A short story and a lesson in Marketing, Advertising and Design

July 11, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Claudia Folgore-McLellan

My business, Visual 8, was once recommended to a potential client through social media. When I made contact with this potential client and had quoted for the work requested in the initial brief, I received the following email question: "How does what you offer compare with what I can get online for half the price? This question is a very common one I've come across when dealing with entrepreneurs who have a stringent budget to work with for their start-up. My response to this question is pretty standard by now, pointing out a few truths in the matter and the key factor is PROFESSIONALISM.

My Favorite Communication Tool: The Set-up

July 11, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Laura Camacho

Working remotely and communicating almost exclusively by video has raised awareness of how important it is to make your point in a way that sticks in people’s brains. In talking to my clients, there are two common problems with what you would think would be a simple thing to do: answer a question in a meeting.

Managing a business during uncertain times

July 11, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Tatenda Rungisa

We may all be faced with hard times in our everyday lives or in running our businesses, the key issue is to know how to manage sailing through the hard times rather than focusing on the bad season or time. We need to know how to manage our businesses and selves through the hard times. How do we manage these rough times?

Emotion-Based Decisions: Good or Bad?

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Jess Mostert

Emotions. Two in particular - FEAR and LOVE. It is these that drive and influence every thought and direct every response. It is what makes us run- towards certain things, and away from others. It is these emotions that stop us from living our lives or force us to live our lives!

The Hidden Strengths of Learning and Succeeding at Your Own Pace

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Mbali Ndaba

A groundbreaking exploration of what it means to be a late bloomer in a culture obsessed with instant gratification, early success, and how finding one’s way later in life can be an advantage to long-term achievement and happiness.

Harnessing ADHD, OCD and Anxiety for Career Success

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lisa Malek

Being diagnosed with Adult ADHD in my 30s was both bewildering and enlightening. Suddenly there was an explanation for my constant vacillation between distractibility and hyper-focus. My brain is always flailing about, struggling to hold onto one thought for more than a few seconds – while simultaneously clinging to unresolved problems and manifesting new ones. It’s like listening to 13 blaring soundtracks from 13 genres at once. Further aggravating my overwrought mind is an urge to obsessively over multi-task, a side-effect of working from home since lockdown.

The Cages We Live in!

June 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nontobeko Mbuyane

I am currently reading a book by Glennon Doyle titled, 'Untamed.' It’s the first time I am reading anything by this author and frankly I didn’t go through any reviews prior to this read. The title of the book just captivated me and surely as an untamed one myself, I thought let me see what it’s all about. And oh gosh, I felt as if it had changed my life, not because it made me think of all the things I was capable of, but because it made me realize how capable I had already been.

Digital Transformation: Why Companies Must Innovate Bottom-to-Top & Drive Stability Top-to-Bottom

June 20, 2021 Melanie Hawken

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by Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho

In a recent study by Forbes, 52% of Fortune 500 companies went bankrupt, were acquired, ceased to exist, or dropped off the list due to digital disruption since the millennium. In the 21st century an organization’s survival is almost wholly dependent on its ability to strategically use digital initiatives to achieve business goals. Digital is no longer an option, but a necessity to succeed in the world of business.

5 Easy Ways to Better Manage Working from Home with Load-shedding

June 19, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Alice da Silva

If your business is affected by the challenge of load-shedding right now, and you work from home, here are 5 easy ways to better manage the situation as an entrepreneur. With just a relatively low cost compared to other options, and no disruption of your home systems, you can continue working with a smile and being productive instead of using your energy to complain, blame and feel stressed. You will also feel proud of being self-sufficient and managing your deadlines under all conditions. These small victories add up and contribute to an elevated mood, which flows into all areas of your life, enabling you to face life with a more positive mindset.

Arise Africa and Succeed!

June 19, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Sibongile Mtsabe

How will you define success? The dictionary defines success as the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. I took time looking around me, in my community and friends. I saw people mark success milestones when they obtained material things like a modern car, a beautiful house, etc. I sat down and asked myself some deep questions within on this subject, and naturally answers came spontaneously.

A Business Owner’s Guide to Successful Email Marketing

June 19, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Wuraola Ademola-Shanu

Is email marketing dead? With all the talk about video marketing, virtual reality and chatbots, as well as artificial intelligence, it’s not surprising if you feel like email marketing is an ancient practice.

How to delegate more effectively

June 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Usha Maharaj

As a business leader, mastering the art of delegation is paramount in order to grow and scale your influence at work. Being unable to delegate effectively will limit your ability to successfully lead a team and increase your impact.

How are you preparing for a 100-year life?

June 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lynda Smith

There are several macro trends that are currently impacting the way we work. Each generation is impacted differently. These trends are longevity and technology. These trends have positive and negative implications. Awareness and action are key drivers to understand how to navigate the future.

Procrastination is not about time management

June 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Ashika Pillay

So often, I hear from my clients, friends and family and myself, of how I need to “get over my procrastination”, or “I don’t understand why I am putting this off?”. It’s a disease that plagues many, and is often misunderstood. Deeper enquiry and insight can lead to transforming this way of being, and open us to becoming more effective, productive and impactful. After much research and case studies with my own clients, I have some ideas on why we put things off, and why we appear to get in our own way.

What is all the fuss about Digitization…and how does it affect us as estate agents?

June 13, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Pam Snyman

When my husband and I decided to start our own real estate agency in an entrepreneurial fashion in 2012, we already went ‘digital’ with REDZetc. We did not want to use the existing real estate business model as we felt that we needed some change in order to provide opportunities for entrepreneurial agents with a keen business sense to work in an environment that speaks to our clients’ needs and not necessarily those of our company alone. Our aim was to train our agents to self-promote by utilization of personal branding and providing outstanding service in order for each individual to build his/her own database of satisfied and loyal clients.

Why do I feel so lost?

June 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Paula Quinsee

If you have been feeling lost, out of sorts, not quite yourself, or like a lone survivor on an island in the middle of nowhere lately, you are not alone. We all have moments of despondency when things that should inspire us just feel boring or unstimulating. The tasks on our list don’t get a second look, and some days even getting out of bed is too much effort.

6 Numbers you should always know in your business

June 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Ronel Jooste

Finances are an integral part of any business. Let us be honest, there is no sense in running a business that is not profitable unless it is for a charity cause. The sad reality is that plenty of business owners don’t spend a lot of time on managing and analyzing their finances. Finances are often perceived to be boring, complicated, or only a support function within a business. The truth is, the better you manage your finances, the more successful your business will become. The better you know your numbers, the more powerful decisions you can make.

It’s never too late to reinvent your personal brand, here’s how….

June 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

7 ways to create the best version of yourself...

I have coached and trained hundreds of people on personal branding and the number one question I get asked is: “Is it too late for me to reinvent my brand and change perceptions?” The good news is that it is never too late.

How to Get Money Savvy – Tip 3: Multiple Income Streams

June 6, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Kathryn Main

Gone are the days when the mom stays home to take care of the kids while the dad goes to work. I was fortunate when I was younger because my mom stayed at home. She on the other hand was totally unfortunate. When her and my dad divorced at 40, she had to start her life with nothing, never having worked and having no real skills.

Making a necessary change

May 30, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Eldari Visser

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.

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