By Eddie Mugulusi
There’s something that happens far too often, and I think it’s time we talk about it.
You’ll find someone comfortably walking into KFC every weekend — dropping 100k on a full platter, drinks, dessert and maybe even some takeaway.
Do that four times a month, and that’s 400k.
No problem. They’re smiling. They’re full. They’ll even post it online.
Life is good.
Now here’s the interesting bit:
That same person…
Is running a struggling side business.
They’re confused. Tired. Stuck.
They’ve tried everything they know. Nothing’s working.
So what do they do?
They DM you: “Hi boss, I really need guidance. Please help me with your advice.”
Let’s Talk About What This Really Means
In Uganda (and most parts of Africa, honestly), we’ve normalized a very strange culture in business:
We’d rather spend on things that make us look successful than things that actually make us successful.
New outfits.
Fancy chairs in the office.
A cool logo.
But pay 400k to sit with a strategy expert who could help you fix your revenue leaks?
“Eh! That’s too expensive.”
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
Here’s the painful truth:
You can be smart, skilled, and even experienced — and still be blind to your own business’s real problems.
I once had a marketing expert tell me,
“Eddie, what you’ve just told me is literally what I teach my team at work — but I didn’t even think to apply it to my own side hustle.”
This is why we need external help.
It’s not about intelligence.
It’s about perspective.
When you’re in the middle of the fire, you don’t always see what’s burning.
You need someone outside the house to say, “Hey… your roof is gone.”
The Expert Shortcut Principle
Let’s give this concept a name so it sticks:
The Expert Shortcut Principle
The idea that seeking paid, professional help in business isn’t an expense — it’s a shortcut to clarity, growth, and results.
That 400k you spent on KFC? It gave you one happy evening.
That same 400k in expert guidance?
Could show you where you’re leaking 4M every month.
Most people spend years trying to “figure it out” on their own.
And some do. But they waste time, money, and energy learning lessons that someone else could have helped them navigate in 2 hours.
Why struggle alone when you could borrow someone’s map?
This Is Not About Affordability — It’s About Priorities
Let’s be clear.
The issue isn’t that people can’t afford to pay for help.
It’s that they don’t value it.
People happily raise:
• 5M for interior decor.
• 10M for a boda fleet.
• 8M for machines.
But zero shillings to sit with a seasoned strategist who could help them set the entire business on the right course?
Let’s be honest. That’s a mindset problem.
How To Apply The Expert Shortcut Principle
If you’re serious about building a business that grows, here’s what to do:
1. Start by admitting you don’t know everything.
Business is vast. And it’s evolving fast. Don’t be the smartest person in your business forever.
2. Decide what area you’re struggling with.
Is it marketing? Positioning? Pricing? Sales strategy? Hiring?
3. Find someone who’s done it — and pay them.
Not to do it for you, but to guide you.
To ask you the hard questions. To show you blind spots.
To save you time.
4. Treat the fee as part of your business capital.
Because it is. You spend on furniture. Spend on frameworks too.
5. Execute, don’t just listen.
You paid. Now apply. Otherwise, it’s just another nice conversation.
Let’s Land This Plane
If you’re stuck, and you keep telling yourself you’ll figure it out “one day” — just know this:
Growth doesn’t come to the one who tries hardest.
It comes to the one who gets help, applies it, and moves smarter.
You’re not lazy. You’re not clueless.
You just need a shortcut — an expert shortcut.
The same way you’d invest in inventory or interior design,
Invest in insight.
Because businesses that grow don’t gamble.
They get guidance.
Unlock your true potential 