The Hired Help

I love the maid that I have to bits. She thinks outside the box and is so innovative it even surprises me. You don't appreciate what you have until its gone and its this long festive season that made me miss her presence so much. Now I'm not as domesticated as one should be, not that I can't but household chores are not something that I enjoy doing, so hey why not get someone who can do it better than me.
In every business, its always wiser to get people that are better than you in an area of expertise that you need them to run. Yes, have an appreciation of the trade, just enough to keep your reigns on it, but let the horse gallop. I'm amazed by bosses who don't employ people simply because they are threatened by the fact that the potential incumbent is more qualified than they are and hence their job is threatened. But look on the other side of the coin, this very qualified person can take your business to the next level, the business is still yours remember.

I love working with qualified people in a certain field. They can make you look good, like really good. Let's face it, there is no way that you will ever know everything, but build a strong team around you and pay them well, and in turn they will make the profits for you.

The Hired Help

OPERATION: HAPPY :)

The only way that I seem to be able to get through from one day to the other is by creating a state of mind that I feel I want to be in constantly. One of my many resolutions for 2012 is maintaining positivity in everything that I do which I have called operation happy! Happiness is a state of mind. Being happy does not necessarily mean that everything is going on well but it simply means I am in control of whatever situation I am in and can choose to feel however I want to feel about it, but whatever I choose to feel will determine the outcome of my problems...or rather in operation happy terms, challenges!

So in my quest to achieve operation happy, I have decided (note how I have made the choice) to adopt 7 keys to phenomenal success, by Moky Makura, Nigerian born actress and TV presenter in SA and author of "Africa's Greatest Entrepreneurs".

1. Willingness to take risks- after having established yourself as a specialist in your field of expertise.
2. An opportunistic nature- when timing and place is right, go for it.
3. An innovative mind- start with what you have and better it.
4. A vision - what is your strategy?
5. An ability to lead- be charismatic, be engaging, take responsibility for your actions.
6. Immense drive - when do you start and stop your day?
7. A 'want-to-do' attitude - don't just dream it, do it!

So let's hope this brings us phenomenal success for 2012, in the meantime, let's engage OPERATION: HAPPY!

Ignite!

Female version of a hustler

I thoroughly enjoy going to the salon. Its like therapy for me. I find it interesting that every time that I go there seems to be drama and it doesn't really matter what day of the week it is. So let me tell you about this particular incident. I walk in at about 8.30am for an 8.00 appointment and yes I knew my hairdresser would not be there. I wait patiently and then Dred ( this guy who washes my hair) comes in looking like he just woke up! So at about 9 the hairdresser's assistant, *Pat (not real name) walks in with a swollen eye, she could barely see. Everyone in the salon rushes to where I am sitting to find out what happened. It turns out, she was beaten up by her hubby for asking for drink for her child. He came in so sloshed at 3am, and woke up the baby. The baby has just been weaned so she couldn't give her milk but because it was so hot she wanted to give the baby her juice but alas, there was no juice as the father is not a provider. So maybe the way she provoked him got him angry and clearly beat her up. It was bad. Some background. Pat is staying at her mum's with her family with her husband and child. And is the breadwinner. So you know the drama associated with that.

Next is *Jane, also a hairdresser,she walks in with her tin of muffins that she intends to sell to clients because she is so broke and needs a bit of money to take her through the rest of the week. This is noteworthy for me because I respect anyone who works for their money. Then my dear hairdresser, *Theo, is 6months pregnant and has to stand all day to do my hair. So I'm looking around and seeing and hearing the many different stories of women from different backgrounds and how they hustle through each day just to get by. And in the midst of all that, kids need to be cared for, and their men need to be kept abreast of what's going on. Its really a hard knock life for some women out there. And where is this going?? I guess I just want to appreciate every woman who is hustling, in whatever form, just to make ends meet, especially if you are doing it alone. Keep keeping on and know that one day it will all pay off.

"There is something fierce in the heart of a woman. A woman is a warrior in a uniquely feminine way. A woman is the crescendo, the final astonishing work of God. A woman in the presence of a good man loves being a woman. His strength allows her feminine heart to flourish. " Anon

Feminism for me is about empowering women to be themselves, and be the best possible versions of themselves. I hope I can achieve that in my lifetime.