What You Need to Know About the Legal Admin of Dying (and other great ways to start your day!)

October 23, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Claire Keet & Sinal Govender

Here are a few really positive ways to start your day. Brew yourself a delicious coffee. Make your bed. Meditate. Write down the things you’re grateful for. We write this article with the full knowledge that “educate yourself about dying” is probably not high on your morning to-do list. If there are two things people usually avoid like the Bubonic Plague, it’s legal life admin and talking about death. Put those two things together in a blog post title and it’s unlikely we’ll be winning any crowd pleaser awards. But we’ll try to win you over anyway...

How to Write an Executive Summary in 30 Seconds

October 23, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Izane Cloete-Hamilton

I was recently invited to a networking event where I was tasked with introducing my business, nFold, in 30 seconds. It made me wonder: is the equivalent to the proverbial elevator pitch, an executive summary on a page?

Stop Betraying Thyself!

October 23, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nontobeko Mbuyane

Much of the difficulty and struggle that we go through in life comes from our resistance to change. At some point, we get stuck in painful circumstances, yet we fear facing our reality and doing the work required to ignite a positive change. After all we are so used to saying and believing that, better the devil that you know than the devil you don’t know. So, we settle, give up on our desires, try to make the best of what we have and sadly that works for a while. Until staying stuck becomes unbearable. Until we acknowledge that not dealing with our realities is making us sick. Until we realize that resisting change is self-betrayal. Until we say, enough!

Online home business ideas during this Pandemic

October 23, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

The Coronavirus flare-up is stirring up the worldwide economy for huge scope, minimal expense business thoughts, and On-Demand-Delivery applications which are now all the rage. The world is scrambling hard to battle the current and impending financial results of this dark swan occasion, yet this could be a thrilling chance to ponder a business thought for what's to come.

Why interpreters Should Think and Act Like a Brand

October 17, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Thuli Zikalala

BrandSimple is a book I highly recommend for any individual or company that would like to be recognised as a successful brand. Everyone is a brand – the key is to start thinking and acting like one. Allen P. Adamson, the author, explains how the best brands keep it simple, and as a result enjoy huge success.

7 Strategies to Position Yourself For Board Opportunities

October 17, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Naike Moshi

Are you an accomplished entrepreneur or experienced leader looking for board opportunities? Here are the seven strategies on how you can position yourself for board opportunities if it is one of your career goals.

Advancing Previously Disadvantaged Women In Private Security

October 17, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Ntsoaki Sibiya

The Security Industry sector is becoming an increasingly critical source of jobs as the rate of unemployment among women increases. The unemployment rate among black African women stands at nearly 41% compared to 32% among men. These disparities are not only the product of a profoundly unbalanced economy, they also contribute to gender inequality in society.

The Nanny Saga

October 17, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile

A few years ago, I told my friends I would never have a live-in nanny in my house, and it made sense then. I didn’t need a live-in nanny! We had a lady who came in once every 2 weeks to do our laundry, which eventually became every week as I got busier. Also, the laundry became the entire house very fast, because honestly, I don’t want to wash dishes after stitching dresses and having fittings with different clients.

Benefits Of Improved Business, Work and Accounting Processes With Cloud Accounting

October 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Charmel Flemming

Adapt or die. That was the theme for businesses throughout 2020 and 2021. If it has taught us anything, it's that businesses and companies who took the chaos, uncertainty and vulnerability of the last two years and turned it into opportunities to learn, pivot and regroup were the real survivors of the pandemic onslaught.

Two Post-Pandemic Businesses You Can Start Today

October 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Catia Mondlane

The current pandemic has opened up the entry way for new and extended business openings as purchasers adjust to post-COVID life. The effect of COVID-19, especially on the business world, couldn't have been anticipated yet has been an amazing learning experience—particularly for trying business people. Social distancing and remote work have constrained customary in-person businesses like eateries, physical retail and event organizers to get innovative with arrangements and stay relevant, while additionally opening a universe of opportunities s for entrepreneurs to meet shoppers' new and developing needs.

Losing Your Job or Income Can Be Hugely Crippling

October 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Paula Quinsee

So many people’s jobs have been impacted financially by the pandemic either by having to take salary cuts, being made redundant due to the financial impact on business, or sadly business having to close down because they just couldn’t find a way to keep their doors open anymore.

You Are What You Say You Are

October 9, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Phindile Ndlovu-Tapula

I lovingly challenge you to randomly ask people how they are doing. I bet you the majority will be complaining! I used to have a habit of replying “Eish, I am trying” until someone asked,” When are you ever good or well?” I was stunned, I was good and well most days, but I often felt the need to not say it and opted for this mediocre which served my mental wellbeing in no way. Because I was saying it , I ended up feeling it. I was going about my days barely making it, surviving, trying.

5 Steps to Create an Effective Digital Marketing Strategy

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho

There are over 3.5 billion people online and the current marketing reality is that digital is impossible to rule out. No growing business can afford to walk around in the dark without a clear plan to follow and expect to generate successful results. A digital strategy provides the framework your company needs to make the best decisions for strategy development and implementation.

How to become the Chief Energy Officer of your life

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner

“Memory with no emotional charge is wisdom”

— Rich Litvin

As we are rounding the corner of 2021, it is important to make time to press pause. Really stop, reflect and course correct to ensure you are not steam rolling into 2022 on autopilot. When you open up Waze or Google Maps, there are two basic requirements before you can begin the trip - a starting point and a desired end destination. Equally, you need to assess where you are at now in your life and where you want to go. Do not bring the emotional baggage of 2021 into the new year but rather learn from it and make sure you are charged and ready to tackle 2022 with a fresh perspective.

Your joyful purpose

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Angelique Adcock & Dr Alison Hofer

Did you ever ask yourself: “How did I get here?” or, “What am I doing with my life?” Some days it can feel like you work and love with all you have, and yet life can throw your efforts back in your face. And that can really hurt. And it can set you back. Sometimes, then, we have to dig deep to rediscover our purpose and our joy. Rediscovering what makes you joyful, and what enriches your life with purpose, can reinvigorate you. It can restart your engine and help you rev your way out of an emotional ditch.

My traumas made me better

October 3, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Kathy Mann

I recently read an excellent book, The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk. It’s about what happens to our brains and bodies as a result of trauma and how to treat it. Even events that seem fairly tame or punishments that parents deem reasonable, can be experienced as a traumatic event by a child. We are changed by these events. Not only in the way we think and behave, but we experience physiological changes. Van der Kolk writes, “trauma produces actual physiological changes, including a recalibration of the brain’s alarm system, an increase in stress hormone activity, and alternations in the system that filters relevant information from irrelevant.”

Do You Have a Right to Renew Your Lease Agreement?

September 26, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nicola Mullineux

The following clause (with minor variations) is often found in lease agreements:- "The Tenant shall have the right to renew this Agreement for a period of 1 (one) year on the same terms and conditions, save that the rental shall be agreed to in writing between the Parties.” A clause of this nature seems to provide the tenant with a right to renew the lease agreement, however, the latter part of the clause unequivocally indicates that the tenant has a right to renew on condition that the rental amount is agreed upon, in essence, an agreement to agree.

5 Surprising Things You Should Have In Your “when I die” Folder

September 26, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Claire Keet & Sinal Govender

Having your legal life stuff organised and safely stored is more than being on top of your admin for “just in case”. It’s an empowered way of living your best life, knowing that if things go south for you, your loved ones won’t be left behind with an administrative nightmare on their hands. Things like your will, living will, insurance policies and a copy of your ID are the more obvious things to include in a life.file of all your important documents. A thorough life.file should have a few other things you may not have thought of...

It Feels Dark and Scary!

September 26, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Nontobeko Mbuyane

This week I had heart to heart conversation with my younger daughter. Such conversations are usually deep and it’s from them that I get to ascertain so many things about her such as her feelings, how she perceives things and a whole lot that is going on in our lives. So, we had to engage since she will be going back to school where she stays. During our talk she mentioned how the world feels so dark and scary, she feels that generally the world is broken, we are broken and we all need healing.

Cheerleading in Business

September 26, 2021 Melanie Hawken

by Tatenda Rungisa

A Cheerleader is someone who gives you confidence by reinforcing all the things that you seek to achieve, have achieved, and that you are good at. A cheerleader is someone who holds your hand from the beginning till the very end of the game, whether you have won or lost; they see you at the lowest point and are still able to cheer you on!

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