It’s all I got August 24, 2009

While I was working in my 9-5 job, I knew that if I keep doing this, I will die young.  I need to find an alternative. It’s a matter of life and death.

I always wanted to have a business of some sort. The problem was – I didn’t know what business.

I have no capital. I have no experience. I do not have a mentor to teach me anything about business. I have no – wait.

I do have one skill. I can dance, Middle Eastern Dance, rather well. If I can do that, I can teach it too!

And, that’s how it all started. I truly got nothing. The skill is all I have. So I worked with what I have. And take it from there.

From that one skill, I grew it into a few more set of skills. I grew my selling skill. My marketing skill. My organisational skill. My networking skill. My event management skill. My budgeting skill.

Bit by bit. Little by little.

Before I knew it, I became an entrepreneur.

Pretty Pink Plaid July 16, 2009

Trendy Thursday: Pretty Pink Plaid

Pretty Pink Plaid by Elwarda featuring Tory Burch

I love the playfulness and the colours of this set. I choose a black cardigan to tone down the pastel pink. I hope this works!

Red and Yellow Butterfly June 25, 2009

Trendy Thursday: Red and Yellow Butterfly

Red and Yellow Butterfly by Elwarda featuring Monsoon

I have been seeing great stylings of jacket, cardigan and all sorts of outer wearing with maxi dress lately. I have this in my drafts for quite some time. I would like it if the jacket is an open one to show the beautiful yellow belt on the maxi. But I like the colour of this jacket so, yeah as usual – colour won!

Oh before you go,  see how I modestified Beyonce’s Red Carpet look  here!

Tired and cranky and but trying to be productive and happy April 4, 2009

I have been feeling quite tired lately. Maybe because we haven’t been eating the healthiest food. We have been eating out a lot. And too much ‘mamak’ food can make me feel rather sluggish.

Despite that, I have been working my hardest to complete my To-Do lists that is getting longer every day. OK, maybe now my hardest as I have been watching Biggest Loser, America’s Next Top Model, Celebrity Apprentice, UK Apprentice, and a few more reality shows that are clogging my brain cells.

On another note, I just finished reading ‘I am not sick, just a bit unwell, Life with Neurofibromatosis’ by Yvonne Foong. I bought this a book a few months ago directly from her. It was out of stock then and I only recently received it. She was conducting her fundraising by selling this book and t-shirts at one of the events that I attended. I was really touched by her condition and inspired by her strength and spirit. Reading this book, it gave me more prespective of her condition, and it also made me appreciate more of Almighty’s gift for me. The book is now selling in MPH.

Business-wise, I started my Teacher Training sessions for potential MED teachers.*hurray!* I am still behind with picking up new stocks and marketing for Elwarda Accessories. I am feeling rather lousy because of that. *bleargh*

It was quite an emotional roller coaster these past few days. Result of unhealthy eating, lack of exercising, and also by the lack of spiritual work. These what happens Naziehah, if you lose your life’s balance. *need to sort self out now*

Elwarda @ Emila March 24, 2009

I have always loved this blog, Emila’s Illustrated Blog. Ever since I get to know about it’s existence, I kept coming back for more of it’s beautiful paintings and illustrations. Whenever I look at those amazing creation of hers, I will always felt this deep sense of peace and happiness. Great beautiful paintings always did that to me!

But Emila is not only a talented artist, she’s also an excellent blogger! Another reason why people kept coming back to her blog

So when she asked for a gift sponsorship for the competition in her blog, how could I resist to be a sponsor!

I sponsored 2 items, one from each of my Elwarda.

From Elwarda Dance, I sponsored an Elwarda Gift Certificate worth RM35 for the winner to experience an MED (Middle Eastern Dance/Belly Dance) class with me.

Fom Elwarda Accessories, I sponsored one piece from Elwarda Asal.

Read more about it here!

In return, I get a banner space for a whole month! Look at my new banner, isn’t it pretty and blinky?

Thanks Big Z for the banner

I feel very happy to be getting more opportunity to expose and market my Elwarda. I am even happier to be able to work with somebody as nice and as talented as Emila!

Women Entrepreneur’s Carnival 2009 February 23, 2009

Elwarda will be exhibiting here this Saturday the 28th. Spread the word and come visit us!

Henna me pretty! February 18, 2009

Wonderful Wednesday: Henna me pretty!

March last year, I organised a hafla, an all ladies party under my dance and event company, Elwarda Dance. For that event, I invited a henna artist to do a henna for all my guests as a party souvenir. However, on that day, yours truly was too busy running here and there to make sure everything went smoothly that she missed her chance to get a henna done on her. She  wistfully stared at all the beautiful designs that adorned her guests’s hand, shoulders and she even saw one lady getting henna done of her belly!

*sob, sob, wipe tears, clear throats*

Anyway, last last weekend, at a Gaza Charity Bazaar in BSC, she got herself one tiny henna on her hand!

Look, look!

I also found out that being a hand model is difficult. This is one attempt.

The ‘ooh-my-hand-is-so-dainty-I-am-afraid-it’s-going-to-fall-off-from-my-wrist-any-second-now’. Also known as the ‘tip-toeing hand look’.

This is another one

This one looks like a murdered pigeon. Or a crooked chicken leg. Or well – a failed hand model’s hand.

Anyway, don’t focus on the hand pose, although you can’t help it now. Buuuut, look at the tiny little thing. Isn’t it so beautiful? Before it faded, I kept staring at it for days and it always bring a smile to my face.

Or a big grin like this

Start small November 18, 2008

Trading Tuesday: Start Small

One of people’s misconception when they wanted to start a business is they have to have groundbreaking idea, or groundbreaking capital. They also have this belief that there’s only ‘a certain type’ of people who can be in business – people with connection, people with money, and the worse, people who are willing to do ‘all it takes’ ie. giving or taking money under the table.

Although there are some who played the unethical games in business, there were many honest entrepreneur and business people who just wanted to do what they like, what they are good at, what gave them meanings in life. Everybody can be these people if they want to. They just need to start small.

I have started a small business doing what I love and what I am really good at – teaching women to belly dance. Still focusing on what I like to do best, I organised a women-only event this year, and I also started to develop my brand further by starting an online retail jewellery store, all under the brand of Elwarda.

I still have a lot of work to do, but I am enjoying every minute of tinkering (most of the time)  and developing (sometimes) my businesses.

This week is Global Entrepreneurs Week. Various activities were conducted all over the world focusing on all entrepreneurial issues. I wish to participate in any small way that I can. So, in effort to encourage more entrepreneurial endeavours by women (and men too!) – I would love to have a Question and Answer session in this blog. Do e-mail me any questions at all about entrepreneurship – starting own business, developing ideas, finding products, finding customers – whatever questions that you might have, but too afraid to ask, or you just wanted a second opinion – anything at all!

A friend suggested that I focused on stay-at-home business topics, which I found a really great idea since I am a stay-at-home or SOHO entrepreneur! And you know what, stay-at-home or SOHO entrepreneur are the epitome of starting small!

I will discuss more about stay-at-home or SOHO entrepreneurship it in next week’s Trading Tuesday with all the answers to your questions!

Keep the e-mail coming to naziehah@gmail.com!

Copyright © Naziehah 2008