In this solo motivational podcast, Ruth Kusemiju reflects on the challenges she faced over the past several months and argues that a strong, pre‑emptive support network is essential for maintaining performance and productivity. Drawing on advice from Lee Milter, she presents twelve concrete tips for building and nurturing that network, ranging from finding a peaceful place and spending quality time with family, to practicing authentic listening, keeping one’s word, avoiding burned bridges, and mastering apology and forgiveness. Throughout, Ruth shares personal anecdotes, emphasizes the emotional cost of lacking support, and urges listeners to intentionally apply these practices before they are needed. She closes by inviting audience engagement, encouraging sharing, comments, and subscriptions, and positioning herself as a “Social Media Boss Lady” who is also a human seeking connection.
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Hey everyone, it's been ages, ages, ages. I know, like, this— it's been since January? Yes, since I did a podcast. And I just felt that this is the 8th month, it's like a new beginning, and then I need to get started. So, huh, where do I begin? I know, I just can't jump straight into teaching. As much as I love to, but I decided to maybe do this comeback podcast, like some sort of motivational, inspirational couple of minutes. I mean, what has pushed me and helped me in the past couple of months in my business, through life. I mean, I've had ups and downs. I've had bad moments. I've had sad moments. I've had happy moments. I've had a lot of things. I've had good moments. I've had moments where I just wanted to give up, give in, forget that— I mean, that things matter. But I realized that going through life, everybody in some way needs support one way or the other. And if we don't have this support system going through our day, going through life, It can be pretty difficult. It can seem hard, but one thing I realized is that because if you don't have the support, it affects your performance, it affects your productivity. So I realized in this past couple of months that we need to create a network of support, whether we like it or not, whether it's virtually, whether it's physically, at work, at home, at church, whatever we do, playground, school, wherever, you need to have that network of support. So I was reading about performance and productivity from Lee Milter, and I just wanted to share with you some tips that she gave that helped me, and I think it can help the rest of you that are listening to this podcast wherever and whenever you get to listen to it. So like I said, we need to create a network of support, and everyone needs support no matter who you are, how much wealth you have, or success you may have. Because to the outside world, it, it's— we, we look as if we kind of have our act together. And the truth is that most times it's not. That act is an act, really. And I know sometimes, um, I mean, I've tried to do that. I mean, I do it sometimes. We project confidence, strength. But the truth is that many times we are hiding our stress and we're not creating a firm foundation of true support, the true support that we all deserve. I'm really, really guilty of that. So we go home at night, we complain about our bosses, we complain about employees, we complain about our customers, we complain about taxes, we complain about vendors, we complain about suppliers, and a hundred of other things. But you know, um, I'm sorry if I'm going to get a little bit emotional here, cuz it's It really spoke to me. So me trying to tell you this is just coming from my heart, how the last couple of months and upwards have been. There's actually an old saying that, that says the lights are on but no one is home. And if you're wondering, okay, How does that saying apply here? Now, the thing is that the people we tend to complain about, complain to the most, that is, we're always venting to them how bad this is, how bad that, most likely they've kind of like tuned us out. And the bad news is that we are not getting the authentic feedback Of a conscious concern that we need from them. So what I want to advise is that before you need— you need support, you have to build that support. Because when you need advice, you would actually get some authentic feedback and comfort because you had created it in advance. So it's sort of like A savings account for a rainy day, right? You have to plan to create a support system for stress control, for bad days, for rainy days, for lack of confidence, for low self-esteem, and all that. Now, there was something Lee said in her tips, which I'm going to share with you, the 12 tips She talked about— okay, I'll basically just run through the 12 tips of how to develop a network of support. Now, she says that the first thing is that find a place in your life that uplifts you or brings you peace of mind. Now, this place could be nature. I mean, I love nature, so that really It could be a place in your home, it could be a park. I mean, wherever you can go that would bring you relief from the stress of the outside world. You need to find that place in your life. Number 2, spend time with your family and loved ones, because it's important that you can— that you take the time to spend time, not just money, on the people that you love, because life is short, really, and you never know when they would be taken away from you. So take time to listen to them. I mean, life is a gift. Don't take it for granted. 3, make a point once a day to tell people, to tell the people that you live with and love how much they mean to you. I mean, don't assume that they know. Write little notes. Do things that let people know you appreciate Appreciate them and that you love them. I mean, I always have to mentally remind myself to do that. Um, 4, be aware of how you treat your support system. I mean, um, you wouldn't— you, you want— you would want to extend the same patience and courtesy to your family and friends as you do to your employees and associates, right? Yes. So Um, don't, um, unintentionally, um, uh, or rather, yeah, don't unintentionally or intentionally treat the ones that you love with disrespect and disregard. I mean, I've had moments where, um, people that I love, that I'm close to, family, I mean, they do things that are so, so annoying. And sometimes that, um, burst of anger that moment of disrespect rears its ugly head, and then sometimes it's too late to catch it. But then when you do, you come to yourself, and then you realize that I shouldn't have done that. Then you begin to make things right. So don't— I know sometimes we do it unintentionally, but try not to treat the people that you love with disrespect and disregard. Now, 5 is Be authentic and show an interest in other people's lives. Don't be selfish. I mean, in their lives, in their joys, in their sorrows. You have to be a friend to have one. Okay, 6 is, um, learn to really listen to what your family and friends say and not just act to see if you're listening, because most times we are listening, we're hearing, but we're not listening. And so to show that you're really listening, ask questions about what they think, what they feel. That's one way to really show that you are listening. You are in the conversation. You're not just hearing the conversation, but you are a part of the conversation. You're walking a mile too in their shoes. Seven would be make a daily goal to extend kindness and thoughtful gifts of self. Now, lend a hand to someone who needs it. Do something from your heart to another soul. I mean, you could send a gift from your garden, your kitchen, your workshop, your business, or your I mean, the creativity hands that you have, or I mean, the creative hands that you have, because often it will mean more than anything you could have bought them. So always make it a daily goal to extend kindness and thoughtful gifts of self. Number 8 would be make a commitment to yourself to stay on good terms with everyone possible. Possible, even if it's your competition. Yes, so don't just only be nice to people who are nice to you, but people who are not even nice to you, also try to be on good terms with them. They said, I think it's biblical, it says strive to be at peace with all men, that's even your enemies. Number 9 would be keep your word. So if you commit to anything, a deadline, confidentiality, a committee, follow it through. I mean, I've had problems, I've had situations where I have a deadline in mind and then 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 things come up and then I can't meet up. And then it's almost like, let's see, if you're not a person of your word, you can't do it. But the fact is that Things crop up that tend to push you away from what you are, what you have desired to do, but you have to learn to keep your word. If you commit yourself to anything, follow it through. And if you find that you can't follow it through, renegotiate it as soon as possible and make a new arrangement. Communication is very, very key. Amen to that. I mean, I take that wholeheartedly. And number 10 would be, be mature enough that you never burn your bridges. You may have to cross that river again. I mean, a lot of people go through successes, different stages, and they just burn the bridges behind them. But you never know when life will take a turn and then you have to go that way again. Again. So if you don't burn those bridges, the pathway is easy for you to find. Number 11 is that, um, cultivate and nurture your friendships. Be there for them. Write them a note. Send them a card. Create a news item that would interest them. Visit them. Invite them to your house. Talk with them. Keep in touch with friends far away, even friends you haven't with for years would be thrilled to hear from you. I know I'm sort of, sort of an introvert, but this really speaks to me. And I have to be intentional about my friendships, about people that I don't talk to, or on a normal day I wouldn't talk to them, but I have to be intentional about them. Because if I don't make plans for this support system before I need it, when I need it, it may not be And then last but not the least, which is number 12. Learn the fine art of apology and forgiveness. Don't allow yourself to hold grudges because it wastes your life, it wastes your life's energy, and it causes you bitterness and unhappiness. That was powerful. I mean, these 12 tips that Lee gave in developing a network of support— powerful. Strongly, I strongly advise that you listen to this over and over and over again and let it stick. You may not remember everything now, but as days go by, you'll remember And then be intentional about seeing it through. So realize that everyone needs support, no matter who you are, how much wealth, or how much success you may have. So the fact is that learn to build that support system before you need it, so that when that rainy day comes, the support system will be there to lend a hand. So I think these 12 tips kind of summarize how my last 7 months have been, and I look forward to the next 5 months with you till the end of this year. And guys, just keep tuning in, share this episode with people Um, send in your comments. Let me know what you think. I mean, share your experiences. Let's let's connect. Let's engage. Let's talk. Let's bring everything to the table and see how we can learn from each other. Yes, I know I say I'm social media boss lady. I'm not really all about business or social media or digital marketing or training and all that. There is this personal side to me that I'm beginning to feel and trying— I'm trying to let people in, trying to open myself up that yes, there's a human behind this robotic boss lady. But that's it for now, and I do hope to see you Next, under the next episode. So this is Social Media Boss Lady signing out, and do enjoy. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe, and give me a review, give me a rating, and let me just know what this episode meant to you. You can share in the comments section below. So this is 12 tips on how to develop a network of support. This will help your performance and your productivity. So take care, guys. Have a great, great day. Thank you.
