by Eldari Visser 

I have a great view of the troupe. The monkeys are merrily playing and eating along the forestry. I move my binocular view over them, checking out the little ones playing and the moms keeping a watchful eye. Then I am met eye to eye with a big daddy. He is staring directly at me, gosh, it seems like he is literally on top of me! I yank the binoculars away from my eyes to get a normal view. He is definitely at a distance, far from me, yet he is dead focused on me. A chill runs down my spine. How does he know? Surely he cannot see this far?

by Eldari Visser

A couple of months ago we had the privilege to go to the Kruger National Park in South Africa and we spent five days in glorious nature. Wow ,that was really a time of rest and we saw amazing sightings. I always get great ideas for my blog that directly correlate with our business life. Nature once again did not disappoint! Nature’s stories are so closely linked to our business world. I really think we could all just listen to her more. We can apply the lessons of nature and animal behaviour in business successfully. Here is a story for you that I hope brings this point to life.

by Eldari Visser 

At a typical game farm in Africa animals roam free, well free within boundaries that is. This means the owner has a piece of land or property that allows his animals to experience life in a carefree way. Many animals have to be kept like this due to human activities and urbanisation, herds for homesteads and unfortunately poachers. These animals are not really free, they have boundaries or fencing, even cages. They see electric wires and gates. There are timestamps, branding, chips and permits that gives you this “freedom”. They are free to move around within limits of the boundaries. The big cage.

by Eldari Visser 

We’re all familiar with the Big 5 in nature. Majestic, strong, fierce, but yet so vulnerable because man has figured out a way to make money from each species that makes up the Big 5. Which makes it so sad is because in their world they reign, kings of the animal world, matriarchs of big clans, and tenacious mothers - seemingly unstoppable. Such is life. 

by Eldari Visser 

I recently read an article with a lengthy discussion about people that are early risers and the positivity around that. Early birdies and worms. How a person can get lots more done in the early hours of the morning and that it is good for your body, soul and mind to jump up, get some sunshine at the early stage of the sunrise in the morning, feeling fresh and get so much more done. Right!

by Eldari Visser 

Which hill is the new successful opportunity for growing a business, or beginning a business? Can you tell? Last year for our holiday we had the opportunity to go to a very different area in wonderful, beautiful South Africa. We went more towards the steep mountains of an area that we call the Free State province - a different environment for a holiday. Usually lots of activities needed. Do yourself a favour and Google #Goldengatenationalpark, #clarens #Drakensbergmountainrange #Harrismith and #sterkfonteindam. You will quickly see the different green hills, steady rolling hills, massive rock faces, massive amount of waterfalls and water catchment area. The mountains are majestic and fierce, gorgeous yet frightening. Most impressive was the greens on all the hills. They looked idyllic and part of a greater story. I immediately saw a theme for our lionesses emerging from this beautiful scenery that surrounded me. 

by Eldari Visser

Amidst the huge outcry of global warming warnings and several energy crises looming, a group of big corporations and government sectors, NGOs and Greenpeace nature lovers are putting their minds together, to find the next best solution for our planet. Operation “Going Green” seems so be on all the agendas. Some agendas are very close to serious activism if you ask me. We read in newspapers from around the globe on some of action taking place, some even to the tone of tomato purée and art! Gosh…

by Eldari Visser

This might sound like an awkward story to you, but it is very relevant for this group of go-getter women. You are all wonderful, fantastic women, wearing your brand every day in this modern society. It is indeed this society that expects from you to be top of your game, to be exotic, different, yet covering their needs. You have to be the forerunners, be excellent, be good, be able to see what the next best thing is. We can name many more requirements that come along. What is needed from you is to survive in this environment.

by Eldari Visser

Reading trail signs might be confusing at the best of times. In order to play it safe, have a buddy. Whether you are in sunny South Africa during winter or summer, in Johannesburg and surrounding areas, in Cape Town with beautiful mountains, taking a stroll in Europe, maybe in wonderful Croatia or in beautiful Scotland - it just doesn’t matter where you go, you need to know the road that you travel on and the ultimate destiny.

by Eldari Visser

A wonderful person told me once that when you’re driving on a racetrack and you focus too much on the tires at every corner, not hitting them, at the next bend, mind the tires… you eventually end up hitting those tires.

by Eldari Visser

This time of the year is when writers like to look back and reminisce on the year just gone and to get new ideas. Let’s get it clear - this past year was like flat green cold tea! Yuck. We can all do with something new.

by Eldari Visser

After a year or two of just waiting, many entrepreneurs are wandering around with a sense of despair and even guilt. Waiting for the world to get back to some normal. Let’s be honest here. During a world full of turmoil many sat staring at a screen hoping for a call to action. Any action and any type of income - whatever the contract entailed, were welcomed. Many also sold their hours for way less than their worth. Others sat in awe as fellow business ladies invented new strategies that made you cry and your mind struck panic buttons often. Red flags and sleepless nights formed part of daily rituals. Your inner voice was the biggest enemy. Where was the surplus budget? Why didn’t I invest more, save more, buy less, and how did the cashflow dry up? A voice of reason wasn’t part of your thought pattern, no, mostly you had a feeling of kicking yourself and being ridiculous by blaming yourself to a point of utter destruction.

by Eldari Visser

Many a business woman struggles with self-talk that can be very negative! This is only going to make you give up on your dreams to early. The exact same happens with our finances and our investments. We see a bunch of figures and notifications of investment growth or no growth and nothing looks good. Even worse, your neighbour and her business is flourishing. All around you it seems chaotic! People all trying to get to the top, struggles to be first and now to conquer our new world first!

by Eldari Visser

Many of us long to take long walks in nature, go for hikes or even take a guided tour. Excitement is part of the little voice of fear deep inside of you. Nevertheless, off we go! This year kicked off, planning done, new projects to focus on, and lessons learned during the Covid pandemic embedded in our memories. Never will we forget the empty streets, the locked up feeling, and the great tears that we had for loved ones and many others who lost their lives. If only somebody could just have helped us all sooner!

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.

by Eldari Visser founder of Picketfence Life

This is a story with a different angle. I am sure many of you get into the kitchen late at night or frankly any time of day and then “bam” the kitchen top has got a beautiful crazy ant party going on! Most of us freak out and grab the best pesticides. But, it is not a party - they are carrying food to their home.

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.

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.

by Eldari Visser

In South Africa, the northern side of the country is going into its rainy season and that is always known for big thunderstorms, heavy winds and heavy rain, whereas in the southern parts you get the “non-stop for days” rain mostly during winter. Each of these natural occurrences has a mesmerizing effect. Just watch a thunderstorm with all the lightning and you will understand.

by Eldari Visser

I am sure if anybody writes another article about COVID-19 you will surely swipe on and away. Seriously we’ve had enough constant reminders of a thief amongst us. What if we were so deeply affected that we are still reeling and trying to grasp for air? What if we still don’t have an idea of how our business is going to survive or even where to start again? What if you have lost more than you could ever imagine? What if all you can see right now is the darkness and the stark reality of you can’t “see” where to turn to next?

by Eldari Visser

Without a doubt we have been attacked. Many of us feel it in our core as humans. We hear of devastating news, people that mourn and people that suffer. This has a tremendous impact on the psychological thinking of a human as validation that we are still in control. We surely don’t feel in control. The only way to feel in control is to make a living. Work makes us feel that we are..... in control!

by Eldari Visser founder of Picketfence Life

For the longest time I have been playing with the idea to write this blog. Then time and Covid-19 got hold of me.

by Eldari Visser, founder of Picketfence Life

The year’s time clock has ticked over and we, as humans, settle our feathers for a new year - all the new challenges, the goals to achieve, the dreams to chase, scores to settle and proving of self-worth ... how necessary is this?

by Eldari Visser, founder of Picketfence Life

Necessary endings! In my previous blog I wrote about the time of endings. In a business this happens all too often. Usually it is out with the old, in with the new, or a new strategy for growth or another line for the shelves, and the one not so good must make space for a more client friendly one. Yet many of us as businesspeople have to end good things as well. 

by Eldari Visser founder of Picketfence Life

A beautiful but disturbing clip was doing the rounds of a pack of hyenas going for a lion. Killing was their main aim. This older lion fought for a long time from all sides - got a couple of good homps in, but the clan was very big. Mostly they were going for his ass!!! Yep - catching you from behinds! This lion turned and dodged and roared to get them away.

by Eldari Visser

I want you to hear David Attenborough’s voice* in your head. Smooth, soft and slowly describing a lioness making her way towards her prey. It goes like this, “she knows that she has this one opportunity today.…..slowly she makes her way forward using the long yellow grasslands to be her cover. The grass is her best support system. As it sways in the wind she catches a glimpse of the gazelle.….the grass protects her from being seen… here she will stay until the moment comes to charge.” Can you imagine this scene? Long, wavy, thick grass is her necessary tool for a day’s work.

by Eldari Visser founder of Picketfence Life

Running a business is like constantly getting ready for a holiday trip, a hiking trip, a physical retreat or a tough walk in the bush. You need to be fit! Being part of a fit team is a full-time job! This goes for any size business. So, whether you are starting up or have been doing this for a long time - your team and you need to be fit - all the time.

by Eldari Visser, founder of Picketfence Life

For most citizens of the world, we reeled with shock when the beautiful Amazon forest was burning for more than 60 days. The #Amazonforest is the lungs of our planet our survival pumps! As usual, everybody started pointing fingers and most of us could just watch, capable of doing nothing. A sick feeling of despair as we watched the destruction. 

by Eldari Visser founder of Picketfence Life

For this Women’s Month 2019, I had a couple of ideas to share with you, but then I read an article about probably the strongest pack of ladies that one could find in the wild. The South African Wild dog.​ For many uninformed readers they are just horrific predators that kill in the most gruesome ways possible. Here in Africa, we hope to conserve them as they are an extremely endangered species and nature needs them for the proper circle of life. 

by Eldari Visser, founder of PicketFence Life

On our journey through life we meet an array of interesting people. Some fascinating  and others unique. We learn a great deal about ourselves on how we interact with these personalities. In our financial wealth world we often find that our behavior reflects some typical personality and behavioral patterns.