the pride of Africa's women entrepreneurs
by Lori Milner
If you don't have a 'pause' button, you're probably a Striver. We associate being a Striver with a badge of honour. It's linked with traits like being a high achiever, disciplined, organised, and successful. It's the mark of the go-getter and having it all together. These superpowers may have led to our success, but as with anything, there is a shadow side.
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by Thembe Khumalo
Sometimes when you’ve taken a big leap, you are so conscious of the magnitude of what you’ve done that you don't think you can or should take any more major steps. That was me after leaving home at 22 years old - I was so determined to make my life work and validate the choices I had made, that I found it difficult to think beyond my immediate activities. This kind of paralysis can also hit entrepreneurs in the early stages of building their business, particularly when a huge risk has been taken to get to the start-up stage.
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by Lori Milner
Consider a positive brand experience that stands out for you. It could be purchasing a product online and receiving your delivery ahead of schedule. How about a restaurant that created an amazing experience from start to finish? What experiences have you told friends about and done free PR because you were left with a lasting impression and impact?
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by Refilwe Sebothoma
I’ve always been adamant that I don’t like hosting, my sister-in-law suggested that I do this for Christmas last year. Eventually, I agreed, but of course, it was going to be at a restaurant. And I remember her explaining why it wouldn’t work because it also “doesn’t have that family thing”. I felt defeated and said it’s ok, I’ll host at home.
by Yolanda Matine
When I decided that I was turning my gift (cooking) into a business, every social media page I navigated into started showing me how the world of lunchboxes is so advanced in other places beyond Mozambique where we only have one well-referenced brand.
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by Teboho Seretlo
What does the term “ghosting” even mean? I looked it up on Google and this is what comes up: “Ghosting is when someone who used to be friendly or even romantic with you suddenly cuts off all communication without explanation. While most people think of ghosting in a digital context, meaning a friend or dating partner stops responding to texts, emails, calls, etc., it can happen across all social circumstances.” For me, where it says it can happen across all social circumstances, this is true. However, I daresay it happens across the spectrum, professionally too.
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by Lori Milner
The difference between where you are and where you want to be is found in the dance between your current self and your future self. A dance is successful when both people are in a rhythm, with the understanding that one person needs to lead and the other needs to follow.
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by Safiyyah Boolay-Jappie
Something I am stepping into more and more is Deservingness. My Deservingness muscle is still ridiculously underdeveloped. I strained this very weak muscle twice this morning before my feet even touched the ground. Thankfully, it is a lens with which I am training my mind to observe myself and the interactions and experiences I live through each day.
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by Lori Milner
As a life coach, my job is to listen to what is being said and mine for the hidden limiting beliefs that hold my clients back from maximising their potential in their personal and professional lives.
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by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department
Three core things get investors up in the morning.
- The Problem.
- The Solution.
- The Team that is going to deliver.
The ‘Problem’ is the starting point that drags investors in. As Maxime Bayen, the Operating Partner, of the Catalyst Fund says "I am often sold on the problem. If I see the problem is big, if I see that it is well articulated, is data backed, then I am really eager to see the solution..." (here).
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by Refilwe Sebothoma
I find contentment to be a very powerful ability, but yet difficult to practice. I have seen the absence of contentment leave many people in an unhealthy “life-race”, wanting to compete and compare with people they don’t even know. Instead of looking back and appreciating how far they have come and pacing themselves well for the future, they are constantly chasing the next biggest thing at whatever cost.
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by Brigette Mashile
Rent is every entrepreneur’s nightmare, that is if you need a space for your business. The property market in South Africa has increased prices at an alarming rate. When I first rented in Midrand, I was paying R3000 each month for a 7 x 4 space. It was in a plot type of area, not as commercial as it is today. The rental currently is R7 500 for the same space. This is the same story across residential rates.
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by Refilwe Sebothoma
One of my biggest fears in life is to walk into a room full of opportunities and decision-makers and I AM NOT PREPARED. If you get “LUCKY” to be in the right place, at the right time, and with the right people but you are not prepared, you will lose what could be a “once in a lifetime” opportunity.
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by Lori Milner
Consider what unmet goals are gnawing at the back of your mind that are taking up precious headspace. Rather than beat yourself up for not taking action, ask yourself, 'When would now be a good time?'. Now right? Here are six tools you can incorporate into your productivity toolkit to ensure you end the year on a high no matter where you start:
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by Margaret Hirsch
My mother was English and throughout my life my conversations with her have always been peppered with sayings and idioms. My favourite saying is one by Albert Einstein which says "Your imagination is the preview to coming attractions” and this is so true in your life. This quote emphasises the profound significance of imagination in our lives. Imagination is more than just idle daydreaming; it is the catalyst for innovation and progress. It allows us to envision possibilities that do not yet exist and serves as a plan for creating the future.
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by Refilwe Sebothoma
Many times I have been criticised for not taking the time to celebrate big moments and winnings in my life. And here is why: Although research has shown that celebrating milestones increase our intrinsic motivation to keep pursuing our goals, I have seen how celebrating too early and too long can be detrimental and seductive. This can easily give us a sense of “we have arrived” and in turn make us too familiar, complacent, and arrogant.
by Lori Milner
Some of us need accountability partners, like hiring a personal trainer to get us to the gym or joining a group so we have other people to motivate us. The problem with this approach is that you always rely on others to keep your promises to yourself. What happens if they don't show up? Will you keep the commitment or be silently grateful you got out of the run or the gym session?
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by Brigette Mashile
One of the biggest challenges we face as businesspeople is realizing that YOU DID IT. Most of the time it is because while the success of that is happening, another hurdle is appearing. Or the very success is coming with bigger challenges and you are aware you are not ready for all of them. Therefore, we don’t sit in the success, we don’t take the time to see that we have achieved a task list we set out to achieve.
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by Lori Milner
When my son was seven, he asked me for a guitar. I was elated because I thought he was tapping into some creative instinct, so I was happy to go along. He sat down with the guitar and then burst into tears a few minutes later because he had imagined he would pick up the guitar and instantly be able to play. He hadn't considered there would be lessons, hours of practice and feeling out of his depth in between. That's not what he signed up for. He wanted instant gratification! That's what TV and YouTube had sold him, and he wanted the dream. Now! He wanted the outcome without the messy process.
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by Lori Milner
It's astounding how four simple words can simultaneously create so much anxiety, fear, excitement, and intrigue… What do you want? Most people don't know what they want because they have not spent time reflecting. Or they're too fearful of saying it out loud because what if it's wrong? Or they don't know what they want because they base their needs on what others want. Why does it matter knowing what you want? How do you know what to say no to without knowing what you are saying yes to first?
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