#BEBOLDFORCHANGE

The earliest celebration of the International Women’s Day was held in 1909 in New York City. Declared a national holiday in the Soviet Union in 1917, it spread to other nearby countries. It is now celebrated in many countries in the world.

The Purpose of the International Women’s Day is to promote respect, love and appreciation for the fairer sex. It is a day dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements, while calling for gender equality.

IWD is an event that comes up on March 8th, annually.

Activities marking the event include arts, performances, talks, rallies, networking events, conferences and marches. 

POWERFUL WOMEN IN HISTORY

Over the years, women have had to fight courageously and tirelessly to assert themselves as individuals and experts in their field, something men do not have to do.

Below is a short list of women who made a mark in history through their achievements and strong personalities.

1.Cleopatra  -   One of Egypt’s most powerful Rulers ever, who took the throne at just 17! A woman of surpassing beauty and extraordinary wit, charm and intellect!

   “I will not be triumphed over”

2.Rosa Parks  -   Started a bold rejection of racial segregation

    “I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free, so other people would also be free.”

3.Elizabeth Taylor  -  Remarkable Actress, businesswoman, humanitarian.

 “I have been through it all. I am mother courage”

4.Oprah Winfrey  -  Media Proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, philanthropist.

     “The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you are willing to work.”

5. Chioma Ajuwa  -  First African Female Athlete to win an Olympic Gold Medal. Interestingly, she is also an officer with the Nigerian Police Force. 

6.Flora Nwapa  -   Often referred to as the Mother of modern African Literature,  she is acknowledged as the first African woman novelist to be published in the English language in Britain and achieve international recognition.

 “The African Woman is intelligent, beautiful, hardworking and everything an ideal woman should be. . . She has great independence of spirit”

7. Maya Angelou   -  American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist.

     “Nothing will work unless you do.”

8.   Ellen Johnson Sirleaf   -  First African Female President. (Liberia)

  “If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.” 

9. Agbani Darego   -   First Native African to win the Miss World Pageantry.

10. Chimamanda Adichie   -  Award winning writer.

      “Of course I am not worried about intimidating men. The type of man who will be intimidated by me is exactly the type of man I have no interest in.”

These are women of different times and walks of life. However, they all share a common quality – STRENGTH. Against all odds, they expressed their beliefs, held on to their values, and pursued their goals. That is how much the strength of a woman can achieve.

WOMAN-LOVE YOURSELF!

This year’s IWD theme is #beboldforchange.  Such boldness can only be achieved by a woman who loves herself.

The Dos and Don'ts of Loving Yourself

1.Discover yourself. Know what is good for you and what isn’t.

2.Appreciate yourself. Identify your strengths and harness them. Always be the best version of you.

3.Be confident. Never apologize for who you are.

4.Spend quality time with loved ones.

5.Eat good food.

6.Listen to beautiful music

7.Spend time with yourself. Some ‘me’ time is allowed every now and then.

8.Exercise! Your body will thank you!

Take a vacation. It’s good for your soul.

10.Laugh a lot! It’s good for your heart.

11.Take lots of pictures. Beautiful memories are worth keeping.

12.Find something you can excel in, and pursue it.

13.Read books. A knowledgeable mind is a powerful one.

14.Stop comparing yourself to others.

15.Let go of the past. Forgive others. Forgive yourself. Anger is poison.

The list could go on and on. The bottom line is love yourself enough to do the things, choose the relationships and cultivate habits that are good for you.

                                  

          

THE SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR

Entrepreneurship: A word that has occurred to a great percentage of people with goals, dreams and a vision. For some, it is a burning desire, for others, it is just a wish.

Whichever the case may be, almost everyone desires to be their own boss someday, to answer to themselves, to start up their own business.

Who is an Entrepreneur? The Business Dictionary defines an entrepreneur as “a person who sets up a business, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit. In the same vein, The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines an entrepreneur as “one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise” 

One word that jumps at us from both definitions above is RISK. This denotes a level of uncertainty. There is no business you would venture into that promises you a 100% success. Thus, when it comes to starting up a business, caution is needed. An individual who intends to become an entrepreneur must make informed, well thought-out decisions.  That is the first step to avoiding the potholes and bumps that characterize the road to a successful entrepreneurial journey. Let us now take a look at the qualities that make a successful entrepreneur.

• ·        Discipline – These individuals are focused on making their businesses work, eliminating all distractions and hindrances. They have a clearly defined goal and they don’t stop until it is achieved.
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• ·        Confidence – The entrepreneur has no doubts about his ability to succeed. He is confident in his knowledge of his business and the value of his services. The confidence he exudes has a positive effect on the people he deals with. 
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• ·     A Realist – It is often advised that we expect the worst and hope for the best. What this means is that a self-starter must be aware of the challenges that lie ahead. For him, there are no ‘rose-colored’ glasses. That way, he would be mentally prepared for obstacles and unshaken by disappointments.

• ·     Creativity – Every market has existing players. You need to understand that you are offering a product or service that has been offered before. Something has to set you apart from your predecessors and competitors. It is at this point that a businessman has to look inwards. There must be no end to creative ideas. It is an ongoing process, undergoing continuous refinement. This requires an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a deep understanding of the market. Creativity is definitely a quality that every business owner must possess.

• ·     Strong People Skills – Funny enough, this is one attribute that has often been underrated.  The beauty of people skills however, is that it gives you an edge over your contemporaries who may even have more strength and years of experience than you do. Strong people skills includes a host of qualities-empathy, integrity, courtesy, humility to mention a few. People need an extra reason to keep coming back to you. Strong people skills can be described as an incentive, cake icing…that good feeling that people get just from dealing with you. Add this to good product quality and you are just good to go!
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• ·     Work Ethics –The successful entrepreneur always upholds principles. His professionalism and high sense of morality can be seen in everything he does.

·     Passion – Passion motivates you to make sacrifices. You put in extra hours. You don’t settle. You do what you love and love what you do. It is not all about the money. Passion is all important for an entrepreneur.

The qualities discussed so far are just a few key attributes required for success as an entrepreneur. Every individual has their own strengths and are gifted in their unique way. We may possess some of these traits. But some of them may have to be cultivated. If you are considering starting a business of you own soon or in the future, we hope you find this article helpful.

At Capitalfield Investment Group Ltd, we witness the fruits that a resilient entrepreneurial spirit can bear. This is why we proudly operate eight (8) subsidiaries across diverse sectors of the economy. It all began with a goal!

To learn more about our products and services, please visit our website: www.capitalfieldinvestments.com. You can also follow us on Twitter @capitalfield03

Enjoy the rest of your week! Cheers!