The Best Feeling In The World

January 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Eldari Visser, founder of Picketfence Life

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.

5 Steps To Silence Your Inner Critic

December 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Usha Maharaj

Do you often hear a negative inner voice that makes you doubt your decisions and your self-worth? You are not alone! This inner voice, your inner critic, may act as an invisible barrier to trying new things, reaching your full potential, or enjoying your life.

Managing performance in the New Distance Economy

December 31, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Screen Shot 2020-12-31 at 5.07.52 PM.jpg

by Marjon Meyer

The future is not what we used to think it would be…our world is literally infected with new ways of thinking and working. With so many staff members working remotely, the way organisations manage performance has to be adjusted. There should also be a bigger focus on re-skilling and constructive feedback to build confidence amongst staff. Problems and challenges need to be solved differently and creatively.

Simple steps to golden results

December 27, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

One thing I have learned from the experiences I have had so far is that clients don’t really care about your problems and whatever you are going through that might create delays or bad services, because they just want the product or service. Trust me, I’m a customer too and when I’m not I have to see things from the clients’ perspective to understand them, and this is why it is so important to know your customers.

What really matters?

December 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Jess Mostert

Life has a funny way of keeping us extremely busy and, in doing so, distracting us from what really matters. How many times do you find yourself wishing the week away, just to get to that weekend? Or wishing the weeks away to get to that long-awaited trip? Or even wishing the months away to our favourite time of the year- Christmas! All while missing the moments in between - missing the moments that really matter and count.

Leavism: In the hybrid working world, don’t let your work hi-jack your holiday

December 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

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

Leavism is a real trend, and a concerning one. As we are approaching summer holidays in the Southern hemisphere, I can’t help but think about employees not intentionally switching off from work during their well-deserved holiday – especially after such a different year like 2020.

Top 5 things that I’ve been doing for myself during the pandemic that will make my business thrive

December 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Suret Alive, founder of Alive Wellness Company

Here are the top 5 things that I’ve been doing for myself during the pandemic that will make my business thrive.

Beat the festive season productivity blues

December 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Usha Maharaj

It is no secret that during the last month of the year most of us struggle to stay motivated and productive at work. Some of us may feel the added pressure of family visiting, feel intimidated by shopping for gifts, and disheartened by tight deadlines before the office closes for the year.

How to keep the promises you make to yourself

December 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

Do the same goals seem to repeat themselves on your vision board, new year’s resolution list and annual birthday reflection session? Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why? What is holding you back from making progress? You may have put it down to a lack of willpower or motivation or some other self-defeating story that you now believe as fact.

Your Wellbeing Checklist for December

December 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Ronel Jooste

Facing the chaos of a world pandemic during 2020, the thought of the December period where we can scale down, relax and recharge is certainly something to enjoy. It is time to forget about what happened in 2020 – the good, the bad and the ugly – and get ourselves ready for 2021. Pure bliss!

Why you cannot walk alone!

December 20, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Eldari Visser

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.

My ABC of business: A practical guide on how to better support your entrepreneur friend

December 13, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lizl Naude

She asks politely, “How is business?” Maybe you think you care when you ask, but ironically this could arguably be one of the most insensitive questions to ask an entrepreneur. I look at her and in a matter of seconds all my entrepreneurial challenges flash before my eyes. I smile and say, “Business is great! Thanks for asking!”

Unplugging after a long year of hustling and activity

December 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Tatenda Rungisa

The year 2020 has been filled with a lot of uncertainties, low productivity levels and time loss due to the Covid-19 pandemic which hit the whole world at large. Most businesses dwindled and some only survived by grace. In all this, it meant business owners, entrepreneurs, and employees as well, have worked tirelessly throughout the year to ensure they survive. That said and done, it is a few days to end 2020 and start on a new slate, and it is only proper for every entrepreneur to unplug and take time for self-care.

6 unique ways to create a holiday mind-set without leaving your home

December 11, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes… Including you.”

– Anne Lamott

If you asked me what fuels my soul and brings me to my happy place – it’s travel. It isn’t just about arriving at the destination but everything that comes before it. The planning, the research and getting immersed in the culture. In the beginning of 2020, my husband and I had a very exciting trip planned to Italy in June to celebrate a cousin’s wedding in Florence. The kids were going to stay with their granny for the week; any parents reading this – you can understand the added bonus! I was dreaming about cooking courses, writing in Italian coffee shops on cobble stone pavements – you get the picture!

The thief called discouragement

December 11, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Tlholo Mabelane

Do entrepreneurs fail because they are discouraged, or are they discouraged because they fail? Well, for many of us when we embark on our journeys towards our goals and dreams we go in with what feels like a healthy sense of sober understanding that it will be an all-encompassing journey. We expect to have challenging days, we don’t anticipate a silver spoon feeding, and are ready to put in the work. We hold a posture of possibility and we do what we can as best as we can.

How to nail the “On camera but remote” interview or meeting

December 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Gabriella Von Ille

At Lifa, we spend a lot of time on media training and presentation coaching for our clients. Since lockdown began and Skype, Teams and Zoom became our new best friends, we have received numerous requests for advice on how to come across in the best possible way when “on-camera but remote”.

Let’s talk boundaries: When all work and no play leads to burn-out

December 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

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

I love this quote: “Balance is not better TIME management, but better BOUNDARY management?” Have you ever calculated how many of your 24hrs you are in “work-mode” – whether thinking, doing, or responding to a quick mail at a family braai?

Purposeful Planning & Propositions

December 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Natasha Singh-Ally

Investing years of diary entries and your daily energetic imprint in business takes a special kind of dedication and calling, and anyone with the intention to go towards that pull and stay the course can do it.

Beyond the year 2020 – Where to from here?

December 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Thato Mokhothu-Ramohlanka

The ability to look ahead and prepare for the future is rare. As human beings, we have mental models and biases that prevent us from thinking differently and looking out for alternative outcomes. We prefer existing within familiar territories and are supportive of our beliefs and intellectual conceptions of what reality ought to be because the alternative is incomprehensible. However, with or without our awareness, these conceptions prevent us from tackling problems more efficiently; they hinder our creativity and ability to seek solutions in unlikely places even at the risk of operating at our minimum capacity.

Are lionesses born or made?

November 29, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Martine Irakoze

Are lionesses born or made? This article will not take a stand on this point, but rather offers another perspective: “if made, who makes them?”. To answer that question, I interviewed an extraordinary woman who is passionate about creating a network of lionesses in Burundi. Belyse Inamahoro Bushombo is Burundian, a Wellesley College Alumni, and founder of Sisters in Success.

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