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Business Success

Now is the time to adopt the principle of lean

Article by Mike Anderson (NSBC Founder & CEO)

As 2024 is closing in on us, now is the perfect time to ‘sharpen the pencil’. If your business is not doing what it should be doing and is spiralling out of control with debt, expenses, poor sales, it is now time to adopt the principle of lean and do things differently.

I like to call it “the washing machine effect” – Stick your business into the washing machine and clean it thoroughly; your strategic plan, forecasts, systems, sales, staff etc. Start a new business with the one you have, before it’s too late.

Get rid of everything you don’t need, large offices, expensive cars, poor performing or unwanted staff. Be brutal on the money. This exercise alone will bring relief and a refreshing approach.

Everything you do should be subject to scrutiny and revision, including your vision, business and marketing plans, budget, sales and expense expectations and more. It’s now all about creating a brighter, less stressful view of the road ahead.

Here are a few suggestions for giving your business a profit makeover:

It’s “Pawsible” focused on enhancing the lives of pets

Centurion’s Heather Whitfield, a dedicated veterinary physiotherapist, is capturing audiences on the People’s Weather channel with her new show, “It’s Pawsible,” focused on enhancing the lives of pets.

The journey to the small screen began when Whitfield initiated a project on Nelson Mandela Day last year, catching the attention of a channel producing a show for the occasion. The producer, impressed by Whitfield’s work, shifted the focus to a series on pet physiotherapy.

From soft skills to core competencies – the new essentials for future entrepreneurial success

Written by Alan Shannon (Executive of Small Business Services and Private Clients - Nedbank)

To succeed in the future, entrepreneurs must embrace technology, social imperatives, and adaptability. With advancements in artificial intelligence, sustainability and decentralised finance, the business landscape is shifting rapidly. With this, entrepreneurs need to integrate cutting-edge technologies and adopt ethical and sustainable practices. Digital transformation and changing regulations have redefined traditional business operations, making geographical locations less important. This future requires a new breed of entrepreneurs who are lifelong learners, tech-savvy, and adaptable to change.

How to develop executive presence

Executive presence. What is it? Is it something only for the chief officer of companies, leaders or people who have been in business for a while? The short answer is no. Executive presence is a skill that people can fine-tune and it may take some time, but anyone can have executive presence. Let’s take a closer look at what it entails and how you can work on having a better executive presence in your space.

Developing the resilience “muscle”

Article written by by Pieter Scholtz (Award-winning Executive and Business Coach & Country Partner for ActionCOACH)

Much is written about South Africans’ high level of resilience, our never-say-die attitude or as they say in Afrikaans – ‘n boer maak ‘n plan. Research has shown that we have a higher level of resilience than many nations around the world, however, do we know what resilience is and how do we cultivate or develop resilience when faced with so many challenges.

I really love Maya Angelou’s quote: 

“I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it”

#WomensMonth: Devi Sankaree Govender – Women have to take their own place in the sun

Article written by Danette Breitenbach (Bizcommunity)

From growing up in rural KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to taking on people twice her size - literally - on her television show Devi, every week, investigative journalist Devi Sankaree Govender has a reputation for being fearless.

Her show has won the petite, but fierce journalist the hearts of South Africans as well as numerous awards such as the National Press Club Awards Journalist of the Year and the Television features, investigative and actuality category award this and the 2022 GQ Woman of the Year.

Her motivation to confront these often very scary and intimidating people she says is simple. “I am passionate about getting answers from people, holding them to account, doing the right thing, and championing the underdog.”

Three South African businesswomen who are making their mark in SA today

Women make great entrepreneurs for a number of reasons. Industries like insurance view women as having relatively lower risk exposures than their male counterparts – a factor that allows them to generally make more calculated and informed decisions. A study found that women entrepreneurs are incredibly resourceful when it comes to starting their own businesses, despite the adversity they often face.

Have the courage to follow your heart

The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found what you love to do, keep searching – deep, long, and hard. Don’t ever accept less than you deserve.

Explore your likes and dislikes. Understand the things that you are good at. Then start exploring ideas and opportunities around these factors. What would you really like to do and what you are really good at doing? This is a great way to start.

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