Merry Christmas

I sincerely hope I am not writing because I needed to blog something o; but I really do wish every reader whatever it is you wish for yourselves during this season. I hope that the 'reason' for the season, the birth of our saviour, will, for once in possibly a long time, mean that to us; JOY.

A lot has happened this year, personally, and to the world in general; a lot of bad things still happening, but in all this, we should be grateful nonetheless; it really really could be worse.

That the 'reason for the season' is being celebrated at year end is no coincidence, it means we can decide to end the year on a very positive note, if we so desire.

In the spirit of the season, I say a very heartfelt 'merry christmas' to all my esteemed readers, thank you for taking time out to click on this blog, from where ever you are, and I pray the next year will be for you one of the best years of your lives, even as you continually visit Zouzousmuses *wink*

'JOY to the world,' why?? Because 'The Saviour is come!'

Be Free Oh.

Tree by the River

This is one of those blogs that I DID NOT plan o!

I woke up jeje to read my holy book and stumbled into this part where I have read times without number over the years, I must also say that I was NOT thinking along the lines (this morning or before I went to bed) of where it took me, it goes to prove then, that this thing about business or the work of our hands, needs to be re-visited, re-vamped, or ‘re- plain do something about!

Let’s go there…Jeremiah 17: 7-8

Believe it or not, I had to Google ‘tree,’ and ‘root’ to get a better grasp of all the thoughts that were streaming, rather furiously, through my mind, I couldn’t write fast enough so I started to voice record… questions like ‘where are you (your business) planted?’ 'What is your vision/mission statement?' 'Why are you doing what you are doing?' 'What is your source?' 'What are your values?' 'On what stands your feet?’ were running through my mind.

Is it possible that things, our businesses do not prosper because we are planted elsewhere other than By The River? If yes, what do we even consider to be our ‘river?’ That is first a problem, which, if not properly addressed, culminates into the ‘root’ not spreading  towards the stream. I understand that roots do 4 things: absorbs water, anchors the plant body to the ground, stores food and nutrient and prevents erosion!  So clear and so self-explanatory. Your ideas, plans, creativity, strategies...these are the roots of the business. On what are these founded? Are they really working like the root is supposed to? If this is well balanced, if we get them right, market survey, dynamics of the market, projections, economic situation etc, will not matter, why, because being in the right place gives (tacit) access to ‘inside information’. I recall Isaac (for some reason)…only a mad man (or well, someone who knows something no one else does) will continue to plant during a famine, but hey, he got a 100% returns on his ‘madness!’ Gbam. I say he had access to inside info. #Selah

And as you (re)-position your business ideas and strategies, you will not ‘see’ heat come. The pressure will glide off your back like water off the duck  because you have already passed that stage! You are not worried about the period when everyone is depressed because ‘there is no market’…think of it, is it possible that there is no market for anything at any point?? Is it? I am not sure. Didn’t people make it during the stock market crash? Some people hit gold where others hit the bottom, wrecked. And difficult as it may be,  yours can only always be green and fresh, you never stop producing, you product remains relevant, at all times, you never lack an idea, and because you are the one producing that particular product, (do I sense a rhyme in there? Lol) there is always a ready market for it.

So, I am thinking a trip back to the drawing board is in perfect order a this point. That soup business, cake business, fabric business, gifts business, water business, gold business and all other  n’importe quoi business is in need of being re-vamped!  Vision and mission statement needs to be reviewed! #PlantByTheRiver o!

This blog has to be for someone because I cannot say how I landed here, and if I may say so myself, coming so quickly on the heel of previous post ‘Announce Yourself?’ A coincidence?? I say divine orchestration. Biko!

Oh. By the way; trust me, you do not  want to consider vs. 6 of this chapter, it is just as graphic…in the negative!

Take a cue, be like the tree jor!

BE FREE OH.

Announce Yourself!

I knew this post had to graduate from ‘drafts’ to ‘published’  when a friend told me how, over the weekend she ended up at a high-profile party where her big(ger) boss was at and how she walked up to him, introduced herself and told him what she does for him!! And people around her commended her for being bold…she told me that she felt he needed to know what an asset he had...even my own eyes popped; strange, since I had this draft waiting since last week!

That is exactly what I feel we should do! Why shouldn't we announce ourselves? Why do most think it is better if others do it? 'Beauty being in the eye of the beholder' and all, (not the best of illustrations but I am sure you get my drift!) What if you waited endlessly for 'others' to blow this trumpet on our behalf but they are just so consumed with their business to remember us??

First I thought, oh, why broadcast your 'business' in order to get ahead? But people/companies advertise their products na...in fact, that's what sells products! We must announce our gifts, talents and abilities, because we are just what someone is looking for. Tell of how good you are and reasons why you should be checked out! Its not pride to reel out your CV...in short, I feel I should be like my Father; He never misses any opportunity to tell you about the great works He did (does), He tells you how He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He tells you how He moves mountains from one location to another, He tells you of His power to do and undo, He recounts, unceasingly, all the mighty things He did to bring Israel out of Egypt, He tells you how He numbers the stars and call them each by name, how He puts hail into storehouses, He tells you how the seas writhe in His presence, how the hills skip like lamb when He shows up....whats more? He tells, no, He commands you to tell your children from generation to come all the things He does! Talk about 'self-announcement!'

So, declaring what you do and how good you are at it is not boasting in the negative way in which we have come to regard 'boasting!' No one else is going to do it as well as you would, people can only affirm you, but they cannot tell what you do as well as you can. However, the key issue here is to maintain a balance so that you don't fall into 'self-pride', and thinking you are who/what you are by your own intelligence.

I should now announce to you that Zouzou's Place (yes, that email address is actually a Company name, duly registered and all) organizes  aso-ebi. Professionally and expertly takes care of all that business of going back and forth the market, assembling your aso-ebi for you. All you have to do is 'hand it over' to us.
I dare you to put yourself and your business out there o, 'they' are waiting to hear you, whats more, the tools to do it freely is available...why not take advantage...dust off those proposals, re-brand, re-launch, re-print, re-furbish...re-whatever it takes and get it on! You can do it, DO IT. #AtOnce.

I have a mind to add: you don't own a business, but you are good at something, you know that you are very good at that 'something'...can you make a mini-flier and begin to announce yourself, no?...just do it. do it already.

Zouzous's Place carrier bags

I have freely expressed myself...you had better Be Free Oh!

No Pain

‘No pain! No pain! No pain!’

These were the words that Rocky's coach drilled into him as he prepared to defeat a massive Russian in his (the latter's) home turf in the 4^th part of the Rocky movies.

7am yesterday morning I flipped through the channels and landed on Rocky 4 showing and for the first time since the last 100 times or so that I had seen all the movie parts, I learnt two very good lessons.

Ivan Drago, Russian had come to America to ‘seek' a fight. Apollo, Rocky’s antagonist-turned friend, elected to fight him even though he had passed his prime, boxing-wise. Long story cut horribly short,  Apollo died during the course of the fight.

A heartbroken Rocky agreed to a rematch in Russia, as insisted on by the Russians.

And so training began for him in a very hostile environment; an awful weather and the most unfriendly hosts. While Ivan had sophisticated and state-of-the-art equipment to train with in a warm sports gym, Rocky had to improvise in the raging cold. He practically manufactured all he needed to train; using the things that were around him. He didn’t lament. In fact, he had specifically requested that shack just so that he could concentrate on his goal: winning. He needed, and wanted to concentrate on beating his hated enemy. Remember Ivan killed Apollo.

And while he was being pounded almost to death in the ring during the fight, all he could think was ’no pain’, he had to get past the pain.

What are our challenges? Oh, they multiple. How hostile is our environment? Very. What resources are available to us? A lot but we don't see them, we are blinded by our inability to get past the pain of our many challenges. Are we thinking about the pain? Obviously yes, reason why we are still in the same spot!

What do we want? Do we want it badly enough to do whatever it takes to get it? After all, do the things that matter come easy? we often hear, 'no pain, no gain'. We have heard it said about mountains: jump over it, go around it, push through it…

What is your 'coach' telling you? Can you hear the chant of ‘no pain’ or its equivalent, cheering you toward the finishing line, urging you on, no matter what batters at you?

Needless to say, Rocky won the fight.

What is your pain?

Be free oh.

Project N1M: Executed

I am pretty sure you would agree with me if I said that the report of the last blog appeal should come before any other blog. I mean, I had started to post something else but thought, nah, give a report on the Garage Sale.

I must tell you though that this second Garage Sale dragged...I mean, it dragged. I tried my best to summon up the will to chase, harass and badger people into giving me something like I did the first time, but I couldn't find the will, not even from deep within...anyway, toward the  end of the journey, something came over us all and things began to happen, stuff began to roll in, fridge, brand new gold club set, shoes, original designer bags...suddenly our cordinator tagged the Sale PROJECT N1M; I am here to report that it was duly executed and delivered, gbam! 

No need to say much, except to thank all who supported us, we are so happy because we are making a difference in some lives.

The next GS will come in the first quater of 2012, I look forward to receiving stuff, anything, from all the countries of the world where my blog is being read...I see it. More details on that later....

Feed your eyes...and Be Free Oh.



The Star of the Garage Sale