Boss Lady Series: How to Build a health conscious Routine with Yasmin Kumi
Do you have a routine or a way to approach your day? Setting the tone for your day has a massive impact on how much you accomplish. This month I will be showcasing the routines of several leading ladies who work on the continent. Learn how they balance working hard with staying on top of their physical and mental health. [bctt tweet=”Routines are a trial and error process and take time to build – @ynjkumi ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] By sharing our experiences, learning from others and deciding what works for us as individuals, we all can have a good life. I had a chance to sit down with Yasmin Kumi, the founder of the pan-African consulting firm, Africa Foresight Group. Yasmin travels between 3 to 4 times a week and wakes up at 3 am to set her priorities for the day. She is a problem solver and has learned how to approach her wellness by trying new things and focusing on what works for her. I put together a list of things I thought others could keep in mind from her experience. 1. Keep your personal goals and routines fluid No two days in Yasmin’s life are the same. Given all the work she does the most important thing for her to do is not put additional pressure and stress on herself by feeling bad about not having attained certain personal goals. She has introduced ‘if’ rules for different situations that allow her to create some consistency in her head. Try using this phrase to build your own ‘if’ rules: – “If some conditions hold, then this is what I have to do…” 2. Playlists can help you get into or handle a Mood Yasmin is a very audiovisual person, so she reacts a lot to music. When she feels tired, she knows what music to play to get back up to speed. When she needs to relax or focus on something, she has a playlist for that. She also has a playlist to start her bedtime routine that usually ends with a prayer. You can use music to motivate you or remind you to do tasks you normally avoid. 3. Understand Your Personality to Maximize Your Output Yasmin describes herself as a borderline extravert and though she loves her team, she sometimes feels like she can get more done if she spends some time working from home before she gets into the office. Though not for everyone, Yasmin feels most productive when she wakes up early, at 3 am, to work undisturbed until about 6 am. Find what works for you and helps make you feel productive and successful. 4. You are What You Eat Yasmin is hardly ever home. When she is traveling, she normally spends part of her evening networking or socializing with clients and her team. She always feels so much healthier and efficient when she is at home, this is primarily because she has control over what she eats. Yasmin believes that with good food, you think better. She loves to make dinner for herself and while cooking she reflects and feels rejuvenated after a long day. When eating, reflect and think about how the food you eat makes you feel. 5. Do You! When some people look at Yasmin’s lifestyle, they assume that it is unsustainable. She encourages people to not get too influenced about what others think. You have to find out for yourself, physically and mentally what is healthy and what you are comfortable with. Focus on how you feel and what makes you comfortable when building your routine. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Interested in contributing for She Leads Africa? Click here.
FCMB Launches Hub One – A tech-themed co-working space in Nigeria
The Nigerian Tech industry has grown in leaps and bounds over the years. Many innovative ideas, platforms and more have been developed, which have provided more job opportunities. However, certain infrastructural gaps created a need for affordable tech spaces and enabling environment where tech start-ups can thrive, collaborate and share ideas without having to deal with exorbitant overhead costs. To address those gaps, FCMB has created Hub One, a tech-themed co-working space. Hub One is a space that allows for partnerships, collaborations, and possible investments. It is a professional office space with unlimited internet, constant power supply, free coffee and a community of like minds. Speaking at the official launch of Hub One, Adam Nuru, Managing Director of FCMB, said the Bank recognizes and believes in the power of technology and youth-driven enterprises. He assured the public that FCMB will continue to invest in initiatives that support and develop Tech start-ups in Nigeria. [bctt tweet=”@MyFCMB has created Hub One – a tech-themed co-working space that allows for partnerships, collaborations, and possible investments. Read more…” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] According to Bukola Smith, Executive Director, Business Development, FCMB “Hub One is designed to engage the Tech ecosystem as a means of providing solutions for today and the future’’. She further stated that the Bank intends to create physical and virtual hubs across the nation over the next few years. Situated in the heart of Yaba, Lagos, Hub One which is created in partnership with Passion Incubator, is a conducive environment designed to foster collaboration and drive creativity within Nigeria’s tech start-up ecosystem. Olufunbi Falayi, CEO of Leadspace by Passion Incubator commended FCMB for the initiative. He disclosed that “Hub One provides the necessary infrastructure for tech start-ups, as well as capacity building events, to enable them to focus their limited resources on their business development. Routinely, Hub One will host several incubation programmes, hackathons and pitches to support and provide a platform for tech start-ups” For FCMB, Hub One is more than just a physical location, it’s a vision. A vision that supports the aspirations of Nigeria’s tech start-ups to attain their full potential. First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited is a member of FCMB Group Plc, which is one of the leading financial services institutions in Nigeria with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their respective segments. Having successfully transformed to a retail banking and wealth management-led group, FCMB expects to continue to distinguish itself through innovation and the delivery of exceptional services. Visit https://www.fcmb.com/hub-one/ for more information. Sponsored Post.
Busy yet fit: The urban woman’s guide to staying fit in a fast paced world
I guess congratulations are in order as it seems I found the title of my first book above! ? Okay, jokes apart, it’s a new year and while I’m not really one who makes resolutions at the beginning of the year, I believe that the feeling of newness that comes with the season can help us re-route to living better in all areas. As a wife and mom who runs more than one gig (even though one is a fitness center), I find it really hard to stick with a specific routine when it comes to exercise and I’m sure I’m not alone. Lord knows the hustle is real right? True! But on the other hand, it’s only when we are in good health that the hustle can really make sense. So I’m going to share 3 ways you can fit in exercise into your busy schedule. 1. Treat it as an appointment: Yes, when you intentionally prioritize your health and wellness, you will set out time to do what you need to do. I set alarms to exercise at night because that’s when it’s most convenient for me. Trust me, you don’t need so much time to get your heart pumping and your muscles warm. You can start with as little as 10 minutes and increase it when you can. My company recently launched a product, Fitfam exercise games™ cards that encourages busy people like you to exercise anytime, anywhere and have fun while at it. 2. Make more active choices: I know the “take the stairs not the elevator” rhyme sounds cliché, but it’s true. If you are too busy to hit the gym, the best you can do is to deliberately make active choices throughout the day. Take the stairs, ditch the intercom and the intranet if possible and walk to your colleague’s desk to make that inquiry. If you run a business, try to move around your office or shop too, don’t be the madam who just sits on the chair directing everyone else around. 3. Don’t dwell on it too much: Am I contradicting myself? No. Here’s what I mean. Sometimes we dwell so much on failure, we refuse to move forward. You missed two days of exercise, okay. Move on and don’t miss the third. You gorged down half a box of pizza and 3 sparkling glasses on Friday night, not good but can we just move on with a salad and grilled chicken on Saturday morning? I hope these 3 tips will help you get more active this year as we get set to smash those money and life goals. Interested in contributing for She Leads Africa? Click here.
6 ways to work towards your BIG dreams: DIANA MGENI
They call me a dreamer as I live in the world of fantasy, devoid of impossibilities. Several ideas that constantly run in my mind have not always matured to fruition, and for this reason, they have constantly reminded me to re-evaluate my view regarding the dreams and come back to what they consider as reality. They laugh at me and talk behind my back that one day I will get tired of dreaming and stick to the fact that I can never make it out. With all these hindrances trying to make me give up. I never stopped dreaming. So I decided to do something about it. Here is my strategy… List down my dreams I will come up with a table that will contain my dreams, how I intend to work towards accomplishing them, the benefits and the challenges that I would face and how am going to overcome them. I stand to derive from doing them, complete with the targeted start and end time for each of them. Tell my friends how I feel My friends are not going to stop me from achieving my dreams. I will tell them this in no uncertain terms that I am tired of their mimics and nothing will stop me from dreaming big. I wouldn’t care if I lose them as friends or not because I believe real friends are supposed to give you support or encourage you in what you do. I’d rather walk alone believing in myself than walking with people who discourage and see failure you in whatever you do or want to do. Attribute myself Going forward, I will put more emphasis on the below attributes as the guiding principles towards achieving my dreams: Believe – I’ve to make the decision to start believing in myself that my dreams will come true no matter how long it will take all I need is to give out my best with full of optimism. Trust – It’s written in the good book of life that we need to trust in the Lord with all your heart and soul and He shall make our paths straight! I have to always put lots of trust in Him and include him in each and every step that I take knowing that God helps those who help themselves. Focused – I am going to remain focused on the task at hand towards achieving my dreams and take each step with positivism without wavering. Am never going to stand or turn around and listen to the barking dogs to disrupt my mission to remain focus in what am doing. Competitiveness -The current world is very competitive. I am going to remain a life to the challenges that come with it while at the same time be ready to be challenged. The need to rise with every fall, learn from my mistakes and those of others and be ready to change in doing good is also going to be key to ensure my dreams succeed. Perseverance – Success does not come overnight and neither is the road to it straight. I need to be able to withstand each storm that comes my way and overcomes it with full of confidence and never accepts to remain down since every successful person has a story to tell. Research Constant research on the subject of my dreams is now going to become an integral part of what I do towards achieving my dreams. [bctt tweet=”The current world is very competitive.” username=”Diana Mgeni”] Reading how the people who had the same dreams as mine how they were able to manage to get through their storm and be able to succeed in what they do. I will seek to find out the best way to actualize my dream and build an understanding of the same with the interested parties. Ask for help This help can take the shape of; financial, knowledge base and social input. I wouldn’t be shy to try to ask for any assistance from the people around me or my role model. This is from the realization that there are other interested parties to the success of my dreams whose input will always remain valuable to me. A step in the dark As I embark on the tasks towards achieving my dreams, I need not to be scared of the outcome provided that it has come from my very best of input. I must be prepared to showcase to everyone my work and be ready to accept both the critics and compliments from them full of positivism bearing in mind that you need them to grow since not everyone will like or support you in whatever you need. Even if my crowd is small those that will listen to me; it is an achievement and will always appreciate them. With all these, I believe that I can make my dreams come true! So let’s keep dreaming! This article was written by DIANA MGENI. Interested in contributing for She Leads Africa? Click here.
On setting a solid foundation and staying Rooted to your hustle
As far as you are concerned, you have given it your all. You have been the best version of yourself. You have been continuously learning even after earning the qualifications you require for your job. You have been networking, after all, it is said that your network is your net worth. You have said yes to a lot of projects so that you can not only gain as much exposure as possible but also enhance your visibility. You have been working really hard. You are the go-to person at work to solve problems. Being this person fills you with pride but it has not been enough to take you to the place you aspire to be. You feel frustrated. You want to give up. You ask yourself why you should work so hard, yet there are no visible results. You feel stuck. You feel confused. You wonder if you should keep at it. You wonder if there are some things you should stop doing or should start doing. And what are those things anyway? Motherland mogul, don’t give up just yet! It may not be visible to you yet, but all the work you have put in, all the work you continue to put in, is growing you. Growth is chaotic. Growth is uncomfortable. The growth path is neither clear nor easy; it is ridden with so many obstacles, so many hurdles. The easiest thing to do is give up and settle for the mediocre. Our growth journeys can be likened to trees. We usually tend to focus on the final product only, the humongous tree with lots of branches that gives us the perfect shade. We rarely stop to think how the tree got to be that big and strong. We do not stop to think how the tree remains standing tall, season after season, decade upon decade. It is no coincidence that it takes very many years for trees to mature. You plant the seed; a small seed. You then water the seed consistently so that it can germinate. It germinates and then it takes not less than ten years, to be a sturdy tree. What do you think is happening during these years? The tree is literally growing, firming up its roots and its trunk so that it can be able to hold up the final product; the mighty tree. Dear sister, you say its’ been months, even years of hard work with no visible results. If you search yourself, deep within, you know you are not the same person, you know you have grown. That you have not attained your goal yet, is a matter of time. You are growing your roots. You are thickening your trunk. You are setting the right foundation, a strong foundation. So that when that opportunity you have been waiting for comes your way, you will not stumble, you will not stutter, you will grab it because you will be ready. So keep at it. Evaluate whether what you have been doing is taking you closer to your dream. There are some things you may need to drop. There are some things you may need to start doing. There are other things that are constants, keep them. But by all means, do not give up! Interested in contributing for She Leads Africa? Click here.
7 power tools every Motherland Mogul needs in her purse to SLAY 2019
What is in your purse? Every day we see Motherland Moguls go about their bizness in stylish purses and handbags. However, no matter how pretty the bag looks or what the label says, the content of a woman’s purse is a sum of how she takes charge of her day. The content of a woman’s purse is King! Every woman has some little essentials and fav things they carry around every day, mostly in a smaller pouch in their purse. It could be hand sanitizer, hand lotion, medicine, perfume, etc. Whatever it is, they help keep you safe and secure to take on each day as they come. On the other hand, some women carry a lot of baggage around every day, just for the sake of it, which they never use or touch. [bctt tweet=”#WhatIsInYourPurse? Here are 7 essential tools every woman needs to #SLAY 2019… Find them here” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] We’ve put together a list of power tools and essentials every Motherland Mogul needs to conquer each day this year. 1. Cash/ ATM card Why look like a bag of money if you have no money in Yo bag? We might be living in a cashless society, but you never ever want to get stranded somewhere without having some cash to bail yourself out. Even if you’re on your way to the bank, always carry some cash with you (or vex money as Nigerians call it), as well as an ATM card (with cash in it) for emergency purposes. Another savior for you could be to have your bank app downloaded on your mobile phone, to enable you to transfer money easily. This is your first commandment to SLAY 2019. [bctt tweet=”#WhatIsInYourPurse? Why look like a bag of money if you have no money in Yo bag? Always have cash with you!” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 2. Samsung Smartphone Having a good smartphone with a long-lasting battery in your purse at all times keeps you connected with the world and helps you stay organized for your daily routines. Beyond texting and scrolling through social media all day, there is SO much you can do with your mobile phone. And even much more if its a Samsung smartphone. With a Samsung smartphone, you can: Take notes and write down fresh ideas in your daily light bulb moments Take the best photos and document live events all day with its outstanding camera quality Create personalized videos and content with the AR emoji tool Collect your client’s contacts by using the SnapBiz app from Samsung Galaxy apps store Keep track of your health and wellness with the Samsung Health app – even better if you add the Samsung Galaxy Watch on your wrist. In light of our February theme at SLA which is – Good Living, we’re ensuring that all Motherland Moguls have a sound mind, body, and soul. 3. Powder pallet/ Lip gloss Girl, you never know who you’re going to bump into at the most random place. Always have some light make-up in your purse to get you fresh-faced for impromptu meetings, or quick drinks with your girls. In the absence of a powder pallet, let your lipgloss call the shots. 4. Business Cards Even though you can collect clients info on your mobile using the SnapBiz app on your Samsung smartphone, you might meet some traditional clients who would rather have a hard copy of your business card. It’s important to always have this in the small section of your purse, for easy accessibility. 5. Notepad + Pen A notepad or post it pad and a pen equal as back up for your phone. This always comes in handy for when you have to write down contact details or ideas in a moment’s notice when you’re out of your comfort zone. 6. Sanitary towel/ Tampon Nature always has its way with us, and we really can’t cheat it, but you should always be prepared for the “red robot”. If possible, have a pad/ tampon in every possible place, like your car, office desk, laptop bag, etc, just so you’re never caught in a compromising situation. If you feel you have a pattern and are never caught unawares, do it for the culture. You never know, a sister might be in need of this, and you get to save the day. 7. A Book Just because #WeStayLearning, always have with you a book to pass time while commuting or waiting to go into your meeting. Now depending on the size of your purse, you could either have a paperback book, or an e-book on your smartphone. So tell us Motherland Mogul, #WhatIsInYourPurse? [bctt tweet=”Keep track of your health and wellness with the Samsung Health app – even better if you add the Samsung Galaxy Watch on your wrist -@samsungmobileng” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Sponsored Post
Leave This Shit In 2018…
Happy New year Motherland Moguls! 2018 was a year filled with events and lessons for me. So, I thought I would share with you some of the lessons learned that apply to life, career, and business. Life is full of surprises and often take unexpected turns. Our successes are a result of how well we respond and adapt to the life changes. My hope this year is that we are all able to embrace change and let go of what is holding us back. Welcome to 2019! Now let’s talk about the shit you need to leave in 2018. You don’t need that baggage with you in 2019! [bctt tweet=”Here are 5 habits you need to let go of this year #leavethatshitin2018″ username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Resenting others Nothing good comes from resenting others. I’m telling you this as someone who is guilty of holding grudges for long periods of time. I resented the person who took this picture for a while. I blamed them for making me miserable. I wished them all the bad luck in the world because I felt they were somehow the origin of everything bad happening in my life (and it wasn’t the case). I don’t resent them anymore and I am so much happier for it. Don’t get me wrong, I still highly dislike this person, but as soon as I was able to refocus the time and energy I was spending brooding over the situation, amazing things started happening. Nothing good ever comes from resenting others. Take it from a champion in the resentment Olympics. #LeaveThatShitIn2018 Snoozing your life away I am usually pretty good at waking up early and getting on with my day. But every so often I think that I could do with “5 more minutes” of sleep and hit the snooze button for the next 2 hours. The problem? When you snooze, you not only wake up more tired than you initially were, but you then spend your entire day playing catch up. You waste time, miss opportunities, and get caught up in a vicious circle. The same is true for life. I didn’t get to see my grandmother one last time because of this viscous snoozing circle I had slipped in. So now, I try my best to make things happen ASAP. One of the best trips I had this year was possible because I did not snooze (when I really wanted to). I was able to discover part of Cape Verde, meet great people, and have an amazing experience.Don’t postpone things you can do now. Finish (or start) that degree you have been thinking about for so long. Take that art class. Visit with your friends and family. Explore the world. Launch that business. And when that thing you want to do seems impossible, just remember that Rome was not built in a day, it was built one stone at the time. (And stop snoozing that alarm clock!) You snooze you lose. #LeaveThatShitIn2018 Being a technology zombie Technology is wonderful. It enables us to take great selfies (and groupies) and more importantly it enables us to connect with each other and the world. We, however, have to be very careful. Technology is a double-edged sword. It can be a nice distraction. But it is a distraction nonetheless. It is a distraction that turns us into shallow versions of ourselves.I took this picture while I was waiting for my car to get fixed. And I was so glad to have my phone with me at the time. It made the wait so much more enjoyable. But more and more I find myself scrolling on my social media feed while I’m on the phone or watching TV. I like to think that technology is not the boss of me. But I have noticed lately that I miss pieces of conversations, movies, and I waste time that could be put to better use because of it. [bctt tweet=”Be present. Connect with intention. Don’t be a tech zombie. #LeaveThatShitIn2018″ username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] I feel this negatively affects the quality of my relationships. It turns me into a passive, absent-minded, and monosyllabic individual. And this is not the type of person or friend I want to be. I want to be a friend that remembers what we talked about. That friend who is attentive, present and listens actively and with intention. The friends we have and the relationships we build are what make life interesting and beautiful. So, we owe it to each other to be mindful, engaged, and attentive. Be present. Connect with intention. Don’t be a tech zombie. #LeaveThatShitIn2018 Letting fear cloud your judgment We often think of fear as this scary monster that makes us do crazy things. But more often than not, fear comes posing as a gentle and wise friend that has your best interest at heart. Fear is eloquent and charismatic. Fear is (seemingly) insightful. Fear is convincing. In fact, Fear is so convincing that it will have you believe that your neighbor must be dangerous since they do not look like you. It will convince you to stay quiet in the face of injustice. It will convince you that putting your head in the sand is the best way to solve your problems. I have been there. Fear had me paralyzed. It made me watch a personal situation getting worse and worse and interpret anything as a sign of improvement. I was very fortunate at that time to have a great friend who guided me through this fog of fear. But sometimes, you have to be your own guide and ask yourself: what would I tell a friend in the same situation? Don’t let fear cloud your judgment. Be your own friend. Take fear out of the equation. #LeaveThatShitIn2018 Traveling someone else’s journey When we are young, it is the responsibility of our parents, our family, (and, to some extent, our community) to prepare us for life. They make choices for us, take decisions about our activities, our lifestyle, and our beliefs.
Still haven’t set your 2019 Goals? Read this…
This year I have chosen to try something a little bit different. Instead of writing down resolutions, I have decided to set goals for the year. What’s the difference? Resolutions are a decision to do or not do something. It could be giving up alcohol for the first month of the year, or resolving to go back to the gym after a few months of slacking. Goals, on the other hand, are an aim to achieve a specific result. This could be to run a marathon or take an online course. So why pick goals over resolutions? Well, resolutions really don’t seem to last that long into the year and they are usually founded in some displeasure with your current state of being/ living. Now don’t get me wrong, there isn’t anything wrong with setting out resolutions. More often than not people seem to struggle to keep them or even remember them by mid- January. Goals are more proactive, its a determination to achieve something. [bctt tweet=”Stop making New Year Resolutions. Set Goals Instead. Read this article to find out why. ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] So, Motherland Mogul, how do you set our goals for the year? First things first… Write it down! There are a couple of ways you can do this, journaling or if you are more of a visual person you can create a vision board. If you write your goals down somewhere you can see them everyday it helps you stick to them, a constant reminder isn’t to make you feel bad but more to remind you what you are working towards. A vision board is not only fun to make but can enable you to see your goals as an actual reality making it much easier for you to stick to them. Think of the short term and long term Set out goals that you want to achieve by the end of the year, by a certain month/ date. This means you can work on consistent goals as well as focus on the short term. This means you are not only waiting for the end of the year to see results but throughout the year you will have bursts of success that will continue to motivate you to achieve your more long term goals. So what falls into each category? Short term goals could include taking an online course in a certain month, running a marathon, reading a set number of books per month. These goals require you to train/ learn/ work to achieve them within a certain time frame, so get to work!! Long term goals such as the 52-week saving challenge, launching your own business, changing jobs or even volunteering on a monthly basis. These are goals that require consistency and usually take longer to achieve. The rewards may take a long time to reap but just imagine how it will feel to finally achieve a goal you have been working long and hard on. Categorize your goals Not all goals are the same, sometimes you have to realize what part of your life you want to improve or change. Personal and professional goals are the obvious categories that we can turn to but do not forget other aspects of your life that can give you joy. You can set out goals to travel to a new country (or a few), to complete a crafts project, grow herb garden or practicing daily gratitude. This helps you focus on your creative side and develop healthy self-care habits. Put in the work Each goal you set out is going to require a lot of work and determination by your part. what is important in realizing your goals is identifying what you have to do to achieve them. Let’s take the marathon for example. You can’t wake up on a Saturday morning and just run the marathon, you need to train in order to run the race. This would require you going for more parks runs and working out to build the strength and endurance needed. So you set a mini-goal, for example following a training program that guides you over a period of time. These mini goals help you determine what you need to do on your part to achieve your goals and provide small successes on their own. Be realistic You don’t want to run yourself into the ground trying to achieve your goals. They are not meant to tear you down or make you feel worse about yourself. Focus on goals that help build a better version of you, whether professionally or personally. Don’t set out goals too ambitious or far fetched, but also do not forgot to throw caution to the wind. It is not time to sit back but rather to step up for yourself in the aspects that matter. If you really struggle to hold yourself accountable, why not find a goal buddy? This person will remind you of your goals throughout the year and check how long it is taking you to achieve them. They may also provide you with great advice and be a support system when things seem hard. Reap the rewards I do not know about you but sometimes I need an incentive to work on something. And considering there is no one to hand out badge saying “Well done”, it’s up to you to set out your rewards. So let’s say you have finally managed to start your open your own business, why not throw a small soiree to thank those who helped you achieve your goal or even just to launch your business. Again, such rewards make the achievement of a goal so worth it, so why not reward yourself for all the hard work you have put in. Got some advice that can help others succeed in 2019? Click here to share.
On loving you: 5 powerful videos on self-love to begin the year with
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the universe, deserve your love and affection.”- Buddha Loving oneself is one of the most profound and yet also most difficult things to accomplish- it takes practice, patience, unlearning old ways of being and forming a new understanding of who you are as a person. This is a journey I have personally been on for the longest time, I still find the need to remind myself to practice self-love even after reading and listening to tons of material on it. The truth is that practicing self-love is a lot like practicing good hygiene- it must become a daily ritual. For those new to this incredible journey or for those looking for a slight reminder of what it means to love oneself, here are a few TEDx talks to inspire you, to love you. Caroline McHugh: The art of being yourself The message from Caroline in this talk is simple; your individuality is your greatest gift. You weren’t put on earth to be a cheap imitation of anyone else, you were put here simply to be yourself. Caira Lee: I search for it blinded – the power of self-love and self-esteem In this TEDx talk, Caira Lee, an award-winning slam poet uses her gift teach us about the power of self-love through her own personal story. Marisa Peer: “I’m not enough” – The biggest disease affecting humanity In this talk, Marisa Peer opens our eyes to the powerful connection that exists between thoughts about ourselves, our health, wealth and quality of life. You are enough. Pretty enough, intelligent enough, talented enough, strong enough, courageous enough… You are enough. Searching for love to escape ourselves Hayley Quinn This wonderful talk by Hayley Quinn helps us realize that romantic love and the pursuit of it can be a form or escapism, simply an excuse not to deal with the real issues we have with ourselves. Niko Everett: Meet yourself: A user’s guide to building self “You need to meet yourself. If you could meet yourself, you might really like her!” Allow me to finish this article off with a radical thought from one of my favorite books, “The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz”- In this book, the author uses the analogy of a magical kitchen to illustrate the importance of self-love. He compares self-love to having a magical kitchen inside of us, if you had a magical kitchen in which you could produce all the most delicious meals you can think of, you’d never starve but most importantly, you’d never allow anyone to dictate to your being you while using food as the reward. No one would come and offer you food in exchange for control over your life, your habits, and your decisions. However, if the situation were reversed, and you had no food, you’d allow anyone and everyone to control everything about your life. This is the same with self-love; when you have a deep love and respect for yourself, you won’t let others control you, use you or even abuse you. A person might come offering love in exchange for control but you won’t let them in. “But what is going to happen if you are starving for love, if you don’t have that love in your heart, and someone comes and says, “You want a little love? You can have my love if you just do what I want you to do.” If you are starving for love, and you taste that love, you are going to do whatever you can for that love. You can even be so needy that you give your whole soul just for a little attention. Your heart is like that magical kitchen. If you open your heart, you already have all the love you need. There’s no need to go around the world begging for love: “Please, someone love me. I’m so lonely, I’m not good enough for love; I need someone to love me, to prove that I’m worthy of love.”- A mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz. Interested in contributing for She Leads Africa? Click here.
SLAYing your productivity from the inside out
In a world flooded with so much negativity here, it’s high time we realized that in order for us not to become like lost balls in the high weeds, we have to maintain certain personal standards and values to keep afloat. Yes! It is true that teamwork will always create room for a deeper level of productivity. But most times, we tend to forget that there is no great team without great individuals within. And the level of productivity of any team will be determined by the level of value within each team member. All these bring us back to the importance of building ourselves as individuals, whether in our business, our career or even our personal lives. Following the guidelines below, from John C. Maxwell in his book ‘The 360° Leader’, we can be able to determine where we belong in this pursuit for productivity. “These seem to be the two main paths for people to get ahead in an organization”. People who rely on production… Depend on how they grow Focus on what they do Become better than they appear Provide Substance Do what’s necessary Work to control their own destiny Grow into the next level Base decisions on principles People who rely on politics… Depend on who they know Focus on what they say Appear better than they are Take shortcuts Do what’s popular Let others control their destiny Hope to be given the next level Base decisions on opinions The big question now is, having looked inside out, where do you think you belong?The Rush! No doubt the year is sprinting to an end, the clock is ticking endlessly, yet, many personal and corporate goals lie unachieved. At this point, there seem to be many pointless reasons not to double our hard work, and see to it that no stone is left unturned, but really?? Do you really think productivity is about those who sweat the most? “It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?”. – Henry David Thoreau Take a deep breath! The breath here goes beyond taking out Carbon dioxide and taking in Oxygen. It’s more about taking deep reflections on not just what we are yet to achieve these past eleven months, but most importantly who we have been, who we have become. This is the beginning of our ‘inside out journey’. The Inside Out Journey This will help us restructure our lives in all ramifications. Taking a deep breath will give us a cue to the direction of our paths the past eleven months. It will help us see the loopholes within which may include laxity in a particular area or even too much concentration in another. This journey will help us balance our lives. No one is saying this is the time to start setting new goals and objectives. (although that wouldn’t be a bad idea, at all). However, what is paramount here is that, we already have targets and set goals that are yet to be actualized. The inside-out journey… Give us a sense of focus and direction Help us set our priorities right. Yes! It may be called a journey, but its unbelievably right and quick too! This journey to productivity is quite different from the others we mat have been through these past months; chasing success and leaving behind every other aspect of our lives, forgetting that even exhaustion reduces the quality of our productivity. Therefore, this is not the time to keep running in the usual circles. The only circle we should run within at this point is inside of us. [bctt tweet=”Productivity should not just be something we strive to go through but rather, it should flow through us – Eden Benibo” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] That’s the true success! Like Lisa Nicholas rightly advised “make sure you measure success by the right barometer. Success is a holistic experience. It’s not partial. It’s not compartmental. It’s an entire experience.” So! Focus on the real deal at this point. Grow into your next level, do not hop into it and watch ‘you glow before your own eyes’! Slay on!! Interested in contributing for She Leads Africa? Click here.