Category Archives: Uncategorized

– Avoid Business #Friend-zoning like the plague

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In case you did not know, you are fast on the slippery slope to economic ruin if you feel compelled doing something you do not want to do, but are compelled by fear to do it. It does not matter if that fear stems from potential loss of an opportunity or your wish to avoid ruining a relationship. You did not start your business because of fear, for, you risked everything, probably leaving other opportunities with different and better rewards to pursue your business. Why then are you suddenly seized with fear of loss?

Fear is devilish emotional blackmail aimed at ensnaring you so you could deviate from your plans to focus on doing something else that may result in your ultimate failure. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 31 October 2020. Continue reading →

– Choose the #truth always

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Sometimes truthful and integrous life can cause serious unbearable personal and relational pain, ranging from personal isolation, stagnation, bankruptcy, ruined relationships to depression. While acknowledging the seriousness of such problems, their occurrence is often temporary, though it may feel as though years went by when experiencing them.

I do not think those lying their way or trampling on the rights and welfare of others to their advancement enjoy a blissful life in the long run. I want to believe they do not sustainably enjoy peace of mind. Publicly, they may seem to be living a good and peaceful life, but if they were to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, they would admit experiencing longer-term pain in other aspects of their lives, whether directly or indirectly through something or others they care more about.

We need to weigh what matters to us the most, “choose our poison” and stick to it. If it were up to me, I would want everyone choosing life based on truth always and not deceit and pursuit of instant success at the expense of goodness. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 30 September 2020. Continue reading →

#Generational Prosperity Through Explicit Management of Knowledge

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For some, breaking with the norm, carving new paths represents a refreshing and progressive change, while for others, building on and expanding from the existing represents that refreshing and progressive change. One thing life has taught us, it is not to treat all in it as black-and-white. To progress, one cannot only adopt a dichotomous stance in all issues. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 31 August 2020. Continue reading →

– #COVID-19 #Lockdown – Don’t lower your guard

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With our country experiencing recession and having recently had a sovereign credit rating downgrade to subinvestment (junk) grade, the covid-19 induced lockdown will mean more economic woes for many SMMEs and ordinary people alike. Many already struggle to adjust to a new routine of staying put with limited contact with the outside world, and some are facing job-losses after the lockdown. And with our public-health facilities already taking strain, depression will be on the rise. It’s normal for many to feel helpless, demotivated and discouraged, while some, in the same vein, resorting to pursuing quick “feel-good” solutions that may be ruinous in the long run if not carefully managed. We need to be alert and watchful against becoming sidetracked and ignoring the importance of using this lockdown period to face and tackle our challenges head on so we can emerge stronger afterwards. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 30 March 2020. Continue reading →

– Get to #KnowYourCustomer

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For a long time, I had been a proponent of textbook styled strategies, methodologies and principles on business administration and leadership. In big corporations, no initiative would be approved or considered unless it has supporting business case and matrices to prove the viability of the opportunity. Quite often, inordinate time passes before the opportunity could finally and favourably be considered. Many a small business entrepreneur may be unable to spare such investment in time.

Having little time to spare doesn’t mean SMME entrepreneurs choose to be flippant about conforming to business administration “basics” and ascertaining viability of prospects. Many entrepreneurs are not always driven by accounting and economic matrices alone in their decision making, but other considerations too such as having and relying on a hunch and a little faith among others. SMME entrepreneurs are more agile than their corporate counterparts owing to their low overheads, fewer “touch-points” and division of work.

Though many SMME entrepreneurs may find it onerous and eventually stop compiling important matrices, they should at least do some informed study on their customers to improve their understanding and offerings accordingly. Every product design embodies inherent assumptions after all, whether deliberate or implied, about the target market. Such assumptions have a direct and significant bearing on the uptake of the product. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 29 February 2020. Continue reading →

– Limit #distractions to avoid #burnout

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The last thing an entrepreneur eager to develop their business want to hear is advise to slow down to avoid burnout. For many, their busyness is not deliberate, but circumstances forcing them to have less rest. Such circumstances could be owing to limited capacity, resources, facilities, time, skills or even eagerness to convert an important yet elusive sale.

I fully understand why many are sleep-deprived, forced to work long hours, have fewer social interactions and have little time for many other activities, much less important ones. This then often leads to them becoming easily offended, irritated, impatient, secluded, indifferent and begin to live sedentary lives to the detriment of their health and general well-being. Spare a thought or two for these struggling entrepreneurs and perhaps quietly and proactively help them relieve their tension and stress. Such can go a long way than piling on their woes with presumptions, debates and questions. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 31 January 2020. Continue reading →

– Let us try to find a way to win

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When wrestling difficulties of expanding the business, protecting it against major setbacks that could result in its premature closure, may be the last thing and least priority on the owner’s mind.

Documentaries have been created detailing stories of economic difficulties of life during world wars, and those who lived long enough in this country, can also attest to difficulties of life for many during apartheid. But life in South Africa today, especially for the youth, is difficult to bear. Coupled with their parents lacking material resources to help them, and burdened by heavy debt of trying to improve their education and skills, many are still faced with bleak prospects of being active participants in this poor economy.

The high increasing costs of living, much less, rising property prices, have made life extremely difficult for many people and much worse, the youth in this country. If there ever was a time for wanting to make a difference and having meaning in your life, this is it and it is now urgent that we truly come together to turn our hopeless situation around. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 31 December 2019. Continue reading →

– The immeasurable economy of humility, generosity and kindness

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Ultimately, what matters to any business is the ability to generate revenue. The more diverse the sources of revenue, the better the prospects for the business. Likewise, the fewer and narrower the sources, the higher the risks to the business.

Sometimes business earns income because it has superior offerings, capabilities and the brand, among others. Sometimes, earnings are from customer patriotism and sentimentality (loyalty, familiarity, proximity, tradition etc). Other times, out of the generosity and general good behaviour of employees.

One thing is clear, unless your business is a monopoly, arrogance, self-centeredness and unpleasantness towards customers will not bring them through the doors of your business. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 30 November 2019. Continue reading →

– The Disloyal #Loyalty Reward Programmes

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Our poorly performing economy means many consumers will continue experiencing hardships and increasingly look for bargains and specials wherever they could find them. Loyalty programmes promoted by many companies will now become the focus, with consumers leaning more towards those offering more benefits without unnecessary limitations and hindrances.

But many companies are beginning to scale down offers on their loyalty programmes. Some now reduced the number of “points” consumers can accumulate on purchases, others have restricted places consumers could earn them from, others have introduced expiry dates to points already earned, while others are charging consumers a regular fee to sustain the programme. Whatever it is, many a loyalty programme are not what they used to be and consumers are voting with their feet. Small-businesses need to learn from this observation and ensure their growth isn’t stunted by regular customers’ dissatisfaction with not well-thought through incentive schemes. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 31 October 2019. Continue reading →

– #Dishonesty is a treasonous abomination

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Unauthorised debit orders, “concealed” contract terms, undisclosed essential information, misrepresentation of facts, flagrant lies among others, are common deception afflicting consumers and businesses alike. At the heart of the deception is the willingness to want to gain inequitably.

Just as lying in one’s curriculum vitae is a crime with a possible charge of fraud, perhaps it’s time examples are made of some common dishonest dealings not considered a crime, so as to put an end to this malaise. By Nimroth Gwetsa, 30 September 2019. Continue reading →