“The more that energy costs, the less economic activity there can be” (Robert Zubrin) It has been 13 long years since we first experienced load shedding in 2007. Since then, businesses have lost thousands of hours of productivity and significant amounts of money to these “rolling blackouts”. The situation is not going to improve –…
“By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail” (Benjamin Franklin) The media is awash with warnings about the dangers of not complying with POPIA (the Protection of Personal Information Act) by 1 July 2021, and indeed the risks of non-compliance are substantial. The clock is ticking …. if anyone in your business needs to…
Many decisions are made on the basis of careful research and considerations about a variety of issues. Not all these deliberations will necessarily turn out to be correct. That in itself does not place question marks over the leadership’s execution of its responsibilities in terms of the Companies Act to act with due care, skill…
“Designing a presentation without an audience in mind is like writing a love letter and addressing it ‘to whom it may concern” – Ken Haemer In these challenging times, raising finance could very well be a matter of business survival, so knowing how to pitch to potential investors is a critical skill you should not…
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest,” (American politician and inventor, Benjamin Franklin) Most SMMEs (Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises) in South Africa fold in the first two years of doing business. Reports suggest that the lack of education and training are some of the primary reasons for the low level of entrepreneurial activities…
The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) provides a statutory insurance policy for your employees and pays them compensation if they are killed, injured, disabled or contract an occupational disease or illness whilst at work. As an employer you are required to register and to submit an annual return (RoE or Return of…
“If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today” (Thích Nhất Hạnh) According to a press release issued this year by the World Bank, the pandemic has taken “a heavy toll of deaths and illness, plunged millions into poverty, and may depress economic activity and incomes for a prolonged period”.…
“It’s been said that government doesn’t create jobs, business does. For the most part, this is true. But government creates the environment in which businesses can excel and expand” (American politician and lawyer, Christine Gregoire) There are several resources that the government, under the guidance of the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), has made…
“Sales are contingent upon the attitude of the salesman – not the attitude of the prospect” (W. Clement Stone) With the world experiencing its toughest business environment in decades, your sales reps are the people who more than anyone else need to not only embody the company and its values, but also be capable of…
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure” (Colin Powell) The obvious starting points to securing tenders would be the likes of B-BBEE certification and company registration, but from an operational perspective – there are things suppliers can do to find relevant tenders, and to…