Hire Your Own Photographer When you Speak

 It is wise to hire your own photographer, for an event.

When you are invited to speak, emcee, moderate a session or train, any activity that requires you to engage an audience, it is safer and wiser for you to hire your own photographer.

I cannot enumerate how many times I have spoken or trained at huge events and while the organisers promised to share photos, I only receive a measly five photographers, half of which are usually not representative of my work or service.

There are uncountable instances where you will be told that the event organisers have already hired photographers who will certainly share their photos. And indeed, they most likely will. You will be hard pressed to find any that will share more than five photos though, of you and amongst those five, at least three do not portray you in your best element as a speaker.

Use part of the money that they pay you to hire your own photographer and within those photos, they should be able to capture you actually engaging the audience.

It is important to document and archive your public speaking journey. Hire your own photographer.

Great week!

Rich Diction

#Publicspeaking

Richdiction@gmail.com

20s, 30s and 40s

 The next time you seek advice on something pertinent to your life, try seeking it from someone in their twenties, thirties and forties and compare the information.

In my thirties

In my forties

It's quite incredible how a decade of experience shapes our knowledge in vastly different ways. It is fascinating to note how our world views shift over a decade in time.

The preoccupations of most people in their twenties differs in colossal amounts, from someone in their forties.

Even within a week, I find myself growing in thought process and reconsidering a few past ideas and values. How much then, can a decade change us?

Just try it. Seek the same advice from these different categories and you'll be amazed at how time and experience, really does create a mindshift.

Bless!

Beverley

Happy World Poetry Day

 I believe, from studying poetry, engaging poets from all over Africa and studying poetry for my second degree, that poetry is not about the words that you read but about how you feel when you read those words.

This below is one of my favourite poems in the entire world.


I’m Nobody! Who are you?
Are you – Nobody – too?
Then there’s a pair of us!
Don't tell! they'd advertise – you know!

How dreary – to be – Somebody!
How public – like a Frog –
To tell one’s name – the livelong June –
To an admiring Bog!

By Emily Dickinson.

Happy World Poetry Day.

Playing

 Playing.

From ages 5 to 8, I was extremely shy in class and wouldn't say a word, until it came to sports and games.

That's when my powers, lit by the electrifying touch of the playground would surge through my veins.

I became The Incredible Bev.

Tearing off my outer clothes and showing my Cape, I'd fly across, charging with exuberance.

I see that happening a lot in Team Building.  The unassuming and inconspicuous participant suddenly flaps their wings and shocks everyone.

There's so much that can be learned from playing games.

Firstly, you learn that all the organisational strategic planning, social etiquette and lessons on self development diminish. Suddenly,  it's all about winning and everyone has their teeth in the game.

When divided in teams, members are quick to discern that the big office talkers are not necessarily the most agile.

People's competitiveness reaches its peak when they demand a rematch.

The stakes are high. Tempers flare.

People reorganise their teams. Winning is a must. Nothing else matters. They will roll in the dust, jump on balloons and run the three-legged race to win.

And that's when the highest form of team Building is seen. No need for a planning meeting. Just let them play games. Let them rehash their primary sports.

Playing.

So much can be learned. In order to win, to reach your goals, sometimes you have to get all hard and give it your all, poise and perfection aside.

Bless!

Beverley

Women's Day 2024

Some time in 2021

 As a woman, I have often allowed the people who steered the Titanic to guide me, instead of allowing those who built the ark.

I do not always need professional support. Sometimes, I need support from someone who has crossed the threshold of perfectionism and they are living each day by sound faith and judgement. I need to be guided by the person who is willing to be foolish in the name of wisdom because their heart heard the words of God and they will not compromise.

We must have both kinds of people in our lives. Dr. Myles Munroe said that the most important training that pastors should have is Business Management, so that when they gain access to so much money from tithes and offertory, they are more inclined to manage it properly. Business Management and Leadership are the primary courses that pastors for pastors. 

With all our spiritual ability, add a touch of professionalism, too.

As a woman, you need to hear from the person who has surpassed professionalism and their lives are now accelerated by faith.

The one who built the ark built it to perfection and yet in order to start, it took faith. Faith in the face of folly. Faith in the face of  mockery. That's the person we need to guide us, who is not led by their  title but by something much higher and more powerful.

As a woman, not ever person with the right credentials is supposed to be in my driver's seat. Not everyone with the right speech, is meant to be speaking into my life. It's the person who has crossed that threshold and now their journey is just accelerated by faith, because they are in a place where there is no other option but to live by faith. Professionalism alone, is not enough.

That is the person whom I need to guide me.

Happy Women's Day Y'all women

Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva

The Diamond Sparkles in the Darkness

The diamond sparkles in the darkness.

In various ways, we have experienced a darkness in our lives, which consumes us like a ravenous buffalo. It shrouds over our thoughts and waking moment.

When we sit down to a task, the darkness hovers over, taunting us like a witch on its broomstick, taunting us while holding the key to our dreams.  

And like everyone reading this post, darkness loomed over me like an irrepressible storm. It came through the numerous failed attempts at launching various projects. The failure was neither due to lack of skill nor lack of willingness and availability. Without reasonable explanation, certain projects failed to launch.

2024 is here and I decided to wait. Not to lounge around in laziness but to wait in expectation. The seeds had been sown. 

Chinese philosophy Wu-Wei encourages us to remain resolute in our purpose by not fretting and allowing ourselves to live in our flow. In other words, instead of stressing over doing so much, just go with the flow, which is your purpose. When you wait and remain unfettered, the flow happens.

2024 is that flow.

And the diamond has begun to sparkle.

May your diamonds sparkle this year.

Bless!

Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva

Photo by Spring Media, Ntinda Uganda

I Like Rich People

 I like to spend time with rich people; those who have earned their income honestly. They are usually generous and good listeners. Some have 9am to 5pm jobs, while others have businesses.

By the way, you need to stop listening to people who tell you to quit your job. Do so when you have a plan, or at least when you deeply feel that it is time to do leave. 

The ones I enjoy time with most are those who do not criticize other people’s woes.

For example, scoffing at others who  have faced financial struggles. The faux rich whom I detest are those type, who speak like this.

‘Can you imagine, so and so came to me for a loan. Imagine that!'

These people are defined by their riches and therefore are rather fickle and insecure.

Rich people on the whole, are important in our lives. They make our world a better place because many are able to support their families, communities and they also employ others. They are also able to live a life that is admirable.

Furthermore, I enjoy the company of wealthy people. I like the way wealthy people are usually relaxed.

Wealthy people make the world a better place, especially those who have worked honestly and are ready to extend their favour to others.

Yesterday, 20 February, I received a copy of ‘The Billionaire’s Disease,’ a novel written by Godfrey Kalimugogo, published in 2014. It was his fifteenth novel before his death. Mr. Kalimugogo was also a father to my friend, Pearl.

In this book, Anthony Kagoro has been listed as Uganda’s latest billionaire, a status which drives him into a complex and bizarre state of  paranoia and irreversible mental torture. 

His billionaire status leads him to become trapped in his extreme state of megalanomania, that he imagines himself a target for assassins, as a result purchasing armoured vehicles and hiring expensive security guards for himself and his wife and son. 

Such is his extremity that his wife and son escape from Anthony’s state of delusion, where they have been imprisoned by his absurdities.

The end of the novel is quite revealing of how the inability to control oneself, leads to self-destruction.

The fictional character of Anthony Kagoro reminds me of people who are unable to ride on a safe boda (motor bike used as a taxi), or enter a matatu (passenger taxi for 14 people) , because they are afraid that their self-image will crumble.

There was a time when I was such a professional boda rider that I would even apply lipstick while riding. Not anymore. I matured. (smile). I do know that when I drive a Bentley or disembark from a boda boda, my confidence and honour remain unchanged. 

I will always recommend that for people to receive the beauty of a diverse living, that they relocate to another country or city, even for a month, or start a side venture.

Copies of this book should become available in online and physical bookstores in Kampala.

Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva

Kampala