My life as a Communicator

 My Celebratory message 

I once wrote an article about myself having  had challenges in expressing myself. Most part of my life  I have worked in the media industry and communication has been the order of the day. Even though I had challenges in expressing myself in my early days of my profession I had to learn fast  on the issue of relating to people from all walks of Life. I have worked in the field of marketing and advertising and this field is built by creativity,self motivation and conceptualisation. You have to be a self motivated someone in order to make it in that field. Those who have worked in the industry know that advertising and marketing is the backbone of most media organizations. Media organizations rely on marketing and advertising for it's survival. One is  supposed to come up with ideas that ignite sales in the organization. You are supposed to think critically.

 This kind of scenario transformed my personality from being an introvert to become an extrovert. At one moment I was put in charge of running a magazine that would market my country ahead of 2010 World Cup that took place in South Africa. This meant I no longer had to rely on the local market I had got used to. I had to tread on the new ground. I had to think outside the box so as to reach a new clientele base. It was not easy but it had to be done. I realized there was more to what I could do than what was on the ground. I discovered my potentials and capabilities. Even though I had mentors around me ,the desire for greatness and passion to develop myself contributed to the person I became. At one time my former boss tasked me to call the then Minister of Health (Dr David Parirenyatwa) for a meeting about a project which we were proposing as an organization. I had no choice but to follow instructions. Fear was gripping inside me but I was being prepared for greatness. I have realized that many people struggle when it comes to networking. They are afraid of what they are going to say when they meet a prospect. When fear grips in confidence goes away but when you gather courage and confidence, fear goes away. In actual essence you know exactly what you are going to say but the fear of expressing yourself will be griping all over. Fear of getting out of line, fear of being irrelevant,fear of not knowing how to start the conversation. It's all about fear.

 My first business  conference I hosted in 2012 was graced by Dr Nigel Chanakira. The Founder of Kingdom Bank. When I called him for an appointment I was not sure of what I would say. I looked at myself and to think of me going to have a conversation with someone who owned a bank in Southern Africa. I felt so intimidated but I had to finish what I had started. He accepted my request to meet him. I almost ran away but I had to be strong. I gathered courage and put my request in writing.  As if he knew I had fear, he began to soften the ground by asking about his friends in Masvingo and what I did for a living. The moment became lighter and since I had sent my concept paper on email before the meeting, he got straight to the point and agreed to come and speak at the conference and as well as sponsoring the conference. He even introduced me to some of his friends who are still my business colleagues up to the present day. His network became my network. I have realized that mastering the art of networking requires some form of discipline and courage. You have to be someone who has a goal to achieve. You have to be some who clear is  about your goals. 

There are some people who are fortunate enough to be introduced by their friends and relatives but it also takes guts to introduce yourself and prove your capabilities in the world filled with already existing champions. You can be a nobody today but it also takes courage and resilients to be somebody tomorrow. If you stay relevant and consistent you can not be ignored by the world. Inspite of setbacks that may arise in life stay in the game.I remember the conference was attended by 40 business who paid to attend the conference and most of them were Dr Chanakiras fans and friends.I learnt that your network matters. You are always associated with your network most the time. This created a great desire in me to meet new people and learn from them. 

Reading books has been one of my passions.I read The  ‘Audacity of Hope’ by The former President of United States of America, Barack Obama.  One thing he mentioned in his book" If you work hard and take responsibility you will have a chance of a better future." I know some can argue that working hard isn't the way to go but working smart is. Either working hard or working smart. When you work to achieve your desired results it's imperative and commendable. Wherever I go, I am always associated with my work. Sometimes when I am asked to describe what I do for a living I end up saying I connect people. Building a network is a not a one day thing but a life time goal. It is something you have to strive to do on a regular basis. My time is usually spent hanging out with entrepreneurs and one thing critical is building a market for products and services produced by these entrepreneurs. One critical thing that is needful is the market for these products. Some of the brands needs a strong network. This requires to engage more and learn how to master the art of networking. Staying relevant and understanding current trends is critical. One has to leave the comfortable office or shop to go out and join a golf club. Business club. A seminar just to stay relevant and meet new people. Whatever business or sector that you are in you need to keep on updating yourself with current trends happening in your sector. Improve your sales and marketing skills. Getting new clients and business strategies. As I celebrate my birthday I celebrate my journey I celebrate my experience and I also celebrate the impact I have done in communities, I celebrate the strength that God gives me to keep going. I celebrate the people with whom I have walked the journey. I celebrate the lives touched and impacted.  If you can network you can open new doors you can grow your business. You can create new business ideas. Mastering the art of networking opens doors. You can go places you never dreamt of. You will become a person of impact. I encourage you to make new friends. Read books. Research on relevant issues. I have learnt that greatness starts when you desire to learn new things. 

Angie is a Writer, Business trainer,Confidence builder and Founder of Shekinah Media, She can be found at mikiri.angie@gmail.com