(Non)Sense: Startup Hour TODAY 17:30 and Twit Talk

Yesterday I Twitter blasted, okay spammed he he he he, all my Zambian followers and those I follow to invite them to Startup Junction's first Startup Hour.  As a company part of Project Cascade, my company Purple Tembo is co-sponsoring the event with C1rca 1964.  As a passionate entrepreneur with a start up myself, this was a no brainer.  Personally, it is really important for me to engage with people from all walks of life, in all fields, as to continue to grow personally and professionally, I believe interaction, skills transfer and knowledge sharing are paramount to perpetuate evolution.  Remember keep growing up, don't grow up he he he as I have said before here and here.

While spamming I started a conversation with one of my followers, Charles Chitundu.  When you write, letting your thoughts and words float in the ether, you only hope that people read and actually take something out of it, while wondering if your humour resonates with others, bringing them the comic relief you intend: I am a devotee to the school of "Laughter is the best medicine". Though I tackle serious issues on this blog, I also want it to reflect my equally silly side that balances out the intellectual side.  It is important to be rounded methinks.  My favourite part of the blog is actually the Nonsense tag (which weirdly enough still hasn't overtaken the World Cup tag that started this blog off in 2010!).  I feel that the happier and carefree side of me has been in umbra lately, due to the specter of the dark side of uncertainty constantly looming overhead as I continue to fudge my way through establishing my business and coping with the dirty 30s, as a single woman, in a chauvanist society, that is still unaware of, and/ or has no idea how to deal with the both latent and blatant mysogyny that pervades every corner of our nation. I have blogged about this recently here and here.

I will leave Twitter to best tell the tale and enjoy the video at the end telling you why you should turn up for @StartupJunct #StartUpHr. Also follow @MatthewGrollnek, @PurpleTembo, me at @whoops_c, @c1rca1964, and @MsKkj to join in convo if you can't make it :). (And excuse my shifty eyes, we did so many takes I wanted to make sure I didn't miss my cue as I kept interrupting Matt.  Shameful seeing as I am meant to be the professional!)

“@charlyoficial92: just realised interacting w Author my of fav afroblog #Hugefan” 1st person to say that to me *blushing* Glad you enjoy it

— Ngosa Chungu (@whoops_c) September 24, 2013

@charlyoficial92 ha ha ha that is one of my all time favs. Can you imagine still moving from same old generation bb to bb with new probs

— Ngosa Chungu (@whoops_c) September 24, 2013

@charlyoficial92 at the time it was not funny, esp when I was escorted out like a criminal, and all the money I had was taken by flashmob!

— Ngosa Chungu (@whoops_c) September 24, 2013

@charlyoficial92 @kellvinace right now don't have time to write a book even if I wanted to. Too daunting, having trouble blogging regularly!

— Ngosa Chungu (@whoops_c) September 24, 2013

@charlyoficial92 thanks! Really do love writing, literally is cure for my nervous condition. One day will take up book challenge #bucketlist

— Ngosa Chungu (@whoops_c) September 25, 2013

He he he MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: a post that went from sense to nonsense that makes sense ;}!

A Tale of Self Motivation Through Video and Images

© Pencil Case Studios

Yesterday I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown as my professional and personal life seemed to be blurring in very disturbing and discomforting ways.  My mind is a terrible place to get lost in when my soul is morose and my spirit is flagging.  To help myself along, I posted this image on Facebook, laughed at the attempted typo correction, then decided to take the rest of the day off as it indicated that only men were meant to be working.  Yes I can twist anything to my benefit when needed.

With so many things up in the air, and unsatisfactorily so, I thought it best to forensically sift through my thoughts and feelings to root out the evil and get back on track.  Last week I blogged about maintaining the happiness inside while making sure it reflects outwardly too, and so need to keep honouring that. So here is what I came to realise:

I am a giant killer! I am David out to conquer her Goliaths.  Great things come in small packages ;}

© George Evans

I am fearless and this fuels my persistence.  I will never give up, I will find that rainbow and ride it till I get my gold: I am looking for more than just money, I need meaning to be truly content.  My journey may take a little longer but I WILL GET THERE! 

© Pencil Case Studios

I can auction a goat that doesn't want to be sold even after tries to run away then jumps and bites me in efforts to escape. That's some serious skill! 

Was asked last minute to help with an auction
to raise money for Chibolya Clinic to service
35,000 people with no immediate access
to healthcare.  Check out Empowerment Zambia

We all have been blessed with the power within to be our own hero, to fight our fights and to keep going, even when things are hard.

I am truly blessed with women in my life, old and new, who are there for me to rant, to be vulnerable, to encourage me when I doubt myself, and support me no matter what.  Communion with women I have found gets harder as one gets older.  Glad that the ones in my life aren't the kind that secretly hate you and are friends with you so they can feel better about themselves, or want minions to follow them and worship them.  My friends are invested in my happiness as much as I am in theirs.  A lot of my friends live scattered across the world, mainly elsewhere in Africa, Europe and the US so having a group here to support me so selflessly is really special. 

I have found community on and offline through people like Mwanabibi, Lwanga and MissBwalya, online forums like Zedian Naturals (sorry closed Facebook Group, but if you have natural hair and are thinking of transitioning, let me know on Facebook and I can request for you to join) and Insaka Chat, and have found my creative niche through a collaboration with fellow entrepreneurial creatives through Project Cascade: check out #ProjCascade.

@projcascade: @HartwrightAZ @PurpleTembo @c1rca1964
@pencilcasestudi @Yandapps @BongoHive @StartupJunct
© Dan Hartwright Photography

All the men in my life, most of whom I happen to be collaborating with on this project, treat me as an equal, respect my opinions and are such gentlemen. They express their indignation when the misogyny, chauvanism and sexual harrassment that comes with it, rear their ugly head in my life and in others.  As my father says: never be a lesser woman because of a weak man.  They never ask me to be anything other than myself and for this I am eternally grateful.  To the men in Zambia who chose to act like $"#@*&s:

After remembering all of this I said to myself quiet little one quiet! Hush, all is well :)  Hope this little sojourn through my thought process to keep my optimism afloat helps you too...

© Pencil Case Studios