Random Reads

   The lockdown has been eased and we still need to stay alert. Here are some tips as mentioned on BBC about keeping yourself and others safe while shopping.   1.      Shop alone if possible, the less people in shops the better for everyone. 2.      Stay 2 meters away from people if possible, if not due to size of shop cover your face or wear facemask. 3.       Look for the new signs, arrows on the floor to help navigate the shops in a seamless way to avoid crowing an aisle. 4.       Avoid touching things you are going to buy, if not possible use a glove. 5.       In addition to your wallet, make sure facemask and gloves are part of your daily contents in your car, shopping bag and bicycle. 6.       Pay with contactless always. 7.       Exercise more patience, everyone is getting used to the new norm and checkout...

What is the first thing you notice when you see someone for the first time. Do you look into their eyes, stare at their face, or check out their body from head to toe like i do sometimes? First impression is the most important aspect of networking and meeting up with folks in a professional setting.  Did you know that first impressions are lasting? Did you know that any information about a person, from their physical appearance to their non-verbal and verbal behaviors- has been shown to last for months?. In this current digital age and dealing with the correct pandemic - our digital impression could be our voice, tone, email or chat message. All your information on the internet could even act as a first impression.  Have you googled your name recently? Research yourself and find out the kind of information the world wide web holds about you.  Hiring firms do this as part of their research for potential candidates.  Build up your linkedin, facebook, Instagram to brand...

Lessons from historic pandemics An epidemic is an infectious disease in a community at a particular while a pandemic has a P which is like for passport so it's an epidemic that has traveled across different regions mostly international. COVID-19 aka Coronavirus started in Wuhan China Dec 2019 was the first time it appeared in a human being. It has been named Covid-19 aka - coronavirus disease of 2019. This new virus spreads incredibly quickly between people and because it is a new virus , no one on earth has developed immunity to it. The WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic in March 2020 when millions of people were infected with it. Let us dive into historic pandemic that shook nations. HIV/AIDS Pandemic First appeared in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976, the mode of transmission is mainly via blood contact. The virus has killed more than 36 million people since 1981. Thanks to the evolution in medicine and technology, people are able to live a productive life with HI...

Habits of Highly Effective Humans When I was a teen, my dad gave me this book by Stephen Covey called the 7 habits of highly effective teens .  This was an amazing book that changes me as a human.  To change your life, you need to first change your habits. First lets talk about habits. Habits run your life, if you have bad habits, you . If you have good habits, life would be awesome. There are 3 habits loop; The Cue :  this is the trigger , brain is in auto pilot can be feeling or thoughts The Routine :  behavior that happens once the trigger is present. its the action that we take when we are cued. The Reward:  Why we perform the routine- learn something new, the feeling or a physical reward. I read this book and it changed my character. I was able to recognize my inner strength and abilities . I aspired to do more and add value to myself, people and my community. Being effective is quite achievable but to be highly effective is to experience life a...

The economic Impact of a Pandemic Research indicates loads of company will go on a hiring freeze, in recreation/travel, corporate services and entertainment. Healthcare, hardware/networking and transportation sector will still be able to sustain employment. Our future income, expenditures, debts, assets/investments will probably be affected. As the pandemic continues, there is a forecast of organizations tellings their staff that they can only pay half or zero salary until things get back to normal. As i write, some firms have closed, being put on hold or stopped due to the global impact of a microscopic organism called COVID-19. Due to this experience, new businesses will also spring up as learnings from the crisis. More people will be hired on part-time basis and many businesses will be conducted online. Some business will remodel their business process to adapt to the new world. Expenditures Interestingly, expenses will be on rise! The problem here is that fixed expenses...

How can I grow my own vegetables? As a result of the pandemic, a number of people have started to look into growing some of their fruits and vegetables. I love the actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish. She has a youtube series during the lockdown giving us a tour of her garden and some helpful tips, it' called 'Mermaid in the Garden', i find it funny and inspirational and hope you do too. Lets jump right into this note- all you need to do is to start with this 4 step guide.  1. Space Space is the first thing to consider before starting to a garden. From flower pots , wooden drawers, car tires, bottles and portable green houses the list is endless. Preparing a space for your mini or big garden depends on your current habitation settings. Its best to start small and build up with time. A place with great sunlight would work well. Maintaining plants on a regular basis can become daunting and using a small space can either make or break your commitment to your garden. 2. S...

Just do something - 12 days challenge Most of the nation is on lockdown from the outside world. To help keep fit at home here is a 12 days challenge with no equipment needed. To inspire yourself from home, wear your workout clothes, put on some gym music (www.soundcloud.com) and video call a work out buddy to get your routine started. From my FabFinance Tonya - set yourself a SITA goal where you can have one accountable person hold you responsible for your exercise plan.  This is a general recommendation - speak to your doctor and personal trainer before you start your exercise plan.  Day 1 - 60 seconds Plank Day 2 - Push ups   Beginner vs. Advanced Day 3 - 60 seconds wall-sits Day 4 - 40 Squats Day 5 - Burpees Day 6 - 10,000 Steps or 5 miles walking Day 7- Mountain Climbers Day 8 - Push-ups  Day 9 - 11,000 Steps Day 10 - 10 minutes of running stairs  Day 11 - 60 seconds  Calf raises Day 12 Sta...