Working From Home: Four Things To Keep in Mind

May 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kulani Shiluvane, Founder and Chief Consultant – Shiluvah

The 1st of May 2020 saw South Africa move from level 5 to level 4 of the national lockdown, a measure taken by the South African government to curb the impact of COVID-19. This means that while essentials workers and an estimated 1.5 million workers will go about their business of work in this new normal, we find ourselves in the rest of the South African population working from home (WFH) for those that are able to and this will continue to be the new normal.

Coping with Covid-19: A financial perspective

May 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Sylvia Walker, author of SmartWoman

The world is in crisis, grappling with a new reality. With lock downs and other rules to curb the spread of the Coronavirus, money issues have rocketed to the fore. Many business face ruin as they cannot operate, individuals find themselves off work with no pay, others may be on short pay and yet others are being retrenched as their businesses can no longer operate. Some are fortunate, though, in that they can work from home, or are being paid by their employers irrespective of whether they are working or not.

The company culture is put to the test by Covid-19

May 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Nomazibulo Tshanga, Ziyana Business Consulting

As the global pandemic deepens and the human cost of Covid-19 rises, the novel coronavirus is sending shocks through the world economy. Across industries, organizations are now taking action to protect their employees, customers and also minimize the economic damage. I wonder if that’s the case for all organizations?

Mindfulness: the key to a life filled with joy

May 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Phindile Tapula, Founder and Director of Bhekizenzo Foundation

I want to chat to moms who want to experience joy and peace every day in their lives. This is for moms who want to enjoy motherhood and even through its hurdles, experience the calm in the storm. A life filled with joy, love and peace is possible. You can have it all, if you work on it all.

3 Tips for Getting Confident on Video

May 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Abigail Klopper

As everyone is adjusting to their new normal, many solopreneurs are looking to introduce an online business income stream. For many entrepreneurs, this is not a new idea, but rather the urgency to actually get it done is new.

Empowerment Using the Principles of Appreciative Inquiry

May 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Claire Holden, Empowerment Coach

I’m passionate about empowerment – “the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights.” This is the area of coaching that I focus on and where I do most of my ongoing learning. The challenge with empowerment is that we don’t often realise how much of our personal power we give away on a daily basis until we feel resentful, run down, fed up and / or confused and uncentered.

The power of clarity

May 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

If I asked you to describe your ideal day, could you do it in detail? It sounds like an obvious question but the answer is only clear when you have given yourself sufficient time to find the answer. The answer is not in Google, Instagram, Pinterest or Facebook (that’s everybody else’s curated lifestyle). A lot of the time, we have goals that create the roadmap for our days and years but have you stopped to ask yourself if this is your goal or are you trying to please someone else? That someone else can be the ‘you’ of 5 years ago and now your priorities have shifted but you haven’t sat down long enough on your own to catch up to this fact.

The World after COVID-19. My Positive Outlook.

May 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Marta Roff, founder of Maputo Relocation Solutions, Mozambique

I was challenged to write about my view of the world after COVID-19. Since I have no capabilities to predict the future, I decided to rather change the wording and write about my view at the moment and what I wish COVID-19 would change in humanity.

Now is the time to stand firm in your values

May 3, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Tapiwa Matsinde, Atelier 55

There is a lot of advice coming at us right now. As entrepreneurs having to adapt in this time of crisis, we are being asked to read this, watch that, do this or buy that. And taking in all the information can at times be overwhelming. Understandably in this time of uncertainty, you want to shore up your business for what comes next but as you read, watch or listen are you considering what all this information means for you and your business’ future.

Re-align your money mindset during lockdown

April 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Eldari Visser

Without a doubt we have been attacked. Many of us feel it in our core as humans. We hear of devastating news, people that mourn and people that suffer. This has a tremendous impact on the psychological thinking of a human as validation that we are still in control. We surely don’t feel in control. The only way to feel in control is to make a living. Work makes us feel that we are..... in control!

Sophia the Humanoid

April 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Susan Frances, co-founder of Abilities

‘Sophia’ is not alone…we all need development.

In the past when organizations wanted to cut costs, they would take product specialists or salespeople and convert them into facilitators. Learning & Development (L&D) in many organizations was the business unit for ‘hospital passes’.

18 Books, podcasts and videos to help you (and your business) grow

April 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Clare Appleyard, founder of Katannuta Diamonds

We live in an information economy, where you can find virtually anything you want, somewhere on the internet. Want to learn how to bake a cake? There’s a recipe website for that. Want to learn how to change the battery in your computer? There’s a YouTube video for that. Want to learn how to meditate? There’s an app for that.

Practice contentment in the moment

April 25, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

In the practice of Yoga, there is a principle about contentment called Santosha. This quote sums it up beautifully - “From an attitude of contentment, unexcelled happiness and joy are obtained.”As a self-leadership expert, I make sure I implement the principles I read and study so I can internalise it and become the change I want to make. My favourite quote which I am paraphrasing is ‘Information is not enough – otherwise we would all be millionaires with 6 packs’. It’s not enough to read about these principles, we need to integrate them and apply them in order to see results of personal growth.

How To Balance Work And Motherhood During COVID-19 Lockdown

April 24, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Grace Stevens

Female entrepreneur, baker extraordinaire and mother of four, Grace Stevens understands that during lockdown many entrepreneurs are thinking about their business’ livelihood and sustainability. However, for many women managing their businesses in such an unpredictable climate whilst providing the love, care and comfort their families need can seem like a daunting task. So, what is Grace's secret to this seemingly superwoman status?

Avoid home fatigue. Make the best of your home spaces.

April 24, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kim Williams

Cape Town based interior creative and behavioural specialist Kim Williams says that during the lockdown we can be more creative with how we use our space if we are going to get the most out of spending more time in our homes. During the COVID19 pandemic, we should be able to connect with our domestic spaces on a deeper level, increase their functionality and adapt their aesthetics to suit our new needs.

Working from home tips for working moms

April 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Phindile Tapula, Founder and Director of Bhekizenzo Foundation

Working from home is tough during this pandemic outbreak. As a mom, this time is demanding. From scheduling and prioritizing playtime, preparing food more often than before, being on time and prepared for Zoom meetings. I have decided to share some tips for moms to stay sane and better manage working from home. Disclaimer, these tips work for me, they may not work for you. I am sharing them in order to inspire moms to establish their own systems. I suggest you try these tips and if they work, great and if they don’t - change them and make up your own.

When a virus pandemic provides a personal and business opportunity

April 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Sian Lovegrove, Director of the Open University of Tanzania, International Studies Centre

In this post, Sian shares how she finds light in the darkness of the coronavirus pandemic.

As I sit here in Dar es Salaam looking out across a flat Indian Ocean, quiet golden beaches, with a frothy coffee in my sweaty hands it feels like the calm before the coronavirus storm. This is a time of great concern for our global friends and family and people are dying in their thousands. However, I am an eternal optimist and I am turning this period of hibernation, stagnation and global frustration into a business and personal opportunity.

The S.M.A.R.T way to dealing with the Lockdown

April 21, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Saajidah Esat

As we enter into the extended period of the lockdown here, some of you may have found a rhythm to your days and established a set of thoughts and processes to help you stay positive and productive. I would like to share a tool that I have been using that has helped me immensely through these challenging times.

Your Saving Grace. An Emergency Fund.

April 21, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Ronel Jooste CA(SA), Financial Consultant, Speaker and Author of ‘Financially Fit and Wealthy’

The real value of having an emergency fund will only be fully appreciated during an emergency like the current pandemic. During the lockdown period imposed to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, both businesses and individuals are being severally impacted. Many businesses cannot trade during this period or are on a reduced level, resulting in no income or less income, but the expenses still have to be paid. Certain employees were put on unpaid leave or had to settle for a reduction in their salaries, but their living costs still have to be covered. Massive job losses are already predicted.

Why it’s more important than ever to share your story

April 21, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Tapiwa Matsinde, founder of atelier 55

In times of crisis, we seek to connect to those who have been through or are going through what we are facing. Their stories are comforting, helping us to see that we are not alone, and give us a thread of hope that we too will make it through. And that is why sharing your story matters now more than ever because there is someone out there who is waiting to hear it and form that connection with you.

Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletters for Africa's women entrepreneurs.