10 easy ways to maximize Valentine’s Day sales
Valentine season can be a really busy for retail businesses, it is therefore important that business owners maximize the opportunity to increase sales at times like this. If you have been in business for up to 2 years or more, you might want to refer to sales data from previous years. This sales data can be used to prepare and determine ways to increase sales volume. Having the right products is good but promoting what your business is offering just in time for valentines to build up sales is even better. To achieve this, use the right communication channels to reach your target audience. Get as much exposure as you can, reach out to past customers as well as potential ones. Here are general tips you can apply to drive up sales this coming Valentine. Curate gift combinations (gift baskets/boxes) Put related products together. Be creative with your ideas, make the combinations simple and appealing. Make sure you consider your target audience and whom they will be buying the gift for. Create an experience with service combinations Valentine’s Day is mostly about pampering loved ones. Depending on your target audience, put together indulgent packages. If your business is in beauty and hospitality, this is something to consider. For instance, if you own a spa, you can combine various treatments and offer as one package for valentine. Create a bundle comprising the range of products you offer. Make sure the products are related and make them available as readymade options so buyers can simply grab and go. An example of such bundle is a Perfume gift set by Victoria’s secret containing a shower gel, body cream, and perfume. When you can, offer to wrap gifts for free or include it as a service to provide convenience to your customers. Partner up Collaboration during peak seasons can be at an advantage for you and your business. You can team up with reputable local businesses to create joint packages. For instance, if you’re a florist, team up with a baker to create a package for valentine. Create a buzz Hold a fun contest to engage your followers on social media and create a buzz around your business. Make sure you are well aware of rules/restrictions associated with putting up contests on various social media platforms. Make sure you time your promotions to capture early and late shoppers. Get the word out and announce your last minute gift deals. Make gift card options available Most last-minute shoppers are usually open to this, usually because most times they do not have a clear idea of what to buy. Design a gift card that’s appealing and gives a good impression of your business, be sure to include terms and conditions when issuing these gift cards. Think beyond valentine’s day Take advantage of valentine’s day rush to build a database your business can use in the future. You can present visiting customers an option to sign up / subscribe to your business website, app or whatever platform your business operates. [bctt tweet=”Prepare your staff to deal with the pressure of increased sales a peak seasons.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Most importantly, remember to have fun even as you help others express love this season.
Budding entrepreneur: Here’s why you need a Lawyer in Your Corner
Naivety and misplaced trust have seen many individuals lose money and opportunities they have worked for in business. Doing business with a friend can contribute to its success as there are cohesion and team spirit at work. However, delve into a little research and you will realize that many have also been swindled by friends they considered family. When setting up a business especially a partnership it’s good to get your agreement in writing and sign contracts. This will draw boundaries on which the business will operate. [bctt tweet=”A Lawyer brings perspective to your business.” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Most millennials excited by the start of something new forget that there are legal obligations that their businesses should meet. This is why it’s paramount to involve a lawyer from the onset of your business. A Lawyer brings perspective to your business. Instead of seeing the business as a friends venture or a short-term money-making investment. Lawyers see the bigger picture and plan for circumstances that we may not foresee as we are busy trying to build the business. Change is inevitable, mindsets change and people who were previously on the same page about the direction a business should take begin to disagree. This situation is dangerous as it can lead to the death of the business or the destruction of a brand if no prior steps had been taken to advise on what should be done in such a situation. That’s why it’s important to involve a lawyer early on at the start of the business albeit the extra cost the lawyer will add to your young business. In the long-term, you will realize this is cheaper as opposed to calling on a lawyer only when things go wrong and you are in court. [bctt tweet=”A lawyer will go out of their way to ensure your company’s intellectual property is protected” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Our current world is such that you can do everything by yourself online including registering a company in a span of one to three days. You can draw contracts to use in your business transactions using templates provided online. Such liberties are great but they should not delude us into thinking that lawyers are not key to our businesses success. A lawyer will go out of their way to ensure your company’s intellectual property is protected. In a business partnership between friends, they will bring the law on board to ensure no one is cunning enough to overwork the other and still expect to reap from the others hard work. Here are some reasons why motherland moguls should enlist the knowledge of lawyers in their businesses. A lawyer is your voice of reason. Most businesses sprout from our passions. This means we may not be very objective while making some decisions. We are tempted to use trust as a currency while dealing with our customers or partners just to get the business on its feet. This means we may end up with bankrupting the business due to bad debts. Lawyers come in handy as they assert themselves and insist on contracts with suppliers and customers. This saves motherland moguls from cons as there will be no loopholes to be exploited in the business. Lawyers offer security and protection A lawyer’s roles are to pre-empt situations and ensure we are not victims of unscrupulous people who we are doing business with. In situations where certain circumstances cannot be avoided, they ensure the law is on our side. Many times we are ignorant of what is required of us by law and lawyers protect us from our own ignorance. Lawyers have connections and a clientele base like you The right lawyer will hold your hand and help you know the ins and outs of the business niche you have chosen to explore. They have other clients like you and so they have been on the journey you are just beginning. Lawyers will offer insights that may prove very useful in the long run to a start-up. In addition to offering legal services, they can be a marketing tool for your business as they speak of your business to potential clients. Got an article you’d like to share with us? Share your story with us here.
5 Work-Life Balance Tips For New Entrepreneurs
You know that popular quote that says that the first year of business for any entrepreneur particularly a solopreneur is usually the hardest? Well, nothing can be further from the truth. What they also didn’t tell you is that in that first year, in order to get things rolling, you might lose yourself to your business. This also includes but is not limited to your family, friends, network and social life. Depending on your perspective, this might seem like an investment in the long run. After all, the first five years are the most pivotal point of any business. After that, it’s supposed to get easier. But does that mean you have to wait until your business has fully taken off to get your life and have a semblance of work-life balance?I think not. Here are five simple work-life balance tips that I have found works for new entrepreneurs. Separate your business from your personal life. This might seem like a walk in the park but believe me, it is easier said than done. In a bid to be always available, accessible and offer excellent customer service, the thin line between your business and your personal life might be blurred. So, it is key to separate them. This can be as simple as getting a different phone/WhatsApp number for your business. This way, you’re not tempted to respond to messages that are not urgent outside work hours. Determine your work hours. As much we live on the internet, it can be tough for internet-enabled businesses to switch off for the day but it’s important for work-life balance. Entrepreneurs are known to work around the clock but by determining your work hours you are giving your business structure and leaving out time for yourself and your life. Make plans ahead It’s one thing for you as an entrepreneur to not have a social life, it’s another thing entirely to not make plans outside your business. The great thing about making plans ahead and following through with your family and friends is that you’re completely distracted and not tempted to work. No matter how little it might seem initially, it means that out of your super busy schedule, you are making time for your loved ones and that is one of the keys to a balanced life. So, draw up a special calendar and slot in some dates and fun activities for the next three months. This gives your friends enough time ahead to prevent a clash of schedules. (SLA TIP: Google Calendar is your plug) Observe public holidays As an entrepreneur, it’s so easy to become a workaholic. But as much as strong work ethics are admirable, it’s important to know when to take a break to re-energize and avoid burning out. One of the most simple ways you can achieve this especially when you don’t have the luxury of taking vacations yet is by observing public holidays. Turn off your work phone and emails. If possible, stay off social media and cultivate a habit of resting. Learn how to rest Everyone has their definition of rest but one thing is certain, it does not involve work. One of the key things I learned over the Christmas holidays is the ability to sit down and do absolutely nothing. As difficult as it was initially particularly for someone that has worked all year, by the time I got into the state of inactivity and idleness, it was refreshing to truly rest. Try it and see! As a compliment, you can also find passive non-work related activities (such as listening to audiobooks) to pass the time. Got some advice for new business owners and entrepreneurs? Share your advice with us here.
MALEBOGO MARUMOAGAE: It is not about being your own boss, it is about finding a solution to a problem
This is a woman rooted in love. Love for her mother, work and for others. She is love. She is Malebogo Marumoagae. We were first introduced to Malebogo as a beauty queen when she was crowned Miss Botswana in 2006. Today, she still wears that crown, now as the belle of Belle Larissa. A consultancy company she founded in 2009 and went on to win a Woman in Business Award for, under the category of Young Female Entrepreneur of The Year in 2016. Belle Larissa slayed at the end of 2017 when it hosted what would become the inaugural International Women in Mining conference (IWiM). Malebogo not only has a good business and a few awards to her name, she holds a degree in Economics and Population Studies, and an MBA from the University of Botswana. I had a chat with her and this is her inspirational story. Tell us about yourself. I am Malebogo Marumoagae. I was born and bred in Tonota by one of the strongest women I know, Diteko Marumoagae. My mother has taught me how to be confident in my own skin, to respect others and myself and most importantly to know that I am nothing without God. I believe in the law of attraction. That whatever you think, eventually becomes your reality. Even the Bible says in the book of Proverbs ‘above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life”. I love reading, in fact, I have learned so much from the books I read and I am always encouraging anyone who wants to be a leader to make reading a habit and not a hobby. Tell us more about Belle Larissa. Belle Larissa is a BQA registered and accredited institution providing training on personal branding, professional image, and etiquette. Our main aim is to assist individuals, young and old to be the best that they can possibly be especially in today’s world where there is competition in almost every opportunity that arises. For organizations, we assist their employees to align their personal brands with their corporate brand. How would you define etiquette? Are we a people that care for it, especially locally? Etiquette is simply a set of rules that govern socially accepted behavior. It is about showing respect and making others feel comfortable and at ease when they are around you. The word may be new to some, however, etiquette is not a new thing. In our Setswana culture, we call it Botho. It is behaving graciously in any given situation. It is not an issue of whether people care for it or not, Etiquette is a requirement for civilization. I wish I could confidently say our services have gained the attention they deserve. We have done our bit, but I still believe there is still much to be done. Winning the Young Female Entrepreneur of the Year, how significant was that moment for you? That was a very surreal moment. I felt really proud of my team and I. As you may know, our business is relatively new in Botswana so to have that recognition was a great confidence booster. However, we also understand that it means we need to keep working hard to ensure that we stay on top of our game. In 2017, Belle Larissa hosted the first ever International Women in Mining (IWiN) Conference in Botswana. What inspired the initiative? Yes, together with Brandneue Media, we hosted the first-ever Women in Mining Conference in Botswana in 2017. This initiative was inspired by the need to promote greater participation of women in the mining industry. The numbers show that the mining industry is one of the most male-dominated industries in the world and Botswana is no exception. We wanted to play our part by bringing together women, who are already in the mining industry, those with aspirations of getting in the industry, policymakers, and financial institutions under one roof, to discuss the challenges as well as come up with solutions to increase the participation of women in this industry. What does it mean for you as an African woman being in business? African women have from time been in business to feed, educate and take care of their children. It means so much to me that I am part of a group of phenomenal women who have either by choice or default found themselves in business. Being a woman and in business has never been an easy thing. I hope I am able to inspire other upcoming business women to follow their dreams the same way I have been inspired by hard-working, women who came before me. How do you suppose one can recognize themselves as an empowered woman? For me, an empowered woman is one who has a choice to be whatever she wants to be. She knows her worth, is confident in her own skin and is not intimidated by the success of other women. An empowered woman stands for herself, speaks for herself and is the voice to the voiceless. As she goes up, she pulls others with her. What three principles would you say drives your business? Our business is driven by the love to see other people excel and become the best versions of themselves. We believe in team-work as everyone has their own unique abilities which can contribute towards ensuring that our clients get quality service. What advice would you give to young women who want to be their own boss? For me, it is not about being your own boss, it is about finding a solution to a problem or problems facing our society and then putting together a team that shares your vision and working together towards achieving that vision. For anyone who wants to take that path, I would say, it is not an easy road to take but if you want it so bad, you need to put in the effort, develop yourself, read extensively and have a never-give-up attitude.
Setting your business up for success – 5 things you must do
It’s a New Year and everyone seems busy penning down their New Year Resolutions. Business owners are also devising strategic means to boost sales and make more profit. It’s a time to sit and reflect on the past year and see what can be done to make the present year a success. As a business owner, you want to set your business up for success. What do you intend to do differently this year? To achieve a different result, you need to be willing to do things differently. It could be the way you assign tasks or the goals you set in place or even the marketing strategy you adopt. In this article, I will share with you 5 ways to set your business up for success. This isn’t something you implement once and get a lasting success. No! It’s something you must be willing to implement occasionally to get your desired success. Set SMART goals What sets a business apart from another are the goals set in place. You can always distinguish between a successful business and a less successful one by the kind of goals they set. One way to set your business up for success is to implement SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based. Can you spot the difference between the two goals? “Increase sales” and “Increase sales by 30% by the end of the year.” To get to where you want to be, you first need to know where you’re going. Any business owner can set goals but many fail to set SMART goals. Specific – Are your goals clearly defined? Do you know the why, what and how of your goals? Measurable – Can you monitor and measure the progress of your goals? Attainable – Can these goals be attained? Relevant – How relevant are these goals to the growth of your business? Time-based – Do these goals have deadlines? How soon can they be met? Engage in social media It’s no doubt that a lot of users are active on social media. Want to set your business up for success this year? Get active on social media! A large number of the public are constantly on social media. As a business owner, it’s important you attract, reach out and engage your target audience on social media. It could be Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn. What better way to get your business out there than through social media? Everyone seems to be engaged in the social media world. Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, consumers are constantly searching their newsfeed for products and services so, use this opportunity to grow your business, promote brand awareness, make more money, reach a wider audience and in the long run achieve success. However, you need to monitor which social media channel your target audience is active on. Facebook has a number of 1,870 million active users. Instagram has 600 and Twitter has 317. Just because Facebook has the highest doesn’t mean it’s your target audience preferred channel. Delegate If there’s one thing you must do to achieve success this year is to delegate more often. Your business is your baby, I get it. But if you don’t take care of yourself and learn to delegate, you’ll get burdened and overwhelmed and eventually both you and your business will fall apart. According to Gallup “founders who have and use high delegator talent can generate better business growth and venture success than leaders who get lost in the day-to-day minutiae of managing a business.” Choose what tasks to delegate Delegate to the right people Communication is key Invest in teaching and training Learn to trust your team Email Marketing While most business owners avoid email marketing because they think it’s obsolete, 59 percent of B2B marketers reveals email as the most effective channel for revenue generation. According to McKinsey, email marketing is 3 times more effective than social media and the average customer order is high. Set your online business up for success this year through email marketing. Why? I’m glad you asked. Email is an easy way to reach mobile customers. Look around you, how many people do you see with smartphones? I’ll tell you. Everyone! We’re all glued to our devices. A report indicates an increase in the number of purchase made on mobile devices from 3.4% to 36.7%. Email marketing helps you create lasting relationships Everyone still checks their email Keeps your brand top of mind Email marketing is inexpensive Email marketing is action-oriented You can tailor your message to your customers Email marketing is measurable and testable Respond to change We all know change is inevitable; it’s a constant factor. As a business owner – whether B2B, B2C, small/large scale or online, you need to embrace change as a contributing factor to business success. You should be willing to adapt to the dynamic nature of the environment and be flexible. The market and economy keep changing; customer demands seem to change as well. You have to keep up with these changes if you must succeed this year. When you’re unable to adapt, it’s likely you’ll lose customers and profits which will eventually result in a total failure of your business. You wouldn’t want that, would you? I don’t think so. Always bear in mind that the world keeps evolving; you need to keep up with the change.
4 steps to starting the new year afresh
Happy New Year Motherland Moguls! The SLA team is cheering you as you SLAY into 2018. With the New Year comes a new start. A chance for you to leave the struggles and obstacles of the previous year behind and start afresh. I have drawn out a list of action-packed steps we can all take to make the best out of 2018! Step 1: Assess your situation My first piece of advice would be to assess the situation you are in at the end of 2017 or the beginning of 2018 before setting New Year resolutions. What went great? What didn’t go so well and what needed improvements? In doing so, you may realize exactly where you need improvements, or just how amazing you are at doing something. Either way, it will serve as the basis for improvement. Step 2: Shortlist the areas in which you would like to improve Once you have assessed the situation you can move on to your resolutions. Resolutions that are suited to you, instead of being generic ones. Throughout the process of setting these resolutions, remember that you do not have to set resolutions that begin on January 1st and end December 31st. See your resolutions as a way to better yourself, way beyond the limits of time. For instance, one of my resolutions is to gain more knowledge about cultures, economies, and politics. It is not a resolution I intend on giving up on as soon as the next year rolls by. Knowledge is continuous, just like every single one of our resolutions should be. [bctt tweet=”The internet and the technology available to us is vast, use it wisely and reap the benefits” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Step 3: Find out how you can better yourself Once you know where you would like to better yourself, brainstorm the ways in which you can kick-start your resolutions. My first step would be to consult books in all their forms. Visit bookstores, get audio books, magazines, online magazines (don’t forget your trusty SLA)… And then, there’s the internet. If you use the internet wisely, it can do a world of good. There is a YouTube tutorial on just about everything! Do you want to be more knowledgeable about table etiquette? Check out these tutorials. They will actually teach you everything from making a great first impression to the do’s and don’ts at a dinner table. If you want to get fit, popsugar fitness is the destination, you can start with that. Another resource would be smartphone apps. Many of them are free and work effectively. Are you looking to impress someone with your cooking skills…or just survive by feeding yourself? Watch what happens when you type ‘cooking books recipes free’ in your play store (team Android, what’s good?). The internet and the technology available to us is vast, use it wisely and reap the benefits. [bctt tweet=” Do not aim for perfection, but rather experiences in every step you take” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Step 4: Take the first step! So one thing we’re often afraid to do is take the first step. I try to remember that the first step is often the scariest and therefore the hardest, but once you’ve made that first move, the world is your oyster. For instance, I took my first solo travel for work in 2016. Believe it or not, I had never been anywhere alone, with no one I knew. I was scared out of my mind when my mother dropped me off at O.R Tambo International airport. I literally wondered how I was going to get from one place to the next in Bamako Mali, all on my own. But remember this: you have the capacity to do anything your heart desires and it is not the fear that lies within that has the ability to negate those capacities. [bctt tweet=”You have the capacity to do anything your heart desires” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] And an old age adage that will forever remain true, is that “if at first, you don’t succeed, try try again”. Do not aim for perfection, but rather experiences in every step you take. I really hope these steps will help you and contribute to an amazing 2018 for each and every one of you! And If you have made it this far and have enjoyed the read, until next time! Have a fabulous New Year!
5 steps to maintaining your balance as a closet entrepreneur
In a conversation I had not too long ago, I had realized and pointed out that one of the things I love about Johannesburg, is that it’s a place where more often than not, you meet people who have day jobs (9 – 5), but also run businesses and have side-hustles after-hours. These are often centred around their passion, interests or basically what they enjoy and are good at. They vary from person to person. For example: Nkgabi, who started off in advertising, left corporate and started her own company and also dabbles in some blogging for her blog – Diary of a Rad Black Woman. Duke, who is quite talented when it comes to woodwork. He’s in the construction industry but makes furniture. He’s made rails for me, server tables and is currently in the process of making pedestals. Mlue, who is a chef and runs a catering business that he’s grown over the past few months. From participating in market days where he sells his local cuisine, to catering for intimate dinners and parties, he too has a 9-5 in advertising. Myself, a market research analyst from 9- 5 and returns home to run an online clothing business; Barbara Mckenzie. Although the word hustle has historically had a negative connotation describing scams and fraud, over the past few years this has changed and now people are proud to be called hustlers. From the above-mentioned individuals and anyone else who leads such a busy life of juggling two jobs at once, they are multi-taskers and jugglers of note. And for those looking to grow their interests into income-generating ventures, here are a few tips on how to maintain the balance. Eat the elephant one bite at a time As closet-entrepreneurs, we do not necessarily enjoy the luxury of working in our businesses all day like full-time entrepreneurs do, so we need to roll out tasks into smaller and more manageable sizes. Diagrams and lists often help here and ticking or crossing off completed tasks enable you to see your progress at a glance and see what needs to be done immediately. For example, if you make products that you sell, one afternoon or evening can be set aside for collecting all that is needed for production and prepping for it. The next two afternoons or evenings can be set aside for the production and the weekend may be for corrections or changes and so forth. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail Whether you’re working after hours during the week or over weekends, your time needs to be well planned for to ensure that you’re getting the most of the limited time that you have. For example, answering emails at 09:00, then 12:00 and then at 16:00 allows you to fully focus on the work at hand instead of being distracted with emails that come in every 30 minutes or so. This enables you to have more hours to work effectively on your 9-5. Another angle is if you sell products that need to be shipped out, do your shipping on certain days for an hour instead of doing them individually for an hour every time could save you a lot of time. It is also important to note that scheduling your family and friends is just as important, as work does tend to take over one’s schedule leaving loved ones neglected. [bctt tweet=”You can save time and energy by using your income from your 9-5 to invest in your side business ” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Outsource Often as owners of our businesses, we tend to want to do everything ourselves, which is not the wisest thing to do. Where you can get help and outsource, do it. Sometimes, instead of buying stock or materials yourself, you can hire and pay a daily rate to a runner. Another idea would be to buy online and have them delivered to you. You can save time and energy by using your income from your 9-5 to invest in your side business or simply add it into the product’s costing. Do things that create more time Often you’ll find that customers have very similar questions, one way to address this is to have a frequently asked questions page that answers shipping queries, accounts queries, standard rates etc. This is where outsourcing is an idea as well, if you ship out products, having a company handle all your shipping is better than having to run to the post office everything someone makes a purchase. [bctt tweet=”Use a vision board. When you can see what you want to achieve, it gives you that extra push” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] Kick procrastination Avoid this by all means. Although quite a difficult one to avoid, with proper planning and discipline, you can set aside rest days to binge watch Being Mary Jane or Insecure so that when you have to get back to work, you’re well rested. Another idea is to also divide your work into smaller intervals of work with 15 minute rest periods in between them, this keeps you fresh and alert. My own personal method to keep myself motivated is to spend about 10 minutes on Pinterest looking beautiful and fashion-forward clothing from around the world. This not only inspires me but also gets my creativity going and excited to create more clothes. Others find a that a vision board helps, when you can see what you want to achieve, it gives you that extra push. In conclusion For those who have both day jobs and run a side-business, I believe you’re some kind of special human. Aside from the 9-5 hours you work, you still come home and gather up some more energy to work on your side business. Naturally, this means we have less time and freedom than full-time entrepreneurs, but we still keep it all together and keep our businesses going, and when you’re feeling overwhelmed and tired. It’s great to look back at what you’ve done and accomplished with that limited time, kudos to you! Got any skills on how
TUMELO MATSHENG: I didn’t cry after I was laid off. I was thankful
When it comes to infant enterprises, I always say despise not the days of small beginnings and I am pleased Tumelo Matsheng concurs. Tumelo is the founder of MY MY’S CHILLI, and her small business which she founded in February 2017 is growing. She is definitely enjoying the process of developing her enterprise. She strongly believes that when one door closes another opens, and her newly open door came as an enterprise opportunity. It is easy to be disheartened when finding out you would be laid off work but for Tumelo it turned out to be a blessing. Her former employer approached her to let her know that their business had incurred major financial mismanagement and she would have to be terminated. What the ex-employer also told her was that she had so much potential that she could venture into other things, be it a business or another job. He gave his blessings to her to proceed on with life. Instead of sulking, Tumelo took the advice and made most out of it. This would be the start of her chilli business. I had the opportunity to chat with the humble 27-year-old young Motswana woman from a village called Borobadilepe, Ramatlabama and this is what she had to say. What triggered the birth of My My’s Chilli? MyMy’s Chilli is a homemade chilli that I make. It started off as an experiment. I used to make it then give it to friends and family to taste. One friend, in particular, liked it so much after the third trial taste, and I was encouraged to approach it as a business. I choose to say MyMy’s Chilli was born February 2017, with orders mostly from close family and friends. Tell us more about the name of your product. My name is Tumelo. Tumie and TuMyMy are nicknames. So I opted for the mymy from the TuMyMy nickname to brand myself as My My’s Chilli. How has your background influenced who you are with regards to your work? From an early age, I enjoyed cooking, experimenting and playing with food in the kitchen. The kitchen is my favorite place in the house. When I got laid off from work in January 2017 that is when I became more serious about making my chilli. I didn’t cry after I was laid off. I was thankful. I felt God presented the opportunity for MyMy’s Chilli. What is it about your chilli that makes it uniquely yours? The secret is in the spices I use which I shall not disclose. I choose to remain tight-lipped about it. Tell us more about your range of products. For now, I only make one flavor. I am however working on making other flavors and expanding the range to offer a bit of variety. I will say that it will be something creamy. It is often said that you can’t supply what isn’t in demand. How do you ensure the requests for My My’s Chilly keep coming? I do per order. What helps boost the sales is with the markets I go to. The orders are growing by the day. How did people receive it, and how easy is it for local retailers in accommodating My My’s Chilli? It’s been positive feedback all along. One of the local store (Choppies) advised I must take a sample for food testing and that I need to get a batch code. I now feel at a point where I could afford the Naftec route expenses. I want MyMy’s Chilli to be able to sustain itself without having to fund the expenses myself and it’s in the process. What keeps you going when you feel like throwing in the towel? I can’t afford to give up. God always makes a way. He always comes through, he never fails me. It may take time but God is at work. That is how I work. What advice do you have for African women wishing to be entrepreneurs? Success always demands a little bit more! Be a little more and when someone tells you that you can’t achieve your goals, let it fuel you to prove them wrong. Keep dreaming big. Dreams do come true. Above all let God be God and be humble. If you had the opportunity to export MyMy’s Chilli to any African country, which would it be and why? South Africa. It is the food basket of Africa. I love their food culture (restaurants, shisanyamas, sports etc) and population. Which local woman entrepreneur inspires you? Her name is Eteng Mohwasa. It has been amazing watching her grow. She is an entrepreneur who started off as a baker now she is the owner of Body Signature Spa at The Village. She is a friend, has a bubbly personality and loves God. She uplifts me. I admire her love for god. What’s next for MyMy’s Chilli for the next three to five years? I want to see it on the shelves internationally.
4 Steps to SLAYING into the new year like a boss
Walking through the stairs of 365 days without missing steps, go beyond making new year resolutions. Taking each day as a step on the stairs of this new phase (2018), we would realize that as days crawl into weeks and weeks run into months in the course of the year, the will to thrive beyond all odds may begin to dwindle. As a result of this, hopes will definitely fall whenever we miss our steps in the course of this journey. To this end, it is important for us to note that It’s not enough to make new year resolutions. It’s more paramount for us to become them. Yes! Become those resolutions! Consequentially, this connotes that each day counts! In other words, those tiny seconds, little minutes and few hours in each day matters a lot. In order not to get the same result at the end of this new year, we must change our approach to life in general. It’s high time we realized that: Change isn’t just a theoretical phenomenon Change isn’t a part of life Change is life itself So, it’s either we live it or it leaves us behind. Start Now! Start Right Sometimes, we never discover the beginning until the end. This is why many are left stuck in heaps of regrets towards the end of the year. But hey, this is another phase, another beginning to determine the end. There’s no better time to execute those beautiful plans in your head than now. “A good plan vigorously executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week”.- General George Patton Start Right It’s never wrong to start right, but the big question is- HOW DO WE START RIGHT? The first step to starting right begins with the mind. Most times, life may leave our minds clogged up with so many negatives that we tend to close our hearts to the opportunities that come knocking. Goals and dreams seem to be far fetched, especially when one is surrounded by people who are ready to give 101 reasons to be content with failure. Here, it is required that you go not just steps away, but miles far from these negativities. No wonder Gandhi said- “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feets”. Bill Newman also asserted that “minds certainly are like parachutes, they only function when they are open”. Indeed, an open mind is most sensitive to even the faintest footprint of opportunities, rather than lingering within the confine of self-pity. Live Ready! How ready are we, for the opportunities we crave for? The truth is, opportunities are right there on each step of the stairs. As we build on our abilities, we lay a stronger foundation for our capabilities. Learn something new each day! “In a time of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exist”. -Eric Hoffer “The illiterates of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.”-Alvin Toffler Carry people along Imagine a life where you have the whole world to yourself, just you with nobody else. No one to share the wealth with, or the joy, peace, and love – if there will even be any… As we go through the steps on these stairs of 2018, let’s remember that we all need each other, regardless of the ‘buts’. Therefore, we need not get too serious with life that we forget to put a smile on a face each day in this new phase. We need not push ourselves off the stairs, for everyone has a pace, a lane and a destination which is the beauty of life. [bctt tweet=”It’s not how high you climb, but how many people you are prepared to take with you” username=”SheLeadsAfrica”] As you go through this stairs, remember, taking the wrong steps will never get you the right result. Just Live the change you desire! Start now! Start right! Live ready! You may not have silver to deliver, but you sure do have love and care to share. Cheers! To this new dawn If you’d like to share your story with She Leads Africa, let us know more about you and your story here.
Stop being busy achieving nothing
When I was much younger, I had the expert brain of never forgetting to do anything, numbers in my phonebook and even birthdays…but now…oh well!!! You can almost not get past a day without forgetting you had to return a call or deliver an extra work that didn’t make it to your to-do list. I know it’s not your fault, there’s just so much on the plate, and that’s why I’ve come to help you with cheat codes you can engage to help you be more productive with work time. Some home-made remedies like setting a reminder and creating/ticking off your to-do list, however, you can try these as well: Just do it NOW So, you see, most times our biggest problem is, we see that we have to do something, but we ignorantly shove it aside, forgetting that we are likely to forget. One of the best ways to avoid forgetting a task is to just do it immediately. If possible, do it in bits, especially if it would take just a few seconds. Always have a notepad around Whether as a hardcopy or soft one, always have something you can journal with. If your mind has a way of always magnetizing ideas from here and there, you need to always have something to scribble on. You ask me why? Because you might just get an idea that would take your business through the roof and if you miss it…well, you’ll never even know unless you tried it. Now pick up your notepad. Learn to say NO Some of us have a default answer for taking on new tasks…YES!!! However, often times, we don’t really have to do everything because we can, we should just say no, rather than feel disappointed in ourselves when we forget just after saying yes to that extra task. Want to avoid forgetting that favor that you promised? If and only if you are overloaded with your own work, don’t agree to take on more. Have a Human Reminder We all have that one person we can call an alarm clock. They just seem to remind us what we ask them to. So, don’t be shy, a great accountability partner might just be what you need to nail the day’s tasks. Ask for help, and be sure to humbly receive the push that comes with it. You’ll feel better about achieving your goals.Forgetting things is not so bad in itself, but when you do nothing about it, it could take a huge toll on your productivity level. The goal is to be an ACHIEVER, not to be BAN (Busy Achieving Nothing). Do you have a story you’d like to share with us? Share your story with us here.