Focus On Success

Written by Rachael Kizza

Jim Collins in his book, Good to great, believes that the best way to grow is to FOCUS. Focus on one thing that you are good at and not only good but you’re BEST at. In that you can beat other people at it. Once you discover it, channel all your energies into it and you will experience immense breakthrough.

Focus I believe is setting your eyes on one thing and seeing it through to the end.

Businesses /organisations require undivided attention because they are growing; like a baby, every stage is as important as the initial kicks .Failure to focus on it will lead to bumps and humps along the way.

The great book says, ``out of the abundance of your heart, the mouth speaks.’’ What is your heart full of? It will come out in your talk with people, your thoughts and even your social media activity will reveal your focus.

Starting an organisation and growing it is a huge task, everything relies on you, in simple terms you are the mother of your baby. That is a huge task and has sub responsibilities under it to see it blossom.

What is your focus??

Are you the kind who wants your baby to be grown by others? Or the mother who doesn`t want to carry out the tough job but wants to enjoy the benefits? Whichever you are, shortcuts will only lead to your baby getting stunted and might eventually collapse or die.

Helpers come in but they can`t take care of that baby more than its mother. You have the upper hand.

Keep your focus with a clear head and be ready to put in the hard work always.

Kyusa empowers youth to grow sustainable businesses by helping them channel their energies at what they are passionate about.

Effective Management of Time & Money

“Tell me how you use your time and how you spend your money and I will tell you where and what you will be ten years from now” -Napoleon Hill

Time and money are some of the most valuable resources that you have been blessed with. Therefore, understanding how to use them is very vital in evaluating your progress and identifying what may be holding you back. Your personal attitude towards life determines your attitude towards time and; how you use your time determines how much you want to earn as regards your destiny.

Managing your time is similar to managing your life that is; you need to know what you want to use it for. First of all, you need to learn to prioritize your tasks and always create evidence of accomplishment of a given task; as this serves as a reminder of your efficient use of time. In addition, you should also decide to devote your spare time to the things that you think are important to you other than your job for example family, friends, reading, education and recreation among others.

On the other hand; just like time, money should also be spent with a clear purpose. You therefore need to create a budget for all your expenses and ensure that you stick to it through self-leadership. You also need to allocate a portion of your income to savings, charity and give yourself some reward for doing your job.

Developing and sticking to your budget has many advantages which include; increasing your habit of self-discipline and also helps you learn how to make your money serve your purpose.

Finally, when you have figured out how to improve your use of time, you will be able to allot more of it to managing your money! You need to learn to seize every moment of time as if it were the only one you had.

We therefore encourage you to sign up for the Kyusa program so that you are equipped with more skills on time and money management through the Financial Literacy module in the Kyusa curriculum!

Enrollment for the January 2017 intake is on.

How To Manage Your Sales

Selling and selling properly is a key factor in business!

Every entrepreneur is encouraged to learn how to sell as it is another way of social interaction. Dave Ramsey states, “Selling is nothing more than transference of feelings”. Entrepreneurship involves persuading a team to follow you in achieving a certain goal. Therefore below are some of the steps taken to ensure effective selling;

As an entrepreneur, you need to know your target market to the dot so you are able to qualify your clients. You should also encourage your team to always serve clients’ needs but not pressure them to buy products. This is mainly because clients usually purchase for their own reasons not yours.

In addition to the above, you need to be able to build rapport as this is what creates an opportunity for the buyer to trust you. One writer also emphasizes that people will buy from you only if they trust you, your product and company. Therefore, you need to have attractive packaging of your products, proper eye contact among other things. When rapport is effectively built, then positive referrals within the community begin to flood in which eventually boosts your business.

Furthermore, you also need to be well educated and informed about your products and competitors given the fact that it is very difficult to teach someone how important something is unless you actually know it. You are also able to passionately serve your clients when you know so much about your competitors mainly because you know why you are better.

Finally, always make it a point to sell and serve by describing the benefits of the products mainly because people do not buy products or services but rather what those products or services do! as encouraged by Dave Ramsey.

Let us therefore partner with Kyusa in creating a community of youth who have been fully equipped with entrepreneurship skills that will enable them to effectively sell their products or services thereby earning a living and causing social transformation. Enroll a participant for the January 2017 intake.

HOW TO LAUNCH YOUR BUSINESS

Many people always have the thought that starting business is hard. I say “no” to this thought by sharing a few nuggets on how to launch your business;

First and foremost you need to know the “why”, “how” and “what” of your business; you should be certain about the reason as to why you have selected a particular line of business. This reason should be big and audacious enough to keep you on fire and spread over to your future team and stimulate them. You should also know the strategies you are going to apply and what exact product or service you intend to produce. When all this is clear, the journey to launching your business then starts.

Secondly, you also need to identify the needs of the people in the surrounding areas and see how best to serve them. This can also help you in identifying your niche that is finding out what distinguishes you from other producers. For example, if there are many shoe sellers in an area, you may choose to sell yours with a free pair of stockings in addition.

Always start small and be proud as you launch out because even great oaks were once small acorns as stated by a certain writer. You are advised to start with the available amount of capital and resources. Borrowing to start business is usually discouraged. Hence, sometimes you might need to use the space at home in the early stages of your business till your income increases for example you can start by having a mini bakery at home where you bake the cakes and fry the daddies from .

Finally, when you start, always endeavor to employ workers who buy into the “why” of your business as this will save you from various problems. Therefore; forgetting all the fears, with our passions and dreams right, let us jump onto this train of business.

Kyusa commissions change agents to start up passion driven businesses through the Business Development module which is part of the curriculum. It is for this reason that I encourage you to recommend a person for the January 2017 intake.

Self Leadership

Whenever leadership is mentioned, most leaders think of their followers which is not the case. A leader must be able to lead in all directions that is; those above you, your peers and those below you in order to be considered an effective leader.Prior to that everyone needs to lead themselves first before they can lead others and this makes self reflection and inner growth key for all leaders as they tackle the challenge of self leadership.

Self leadership requires a leader to know and develop their gifts to the best of their abilities for example through mentorship, consultancy, voluntary work and going for further studies. It is also the leader’s job to keep their passions alive for example read whatever he has to read, go wherever he has to go to stay on fire. And he does not need to apologize to anyone as he/she works at keeping their passion alive.

In addition, it is the responsibility of the leader to know their evisioned future and keep it sure. This can be through having constant personal vision nights where you answer questions like;

·         Is  my vision clear?

·         Is my passion hot?

·         Am I developing my gifts?

·         In what area am I most gifted?

·         Is my pace sustainable?

·         Are interior issues undermining my leadership?

“It is difficult to lead people to the future when your own picture of the future is fuzzy” hence the importance of personal vision nights.

Finally, a leader’s character needs to be in the right shape for the whole team to be able to achieve the mission. A leader needs to have moral authority given that followers will only trust leaders who exhibit the highest levels of integrity.Hence, leaders need to maintain a good character as they desire to influence others!

I therefore encourage you to partner with us in raising change agents who will exhibit high levels of self leadership as they roll out into the community to foster development. 

How Leaders make Effective Decisions

Every leader at some point is faced with the decision making challenge; having to choose what alternative to take. This can be in families, organisations, meetings, nations and even the world at large. Therefore below are some of the sources  of data that may be of help as you make different decisions;

First and  fore most,you need to know and act on your personal convictions-what you believe. Sometimes you need to have the courage to carry out your promptings , even when you might not understand them fully, and also when your team questions your wisdom as a leader.

Second you need to be a calculated risk taker. This can be done well through consulting your  mentors or your morale informers who are able to increase or decrease your risk level according to your need. This is mainly because excellence is honorable and inspires people as we make decisions along our leadership journey.

Finally,the the other important source of data is pain that is from previous experiences. Bill Hybels says that ,``one of the greatest importances of experience is that it provides veteran leaders with a “pain file” of raw-edged memories. ‘’The lessons gathered in this file help leaders to discern the level of potential pain inherent in any new idea. Hence pain is a powerful teacher and a fantastic informer to our decision making process.

Therefore, we implore you to partner with Kyusa in empowering Ugandan youth with decision making skills through the self management model so that we are able to better leaders for today and tomorrow who will effectively make the right decisions pertaining to development of our country and economy.

The Culture Of Giving Back

Giving back simply means giving and expecting nothing in return; giving of resources like time, money, skill and talent, expertise, material things and much more.

The giving back culture is not popular in Uganda, most volunteers will ask for some sort of facilitation to be able to give their time and skill in any organisation. Our culture promotes ``something for something’’ relationship where you can`t give just for just, you give because you expect something in return.

When we talk about giving back, it means giving back without expecting anything tangible in return except the realization that you have made a significant impact in the community and in some one`s life.

At Kyusa, we teach our change agents to give back to their communities even as they start-up businesses. One of our change agents Anthony has started up a project under ``Creams of Life’’ where he teams up with other organisations to raise money for them through music, dance and drama. The money raised is given to the particular organisation to support and they are not paid. They are simply giving back to their community.

Every person entrepreneur or not needs to cultivate a culture of giving back to their community without waiting on government to do all the work.

A few tips on how to give back to your community;

·        =  Partner with an organisation that is causing impact in your community by contributing your time, skill and expertise, money and resources.

·       =  Take on a child (or children) to support through school and give them a better education so they don`t drop out of school.

·         = Volunteer with an organisation and don`t expect money while at it.

·         = Give donations

·         = Take part in fundraising activities like runs and  car wash drives

How are you giving back to your community?

At Kyusa, we challenge you to embark on the journey to give back to your community? Remember little by little we gain ground, we better our community in our ``small’’ acts of service.

Effective leaders

Leadership is a trait which is both inbuilt and acquired. It is an important function of management which helps maximize efficiency to achieve organizational goal or dreams and currently, the world needs effective leaders who will foster change. Therefore, below are some qualities of effective leaders;

First and foremost, effective leaders need to have positive thoughts and positive talk. They must view challenges as chances to lengthen their lists of successes. They should not shy away from facing and accepting the brutal facts that is they should be able to sit down and solve issues while hoping for a better future.

Secondly, they need to look beyond their personal roles, fame and achievements. Effective leaders need to have visions-pictures of the future. Vision gives people something to strive towards. Leaders should keep casting these visions always till they are understood by the people.

In addition, humility, willingness and ability to take on risks should be part and parcel of the lives of effective leaders for example; they need to be work oriented. They should also be able to identify and include the right people with them towards achieving goals. This is mainly because, for a team to be effective, it needs the right people who have the competence to achieve the set goals.

Such leaders also believe in step by step actions towards achieving a common goal. The word ‘rush’ does not exist in their vocabulary. They are always seeking for detailed information and evidence before they can make decisions that concern both their personal and corporate circles.

In conclusion, effective leaders are always on the frontline .They are the ones who start work or projects mainly by communicating the policies and plans to their team members. They also guide people on the right way of performing responsibilities effectively and efficiently that is; they decide the destination of the bus.

At Kyusa, we equip the youth with leadership skills through the various modules for example under team dynamics and communication skills modules. The youth need leadership skills if they are to be of influence.

I therefore encourage you to partner with Kyusa in raising generations of change agents fully equipped with leadership skills and are able to activate dreams or passions that will transform communities.

FINANCIAL PEACE FOR BUSINESSES

Most of us have ventured into businesses though  we fail to follow common financial principles leaving our businesses vulnerable to the whims of their competitors, every little ripple in the market and certainly too big shifts in the economy as explained by Dave Ramsey in his book Entreleadership.

However, when the following principles are put into consideration, we will eventually have financial peace for our businesses.

As we launch into businesses, the first step we need to take is do proper accounting that is; match the incomes with expenditures regularly. Proper financial recording needs to be done and documents like statements, receipts, invoices and cheques must be thoroughly kept.

Under micro businesses, we need to open a separate checking account that is; we should not use personal money to pay business expenses and vice versa. We should also prepare businesses budgets so that we are able to tell our money where to go.

In addition to the above, we need to act our wage if our businesses are to gain stability. This can be through avoiding the need for toys or the emotional need to impress visitors. Dave Ramsey supports this by saying, “If you and your business are attractive, you do not have to impress anyone with your furniture or toys.”

Finally, we need to avoid debt as this increases chances of failure. This is possible by growing slowly and gradually. We should avoid borrowing for larger purchases and instead resort to options like; paying cash by saving towards a purchase goal or hiring until you can pay cash.

At Kyusa, the youth are empowered with financial skills through the Financial Literacy Module. Therefore, let’s join our hands so that we can raise generations of change agents who will live successful lives and operate businesses with a soul thereby transforming communities.

How To Build Effective Teams

Team community is doing life deeply with one another when providing services and every great leader needs a great team to achieve great goals.

First and foremost, when building a team; one needs to first identify the purpose more specifically in order to know the kind of people to look for.

Secondly, when you get into the field to look for the right people; you need to consider their character that is see evidence of honesty, a teachable spirit, humility and reliability. You need to also check if they have proven competence that is; you should do everything within your means to ensure that they possess the right skills that have been developed and refined over time.

In addition, the selected people should have a relational fit with the team leader as well as the other team members. This is mainly because it easier to do bidding with people that love you and vice versa.

Thirdly, each team needs a top quality leader who will keep it focused on the mission, ensure that the right people with the right skills are in the right positions maximize every team member’s contribution and emphasize communication so that all team members remain in the information loop.

Finally, you should build team performance by establishing clear goals and also rewarding achievements as you walk the journey to greatness!

At Kyusa, the youth are equipped with Team Dynamics skills which are included in the Kyusa curriculum so as to effectively work in teams.

I therefore encourage you to partner with Kyusa in raising generations of change agents who believe in team work being the way to get work done faster!

Silver Linning

It is greatly emphasized that “Every cloud has a silver lining”. A silver lining is a metaphor for optimism. Simply put, there is good in every bad! It is a huge bump on the road when one drops out of school and cannot continue with formal education for whatever reason. Most youth often feel like their dreams have been shattered, no more careers and all hope is gone. Well, Kyusa is here to encourage you that there is some good in being a school dropout: there is a silver lining on this dark cloud; don’t give up yet! Cheer up.

We believe that everybody is passionate about something and it is against this background that we empower youth to develop passion driven, sustainable careers. Being a school dropout does not eliminate or even reduce the passion that one has for something. We therefore encourage you to look within yourself and excavate that passion that is deeply buried; it’s about building onto what already exists and affirming it.

Kyusa looks to empower Out of school youth in urban slums and rural areas with employable skills, life skills and entrepreneurship skills including business development through our 8 weeks training program. We turn your mindsets of hopelessness to hope by encouraging you to take on passion driven careers that are able to earn you a living. So don’t lose hope; dream big!

A Go-Getter

The ability to stand by one’s word is in itself a gift not everyone possesses. It breeds a spirit of principle consequently enabling one stay on the right path towards the realization of their dreams.

Ephrance Nanyonga has been blessed with this gift. Passionate about swimming, travelling and nurturing people, the 20 year old, S6 leaver envisions a future bigger than eye has seen.

Before the Kyusa intervention, Ephrance was involved in a poultry project with a group of friends in pursuit to realization of her vision. This experience turned out to be the bench mark on which the interest in the Team Dynamics module arose.

While taking the program Ephrance was empowered to set SMART goals, manage herself, boost her confidence and foster her own independence which has made her a stronger leader among her peers at the Maisha Community Clubs where she serves as a manager for the kitchen section. The financial literacy training also empowered her to manage her finances and as a result her saving culture has greatly improved as she saves for future investment.

 As she intends to advance her studies with a Tours & Travel course. Ephrance has identified Piggery as a business venture, made a standard business plan and is taking necessary steps into its breakthrough so as to realize her immense vision for life.

Our Society is filled with a lot of leadership potential such as that within Ephrance. Only when we create platforms for them to blossom do we better the lives of the generations to come.

You cannot create a future for a generation, but you can create a generation for the future.

”Raising Generations of Change Agents”

Mind Your Business #1

By Ralph Karama

Mind your Business! Is a statement I often hear. I then ponder and wonder what business these people refer to. The understanding many of us have of a business is one that sells cakes, clothes or even jewelry. Contrary to this, I believe our lives are our sole proprietorship.

Applicable to all businesses is the urgency to keep records. Today we handle the cash book as an essential business record. It is important for one to keep track of your income in flow, debit and credit not forgetting your balance. Now I am not talking about the income coming into your compartment because of selling something, but rather your personal income.

This right here is a sample of a cash book.

BRENDA’S PERSONAL CASHBOOK

Date	Opening Balance	Credit (Money Coming In)	Debit (Money moving Out)	Closing Balance
19th May	20,000/=	50,000/=	25,000/=	45,000/=

In this case Brenda started her day with twenty thousand, received fifty thousand and spent twenty five thousand. She therefore ended the day with forty five thousand Uganda shillings.

It is expedient for us to understand that “minding our business” involves keeping records of a number of things that happen in our lives. Finance being just one of them. Otherwise our businesses will fail. Well who wants an unsuccessful life?

So are you minding your business?

At Kyusa we empower out of school youth with business development skills including record keeping in business which can clearly be applied in our personal lives as demonstrated above.

It is much easier to prepare yourself for the future than preparing a future for yourself. Start now. Mind your business!

REWRITE YOUR SCRIPT – DO NOT BLEND IN

Most of us live our lives the way our parents lived theirs. We are told to follow family traditions. Statements like “this is how it has always been done” have been drummed in our ears so loud that we hear it every time we feel we want to try something else.

Knowing that I can write my own script according to my uniqueness yet not violating the universal principles is very liberating.

We were all created with a purpose. Finding that purpose and living according to it makes you stand out and not blend in.

I have heard it said that if any two things are the same, one is irrelevant. Why then do we live in a copy, paste mode? It is like trying to fit a square box in a round hole.

Rewriting your own script takes understanding who you are. It means you having to take a S.W.O.T analysis. Find out your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.  This self- examination is the answer to rewriting your own script.  The great philosopher Socrates said “the unexamined life is not worth living.”

Examine yourself by your values, beliefs, expectations, attitude and actions. This will give you the permission to live your life unapologetically. For it is when you find yourself, that you will be significant and not live in the shadows of other people.

At Kyusa, we cover Self Management as one of our modules and this has helped our Change Agents to discover their personalities and identify their passion. When you find yours, you will REWRITE YOUR OWN SCRIPT AND STAND OUT NOT BLEND IN.

YOU’RE UNIQUE: LIVE IT

 ``The greatest enemy of great is good,’’ your greatest enemy is yourself; the voice within that keeps telling you to be like other people. You then end up trying to be like others and live a mediocre life. You even labor so hard to dress like them, speak, walk and even produce the exact products when it comes to business.

A Congolese proverb says, “wood may remain ten years in water, but it will never become a crocodile.” You can never change who you are but can ignore it. You only declare yourself a slave when you decide to depend on other people’s opinions to drive your life instead of focusing on your creativity that God created you with.

If you have no plans for yourself, you shall only be part of other people’s plans which defies the greatness you ought to display. Trying to copy other people’s lifestyles has killed originality which would have birthed all good things according to John Stuart Mill. You need to resist imitation and live the unlimited life. You must learn to be yourself in everything that you do.

Imitation is limitation and no one ever becomes great by imitation. You therefore need to make your own impression and dare to be who you are in leadership, entrepreneurship, business, employment.

At Kyusa, we take the youth through modules like self management, planning, business development, creativity and innovation. We encourage our change agents to discover who they are so that they are able to serve their unique gifts to the world and live life out of their unique ability.

Therefore, let us partner in this venture of raising passion driven change agents who desire to be great by being who they are.

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change…….Carl Rogers