I strive to live a courageous life. This pursuit for courageous living has seen me embark on some bold, adventurous and passion-filled pursuits such as traveling alone for my first trip overseas, leaving my 9 to 5 job to build my business, going back to school to pursue my Masters degree, and most recently sharing a weekly inspirational email with you that I hope you are finding valuable :)
Read moreUnderstanding the Changing HR Environment for Entrepreneurs
Some industry commentators call the Human Resources function in any business the last bastion of bureaucracy and it is seen in its traditional role – the department that merely hires and fires the staff needed to do the jobs. However, today the HR role should be seen differently.
Read moreUbuntu – I am because you are
People produce and people consume. Businesses are because of people – it is a commercialized form of Ubuntu. One cannot exist without the other.
Read moreClients not paying? What are your options?
You probably know them all… the “eager beaver” client; the “overly persistent” client; the “difficult” client; the “know-it-all” client; the “nice-to-have cooperative” client. Be your preference in client as it may…. the worst client of them all is the “bad payer” or “late payer” or “no pay at all” client.
Read moreLearning how to say NO in life and business
How many times have you said yes or committed to something and later regretted it? And then find yourself looking for every excuse in the book to get out of said commitment. If this resonates with you, then read on…
Read moreHow Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Can Be a Pathway to Success
As every entrepreneur would agree, we are a special breed of people who have the courage to turn our passions into businesses and make our dreams a reality.
Read moreThe Chutzpah of a Liberty Lioness
Starting a business is for the brave. It takes courage, optimizing on resources and having a big personality. We all know that a business that makes it is a reflection of who the entrepreneur is.
Read moreIs your business stealing from you?
A few days ago, I scheduled a quiet morning to analyze my business as I needed to get some clarity…some balance. I am sure you know the feeling. I needed to re-group and gather myself so I decided to visit the library. Not wanting any interruptions, I unplugged my laptop and switched off my phone. Taking a notebook and pencil, I started doing a SWOT analysis. As I worked through my business’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, I made a startling discovery! Imagine my surprise when I suddenly realized, my business has been stealing from me!
Read moreWhy soft skills are key to our success
I hear many people and companies say that soft skills training is a warm and fuzzy exercise. I believe in most cases this is a lack of knowledge or egos getting in the way of acknowledging the key role and benefits that these skills play in both individual and organizational growth.
Read moreHow to stand steadfast in the midst of turmoil in your business
We’ve all experienced this as entrepreneurs - that moment when everything feels like it’s falling apart, nothing seems to be going right, almost as if the world is conspiring against you. But do not fear, ask any seasoned entrepreneur and they’ll admit that they too have been through turmoil in their business and earned their t-shirt.
Read moreFace up to it! It's time to overcome your fear of the Pitch
By Marang Marekimane, founder of Business in Theory
Learn how to pitch so you aren’t afraid to pitch – that was the advice I was given. The irony is I’ve given similar advice to other people, and like most people, I didn’t listen to my own advice.
Read moreKeeping your business on target means having a great marketing approach
Many entrepreneurs miss the importance of having a marketing strategy and a plan. Some don’t understand the difference between the two, and some feel that it is only important once you have a bigger brand and you can afford to hire a marketing manager with the skill-set to create and manage all marketing activities. But it is actually crucial to have one in place.
Read moreWhen life happens, make a plan
Growing up my parents worked in retail. My Dad at Pick 'n Pay and my Mom at Clicks. For the most part of my childhood we never had a car at home. I remember how my mom would take her lunch break at work to fetch me at school so she could walk with me and drop me at the taxi rank. Even though we didn’t have a car, my parents always made sure that I never missed great opportunities. Whether it was participating in sports, cultural or academic activities, I always saw my parents make a plan. Either they asked close family and friends for lifts or they taught me how to use taxis.
Read moreA legal guide to contracts in South Africa
Many entrepreneurs will enter into many contracts in their lifetime. Unfortunately, some are not even aware that they have entered into a contract, and some have no idea of what they are actually signing. The law of contract is important because it gives importance and enforceability to a promise.
Read moreWhat learning to swim late in life is teaching me about being innovative and conquering fear
I CAN’T SWIM! At the age of 38, that is an embarrassing confession to make. Three weeks ago, I decided to finally change that narrative and started taking swimming lessons!
Read moreBBBEE – how will this impact small businesses in South Africa?
If you are a small business owner in South Africa and struggling to understand how the new BBBEE codes of good practice could impact your business then read on….
Read more11 Tips for Coping with Stress at Home as an Entrepreneur
We are all products of our environment. Family and home environment is an important area for developing basic stress management skills. The home is where behaviours, habits and core beliefs are learnt, and stress triggers a myriad of emotions. When parents handle stress well, they’re likely to teach their children to do the same. Conversely parents who are anxious, panic and stress excessively; the probability children will emulate them is high. In his book, Biology of Belief, Dr Bruce Lipton explores the importance an environment plays in shaping beliefs, behaviours and habits.
Read moreWhy Relationship Building in Sales is so Powerful
The importance of building relationships in business cannot be stated enough, because people buy from people. You need to be authentic in sales, you need to be yourself. Your prospect will come to trust you and that link that you’ve built is called relationship building.
Read moreUnderstanding the Difference between a Business Strategy vs a Marketing Strategy
To date I’ve had a couple of clients who seem to be confused as to the reason one should have a Business strategy or a Marketing strategy - do you need both or will one or the other suffice?
Read moreHow to Build a Global Brand like Oprah
Many people have dreams of creating a global empire as successful as Oprah has done, but many fail to realize that her brand was not built overnight, in fact Oprah has been building her brand for the past 40 years and it took many failures and pivotal moves to get her where she is today. Below we will look at 5 Steps Oprah has taken to build a global brand: ready...set...go!
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