From despair to success

• Two women who thought their lives were over tell us how they came back from the edge.

Rosemary Olale (Left) Lucy Akinyi (Right) during an interview at their workshop Kariobangi North in Nairobi on April 19, 2016 who founded Tuinuke self-help group out of friendship and ended up supporting thousands of women. PHOTO| ROBERT NGUGI  

People who saw the emaciated and depressed Rosemary Olela in 2005 would have a hard time believing she is the same person today. She has gone from suffering depression and being immobilised by illness to become an internationally recognised success story, symbolising hope and resilience in the face of challenges that women face with HIV.     

Rosemary was diagnosed with HIV in 2005, when information about it was still scanty and stigma was rife.

The mother of three was ostracised by friends and family, and even stopped from using the communal toilet in the Korogocho slum area where she lived.

With her trials and tribulations came depression and with her compromised immunity, tuberculosis took root and afflicted her for almost half a year.

Unemployed, hopeless and relying on government handouts, she had resigned herself to waiting for her death… until she met her friend Lucy Akinyi as they were queuing to get food from a church. “She was doing worse in health than I, but she told me we were not going anywhere and that I had to stay around longer for my children,” she says.

The friendship would be the anchor that held her as she sewed and beaded her way back to living with hope again.

Rosemary, who was a tailor until TB laid her low, decided to use what strength she had generated off her friend’s encouragement, to make some income. She started sewing tote bags and children’s clothes from scrap material and selling them to her neighbours in Korogocho.

BUSINESS CHALLENGES

But there were challenges to her business: Sometimes the neighbours wouldn’t pay. Business was coming along in fits and starts when she met a lady working with the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) who was running a programme in the slum; she offered to help her generate more income.

The next day, she took her to a crafts exhibition at the KICC, set up a table for her and Rosemary proceeded to sell enough to generate Sh15,000.

She took this money back to her partner Lucy, and they invested in more sewing machines and set up a business in Korogocho, supplying both residents and people whose contacts she had collected at the KICC.

While the business was growing, Lucy and Rosemary also started a talk therapy support group for other people in the area living with HIV. They would meet to talk things out and encourage each other, but after a while, they realised they needed to do more than just talk: They needed to make money. And this is how the organisation Lucy and Rosemary run, Tuinuke Tuendelee Mbele, started.

Rosemary taught the willing participants to bead and sew.

Lucy took over the finance and administration tasks while Rosemary became the face of the organisation. As numbers grew, an NGO that had heard about their work put them in touch with the World Bank and Jhpiego, a reproductive health services provider, who both helped them materially and financially.

Today, Rosemary’s organisation is located in a three-bedroom house in Kariobangi, where they run a workshop for the tailoring business and display their items for sale. The programme has expanded to take in young, pregnant women from Korogocho, as well as counselling and medical support for people living with HIV.

It supports more than 4,000 women. Rosemary is living proof that one does not have to be well-off or in perfect health to get to where one needs.

ROSY OHON, GOSPEL SINGER AND CHILD SAFETY ADVOCATE

While many people would consider being sexually abused as a child so shameful an act that it requires burying, Rosy Ohon uses it to give her the strength to speak out against child sexual abuse. A passionate singer whose music touches many, she is a brand ambassador for 160 Girls, a global campaign that that protects girls from this horrible act.

Rosy was abused as a child by a friend of her family. Although she was not threatened into keeping it quiet, she was silenced by the internal shame that she felt. “I knew that something very wrong was done to me, something that should not have been done,” she says.

The atmosphere at home did not encourage openness about matters as sensitive as defilement, and so Rosy chose silence, a decision that ate away her confidence as she grew up. “I never gathered the courage to talk,” she says. “That made me grow up scarred and broken.”

Even when she met her husband Donald, it took her many years of dating to finally open up to him about what had happened to her. He was the first person she ever told about her ordeal.

She says she felt vulnerable doing so and thought she may be rejected or perceived differently… but she also felt proud to have found the courage to reach deep inside and confront her ghosts. And she found the right person to do this with, as Donald has been nothing but supportive and loving of her. “He has been more than a husband,” she says.

When Rosy and Donald became parents to their first daughter, Rosy was spurred to action: the thought of any child going through what happened to her was her impetus. She decided to use her music to pass her message. In 2003, Rosy wrote the song Watoto, a catchy tune that asked adults to stop hurting children sexually.  Now she has a new single, Say No, on the same subject.

“Someone has got to do it – you know, fight for children,” she says. “There cannot be too many voices (speaking out).”

She and her husband have been married nearly two decades now, and have three children –  Hope, 16, Joy, 11 and Imani, nine.

Rosy acknowledges that with the changing times, there has been a difference in the way these conversations are handled. “Now, children open up to their parents but opening up is not enough. Now (parents) have to worry about whether (they) will give the right response when the kids finally open up,” she says.

Since her first album in 2003, which contains the single Watoto, Rosy has visited more than 50 schools from primary to tertiary learning institutions, held more than 20 music shows and has been invited to churches to speak on the subject.

www.nation.co.ke

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Mashine za kutotolesha mayai (Incubators)

Incubators ni Mashine zinazo tumika kutotoreshea viuombe mbali mabali hasa Ndege.

AINA ZA INCUBATORS

• Forced Air Incubator
• Still Air Incubators

FORCED AIR INCUBATOR

Forced Air Incubators ni mashine yenye Feni kwa ajili ya kutawanya joto ndani ya incubators

STILL AIR INCUBATORS

Hii ni mashine siyo kuwa na fane 

IPI NZURI?

Inashauriwa kutumia/kununua Forced Air Incubators ndo bora kabisa na haiatakusmbua na hatahivyo kwa incubator kubwa karibia zote ni Fored air, na mara nyingi ndogo ndo still air

AINZA INCUBATOR KWENYE OPERATION

Manual

Automatic

MANUAL INCUBATORS

Hizi hutumia mikono katika kugeuuza mayai na katika maswala mengine kama kucontro joto na kazalika

AUTOMATIC INCUBATORS

Hizi hujiendesha kama Computer, kila kitu hufanywa automatically so kazi za manual hupunguza sana, Ukiwa na Incubnator Automatic na ikawa na sehemu ambayo inajiongeza maji automatically basi inaweza hata kata wiki bila kuchungulia mashine yako na ikawa inapiga kazi bila tatizo.

NI IPI NZURI?

Kwa kweli kwa maisha ya sasa inahitajika Automati Incubators ambayo haitahitaji wewe kuwepo mara kwa mara katika ku contro mashine, Ingawa kuna wakati Manual inahitajika kuliko Automatic na kuna wakati Automatic inahitajika kuliko manual

NB: Automatic nyingi zina manual, yaani kuna sehemu ya kushft kwenda manual, ila manual karibia zote hazina sehemu ya kushift kwenda automatic

ILA ZOTE ZINAFANYA KAZI KWA UFANISI SAWA, TOFAUTI MOJA NI AUTOMATIC NA NYINGINE NI MANUAL.

MAMBO MUHIMU SANA KWENYE INCUBATORS

• Aina ya incubators
• Model of operation
• Manufacture
• Nguvu inazo tumia
• Altenative source of power

 MANUFACTURE

Incubator nyingi za nje ni nzuri sana, Kuna za Italy, Denmark, Uk, China, USA, India, South Africa Trukey na kazalika na bei zinatofautiana. Na utaona kwamba Incubator kama za Uk, South, USA, Italy ni very expensive compare na za kutoka China au India. Ila bei kutofautiana sana sio ishu na kama mnavyo jua China wao wna Policy yao kuhusu Internatinal Trade that is why.

Mashine nza Ndani ya Nchi nazo zipo nzuri na zipo zingine ni vimeo ila watengenezaji wanatakiwa kuwekeza zaidi kwenye Utafiti na si kujikita kwenye mauzo, inatakiwa kuboreshwa zaidi na zaidi ili ziwe na viwango vizuri

SOURCE OF ENERGY

Incubators karibia zote zinatumia Umeme kama source namba one na jua, makaa yam awe au gas kama source namba mbili, ingawa zipo za mafuta ya taa pia kama source No 1

ALTENATIVE SOURCE OF ENERGY

Kila aina ya mtengenezaji ana source yake ya altenative energy, zipo za Gas, zipo za umeme jua na zipo za mvuke wa maji na zipo za mafuta ya taa, na zipo za makaa yam awe.

ALTENATIVE SOURCE NZURI

• Kwangu mimi Incubators ambazo altenative source of energy ni Mvuke wa maji nimetokea kuzipenda sana
• Hapa umeme ukikatika unaunga pipe kwenye Mashine na unakuwa na birika special na unaiweka jikoni maji yanachemka na mvuke unapita hadi kwenye incubators, ni source nzuri sana, 
•  Hata jua nayo ni source poa

ILA BADO SOURCE YA JUA AU GAS INAKUWA NI ALTENATIVE NZURI SANA.

MATATIZO YA INCUBATORS

Incubators nyingi zina shida moja kubwa sana, Incubators inaweza ikaharibika na wewe usiwe na habari kabisa na mpaka uje kushutuka ilisha haribu mayai yote na hilo ni tatizo kubwa sana

MFANO:

• Heating tube zinaweza kufa na wewe usijue kabisa, na ukija shitikia ilisha haribu kila kitu
• Humidity Tube inaweza kufa na wewe usijue na ukija shitukia ni balaa
• Eggs turning inaweza kufa na usitambue hata siku mbili 
• Humidity sensor na temperature sonsor zinaweza kufa na wewe usijue chochote
• Na mara nyingi kinaweza kufeli kifaa kimoja za vingine viakendelea na kazi bila shida ila ikawa ndo kama hivyo, Mfano Mashine inaweza kuwa imekufa Humidity tube, na hapo inaweza endelea kufanya kazi na some time ni vigumu sana kugundua.
•  Na tofauti na mitambo kama gari, Incunator inapo haribika huku ukiwa umeweka mayai ni balaa tupu, kama huna mashine nyingine ndo inakuwa imeharibu mayai yote.

KUKATIKA KWA UMEME

Endapo umeme utakatika na ukatumia Gas, au mafuta ya taa au makaa yam awe kama source nyingine ni lazima ugeuze mayai kwa mkono, na hapa tatizo liko kwamba ile mashine haiwezi kukubali kugeka ni lazima ubonyeze sehemu ya kubadilisha kutoka automatic kwenda manual. HAPA NDO HUWA KUNA KAZI PEVU 

Na Mwisho ni kuhusu uendeshaji wa Incubators, Mara nyingi uendeshaji nao ni tatizo kubwa nasa hasa kwenye seting joto na humidity, make seting lazima zitofautiane kulingana na maeneo au vipindi Fulani, Joto na wakati wa Baridi kari

Kwa Maelezo zaidi Wasiliana na Dominick Haule

Mtoa Mafunzo ya ujasiriamali kwa wanachama na watu mbalimbali.

Mawasiliano: +255 767 111173

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7 Tips to Build a Business While Working a Day Job

Many people dream of leaving their nine-to-five jobs to start their own businesses. Many successful entrepreneurs had to keep their day jobs until they reached a point in their businesses when it was feasible to quit. This transition time can be stressful and difficult, especially when you don’t enjoy your job, but it doesn’t have to be.

While ambition is important, it is not always enough to move you forward. Maintaining your motivation and drive during your transition from employee to entrepreneur is crucial. It’s easy to veer off course and get discouraged during this transitional phase. Here are some actions you can start taking immediately while you’re still at your day job that will keep you on track and moving forward.

1. Get crystal clear on your reason for starting your business.

Connecting with your “why” is the most important first step you can take. Maybe you are motivated by being your own boss, financial independence, time freedom, creative expression, being home with your kids or helping others. Whatever your reason, knowing what motivates and drives you is what will keep you focused and committed to your dream when times get difficult.

2. Commit yourself to your dream.

Having the desire for something to work vs. committing to it are vastly different. When you commit to your dream, you are making a binding obligation to see it through to success. It means you are “all in,” you find solutions when faced with obstacles and you don’t quit, no matter what. Make that pledge to yourself, and then tell the people in your life.

3. Create a personal vision for your business.

Think about what you want in your business a year from now and write it down. Be very specific and detailed. Describe in great detail in the present tense your ideal day, what activities you engage in, who your customers/clients are, how many customers/clients you have and what your monthly income is.

Read your vision aloud every morning and evening, focusing completely on the end result -- your vibrant, flourishing business. By keeping your focus on the result, you will be able to make the day-to-day choices to ignore any negative thoughts that may arise.

4. Join a mastermind group.

A mastermind group is a peer-to-peer mentoring group that meets regularly to support each other, brainstorm ideas and share advice and work through challenges together. A mastermind group can be excellent for helping you stay accountable and motivated.

There are mastermind groups that meet in person, online or on the phone. To find a mastermind group, Meetup is a great place to start. If you cannot find one to join, then create your own with people who are also starting a business.

5. Immerse yourself in learning.

Research and study anything you can find that is pertinent to your business. The Internet provides an abundance of valuable information on building a successful business. Take courses, hire a coach or find a mentor. Listen to podcasts or audiobooks during your morning commute. The more you learn and become an expert in your area, the more self-assured, motivated and successful you will be.

6. Stay positive about your day job.

Every day, acknowledge something you appreciate about your job. Perhaps you enjoy your co-workers or always having holidays off. Maybe it’s just the free coffee or your comfortable chair.

The point is to look for the good things. The more you focus on what is positive about your current situation, the more success you will bring to all situations, including your business. Negative thoughts drain your energy, making it far more difficult to move forward with your dream.

7. Set daily goals.

Take small, measurable action steps each day toward your business, understanding there will be times when it seems like you are making no progress at all. Much of the work, in the beginning, will be tedious day-to-day tasks. Realize it is all part of building your business. By taking steps each day, which includes doing the mundane, you will start seeing results. The more progress you make, the more confidence and determination you have to keep moving forward.

By taking these actions while still working your day job, you will stay focused, motivated and committed to making your dream a reality. It will also make the time spent at your job seem to go by faster.

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Ufugaji wa kisasa wa samaki: Utaalamu na Masoko

Tujifunze kuhusu ufugaji wa samaki wa kisasa ambao hufanyika kwenye mabwawa ya kuchimbwa au visima na vitu vingine vinavofanana na hivyo.

Kuna aina nyingi za samaki wa maji baridi ambao wanaweza kufugika kwa urahisi au ugumu kidogo tu na aina hizo wapo wale ambao sio wa kuzaliana(monosexual) na wale wa kuzaliana(heterosexual)

Urahisi hapa uko zaidi kwenye kuwafuga wasiozaliana sababu hawaongezeki wakati wale wanaozaliana utakuwa na utaratibu wa kuhamisha fishling(vifaranga) sehemu nyingine.

Rasilimali muhimu za kuwa nazo ili kufanikisha shughuli hii ni eneo la ardhi,maji, rasilimali watu na rasilimali fedha.Eneo la ardhi ndio litakaloonyesha ni kwa namna gani bwawa lako liwe,aidha la kujengea na cement,kutandika plastic au kuchimba na kulitumia hivyohivyo.Bwawa huchimbwa/kujengwa kwa kuwa na sakafu yenye ulalo kiasi(gentle slope/gradient)

Wapo samaki aina ya Sato(Tilapia),Kambale(African catfish) na wengine aina ya pangasius ambao hufugwa kwa wingi sana.

Unahitaji samaki 7-8 katika meter moja ya mraba(1m^2) ,kwa maana hiyo kama una meter za mraba 600 nasi unaweza kufuga samaki 4500.Haishauriwi kulundika samaki kwenye eneo dogo kwani itawasababishia ukosefu wa hewa(oxygen).Ingawa zipo njia za kuweza kuongeza upatikanaji wa hewa kwenye mabwawa.

Ukishachimba bwawa lako(aidha na kulijengea) unaingiza maji kwenye bwawa hakikisha yamekaribia futi 2.5 mpaka kujaa full.Itakubidi kufanya liming(kumwagia chokaa bwawa kabla ya kuweka maji ili kuua bacteria hatarishi kwa maisha na afya ya samaki wako) pia unahitajika kuyarutubisha hayo maji kwa kuchanganya na mbolea(kama ya ng'ombe na za viwandani pia ingawa haishauriwi sana) na kusubiria kwa muda usiopungua siku 21 au zaidi.Unafanya hivi ili kuweka mazingira ya chakula asili(natural foood) kwa ajili ya samaki kujitengeneza,vyakula hivo hua katika hali ya mimea na viumbe wadogo(microorganisms)

Upatikanaji wa vifaranga vya samaki,hapa inakubidi uwe makini sana kama umeamua kuzalisha sato,changamoto kubwa ya sato ni kupata mbegu ambayo under right conditions vifaranga vitaweza kua samaki wenye uzito wa kutosha(miezi 6 awe at least 500grams au zaidi).Mbegu ya sato hupatikana kwa bei rejareja ya sh 300 na kambale sh 500 kwa kifaranga kimoja.Wapo wazalishaji wengi wa mbegu za vifaranga wa ndani na nje ya nchi ila kwa Tanzania nimewakubali Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute(TAFIRI) Nyegezi,Mwanza(Nimefwatilia performance yao shambani).

Ulishaji wa vifaranga vyako ,chakula chao kinategemea na uzito wao mfano samaki hula 5% ya uzito wake wa mwili akiwa mdogo na 3% akiwa mkubwa.Hapa tunaongelea ulishaji wa chakula cha ziada(supplement food),sababu cha asili amekipata kwenye ile mbolea ulioweka.Kama una vifaranga 100 vyenye gram 10 kila kimoja basi utahitaji gram 50 kuwalisha.

Itakuchukua Miezi 6-9 kuanza kuvuna samaki wako ambao unaweza kuwauza kulingana na uzito au au njia utayoona inakufaa.Samaki wengi wa kwenye mabwawa wanavunwa kwa kutumia nyavu au kumwaga maji yote nje ya bwawa.Masoko yake haya samaki ni pamoja na supermarkets, wafanyabiashara sokoni na mitaani pamoja na watu binafsi.

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7 Tips to Becoming a Millionaire

Becoming a millionaire is easier than it's ever been. 

Many people have been writing me with the notion that it's an impossible task. They say, "It's pure luck. You have to be born into a rich family. You'll have to win the Lotto. Your parents have to help you out a lot."

A single mother with five children wrote the following, "Daniel, I read your article and I believe in what you're saying. However, I'm 50 years old and work long hours at two dead-end jobs. It's Christmas time and I barely have enough money to buy gifts for my children. What should I do?"

Another man wrote, "Well, if you work for the government or a non-profit, you cannot expect to become a millionaire. After all, you're on a fixed salary and there’s little time for anything else. By the time you get home, you've got to play with the kids and entertain yourself."

These queries got me thinking of the true possibilities of wealth all over the world, particularly in America. I've seen people come to America who speak little to no English, have no connections, no money, or formal education, but have still been able to create fortunes for themselves and others. 

The truth is that all of us can become as wealthy as we decide to be. None of us is excluded from wealth. If you have the desire to receive money, whatever the amount, you have all of the rights to do so. There's no limit to how much you can earn for yourself.

Money is like the sun. It does not discriminate. It doesn't say, "I will not give light and warmth to this flower, tree, or person because I don't like them." Like the sun, money is abundantly available to all of us who truly believe that it is for us. No one is excluded.

Here are 7 tips to becoming a millionaire: 

1. Change Your Thinking

You have to see the bigger picture. When most people see just trees, you need to look at the entire forest. This way, you'll be able to chart your own course and get to where you want to be. By having a vision and the goals to attain that vision, your possibilities are endless.

You'll have to go through plenty of self-discovery before you earn your first million. Knowing the truth about yourself isn't always the easiest task. Sometimes, you'll find that you're your biggest enemy and best friend -- even in the same day! Nonetheless, changing your thinking is a requirement for wealth.

2. Save Relentlessly

This will address the queries that I've recently received. For many individuals, there's too much month at the end of the money. However, you'll have to make your best effort to save as much as you can, even if it's a ridiculously low number. 

There are many techniques for saving money. You need to find your own system and start building your wealth. Even if you're on a fixed income, you need to find the discipline necessary to save. Whether you start out with saving $50 or $500 per month, do the best you can and invest this money in the best way possible.

3. Learn from Millionaires

Most people are surrounded by what I like to call "Default Friends." These friends are acquaintances that we see at the grocery store, gym, school, work, and other places. We naturally befriend these people as trust grows. However, in most cases, these people aren't millionaires and cannot help you become one either. 

If you truly desire and aspire to be a millionaire, these people may tell you that it's impossible. They'll tell you that you're living in a fantasy world and why you'll never be able to make it happen. Instead, learn from millionaires. Let go of these relationships and seek new ones that can help you get to the next level.

4. Indulge in Wealth

To become wealthy, you must first learn about wealth. This means that you'll have to put yourself in situations that you've never been before. For instance, you can test drive a new car, get a realtor to show you an expensive home, or get a brownie from the finest bakery in town.

Most of this will not break your bank. In fact, some of it is free. You'll have to go where 97 percent of people aren't willing to go if you want to make your financial dreams happen. Are there luxury golf courses, spas, or museums in your area that will allow you to indulge in wealth? If so, take advantage.

5. Believe It's Possible

If you believe that it's possible to become a millionaire, you can make it happen. However, if you've excluded yourself from this possibility and think that it's for other people, you'll never have money. Also, be sure to bless rich people when you can. Haters of money aren’t likely to receiving any of it either.

The best way to do this is to learn relentlessly about yourself and money. You can do this by reading books that have been written by millionaires themselves. By gaining a well-rounded education and staying inspired, you'll be able to get the wealth you've been looking for. 

6. Enlarge Your Service

Your material wealth is the sum of your total contribution to society. If you know my famous question, "How do I deliver more value to more people in less time?" then you'll know that you can always increase your quality and quantity of service. People are waiting to be served.

Enlarging your service is also about "going the extra mile." When it comes to helping others, you must give it everything you have. Don't think about if the people you serve will appreciate it or not. You just plant the seeds and nature will take care of the rest. 

7. Seize ALL Opportunities

In every neighborhood, no matter where you are, there are always opportunities to do good. Your community desperately needs your help. If you would only open your mind and heart to these opportunities, you'll find that they will be ready to reward you in due time.

Furthermore, you cannot say "no" to opportunities and expect to become a millionaire. You must seize every opportunity that has your name on it. Sometimes the monetary reward will not come immediately, but if you keep planting seeds, eventually you'll grow your fruitful crop.

Money is the harvest of your production. Everything that you have is in direct proportion to your actions. If you've done everything that you can do and have a purpose leading your life, you can expect to become wealthy. You must desire wealth and eventually the money will come when you are ready for it. 

The more seeds (service) you plant, the more plants (money) you'll have.

DANIEL ALLY

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Jinsi ya kutengeneza SABUNI ya kipande YA KUGANDISHA

Utengenezaji wa sabuni hii una njia nyingi

Hatua  ya kwanza

Chemsha vipimo 7 vya mafuta ya mawese au mafuta ya shea hadi ifikie hatua ya kimiminika chuja na yaweke kwenye chungu cha mfinyanzi au chombo cha plastiki.

Hatua ya pili

Pima vipimo 5 vya maji baridi kwenye chombo cha plastiki ongeza kipimo 1cha sodium hydroxide kwa uangalifu mkubwa kwenye maji acha hadi mchanganyiko huo uyeyuke.

Subiri mchanganyiko wa sodium hydroxide na mafuta ukaribie kupoa.

Hatua ya tatu

Taratibu ongeza mchanganyiko wa sodium hydroxide kwenye mawese,huku ukikoroga haraka haraka bila kusitisha ukitumia ubao .hii ni njia nzuri zaidi.

Njia ya pili

Chemsha mafuta kwenye joto la kadiri ya 55C

Changanya maji na sodium hydroxide na uache mchanganyiko huu upoe hadi kufikia joto hilohilo.

Baada ya kuandaa mchanyiko wako changanya vimiminika hivyo viwili huku ukikoroga kwanguvu sana kadiri uwezavyo, taratibu sabuni itageuka kuwa laini. Kabla sabuni haijawa ngumu mwaga sabuni ndani ya kasha la mbao lilotangulizwa karatasi nyembamba la plastiki subiri saa 3 na sawazisha sabuni kwa rula au kitu kingine kilicho nyooka huku ukigandamiza juu, ipanguse iwe laini kwa kutumia kitamba kilicho lowanishwa.

Katakata sabuni vipande kwa kipimo cha kuuza iweke ikauke katika sehemu yenye kivuli kwa muda wa majuma 8 hadi 12 mfano- ndani ya chumba kwenye sakafu iliyotandikwa kasha la karatasi nene.

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8 Musts to Start Your Business With Little to No Capital

Entrepreneurs will often have amazing business ideas, but they put them on hold due to a lack of capital. They assume that their idea will never get far off the ground unless they have major funding behind them. 

It seems that every day there is a new startup receiving millions of dollars from venture capital firms, but what you don’t hear about is the several startup failures that burn through millions of dollars only to fizzle out and shut their doors forever.

If your idea and plan of execution aren’t well thought out from the beginning, no amount of money can turn it into a winner. Have a great idea but very little money? Don’t let that stop you! Yes, there will be ridiculously long days with little to no sleep. Yes, you are going to be stressed. But those that want it bad enough will make it.

Here are eight tips that can help you get your idea off the ground with limited funds.

1. Build your business around what you know. Instead of venturing off into uncharted territory, make sure that you build your business around your skills and knowledge. The less you have to rely on outside sources the better. When your business is built around your own personal expertise you can eliminate consultants and outside assistance. 

Also, having that knowledge is sometimes all that is needed to successfully take the plunge into entrepreneurship.

2. Tell everyone you know what you are doing. Inform your family, friends, business contacts and past colleagues about your new business. Call, send emails and make your new venture known on your social-media profiles. Your friends and family members can help you spread the word, and past business contacts can introduce your brand to their professional contacts as well. This type of grassroots marketing can help introduce your company to a much larger audience.

3. Avoid unnecessary expenses. You are going to have plenty of expenses, and there are some that just can’t be avoided. What you can avoid though is overspending. Take something as simple as business cards. You could drop $1,000 on 500 metal business cards that give off the “cool” factor, or you could spend $10 on 500 traditional business cards. Being frugal in the beginning can be the difference between success and a failed business.

4. Don’t get buried in credit card debt. There is a smart way and a suicidal way to use credit when starting a business. New computers, office furniture, phones and supplies can all quickly add up. Instead of purchasing everything at once and throwing it all on a credit card, use your company’s revenue to finance your expenses. Eliminating the stress and burden of debt will greatly increase the chances of creating a successful business. 

5. Make sure your receivables policy won’t sink you. If your business is a retail operation then this isn’t going to apply, but if you are providing services such as consulting or products to retailers you need to make sure that your payment policy is well thought out. Can you remain above water with net-15 or net-30 terms? Don’t base your receivables on what you think your customers will want. Base them on what is going to make your business operate successfully.

6. Build up sweat equity. When I first started my business I worked around the clock, handling every aspect of the business as well as the marketing and growth. All of the hard work and long days that you put in isn’t for nothing. You are building a brand and your hard work is essentially increasing the value of your business. Your sweat equity will come into play if you ever decide to sell off a piece of your company or take on a partner.

7. Take advantage of free advertising and marketing. There are several ways to generate a buzz for your business without breaking the bank. Social media is a great way to gain exposure and interact with potential customers. You can also reach out to local media and offer your expertise.

Make as many local media contacts as you can and be extremely responsive with their requests. This can lead to them to branding you as the local authority, generating plenty of free press for your business. 

8. Get ready to hustle. Hard work is an absolute necessity, but when you are starting a business with little to no capital then you must be prepared to dedicate everything you have into making the business a success. This might mean cold calling, handling customer support, dealing with billing and accounting, and every other working part of your business. You will wear many hats and it will require the majority of your time and energy if you are to make it.

Don’t let limited capital prevent you from taking a great idea and running with it. Will it be difficult and will you have some stressful situations? Of course, but that is part of entrepreneurship.

JONATHAN LONG

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