matter which particular talents or strengths he or she possesses. And this beginnings with knowing your own strengths; focusing on your strengths let go of your weaknesses. Here are some tips to help achieve this: Know Thyself: If you’re going to hone your strengths, it Zonly makes sense that you are certain what they are. Some amount of independent thinking and introspection is required. Beyond your skills and knowledge what might set you apart from someone of equal talent. Take an inventory of your past and present performance and identify the things that you look forward to doing. This will help you arrive at what your unique core competencies are and where your strengths are. Lend an Ear: When it comes to deciding what your strengths are, public opinion need not be your absolute barometer, but your peers and colleagues are a good resource to help you identify them if you are not able to. However, it does make sense to pay heed to what people think about you, especially those in your field. For example, you may think that you write excellent feature articles, but your editor may find you better suited for writing pithy taglines for ad-campaigns. This doesn’t mean that you quit brochure-writing altogether. You can, however, consider, Working more extensively on ad campaigns. Peter Drucker, a well-known management consultant, has an objective method of analyzing accuracy of your perceived strengths and those suggested through feedback from colleagues. Before performing any activity or taking any decision, first make a list of your expectations. After a few weeks or months, write down details of your performance in these areas. A comparison of the performance against your expectations will help you understand which areas you are strongest in and where your strengths lie. Be Strong: Now that you know what your strengths are, focus on these. Do not try to overcome your shortcomings. To put it simply, it is not worth it.

Marcus Buckingham is considered to be the pioneer of ‘the strengths’ revolution’. In his stint as a researcher at Gallup organization, he extensively studied the world’s most successful individuals and organizations to understand what drives their performance. He concluded that these people and organizations focus on what they are good at and continue to get better at this. Buckingham postulates that employees who get to do what they are best at, are more engaged, fulfilled and successful. Spend your professional development energy honing your strengths, instead of attending workshops to remedy your weaknesses. Work on projects where you can showcase your best abilities. Do not worry about being sidelined for what you cannot do. Simply shine in what you can do extremely well. From Individual to Organization: This ‘strength-based’ approach pays off even at an organizational level. Know your strengths and be able to describe how your strengths can achieve the best outcome. Weaknesses Are Not The Point: You may be giving your weaknesses a lot more importance than they merit. Your weakness will be obliterated by someone else’s strengths. Similarly, your strengths will carry a project through despite someone else’s limitations. Good leaders choose well-rounded teams. Every member is selected based on their strengths that complement those of others in the team, regardless of their weaknesses. It’s a truism, that we all have our strengths and weaknesses. They make us complete. But it’s the former that make us successful.

Financial Intelligence

Investing tactics For Building Long Term Wealth

he great investor Warren Buffet is quoted as having said that success as an investor not only depends on the skill of the investor but also the amount of time the investor devotes to investing. If the investor is consistent eventually he/she can maximize return. It is the goal of every investor to maximize return and minimize risk when selecting securities to invest in. There exist a great deal of theory and statistical data to enable the savvy investor make a decision on which security to select. However, the idea is to be able to build a balanced portfolio of securities that ensure overall return regardless of prevailing risk factors. There is a good range of securities available in the Kenyan market but most individual investors have dabbled in the stock market which has received more than a good share of coverage and market activity. It is imperative to clearly outline your goals for each security before making that initial investment in an IPO or joining that investment group. Make it clear

what the ultimate goal for your investment portfolio is and what securities or industries you are interested in. Most retail investors look at making the quickest possible return on investment in the short term. However, I believe in having a short to long term view to investing. This means that your portfolio should include short, medium and long term investment securities to ensure your money is making money way into the future. I also believe in starting where you are. I am sure many of you have heard the great quip by Jimnah Mbaru that all he would need to start all over again is Kes 600. There is no such thing as not having enough to start. Start small and have a long term perspective. There are a ton of great investments packages available in the market that can help you build up your initial capital you achieve a large amount of money enough to build momentum for your portfolio. Building wealth is like weight loss, you must put in the work, there are no real short cuts with long lasting effects, you have to be disciplined with everything that comes in and consistency over a long period is what really matters. Some of the tactics that an investor should consider include; 1.Ensuring there is a minimum amount of savings put away with each income earned. Note I did not mention salary only. There is a lot of money that comes our way through gifts, consultancy fees, prize money etc the tendency is to feel the urge to just blow that money because it is not accounted for in the overall financial planning. Set a minimum target, a percentage of every income that you put away. You would be surprised how quickly a small amount of money can grow. Now have a goal

Warren Buffet

30 savings amount that you allocate to the different securities in your portfolio. This means that if you save Kes 100,000, once that goal line is achieved, the money must be allocated to a security in your portfolio. That way you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel like you have idle money and get t empted to pinch into it. 2.Building an old age nest egg. It is not enough to only save through a retirement plan. But ensure that you do have one and you allocate an amount of money annually to it, just like car insurance. For instance you can decide to put away Kes 20,000 every year until you retire. It is important to also consider investing in long term securities such as government bonds and planning for that money as part of your retirement nest egg. This means that all the income you earn from the bonds should be considered for re-investment purposes only and growing your nest egg.

3.Hedge against risk. This may sound like a nice to have but every savvy investor will minize risk and maximize return. If you have a family please ensure you have considered investment packages protect your home, life, health, geographic risk factors. Consider taking up life insurance and you must have health insurance cover. If you can cover your car, you can cover your health and that of your family. Also ensure your family is aware of where all important family documents are stored, preferably in a safe away from your house or office. Ensure that you have foreign currency denominated securities that will hedge against local inflation, interest rates, and economic risk. Short term securities These include money markets which allow the investor to put in money that is idle and make a short term return until the money finds good use. Government securities such as treasury bills also offer a good option for the short term investor. However, making a good return on short term securities requires having a large amount of capital for investment. This is one of the areas entrepreneurs can take advantage of using some of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cash flow for short term investment

purposes. Medium term securities These can include stocks, fixed deposits. It is important to learn the cycles of the stock market and keep up with information regarding the stocks in your portfolio. The idea is to buy low when the market is bearish and sell high when the market is bullish. The ultimate investor Warren Buffet mentions that the goal should be to protect your initial capital investment. That means your broker should never let the price of your stock go below its value at purchase. Long-term securities Long term securities include risk free assets such as government securities. These provide a regular income based on their profile and the refund of the initial capital investment once they mature. This is why they are a good idea for building a retirement nest egg. They are also not as prone to market downturns as many other securities hence the term risk free. They also are good collateral when necessary to cover for a need in the short term.

Advertorial

Angsana Spa Sankara-Nairobi

t is that time of year again when we need to wind down and relinquish the stresses of the year. What a year it has been! Rising inflation, political uncertainty, high interest rates, and crazy traffic jams sparked by flourishing road infrastructure. If you have survived all of that and much more then you deserve to pamper yourself. It is time to rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit fo scading rain mist shower, body polish, wrap and massage. The spa menu also includes delectable packages of body massages, facials and body polishes suitable for honeymooning couples, mothers to be, and working men and women. The spa takes its name from the exotic Angsana tree found in the tropical Asian rainforest. The tree sprouts to life once a year and bursts into a fragrant shower of golden yellow blooms. The Angsana Spaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mantra teaches one to live with spontaneity, to sense the moment, and savor the

time as its passes inexorably. The spa uses a fine selection of Asian inspired therapies that have been developed using natural ingredients and aromatherapy. Angsanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menu is ideal for the mid to top level business person whose life is fast paced. They need to take time

It is time to rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit for the coming year. The spa uses a fine selection of Asian inspired therapies that have been developed using natural ingredients and aromatherapy.

32 out frequently to get invigorated to reenter the war that is business. The spa facility is designed to inspire calm and relaxation with the use of warm pantones, colour splashes and a soothing ambience. The spa therapists will offer you a warm drink that is not only revitalizing for your body but allows you to leave the cares of the world behind. The spa facility has seven treatment rooms that are designed to incorporate a signature bath with floating yellow petals, a bathroom, locker and ample space for the treatment and relaxation afterward. Rooms are available in single and double occupancy with an especially designed room for newlyweds. There is also a relaxation area and an Angsana Spa gallery.

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Momprenuer

Overcoming First Time Mom Challenge

othing in this world can disarm a woman like a baby. Regardless of all our MBA’s, degrees, diplomas and boardroom suave! When it comes right down to it, being a first time mum is a little like Christopher Columbus sailing through uncharted waters and accidentally discovering America. Given that the Dr. Who book’s on new born babies can and do help to some extent. Mix that together with all the Aunties and the Mom in law’s who can’t seem to tell that they are giving you conflicting advice and adding on to the confusion. Then there are the doctors who as a first time mom you think are trustworthy since all the eight plus years of study surely must lend themselves to some degree of absolute knowledge. However, all these sources of information only seem to add to the creation of cognitive dissonance. I mean, do I listen to a doctor whose main experience is treating patients or a woman who has successfully brought four children into the world and seems to have a much stronger resume?

As an owner of a small scale printing firm, Elsie, 30, had to go back to work after only eight weeks. Her employees were making side deals and scheming money from the business. Keep in touch with the clients before leaving and let them know where to go in case of emergencies and reassure them they have been left them in capable hands.

wait until it’s too late. Your baby will benefit more from your peace of mind.” Nothing adds more to a first time mom’s pressure than worrying about their business while trying to nurse their new born baby. Elsie 30, an owner of a small scale printing firm, had to quickly make her way back to running the business after only eight weeks when she discovered that some of her employees had been making side deals and scheming money from the business. “This indeed was the most unimaginable challenge I ever thought I would have to worry about. So I started spending a few hours a day at the office and I brought my baby to work. This ensured I was back in control and more aware of the clients and their needs and I could keep a close eye on the financials.”

Janet 30, a new mom to be runs a Wedding photography business and is just about to take her leave a week to delivery. According to her, the challenge has been finding someone who can deliver according to her standards of photography. She is also worried that she may accumulate Sharon 27 and a first time mom says, “When it backlog of unfinished projects especially because comes down to it no one can prepare you for the she is very specific in how the end product should upheaval of being a mom. All people can do is be for her clientele. “I have had to actually increase share their experience and hopefully when your my time in the office as my delivery date nears so time comes you can relate.” She also adds that that I don’t keep too many projects pending over you should try and not give in to the feelings of the entire period of my maternity leave. “ inadequacy. Margaret 31 is a mother to one son who is now Child development psychologists say that it is four years old. She also owns and runs an event important for first time mom’s to spend an extended planning agency. Her challenge is that her business period of time with their new born babies. It is is quite involving and she has to put in a lot of important for new mom’s to study and understand long hours in order to pull off an event in the their new born babies as they adjust to this new highest standard. However, she mitigates this by phase of their lives and that can only be achieved working from home rather than an offsite building. through the quality and quantity of time spent at She also ensures that she spends a lot of time with her son when her project load decreases. home nursing and taking care of their babies. Margaret had to cut back her staff and put on hold Leah 28, a first time mom says that she had her impending growth when she was about to to learn to tap into and follow your intuition. have her son. She says that “cutting back allowed “If you honestly feel like something is wrong me to have enough time with my son and also regardless of what everybody says, take the trip to manage my business without having to shut it to the emergency room. It will save you a lot of down. It allowed me to focus my time on my son unnecessary heartache and you will indeed in time who at the time needed my attention the most.” come to learn what’s normal and what’s not. Don’t Needless to say every new mom and business

36 woman will need to think through how she will manage her business and her new bundle of joy. The comforting option is that being an entrepreneur means that you have full control of your time and your schedule. There is also the option of bringing your baby and nanny to work or even working from home. If it is possible the best option is to ensure that you have someone at the strategic level who can manage the business, its clients, and its product standards as you would do if you were running it. This is important in the long term planning of the business as well because it ensures that the entire business is not built around

you and can still run while you are away. This is one of the hardest hurdles for new businesses to overcome but with a little thought and planning it is quite possible. Just ensure that you create accountability in the system through checks and balances in order to monitor progress. It is also important to set some time aside every few weeks or so to have update or progress meetings. This doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be a long meeting, just a couple of hours a week and you can bring in your managers from work to your home if you choose to. Call up all your clients before you go ensure your clients know they can reach you in case of emergencies and that you have indeed left them in capable hands. Take the steps necessary to ensure your business does not fold due to the lack of foresight and planning. Do whatever it takes and remember that there is no short cut to success when building a family or a business and at the end of the day, family should trump business. Also remember the quote by Peter Drucker, whenever you see a successful business someone once made a courageous decision.

Stand out

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Purple Stone Set

Kes 1,200

Health & Fitness

Tips to Get you Running Right T

Running long distance is about patience, including before the starting line. Some runners actually think that walking during the race will improve their times.

ips to get you running right Participating in runs over the weekends has become a popular way of keeping fit. If it is taking part in a charity run or a regular jog on one of the trails in Karura Forest, you need to be to know how do it right. Start with telling your doctor what your plan is, perhaps go over the training schedule you plan to do with him/her. They may suggest tests (like a cardiovascular stress test), give you an alternate plan, or just send you on your way to get started. It may not seem important, but a great way to get injured is to think you can just start running long distances without the proper time and effort. Just like speed takes years of training for many people, distance isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t something you just jump into. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to respect the distance (and your body) by allotting the time you really need. If you are looking for instant-gratification,

41 try a 5k. Running long distance is about patience, including before the starting line. It’s a good idea to get a lot of information before you start training. Read some books on running and training for them. It is equally important to talk to people who have completed a run and those who still run regularly. Analyze different training schedules and really think about how that training will affect your schedule. Be honest with yourself about whether you can do what is needed. Another thing to consider is a proper diet. The goal is to make sure you eat the best combination of foods to maintain a healthy body. It calls for eating fresh produce, and getting the right combination of protein, grains and fruit and vegetables. It can have a big influence on your race result and give you the energy to reach the finish line. Salads and raw vegetables are especially beneficial because they have not lost any nutrients due to cooking. Fish and chicken are better than red meat. Whey and soy products are a good substitute for animal protein. For the non-vegetarians, it is recommended having a ‘vegetarian’ day at least once a week. All the bad things you hear about fast foods are true! They shouldn’t be part of your training diet. The amount of saturated fat and low quality carbohydrates in fast foods will not help your training, and in excess will be detrimental to your overall health. As for coffee and alcohol (they are dehydrators), should be consumed in moderation. Complex carbohydrate intake from grains and pasta has long been recommended as the foundation of a running diet. This of course contradicts the dietary counsel of anyone trying to lose or maintain weight. This could well be different from your normal diet as it is looking at your needs during the weeks leading up to the marathon. You definitely need to make sure you eat sufficient carbohydrates to help provide the energy you need on longer runs. The following are 11 major running mistakes:

1. Most runners don’t have the right time goal. Runners need to realize that if they train correctly their marathon pace will be about 48 seconds per 1.6k slower than current 5-K capability, 32 seconds slower than 10-K pacing, and 16 seconds more lethargic per 1.6k than half-marathon (21K) clocking. These shorter races can all be used to set a proper, realistic run goal speed. 2. Most runners fail to fold goal-pace running into their long runs. Endurance and running ability are always speed-specific; being able to run 42k in training at eight-minute pace doesn’t increase the likelihood that you’ll be able to run the distance at seven-minute tempo--or at any speed faster than eight minutes per 1.6k. 3. Too many runners try to carry take part in a run every weekend. A far better strategy would be to carry out the long run every other weekend--or even every three weeks. This would still allow a runner to learn how to run long, and it would permit much higher-quality training during the weeks that don’t have a muscle-numbing long run on the prior Sunday. 4. Most runners fail to use sports drinks properly during the race. Consuming sports drinks shouldn’t be “saved” for late stages of the race, when significant fatigue is beginning to set in. The mostimportant drinking of sports drink actually takes place 10 minutes before the race begins, when eight to 10 ounces should be consumed. After that, five to six swallows should be imbibed every three kilometres or so during the race. Don’t forget to utilize this sports-drink-intake pattern during your long training runs, too. 5. Most runners mix sports drinks with other things during the race. This is very bad. For example, if you consume a sports drink and water during a marathon, you’ll end up with a very dilute solution in your gastrointestinal system; this will slow absorption of carbohydrate and leave you

42 short of energy in the late stages of the race. It may be comforting to know that sports drinks can ward off dehydration just as effectively as water does, and that the sports drinks will leave you less likely to become hyponatremic – low sodium. 6. Many runners fail to standardize their pre-race meal. For your pre-run breakfast, you should choose only comfort foods--eat foods that your system can digest easily. It doesn’t matter what these foods are (of course, they shouldn’t be laden with fat or grease); it just matters that they add to the carbohydrate stockpiles in your liver, blood and muscles, and that they furnish enough sustenance to fuel your prolonged effort. 7. Too many runners try something new on race weekend. Meals should be the same, water consumption the same, shoes the same, etc. As mentioned, a long distance run is intolerant of even very slight changes in procedure. 8. Marathon runners don’t taper properly before the race. It takes about four weeks to recover from a long run of 28 to 32k or so. This means, obviously, that no runs of 28k or longer should be conducted during the month leading up to a marathon. Unfortunately, many runners try to squeeze in one-or even two--long runs during the four weeks before the big race. The emphasis should actually be placed on recovery not prolonged running. 9. Too many runners emphasize volume of training over quality. For many runners, a 56k - week can be far better preparation than a 112k week, because the former can more effectively foster the completion of higher-quality training. Once again, it’s what happens on the race course that matters, not the big numbers written in a log book. It’s more effective

to build up to a 32k long run, with about 16k at goal pace, than it is to accumulate tons of miles at slower-than-goal speed. 10. Too many runners forget that fitness is the ultimate predictor of success. If your maximal oxygen uptake, lactate threshold, economy, running strength, power and specific preparations are all in order, you’ll have your best-possible race. If you don’t work on each of these variables during training, you won’t have a great race. Preparing for a marathon is all about optimizing these variables; it’s not about pounding away with long runs and then hoping for the best.

11. Some runners actually think that walking during the race will improve their times. If we suggested to these same people that running more slowly during the event would upgrade their performances, they would laugh in our faces, but somehow they buy the walking concept lock, stock and barrel! We all to learn to run the entire distance -- our times will not improve if we train to amble slowly during specific portions of the race. Running long distance will tear away at your body, especially your joints. Your body needs to build up to this kind of abuse and a 26 week (or less) training program just doesn’t suffice for most people’s bodies to adapt properly. So if you have not had sufficient training and preparation, this year walk briskly from start to finish. Then next year start training early for the starting line.

Building the inner man

Reflections

For some this means a spiritual journey of self discovery, while for others it may be holding your head up high and prevailing against the odds, no matter how difficult they may be. For most of us, we have to learn how to rise above the opinions and perceptions of others by not allowing what they say to define who we are. he other day something on television caught Building inner strength is not to be hurt by how my attention. Just imagine, if you had all the other people’s words. It is an internal raging war money you want at this precise moment; what we have to learn to win. Words are a powerful would that change in your life? Would you keep weapon to be used for good or evil. The journey the same job? Would you be the same person? of self discovery will allow you to know who you These were some of the questions posed in one are so others do not have to define you. Most of my favourite crime Tv shows. The storyline was importantly, it will allow you to love and understand on the murder of a regular guy who had won over the person you are. 100 million dollars in the lottery. One of the actors’ response was profound “money doesn’t change who you are it simply magnifies it.” Ask yourself; who am I really? What defines me? What do I stand for and why? Where am I going We all have preconceived and why? notions passed on to us by nature and nurture I have to say this without trying to sound like that have shaped the hundreds of self-help book writers out there; our belief system, place great value on building your inner man and our attitudes and our knowing who you are. It sounds simple and logical, personalities. doesn’t it? Truth be told, it is not simple. It requires The journey of self a great deal of discipline and commitment. discovery will allow you We all have preconceived notions passed on to us to know who you are so by nature and nurture that have shaped our belief others do not have to system, our attitudes and our personalities. They define you. have defined how we live and think. However, if you have not had a life changing experience you do not question every one of those preconceptions. You may even resort to actions that you once frowned upon, saying “I would never do that!”. Sometimes you have to go through something very difficult in life before understanding some of the things you will or will not do. It may be losing a loved one. For some people, simply allowing yourself to experience something new such as accepting a job offer on a different continent might provide the right ingredients to your journey of self discovery. The further away you move from the walls of your personal comfort, the more test and trials you are bound to face. So, as you go up against the big bad world arm yourself by building your inner man.

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