Be yourself and the world will adjust

While this quote makes being yourself seem easy, it is not easy to be fully yourself in the world we live in. A lot of people face the problem of not knowing who they are because they are trying to be what people expect of them and not what they feel or think they should be.

Balancing Being Yourself & Being What Others Expect Of You

Balancing Being Yourself & Meeting The Expectations Of Others

It is important to find yourself and be yourself at all times but the influence of others can be overwhelming. The people in our lives may expect us to be different or act in a certain way which may not be the same as what we want. And this can be disturbing especially if you so really want to be you.

Their expectations of us can lead us to prejudge ourselves because we begin to see ourselves through their eyes. So learn to distinguish between your thoughts and the thoughts of others and keep the thoughts of others aside when thinking of the things you want.

Don't make pleasing others a priority no matter what. Consider the desires of others but always try to understand their motive and what the outcome will be before you give importance to their expectations.

Parents for example want us to do certain jobs or careers and they may take various measures to make us do it. But if your desire is to do something different from what they expect of you it can be hard to control. To deal with this it is important to find out the motive for their desire. What is making them want you to do the career they chose? Is it because they really care about you and really want you to succeed or is it mostly for their own pride? Also, ask yourself what will be the outcome or result if you choose to do as they say or as you want? If you do as they say you may succeed but you may be miserable or you may not excel in it because your heart isn't there. if you do what you want you will be more fulfilled and happy and have a greater chance of succeeding because it's your passion so you will be more determined to succeed.

That is a clear example of how to balance being yourself and what others expect of you. Do this to see if what others want for you is best for you instead of what you want. And if you will feel better doing what others want instead.

As you do this remember to be as objective as possible and always prioritize your happiness. Don't be afraid to be yourself when you are convinced that it is the best thing for you. The world will eventually adjust to your choices and desires.

While being a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) on the African continent is very common, there are more and more women who really want to join the workforce and earn an income. But most times, the responsibility of running a home or family can be hard to balance with a full-time career outside of the home.

That's why many more women and mothers are turning towards much more flexible jobs which can permit them to take care of their kids while they work. While running a small business from home is a good way to go about it, there is also the option of working and earning online.

That's why today I'm sharing with you five jobs or careers that stay-at-home moms (SAHM) in Cameroon can do online.

5 Online Jobs/Careers For Stay At Home Moms (SAHM) In Cameroonian

Blogging/YouTubing

It's no longer a surprise that people are earning money from blogging and youtube. These are careers that can be pursued from the comforts of your home and they are quite flexible especially when they are shared from a lifestyle perspective.

Bloggers and YouTubers can create their own work routines and schedule and this helps you create a work-life balance.

Coaching / Teaching

You can offer your coaching or teaching services online in domains that you are knowledgeable in. if you are good in hair care, home management, parenting or entrepreneurship, crafts, or any subject, you can publish these services online and share your knowledge or skills with those who need it online.

These days a lot of people do training on topics like soap making, hair care, and sewing on WhatsApp and Facebook groups. This training is paid for by those who want to learn.

Graphic Designing

Graphic designing is also a job you can do to earn money online. You can help your friends or those who solicit your services to design their invitation cards or adverts to events, anniversaries or infographics in exchange for a fee.

Writing

Writing and publishing books online is another career to pursue as a SAHM in Cameroon. Share your knowledge by writing books and selling them online.

Translating

If you have translation skills you can make some money online by helping others translate their texts or documents.

Selling online

Apart from selling your knowledge online, you can sell physical goods and services online too using websites and applications.

These are some jobs or careers that SAHM in Cameroon can do in order to make money online.

Starting an online business in Cameroon can be free but that's considering that you already got an internet connection because without the internet you can't have an online business.

Let's jump right in and learn how to start an online business in Cameroon. If you are in Cameroon and wonder if you can own a business and sell from the comfort of your home or where ever you find yourself right now, then I'm here to answer that it is possible. The world has evolved so much that a device as small as a smartphone has become a huge marketplace. Though there are challenges in the online business world, there is also the possibility to sell and make some real money from your online business.

Today's post will show you how to start an online business in Cameroon.

What does it take to start an online business in Cameroon?

Here is what you need:

- The Internet

- A smartphone

- A good business idea (could be a good or service)

- Your creativity

Steps to Create an online business in Cameroon

1) Acquire all the above requirements

2) Test your idea

To test your idea, you can do the following:

- Find out if others are already doing the business you intend to do online. You can search for your business type on Google, Instagram, or Facebook to see accounts or pages doing that business. Also, search using the keyword 'Cameroon' so that you can see if Cameroonians are already in that line of business.

- Secondly, to test your idea, ask yourself a series of questions like 'Who am I going to sell to (your ideal customer)?, How will I deliver my products? Are my customers living in the same city as me? What language do they speak or understand? etc'. This will help you see if your idea is doable or not.
When you get the answers to these questions right, then you have a good idea.

3) Get your goods and services ready. Also, determine how your customers will reach you in order to purchase your goods and services. Will it be by direct message (DM) or Inbox, by WhatsApp, or by SMS or a phone call?

4) Create your website, Facebook page or Instagram account with your business name. Include all the details your customers need to know about your business on your page or account. For example, your location or address, contact number, website, policy, etc.

5) Start posting pictures and videos to bring sales to your online business.

For you to succeed with your online business in Cameroon, you need a lot of online marketing, patience and consistency to make people buy from you. Your products and services also have to be good in order to retain your customers.

That's how to create an online business in Cameroon.

Every business faces challenge no matter where they are located. In Cameroon, business owners have a lot of challenges they face daily but when you are an online business owner there are some other special challenges added to it.

While I was writing the blog post about working nine-to-five or twenty-four-seven, I reflected on my online businesses. I have been away from business online for a while now, mostly because I had a baby and I needed maternity leave. And also because business became so hard at one point I became discouraged. It was hard to sell one thing and this brought down my morale. Yes oh, entrepreneurship isn't rosy all the time. But it pays to stay consistent and persistent in business.

That's why today I'm sharing with you six challenges Cameroonian online business owners like me face.

Seven challenges online business owners deal with in Cameroon

7 Major Challenges Faced By Online Business Owners In Cameroon

1. Internet is expensive.

For both buyers and sellers. In Cameroon, the internet is still expensive, especially for those of us who use it daily. Yes, it has become cheaper compared to previous years but it is still expensive. Business owners need to upload images and videos every day in order to make sales and this takes data. They also have to stay online all the time to respond to customers. They need to learn marketing and production skills online and this takes a lot of daily data. This increases the cost price of the product and it may discourage customers.

Customers on their part can't see the photos of products if they don't have enough internet data. Cameroonians are only managing to stay connected daily so they don't go to social networks that consume a lot like Instagram and Youtube.

So with the internet being expensive, it reduces the number of potential customers that see the products posted online. And this reduces sales as well.

2. Cameroonians don't trust online shops because of online scams

Online scams are not new to the internet world. These scams have frightened and prevented people from buying from online businesses. Trading online requires an exchange of money and goods at some point. This exchange can be impossible if there is no trust. If the customer doesn't trust the seller to send his/her money before receiving the good or vice versa there will be no transaction. A solution to this problem is the 'pay after delivery method but this works for deliveries made within a city or place where the trader is found. When it involves another city or area where the trader isn't physically present, it is not easy.

3. Cameroonians are not used to buying online

Online shopping is still new in Cameroon and Cameroonians are still getting used to it. That's why they will still ask for your shop even after you tell them that you sell online. Most sales discussions always end up with questions like where is your boutique so that I can come around when ready. This is so frustrating

4. Not many Cameroonians are using social media

Despite being in the android age, the majority of Cameroonians are not on social media. Meaning that there is a huge potential market that online businesses can't reach.

5. Delivery services are expensive or absent

Delivery service companies are expensive or non-existent. Services like DHL are expensive for most small online businesses to use. Some areas don't have any existing delivery companies. This makes it complicated as the online business owner has to employ delivery men or simply deliver by themselves.

6. Locating customers during delivery is complicated

Locating customers when they ask to deliver at home can be a hassle. This is due to the fact that most parts of the towns are unplanned. Locating a house can be tedious especially when it is not close to the main road.

7. Theft online and offline

The online business owner could suffer theft both online and offline. If they send goods without receiving the money first, they may never get paid by the customer if he/she is a fraud.

Online businesses may also suffer theft during delivery as they run the risk of being attacked and robbed while on their way to delivering products to their customers.

If you are an online business owner in Cameroon or an aspiring online business owner, this post is not meant to discourage you but to make you wiser and make you ready for the challenges ahead. No business is easy and knowing what to expect ahead is an added advantage to you. I wish you all the best if you are willing to try selling online in Cameroon.

Women have been brought up to believe that suffering is part of their life. That they must suffer from a man if they want a better relationship. That they must be the ones to clean everyone's mess. That they must put their desires and dreams aside and watch or support others to reach their own dreams while they hurt inside. That they must support the bad treatment they get from men in their homes or the mistreatments from society and keep hurting inside though they pretend everything is alright.

But this is not why we were born, dear woman.

Everyone is meant to struggle, suffer or get hurt at some point in life but it's not meant to be the norm for you. It's not right for you to believe that you are meant to suffer or get hurt every time. We have accepted our fate in suffering so much that we don't feel surprised when it happens. We just accept it and find ways to cope with it instead of finding ways to end it.

(African) Women, You Are Not Born To Hurt Or Suffer

Change your way of thinking my dear and think like a smart lady.

You need to believe that you deserve a better life. Sufferings may come but let them be for things that are really worth it. let it be for things that you desire too and not only for the sake of others. Suffer for the things you desire but don't suffer for the sake of suffering my dear.

You can get good things in your life if you believe that you deserve them. You don't have to minimize your ability to attract good things easily to your life. You can have a ready-made man. You must not suffer with a man in order to feel worthy of reaping the benefits in the future. You can have brilliant ideas that work out and flourish on the first try. Just believe, work hard and put your desires on the table as others have done. Because your desires are valid too.

I made a video about this topic on Youtube and I also posted (a part of it) on Instagram. You can click here to watch the video on Youtube and get more insight from it on the topic.

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