by Helena Naitsuwe Amadhila
Businesses are unique entities that require constant upgrading to grow to ensure relevance and generation of income at all times. Here are some strategies to grow a business in a dynamic world.
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by Helena Naitsuwe Amadhila
Businesses are unique entities that require constant upgrading to grow to ensure relevance and generation of income at all times. Here are some strategies to grow a business in a dynamic world.
Read moreby Blessed Agyemang
The field of supply chain management is constantly evolving, and professionals in this field need to continuously learn and adapt to stay current. There is a need for personal and professional development through training, certifications, and continuing education.
Read moreby Marjon Meyer
‘ecstatic’ - adjective – feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement, eg. “I am ecstatic about my team’s excellent results”
We have all experienced ecstasy (the legal version) and the feeling of immense joy. It could be due to a planned event you have been looking forward to, or an intense moment of deep happiness when a pleasant surprise comes your way. A business deal that went really well, being spoilt by a person who appreciates you, an unexpected blessing …. all these events bring about a deep sense of wellbeing, joy and happiness.
Read moreby Thembe Khumalo
Let’s face it, there are a whole lot of coaches consultants, and other service-based solopreneurs out there who are working for a lot less than what they are worth. Sometimes, it's because you hear so much about how bad the economy is that you try to avoid coming across as lacking empathy, or worse still, arrogant. Years spent in traditional employment can also limit our self-worth because we have pegged our value at whatever our last employer decided it should be. This undervaluation can lead to reluctance and hesitancy to share knowledge, and the pursuit of side hustles.
Read moreby Marjon Meyer
Recently our training adventures took us to RCL Foods in Westville, KZN. I was amazed by the beautiful functional local art used in boardrooms, staircases and all open areas. Recycled items and nature are infused in beautiful ways. But what really caught my eye, was how many meals RCL Do More Foundation donate on a daily basis – well done! We are proud to be associated with you!
Read moreby Blessed Agyemang
Are you hoping to start a business that relies substantially or even minimally on the flow of your products from make to use? As a startup, every aspect of your business requires careful planning and execution, and your supply chain is no exception. While often overshadowed by product development and marketing, a well-designed and efficient supply chain is essential for your startup's success. It can help you streamline operations, reduce costs, and deliver exceptional customer experiences. It is important to optimize your supply chain as a startup and build efficiency from the ground up.
Read moreby Teboho Seretlo
All in the day of a small business owner in South Africa.
It’s been a minute and my creative writing juices dried up while I was chasing some business opportunities and non-paying clients out there. So, these past few weeks, I have been finalizing some projects, dealing with good news of funding applications I submitted on behalf of clients being successful and all sorts of other things. My spirits have been high after landing these successes and I was excited at the prospect of my bank balance swelling, if only a little bit.
Read moreby Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
London, February 2020 and a few days before, Melanie had just given her closing speech at our ‘Start-Up Night Africa - London evening at the UK/Africa Summit (said to have been the best event at the summit by the well respected Chatham House - no surprise to us. As usual, Melanie had brought together an incredible group of inspirational Lionesses to showcase to the UK Government and their closest 400 friends from the business and finance world), and together as a team we had started to notice a strange lack of handshakes taking over our follow-up meetings. We had even been introduced to the by now familiar ‘elbow-bump’ in one international bank’s boardroom, but by then all knew of the shock, speed and horror with which Covid was racing across Italy and rushing fast to all international airports and capital cities.
Read moreby Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
Loyalty programs are all about one thing - keeping and increasing your top value customer base whilst avoiding the race to the bottom through cheaper pricing (which as we know, has no winners, although Walmart would probably beg to differ). If through skillful marketing you are also able to persuade customers that they are ‘saving up’ for the free cup of coffee or flight or… in the age of inflation and high interest rates, then that’s a serious home run!
Read moreby Ronel Jooste
Are you self-employed and feeling stressed about not having sufficient retirement savings? Plenty of business owners are still seen to be actively working years after reaching retirement age. They really love what they do, or they don’t have somebody reliable to take over or they don’t want to let go of their ‘baby’ are the common reasons provided to explain this situation. Yes, these can be valid reasons or reasons contributing to the situation, but for many business owners the harsh reality is that they cannot afford to go on retirement.
Read moreby Nthabiseng Maidi, Principal Director, MMCP Wealth and MMCP Business Advisory Services
Some owners focus on growing their profits, while others are obsessed with sales goals. Have you ever considered making it your primary goal to set up your business so that it can thrive and grow without you?
Read moreby Ronel Jooste
Many people set New Year resolutions at the beginning of a new year. Some people aspire to lose weight, to exercise on a regular basis, to eat healthier, to spend more time with their loved ones or to start a new business. We all have more energy, new ideas and new goals at the beginning of a new year. It is also the perfect time to get your personal finances in order for the remainder of the year. Definitely a resolution that you want to turn into reality, because it will create financial security and stability for you and your family.
Read moreby Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
“What is more important - the journey or the destination?”
To which there is only one answer - “The Company”.
Steve Jobs famously encouraged people to pick up the phone and call people from whom they wanted help (you can see his interview here). He says that he never found anyone who did not want to help him when he asked. Indeed we are often encouraging this, simply asking what is the worst that could happen? Pointing out that if you don’t ask it is an automatic “No!”, but if you do ask, the worst is that they say “No!” and they might say “Yes!” and from our experience and certainly it seems from Steve Job’s experience, this is very rare. For those who are thinking that no one would have turned down Steve Jobs (fair point), his story starts as a 12 year old when he called up the owner of Hewlett-Packard, a Mr Bill Hewlett at his home, to ask him to help him build a ‘frequency counter’. Mr Hewlett said yes and sent over all the necessary bits and pieces, following which he offered a job on a production line to the young Steve.
Read moreby Anja van Beek
It is often said that culture is the competitive edge for any organisation. Culture is also referred to as the personality or character of the business. So it leaves us with the question: “Where does emotional intelligence (EQ) fit in?”
Read moreby Lizl Naude
Recently in the span of 48 hours, I received complaints from two individual customers about product breakages. Because I am so pedantic about delivering a quality product, I was initially completely stunned. It felt like a barrage coming my way. I remember a heat rush going to my head, as I tried to make sense of it all. I took a deep breath and took a 5 minute walk before I replied.
Read moreby Anja van Beek
One thing we know for certain is that we can’t solve today’s challenges with yesterday’s wisdom. We need to choose a growth mindset. What I have seen in my coaching practice is that if we don’t stretch ourselves, we are often nudged by some external event to be stretched to grow. But what does this mean? How do you embrace a growth mindset?
Read moreby Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
“Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today.”
This quote was used by President Obama in his eulogy for Senator John McCain and was written by Ernest Hemmingway in his book, ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’. Although the book was based in the Spanish Civil War, the title of this incredible book was taken from John Donne's series of meditations and prayers on health, pain, and sickness (written after a near fatal illness). If one accepts the spelling that was used at the time (and as usual the use of the gender-specific pronoun to describe all humans, common throughout history), this is one of the most powerful thoughts on our place in this world. Written in 1624, it will be forever true:
Read moreby Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
by Ronel Jooste
A business plan is considered the most critical document for any business, whether you are starting a business or have an established business. There is a general perception that business plans are only required for funding purposes which is not true. A business plan provides the foundation layer of any business and can be effectively used for operational and strategic planning purposes.
Read moreby the Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
“If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if rough, smooth; if calm, tempest; if prosperity, adversity; if life, death.” — Pythagoras. “…if prosperity, adversity” or put another way, ‘if profit, there is risk’. Risk is there, it may be hidden, but it is there… you cannot have one without the other.
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