Monicah N Brand & Business Strategist

06/12/2025

12/11/2025

The Three Destinations That Shaped My Life and Career Decisions

When I look back at my university years, I realize how a few key experiences shaped my outlook on life, career, and even where I choose to call home today. During my undergraduate years, I was fortunate enough to travel to three very unique destinations — each one teaching me something profound about myself, the world, and the realities of living in the diaspora.

As many of us know, Africa — beautiful and blessed as it is — struggles with high unemployment rates. It’s no surprise that many African youth, full of ambition and dreams, often seek opportunities abroad. I was no exception. But through my travels, I learned that sometimes the “dream life abroad” isn’t always what it seems.

1. Canada – The Land of Endless Winter (At Least to Me)

My first international trip took me to Canada for a one-week conference. It was winter — and believe me, no amount of preparation could have readied me for that cold. For seven long days, I was tucked away in my hotel room, buried under layers of blankets and duvets, with the water heater and AC both struggling to keep up.

I tried to enjoy it, but survival came first! When I later learned that Canada’s winter lasts for months on end, I knew right away — this was not my forever home. I went back to Uganda — the Pearl of Africa, blessed with arguably the best weather in the world — fully assured that Canada was permanently off my list.

2. Korea – A Lesson in Cultural Awareness

After Canada, I turned my focus to Asia, particularly South Korea. I had been researching scholarship opportunities and top universities there — and Korea ranked highly. But before committing to anything as serious as moving there for studies, I decided to visit and experience the culture firsthand.

At the time, I had just returned from South Africa, where I’d completed my internship at the University of KwaZulu-Natal during one of the worst xenophobic periods in the country’s history. People were being attacked, and women were unsafe — it was a harsh reality to witness. Because of that, I had become very sensitive to racism and social acceptance.

Visiting Korea was, therefore, not just a casual trip — it was an evaluation. I wanted to be sure I could thrive and feel comfortable there. The experience taught me to always test the waters before diving in.

3. South Africa – The Place That Built My Resilience

South Africa holds a special place in my story. It’s where I did my internship — a chapter filled with both growth and hard truths. Despite the challenges, that period shaped my strength, resilience, and sense of purpose. It opened my eyes to the complexities of living and working abroad, especially as an African in another African country.

And Then Came Dubai – My Second Home

After all those experiences, I can confidently say that Dubai feels like home away from home. I don’t have to worry about the cold, about racism in the same way, or about belonging. Dubai, with all its diversity, ambition, and opportunities, gives me a balance between modern living and cultural familiarity.

It’s not perfect — nowhere is — but it’s where I’ve found peace, progress, and purpose.

So yes, I’ve been to Canada, Korea, and South Africa… but Dubai is where my heart found rest — my second home, after the Pearl of Africa.

22/10/2025

Why Posting Once a Week Is Costing You Sales

Statistics say that on average, a person has to hear about your product or service at least 7 times before they can commit to buying from you.

Now, let’s put this into perspective.

As a marketing manager, this raises an important question — how many times is your potential customer actually seeing your posts?

Here’s the reality:
Even if you post consistently, it doesn’t mean that every follower or prospect sees every post you make.
In fact, statistics show that out of 10 posts, an interested person might see only 3.

So if your company posts only once a week, that means your potential customer might see your message only three times in an entire month.

And if it takes at least 7 exposures before a person decides to buy, you’ll need 12 to 20 weeks — that’s 3 to 5 months — before that one customer is ready to make a decision.

Now think about this: during those 12–20 weeks, your competitors are not sitting idle. They are showing up more often, running ads, sending follow-ups, and staying visible — and that’s how they might close the deal before you do.

The Challenge for Companies with Multiple Products

Take for example a company like Qubit Electronics, which provides a wide range of LED screens — from interactive displays, kiosk screens, transparent LED film, to rental and permanent installations.

Every single product or service has its own audience and requires its own marketing cycle.
That means each product needs its own repeated exposure — its own 7 touches — before it converts.

If you’re promoting just one product a week, that same logic applies.
By the time you circle back to another product, weeks have already passed, and your audience’s attention has moved elsewhere.

The Takeaway

If your business can’t afford to wait months before closing each deal, visibility must become your top priority.

That means:

Posting more frequently and diversifying your content.

Retargeting your audience through ads or email follow-ups.

Creating consistency in your brand presence so prospects can’t forget you, even if they try.

Marketing isn’t just about being seen once — it’s about being remembered every time.
Because if you’re not showing up enough, someone else will.

13/10/2025

Every day, I receive messages from people saying, “Monicah, how are you able to speak so fluently? I want you to teach me how to be confident, how to speak up, etc.”

Yes, I would love to teach you all that I know... but before I do, I want you to understand that true confidence isn’t something you’re simply born with. It’s something you earn. It grows out of competence... your ability to do something well.

And how do you become competent? Through doing. Through action, practice, repetition, and experience. When you take action, even if it’s messy or imperfect, you gain knowledge... that knowledge becomes skill.

The more you do something, the better you get at it... and the more you begin to trust yourself, not because you’re telling yourself you’re great, but because you’ve seen yourself grow through effort.

Confidence built this way is real and sustainable. It’s not a hollow pep talk or a bunch of affirmations... it’s rooted in evidence. You know you can handle challenges because you’ve already faced them, struggled through them, and come out stronger on the other side.

So instead of chasing confidence directly, focus on doing the work. Show up... do that thing that scares you... record that video... raise your hand... ask that question... try, learn, fail, improve.

That’s where real confidence is born.

P.S. Feel free to repost this... it might help someone out there!

06/10/2025

Why Job Ads Should Sound More Like Shackleton’s

There’s a legendary story from the early 1900s about British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton ... the man who led one of the most difficult expeditions in human history.

Before setting out to cross Antarctica, Shackleton is said to have placed this advertisement in a London newspaper:

“Men wanted for hazardous journey.
Small wages, bitter cold,
long months of complete darkness,
constant danger,
safe return doubtful.
Honour and recognition in case of success.”

Every word was brutally honest.
No sugarcoating. No glamour. No “exciting opportunities” or “fast-paced environment.”

He told the truth ... it will be hard, uncomfortable, and uncertain.
And the men who responded weren’t looking for perks or prestige — they were driven by purpose, courage, and challenge.

When Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, was crushed by ice and his crew stranded in the frozen wilderness for almost two years, it was this kind of mindset that saved them. Despite impossible odds, every single member of his crew survived.

That wasn’t luck. That was leadership ... and the right team, chosen from the start.

Now Imagine If His Job Ad Sounded Like Today’s

“Exciting opportunity to join a world-class expedition team!
Competitive rewards, opportunities for personal growth,
exposure to breathtaking landscapes,
and the chance to make history with a great leader.”

Sounds attractive, right?
But it would have attracted the wrong people ... those seeking comfort, adventure, or prestige… not those prepared for survival, sacrifice, and teamwork under pressure.
And when the ice closed in, that team would have fallen apart.

The Modern Lesson

Today, most job adverts are still written to impress, not align.
We glorify the company ... “fast-growing,” “dynamic,” “innovative” ... and paint every role as an “opportunity of a lifetime.”

But let’s be honest:
Some organisations are not in a “growth” stage. They are in a rebuilding stage.
Some teams don’t need another “star performer”; they need a steady problem-solver.
Some roles aren’t “life-changing opportunities”; they are gritty missions that demand patience, emotional strength, and loyalty.

And that’s okay.
Because the right people ... the Shackleton kind ... are drawn to truth, not hype.

We’re Past the Era of Filtering for the Most Qualified

There are thousands of people with degrees, titles, and impressive LinkedIn profiles.
The real difference lies in fit ... the mindset that matches the organisation’s stage and challenges.

A well-written job post should set the tone and expectation before someone joins.
It should speak to people who say, “Yes, that sounds tough ... and I want in.”

Because that’s how you build not just a team, but a crew that can weather storms.

Closing Thought:

Shackleton’s crew didn’t survive because they were the most experienced explorers.
They survived because they were the right kind of people for the journey they signed up for.

And in hiring ... especially in times of challenge or transition ... that’s what makes all the difference.

01/10/2025

A lot of people (including my boss) ask me why I drink so much coffee ... I nearly empty the office machine by myself every day.

The truth is: I have a rare condition.

My body doesn’t produce its own coffee.

It’s called Caffeine Deficiency Disorder (CDD).

To manage it, I have to supplement frequently.

Often I need to be near a coffee machine or a barista just to ensure I get the right amount of caffeine to function properly.

October is Caffeine Deficiency Awareness Month, so please don’t judge ... just pass me another cup. ☕