Q&A sessions on Managing small business:
Innocent, you are always online. I think you work too much. You run a club, a radio, a betting company and maybe others I don’t know. It must be crazy. I started a small business in Kireka. It’s a saloon but coupled with my day job and my masters at MUBS, I can hardly breath. My friends say I no longer care about them. My family complains that I no longer have time for them. I sometimes find I can’t go to the saloon because I am busy. I had to chop my hair short. I don’t get time to watch Movies so I hear people talking about my favorite movies when they are no longer even showing at the cinema. I feel like I am losing myself. How can balance my life with work?
Berna Tumukunde
Welcome to my world Berna! Life can be hectic but it can be made bearable. For me, I look at everything I do as a game. I do what I love doing so doing it is like one long game where I win and lose. Because I love it, I don’t feel like I am working at all. I actually have never taken leave in the 20years, I have been working. Do I get tired, yes of course. Do I feel like its too much? No, I ensure I enjoy it.
Try to make your work fun. Ensure you have the right people around you. Carry your favorite music, ensure you have the coolest chair at office, have some nice tea or coffee at work. The same should be at the saloon. Hire some fun people who will make your stay at the saloon. I have gone to some saloons and its like guys are on stage doing comedy. Barbers tend to be hilarious. Most are funnier than our career comedians. Most hair stylist ladies are Ssengas. The jokes are natural and its fun. Ensure having a happy environment is central to your hiring. Once you have the right people, provide the basics. Empathize with those that lose people, buy them some drinks on Fridays, do movie nights etc, to make the place fun. You won’t feel worn out.
As for relatives, don’t mind them for now. The funny thing is if you do well, they will be happy to ask for favors and contributions. If you sit home, they will gossip about you not being innovative. Work in silence, let success speak for itself. Put the important ones in your schedule. The same way you schedule school, work, have important people. With boyfriend, maybe book date nights, coffee moments just like you book meetings. Ensure the important people fit in your diary. Of course you are busy, so only the important ones that add value to you should merit space. Soon, you will have life in your work. You won’t have to balance work with life.
