An unstoppable entrepreneur

June 4, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Josefa Massinga

Dear Lionesses, today I challenge each of you to look for the inner lionesses that exist in you and drive you to be unstoppable. Let’s identify the lionesses within ourselves and advance as much as we can by being true to ourselves. Many people are good at what they do. Some are even elite. A few are completely unstoppable. I would like us to be in the group of those who are completely unstoppable in their own world, those who don't compete with anyone but themselves. Are you unstoppable? If not by the end of this blog you will be!

Seaja uma empreendedora impáravel

June 1, 2023 Melanie Hawken

por Josefa Masinga

Queridas Leoas, hoje eu desafio a cada uma de vocês a buscarem as leoas interiores que existem em cada uma e sermos impáraveis. Vamos nos identificar e avancarmos o maximo que podermos sendo nos mesmas, ora vejamos…

If Time Is Money, Why Don't You Manage It the Same Way?

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

If you want to make sure you come out on your monthly salary, you plan and budget accordingly. Why not apply the same thinking to your time and create a time budget? Creating a budget for your spending is not a punishment but a way to give you peace of mind. Managing your day should be the same. Your calendar is your budgeting tool - plan your week before you are in it to allocate sufficient funds to the relevant tasks. The last thing you want is to run out of time and then eat into next week's allocation.

Self-Love; A New Phenomenon, or Is It?

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Margaret Hirsch

Being brought up in a strict Baptist home, we had very strong principles to live by. However, we were taught to look down on anyone who remotely thought they were good enough! As a child I was told that children should be seen and not heard, that I should only speak when spoken to, and if I did something that went against the grain, I was told to be ashamed of myself - AND I WAS! If I said anything out of place, I had a harsh - WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? thrown my way.

Who are the Big 5 in your business and how do they affect you?

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Eldari Visser

We’re all familiar with the Big 5 in nature. Majestic, strong, fierce, but yet so vulnerable because man has figured out a way to make money from each species that makes up the Big 5. Which makes it so sad is because in their world they reign, kings of the animal world, matriarchs of big clans, and tenacious mothers - seemingly unstoppable. Such is life.

Master the Art of Making a Memorable First Sales Impression

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

First impressions are essential in sales as they can make or break a potential deal. Customers often make judgments about a salesperson within the first few seconds of meeting them, based on their appearance, body language, and communication skills. To make a good first impression, it is important to do your research, have all the necessary materials, practice your pitch beforehand, dress professionally, arrive early, and learn how to read people. Additionally, it is important to be confident and personable, as first impressions are crucial in sales.

What I've learnt about personal growth from my 8-year-old daughter

May 20, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

My daughter came out of her dance class in tears. I assumed one of the girls said something nasty to her, but she assured me it wasn't the case. Eventually, she admitted that she was upset because the class was challenging, and she struggled with the new moves. My children are constantly my greatest teachers; this situation reminded me of how difficult it is to experience challenge and discomfort for the first time.

Taking the pain out of payroll with six simple steps

May 20, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Anja van Beek Consulting: contributed by Jeff Ryan, MD of AWCape, a leading Sage business partner for HR, payroll and financial solutions

The payroll team is one of those invisible functions that runs quietly in the background of a business, not attracting much attention unless something goes horribly wrong. When it does, the impact on the business can be severe, ranging from angry employees who didn’t receive their correct salaries on time through to penalties for late or incorrect tax submissions or heavy losses to fraud.

The 3 Fundamental types of people who will shift your growth and the trajectory of your life

May 20, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Ntsoaki Sibiya

All of us want to accelerate our growth across landscapes of whatever our chosen craft is. When you are building yourself up, whether it be in business, sports, entertainment, or whatever your chosen craft may be, if you really want to accelerate your growth and development, and to take yourself to the next level of your capabilities, there are 3 kinds of people you need in your life. You need a Coach, a Mentor, and a Sponsor!

Creating Cash Flow

May 19, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Kathryn Main

When I started my first business, I considered the financial side of things as “boring accounting stuff” – something I was not keen on initially. My feelings on the matter soon changed. Financial structures in your business are much more than mere accounting practices. As important as it is to manage your income and expenses, there is a lot more to setting up your financial structures than you may expect.

7 Ways to help create an accountability and ownership mindset

May 14, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

What do you do when someone doesn't do what they committed to? They were due to deliver something, but when you follow up, there's always an excuse or someone else to blame - 'they never replied to my mail, finance is too slow or fill in the blank’. Most people don't say anything, and then the passive-aggressive behaviour begins. When there is no consequence for non-delivery, it becomes culture because, ultimately, silence is permission.

Harnessing my biggest strength

May 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile

My biggest strength in running a business in South Africa is that I am multilingual. I can comprehend Sesotho, Sepedi, Setswana, isiSwati, Xitsonga, Tshivenda, isiXhosa, isiZulu, English and Afrikaans. I am struggling with isiNdebele, and lately Shona; the reason for Shona is merely the fact that we have over 700 000 Zimbabweans living in SA, and a portion of them are definitely Shona. If they are Ndebele, I can comprehend it too as it sounds (to me) close to isiZulu.

Being good at what you do is no longer enough

May 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Naike Moshi

Being good at what you do is undoubtedly an essential component of success, but it is not enough to guarantee that you will get all the opportunities you want. There are many other factors that come into play when it comes to getting ahead in your career or achieving your goals.

Business Uniqueness

May 10, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Helena Naitsuwe Amadhila

The world today is characterized by businesses operating in various sectors of the economy. Every sector is unique thus calling for business uniqueness in identity, operation, services, products, structure, and culture. Business uniqueness is imperative for the business to be different and unique in the sector of operation. The business would be identified easily because of the unique features embedded within the services being offered and products being sold. It is also important that the uniqueness of the business is engraved in the structure for it to be recognized easily by potential customers.

Creating access to markets

May 5, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Kathryn Main

When you are ready to start your new business venture, you need to think about all the ways this product or service can make you money. How many sources of income can you get from this one business? Can you build multiple income streams and make those income streams passive income streams?

Do you need a bestie in business?

May 5, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Lizl Naude

Friendship between women can be the most beautiful thing. It can be a safe place and is very important to your overall well-being. But...it can also be challenging. And as we navigate through seasons and life, it can sometimes also be very heart-breaking.

How to manifest anything you want in your life

May 5, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Margaret Hirsch

My mother came from a reasonably middle to upper class family where she had been brought up with everything she needed. She had married the boy next door, and they had moved to the old Rhodesia where they went to seek their fortune. They had two children, myself - and my brother five years later - and everything was perfect. My mother was living her dream, playing tennis at the country club and socialising over weekends and being the proverbial housewife. My father’s sudden death was devastating to her! She was quickly swindled out of the pension money she had been left and found herself having to cope with two children, no job and no money and she was only in her mid 30’s.

From Toxic to Terrific: Transforming Your Workplace Culture

May 5, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Anja van Beek, Talent Strategist, Leadership & HR Expert and Executive Coach

A toxic workplace can have a devastating impact on employees and organisations alike. It can cause high levels of stress, low morale, and high turnover rates. In extreme cases, it can even lead to legal action. For leaders, especially the HR leader who is often seen as the custodian of culture, managing a toxic workplace is a critical responsibility that requires a strategic approach.

How to successfully use Google Business Profile for Small Business

April 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Heideli Loubser

Google Business Profile (GMB) is an invaluable tool for small businesses. It helps you to increase visibility and reach more customers. But it doesn't work automatically; you need to optimize it properly in order to get the most out of it. In this article, we will discuss how to successfully use Google Business Profile for Small Businesses so that you can reap the benefits of GMB optimization.

Choosing the correct dispute resolution method for your business

April 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

by Nicolene Schoeman-Louw

Electing the most appropriate method of resolving disputes may be the difference between your business surviving this challenge or failing. In many instances, business owners need to be aware of the options at their disposal when resolving future disputes. As such, they do not contract correctly. In other instances, there is awareness, but a complete understanding of the implications of pre-selecting a specific dispute resolution alternative is needed. As such, business owners must better understand the other options and contract most appropriately from the outset.

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