Who is watching your back?

January 27, 2024 Melanie Hawken

I have a great view of the troupe. The monkeys are merrily playing and eating along the forestry. I move my binocular view over them, checking out the little ones playing and the moms keeping a watchful eye. Then I am met eye to eye with a big daddy. He is staring directly at me, gosh, it seems like he is literally on top of me! I yank the binoculars away from my eyes to get a normal view. He is definitely at a distance, far from me, yet he is dead focused on me. A chill runs down my spine. How does he know? Surely he cannot see this far?

Teams are always your winning hand

January 13, 2024 Melanie Hawken

A couple of months ago we had the privilege to go to the Kruger National Park in South Africa and we spent five days in glorious nature. Wow ,that was really a time of rest and we saw amazing sightings. I always get great ideas for my blog that directly correlate with our business life. Nature once again did not disappoint! Nature’s stories are so closely linked to our business world. I really think we could all just listen to her more. We can apply the lessons of nature and animal behaviour in business successfully. Here is a story for you that I hope brings this point to life.

Are you pacing in your own cage, not knowing how to get out?

July 15, 2023 Melanie Hawken

At a typical game farm in Africa animals roam free, well free within boundaries that is. This means the owner has a piece of land or property that allows his animals to experience life in a carefree way. Many animals have to be kept like this due to human activities and urbanisation, herds for homesteads and unfortunately poachers. These animals are not really free, they have boundaries or fencing, even cages. They see electric wires and gates. There are timestamps, branding, chips and permits that gives you this “freedom”. They are free to move around within limits of the boundaries. The big cage.

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

May 28, 2023 Melanie Hawken

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.

Is a Nocturnal Work Style Good For You? Here are 5 reasons why it’s not so bad - or is it?

April 15, 2023 Melanie Hawken

I recently read an article with a lengthy discussion about people that are early risers and the positivity around that. Early birdies and worms. How a person can get lots more done in the early hours of the morning and that it is good for your body, soul and mind to jump up, get some sunshine at the early stage of the sunrise in the morning, feeling fresh and get so much more done. Right!

Flowing Green Hills of Opportunity

March 5, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Which hill is the new successful opportunity for growing a business, or beginning a business? Can you tell? Last year for our holiday we had the opportunity to go to a very different area in wonderful, beautiful South Africa. We went more towards the steep mountains of an area that we call the Free State province - a different environment for a holiday. Usually lots of activities needed. Do yourself a favour and Google #Goldengatenationalpark, #clarens #Drakensbergmountainrange #Harrismith and #sterkfonteindam. You will quickly see the different green hills, steady rolling hills, massive rock faces, massive amount of waterfalls and water catchment area. The mountains are majestic and fierce, gorgeous yet frightening. Most impressive was the greens on all the hills. They looked idyllic and part of a greater story. I immediately saw a theme for our lionesses emerging from this beautiful scenery that surrounded me.

Going green is on everyone’s lips: How green is my valley?

November 5, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Amidst the huge outcry of global warming warnings and several energy crises looming, a group of big corporations and government sectors, NGOs and Greenpeace nature lovers are putting their minds together, to find the next best solution for our planet. Operation “Going Green” seems so be on all the agendas. Some agendas are very close to serious activism if you ask me. We read in newspapers from around the globe on some of action taking place, some even to the tone of tomato purée and art! Gosh…

The one animal every business needs

September 25, 2022 Melanie Hawken

This might sound like an awkward story to you, but it is very relevant for this group of go-getter women. You are all wonderful, fantastic women, wearing your brand every day in this modern society. It is indeed this society that expects from you to be top of your game, to be exotic, different, yet covering their needs. You have to be the forerunners, be excellent, be good, be able to see what the next best thing is. We can name many more requirements that come along. What is needed from you is to survive in this environment.

If you want to go alone - think twice

August 7, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Reading trail signs might be confusing at the best of times. In order to play it safe, have a buddy. Whether you are in sunny South Africa during winter or summer, in Johannesburg and surrounding areas, in Cape Town with beautiful mountains, taking a stroll in Europe, maybe in wonderful Croatia or in beautiful Scotland - it just doesn’t matter where you go, you need to know the road that you travel on and the ultimate destiny.

The dead end - is that so bad?

July 31, 2022 Melanie Hawken

A wonderful person told me once that when you’re driving on a racetrack and you focus too much on the tires at every corner, not hitting them, at the next bend, mind the tires… you eventually end up hitting those tires.

Kicking Pebbles Around

February 12, 2022 Melanie Hawken

This time of the year is when writers like to look back and reminisce on the year just gone and to get new ideas. Let’s get it clear - this past year was like flat green cold tea! Yuck. We can all do with something new.

Sitting on Dry Land

August 28, 2021 Melanie Hawken

After a year or two of just waiting, many entrepreneurs are wandering around with a sense of despair and even guilt. Waiting for the world to get back to some normal. Let’s be honest here. During a world full of turmoil many sat staring at a screen hoping for a call to action. Any action and any type of income - whatever the contract entailed, were welcomed. Many also sold their hours for way less than their worth. Others sat in awe as fellow business ladies invented new strategies that made you cry and your mind struck panic buttons often. Red flags and sleepless nights formed part of daily rituals. Your inner voice was the biggest enemy. Where was the surplus budget? Why didn’t I invest more, save more, buy less, and how did the cashflow dry up? A voice of reason wasn’t part of your thought pattern, no, mostly you had a feeling of kicking yourself and being ridiculous by blaming yourself to a point of utter destruction.

Where do I fit in?

August 8, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Many a business woman struggles with self-talk that can be very negative! This is only going to make you give up on your dreams to early. The exact same happens with our finances and our investments. We see a bunch of figures and notifications of investment growth or no growth and nothing looks good. Even worse, your neighbour and her business is flourishing. All around you it seems chaotic! People all trying to get to the top, struggles to be first and now to conquer our new world first!

What is around the corner?

July 15, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Many of us long to take long walks in nature, go for hikes or even take a guided tour. Excitement is part of the little voice of fear deep inside of you. Nevertheless, off we go! This year kicked off, planning done, new projects to focus on, and lessons learned during the Covid pandemic embedded in our memories. Never will we forget the empty streets, the locked up feeling, and the great tears that we had for loved ones and many others who lost their lives. If only somebody could just have helped us all sooner!

Making a necessary change

May 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

I think we are surely all extremely “bored” by the whole Covid 19 pandemic, although we cannot change the heartache it brought. We still mourn loved ones and we still pray for the world. Let’s talk about a bit of a different point of view today. As hikers, we know that we can go and hike the same road and see many different sceneries every time, although it stays the same route. Somewhere you get that urge to do something totally new and different. The exact same can and maybe should happen in our finances and our businesses.

Can You Be A Carpenter?

February 5, 2021 Melanie Hawken

This is a story with a different angle. I am sure many of you get into the kitchen late at night or frankly any time of day and then “bam” the kitchen top has got a beautiful crazy ant party going on! Most of us freak out and grab the best pesticides. But, it is not a party - they are carrying food to their home.

The Best Feeling In The World

January 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

This bee is loaded with the future of his nest. The stuff that yummy honey is made of for the existence of that nest. Bees need this as a crucial part of their future. After and during the time of COVID-19, many people still do not have the slightest idea of where to even start to look for their own juicy extras to make sure their families are ok or will be ok! They have lived by doing the same thing week to week or even day to day. Unfortunately, this has happened to even the most seasoned, experienced bee entrepreneurs. In the blink of an eye, their nests were empty and the panic set in.

Why you cannot walk alone!

December 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

There is a secret rule when exploring the wild or going on a road trip by foot or by car - you never go alone. Well duh! Yet... here in beautiful South Africa we hear of many hikers and mountaineers that unfortunately died whilst out on a hike. Most of the time it could have been prevented and most of the time it was due to the fact that they underestimated the terrain and the weather and more than 90% were alone. A friend, a group is always advisable.

The lure of a mud pool

November 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

In South Africa, the northern side of the country is going into its rainy season and that is always known for big thunderstorms, heavy winds and heavy rain, whereas in the southern parts you get the “non-stop for days” rain mostly during winter. Each of these natural occurrences has a mesmerizing effect. Just watch a thunderstorm with all the lightning and you will understand.

In the darkest nights, the stars still shine

July 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

I am sure if anybody writes another article about COVID-19 you will surely swipe on and away. Seriously we’ve had enough constant reminders of a thief amongst us. What if we were so deeply affected that we are still reeling and trying to grasp for air? What if we still don’t have an idea of how our business is going to survive or even where to start again? What if you have lost more than you could ever imagine? What if all you can see right now is the darkness and the stark reality of you can’t “see” where to turn to next?

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