The importance of options

February 12, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Brigitte Mashile, founder and ceo of Roka Roko

I have been to so many events where people feel the need to ‘pop bottles’, and to be specific, ‘Moet’ bottles. Moet is not cheap, and it is attached to an affluent life; the life of the better than; the life of those who have arrived. I personally have had Moet like 3 times in my life, and no, I did not purchase it in any of those events. I fell in love with the Nectar Imperial. I also knew, very well, that I was not about to buy a bottle of this brand - it is not cheap.

Quote of the Day by Janine Starkey

February 12, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“… there is NOTHING more satisfying then writing your own paycheck, even though it may be a pittance at first.”

- Janine Starkey, founder of House of Janine (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Sonia Paiva: Your diligence will be rewarded

February 12, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Sonia Paiva, founder of Woman Farmer Foundation & Eswatini Kitchen (Swaziland) — **Sonia Paiva**, founder of Woman Farmer Foundation & Eswatini Kitchen (Swaziland)

Your diligence will be rewarded…

“Start, start and start. You may find your self starting many times but continue starting. This is called diligence. ‘The soul of the diligent is richly supplied’ - Proverbs 13 v 4.”

Sonia Paiva is the founder of Woman Farmer Foundation & Eswatini Kitchen, a Swaziland serial entrepreneur making an impact in the agribusiness and food processing sectors in her country. Eswatini Kitchen produces a range of gourmet foods using only natural products without any colorants, or preservatives, such as Jams, Sauces, Pickles, Honey, and Marmalades. Most of these products oversees. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Sonia spent time in the corporate world, in the motor industry in particular, running the well known Carson Motors in the city of Manzini, before moving to the NGO world and the food industry sector.Read Sonia’s startup story.

Worth It: Your Life, Your Money, Your Terms by Amanda Steinberg

February 10, 2018 Melanie Hawken

From the founder and superstar CEO of DailyWorth.com, Amanda Steinberg - the go-to financial site for women with more than one million subscribers - comes a fresh book that redefines the relationship between women, self-worth, and money. Worth It shows women how to view money as a source of personal power and freedom—and live life on their terms.

How to Start that Critical Conversation

February 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Dr. Laura Camacho

It’s not fun bringing up the topic of difficult conversations, but just this month I’ve had two clients ask for workshops on the specifics of crafting those critical, or difficult conversations. Critical conversations are the ones where the stakes are relatively high (even if only for you) and opinions vary.

Do you have mobile app fatigue - and if so, what can you do about it?

February 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Lynette Hundermark, managing director of Useful & Beautiful

8 years after the global app-splosion, even in a country like South Africa where smartphone adoption took a little longer than the rest of the world to catch up, “app-overload” aka “app-fatigue” is now a thing that we are all faced with in this digital and mobile age.

Navigating change: No two journeys are the same

February 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Leigh Ann Gowland, founder of Employee Driven Change

Managing change within corporates can be compared to changing the direction of an aircraft carrier set on its course with momentum, size and speed contributing to the resistance to any change in bearing. There is usually time to plan, mobilise the crew, and adapt to the weather conditions. By comparison a small business would be a canoe turned by a single paddle but also threatened by winds, currents and the strength of the oars-person.

Quote of the Day by Yolie Thela

February 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

“… I get to do what I love and am accountable to nobody except myself. The power of knowing I wake up and live my purpose driven life that God intended for me.”

- Yolie Thela, founder of GloryBaby (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Eugénia Langa: You can achieve what you want

February 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Eugénia Langa, founder of Nweba (Mozambique) — **Eugénia Langa**, founder of Nweba (Mozambique)

You can achieve what you want…

“Find your passion and make it your day-to-day. No dream is impossible to realize. With faith, determination and persistence, anyone can achieve what they want.”

- Eugénia Langa is the founder of Nweba, the first Mozambican company dedicated to Procurement and Logistics for Construction. Her main service areas cover Project Management, Contract Management, Material Supply or Service Provision, Permits Consulting, Logistics, and Procurement Training. From a young age Eugénia was enthralled by the idea of seeing man form structures larger than himself on the basis of using calculation and science. This fascination with science led her to study Civil Engineering at the Polytechnic University. She went on to work in the construction sector for 10 years before launching Nweba (which means Persistence in Zulu) in 2015.Read Eugénia's startup story.

3 Ways to have a Courageous Conversation

February 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Paula Quinsee, Relationship Expert and Author

There are times when we need have to have a serious conversation with someone whether it is our partner, a friend or a work colleague. It’s one of those conversations where we need to be open and honest, not only with ourselves but also with the person in front of us. It could be about an incident, something they have said or done (or not done), non performance or non delivery.

Quote of the Day by Sine Ndlela

February 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

"When I see my product make someone happy, the fact that I made it myself and it has a direct impact on someone else makes my heart so warm."

- Sine Ndlela, founder of YoCoco (South Africa)

Entrepreneur Advice from Annie Muronda: Set processes around money

February 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Annie Muronda, founder of Rufaro Garments (South Africa) — **Annie Muronda**, founder of Rufaro Garments (South Africa)

Set processes around money…

“Measure your processes, you can't improve what you don't measure and you cant price your product or service appropriately without it. Set processes around money, i.e. how money is received and paid; the better you manage money, the more money you get to manage. Finally get professional help. You can't do it alone, there are areas where you are weak or simply don't have time to do. Get help so that you can focus on growing the business.”

- Annie Muronda is the founder of Rufaro Garments, a manufacturer and supplier of branded uniforms and marketing materials to schools and corporates in South Africa and the wider SADC region. Annie custom designs innovative uniform distribution strategies that deliver tailor made experiences for her clients.Read Annie’s startup story.

The Good, the Bad, the Bitcoin

February 8, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Sylvia Walker, author of SmartWoman

Did you invest in Bitcoin and have you made some good money? Or is your investment worth less than what you put in? Either way, Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in general have taken the market by storm, despite warnings from some of the world’s oldest and most reputable financial institutions.

To reach your destination you have to focus on the journey

February 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Eldari Visser, managing director of Picketfence Life

I love travelling. Looking for a new destination is a great hobby of mine. I have also learned that meticulous planning is crucial. Many people have a travel bucket list. Maybe you want to conquer the highest mountain or take a sabbatical, visit a bustling metropolitan or journey through the African bush and the great amazon!

Own your mind-set

February 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Lori Milner: author, entrepreneur, thought leader and founder of Beyond the Dress

I regularly go to gym on a Saturday morning at 8am, I have been doing it for years. My weekly gift to myself is my trainer who is mainly there to be my motivation when I start convincing myself why I should stay in bed. As it happens, my daughter was sick on the Friday night and I was up with her most of the night. She still decides to wake me at 6am despite the disturbed sleep. I contemplated cancelling my work out for a good thirty minutes and then decided I wasn’t about to let a few hours of sleep break my habit and let down someone who is also getting up early for me.

5 Ways to make your story shine brightly

February 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Mignionette Fair, founder of Edita Services

Have you ever sat down in front of your computer to write a blog or newsletter and then… your mind goes blank! It’s a terrible feeling to watch that blinking cursor appear and reappear… like it’s taunting you. The good news is, it’s happened to the best of us. The better news is, there are certain principles, tips, and tricks you can apply to make your story shine brightly every time.

When was the last time you flexed your company’s core (value) muscles?

February 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Julia Pimsleur, author, speaker and coach, and the founder of Little Pim

No matter what size your company is now, growing it in a smart, lean way and recruiting the best people is – or should be – one of your top priorities. Maybe you’ve already started building your team, or you’re just beginning to think about making your first big hire. Either way, establishing your company’s core values helps you make smarter decisions in moving your business forward and creates a foundation for your company’s culture.

A crash course on the law of contract

February 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Aleshia van der Ploeg, founder of VDP Legal Consulting (Pty) Ltd

We enter into contracts every single day, most of the time, not realising we are doing it! When it comes to your business, it is very important to know when you are entering into a contract or an agreement, and what the terms of the contract/agreement are, as this can have an impact on your business.

Samantha Rice, a South African creative media expert with a passion for helping her clients to realize their business visions

February 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Samantha Rice, founder of Creative Compass (South Africa) — **Samantha Rice**, founder of Creative Compass (South Africa)

For many successful businesses, it’s all about ensuring they stay on message and have a strong brand identity and digital presence to support that goal. For entrepreneur Samantha Rice, founder of Creative Compass, that’s where her specialist expertise and insights can make the difference.

Did you make your 2017 targets?

February 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Brigette Mashile, founder and ceo of Roka Roko

Did you have targets for 2017? I remember sitting with my friend, who is an accountant; feeling very silly making goals for 2017. I was wondering how am I going to achieve these crazy numbers? And what is the guarantee that we can have such numbers? Anyway, my friend had more faith in this business and less fear than me. So, we did revenue, expenses, monthly and weekly budgets for 2017.