#‎30DaysOfFlavia‬: It's Day 11 ... Here Are All The Life Stories Flavia Tumusiime Has Told So Far

Tv and Radio personality Tumusiime Flavia has been sharing awe-inspiring stories about her life and career for the past 11 days in what she dubbed "30 Days Of Flavia" ... we've put them all together for you to get inspired.

#‎30DaysOfFlavia‬: It's Day 11 ... Here Are All The Life Stories Flavia Tumusiime Has Told So Far
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Flavia started the #‎30DaysOfFlavia journey August 19 at 1:19pm when she shared an introductory post to what she will be sharing in a period of 30 days. The stories she has shared so far have inspired many and beamed light to life — bringing a whole new dimension to what it took her to become the hardworking celebrity she is now.

We've put together all the 11 stories ... it's going to be one hell of a ride.

Hey. I will share 30 stories from my life and career for the next 30 days.

Day 1

First is what i remembered this morning on the way to work. When i was 18, i was offered a job at Capital FM. I remember the meeting with the program director.
Him: Flavia what else can i tell you to leave that radio and join us?
Me: uhmm not sure, i love the music the other side, i can relate and they are cool.
Him: hmmm, well if you want music, buy an iPod, if you want to be successful in the next years and build any sort of career, make a decision based on what you will want in the future and not what you like today.
Of course i later signed, but i remember that, even if i had no bargaining chip, i was confident. Word of advise, even if you are at your last grain of strength, never show desperation. Be confident that the best asset is you and with that, you can acquire anything else. #30daysofFlavia

Day 2

Today i tell you about my little journey to Ntv. In 2012 i receieved a call by then manager at NTV kenya, he and i had a long chat about how he had watched me on bigbrother Africa and was proud of me and believed that my next step should be towards news and that i would grow into a very good anchor. I said NO. My reasons were, i wasnt interested and that i had never even considered it and that my career was going another direction. We spoke for long and he sounded dissapointed but at the end of the call he said to me "you will do this one day and i hope when you do, you remember our conversation". Well, see how God works, Maurice Mugisha a long time friend had also persuaded me to go since he was working there and i said no still. This year we sat for negotiations with Maurice who now is my boss to join as a news anchor and i slowly reflected and was grateful, that the position was always mine, just not the timing. Here is my word to you, you know what you want to do and what you want to be, but are you selling yourself short? Are you dreaming small? Are you speaking greatness? ‪#‎30daysofflavia‬

Day 3

(The stories are not in sequence, i will just pick at random from different times) So in 2011, i won the competition to become Uganda's first Channel O vj. I was so happy, then became overwhelmed at how big a platform it was. We were 5 vjs for the continent and in a team building meeting in south Africa, our boss asked for our strengths, she intended to get us opportunities that would help us grow bigger in the industry. Everyone said their strength except me, because i didnt know what it was. I came back to Uganda and while at capital, one of my colleagues said..."now that you are on channel O, toloba, make sure bakulaba and you leave a mark kwegamba you even push obele ku bigbrother Africa" lol he is dramatic. Anyway, i told him that i was a small fish and noone would skip all the choices of presenters, to let me get on bigbrother Africa. 2 months later, they were in meetings looking for a guest host and my boss suggested me, and as you saw in 2012, i ended up chosen. One day i asked my boss why i was chosen out of curiosity and she said to me.." they looked at all your work and felt you were talented and a new face, and also, one of the directors of the show worked with you on Guinness football challenge and he said you were proffesional and a pleasure to work with". Wow! I had no idea. Here is my message to you from this, be good and respectful to everyone no matter how small or big, rich or poor, manager or cleaner,educated or not. You never know whose review of you will take you to your next opportunity. Your network is your networth. ‪#‎30daysofflavia‬

Day 4

When i was fresh off teens club, i had the first rough year with the tabloids. They were constantly painting me as the former teens club presenter who was always out smoking and drinking, falling and embarassing herself and dating my former co-presenter. Then in my first year at capital, they ran a story that i was dating my boss and thats how i got the job. One day Capital had organised aparty and called media personalities and journalists, i asked one of the tabloid writers, why he chose to write false stories about me. His response.."i write what am given, your own friends and colleagues sent in those stories" he even proceeded to show me messages as proof. Wow,bless him for having been so honest but i told him that wouldnt help clear my name and he gave me advise that i use till today. "Flavia, you cant change what is said or written about you by talking...noone believes that, people believe actions. So if you ever want people to see you for who you are and not the lies, live a true life and eventually people will believe actions not words." It took me so many years to be true to myself and trust me i have made many mistakes but i choose not to broadcast them. Here is my word to you, people talk, and talk and talk some more, good or bad. Never build your success on peoples' words or even break it because of their words. ‪#‎30daysofflavia‬

Day 5

Today i will share a harsh truth. As girls and women, we are faced with more difficulty in the path to success, some our faults, others just the claws of temptation. A few years ago, i was starting to grow in my role as event emcee, i was being offered gigs and even though i wasn't getting paid much, i was happy to be working. Then one day a job got recommended and i took it. But the person who gave me the job wasnt too familiar with my work and didn't actually know much about Flavia Tumusiime. He asked if i could send him a picture of me and at that moment i got suspicious but he brushed it off as a joke. Anyway i went for the gig and before i got on stage, the guy asked if we would be going somewhere after...i cringed and told him he was making me uncomfortable and i would leave if he continued his advances. His response: " you think you are special? So many gals can do this job its just talking on stage and if you want to act like a kid, i wont give you any more work.". Well after that gig true to it he never hired me again. Well its okay i walked away with my dignity. But you see, us gals or women face so many hurdles because before you talk, some people rate your value on your looks and body. Its okay to be beautiful and proud of it. Its also possible that many opportunities will come thanks to what you look like or dress like...BUT my word of advise is...prove to them you are more than the looks...improve yourself, work hard and never let your beauty be all you have. ‪#‎30daysofflavia‬

Day 6

When i left teens club, i was exposed to a growing celebrity culture. There were cliques and all and who was hanging with who. I was excited i wont lie, i enjoyed hanging with all the famous musicians that people saw as untouchable and it got to my head. I started to want to be like them...well not the singing part lol. I wanted to dress like them, live lavish and just fit in. A friend of mine, a local female artist had a very trendy hairstyle and i told her to recommend the salon, i got there and was treated like a star. After my hair was done, they gave me a bill fitting of a star...lol i took a double look but i paid and it took most of my cash in my bag to sort that bill...all for hair that i couldn't keep after a week because celebs don't do that. Anyway after that, the pressure was on, i would spend every coin i made just to look like or copy a certain friend and what i thought was cool. Then i woke up and realised i had nothing to my name except the cool shoes and bags. So i started to save...my first meaningful salary was 450,000. I started to knock on doors to give me any gigs or work to supplement my income since i was paying my own tuition at university. I made it work, with my salary and side work. Obviously things have changed today and i can afford a certain life but even then...more money more problems. Here is my word to you, its not and will not get easy in the battle to keep up appearances, but at what cost? I hope the next time you make a decision, you start with what YOU think before you bother with what anyone else thinks. ‪#‎30daysofflavia‬

Day 7

A friend once called me for a job and in fact recommended me and even advised me on how to master my interview for the job. I did get the job and for months worked happily, then i got a call by my boss, saying that i had been promoted with immediate effect, i was overjoyed, but when i got to the office to look at the contract, i was unfortunately replacing the very friend who had got me the recommendation to the company. I was so confused and had guilt and it felt like i did something wrong but i was advised it wasn't personal, it was based on merit. I carried that guilt but took the promotion. My friend went on to be bitter and hate me and i understood their position. Let me ask you, if you were in my shoes, would you have taken the job? Anyway as you answer that, i want to tell you from experience that many times you will be put in an awkward position and forced to decide, am not saying step on heads to get to your destination, but am saying you wont find a clean saintly path to success, we all step over someone once or twice in our road to success intentionally or unintentionally. ‪#‎30daysofflavia‬

Day 8: Attitude!

I was working with a team in SouthAfrica, one of the people on the team was a young lady who seemed very unhappy, she reacted negatively everytime i spoke and chose to not speak to me or reply the entire time we worked together. I was frustrated and one time at a team building dinner, i told her off, i told her she didnt need to be so rude, we could try and work together amicably. My reaction helped us work together yes, we continued to excel on our work terms but also because of my reaction, i had killed the prospect of a friendship with her. When the contract was done, we went separate ways. Later i found myself interested in tv script writting and content development, the 5 people i spoke to, each recommended the same lady i worked with. Unfortunately i could not salvage the relationship i had killed with my attitude, for her to mentor me but atleast i learnt a lesson. Everytime you go into new territory, be careful with your attitude. Dont let your personal issues with someone sip into how you relate with them proffesionally. Especially us women are emotional, we are quick to hate or swear we wont work with so and so because i just dont like her or him. Focus, dont let petty excuses and feelings towards someone slow you down. ‪#‎30daysofflavia‬

Day 9: Change vs Growth vs Arrogance.

I had a group of friends at highschool, some i still chat to once in a while, some we are still very close and others, we lost touch for different reasons. When we all took different paths in life after school, i found it harder to keep intouch, i missed birthdays, reunions and many other things. I used to feel terrible because i didn't want to abandon the people i knew on the basis that i was working. I lost many friends because they felt i chose my career over them, and maybe i did at some point. Then some i lost out of what envy did to our relationship. I grew up and realised it was a phase i had to go through. All of us have to grow up, it doesn't have to be career wise, atleast as a person, you cant be the same teenager even when you hit 30. You have to mature even in thoughts and plan for your life. Some will call your maturity... arrogance. Its okay too, you can't please everyone and should never aim at it. Such is life. ‪#‎30daysofflavia‬

Day 10: Believe in yourself

In one of my business ventures i came to learn a valid lesson. I started the business with a well thought out idea, i knew exactly what i wanted it to turn out, well atleast i thought so. Then i shared the idea with close friends and family.... everyone gave thier notes. I was such a coward, I thought maybe they are right and i kept changing the context of the idea so much that in the end i failed. Listen, its okay when people advise you, and sometimes they want the best for you, but do you realize they could be wrong? The solution to not failing with the bandwagon i find is to first and foremost believe in yourself...wrong or right believe in yourself. ‪#‎30daysofflavia‬

Day 11: Women

I realised that many women...not all, are quick to tear down a fellow woman working hard, but quick to applaud a man in the same position. I hosted an event last year and one of my tasks was to introduce a certain accomplished lady. I had read about her and was so excited to meet her. She looked me up and down, rolled her eyes and walked away. She even asked that i don't introduce her, that a guy should do it. I had never met her and was so dissapointed with her reaction. Why are we so against each other? You constantly hear....why does she have a better job and i dont? Who did she sleep with? Why does she look good in that dress? She was fake in school, what changed? She is sleeping around,why do you want to date her?...who cares????? Ladies, learn to run your own race and don't worry about what your neighbor is doing. Lets respect each others' stories and lives. ‪#‎30daysofflavia‬


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