Maximise opportunities around you

Last week, I visited my ancestral home for two reasons; to check on family and relatives and to see the possibility of starting farming in the beautiful lands of Tooro Kingdom - a place filled with nice and welcoming people.
I decided to use public means because it would be cheaper since I was not travelling alone.

I don’t regret having boarded that taxi instead of a bus because God knew I would meet someone who would add value to my passion and goal.
I was seated in between two ladies, my habit always is to greet and introduce myself to the people next to me. That is where most people miss an opportunity.
There is power in getting to know someone next to you. For starters, it shows you are well-groomed and courteous.

Since I knew I would be seated in this taxi for more than three hours, I started strategising in mind on how to make them productive.
I took advantage of my middle position to ask about the cost of the fare and I was keen to know who is willing to answer me.
This lady on my left was spot on. She told me the fare and went ahead to narrate how transport was exorbitant during the festive season.
In my heart, I felt my foundation was well-laid for the discussion.

So, I asked her: “Do you think it’s a must for one to travel when fares are too high to have Christmas in the village for only two days?”
She said money is not the problem but how people plan to spend is the problem. I almost hugged her but restrained my happiness. She continued saying if some people can look back at their Christmas expenditures, some would have started businesses, others would have invested, and some money would have been saved.
But instead people only live up today without planning for one or two years ahead.

I was amazed at her response.
As we approached Mubende, we realised some farmers were bound to make losses as their maize was not in good shape. That is we drifted into the farming topic.
Since I love farming, I was also travelling home was to utilise some land for that purpose.
Little did I know I was chatting with a guru in farming who advised me on how to start, what to look out for and where to get good seedlings. Interestingly, she knew the location of the land I was talking about, the type of soil and what would grow well in that particular place.

Our conversation was interjected by my husband who had called in to check how far we had reached. In the meantime, she also attended to some messages.
Out of courteousness after the phone call, I updated her about my conversation that the children are enjoying the company of their dad who was busy fixing for them something to eat.

She noticed I have young children and advised me to be mindful of what they feed on. We briefly discussed about the worrying formalin on meat that has spread like wild fire in the country.
Since everything has an end, we shared contacts and will take on this conversation further while in Kampala.

I spent a night at home then travelled back the following day.
This time, I travelled by bus where I started a conversation with another brilliant gentleman who conducts monitoring and evaluation for non-government organisations.
Never underestimate the power of people and time you have. There different people in our lives with different abilities, why not use your time to engage with people who can add value to your life.

I have also learnt in life not everyone will think like you think or have the same passion as you but you have a task to look out for someone this year who is good at something and work together because opportunities lie within people and people are the greatest asset we have.

Value
Never underestimate the power of people and time you have. There are different people in our lives with different abilities. Why not use your time to engage with people who can add value to your life?

Quote: “Opportunities are like sunrises if you wait too long, you miss them.” - William Arthur

Ms Annet Katusiime is a financial literacy trainer and consultant at Be Money Wiser co. Ltd.