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.

STOP doing these 3 things if you want more peace and success

June 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Sharon Castle - Lifestyle and Wellness Coach

Today I’m feeling particularly troubled about the amount of people who are feeling stressed and anxious in this current lockdown situation. In spite of all the info and positive advice out there I find most people are still allowing themselves to be exposed to the kinds of things they just don’t need to.

Tenets of Entrepreneurship

June 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Natasha Singh-Ally, Founder: Business Ecology

The skill associated with entrepreneurship may be rattled off with ease at business school, but only on turning away from the slide presentations do we conceive of the intensity and nuances of its facets. It is probably why some argue it cannot be taught in a classroom setting and should be supplemented with real life experience.

Learning to Love Stress

June 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann, Author & Speaker

Have you ever experienced the positive push of stress where you shine in a way you never thought possible? Researchers call this the challenge stress response, designed for optimum performance. It is responsible for the butterflies you feel in your stomach before a big presentation. It is responsible for the surge of energy you feel just before a big deadline. It enables you to get a lot done in a short time. The challenge response is a gift; a blessing and I personally love the feeling.

How to Manage Overwhelm

June 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

Overwhelm is not something new. You experienced it before all of this started – think back to many conversations about trying to find ‘work/life balance’ and how it seemed impossible. As you know, my view on balance is that it is a myth, it doesn’t exist especially in this context being in one location. But having said that, the overwhelm you are experiencing is justified and a very real emotion. However, if this is not consciously acknowledged and managed, it will start to rule you. The problem with not addressing the anxiety and overwhelm is that your body starts to produce excess amounts of cortisol and adrenaline which has all sorts on implications on your immune system. I want to share with you some ideas on how you can start to manage overwhelm during this time:

Don’t Social Distance from your Financial Goals

June 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Thandekile Moloko

Many of us have well wishes for the new decade that many have crowned 20-plenty. With the pandemic ushering us into a year that doesn’t really seem like plenty, there are a few things that we need to bear in mind. Sure, these are trying times, we are all worried about our families, mental wellbeing, job security, and the ever so important financial security. This period of our lives has somewhat placed a spanner in the works of what is meant to be a great year.

Covid-19: Getting your finances back on track

June 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Sylvia Walker, author of SmartWoman

It’s been a tough year financially as the world has reeled under the impact of Covid-19. For many, the financial impacts have been far-reaching and it’s been a daily battle just to keep afloat. As the economies slowly start opening up again and business start operating, some people are left with financial devastation – how and where do you start rebuilding and moving ahead?

Pressing on during the tough times as an Entrepreneur

June 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Nomihlali Ntszunguzi

Robert H. Schuller says, “tough times never last, but tough people do.” This statement says it all for entrepreneurs especially during this time. This is our time, a time to grab the bull by its horns and show off our skills and gifts to this changing yet exciting new economy.

How to manage imposter syndrome

June 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

I received a call from a friend, Jill, one Thursday morning. She works at one of the largest global IT firms. Her role is to conduct research projects and publish white papers based on her findings. Her latest paper was on the topic of mergers and acquisitions in the retail industry; this attracted so much attention that she had to present to the Vice President of the company. As it is a global firm, the senior executives are based in the USA and her team are based in South Africa so it was going to be done as a conference call.

Understanding restraints of trade in South Africa

June 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Aleshia van der Ploeg, Founder of VDP Legal Consulting

Many Employees are so eager to be employed, that they simply sign an employment contract without giving a second thought to the contents thereof. Many Employers are including Restraints of Trade in their employment contracts these days in order to protect their proprietary interests.

It is passion before it is business

June 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Thozama Ponti

For most entrepreneurs, finding our passion makes us feel alive and follow our inner guidance. Even though the journey is a difficult one, it’s a journey worth taking. Before we ventured into the business world, we started by deciding to discover our passions. It’s not as easy as it sounds, to find your passion.

COVID-19: How To Incorporate Empathy Into Your Marketing Messages

June 1, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Wuraola Ademola-Shanu

As business owners, what can we learn from other brands doing it right during this pandemic? While it’s hard to know what each day will bring, these brands are listening to people’s pain points and acting on them with a heavy dose of empathy mixed alongside it.

To Niche or not to Niche?

May 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Megan Hudson, Marketing & Business Coach

To niche or not to niche? This is the ultimate question for the modern entrepreneur, consultant and coach. Have you been wrestling with this niche thing? Won’t it limit your opportunities and chase away potential clients? Anyway, how on EARTH do you get to your niche, if you decide to go that route? It’s incredibly confusing.

Experience: that most brutal of teachers

May 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Sharon Castle, Lifestyle and Wellness Coach

Just over two weeks ago, my sister of 72 died suddenly and in moments my life changed. Receiving a call from my niece (my sister’s only child) who lives in Australia, early on Friday morning the 10th of April, which was also Good Friday in the Christian calendar, was the alarm bell ringing that something was wrong. She called to let me know that my sister, who lived in a Care Community about an hour from where I live, was unconscious. It was 6.30am and I was still relaxing in bed with my husband enjoying our morning coffee.

Getting help with mending your nets

May 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Thembe Khumalo

I read a quote recently that talked about how when fisherman can’t go to sea, they mend their nets. It got me thinking about how important it is to have someone to help you with your mending. One of the best decisions I have ever made in my business was to hire a coach. People often ask me questions about coaching, and they wonder why it’s important to have one. After my first session with her I became more certain than ever that I needed a coach, and that this was a necessity rather than a luxury.

Don’t wait for your dream to show up in someone else’s plan

May 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

In addition to being a speaker, trainer and author I am also a coach. This word coach has never sat well with me because I’ve realized what I truly am is a ‘permission agent’. I have had many conversations with people over the years from wanting to start a new business to taking on a new hobby like running.

My ABC of business: Navigating through the different stages of lockdown

May 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lizl Naude, founder of Lilly Loompa

If there is one thing this pandemic and subsequently this lockdown has confirmed, is that I am a TOTAL homebody! I am in my absolute element being at home.

Survive or Die!

May 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Nontobeko Mbuyane, CEO & Founder of Bee’s Beauty Haven & Glutaspa Group

Indeed, our businesses are going through tough times, but the question is, are you only going to fold your arms, panic and watch your business crumble? The answer should be no, a great mindset now would be to try and turn every challenge into an opportunity to innovate and stay ahead of your business game.

SARS Relief to Benefit Cash Flow

May 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

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

Concerns were rightfully raised about the various relief options which have been announced to help individuals and businesses who have been affected by the national lockdown in South Africa, enforced to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. It became evident that most relief funding options are in the form of a loan repayable with interest.

Who Are Your Competitors?

May 23, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

As I was writing my business plan, I would easily answer most questions. But when I got to the market section, this was where I would find it very interesting because it was my chance to show how deep were my studies and research. I had to talk about the market in general where I identified the firm’s target market, a detailed segment and its tendencies for growth. But when I got to the competitors subsection I would always pause, think about it and question myself numerous times on how I should answer. Especially the questions that suggest a sneaky behavior where one actually has to find ways to gather other similar companies’ internal information, the type of information they wouldn’t just give to anyone.

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