Financial reports can feel intimidating, especially for founders without a finance background. But understanding the basics can dramatically improve decision-making and confidence. In this practical guide, Rebecca Nankya Ssemugabi breaks down how to read a balance sheet in simple, everyday language, supported by a hands-on balance sheet generator you can try yourself. M ost founders don’t struggle with running a business. They struggle with understanding the numbers behind it. And few reports feel more intimidating than the balance sheet. But here’s the truth: a balance sheet is simply a snapshot of what your business owns, what it owes, and what’s actually yours at a specific point in time. The Balance Sheet in One Line Every balance sheet is built on one simple equation: Assets = Liabilities + Equity Assets are what the business owns Liabilities are what the business owes Equity is what belongs to the owner(s) If this equation balances, the balance sheet makes sense. A Simple Exa...
So, there are a few things that have been on my mind for some time. I’ll share them with you here:
1. AI and Music
I got this wacky idea: if AI can create art, why not music? I had been thinking about this for a while, and then I discovered that people have actually been making music with AI for quite some time. So yes, I’m late.
As you may have guessed, while I was thinking about this, I began to see ads (have you experienced this—when you’re thinking about something and suddenly start seeing ads for it? They say the algorithm predicts this, but I have other thoughts… anyway!). One such ad was for Suno.com, an AI music generator. I signed up and started experimenting. You may have seen my first experiment—if not, listen to it now.
I had written a few pieces of poetry long ago, which I used as lyrics. The app generated both the music and vocals. I was blown away by the results. AI has come a long way and is now venturing into artistic territory. From this experience, I drew a few conclusions:
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The AI models are not very good with non-English content yet. They perform reasonably well in English with little supervision. But when switching to other languages, the quality quickly dwindles. I had to tweak my Urdu lyrics several times to make them work. While the free version produced a decent song in English, the Urdu results were downright cringe.
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As usual, the free AI model wasn’t good at producing high-quality music. The paid version, though, packed some real punches.
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I reaffirmed my long-held view: great songs require good lyrics and poetry. You can’t just throw random lines together and expect good music to cover the deficiency. Good poetry/lyrics and good music must complement each other. On the platform, I found both impressive and terrible work—the bad ones often had catchy beats but poor lyrics.
Since childhood, I’ve listened to the great singers and musicians of the subcontinent. My ears are tuned to quality; I can spot a bad song from miles away. Similarly, I’ve read a wide range of Urdu poetry by master poets.
Recently, the Bollywood and Pakistani music industries have leaned heavily on AI and auto-tuning. But they’re missing the core point: you can’t have a good song without good lyrics. Simple! Those who grew up with the classics can’t stand the sloppy productions these industries are churning out today.
By the way, check out my other experiments here.
2. Books & Ideas
I’ve been reading Anthropology for Dummies. It’s a very good book that takes you on a journey from the dawn of humanity to the present. Reading it gave me many insights and actually reaffirmed my belief in God.
This may sound strange, because when many people read about anthropology and evolution, they drift away from religion. But I’ve always believed that God created us through evolution. Things evolve from simple to complex.
I can confirm this through my blogging journey. When I first started using AI in my blog, my methods were rudimentary. Over time, they evolved and improved. Similarly, organisms on Earth evolved, but under the constant observation and guidance of God.
We know that humans don’t just fall from the sky or grow on trees. There’s a whole process, and it takes nine months for a child to be born. It doesn’t happen instantly. So, when God says in the Quran, Bible, or any other scripture that He created man, it refers to this gradual process. It doesn’t mean humans just popped up out of nowhere.
Of course, with the rise of VR, CGI, and simulations, some argue we might be living in a God-created simulation where we simply appeared. Still, I believe creation unfolded over a long period. This aligns with this verse of the Quran:
“Surely We created you, then shaped you, then said to the angels, ‘Prostrate before Adam.’ So they all did—but not Iblîs, who refused to prostrate with the others.” (7:11)
Notice the pronoun here: “We created you, then shaped you.”, i.e., plural 2nd person. This can be understood as referring to a long evolutionary process culminating in Adam.
The real issue with evolutionary theory isn’t its science but how some evolutionists try to erase God from the equation. I don’t argue with them. I just say, in the words of the Quran:
“This is the truth from your Lord. Whoever wills, let them believe; and whoever wills, let them disbelieve.” (18:29)
3. Gaza Genocide
The genocide in Gaza continues unabated. It’s heartbreaking to see so many women, children, and men killed or wounded, their homes destroyed, and children starved. Speaking out for them has reduced the reach of my LinkedIn and Facebook accounts, but that’s a small price to pay for standing with truth and justice.
I deeply appreciate the people in Western countries who are coming out to support the Palestinian cause. We can only hope and pray that this madness ends soon. Amen.
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