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REFLECTIONS FOR THE YEAR
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CEO of Geekulcha THE INNOVATION HUB NEW AND INNOVATIVE BUSINESS AWARD 2017
10
QUALITIES OF
A GREAT LEADER
IN AN AGE OF DISRUPTION
PUBLISHING CREDITS CHIEF EDITOR Benito Mamaile editor@businessxposure.co.za
Mixo Ngoveni CEO & Founder Geekulcha
COVER INTERVIEW
PAGE 04 - 08
EXPERT CONTRIBUTORS Morgen Moyo Isaac Ndhlebe Ron Sirak Malethola Matube Jacques Loots Elena Agaragimova Ryan Bubear Zeenat Vallie
PICTURES Aviwe Media Photography Cover Photo Credit: ITWeb DESIGNERS Jabu Mataboge LEGAL Loots Attorneys ACCOUNTS Istora Rapule accounts@businessxposure.co.za DISTRIBUTION Intellectual Media and Communications (Pty) Ltd PUBLISHED BY Intellectual Media and Communications (Pty) Ltd 81 Cassandra Avenue Bedworth Park 1939 Office Hotline
Founder / CEO of Geekulcha – Mixo Fortune Ngoveni
04 - 08
Mind Mapping: 10 Qualities of A Great Leader
17
Business Focus: Is Cryptocurrency The Future?
18
We Are Hiring: Are You In Sales, Join Our Team
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Profile My Business: Connect to Top-Rated Businesses 09 Cars: Updated SA Pricing for Range Rover Sport
22
Events: NSBC Summit: South Africa 2018
24
Editor’s Note
03
Golf & Personal Mastery: Closer Look To Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA)
14
Legal Tips: What Is To Patent?
19
Coaching & Mentoring: Truth Without Condemnation
21
Financial Literacy, Budget & Debt
Disclaimer:
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Benito Mamaile, Chief Editor
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Email benito@businessxposure.co.za
Benito Mamaile
By Benito Mamaile
Hi Mixo, welcome to our first edition in 2018, our readers all across the globe are eager to know who is Mixo Ngoveni, can you introduce yourself?
Get yourself out there. Meet people. Talk to people. It’s pointless being an entrepreneur and you don’t network.
M
ixo Fortune Ngoveni is a young Tech entrepreneur, Mobile ninja, Connector, Social media geek, Amateur Chef and a member of Tedx Pretoria organizing team and Founder/CEO of Geekulcha (www.geekulcha.com) In 2010, I represented my institution, Tshwane University of Technology, at the Microsoft Imagine Cup local finals. Come 2011 Microsoft selected me as one of 6 students in the country to become Microsoft Student Partners. I am currently an alumni MSP. My work with Geekulcha and the young tech minds has been profiled and published by the World Bank and Info Dev in the form of a case study and mini documentary video. In 2014 I got nominated by SAINE as one of Tomorrow’s Leaders and became one of 30 Youth Villages Most Inspirational Young South Africans. Edgars featured me in their 2015 February Edgars Club Magazine edition. I was one of the Sowetan Top 100 Young Bosses in South Africa for 2015 & 2016 and also Mail and Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans for 2015. In 2016, I became one of the Top 100 Superbalist, HTXT Africa’s Top 10 Young South African’s in Tech and Youth Village Top 30 Under 30 Young Inspiring Africans. In brief, I have been previously featured on the following platforms: Dstv Edge Ed, Tech Report, Tech Busters, eNCA, CliffCentral, Radio 702, YFM, SAFM, Tshwane FM, StepUp to A Startup, and SABC’s Shift
We need to build stronger “ networks and footprints within the
continent while showcasing the potential of young geeks.
“
BM: What's your educational background, did you perhaps study for what you do currently?
BM: Sounds very interesting, what is the meaning of the word “GEEKULCHA”?
MN: I started off doing Electronic Engineering at TUT. I chose it because of my interest in technology and business. I was hoping to focus more on the business side of Engineering. I ended up dropping out after a year and enrolled in Business Informatics at TUT. I choose Business Informatics because of it allowed me to focus on the two things that I have a huge interest in, Business and Technology. Completed my National Diploma.
MN: Geekulcha – A fusion of the words Geek (technologist) and Culture (the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement). We are a community of geeks who are embracing a culture of innovation & creation through technology..
BM: How did you decide to pursue the career that you are in today? What was a pivotal moment?
MN: It all boils down to my love for Technology and business. I wanted to see myself being in a space that focuses on technology and business while using it to have an impact on people and also on businesses. I have always wanted to be in the business space even though I was never sure what type of business I would start. Also never imagined it being a technology based business. I landed the opportunity from Microsoft who introduced me to the world of technology and exposed me. BM: Introduce us to Geekulcha what is your company about? What is its major focus in the market?
MN: Geekulcha is an entity where the “young, skilled, creative and ambitious” tech minds meet and connect, share knowledge, collaborate on projects, network with industry leaders, obtain training to further improve and enhance their skills all to empower the next generation with the confidence and multi-disciplinary skills needed to compete in the new economy.
YOUNG. SKILLED. CREATIVE. AMBITIOUS.
www.geekulcha.com OUR FOCUS • • • • •
Skills Development and Utilization through ICT Trainings and Workshops. Youth Empowerment - Exposure to the ICT and entrepreneurship industry. Distribution of knowledge and Information. Job Creation through internships and providing access to opportunities. Connecting industry with the ICT student community.
OUR SERVICES • • • • •
Tech Event Management: Recruitment, Campus Activations, Hackathons, Brand Marketing. Training - Short term & Industry aligned IT Trainings and Workshops. Digital Media – Design, Branding, Photography and Social Media. Product Development: Websites, Apps and Electronics.
OUR COMMUNITY • • • • •
High Schools Learners ICT Students Unemployed ICT graduates Young ICT Working Professionals Tech Fanatics
BM: What are your top 3 short-term goals for Geekulcha? MN: - To see more young people getting the right skills so that younger people can get hired. - To see more young geeks being producers of technology than consumers. We need more local products and not just consumers of technology. - To cover the whole of South Africa from a digital point of view, create digital footprints by introducing more young people from all backgrounds to the digital world. BM: What are the obstacles that you face that may prevent you from realizing these goals?
MN: Some of the obstacles we could face is lack of resources which can limit us, especially since we plan on expanding and covering the whole country. The other potential obstacle is neglecting the GEEKULCHA community since that is the core of our existence. Without them there is no Geekulcha. So its key to take good care of the Geekulcha community. BM: What is your long-term strategic vision for the Geekulcha? MN: The long term vision is to be a strong player within the local ICT space and to strengthen our presences within the African continent so that we can become that go-to platform whenever someone wants new talent or access to young geeks.
BM: What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months? MN: Turning down certain job offers from a personal level and also from a business level. As Geekulcha we do not just take anything and everything that is thrown at us. We first evaluate if it’s something that we can do or something that is in line with our core values. So we had to turn down some work which unfortunately was not in line with our principles. BM: Who is a person that you considered as a role model early in your life? How and why does this person impact your life?
MN: My father is my biggest role model. I have been looking up to him since I was a kid. He has managed to achieve a lot with the little that he has and has managed to look after his family. I am what I am today because of his values that he instilled in me. BM: How do you maintain your team's daily motivation and inspiration despite obstacles, pushback or setbacks?
MN: My business partner Tiyani Nghonyama does most of the team motivation and inspiration since he gets to spend time with the team on a daily basis. The team really looks up to him. I do have one on one sessions with them to understand how they feel especially on a personal level so I can assist with their personal growth.
BM: What "must's" have to occur to reach that vision? MN: For us to reach this vision we need to continue building more relationships within the ecosystem and looking after those relationships. We need to build stronger networks and footprints within the continent while showcasing the potential of young geeks.
Geekulcha: Winner of The Innovation Hub New and Innovative Business Award at Black Business Quarterly Awards 2017
“ Have clear goals. Entrepreneurship is a long journey. You will face many challenges on the way. ” – Mixo Fortune Ngoveni, Founder/CEO, Geekulcha
BM: How do you foster creative and innovative thinking within your organization? How are ideas shared and implemented within your organization? MN: The team gets introduced and exposed to new technology that they learn together as a team. They then apply their newly acquired skills by developing products using those technologies. We also take them to events that are within their focus areas so they can get to see and learn how others do things. This has proven to be a great way of increasing their creativity. BM: What is most important to you and your organization - mission, vision, or core values? Why? MN: The most important thing to Geekulcha is our community. Without them we really do not exist. Hence it is very important to take good care of the community and to make sure that they are empowered and exposed to the right events, trainings and people. Collaboration is also key to us because Geekulcha is built on the core principles of collaborations BM: What are the most useful resources that you would recommend to someone looking to gain a better perspective into becoming a better entrepreneur? MN: Read – Through reading you get to hear other people’s stories. You get to educate your mind. Research – This helps you better understand the field that you are going into. It also helps you understand your competition and can help you come up with innovative ways that are different from what the rest are doing. Network – Get yourself out there. Meet people. Talk to people. Share your ideas with them. It’s pointless being an entrepreneur and you don’t network. It will help you to ignite your mind. The most important thing to do is to just go out there and do your thing. You need to experience entrepreneurship for yourself outside the reading and hearing. There is no better way of being an entrepreneur than throwing yourself out there. No form of documents or books can give you that experience. BM: How do you decide who the best candidate is for your team or organization? MN: For Geekulcha skill alone is not good enough. We are not just looking for skills alone but a combination of some sort of skill, character, attitude, personality. We want a self-starter and someone who has the drive to learn on their own.
Mixo Fortune Ngoveni: IT Personality Finalist Award 2017
BM: What is the most important characteristic that every leader should possess? MN: A great leader should have the ability to listen to others and not always make decisions alone. A true leader is also able to make those tough unpopular decisions, as long as they move the business forward. BM: Do you have a mentor? If so, what traits are you seeking in mentor and why?
MN: Yes I have a combination of mentors who are from different backgrounds. I believe that this helps in growth as an entrepreneur because you get wisdom on different things from different people. A mentor should be someone that I can learn from. They do not need to spoon feed me but be able to counsel, advice, rebuke and connect me. Those are the main traits for me. BM: What project are you the most proud of?
MN: Geekulcha on its own is a major project. We have created a great platform that keeps growing and continues to have impact on our community. There is also another initiative we learn called Geekulcha Vacation Work Programme which is led by Tiyani and Sina. It introduces High School Learners to the world of technology during school holidays were they come and learn how to code, build apps, websites, electronics and design all within the duration of the holidays.
Mixo Ngoveni, CEO Social Media Geek at Geekulcha, speaking at the SMME Opportunity Roadshow Gauteng 2017 BM: What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them? MN: Lack of good management has led to some of our major failures. Lack of good management financial, lack of good project management and lack of time management. We lost projects and money because of that. However we are busy working on it and have improved. BM: If you had a magic wand and could fix anything as it relates to your business, what would those areas be? MN: Besides those failed projects due to lack of good management I would probably not change much. Every experience and failure has been a massive learning curve and growth ladder. I wouldn’t change much. BM: What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur? MN: Time with family, loved ones and friends has been one of the biggest sacrifices that one has had to make. They do warn you that such will happen when you venture into entrepreneurship. It’s just a lot harder when it actually happens. It is however key to maintain a balance. Work hard, make time for loved ones and also make sure that you have fun. BM: What does success look like for you? MN: Success is having all the necessary things that you need. Not too much, not too little. Just exactly enough to satisfy your needs. Success is also seeing people around you progressing in life because of your work or because of being connected to you. There is nothing as satisfying as seeing your cup of success overflow to those around you. BM: Which book had the biggest impact on your life and helped you to get where you are? MN: Think Rich and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill BM: As it is the beginning of the new year, as an entrepreneur - what advice would you give other entrepreneurs in preparation to resume the new year in perfect balance? MN: Get your house in order. Get all the legal side of things in order. Get all necessary documents in order. If you really want to go hard and excel, make sure that all the above are sorted. Have clear goals. Entrepreneurship is a long journey. You will face many challenges on the way. It is key to have clear goals so you constantly know why you are doing what you are doing and to focus on reaching those goals. Also make sure that you review those goals and tick them off. Have clear goals with timelines. Be focused. Never be distracted from the core goals. Remain focused. Network - This will really help you grow. Attend selected events that will help you network and learn. Be careful of being a typical events goer who attends all events throughout the year.
Atlehang Projects Solutions specializes in residential, commercial and industrial property construction. We provide good workmanship that meet our client’ satisfaction. Atlehang Projects Solutions (Pty) Ltd create job opportunities, sustain growth and create wealth. Our company seeks to create an excellent business relationship with our suppliers to ensure the steady and reliable supply to all our clients.
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Jam Fadge Civil Engineers (Pty) Ltd is a black woman owned multi-disciplinary company that delivers landmark projects. The company combines African roots - and a proud South African with an unwavering commitment to world-class safety and quality. It has been ignited by a need and gap for high level of quality and compliance to various standards during construction and maintenance workmanship amongst numerous, yet specific target areas in the civil engineering, drafting, project management, drawing interpretation, water works, building construction and electrical field.
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Gqozo Projects and Services (Pty) Ltd was established in the year 2016 with the purpose to contribute skills and expertise to the growing Civil Engineering and Construction engagements in the industry. Gqozo Projects and Services (Pty) Ltd Trading is driven by the desire to ensure excellence to customer service. We believe that this will only be attainable when we reflect good business principles of service commitments to the highest levels of performance and positive workmanship.
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Elena Agaragimova, Career/Performance Consultant – UAE, Dubai
Looking ahead, another 12 months have passed us and here we are again thinking about the year ahead, a feeling full of hope, planning, and motivation. Although I am not a fan of New Year resolutions per say, as I believe we should not wait until the new year to make a resolution. But, I do believe there is something magical about this time of the year where we have that inspiration inside of us to do just a bit better (or a lot better) for the new year, to reflect on what is being left behind, to review our relationships with ourselves and others, and to ultimately just have a bright outlook on the future to come. By Elena Agaragimova AS THE YEAR BEGINS, I HOPE YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK BACK ON THE YEAR LEFT BEHIND AND REFLECT ON THE BELOW POINTS: • • • • • •
What are some things I am most proud of from this past 12 months? What activities/tasks/interactions gave me energy? (example: delivering workshops, creating content, doing presentations, networking with new people). What new, positive relationships I have developed this past year? How did they come about? What are top 3 things that made this past year amazing? What are the 3 things I am most thankful for? What are the 3 lessons I learned over this past year? (Personal or professional).
Reflecting on these questions and looking positively at the year that has passed, we can then use this positive energy to continue the path to success (whatever this means to each and one of you) and start the year ahead on a positive note. Once you answer the above questions, you can then answer the following questions in preparation for the year ahead: WHAT ARE TOP 3 THINGS I AIM TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR? • • • • • •
How will I continue to do things and get involved in activities that give me energy? List at least 2 ways (example: I will make time to volunteer in the community). Which relationships I aim to develop further and devote more quality time to? (can be personal or professional) (example: I will devote more weekends and/or evenings to close family and friends). How will I use/implement the lessons learned from last year in my new year? Write down 3 ways you are going to be heathier in the new year. (example: sleep, exercise, read). Write down 3 things you would like to work on in regards to personal development in the new year. (example: meditation, quality alone time, aiming for quality in all aspects of life and work).
May your year be filled with health, joy, happiness, and success in all that you inspire to become. Email elena@agarconsultancy.com Elena Agaragimova
OUR EXPERIENCE Our Construction Management (CM) team is closely involved in the planning and design phase and typically joins the project at the same time as the architect.
Danville Social Housing
We provide input on constructability, budget, and schedule, which reduces costs. During the construction phase, our full-time supervision team is on-site, monitoring work to assure compliance with specifications, budget and schedule.
We continually keep abreast with new developments in all fields of the construction industry Golden Gardens
OUR SERVICES RANGE
Civil engineering works
Electrical engineering
Construction of roads
Storm water infrastructure
Bulk earthworks
Water and sanitation infrastructure
Affordable and subsidized house building works
Materials Procurement and Distribution
Capacity Building and Skills Training
Program and Project Management
Golden Gardens Road Works
The core business model of Gamont Housing SA is the servicing and building of low cost Housing within South Africa. Since 2004 Gamont Housing SA has completed in excess 100 000 units in the South African Housing industry. Projects range from RDP social housing to bigger Bonded Housing in disadvantaged communities. Gamont Housing SA has experience in the following areas of Housing Development.
Peoples Housing Projects Essential construction services RDP housing Developments Community upgrades Bonded Housing Development Building of Schools Bridges, Dams & Roads Shopping Mall Developments
Storm Water
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Badirile Project
MULTI AWARDS WINNER
“ A multi-award winning and highly certified company � Since its inception Gamont Housing SA has been awarded numerous awards of excellence.
Best Developer in Gauteng in 2008 Best Priority Project Award (Provincial and National) in 2013
Govan Mbeki Awards in 2012
Govan Mbeki Awards in 2013
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Govan Mbeki Awards - Best Informal Settlement upgrading Project in 2016
www.gamonthousing.co.za
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Malethola Matube
Progressive Women In Golf
As we start with the new year of 2018, we encourage women to start playing golf not just as a sport but to build a solid network of women of all ages and girl children. Create a community of women that seeks to achieve Personal Mastery, Successful Leadership and Wealth Creation in all aspects of each others lives and those who cross our paths. Women globally have started to take golf seriously grooming women who are dedicated to grow women's golf on a global stage through high performance and absolute dedication. We share an article written by Ron Sirak published on the LPGA website on the 8th December 2017 to give you more insight into the status of Women's Golf: Underappreciated in the history of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) is the incredible pool of talent that built the bridge from the daughters of the founders – the likes of Kathy Whitworth, Mickey Wright and JoAnne Carner – to the global tour created by Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Laura Davies and Se Ri Pak. That generation of players from 1975 to 1995 has been perhaps unmatched in the history of women’s golf – until now. Think of it. In that group were Nancy Lopez, Betsy King, Meg Mallon, Juli Inkster, Beth Daniel, Patty Sheehan, Pat Bradley, Amy Alcott and Hollis Stacy. All are in the World Golf Hall of Fame. And now we have Sung Hyun Park, Lexi Thompson, So Yeon Ryu, Lydia Ko, Inbee Park, Brooke Henderson, Shanshan Feng, Ariya Jutanugarn, Anna Nordqvist and Cristie Kerr. All of whom could be in the Hall of Fame some day. The LPGA is growing younger, stronger and more global. The 10 players above are from seven different countries. The average age of the winner in the 33 LPGA events in 2017 was 27.2; the average age of the Race to the CME Globe final top10 was 25.5; and the average age of the Rolex Ranking top-10 at the end of the season was 26.5. The 22 winners of the 33 events came from eight countries with 16 under the age of 30. Any corporation looking to expand its brand to a global audience, looking to reach a millennial market, looking to reach a fan base pumped with passion would be smart to look at the LPGA. As far as sports marketing goes, there is no better deal. The buy in is cost efficient and the product is fan friendly. It really is different out there as LPGA players do think like a founder – signing autographs, engaging with pro-am partners, interacting with the media and fulfilling sponsor obligations. Oh, and the talent is exploding. All it needs to get to the next level is a slightly bigger stage on which to perform. Are you listening network TV? “Last year at this time we talked about five players finishing with an average score of under 70,” commissioner Mike Whan said during the season-ending CME Group LPGA Tour Championship. “And as we tee up here … we have 12 players that are averaging under 70. So the depth on Tour is like never before.” Whan noted that in the last six years, LPGA revenue is up 90 percent; in the last eight years prize money is up 80 percent; over this last year TV ratings were up 17 percent and the social media following grew 50 percent.
“The depth on the Tour especially at the top is like a time we have never had before,” Whan said. And the prospects for the future are staggering. “This year we'll introduce 72,000 girls to the game through LPGA*USGA Girls Golf,” Whan said. “If you go back 15 years ago, 17 percent of golf was women and 17 percent of junior golf was women. And if you look today, 32 percent of junior golf is women. And I don't know that we can take all the credit in the world for that, but I'm certainly going to try. Because I think that -- I believe there's no other program like Girls Golf.” Whan also announced a restructuring of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament that will enhance the role of the Symetra Tour, elevating it to an even bigger role as the feeder tour of the LPGA by creating an eight-round Q-school final that includes tour members who lost their card, early stage Q-school qualifiers and Symtera Tour qualifiers. The stage seems to be set perfectly with a plan and with the players needed to carry it out. So what’s the missing piece? “You've heard me say on things like this, whenever anyone asks me in a TV interview, what's the one thing you want, I say I want one TV executive to wake up and take a chance on us,” Whan says. “Because if you gave me 23 weeks on network TV, I feel pretty comfortable I could surprise some people.”
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“ NOT PLANNING IS PLANNING TO FAIL ” “What people don’t understand they fear, and what they fear they reject.” Pauline Green It’s that time of the year when you hear a lot of people talking about New Year resolutions. During the hype all sort of things get thrown into the list and barely before the month of January is over people hardly ever talk about this subject. I am a believer of drawing up my goals among which are my financial ones and they are not year dependent. Today I thought we could briefly explore some financial aspects that can impact on your finances this year. Budgeting When we bring about this subject a lot of people are quick to write down what the money will be spent on without any regard to what one really wants to achieve in the short, medium and long term. Your money matters need to fit in these time frames. You may have financial goals in the following areas; • • • •
Save R35 000 for car deposit by 2019 Create an emergency fund of R50 000 by 2020 Save R100 000 for house deposit by 2022 Save R800 000 for University fees by 2030
Your budget must address these areas and you have to allocate funds for these savings. Other questions will arise such as how you plan to grow these savings and what investment vehicles you intend utilizing. These will equally feed into areas of your risk appetite. Unit trusts may be ideal for those who don’t have a high appetite for risk and others will go for equities, property investments etc. Financial Literacy Whilst it is easy to talk about investment vehicles, the challenge affecting a lot of people is lack of knowledge regarding most of these products. Suffice to say you need to be in the know when it comes to most of these investments, otherwise you can easily lose your money. Depending on your situation you may still approach an expert like a financial advisor for help. But before you part with your money try to understand the products that are being recommended to make sure that they meet with your goals and time lines.
Starting from now make it a habit that you regularly visit bookstores in search of books about money, money management and investments. One author that has written extensively on money matters is Suze Orman and you can pick any of her books and I am confident that you will get value out of her work. Debt “They found themselves in a society that offered expensive pleasures – horses, gambling, clubs, fine clothes and furniture, drink and drugs – and the temptations of easy credit. Debt was the condition of the age.” Claire Tomalin (This description refers to the Regency period in England 1807 1810, but sadly true to our present time) Sooner or later you will have to confront your fears when it comes to debt. I have had a word or two in my previous articles regarding the need to managing your debt. In the South African market, you can find secured and unsecured loans. In general interest rates on unsecured loans are usually very high and yet it is common to come across consumers who have unsecured loans of up to 5 times larger than their monthly income. It is in such instances that one can easily fall into a debt spiral with unimaginable consequences. Most of people’s stress levels emanate from issues of debt. Review your debt levels and align your financial goals to the elimination of most of your unproductive debt this year. Easy Credit “Will not your debtors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their victim.” Habakkuk 2:7 (NIV) Short – term borrowing on shop and credit cards all seem to be the order of the day, it’s a spending spree! Yet so much has been written about credit but a lot of people find it difficult to live without it. If you are financially disciplined, there is nothing wrong with such facilities but in a number of respects this has brought about financial misery. Have you noticed that your credit account normally starts off with a small amount of say R2000 and within a couple of months your entitlement is gradually increased dependent on your monthly income.
The two bad things about these debts are that they are not planned for and secondly within a short space of time you notice a huge spike in your monthly outgoings. The sad part of this is that most expenditure goes towards things like toys, clothing, personal care, mobile phones, appliances etc. I am in no way suggesting that people must not buy these items but it’s a completely different matter when you just go on a spending spree just because you have a credit line of which it wipes out your potential of undertaking worthwhile savings or investments for your future. As we come out of the festive season a lot of people will soon discover that they are badly in debt and yet fail to account for the reason for that debt. Their capacity to undertake a savings program gets impaired and the year ahead suddenly looks worse than the previous one.
Debit Cards We hardly talk about debit cards in a negative way. Instead we are quick to say life is better with a debit card because you only spend what you have and there is no debt to worry about. I think that the hidden challenge about debit cards is that a lot of unplanned expenditure takes place under the guise of convenience. Before you know it, a string of withdrawals have been undertaken and your account balance is bordering on the minimum amount. Not so many of us are in a position of staying put at home over the weekend knowing there is R2000 in the account. The lure of the nearest shopping mall, small swipes here and there and before you know it that money is gone. It is important that you plan in advance what your expenditure will look like and work your way as planned or budgeted. Move money to your designated savings or investments as soon as you get paid. Your debit card may easily prove to be the weak link when it comes to managing your money.
Family Finances For those of us with families, it is critical that we make financial planning a family matter. The budgetary process and its implementation must never be solitary affair. Whilst I am no marriage guidance person, I know that money and its management can cause the greatest stress in relationships and thus great care must be exercised. It is common to find that as couples we don’t always see money in the same vein. You may wish to start a savings program and yet your spouse might have a differing view. Depending on your situation it may be ideal to bring a third person in the likes of a financial mentor or a marriage officer into the conversation to help you find common ground. It is much easier to handle family finances when both partners sing from the same page. Children can also be brought along in some of the discussions regarding money matters in the home. Conclusion Make this year count when it comes to your financial health. The sooner you realize that your financial security rests in your hands, so will be the time you start making progress. Seek knowledge and apply lessons learned. It is one thing to have all the ideas about money but your situation will not improve until you decide to take action. As with everything results may not be massive at first but as you persevere the results will show in the coming months.
WHAT IS BITCOIN?
By
ZEENAT VALLIE
Bitcoin is a digital currency that is not linked to the operations of a bank or government and allows its users to send money anonymously. According to Quora, The coins are created by users that create an algorithm which is known as Mining Bitcoin. When using Bitcoin, it is decentralised, meaning that large banks can’t control the money putting users at ease. Recently, one Bitcoin traded for $1,734.65, according to Coinbase, a company that helps users exchange bitcoins. Bitcoin value is worth more than an ounce of gold, which trades at less than $1,230. Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by a person or group of people operating under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Nakamoto disappeared as Bitcoin began to attract attention. In the beginning, people were not too excited about Bitcoin but Techies found it to be a great innovative solution to convert their currency and not have it controlled by large banks. According to the biggest Bitcoin gambling site, FortuneJack, between November 2016 and November 2017, the cryptocurrency saw its market-cap increase by 1034% to a record breaking value of R1.8 trillion on coinmarketcap.com.
In addition to this, Bitcoin hit a new all-time high against the British Pound and US Dollar with xe.com valuing a single bitcoin at R111 000 and R110 000 respectively. Apart from its rewarding equity, Bitcoin is used for added reasons, these include: PRIVACY AND SECURITY Bitcoin works on a public and private key system. Therefore, you are not obliged to reveal your personal information. This makes the transaction much more secure and you are the only one with access to your bitcoin wallet. This minimizes the probability of online infringement and access to a user's personal credentials. INFLATIONARY Bitcoin is not influenced by inflation or quantified easing. This make bitcoin different from traditional ‘fiat’ currencies. However, like all currencies, there are factors that influence it. These include government regulation, demand and supply and the migration away from 'fiat' currencies. SPEED Based on its digital nature, bitcoin deposits and withdrawals are fast and processed without delay. As opposed to traditional banking methods, a transfer service will process money after several days.
EARN The cryptocurrency can earn you money by a number of ways including mining, earning and earning. Mining involves using your computer to add transactions to the public bitcoin ledger, called the blockchain. Similarly, earning is the process of accepting bitcoins for freelance work or at your business. Bitcoin can be accepted as a payment method. SPEND Bitcoin can be spent in a number of ways. These include online e-commerce sites, travel and property, online gambling, online auctions and physical stores to name a few. SOURCE: BUSINESS REPORT https://www.iol.co.za
By Jacques Loots
Loots Attorneys An Admitted Attorney
PATENTS A patent is a monopoly or an exclusive right granted for a specified period of time by the State to an inventor, or to another person, in exchange for a full disclosure of the invention to the public. This monopoly entitles an Applicant, within the territory of the Republic, to exclude any third party from making, using, disposing or offering to dispose of, or importing the invention for the specified period. The full disclose of the invention is made in a specification which includes written claims which define the scope of the protection. HOW LONG IS A PATENT VALID? A patent is valid for twenty years from the date one which a complete patent specification (which includes a set of claims) have been filed at the South African Patent Office. Renewal fees are due and payable to maintain the patent, which renewal fees are generally applicable and payable from the third anniversary of the patent. WHAT IS PATENTABLE? The Act excludes/prohibits the patenting of certain invention. This includes: • Mathematically methods; • Aesthetic creations (for instance, fashion designs, motor vehicles designs etc); • Architectural designs; • Schemes, for example, investment or insurance schemes; • Business methods; • Rules for playing games (the games equipment may be patentable); • Computer programs; and • Scientific theories (for example, Einstein’s Relativity Theory). ARE THERE ANY REQUIREMENTS? In order for an invention to be patentable, it must be novel, inventive and must be capable of being applied in the trade. – Novelty An invention is deemed to be novel, if it is new. This entails that it should not have been known to the public anywhere in the world – by mouth, by use, in any printed publication, or in any other way – before the date of first application is made. To destroy novelty, a description of the invention must have been made in sufficient detail to enable it to be properly understood by a person skilled in the art. It would be appreciated that it is virtually impossible to conduct searches of all that is known to the public, and due to the huge costs generally associated with conducting these types of searches, it is more time and cost effective to file a patent application immediately without the necessary searches. However in some instances it may be advisable to conduct a search, especially when filing foreign application, as same may be very costly. In said instance, the costs of conducting a search may be justified, BUT an Applicant should always be mindful that one is not able to search ALL that is available to the public in especially printed form.
– Inventiveness The invention must not be obvious to a person skilled in the art, prior to the filing date having regard to the prior art available immediately before the filing date. This is most likely one of the biggest obstacles an Applicant faces and in many instance have been cited as a ground for the revocation of a patent. The question of “obviousness” is one of fact, and is almost always determined by a Court after considering expert evidence attested to by both the Applicant and Respondent. – Utility This is generally an easy requirement and in many instance are trifling. It is required that the invention should be able to be used and applied in the trade and industry. For example, if it is required that 50% of the rainforest is to be demolished to manufacture a small quantity of an element to be used in medicines, a patent would not be allowed. HOW TO APPLY? In South Africa there are basically only one type of patent which may be filed in two separate stages. The first stage is referred to as a “Provisional Patent Application” and the second stage a “Complete Patent Application”. – Provisional Patent Applications A provisional patent application is primarily filed to allow an Applicant to “fine tune” the invention, despite any consequent disclosure or commercial use, without forfeiting any rights to the patent protection. An Applicant is allowed 12 months from the date of filing the Provisional Application to file a Complete Application. – Complete Applications A complete application differs from the Provisional Application, in that it includes a set of claims which defines the scope of the protection afforded to an Applicant. Another important difference is that a Complete Patent must be filed by a registered patent attorney whereas an Applicant may file a provisional application personally. However, great care should be taken, as the patent attorney can only protect what has been disclosed in the provisional specification and hence if a mistake has been made, the Applicant may generally not obtain sufficient protection. As Loots Attorneys works in association with Richards Attorneys in Roodepoort, who are registered patent attorneys, we are able to assist clients with the necessary legal advice in order to ensure that their inventions are patented and protected. We wish all our clients and readers the best for 2018 and we are looking forward to assist you with any legal matter you may encounter. Remember that 2018 will give 365 opportunities to do something extraordinary, do not miss one of them!
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By Isaac Ndhlebe Coach & Mentor Providing feedback to staff or team is always tough, but if it’s “constructive,” you not only get the message across, but, build a more cohesive and capable team as a result. DEVELOP ACTION PLANS Work together to identify the desired performance or result and how it can be achieved. Decide when the steps will be accomplished. Useful techniques to use when giving feedback Now that we have highlighted the main principles of giving feedback, lets look at some useful techniques we can use in feedback sessions: OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONING Use open-ended questions to allow and encourage the person to give more detail and elaborate.
Use words like: What? How? Who? Tell me? Avoid closed questions when you are trying to get more information from someone. AVOID WORDS LIKE: Do you? Did you? Have you? Also be careful when you use the word “Why”. The person may think that you are blaming them or being critical if you use it. They may think that you disagree with them if you use this word. REFLECTING BACK This is about putting what the other person has said into your own words and reflecting it back. This is called paraphrasing and by doing this it shows that you are listening and more importantly that you are listening and understanding! For example: Individual – “I always seem to get the rough end of the stick - no-one listens to me at all……..” You – “You seem concerned that no-one listens to you and that you seem to be getting a dumb deal” Maintaining Silence
OFFER IDEAS WITHOUT FORCING YOUR PERSONAL OPINION. “One thing you might do is….” “Have you thought about……..” “Your options include………..” “What can I do to help?” GAINING OWNERSHIP Help the person to integrate the feedback into their own experience and view of themselves. Link the feedback as much as possible to business results and objectives – this will help increase ownership. Any change in behavior will only occur through acceptance and ownership of then feedback by that person. * EXERCISE * - GIVING FEEDBACK Pick a partner, and choose who is to be A and who is to be B. A will be providing feedback on B’s performance. You will both be given role-play sheets of what has been going on and the person you are to play. After you have completed that, change roles and complete role-play 2. What worked well? What could have been done better? What will you know for next time? RECEIVING FEEDBACK As long as feedback is given in a non-judgmental and appropriate way, it is a valuable piece of information for learning and for our continued development as a person. Constructive feedback is critical for self-development and growth; here are some points to bare in mind when you receive feedback. 1. Don’t shy away from constructive feedback, welcome it 2. Accept feedback of any sort for what it is – information 3. Evaluate the feedback before responding 4. Make own choices about what you intend to do with it THE FEEDBACK EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER Whether you are giving or receiving feedback it is useful to bare in mind the following model when it comes to people who receive feedback. DAWA
Encourage the person to take their time. Always give the other person time to think through their reply to a challenging answer. Do not feel uncomfortable about silences but do be wary that silence can make people feel very uncomfortable. Maintain eye contact and demonstrate an interest.
DENIAL When people first receive feedback, they have a tendency to deny it. Please avoid immediate defensiveness – arguing, denying and justifying. This just gets in the way of your appreciation of the information you are being given.
SUMMARISING Summarise the output of the meeting and action plan to ensure that you have heard correctly and understood from his/her perspective. Restate the key aspects of the feedback discussion.
ANGER After the denial stage comes anger! So you’ve been told that your work is not as good as what it ought to be. You’ve said, “It’s as good as always” so you are denying it then you become angry as it stews in your mind and body. The immediate reaction is to fume!
Conclude the discussion and focus on planning for the future. Example: “The three major issues you raised were……” “ To summarise then……” BEING SENSITIVE Acting sensitive to the needs of the person is important as they may reject the feedback initially. Give the person space to think in his/her time. This may help the person to absorb the feedback. Initiating Action and Offering Ideas EXAMPLE: “Can you think of an action that would help build your skills in this area?”
WITHDRAWAL After the anger has calmed down, the person has had time to reflect and ponder on the feedback. “Well, I have been making more mistakes then normal” This is when time is taken out to mull over the feedback and think about what it actually means. ACCEPTANCE The final part of this model is finally accepting the feedback, assessing its value and the consequences of ignoring it, or using it. “I HAVE been making mistakes”
By Ryan Bubear Source: http://www.carmag.co.za
B
The SVR (now with even more power) again sits at the top of the Range Rover Sport.
ack in October, Land Rover revealed its facelifted Range Rover Sport line-up, giving the flagship SVR variant even more grunt and adding a new plug-in hybrid electric option to the range. And now we’ve managed to unearth local pricing for the updated model, ahead of the launch in the second quarter of 2018.
As before, four trim levels (S, SE, HSE and Autobiography) will be offered in South Africa, with the high-performance SVR sitting well clear at the very summit of the line-up. However, in addition to the updated styling inside and out, two 2,0-litre, four-cylinder variants each worth 221 kW have been added to the mix, along with two versions of the 297 kW P400e hybrid models (that’s the PHEV model pictured below). These new derivatives see the local range expand from 15 to 19 derivatives. Other familiar engines in the line-up include the 3,0-litre TDV6 (190 kW), 3,0-litre SDV6 (225 kW), 4,4-litre SDV8 (250 kW), 3,0-litre V6 supercharged (250 kW and 280 kW) and 5,0-litre V8 supercharged (386 kW).
The 5,0-litre supercharged V8 in the SVR, meanwhile, now makes 423 kW and 700 N.m (up from 405 kW and 680 N.m), allowing it to rocket from standstill to 100 km/h in a claimed 4,5 seconds (two-tenths faster than before)… PRICING (EXCLUDING CO2 TAX): Range Rover Sport S Si4: R1 082 500 Range Rover Sport S SCV6: R1 126 500 Range Rover Sport SE Si4: R1 137 200 Range Rover Sport S TDV6: R1 159 500 Range Rover Sport SE TDV6: R1 170 000 Range Rover Sport SE SCV6: R1 181 200
Range Rover Sport SE SDV6: R1 279 800 Range Rover Sport HSE TDV6: R1 304 500 Range Rover Sport HSE Si4: R1 343 800 Range Rover Sport HSE SDV6: R1 519 100 Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic SCV6: R1 578 300 Range Rover Sport HSE P400e: R1 589 400 Range Rover Sport HSE Dynamic P400e: R1 632 700 Range Rover Sport HSE Dynamic Supercharged: R1 663 000 Range Rover Sport HSE Dynamic SDV8: R1 684 600 Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic P400e: R1 761 300 Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic Supercharged: R1 847 200 Range Rover Sport Autobiography Dynamic SDV8: R1 869 400 Range Rover Sport SVR: R2 121 700
1. EMPOWERMENT Leaders closer to their work can make quicker and more informed decisions based on data, research, best practices and proximity to the customer. 2. ENGAGEMENT Join your teams in the trances to not only stay grounded in the realities of the business, but also to inspire them to unleash their passions and talents around a shared vision. 3. INFLUENCE Being able to influence others without having direct authority is extremely important. Positive influence sparks motivation and engagement. 4. INNOVATION Leaders at all levels must incubate incentivize creativity and innovation by supporting experimentation and learning including the permission to fail. 5. COMMUNICATIONS Strong communication fosters alignment on activities, resources, and priorities. It also promotes the sharing of results, insights and best practices across the organization. 6. PROBLEM SOLVING Problem-solving should be a continuous activity. Constantly challenge the status quo. Don't approach problems linearly, but rather more expansively to realize a greater impact. 7. TRANSPARENCY Transparency builds strong relationships, creates authenticity, engenders trust, and drives higher levels of performance. 8. ADAPTABILITY An adaptable leader must deal with unpredictable and changing situations with dexterity and confidence using strong interpersonal and across-cultural skills. 9. EMPATHY Exuding empathy paired with active listening and humility will boost staff performance and morale. 10. CONTINUOUS LEARNING Leaders must continuously acquire new knowledge, seek out best practices, sharpen skills and gain fresh perspectives.
WE’RE LOOKING FOR RESULTS-DRIVEN SALES AGENTS IN EACH PROVINCE BRILLIANT COMMISSION, WE GIVE YOU UNCAPPED EARNING POTENTIAL. BONUSES WHEN EXCEEDING TARGETS What we provide •
Full in-house product training
Responsibilities • • • • • • • • • •
Present, promote and sell products/services using solid arguments to prospective customers Perform cost-benefit and needs analysis of existing/potential customers to meet their needs Establish, develop and maintain positive business and customer relationships Reach out to customer leads through cold calling Expedite the resolution of customer problems and complaints to maximize satisfaction Achieve agreed upon sales targets and outcomes within schedule Analyze the territory/market’s potential, track sales and status reports Supply management with reports on customer needs, problems, interests and potential for new products. Keep abreast of best practices and promotional trends Continuously improve through feedback
Requirements • • • • • • •
Proven work experience as a Sales Representative Familiar with CRM practices along with ability to build productive business professional relationships Highly motivated and target driven with a proven track record in sales Excellent selling, communication and negotiation skills Prioritizing, time management and organizational skills Ability to create and deliver presentations tailored to the audience needs Relationship management skills and openness to feedback
Successful applicants must have the following: • • • • • •
Completed Matric or equivalent Relevant qualifications in sales will be essential Minimum 2 years work experience Fully bilingual in English and Afrikaans Clear criminal record Own car will be essential as well
Send your CV to vacancy@businessxposure.co.za or fax to 086 597 9601
World Famous Events in association with the NSBC, brings you the NSBC Summit: South Africa 2018, featuring My Business Expo, Business StartUp Show, Trading Across Borders, The Franchise Show, Small Biz Techno Expo, Access to Finance Indaba and Buzz Party. With more than 25 000 delegates, 250 exhibitors, 100 top of the line seminars and sessions and the world famous networking event over two days, it’s the most successful show in Africa for anyone starting or growing a business. It’s where business gets personal with top of the line speakers, business experts, incredible interactive exhibits, cutting edge solutions, new trends, world class networking, incredible ideas and opportunities, in-depth education and off-the-chart experiences.
Source: My Business Expo https://http://www.mybizexpo.co.za