5 Powerful Rules for Women Entrepreneurs to Live By.

This is the best article I have read this week and it was written by SUMI KRISHNAN CEO of K4 Solutions. Enjoy!!!

There’s no magic formula for entrepreneurial success, of course. Stepping into the unknown is scary -- and many women doubt their abilities, feeling like impostors. “I believe that no matter how thoroughly prepared a woman might be, she will feel unprepared, whereas a man will feel even more prepared than he really is". Unfortunately, research supports this notion.

Other women hesitate to pursue entrepreneurship from fear of not having enough time for themselves or their families.



Here, then, are five strategies to help you crush these types of entrepreneurial fears and succeed even as you step into the unknown:

1. Quit seeking validation and embrace your crazy.
This is your business. It’s yours because no one else has had the vision you did to start it. Stop seeking validation before you launch a new product, program or idea. The most successful people are those who were once believed to be crazy.

2. Celebrate even the smallest of wins.
To maintain a go-getter attitude requires positive reinforcement. Have you worked up the courage to make that call you’ve been putting off? Finally gotten through that stack of paperwork? Kick up your heels and celebrate! That energy will carry you forward.

3. Get specific.
Now that you’re trusting your own instincts and celebrating along the way, challenge yourself to break down your vision into smaller chunks. With the freedom to do what you want during the day comes the increased need to stick to a plan. What do you want to achieve this month -- and what do you need to do this week to reach your goals? As we know, writing your goals down significantly increases your chances of success.

4. Know that making money is like making broccoli.
A mentor once told me that making money is like making broccoli: You’re not afraid of using up the broccoli in your fridge, are you? You know you can always get more.

Similarly, if you’re committed to growing your business, you can’t be afraid to invest in your growth or do the things that excite you. Rather than worry about the money you’re spending, focus on making each investment worthwhile.

5. Decide to be grateful.
My dad used to say that no matter how good or bad you have it, there’s always someone
who has it better than you and someone who has it worse than you. Comparison is the root of despair. Every day, we get to choose to be grateful for what we have, regardless of where we want to be.

Like anything worthwhile, being an entrepreneur isn't easy. All of us, however, can be grateful for the opportunity to pursue meaningful work and build a life we love. What more could we ask for?

Morning Inspiration: Falling in love with yourself.

Many women find it difficult to appreciate themselves because society puts pressure on them to be completely selfless, any attempt at self nurturing and self love is condemned. It is not easy to overcome this pressure.

Withstanding the opinions of others is at best stressful and at worst debilitating. Many of us are crippled by the masses of people who do not allow us the freedom of our own opinions and the exploration of our own personhood.

To some extent, some women are still vulnerable to the words and opinions of others about how they are. It is for this reason you see young girls imitating the ills of society, they want to be perceived as "cool", they want to have a million followers on twitter, they need others to validate the reason why God created them and would do just about anything to seek the approval of other humans. If we are going to be effective individuals as women, we must develop the ability to embrace ourselves.

A positive self image is not arrogant. It is necessary in order to procure a healthy relationship with others. People who have low self esteem are too obsessive to enjoy others. They cling to others like a vine to a wall. They need others to stand and that need is compulsive and draining.


To be graceful and endure certain things in this world as a woman you need to fall in love with yourself. We are not born in relationships. We are born empty handed, there are no hands to hold but our own. Most of us are single birth babies who spent time alone from the womb to the crib. We played alone in the crib. Alone is where we start and essentially it is where we end. Job says he came here naked and returned naked, it is true.

If there is any relationship you should be clingy to, it is a relationship with God, it is essential to have a healthy spiritual and emotional life as a woman. If your relationship is not fortified with God and yourself, you go into all kinds of relationships for the wrong reasons, both platonic and intimate relationships.

Jesus Christ says that the greatest commandment in the word demands that we love our Lord with all our heart, mind and soul, the second greatest commandment is that we love our neighbour as we love ourselves. But how can we love our neighbours if we do not learn to love ourselves? How can we give to someone a gift that we do not value or believe to be significant?

It is important to balance your life. To be balanced is to have and maintain all elements in their proper proportions. Instead of dwelling too much on the opinions of others, try developing all parts of your life. If one area of your life is deficient and exaggerated, you will be imbalanced.

Set out to be a woman of excellence, be armed with a road map, have a blueprint for living, don't wander the earth aimlessly and hoping to be found by people who will end up trying to please.

Know that you are winner, you are a diamond, you have started as a coal but with determination, hard work, patience and God by your side, you would become a jewel. You are an exquisite wonder to your generation and the opinions of others can't stop you from shinning.

Enjoy the rest of this beautiful day the good Lord created.

How often should we wash our jeans/denim clothing?

When it comes to caring for your denim, you probably fall into one of two camps: You’re either all for rinse, cycle, and repeat, or against washing in general. Whichever camp you’re part of, we thought it’d be helpful to find out when and when not to wash the wardrobe essential, so we took our questions to Google, lol, researched and came up with these answers.

Is it a must to wash a new pair of jeans?

“Absolutely not. Almost all jeans have been washed as part of the fit process. If you are buying a rigid or raw jean, wearing them in from a rigid state is the best way to get them to form to your body.”

So, how often should you really wash your jeans?

“Most jeans stretch and have such great extension that it's no longer necessary to wash your jeans to get them to shrink back up again. Don't wash them every time you wear them. There are optical brighteners in most laundry detergents, which will change the color of your jeans too quickly. I think it's best to wash them every four or five times.”

The number-one rule when it comes to taking care of denim?

“Don’t wash them too often.”

The best tips for washing different colors or fabrics of denim?

“It's always best to wash them in cold water. It helps retain the dyes in the denim for longer periods of time.”

Tips to keep your jeans fresh between washes?

“Hang your jeans and let them air out between wearing. Letting your jeans form to your body as you continue to wear them is the best way to create your own individual wear pattern.”

Fashion versus Decency

This topic has been spinning in my head lately, my mind has been battling with so many questions like what's the thin line between being sexy and being trashy? Can fashion in the 21st century be decent? Who is to be blamed for the type of clothing and trends women all over the world wear and follow? Are fashion designers over doing it with their imaginations and what they end up interpreting? Are foreign and local celebrities the real problem? Do fashion bloggers contribute to indecent style? Do men encourage indecent dressing? I am guessing you as the readers can help me answer these questions.

As a fashion designer and a down to earth lass, I have always been a fan of demure, sophisticated and chic style. I am a firm believer in Jesus Christ and off course the church preaches decent dressing but this has nothing to do with my personal style, I have just always being conservative with my style and simplicity does it for me. I am in no position to judge but I believe showing too much skin is trashy.

I see people celebrating trashy fashion as classy fashion, a person is practically nude and it's celebrated, this is so wrong and it seldom gets my spirit vexed because there are young girls growing up every day and by encouraging trashy dress codes, we let these young girls believe that it's okay to dress that way or it's okay to look that way.

Historically, a woman was the embodiment of decency and always dressed in a way exemplary to subsequent generations. In the 1950s, women wanted to look tailored and put together. Young women usually wore dresses which had a swing skirt, one type being a poodle skirt, and older women usually wore dresses which had a pencil skirt and bolero sleeves.

Typical 50s Fashion

However, in the wake of globalization, most women have lost touch with decency by stereotypically perceiving fashion and style as synonymous with indecency. In Africa, the youthful women, who are more exposed to alien fashions of foreign cultures, have developed the mentality that decency is out of fashion and is not “cool”.

I believe in dressing modestly, our bodies are so special and hence I dress to respect myself. Been trashy calls for attention and it is usually the negative kind of attention.

Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton

There are fashion icons in the spotlight who I have come to admire over the years. Their style is usually effortlessly sexy, yet always put together neatly. I love Kate Middleton, this royal sweet heart is an epitome of cutting edge sophistication. Back home, I am a fan of Genevieve Nnaji, Nowe Isibor and Kate Henshaw's fashion style.

Genevieve Nnaji

Nowe Isibor

Kate Henshaw

 No one can define your personal style for you. For the sake of young girls out there, over exposing your body is not sexy at all. A good man with the fear of God would still love you even when you are properly covered up. Choose your fashion role models carefully, you can admire the good qualities of an individual but no one says you have to admire the bad and ugly qualities.

xoxoxoxo

Chioma Olamide Udom

Photo credit: Instagram

Something for the guys-Colour & Complexion: What colour will suit you?

This is my first blog entry for the year 2015, Happy New Year beautiful people. So I'm guessing by now, a lot of people have already executed some of their personal goals on their to-do-lists, if that describes you, then I say this to you "Bravo!!!"

Today's blog entry is inspired by a male friend of mine who called me yesterday to ask me for the right colours that suits his skin colour. I was surprised but glad he decided to take fashion more seriously in 2015, I don't get to have guys ask me for fashion tips, style or grooming advice, lol. My friend is light skinned and I figured other readers out there or male friends might share the same challenge as my friend.

So what colour will suit you?

The key to a good colour match is to first identify what skin tone you have. Broadly speaking, there are three complexions: pale, medium and dark. If you’re having trouble identifying exactly where you fall, try experimenting with various colours until you find the best match.

Some people may find they natural sit on the borderline between two complexions. If this is the case, try picking the best of both worlds. Remember, the best match is the one you feel most comfortable with.

Pale Skinned and Light skinned

Light coloured skin and Pale skinned guys tend to have brighter eye colours, so it’s important to find something to subtly offset all the lightness.

Your best bet is to stick to restrained tones that blend with your complexion. Try wearing pastel shades. You’ll look great in blues, browns and beiges. Avoid vivid reds, yellows, pinks and purples, these will look too vibrant and ‘hot’ against your skin, leaving your features washed out.

Medium Skin

The broadest category of the three, and one which most men fall into. With the middle tone you can get away with just about anything, the only exception being clothes that closely match elements of your skin tone such as olive or tan. Good contrast colours include black, dark blue and beige.

Dark Skin

Those with a darker complexion need to find clothes that give contrast to their skin without being outrageously bold.

Your top colours include lighter shades of blue, grey and cream; these subtle shades deliver good contrast without washing you out. Avoid shades of black, navy and deep brown that closely match your specific skin colour wherever possible.

Hope this blog entry helps you choose the right colours when next you go for clothing shopping.

This blog entry is dedicated to my good friend "Williams". Your question aided me in getting my first topic for the year.

...xoxoxoxo...

Personal lessons learnt in 2014

Hello beautiful people, I bet Christmas was lovely, I hope it was more about celebrating Jesus Christ and less of celebrating ourselves *smiling*.

I learnt so much in 2014, I felt I should blog about them and share my lessons.

1. Only Jesus Christ saves. Many a times, we want to find solace in the arms of friends or family members but at the end, there is a limit to what humans can do but there are no limits with my personal Lord and Saviour. I learnt to lean on him more and he has saved me countless times.

2. God is everywhere. Battling with malaria monthly since I ended youth service has been the worst experience for me. It made the people around me become fretful, while the doctors saw it as a normal thing to happen to people who fall under the genotype "AA", others in my life saw it as a spiritual issue and so, everyone was recommending one church or the other but I stood on my faith and told them "God is everywhere". I don't need to go to the mountain to pray and move from one church to another. If we let Him, He lives in us as the holy spirit and I am satisfied with that.

3. If you live life on the fast lane, be ready to die young.

4. As a Christian, listening to the voice of the holy spirit helps out a lot. That voice allows us to avoid bad situations and also helps us to improve our relationship with Christ.

5. When it comes to some friendships, absence makes the heart grow fonder and when it comes to some other friendships "Out of sight is out of mind". I finally made my peace with this and moved on.

6. The last thing that should be on my mind is what people think about me. I have learnt that opinions are not facts and if you don't have a heaven or hell to put me in, then you have no right to judge me or try to impose your personal opinions on me. You are allowed to advice me and I am allowed to take your advice or leave it. Shikena!!!

7. Sometimes, the answer to the question "how are you?" should be "fine" with a full stop. Not everyone is genuinely interested in your stories. I am more satisfied and comfortable with sharing with my family, I used to share my stories with others, my life has been less complicated since I stopped over sharing details about my personal life.

8. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being affable, humble and down to earth. In the past, people have misread this as me being weak and vulnerable. I have heard people say it openly, I was willing to change but it didn't work out for me. I was born this way, it's natural, trying to be mean and less friendly would just be another person and fake.

9. I learnt more about the "Golden Rule". "Do to others what you would want them to do to you".

10. I learnt that I am on a journey of my own. I am not walking on the same lane as others. Even though, it's hard to get people to understand me especially my parents, I am okay. I am not trying to follow the cliche rule of life, tried it early this year and I was really unhappy. I wasn't born to be placed in a box, moving around the four corners and never getting out.

12. There are opportunities in Nigeria, there is less of integrity and more of corruption. Sometimes, the corruption robs you of the opportunity but keep moving. One opportunity fails, more will come. Don't stop grabbing them because of a few failed ones.

13. The most important lesson of my 2014 is that "True love conquers all."

I count my blessings and I cannot name them all, God has been merciful to me. I lost a dear friend, that was the saddest part of this year, he was one of the coolest dudes in secondary school and afterwards he remained the same. I miss you "Loyong Choji".

Every day is a new beginning, problems and mistakes of yesterday are now just memories of a ( lesson learned ). I absorb the energy and possibilities of each new day, acknowledge the simple beauty that can be taken for granted, and look forward to tomorrow's new beginning !!

Happy New Year in advance. May 2015 be beautiful and good to us all.

Harmattan Essentials

If you are in Nigeria, then you must be feeling the hot dry dusty wind already, cold in the early hours of the morning and dry in the later hours.

Some people love harmattan weather but not me, for starters, It's not a friendly weather for my body, especially my lips. For some people, breathing becomes painful.

Here are some essential items needed to get along during this dry season.

1. A good body oil is perfect for your skin during harmattan. It helps to keep your skin moist and less dry. If you are into your body lotions, you can mix your body oil with your lotion or alternatively apply your body oil to your legs, feet and hands.

2. A hand lotion is not a luxury during harmattan especially for someone always on the go. When you are out and need to wash your hands, afterwards your hands become dry, so a hand lotion is an essential.

3. Use good hair products, harmattan is one period where people loose more of their natural hair. Hair breakage is more intense during dry season. So make sure you take time to oil your scalp and hair often.

4. Get a good lipgloss or lip balm, this beauty essential for harmattan is not restricted to the ladies, men also have issues with their lips during harmattan. Constant use of lip gloss or lip balm helps you avoid dry lips and injuries.

5. A hand santizer also helps because bacteria is easily spread during the harmattan season.

6. Ensure you have a clean handkerchief and tissue paper. This is very necessary for people who go through painful breathing during harmattan. Most times, we take in so much dust when we breathe during this season, so you can clean your nostrils with tissue papers or a clean handkerchief to ease yourself.

7. When it comes to fashion, avoid clothes produced with light fabrics such as chiffon and linen, they tend to stick to your body when the harmattan wind blows. Clothes produced with cotton is preferable for the dry season.

Hope this blog entry helps you.
Compliments of the season.

...xoxoxoxo...