3 steps to end the year on a high
[bctt tweet=”For the remainder of 2016, @CoachAsanda urges you as a business owner to give it all you have” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] For most of us, the next couple of weeks are crucial for business. Things may not have gone the way we planned these past couple of months. Typically, you’re dealing with unpaid invoices, which are resulting in cash flow challenges. You are relentlessly trying to ensure you meet your sales targets. All of this can be rather stressful at a time when you should be already planning for the next year. Remember though that there is a lot that is out of your hands. My advice is to rather focus your energies on what you have the power to achieve. For the remainder of 2016, I urge you as a business owner to give it all you have. Yes, the year may not have gone the way you would have liked it to, but you can still end on high spirits. You can adjust your attitude and end on a high note! Here are three tips I’ve used myself, which I credit for my excitement when the year comes to a close. 1. Recall your past successes When things are not going our way, we tend to focus on what is not right and neglect to appreciate what has gone right. Yes, you may have had serious financial challenges, yet you managed to keep your business going. How did you do that? You were determined to make it happen —appreciate yourself for that drive and don’t pass up the opportunity to congratulate yourself. What is the one thing you didn’t think you could pull off that you did? Think of all the wins you experienced since the beginning of the year. When you realise that you DO have a track record of success, you are positioning yourself more favourably to go for more wins. [bctt tweet=”As we draw to the end of 2016, think of all the wins you experienced this year” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 2. Set yourself bit-sized goals Most people set long term-ish goals; be it yearly or quarterly and these are not as fluid as I believe they ought to be. Things change, priorities change and unless you have your goals’ sheet fluid, you tend to not spend enough time on realigning, changing and even removing those goals that no longer serve you. The result? When it’s time to see how you’ve done, you have items you did not achieve. The point of setting goals is to achieve them, so what’s the point of not achieving what you’ve set out to? So for the next month, draw up realistic, interrogated bi-weekly goals. The name of the game is to accumulate those small wins as they pave the way for bigger ones. [bctt tweet=”For the next month, draw up realistic, interrogated bi-weekly goals” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 3. Adopt feedforward planning The past is behind you! What has gone wrong has done just that; gone wrong. Spend the next month on getting feedforward and not feedback. So instead of asking your clients how you did, rather ask them how you can best service them going forward. A typical question you could ask is, “For the next month how can our service be to your liking?” If you have staff you could get their feedforward on how you can best be a better boss to them. When you focus on the future, you feel empowered because you have the power to influence what happens in the future. Getting feedback on the other hand is too focused on what has already happened. [bctt tweet=”You can move from dreading year-end to appreciating all that you have gone through” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] You may not have the power to change your balance sheet over the next couple of weeks but you do have the power to change your attitude. You can move from dreading year-end, to appreciating all that you have gone through and preparing yourself for the next year. The choice is yours. End 2016 on a high where your business is concerned and 2017 will not know what hit it!
Kgauhelo Dube: The European framing of public discourse is disturbing
[bctt tweet=”2015 Mbokodo Women in Arts nominee @kgauzagp shares why she moved to the arts sector” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Kgauhelo Dube incorporates her knowledge and experience in traditional advertising into the work she does within the arts, culture and heritage field. She combines these on an eclectic mix of projects, including her own brainchild, #longstorySHORT. #longstorySHORT was launched in March 2015 to promote African literature through interactive events. These events feature the work of African writers, discussions about important topics affecting literacy in Africa and the sale of books. Kgauhelo continues to be part of a wide array of projects from festival management, content production for TV to acting as a strategic consultant to various artists, cultural foundations and corporations. She was 2015 nominee for Mbokodo Women in Arts award in the category of “Promotion of Arts and Culture in the Media”. You worked as a brand strategist for a firm. Why did you make the move to literature? I didn’t move from brand strategy environment to literature. I’d say I moved to the arts, culture and heritage sector. I made the move because I believe there’s a big role that the arts, culture and heritage sector play in social change, especially in South Africa, a country with a huge identity crisis. The European framing of public discourse is disturbing. Popularising and normalising versus romanticising African ideas, identities, philosophy, languages are instrumental to unlocking the various economic, moral and societal crises we are currently facing. [bctt tweet=”The arts can play a huge role in social change, especially in South Africa @kgauzagp” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] #longstorySHORT has been well received since its inception in March last year. What is the ‘short’ story behind the name, and how was the idea born? Popular culture has in one way or another succeeded amplifying (whether tastefully or not) very important issues, and so we felt that we could tap into those same strategies and platforms to normalise the culture of reading. #longstorySHORT hosts a podcast in Setswana. Do you see any financial benefits to publishing in African languages? Is there a growing market for such books for young Africans writers to tap into? It’s difficult to focus on creating a business model around a culture that has been demonised over centuries. So, whilst there’s an opportunity in getting more Africans to read in indigenous languages, the first port of call would be for us as Africans to love ourselves enough to understand the potential transformative value of the wisdom that’s locked up in our languages. Being African shouldn’t be about wearing “costumes” on our independence days and during Africa month. There’s no point in pouring a lot of resources in creating African content and selling it to people who mostly associate upward mobility and sophistication with European brands, languages, lifestyles and frame of reference. Once we’ve dealt with the mind-shift, yes, then there are great opportunities for publishers, writers and content creators to disseminate exciting books, films, learning software in our languages! Think about it, Setswana is not only spoken in Botswana. SA has a huge population of Setswana speakers as well. Remember, we didn’t create the borders so there’s linguistic spill over in countries that border each other. [bctt tweet=”#longstorySHORT has celebrities endorsing African literature as its marketing strategy.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] It’s understandable for writers to participate in the reading events organised by #longstorySHORT. But no one expects a celebrity to participate in them. Why was it important to get them involved? This is where we use the tactics employed by the marketing industry. It is a classic case of celebrity endorsement. Instead of endorsing a beverage, the participating celebrity is endorsing African literature. With 92% of local libraries closed in South Africa and the rise of ebooks, are print publishers in Africa staring at a bleak future? The going statistic is that 92% of predominantly black schools don’t have functional libraries. However, there’s been a surge in local libraries being built in these areas post-apartheid, which is why a lot of #longstorySHORT readings happen there. How does #longstorySHORT engage with those who, for whatever reason, can’t attend readings and don’t have access to the internet? #longstorySHORT is one of many literacy/ literature promotion campaigns. The scope for the change that needs to happen is not only going to be achieved by us. There’s an exciting growth in literary entrepreneurship with many great young thinkers tackling the illiteracy conundrum in many different ways. There are festivals, online book clubs, bloggers, road-shows, master-classes and a host of other exciting things happening at the same time. It’s a special time for African writers. [bctt tweet=”According @kgauzagp to there’s an exciting growth in literary entrepreneurship” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] In addition to the work #longstorySHORT is doing, what else can be done to help Africans publishers thrive and encourage bookstores to stock more African literature? Since a nation’s literacy rate has a direct link to its GDP, more official interventions need to happen. There’s lots of policy around eradicating illiteracy, but there’s very little enforcement, monitoring and evaluation. Governments have to have a more urgent, creative and spirited approach to these problems. It’ll never be enough to highlight these challenges within the contexts of calendar days such as World Book Day and World Mother Tongue Day. Consistent intervention is key. What does the future hold for African literature, and more specifically for #longstorySHORT in the coming year? From a promotional perspective, we believe the brand #longstorySHORT has high equity. Now the challenge is maintaining the frequency of readings and reaching remote audiences all over the continent. That requires some brave brand managers and philanthropists pledging their marketing budgets and collaborating with us. If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
Webinar with Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola: Building a business in health & wellness (Dec. 6)
Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola, founder of Radiant Health Magazine, is a staunch advocate for living a healthy lifestyle and has been involved in public health for most of her adult life. Join us for a webinar with her on Dec. 6th, as she shares her health and entrepreneurship. Health and wellness is an important part of any Motherland Mogul’s lifestyle. You can’t expect to run your empire while running yourself into the ground. Exercise and eating well aren’t always emphasized in African communities, particularly exercise for African women. So where do you turn to for information on living a healthy life? How about those that love health and wellness and want to create a business focused around that industry? How do you make sure there is a market for what you are selling or providing? Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola has thought about all these problems and more and, she is ready to share her knowledge with us. From pharmaceuticals to the World Health Organization and now to being the founder and editor-in-chief of Africa’s #1 Health Magazine, Radiant Health Mag, Nnenna is passionate about helping Africans and others live their healthiest lives. Join us for a 30-minute webinar with Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola on December 6th, 2016. We’ll be discussing what it takes to live a healthy lifestyle as an entrepreneur and tips for starting a business in the health and wellness industry. Register below to get the exclusive link to the webinar. Some of the topics we’ll cover: How to make time for your health What it means to eat healthy How to start a business in the health industry How Radiant Health Mag became the #1 Health Magazine in Africa & the diaspora Webinar Details: Date: Tuesday December 6, 2016 Time: 7:00am NYC // 1:00pm Lagos // 3:00pm Nairobi Watch this webinar: Don’t miss another inspiring webinar! Join our community today! Click here. About Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola Nnenna Kalu Makanjuola is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Radiant Health Magazine, Africa’s leading health magazine. Radiant Health began as Nigeria’s first women’s magazine and has grown globally to reach African women on the continent and throughout the Diaspora. Nnenna’s lifelong commitment to improving health outcomes for Africans began with her work as a pharmacist. Wanting to make a larger impact, she transitioned to the public health sector starting as an intern at the World Health Organization (WHO) Geneva where she helped to develop data for the WHO Global Infobase, a country-level database of non-communicable disease risk factors. Nnenna served as a Global Health Fellow at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she spent a year in Tanzania working to strengthen the laboratory system for HIV/AIDS diagnosis and treatment monitoring. She continued her public health work at CDC Atlanta and later as a consultant for the D.C. based Advocates for Youth before going on to launch Radiant Health Magazine. Nnenna completed one year of study in Pharmacy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, prior to moving to the U.S. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from Texas Tech University and her Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University. Nnenna has been featured in How We Made It in Africa, Voices of America, YNaija’s Leading Ladies Africa, She Leads Africa and was recently named one of 41 Nigerian Women Entrepreneurs Putting the Country on the Global Business Map by Lionesses of Africa.
Twitter Chat with Tsholofelo Dikobe: Building a multifaceted fashion career (Dec. 1)
There are various ways to get involved in the fashion industry besides fashion design. We recently met a Motherland Mogul who is making waves in the fashion industry via multiple channels. Unable to be branded under just one category of fashion, Motswana Tsholofelo Dikobe, is known as a fashion artist. As a fashion journalist, blogger, curator, stylist and creative consultant, Tsholofelo is fully immersed and respected in the world of fashion. She is currently in the running for Southern Africa’s Most Stylish Female Celebrity. Join us Thursday Dec. 1st for a Twitter chat with Tsholofelo Dikobe. She’ll be sharing with us how she has been able to build her own niche within the fashion world and created a career for herself on her own terms. Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats to ask your questions and participate in the discussion. Topics that we’ll cover: Networking and making connections in the fashion world What it means to be a fashion artist How to become a stylist for A-listers and celebrities Staying unique and wading through the noise Twitter chat details Date: Thursday Dec. 1, 2016 Time: 7am NYC // 1pm Lagos // 3pm Gaborone Location: Follow She Leads Africa on twitter and use the hashtag #SLAChats Help us spread the word: [bctt tweet=”Join @TheKhoi_Fro & @sheleadsafrica for a twitter chat about building a fashion career, Dec. 1 @ 12pm GMT” via=”no”] About Tsholofelo Dikobe Named a fashion trail-blazer you should follow by CNN, Tsholofelo Dikobe is a fashion artist from Botswana. Tsholofelo Dikobe is the co-founder and fashion artistic director of GaTsh Fros, a creative duo that focuses on advocating for creativity and confidence building through fashion. She is widely regarded as a pioneer in fashion, image consultancy and fashion creative direction within Botswana. Tsholofelo works with Botswana fashion enthusiasts on brand positioning to help brand a new Botswana where now the focus is in favour of raiment designs by local Botswana artists. Tsholofelo has worked as fashion stylist alongside one of UK’s top stylists, Arieta Muray, for Gaborone Fashion Week featuring people like Quincy Brown, LaQuan Smith, YaYa Dacosta and Sessille Lopez. She had also appeared in campaigns and her style had been profiled by CNN African Voices, ELLE Magazine, S.A. New African Woman magazine, Marie Claire, AfroElle, Glamour and many others.
Habiba Wushishi: Food should not just be eaten but be enjoyed
[bctt tweet=”It has always been my dream to be innovative with my cooking – Habiba Wushishi” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] You know a real foodie when she talks about food evoking emotions and cooking being a married of ingredients. We’re talking about Habiba Wushihi here, founder and spice-mixologist (yeah, we just made this up) behind Sydney’s Cuisine. Habiba just loves food and she wants everyone to enjoy the tastiness and variety of Nigerian cuisine. That’s such a dope goal. Through Sydney’s Cuisine, she’s creating a new culture around how we appreciate Nigerian food which she hopes to expand globally through franchising. Read on to discover how Habiba will achieve her goals. She’s got lots of great advice for baby start-ups too. Why are you passionate about delivering good food in Nigeria? As a foodie, I understand that there are people who eat just to fill up, and people that actually love food. I believe that food should not just be eaten but be enjoyed. Nigeria is a country that boasts of so many traditional dishes from a myriad of cultures within it. Each culture has its own blend of flavours and ingredients which makes all of the food unique. Sydney’s Cuisine’s concept is based on an infusion of Nigerian and Intercontinental flavours. To that point, I too have started ‘The Sydney’s Culture’ which aims to continuously entertain my customers with bursts of flavours as they eat. The beauty of the Nigerian food culture is that we all eat and appreciate each other’s food from all parts of the country. One thing that is for certain is that Nigerians love to eat. This is befitting for me as it has always been my dream to be innovative with my cooking and create new and updated dishes that I know will attract a lot of people. When you are running any food business, the main priority is to be able to satisfy a variety of palettes and to enhance customers’ dining experience. Food has the ability to evoke positive emotions. Maybe you are having a stressful day at work, and my food has put a smile on your face. This is immensely rewarding for me knowing that I have provided a good service. Sydney’s Cuisine is dedicated to delivering good food in Nigeria not only to quench hunger and satisfy cravings, but also to create awareness about the next phase of Nigerian cooking. What makes Sydney’s Cuisine different from the other food and catering businesses that exist on the market? Before I started this business, I did research on as many food businesses as I could. More often than not, you come up with some idea(s) that someone or several others already have executed. I realised, after conducting my research, that my food concept and brand culture would take-off based on that special component, that makeover, that je ne sais quoi, that is much needed in the Nigerian food and catering market. Not long after, I had an epiphany —cooked food is a marriage of ingredients! In this case, my food concept would be to infuse Intercontinental flavours into the Nigerian cuisine. What sets Sydney’s Cuisine apart from the rest is that there are at least 15 different Nigerian and Intercontinental spices in all of our meals. This achieves a level of flavour that is so desirable, it has proved to be a tad overwhelming (in a good way) for a few of our customers. [bctt tweet=”Sydney’s Cuisine blends at least 15 different Nigerian and foreign spices in all meals” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] One of my goals is for Sydney’s Cuisine to appeal to people around the world, and the best way to achieve that is to provide a sense of familiarity by cooking with ingredients known to people from a specific country. I want the rest of the world to have a taste of the Nigerian cuisine and in turn, I’d like Nigerians to experience other flavours in food. Just like people all over world eat and enjoy the Asian cuisine. Global corporations like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft have their own individual business culture. This culture has played a huge role in the success of these companies. You don’t really hear about food/catering businesses and their cultures. Culture is a substantial part of any business and should be incorporated into every business. I am gradually developing the Sydney’s Cuisine culture that will make it stand out. Since this is your first start-up, what are the hardest parts of getting your venture off the ground and how are you looking to fill in the gaps? With any start-up, you will be faced with tough challenges. Teething problems are to be expected at the start of any food business. At first, when any issue arose, I found myself panicking and even doubting myself and my capabilities. I started this business on my own and without any partners. As a result, I had to juggle several roles and responsibilities to ensure quality control and efficiency. I was a manager, accountant, marketer (via social media platforms), food orders supervisor, packager, just to name a few. Sometimes, I would focus on one or two roles and because of this I would have missed a few orders or endanger the quality of the meals. Each role is just as significant as the other which is why I became very anxious in the beginning. [bctt tweet=”I found myself panicking and even doubting myself and my capabilities – Habiba Wushishi” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] When you are starting a new business, you may not want to hire a manager from the onset because you want to save on costs. So I decided to try out a couple of routines and figure out the best one for me to follow. Since then, I have come up with a system that works perfectly and has enabled me to settle into all those roles comfortably. And as the business grows, I will create a team to fill the roles. Day to day operations will always be a challenge and
4 things to learn from the lady mechanic, Oduwa Agboneni
[bctt tweet=”There is nothing like male-dominated field – Oduwa Agboneni, the lady mechanic” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Oduwa Agboneni is an entrepreneur in a seemingly male-dominated field. By the way, she doesn’t believe that crap of “male dominated” anything. Oh yes, we love that kick-ass spirit. She had her first degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Benin before proceeding to the University of Lagos for a Masters degree in Geoinformatics. She worked previously in the mechanical industry but since she’s always had a flair for business, she knew it was a matter of time before launching hers. Oduwa is the founder of Neni’s Auto Care. Her services range from car wash and detailing (odour removal, polishing, washing, fumigating) to auto-repair (auto diagnosis, body work, panel beating, electrical) and home based repairs. Presently, her employees are 80% male. Although her male staff are fine with her leadership, most times they tell her that she is the first woman they have worked with. They love Oduwa’s leadership skills so much that they no longer see her as a woman. To Oduwa, this shows that success has no gender neither does leadership in the “male-dominated” field. Her goal is to be the richest black woman in Africa. Oduwa would also love to see her business represented in all states in Nigeria and all countries in Africa. She plans to set up an NGO to empower young ladies in STEM, all while being the best wife and mother. Here are four things SLA contributor Ugochi learned after a chat with Oduwa: 1. The most difficult part of being an entrepreneur isn’t funding but coming up with a sustainable idea Motherland Moguls, you need to get in here. Contrary to perception that funding is the major challenge for business owners, Oduwa believes this is not the case. A good idea will always bring in the money eventually. So dream big, start small and grow steadily. She started from a car wash to developing a garage and now Neni’s Auto Care has evolved to perform other services. Good ideas would eventually attract funds as Oduwa is a 2015 recipient of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) grant. [bctt tweet=”A good idea will always bring in the money eventually – Oduwa Agboneni” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 2. There is nothing like “male-dominated” field Oduwa believes that this is a thing of the mind in this part of the world. So, know what you want and go for it. Motherland Moguls, what are you waiting for? 3. It’s a fallacy that you can’t be feminine in a “male dominated” field Now, there’s that phrase again “male-dominated” but this line of thought is absolutely bullocks. According to Oduwa, it’s all about time management. You can still look good, make your hair and be girly irrespective of the industry you operate in. 4. You can ace marriage and career Even though she has always been a career person, Oduwa knew she had to blend it with her marriage. She has learned to create a balance between her work and her home. Ugochi and Oduwa are currently undergoing a training programme together and Oduwa brought her baby along. But you’d never know there is a baby there because Oduwa is so coordinated and still contributes meaningfully in class. Talk about doing well in all areas. [bctt tweet=”#MotherlandMoguls need to dream big and be open to partnerships” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Final words to the Motherland Mogul You need to dream big and be open to partnerships. Pay attention to your customers and your employees because you need them to grow your business. Be focused, hard-working, determined and prepared at all times. Live your dreams. Want to see women you know featured on SLA? Tell us what amazing things women are doing in your communities here.
A battle of the mind: Leadership lessons from Sheryl Sandberg
[bctt tweet=”Our self-perception as women is actually what keeps you from moving ahead” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] I was fourteen, maybe fifteen and straight out of primary school, it was my first day in high school. My incoming class teacher asked me if I was willing to be the class prefect. I flat out said no. I just was not willing to take up a leadership position to a group of people whom I had never met before. This was despite the fact that I knew I was more than capable of doing the job and doing it well. Fast forward three years later I ended up taking a leadership position not only in my class, but in the entire school. Looking back though, I see the same trend repeating itself in my life over and over and that is what Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead is about. We do it to ourselves Initially, I thought the book was going to be about your basic feminist tirade. I was pleasantly surprised though, when from the get-go she focused more on how the self-perception that women have is actually what keeps them from moving ahead. ‘Sit at the table’ made it to my top three favourite chapters of the book. Sandberg discusses how women face a “battle from within” that prevents them from taking advantage of what rightly belongs to them. In the chapter, Sandberg gives a story about a certain meeting she hosted for government representatives —both men and women. After picking their cups of coffee, the men sat around the conference table but the women opted to sit off to the side of the room, even after much prodding from her. It was an innate decision they made to keep themselves away from issues under discussion even though they had every right to be there. [bctt tweet=”Women hesitate to take advantage of what rightly belongs to them” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] It’s possible to have it all In the 8th chapter, Sandberg brings up a common argument as far as women empowerment is concerned when she talks about making you partner, a real partner. She talks about the traditional gender roles in homes and how to overcome the limitations that these roles throw at women as far as career planning is concerned. The discussion revolves around empowerment taking place at home as much as it is being demanded in the work place. By having men take on more responsibility around the home, traditional gender roles are discouraged. Rather, this encourages an equal playing field in the workplace and at home. An idea that if put into practice in our homes, will enable us to excel both in our careers and in our families. In Africa, especially due to our cultural inclinations this here is easier said than done. Yet, if we are going to let Africa see what we are capable of we must get the entire community involved in this mind shift. The boys’ club mentality Generally, Sandberg’s book gives quite a good insight on the limitations placed on women both internally and externally. This was my key take-away. What I hear mostly around the office corridors is the existence of a certain secret ‘’boys club’’ that seeks to promote only the men in the career journey. [bctt tweet=”Woman empowerment is only attainable when both men and women pursue them together” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] What I don’t hear is talk on the limitations that we as women have placed on ourselves. It’s very easy to complain about how the system has been designed to work against our growth. While we are in that mind-set we forget to look at the limitations that we are placing on ourselves. Sandberg seems to have begun a kind of movement from the book, a not–so-secret girls’ club that should hopefully get all of us out of the pity party we might have in and work hard to get what we are looking to get. Lean In is definitely worth the read. It is witty, it’s well researched and very open, giving you a glimpse into the lives of top women leaders in the Silicon Valley. You see their weakness and failures and how they rise up in the leadership space. If you haven’t already read it, I suggest getting a copy. Not just for yourself but for your partner as well because as Sandberg discusses in the final chapter of the book. The goals of women empowerment are only attainable when both men and women pursue them together, at home and in the office and it begins by thinking that it is possible and worth the pursuit. Today, despite all of the gains we have made, neither men nor women have real choice. Until women have supportive employers and colleagues as well as partners who share family responsibilities, they don’t have real choice. And until men are fully respected for contributing inside the home, they don’t have real choice either. Equal opportunity is not equal unless everyone receives the encouragement that makes seizing those opportunities possible. Only then can both men and women achieve their full potential –Lean In
Working to learn versus working to earn: The Millennial dilemma
[bctt tweet=”Does it mean more for you to work to learn right now or work to earn?” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Admittedly most of us enter the job market with high hopes and plans to make waves working 9-5 and ultimately, leaving a footprint. In the excitement of the dawning of a new day; we sometimes forget that there are tough decisions that we need to ponder. This realization usually means an inevitable transition that takes us on a joy ride. Happy New Year! First of all, congratulations! You get to do all of the things which you set out to achieve as soon as you graduated and you are fired up with zeal to the brim. As a result you’ve been granted the opportunity-of-a-lifetime. The universe and your grancestors have been on your side; all that’s left to do is, SLAy! Yet, there’s a disclaimer, this job you’ve been offered does not pay enough for you to rent, pay off tertiary debt and have a social life. But, you’re probably fresh from university and in need of expertise. You’re thinking surely it won’t be long until you climb the corporate ladder, right? [bctt tweet=”Being a Motherland Mogul, you know that you cannot play with your earning potential” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Earning Potential Almost all your previous stresses and worries come through like; “Oh? You thought you’d be 20-something, driving your dream car and living in your luxurious penthouse?” Ha! You thought you were so woke and resolved and then got a feel of the juice. Being a Motherland Mogul, you know that you cannot play with your earning potential; that experience begets zeros, and recognition in your chosen field or vocation. So you need to draw up a list of priorities and take it from there. Question: Does it mean more for you to work to learn right now or work to earn? The ramifications of either decision Consequently, adulting comes with the unavoidable task of choices. So opting to work to earn could mean you forsake active mentorship —your job may not necessarily be in the trade or industry you may have wanted to be in. Or you may be working with individuals who are not invested in impacting any significant change within the industry because all they are about is the bottom line. The plus side to this is the fact that you will be able to settle your student debt, send money back home and be able to start saving to purchase property or buy a car. The reverse scenario is accepting a job to learn, truly dedicating oneself to the course of learning as many tricks of the trade and attending networking sessions to establish a strong foothold in the industry. Huge disclaimer: the remuneration may not live up to the job title and expectation of duties to be carried out. The silver lining on this cloud would be that what you gain in experience can always be made up for in monetary value at a later stage. [bctt tweet=”It is possible to have your cake and eat it when it comes to work situations” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] The grass may not always be greener Whether one is working to earn, or working to learn —there are both pros and cons to each scenario. The situation will vary from person to person and it is your prerogative to choose whichever works for you at a particular juncture in life. As such; you need to decide from a place of clarity and being grounded in what you wants for yourself. It is possible to have your cake and eat it; inasmuch as something may look attractive to you, it may not be all that it is cut out to be. [bctt tweet=”The world of vocation is a journey of continual learning writes @ZimK_Mvandaba” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Striking a balance The world of vocation is a journey of continual learning. By asking yourself deliberate questions about the aspirations you have and what fulfillment you want from a career, you will be a step closer. There is a preparedness that goes into the decision process guiding you from university to the world of work. Asking for help is not something to shy away from. Also, you could spend the first few years post-grad school interning or in a learnership to gain practical experience and take charge of the learning opportunities on offer. Alternatively, one could start off working to earn and building on their professional and academic portfolio simultaneously. There is no right or wrong, just make decisions that work for you as an individual.
10 things to accomplish in your career in your twenties
[bctt tweet=”The top 10 career lessons you should master in your twenties to be the #boss ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] It’s never too late (or too early) to accomplish anything in your career. I do not believe that there’s a calendar that everyone should follow as they go about in life. Advancing in your career in your twenties is not easy at all. Life gets more complex as we get older and having some guidelines is what every girl needs. To keep the momentum going in your career, there are things you can do to propel you even further. Read on for the top 10 career lessons you should master in this decade of your life. 1. Establish career goals In order to get to where you want to go, you have to first figure out where you want to go. Do not be one of those people who think that the career they want will be handed to them without clear planning and execution. In your twenties, think long and hard about what you want to achieve. Once you’ve thought things through, put in deliberate effort to achieve them. It is rare that things will go exactly as planned, so you have to adjust your plans accordingly. Imagine your job as an engineer turned out to be such a headache that you cannot bear to do it an extra day. You will then have to regularly revisit and adjust your career plan accordingly. 2. Build meaningful relationships Any smart woman knows it’s very important to develop good professional relationships. This should not just be internally in your organisation but also with external stakeholders (think customers, suppliers). You have probably heard the phrase that your network is your net worth. All opportunities are attached to people. They won’t come to you in a vacuum. Investing in meaningful relationships during your twenties is key. [bctt tweet=”Don’t allow your professional growth to stall in your 20s! Use these tips and learn” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 3. Experiment with a side hustle Everyone should experiment with a side hustle outside their careers, yes even you. Taking up a side hustle has many pros. It has the potential to not only enrich your life, but also expand your horizons. A side hustle can be a good way to try out a new career with minimal risks. Also, with a side hustle you can develop skills you wouldn’t have developed at your day job. This can ultimately get you to where you want to be, with a more meaningful job. Don’t allow your professional growth to stall in your twenties! Take up a side hustle can accelerate your learning. 4. Give back to your community You can always do more than that by giving back to your local community. There are many opportunities to add value, no matter your financial situation. Don’t think that it is only those who are balling that who can give back. Find out what is it that you care about and look for ways to get involved. Volunteer for your local church, participate in your company’s corporate social responsibility projects, start your own non-profit or give to a charitable foundation. Whatever cause is close to your heart, get involved in making this world a better place. It needs you. 5. Invest in yourself Don’t wait for an employer to invest in you. What will happen if they don’t believe in you and your colleagues keep getting the opportunities? Take charge of your personal development by setting aside money in your budget just for this purpose. Buy books, take courses and utilize free resources. Find career sites to follow in your industry. Do not be too broke to invest in yourself. [bctt tweet=”You’re in charge of your own success but let’s be real, you’ll need some help to get that career you want ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 6. Get a mentor/sponsor/coach You are in charge of your own success. But let’s be real, the most successful professionals are those who realise that they need help and ask for it. Identify some people you admire and reach out to them. A sponsor in your industry of choice can determine whether you grow in your company or don’t. If you can’t get a mentor or sponsor, buy the services of a coach and make good use of them. You will most likey get some tough love, and it might be just you need to succeed. Getting come accountability in your life is one of the first steps to success. 7. Build your personal brand Whether you want to believe it or not, you are building a personal brand with every interaction you have. So, why not take charge of developing it into something you admire? Make a conscious decision on how you want to be perceived by others and make an effort to get there. It will take time to grow your personal brand but once you get started, you will not want to stop. 8. Build an enviable work ethic When we are young, we dream about all the things we’ll be. As we grow older though, we realize that nothing comes to the dreamer. Instead, the people who achieve great things are those who work on their dreams every time they get. Your twenties are the time to bust your ass working to prove yourself in your industry. If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you have never had. [bctt tweet=”Your twenties are the time to bust your ass working, these 10 tips ensure it’s not all in vain” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 9. Be comfortable in your own skin I remember when I was just starting my career, I was shy and very introverted, always scared to raise my voice. As I got older, I got comfortable with my personality and what I had to offer to the world. Too many times, we are afraid to speak out because of inner criticism. Do not be so hard on yourself. Put on some bravery, learn your weaknesses but accentuate your strengths.
5 steps to developing business systems that work for start-ups
[bctt tweet=”@jeanette_nk summarises the lessons she learned building business systems for her start-up” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] So, you finally have a concept and business plan finalised. You’re ready to begin operating but don’t know where to start? This is usually where consulting firms sweep in and offer help for a fee. Although outsourcing usually benefits most small start-ups, it’s also true that not every small business has enough money to exploit such services. If you ‘don’t know anything about business’, but don’t have the money to consult those that do, then you’d better whip out your notebook and concentrate. When I started my business I had no idea how complicated running a PR company was so I dived in, head first. Luckily for me, I snapped out of my illusion quick enough to save the company from myself. I took a step back and educated myself on the business systems that exist within a typical PR company. Below, I’ve summarised the lessons I learned in 5 very doable steps that can be applied to businesses in various industries. 1. Identify all existing/potential divisions Business systems are a strategic response to a chain of events that occur within different divisions. Let me make it simpler, using a chocolate cake for instance. Business systems would, in this case, be the oven for the cake and the different divisions involved would be the ingredients needed to make this cake. I know, I’m salivating too! Okay, let’s focus. These systems include payment policies, contractual agreements, marketing management, customer care etc. For example, if I got a call to handle a campaign for a company, between that call, the conclusion of the campaign and payment being transferred to me, I need to ask myself what divisions would be involved. There would administration for the signing of the contract and releasing of press releases and accounts to record the payment for example. When you develop your business systems, you need to consider how it will help make those divisions function well together, taking into account all other factors involved like employees within those divisions. You might want to pick up a business book or two to learn more about general business management if you are not too sure about the operational divisions. [bctt tweet=”Play office, just like you played house when you were a cute little kid” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 2. Play office Yes, play office. Just like you played house when you were a cute little kid before life put the world on your shoulders and no, I’m not mad to suggest this! Putting yourself in a real-life scenario will help you identify what works and what doesn’t work, it helps bring you down to earth. When I started out, I pitched for a partnership with a very big musician. I was excited for a little while because I could taste the big-time in my mouth. However, once I sat down with my notebook and laptop, I realised that I had no idea where I was going to start and what I was going to do. I sent out a few mock press releases to see how easy it would be to get word out there and after weeks of waiting, not one publication got back to me. Devastated doesn’t begin to describe how I felt when I sent the “I’m going to start small” email to that client. Yet, I understood that I needed to go through other processes before I got the handle of things. I realised things were a lot more complicated than I thought. In theory, your vision always seems a lot easier, that’s why it’s important to try and see how well it would work out physically. Believe me when I say, I literally played office. I set up a nice corner for myself in my tiny typical student room and every morning when I had nothing to do, I would go in, pretend to consult a client, hold staff meetings and so on. This helped me see how things would be if I were sitting across from an actual client. 3. Shadow other existing businesses Enquire with a similar business and take notes on how they respond to you. I promise you it’s not as shady as you might think. This step will allow you to, if you haven’t yet, come up with a niche/speciality for your own business. Once they respond to you, or if they don’t at all, you can spot what you can incorporate in your business systems to better serve potential clients. Think of it as industry research, because it pretty much is just that. For a month or two, I analytically and critically followed one particular PR firm. It was during that time that I started spotting trends on their Twitter timeline. I started learning about things like status meetings and press release drafting sessions, things I had never thought about. The whole shadowing journey guided me in the right direction, I began seeing exactly how you handle your clients as a publicist and how you navigate the different divisions around such an account or campaign. [bctt tweet=”Shadowing existing businesses in your niche is not as shady as you’d think” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] 4. Develop an operating system This step isn’t as easy as you’d think, but it is completely manageable if you give it enough push. When developing your systems, think long-term, you want these systems to become a tradition and lifestyle for your business. Although it is referred to as one big system, the truth is, a business system is made up of many small systems that are tailored according to the different interrelated divisions you identified in step 1. No think about it, it’s really not as confusing. Let’s take a step back to the cake example, these small systems would be how you prepare your ingredients before you mix them in. Before you mix cake batter, you would have had to mix the liquids and dry ingredients separately. You also can’t mix the icing and