ATTENDING THE WOMEN IN BUSINESS COCKTAIL MIXER 2018

Picture: Courtesy of Pearls for Her Facebook Page

The Women In Business Cocktail Mixer took place on the first of June 2018.

I got to know about this event from my sister, after she had seen it on someone’s Watsapp status.

That day, she mentioned to me how there was going to be a business event for women.

At first, I wasn’t so hyped to attend, because I had a lot of assignments that day that I hadn’t yet completed (though I must say, I Iove attending anything to do with business).

But when she mentioned the names of the female entrepreneurs who were going to be speakers for the night, that’s when I was sure that I had to attend this event.

Picture: Courtesy of Pearls for Her Facebook page

The event themed, "Just Do It", was organized by “Pearls for Her.”

“Pearls for Her” is an initiative that strives to empower women, with tools for success in all aspects of life, through well curetted events that give a platform for important discussions, and practical lessons on all aspects of a woman.

So, the day finally arrives, the clock ticks 4pm, and I check the poster again just to be sure, and it says the show begins at 5.30pm.

After completing some work, I begin to prepare myself to set off.

Then... something interesting happens as I am organizing myself to leave home.

As I am telling my sister how am so excited to go and attend this event, she tells me something I hadn’t imagined, and that hadn’t crossed my mind.

She says I shouldn’t bother to go because the event had sold out.

In shock, I look at her and tell her, “You’re joking, right?... How? As in? I am confused…what do you mean… ‘sold out!’ ”

She says, “I called in earlier today, to secure myself a seat at the event, but I was told that the event was sold out!”

You can imagine how my heart dropped!

I had really wanted to attend this event, and so, telling me that I was going to miss out on the opportunity to attend, literally made me feel disappointed!

As am still asking my sister how this happened, expressing my disappointment on how I didn’t want to miss out, telling her how I really wanted to attend this event, a voice comes to mind,

“Sybella, you have been reading a number of books on having faith, and being positive, despite the way the circumstances look, or may appear... its time to put your faith to work today!

I then paused for a moment, and walked to my room.

After listening to that voice, I thought through, and I all over a sudden begin to feel inspired and motivated.

I then get up from my bed, and begin to prepare myself.

I even ask my other sister if she wants to come along and join me, so we can put our faith to work, but she declines, and tells me to go and try my luck.

So I ask her one more time, “are you sure you don’t want to come?”

She still declines.

So I tell her bye, and leave the house.

Time now is 4:40pm.

As am on the road walking, and waiting for a taxi, my other sister who was lucky enough to have booked earlier, and was able to secure herself a place at the event, calls me up on phone.

She had already arrived at the venue, and had called me to tell me that they were refusing people at the entrance, and they were not accepting any one to enter, who was not on the list.

I wondered how she knew that I was coming, and she tells me, my other sister had just told her how I wanted to come to the event venue and yet I hadn't yet booked a slot earlier.

She goes ahead to mention to me how they had already closed off the whole restaurant, and that there were no people being allowed entry, who were not on the list.

Somehow I felt a little discouraged, and had for a moment thought of giving up at that moment.

So I tell her to take pictures and record videos for me so I can get a glimpse of what the event was all about, to which she agrees.

After getting off the phone call, I still hear the other voice speak louder now, telling me to remember all the books I have read, the countless quotes, and picture quotes I have read, and audio and video messages I have listened to, and watched, that all speak on the topic, “ putting your faith to work.”

Deep down within, I knew I wanted to attend this event, soo bad!...

With the voice louder, and clearer in my mind now, I choose to go ahead with my plan, as earlier planned, and follow my heart.

At that very moment, a taxi comes right around the corner, and as its passing by, right in front of me, the conductor asks me if I am going or not, so I stop the taxi and get in.

On my way to the venue, I kept on praying, and believing God, that indeed He will make a way, and somehow! Somehow…, I would be able to attend the event.

I had read the books on faith, but now, it was time for me to put my faith to work!

I arrive at Terranga Restaurant, Bar & Design-Bugolobi, at about 6:00pm, 30 minutes late, of the scheduled time for the event to start.

I arrive and find that the event venue had been beautifully decorated, and set up with beautiful décor, and most of the guests had arrived already.

As I make my way to the registration table, right next to it, I could see beautiful gift bags on the table, that were given to each and everyone attending the event.

As I walk to the registration table, I find two ladies welcoming guests.

I walk up to the ladies and narrate to them my ordeal, about how I had wanted to buy a ticket, but I had found out at the last minute that the event was sold out, and yet I wanted to attend the event, so bad!...

Politely, the lady tells me that unfortunately, there were no more spaces.

Of course I felt sad...

Now, I happened to have found another lady in the same situation as I, though she had actually traveled all the way from upcountry, to come and attend this event, only to be told that there were no more spaces, and the event had been sold out.

As she and I are standing right there, after a short while, the ladies at the registration table, now mention to us that the only way we would be able to enter was only if someone didn’t show up for the event, or if someone gave their slot away.

At that moment, that sounded positive, and I could see a ray of hope!, something that now got my hopes up.

So, as we were standing there, one lady walks out from the venue, walks up to where we are standing, and tells the ladies at the registration table, where we are currently standing, that she is not going to be able to attend the event, and she would like to give her slot away to any one who would want to have it.

This lady who had traveled all the way from upcountry, excitedly and hurriedly asks if she can buy the slot, to which the ladies at the registration table accept.

She leaves happily and wishes me luck.

I smile at her and hope for the best.

Am standing right there, happy for her, and now waiting for a miracle from God, just like it has happened for this young lady I had just met!

Other ladies begin to walk through the gate, right up to the registration table, just at the entrance, asking if there was a possibility for them to be able to get in, despite the fact that the event had sold out.

After a short while, as am standing there, I look up at the upper section of the restaurant and I inquire from one of the ladies, if at least, it would be possible for me to sit at the upper restaurant area, to at least get a glimpse of the event, and at least hear a word, from the entrepreneurs for the night’s event, because from there, I would still be able to get a glimpse of what was going on.

As I was still asking, a lady who happened to be friends with the ladies at the registration table, and who had been hearing me narrate my ordeal at the start, comes by the registration table.

She had been occasionally passing by the registration table for a chat, with her friends, and would then go back to the event.

She now comes to the table and says she is not going to be able to attend the event, and so she will give me her slot.

Guys! Just know I couldn’t believe it!

Here I was, thinking of a second option of probably seating at the upper restaurant area, and not the gardens where the event was to happen, and God sends this lady, who offers me her slot.

I was so excited, and thankful.

I was told to pay the fee, sign in, and was then handed a gift bag.

When I got in, I found my sister with her two friends, and she laughed at me, and couldn’t believe that I had gone against her advice, and that I had chosen to come!

She and her friends laughed in surprise and shock at how determined I was, and I told them, “I really wanted to attend this event so bad! So I came believing that God would somehow make me enter, and thank goodness for the ladies I met at the registration table, who were very welcoming, kind and considerate, who helped me get in!”

So, I decide to get a seat, and guess who my neighbor was? Yeah, you guessed right! She was the lady who had travelled all the way from upcountry, and who I had found at the registration table, having the same ordeal as mine. She was great company! And we had such an amazing time.

By the way, I almost forgot to mention.

I believe that if my sister had accepted to come along with me, the time when I asked her twice to come along, I believe she would have been able to either sit at the garden area where I sat, or the upper restaurant area, that was just right next to the gardens.

I learned something though, at the end of this whole hustle I went through just so I could attend the event; something that is in line with a Proverb that my Primary School Math teacher always mentioned to us at the start of our Maths lesson in class;

“The early bird catches the worm.”

I told myself, that next time, when an opportunity comes, I should make up my mind and make a decision fast, and at that very moment if possible.

People, don’t take your time and relax thinking that there’s “enough” time to make that choice or decision...whether its booking a seat at an event,where a high turn up is expected, or anything else.

Grab that opportunity at that very moment!

All in all, it was a well organized event with a great MC, great panel, and beautiful décor that looked breathtaking, especially when the lights were switched on later in the evening.

I surely am looking forward to their next event of this kind!

Picture: Courtesy of Pearls for Her Facebook Page

I was also able to learn so much from these female entrepreneurs, and so took down a few notes.

My next post will be titled, “Lessons from the Women in Business Cocktail Mixer.”