Building Awareness of Covid-19 Cyber-Attack Ransomware

July 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Adv. Lufuno Khorommbi, Cyber Law Consultant and MD: Orizur Consulting Enterprise

Did you know that internet users are not only having to protect themselves from Covid-19; but from online vulnerabilities as well? During the wake of Covid-19 being declared a world crisis; cyber criminals (hackers) jumped at an opportunity to deceive internet users? It does seem that internet users are not only having to fight against Covid-19 virus, but against cyber-attacks as well. Since everyone is genuinely seeking to know more about Covid-19, they saw an opportunity to defraud internet users.

Trusting in you is key

July 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Nadia Marillier, founder of Tranquil & Tenacious Minds

How am I going to cope? Will I be able to sustain my business and see to my family? How will I remain relevant? These are questions many entrepreneurs, including myself, asked when COVID-19 became our reality.

5 Business Models for Creatives During Lockdown

July 4, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Robyn Keet

A strategy for Creatives to earn an income during location restrictions.

Are you a Creative at home waiting for the lockdown to be lifted so you can go back to work? Or you can get back to work but your clients are a little concerned to be going out or going ahead with your services? If this is you, then I might have an idea or two on how you can either add or adapt your current creative business to service your audience while making a living during these uncertain times.

Screen time vs Play Time - A working mom’s dilemma

July 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Phindile Ndlovu, Founder and Director of Bhekizenzo Foundation

Facing the same dilemma too? We actually don’t have to. A few weeks ago, I wrote on how moms can use screen time to get some work done. Screen time is awesome in the sense that your child gets entertainment, learns and sees new things but too much of it can really disempower your child. So, what do we do?

Hearing is a sense. Listening is a skill

July 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Dr Ashika Pillay

My training as a medical doctor initially unearthed in me, the great desire to solve mysteries and problems - and make puzzles fit. I would listen to patients for clinical signs and symptoms and be quick on the button with solving the “issue”. As I trained though, I started to really sense into “why is this person really here?” What is the unsaid, unseen, and unheard symptom that they are wishing to reveal - given the right time and attention. I suppose this is where my “coaching” started early on. In a GP practice that I worked; I was known for taking an incredibly long time with patients. Patient’s moved from “needing weight loss medication” to revealing deep insecurities about themselves, their marriages, and lives.

Why You Shouldn’t Keep Customers Waiting and How Route Planning Software Can Help

July 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Nancy Ernesto, founder of Avon Nancia Comércio Geral (SU) LDA (Angola)

The biggest problem facing any industry that is required to go to the customers’ location, is that people are becoming increasingly impatient. A survey sponsored by Interparcel out of the UK, found that 50% of Brits admitted to becoming more impatient in the past 5 years. While it’s no surprise that patience is waning in our society, there are ways to monitor and measure customer satisfaction, and also improve the accuracy of your daily schedules.

In times of crisis, up the comms!

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Thembe Khumalo, founder and Managing Director of Brandbuilder

At a time when we are practicing social distancing in real life, we need to do the opposite with our customers. In other words, use this time to get closer. How can you do that?

Communicate, communicate, communicate!

The power of mindfulness meditation in stressful times

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Amanda Blankfield-Koseff, Founder and CEO of Empowervate

Mindfulness meditation is a great way to still the mind and stop the thoughts from causing stress and anxiety. Our brains have a default network which creates all kinds of thoughts all the time except when we are focusing on something and being “in flow”. All the other times, our thoughts continue. The problem comes when we get stuck on a thought, and obsess about it, which causes negative emotions like fear, worry, anger etc.

Mapping your business journey

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Mandisa Makubalo, ceo, Unlimited Experiences SA

We are living in times where the way of doing business and living has been redefined for years to come. Pandemics are generally known for taking years to reach their full destructive potential, it is therefore critical for organizations to behave responsibly during the different phases of the pandemic. The consequence of irresponsible behaviour is a new era of disputes that are going to need to be resolved by employers.

Self-Compassion: A Valuable Stress Management Tool

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann, Author & Speaker

Have you ever been told that you are too hard on yourself? When you receive feedback do you scroll past all the good stuff and focus on the negative or ‘constructive’ feedback? This is was my norm for most of my life, particularly early in my corporate career.

A Step Closer to a Healthy Balance

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane, Founder Estética & Cosméticos

When I started the organic journey, which wasn’t a piece of cake I have to say, I found very interesting facts about the powerful effects food has on the mind, emotions, and the physical, and how the immune system reacts to different situations.

Perfection versus Excellence

June 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Dr Ashika Pillay

In the quest for progress rather than perfection…

Is it possible to get out of your own way so that you can gain traction and get action on things that you would like to do? Sometimes the thing that can keep us stuck in unfinished cycles and continuous loops of inertia and inaction is a fixated view of getting things right vs getting the right things done.

5 Tips to financially survive Coronavirus

June 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Kathryn Main - Money Savvy Kids

We all know that life during COVID 19 is filled with countless unavoidable worries of the financial kind. Some may feel it more than others, but we all feel it non-the-less. We are losing our jobs, taking salary cuts and closing our once thriving business. Basically, we go into level 1 of survival mode when it comes to our finances due to the crunch we feel.

Business Model Innovation is the Key to Winning

June 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

The current circumstances have brought a new, unfamiliar and extraordinary market era. It is one where many are being guided to creatively re-think and re-construct their businesses to build resilient companies and bounce-back from any future boundaries. It is becoming clear that the contingency plans previously established are not enough to face the actual situation, and coming up with a plan that could strategically create a positive shift is where many have been focusing their energies. The urgency to implement might be higher than before as each day passes, and uncertainties seem to be greater than sureness.

Hustling And Maintaining a Full Time Job

June 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Tatenda Rungisa

The type of economies we live under have made it almost impossible to leave a full time job and start a business thereafter. It is easier when one has a stable income or savings, otherwise one has to “hustle” and work full time to establish a start-up. So, how does one hustle and remain focused on full time employment?

Entrepreneurs need to be strong

June 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Bomanga Ngoi Longango JouJou’, founder of EveLea Foods, Congo

I realized, over time, it is not enough to want to be able. Will as great as it is, not enough. There is a whole Journey and smart works to achieve a project. Success is a powerful blend of will, desire, patience, love, sacrifice, persistence, tears and determination. You have to be viscerally obstinate to achieve your dream. The modern success model is "quick and well done" in everything.

3 C’s of a Compelling Point of View

June 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Laura Camacho, PhD

A compelling point of view acts like a magnet for high-performing employees, top-tier investors, and ideal clients. In our time of purpose-driven profits, people want to know what you stand for, what your priority is, what drives you to action. The answers to these questions can be simmered down to a key message known as your Point of View.

Creating a people centric culture should top the agenda for business leaders

June 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Nomazibulo Tshanga, Ziyana Business Consulting

On 1 June 2020, we have seen South Africa move from a prohibitive national wide lockdown to a more economic active alert level 3. This means that millions of employees have returned to work as 70% of the economy has re-opened for activity.

From caution to a new wave of demand. 3 tips to manage your social media presence during and after COVID-19

June 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Gabriela von Ille

As communications professionals, we have spent the last couple of years convincing B2B and B2C clients that social media is an important communications tool for the success and growth of their businesses. Of course, this tool has always been deployed in combination with events, public relations, and face-to-face marketing. For various reasons, many clients, especially in more traditional industries, have been hesitant to adopt social media, arguing that social networking platforms expose brands to the risk of being publicly attacked or losing control and offer a questionable return on investment (ROI).

Stay focused and go for it

June 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

With the market dynamics taking place where businesses are tending to be more virtual then physical, it seems that selling services is more promising than products or goods, because when one sells services it is actually selling something untouchable with little or no tangible requirements. This has got many wondering if moving from the provision of single products to continuous service agreements wouldn’t be more profitable, since the customers are provided with a range of models and a variety of solutions.

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