Are we ever going to achieve our goals?

I sometimes feel like going to varsity was just a waste of time. Most of us have that dream of furthering our studies and following a career path that we’ll most enjoy. But we do not consider the reality and statistics of unemployment. We always think it’s a smooth ride and we’re going to end up in those big companies, with fat pay cheques and a beautiful life. I wish someone had told me that it’s not how it works. I wish someone had told me to plan and strategize my future wisely. This is not where I had planned to be in my late 20s.

Things seem to be working out for my peers around me and those I went to varsity with. Working, beautiful apartments, beautiful cars you name it. And I’m just here wondering if we did the same course or if they maybe changed something somewhere along the way. I sometimes feel like maybe I was meant to cheer people on and watch them live their lives. Yap, maybe that’s what I’ve been doing since I graduated. Trust me, I am happy for everyone and wish them nothing but the best and I so wish that things could also work out for me. Sometimes people don’t even understand what you’re going through and they judge you for being lazy, not doing anything with your life, waiting for things to come easy, etc. We’re trying! You start your own small business but it also doesn’t seem to have a future just like you. What do you then do?

At some point, we have to stand on our own and we can’t always fall back on our parents. Sometimes you feel discouraged to continue submitting those resumes. Those walks that you take to put your mind at ease don’t even work for you anymore because all you think about is your future and how stagnant your life is. You just don’t enjoy anything anymore. It’s really hard!

Unemployment is honestly just another form of torture that no one openly speaks about. Having to wake up in the morning and drag yourself throughout the day because you have nothing to do, no hope whatsoever. You just want the day to be over so that you can go back to bed again and follow the same routine again the next morning. I sometimes feel like my 20s are just a waste of time. It even gets to a point where you start isolating yourself from everyone and everything, losing interest in things that once made you happy and you don’t even have the motivation to come up with new ideas that will get your mind off things. I am an advocate for positivity and a healthy lifestyle but sometimes I feel like I just can’t do it anymore. I just want to give up and just watch everyone LIVE!

I believe that every course and degree can get you a job. I’ve never been one to believe that certain courses and degrees are not relevant. All degrees carry the same value it’s just unfortunate that some job positions already have people assigned to them. Something that has been going on for a very long time. Do not listen to anyone telling you that the course or degree that you’re doing will not get you a job. Do it anyway.

It really hasn’t been easy. Receiving rejection letters almost every day of your life can be draining and discouraging. I wish someone had told me to:

·         To plan and strategize wisely while I’m still in Grade 12.

·         Start something of my own while I was still in varsity.

·         Not to have high hopes for the future because it leads to disappointment.

I so wish the government and private companies could give everyone an opportunity to prove themselves. There are a lot of individuals who are sitting at home with so much potential and skills that could add value. They shouldn’t be scared to teach people because they are always willing to learn. Experience shouldn’t be the reason the unemployment rate is so high. We all deserve to be given a chance. Not everyone has the capital or resources to start their own thing.

My heart goes out to those whose families depend on them to change their lives. It’s not that they're lazy, they do not have anything or anyone to fall back on. The one thing we can do is to soldier on and fight through the struggle. Hopefully, one-day things will work out. If you do have the resources and capital don’t be scared to start your own business. Do it and see where it takes you. It’s something that also takes time and requires a lot of patience. Do it while you’re job hunting maybe you might not have to look for a job anymore.

To those that have their lives together:

·         Be kind.

·         Help others where you can.

·         Do not judge others because you don’t really know what they’re going through.

·         Telling someone that they're lazy doesn’t help.

·         If there is a job opening at your workplace/business share that opportunity with others.

·         Never ask someone why they’re not working or don’t have a business.

Wishing everyone who’s job hunting or starting something of their own nothing but the best. Let’s continue to soldier on and fight unemployment. Giving up is definitely not an option even though it sometimes feels like a great idea. Do consider applying for online remote jobs which are also good for experience. In all that you do, try not to think a lot about your age and where you’re supposed to be. Lastly, take good care of your mental health.

 My experience publishing low-content books on Amazon KDP.

As we all know Amazon allows people to publish books for free on their platform which has given people an opportunity to create an income for themselves. Most people have opted to publish low-content books. What exactly is that? Low-content books are journals, notebooks, and coloring bookings to name a few. All you have to do is come up with cool cover designs and an interior of your choice that will make it stand out. Sounds easy right?

How do you start earning with Amazon KDP?

Visit their website. Search Amazon KDP, sign up, and get going. Make sure to read more about their policies and requirements etc.

My experience publishing on Amazon KDP:

Like any other human being who’s just sitting at home and waiting for that dream job, I decided to take chances and start publishing my own books. I was super excited and thought it would be easy since the books would be available worldwide therefore I did not even see the need for me to make use of their advertising platform, which apparently is not that easy to use. I honestly thought I would start making sales in just a couple of hours but clearly, I did not think of all that competition out there. Yes, I did my research and watched numerous YouTube videos which helped me start but I still didn’t get it right. Was it because I did not have that much traffic to my books? Or were my designs just not cool? Or is it both? This platform has worked for so many people and some just get it right the first time they start even without the advertising. I guess I just wasn’t lucky. 10 months later and I have no results to show. Can you imagine the disappointment? When I first started I did not want to dwell too much on the negativity around it, with people saying they’re struggling to make sales, etc. But now that I have experienced it I understand their frustration.

Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying it won’t work for you. You can always start and see where it takes you. Mistakes to avoid:

·         Don’t rush into things. Take time to understand the platform, your target market, and the competition, and plan wisely.

·         Don’t have high hopes. It often leads to disappointment.

·         Don’t just use one platform to make your design. Do your research and play around with them.

·         Don’t be scared to ask people to help you with advertising. Family and friends do take advantage of them.

Furthermore, if you’re an aspiring author I’d advise you to also take advantage of the platform. Many authors are making their mark there and seem to be making a lot of profit. If you want to be a low-content publisher then do your homework. Competition is tough out there and don’t be scared to show off your creativity. Try by all means to publish enough books. The more you publish, the more you stand a better chance of making enough sales. Treat it like any other business.

Sometimes we want things to go our way so much that we rush into things without doing enough research. The aim of this post was to encourage people to do their research before hopping onto a business venture and to also share my experience with publishing low-content books with Amazon KDP. I am not at all trying to destroy or tarnish their brand. I commend them for creating such wonderful opportunities that give people financial freedom. It’s something that I’m definitely going to try again at a later stage.  Do not be scared to start and avoid those people who say low-content books are saturated. It might actually work for you especially if you’re someone who enjoys art and design. There is definitely something for each and every one of us.

Do not b scared to start an online business. Promote yourself and remain patient.

Mistakes every entrepreneur should avoid:

Starting a business can be very stressful. First, you need to:

·        Create a business plan that will lead to success for your business. That way you will be on track with the things that you want to achieve.

·         Be responsible with profit to avoid being in debt and having to close down the business.

·         Make sure that you’re prepared for the things you have signed up for (starting a business)

This article is for people who are still new in business or are looking into starting their own businesses in the future. These are the most common mistakes that you should avoid:

1.       Not having a business plan: If you do not have a business plan then you’re definitely planning to fail. It does not have to be anything fancy but make sure that you write something down on paper. Your goals, what you’ll be selling, the amount of money that will be spent, employees if any, and what you’re hoping to achieve from the business.

2.       Avoid being disorganized: You will sometimes have a lot on your plate and it’s always wise to write them down on paper to avoid forgetting some of your commitments. Big or small write it down. It will also help increase your productivity levels.

3.       Not knowing your target market or audience: If you want your business to succeed it’s important that you know your audience. If you don’t there’s a possibility that no one will buy your products or services. This is a very common mistake that should be avoided. Take time to understand your audience.

4.       Don’t be scared of failure:  You’re more likely to fail if you become scared of failure. If we’re being honest it only builds your character and your business. It often leads to success.

5.       Avoid relying on yourself: You won’t always get everything right so you should never be scared to ask for help from others. It only makes your life easier and makes running a business a smooth sail. There are business advisors and Freelancers who are always willing to help.

6.       Avoid making partnerships with the wrong people: Do your research on where you want to invest. You certainly do not want to find yourself with a bunch of scammers.

7.       Underestimating capital requirements: It’s important to know how much you will need to start a business. You do not want to stop operating because you simply do not have enough capital to continue. Research is a must when starting a business.

8.       Giving yourself and your employees the wrong salary: Choose an amount(s) that will be consistent depending on the revenue of the business at that moment. For example, the salary shouldn’t change every month because you’re the CEO and you feel like doing it. No, it doesn’t work like that.

9.       Launching too quickly: Make sure you’re confident with your business plan before launching. Don’t be in a hurry to make money. You’ll get disappointed.

10.   Not creating a marketing plan: It’s important to know how you’re going to get your business out there. In order to get your first client you need to start promoting it on the right platforms. A lot of people use social media.

Starting a business is not a walk in the park and requires a lot of patience and hard work. Make sure you follow these guidelines to succeed in your business or rather to avoid mistakes.

 The truth about making money online and staying consistent:

Have you ever thought of starting an online business or becoming a Freelancer? It really sounds exciting, doesn’t it? But no one tells you of the stress and anxiety that comes with it. We often watch YouTube videos that hype us and make us think we’re going to be millionaires in three months' time. I’m going, to be honest with you. It’s not that easy and it requires a lot of time, consistency, and patience.

Beginning of 2022 I made a decision that I was going to start hustling online, just to keep myself busy while I wait for a decent job. Yep, the struggles of being an unemployed graduate in South Africa. It was all exciting but no one told me it would take so much time for me to start seeing results. With some of the sites selling people dreams, some require you to spend money to make money, some reject you for no particular reason and some just keep you waiting and make you wonder if you ever applied/if you completed the application correctly. What people don’t tell you is that it takes time and sometimes you’re just not going to here from that company at all. The best thing to do is to keep moving and look out for other opportunities. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it’s impossible but it takes time for one to start seeing results and to find the right sites for making money.

I just wish people could be honest and stop giving people false hope. If you know that you struggled to get to the top don’t hide it, share it with people and give honest reviews on the sites that actually worked for you. “How to make $1000 in 24 hours with this site”...Nope, it’s not going to happen. First, you need to register; secondly, it might start paying out after you do this and that, thirdly, days are not the same. You’re not going to see the same exciting results every day. It just doesn’t happen that quickly and you have to put in the effort.

Here are a few tips on how to remain positive and productive when applying for online jobs:

1.     Watch or read content that you can relate to:

Follow or subscribe to YouTube channels that are going to add value to your life instead of putting pressure on you. You really don’t need that. One YouTube channel that I highly recommend is Financial Affairs with Nosipho, which I discovered through a Facebook post a few years back and I have been hooked since. The creator shares online opportunities and sites that can help you generate income. Very honest, straightforward forward and does not leave out any information. And of course,, she has done research on them and has tried some of them.

2.       Know what you want and what it is that you want to achieve:

Know your strengths and weaknesses and choose the right jobs and tasks. By doing this you’re avoiding being all over the place and being overwhelmed. Write down your goals on paper and constantly refer back to them just to check if you’re on the right track.

3.       Instead of giving up take breaks:

It can be a 2-month break or even more. Something that works for me. By the time you decide to come back you have new fresh ideas and it also gives you time to do research and learn new things that will help you see those results.

4.       Mental Health Checks:

Engage in activities that keep you sane. Exercising, reading books, listening to music, and watching motivational videos. If you can afford to go to therapy then book yourself sessions just to be in control of your mental health.

5.       Do not put yourself under pressure:

This will only result in you throwing in the towel. Avoid negativity at all costs and don’t compare yourself with anyone. You never know what they had to go through to get the things that they have. Because one thing about people, they will lie about their achievements.

6.       Choose the right Niche:

You certainly don’t want to get bored along the way. Choose something that’s going to excite you every time you wake up in the morning.

7.       Take your time:

Good things take time and if you’re going to be impatient you’re going to end up making a lot of mistakes and you’re not going to learn. Be patient and don’t make it all about money. Stress and anxiety are a thing and if you are impatient you might temper with your mental health.

8.       Follow successful digital entrepreneurs on social media:

Follow your faves, learn from them, and don’t be scared to ask them questions. LinkedIn is one of the platforms where you can find successful and professional entrepreneurs. You can also ask for help from Freelancers who'll help you promote your brand, skills and services.

In the beginning, it feels like you’re just wasting your time and you’ll never achieve anything. It happens but don’t give up. Somewhere along the way people will try and take advantage of you so be careful of scammers and don’t be a victim. Do research on the legitimacy of a site before applying or starting a business on the site. If you’re skeptical about it then leave it out and move on to the next one. If they ask you for money before they can give you a job or accept your application for something then you know it’s not something you should be applying for. Don’t just give out sensitive information.

There are literally so many resources that can help you achieve your goals (YouTube, Blogs, Pinterest Ideas, Google). Always keep in mind that it takes time but with hard work and consistency, you can definitely achieve those goals. Work hard in silence...the rest will be history. Our biggest mistake is expecting things to work out immediately. The challenges that you face during your time of applying and starting out something new should be a learning curve and motivate you to do better.