Angela Kamanzi My Journey in Entrepreneurship
It’s been a while since I last posted here. Many of you have reached out, asking, “What happened? Why did you just switch off?” For a long time, I was too exhausted and confused to answer. I didn’t know how to put my experiences into words, and not wanting to waste your time with incoherent thoughts, I chose silence.
My journey began with the painful decision to shelve Mkazi Magazine, my biggest dream and most cherished project. In hindsight, I neglected to conduct a proper SWOT analysis and ignored some critical red flags. I believed that prayers and hard work would eventually make it succeed. Unfortunately, I ran the magazine based on an outdated model, and when I finally realized this, I had no choice but to put it on hold.
This decision coincided with a three-year period of personal loss, during which I lost my father, an uncle, and an aunt. Needless to say, I was not at my best physically or mentally.
After shelving the magazine, I launched the Top Achievers Platform, believing it was what entrepreneurs needed. However, its launch in 2020-2021 coincided with the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we all experienced, everything changed overnight. Previous business models were upended, and we were thrust into a paradigm shift.
When the platform unexpectedly crashed, I took it as a sign that I needed to step back and focus on self-care. After all, a business reflects the state of health and mind of its owner. I was tired, discouraged, and confused. It was time to find my center, as General Shang Li of Mulan would say.
I’m grateful to Coach Sippy Chadha for helping me sort through my confusion and clear the cobwebs, and to Coach Wambui Cerere for guiding me towards a diet that works well for me.
Fortunately, not everything was doom and gloom. Having always worked from home, I was well-prepared for the shift to remote work. In June 2020, encouraged by my friend and former classmate Clemence Niyikiza, I started teaching French online. To my surprise, I discovered the joy of guiding students from novice to proficient, whether they’re children, teens, or adults.
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you who checked on me and kept your businesses thriving. It’s comforting and therapeutic to see others succeeding in their endeavors. Receiving a newsletter or being a (silent) member of a vibrant group lifts my spirits like nothing else.
Asanteni sana (Thank you very much)!
P.S. If you’re interested in French classes or conversation sessions, feel free to contact me at 254720823899.
