People always ask me how I manage to find really cool clothing from Okrika. I love shopping Okrika and my many years of doing so have enabled me to gather a lot of experience in choosing the right clothes. I decided to share my tips with you guys and that's what we will be talking about in this post.
So here are practical tips to thrift good quality items.

How To Select The Best Quality Items From Okrika Heaps In Cameroonian Markets

1. Tool control

- Your greatest asset/tools for thrifting are your hands and your eyes, lol. Try to make sure your hands are as free as possible. I personally don't go with my phone to the market especially if I don't have any important call I'm expecting.

It's safer and less stressful because I need my hands free to sort my clothes. The market is usually so noisy anyway, so I might likely not hear it when it rings. It's better to leave your phone at home.

Try as much as possible to free your greatest selection of tools which are your hands!

2. Quality control

- Go for new clothing. If you may come across clothing you really fancy but the quality is not good, just drop it. I know how it feels to see a very trendy outfit only to discover that it is worn out.

If you buy it you may not be able to wear it for outings. It will become a 'house dress' as we often call it in Cameroon. I can't count how many 'house dresses' I have because of this mistake. So go for the clothes that are still very new.

3. Stain control

- Clothing may be new enough but still, have faults like stains. Do check keenly for holes, stains, loose stitches and discolouration on every piece of clothing. They are second-hand clothes so problems like that are very common.

For tops and shirts, check the neck/collar, armpits, buttons and decorations. For pants/trousers check the hems, buttons, pockets and underneath the trousers (between the legs).

4. Fit control

- Easy ways to find out if a skirt, pants/trousers will fit your waist is to zip/button it up, hold the waist on both ends and try to make it go round your neck. If both ends meet behind your neck then it's going to fit your waist. But if it overlaps or doesn't meet at all then it's not your waist size.

This works most of the time because, for most people, two times the circumference of their neck is usually the size of their waist.

But it would always be better to try it on (with the permission of the seller) to be quite sure.

5. Necessity control

- Always ask yourself why you are buying each piece of clothing. It may be just another white t-shirt or a black skirt in your wardrobe. Buying clothes feels good but it doesn't mean that you need it.

Think about the occasion you are buying every item you select or find. If you are buying for outings then be really strict with what you buy. It must fit the characteristics of what you want because what may look good in the market may not look as good to you when you get home.

6. Price control

- Sometimes the vendors announce or shout out very low prices just to attract customers. I know this is very annoying especially after choosing clothes or shoes and then you are told a higher price for the items.

Try to find out if that is the real price of the products when you start thrifting by observing payments made and asking another customer whom you met there if the price is right.

Extra Tip! - Don't judge a book by the cover. You may find some really good stuff in places you never expected.

Yeah, That's thrifting for you.

NB: Take a shopping bag every time you go thrifting. You might be surprised by the number of items you may get to buy because things could just be cheaper on some days. And also make sure you carry cash!

I have been going through the fear of failure and this happens to me especially when I'm starting something new.

This post doesn't only apply to blogging but in anything you feel not good enough at. I used this example because that's where I actually experienced the feeling the most in my life.

How to Deal with Not Feeling Good Enough

Why don't I feel good enough?

I feared being laughed at or made a mockery of if I fail at the things I planned to do.

To heal my fear I started searching for confidence-building content to read, watch and listen to and I found a few good ones. All of them had a common message: "Stop comparing yourself to others".

When I took the time to think about it, it actually rang a bell. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that that's where my problem is coming from.

When you compare yourself to others, all you can see are your faults and this can be intimidating.

A False Standard

I am someone who does a lot of research when I'm starting something new! Like this blog. When I started, I knew nothing about blogging and all I wanted to do was "write on the internet". I didn't even know that it was called blogging. lol

I did lots of research and managed to find my way. I learned a lot from different blogs and used their experiences to make my blog better.

I discovered really nice blogs with a great social media presence. Their layouts, content and photos are close to perfect and I said to myself "this is how I want my blog to be" "This is the feeling I want my readers to have when they open my blog".

Then I started striving to make my blog as cool as theirs, I want my social media photos to be as nice and professional as well, which is a good thing! And I worked towards that day and night! My blog changed, even became better. But it was not still as good as the other blogs I saw (because I discovered better ones every day, lol).

That is when I started feeling not good enough. Because I had created a "vision" of what a good blog should be or look like. And that standard had become the other cute blogs I saw. I didn't also think that my blog was cute too.

I forgot to use my own creative mind and apply my own skills to make my blog mine, and create my own standard. It was all about getting what I saw and what I thought it should be and not doing my own thing which actually will make me stand out and could be the ideal blog for another person.

So I said enough is enough! I'm doing me!

I am enough!

I got to a point where I was overwhelmed with trying to "meet the standard" and I decided to be myself. To do me. To do things as I please. And to say it's ok to not meet the standard!

I decided to use the information I got from others and apply it in my own way or personalise it to suit my own vision and desires for my blog. I manage my blog in a way that I think is best for me and not how I see everyone doing it. I have started doing that with social media, and I'm feeling more comfortable with it.

I have dug deep into my creativity and started producing content for my blog and social media accounts which reflects my personality and my way.

How I did it!

So when I got fed up with trying to be good enough (according to other people's standards), I decided to do a few things to regain myself and my creative mind.

1. Used the unfollow button

I sorted out the intimidating blogs and social media accounts and I unfollowed them. Sorry if you are one of those I unfollowed, it's not a bad thing, well it means that you are good though! lol

I use to follow all the blogs that inspired me and for sure each day they really inspired me with good stuff! But later I was getting too much information at the same time and I even had no time to implement the things I got and it began to intimidate me. So I decided to unfollow and unsubscribe from their email list/social media and it felt good.

I stayed away from intimidating sites.

This helped me to grow by doing and developing my own thing and gaining confidence in my own work and creativity.

I had fewer emails to read every day and I spent more time working on myself and developing my own content instead of gathering more information that may not be put to use but will only make me feel not good enough.

When my confidence grew, I started to visit some of the blogs I unfollowed and then I realised how much I had grown, (yes I still compared myself to them lol) but I didn't feel as intimidated again.

This even opens me up to new inspiring content when I decided to start searching for new information and has helped me developed my blog in many other good ways.

Lesson 1

So it's OK to stay away from someone or something that intimidates you if it is really killing your creativity and willpower. It's not being weak. It's rather retreating to find your inner strength and work better with your competition.

Even if you are intimidated by your friends, it helps to take two steps back and work on yourself. It's hard to move forward when we constantly compare ourselves to others so take away the distraction and focus! You don't need to know everything about their lives on social media so feel free to unfollow them (at least for a while) if it makes you feel better.

There is strength in acknowledging your weakness and working on it!

2. I dreamt again!

I went back to 'how I wanted my blog to be', 'what kind of content I had dreamt of having on my blog', 'what type of interaction I wanted' and 'the kind of atmosphere I wanted for my blog'. And I worked towards obtaining it. This also required research but I tried to make it suit what I wanted to do so that it fits in.

It was then I realised that I had copied some things that were not very necessary for my way of blogging so I had to get rid of them.

Lesson 2

It's always important to go back to the why question.

- Why am I blogging, designing, creating or manufacturing? Why is my purpose of living? Why am I doing this?

This will give you the right focus, vision and direction you should be following and any information you get will have to fit into that vision or should not be considered.

- What kind of person do I want to be?
Find the person you want to be, what you want people to know you for as a person and/or your business (your brand) and work towards it.

Find who you are and who you really want to be and go for it!

Bonus tip* Take things slow. Go easy on yourself. We battle with not feeling good enough every day and in various aspects of our lives and it is a constant fight. There will always be someone better than you (taller, slimmer, happier, richer and more professional than you) and you can't spend the rest of your life striving to be like others. That's so sad. You need to live your life and be you. So don't be hard on yourself and do your own thing your own way! That's how you make a difference.

I hope you learned from my experience and also please share your experience with me in your comment so that other people and I can learn from you too.

Things don't always go the way we want them but that's life. For perfectionists like me, it's a big deal to accept that we can't get things just the way we want them.

Stop Blaming Yourself Dear Perfectionist!

Meet the Perfectionist - Me

I'm a perfectionist to the core and those who know me do know that. I can't count the lectures I have received on how to be less of a perfectionist. But you just don't know when your perfectionist DNA becomes dominant again and you don't feel like you are doing enough or giving your best or being your best!

Yes in our world it's all about being the best! Being the best friend, the best daughter, son, brother, sister, niece, auntie, mum, lover, you name it!

Sighs...

We also want to be the best employee, entrepreneur, make the best products, want it to be perfect, with no mistakes, wanting it to be smooth and easy for those we are making it for.

It sounds like too much work (and hell yes it's a lot of work) but we get used to it as that's the only way we know to do things or live!

When things don't go as planned!

What's even more exhausting is when things don't turn out perfect and then we start blaming ourselves for it.

Self-blame is very common among perfectionists. We don't know any other way to do things if not perfect so you can't blame us.

I personally feel like I'm stupid when I don't get the perfect results. I feel like I'm the dumbest when I make mistakes. It's always my fault because I missed a tiny detail!

Yes, it's always about the tiny details. Because it has got to be perfect and different.

When I get into the self-blame mood I:

- Feel blocked

I can't advance in that domain till I get over that feeling because of the shame I feel for making a mistake.

- Want to delete the error I made.

Wipe it from people's minds if possible! Let them never remember it!

- I think people think I'm dumb too

puff...

- Hate me for being a fool/stupid

I wish I were not me.

- Lose confidence in myself.

I don't feel good about myself anymore. I don't even believe the compliments I get.

But I've learned that life is not perfect!

I'm learning to accept my mistakes and I'm reminding myself that that is why pencils have erasers after all.

We all make mistakes! So I shouldn't beat myself mentally just because I added a drop to the ocean of mistakes people make in the world every day!

I'm realising that mistakes are opportunities for me to learn. Learn about myself (how I manage my mistakes), the people around me (do they support me or fan the flame of my shame) and who I want to be (I emerge as a stronger version of myself).

So I'm learning to realise that accepting that we (perfectionists) can make mistakes and this is setting me free!

Recently, I was dealing with not being motivated to do anything for my business. It's a very bad place to be in and it may make you want to give up everything you have worked so hard for.

I decided to do a post on how I went through my lack of motivation which went on for almost a year! Yeah, that long. In this post, I am also sharing tips on how I got out of it and bounced back again.

How to Re-boost your Motivation as an Entrepreneur

The 'lack of motivation' syndrome

Let's describe how it feels to not be motivated by your business.

You wake up in the morning and you know what you should be doing but you don't want to do it. That's just the basic feeling when you lack motivation. Then you feel drained of energy even before you start a task. Also, you are discouraged and ask yourself what's the point everytime you are working on a project. Honestly, I felt so much better not thinking of my business at the time because of the guilt I had for not making any efforts in that domain of my life.

I used to be extremely motivated and managed to get things done no matter what in the past. And later it was the total contrary.

My lack of motivation scared me. Yes, it did! I thought it was never going to end, considering how long it lasted. But it's back now and I feel as charged as I used to be to achieve my business goals!

The Cure

So moments like these should not scare you that much or get you to think that you can't make it. It's a phase of your entrepreneur life and you will experience many of them, just that the intensity will vary.

My lack of motivation was severe as I went for almost a year without producing nor planning for my business. Aside the fact that I was a student and school was taking my time, I didn't feel motivated anymore. All I did was to wish for things to happen or wish to be motivated once more.

And yes I lost customers. You know that is the thing with being a sole proprietor. Everything depends on you and everything you do affects your business (reminds me of my secondary school economics lessons on the advantages and disadvantages of sole proprietorship).

When my motivation came back, it was like starting afresh. That was not so long ago. I'm now working on getting new customers and building my brand again.

I have had other periods when I lacked motivation recently and this has been mostly because of the discouragement from not having desired results after putting in so much effort.

Here are my tips to deal with a lack of motivation as an entrepreneur.

1. It's OK to feel discouraged.

If you feel discouraged and not motivated, it's OK! You can't be motivated all the time. You are human to feel bad when things don't work out as you want or expected. So accept your present mood and remember that you are just being human.

2. Take a break.

Give yourself a break. It's a break to not think about your projects for even just a day. Don't try to force things or you may keep getting more discouraged and disappointed since you are not putting in your best and you can't think more objectively.

3. Find out the problem

You could no longer be motivated because you overworked yourself like in my case. It could also be because you don't feel skilful enough to do things. You may also lack motivation because you are afraid of not doing things right or not being able to meet expectations. It could also be a lack of support from friends and family or negativity from your customers in relation to your goods or services.

You need to find out the source of your discouragement to know how to deal with it.

4. Adress the problem

Face the reason why you lack motivation.

- If they are negative customers accept the critics that are true and decide to work on them.

- If it's lack of support from family and friends then talk to them and ask for their support or give them a reason to support you by working even harder to achieve your dreams.

- If you don't feel skilful enough then start researching and learning. You can also find someone more experienced to help out with what you can't do. Remember that you can't know and do everything.

- If you are discouraged as a result of overworking yourself, a break will be nice for starters. You can try to take a short holiday so that your mind relaxes as well.

5. Consume motivating content

Read, watch and listen to motivational write-ups, videos and speeches. This will do you a lot of good. There is nothing more comforting than to know that our case is not different and someone else is or has been through what we are experiencing. You may find someone who's wording will uplift your spirit and your desire and motivation will start building up once more. So feed yourself with positivity. As much as you can get.

6. Self-motivation talk

Talk to yourself and face your fears that have discouraged you. Tell your lack or motivation self that you are only going through a phase that will soon be over. Also, tell yourself that you can get back to how motivated you used to be because you are working towards it.

7. Take steps to go back to work

Talk is good but it still doesn't get things done. You need to make little plans and enjoy the feeling of accomplishing little tasks.

Take baby steps towards working on your business again. Take it slow and don't pressure yourself. I hope you get your motivation back soonest.

Markets, where Okrika is sold in Cameroon, are not the most organised so you have to dress for the situation when going there. You will most probably be standing or bending down to find the best clothes and shoes all by yourself (yes oh, that's why it's called 'bend-boutique'). It could be sunny or rainy, muddy or dusty in the market.

From my experience, here are some tips to help you when you go to a Cameroonian market to buy Okrika.

How To Dress When Shopping Okirika (Thrifts) In A Cameroonian Market

- You need to dress comfortably.

Wear flats! Sandals or slippers, but let them be flats. You wouldn't want to walk through the market in heels and uncomfortable shoes because it will be tiring. You may also be standing for long hours trying to select the best items from the heaps of clothes and shoes. Let your clothes be free and flexible too.

- Don't dress or look too expensive to avoid being overcharged.

It doesn't mean that if you look shabby and unkempt they will begin to give you things for free. But looking too dope and stylish may influence the price of the goods you will buy because you may be charged higher than others (since you look capable). Just try to dress simple or average.

- Your dressing should permit you to try on clothes in the market

You may need to try a few clothes so do wear clothes like slim pants, long skirts or gowns that will enable you to easily try on something on them or under them without necessarily undressing.

NB: Always ask the vendor before you try things on because not all of them will let you do so.

- Protect yourself from the sun/rain

Wear long sleeves, sunglasses and hats to protect yourself from the sun. When the weather is too hot go for white or brighter colours or you may bake in the heat. Take an umbrella and an extra pullover if you are in the rainy season. There might be some unpleasant stormy surprises.

The best outfits to consider wearing are jeans, maxi gowns or skirts.
I hope these tips are helpful to you when you go shopping Okrika.

Cameroonian markets can be so crowded at times. The major markets in Cameroon can get so crowded that thrifting or Okrika shopping can become risky.

These crowds can be full of all types of people and pickpockets are no exception. It is necessary to protect your property and make your experience in the market safe. One can never be too careful.

So here are some tips to keep you safe while buying Okrika in a Cameroonian market.

- Don't put all your money in one place.

Separate the money especially if it is a huge amount so that you don't lose it all in the case of theft.

- Never put your wallet, purse or money at the back of your pocket.

If you do put it in the side pocket, make sure your hand never leaves your side in crowded places.

- Hold your bags and purses close to your body.

Let the end of the zip of your bag be at your front and not behind to prevent your bag from being opened without your knowledge.

- Always take out or separate your transport fare 'to and fro' from your shopping money to avoid using up all the money and trekking home.

Trust me, you don't want to run into a shortage of money and become stranded in the market.

- When boarding taxis go for ones with a valid car number or work badge (or any other public document they should normally possess and make visible).

Observe and take note of such details to help avoid being robbed or possibly help you to recover your stolen property in case of robbery. Car number plates are orange in colour in Cameroon and taxis are yellow though there are other taxi services like Grey Cab which have grey taxis.

- Pickpockets may use tricks like pushing, rubbing themselves on you and try to act like they are in a hurry and need to go ahead.

If you notice such movements around you, stop for a while, check and hold on to your valuables well.

- Watch out for distractions and walk away from them.

It may be a trick to steal from you.

- Another trick is to hold a handbag but put your money elsewhere.

This may divert the attention of pickpockets who may go for searching your bag instead. My friend and I were fond of doing this especially in very crowded markets like Mokolo market in Yaoundé. A pickpocket was spotted by a taxi driver trying to search the bag and called our attention. We were more relaxed because the bag had no money. It served as a distraction.

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Therefore, if I were my best friend, I will say...

How to Manage Your New Okrika (Thrifts) After Shopping

- Try them on

- Take to the tailor the clothes that need any adjusting or repair.

- Wash before wearing.