Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Conventional is a good fallback position, isn’t it?

You kidding right? If I thought that conventional was the next best thing since sliced bread…I would be a square, office cardboard cut-out, a conformist, predictable and conservative. All of which I am definitely not. While there are often times when we are faced with the situation where we feel as though we are at a rock and a hard place. Conventional should never be considered as the fallback option.

When one agrees mentally to just do the bare minimum or not think outside the box, you may achieve your goal but would you exceed their/your expectations. Conventional is safe approach to life; however you cannot gain great things if you do not risk great loss. Change can be a scary thing when embarking on it, but the rewards can be well worth it. So swim against the stream or rattle the cage every now and again…be extraordinary, I mean where’s the fun in being “Normal” anyway?!?!

What makes me smile instantly?

* Finding the last pair of to-die-for shoes and it’s my size.
* Boyfriend surprising me with flowers and No, he didn’t do anything wrong.
* My boss telling me that I can have the day off for no particular reason.
* Results paying off for something I work really hard at.
* Getting a phone call from a friend I haven’t spoken to in ages.
* Dogs…dogs and more dogs.
* The little chocolates on the cushions in hotel rooms.
* My friends and family succeeding or achieving something.
* Full body massage.
* A marshmallow in my cup of coffee.
* Weddings
* Being surrounded by nature.
* Feeling the sun on my skin.
* Those cute emails about animals doing silly things.
* When my money appears in my account at the end of the month - NB.
* Memories of my late father.
* Painting my nails and not smudging it once…I feel great accomplishment when this happens.
* Bf washing up when my nails are painted – he’s the bestest!
* Looking at old photographs and reminiscing about the great memories.
* Learning something new and having it become a skill.
* When my bf does something considerate/thoughtful when I least expect it.
* When I am able to post my blog with NO hassles.
* Driving somewhere and all the robots are green.
* The minds of little people (children).
* Public holidays.
* Festive times in the year, like Easter and Christmas.
* A weekend getaway with friends/family.
* Feeling secure in my relationship.
* My mom surprising me by packing lunch.

* My amazing boyfriend!
* Being surrounded by friends and family.

You cannot chase two rabbits at the same time

Confucius once said, "He who chases two rabbits catches neither." Another saying just like it is, “You can’t have your cake and eat it?” My immediate reaction is that this is great advice to live by, for example, your boyfriend wanting to court two ladies at the same time.

However, it dawned on that with certain things I would actually like to chase more than one rabbit. And it IS possible to do if both rabbits are running in the same direction. An example of chasing two rabbits is having the opportunity to work and be a mom, to have money and happiness, to work and study part time or to attend an event but be able to network and promote yourself. I think whether its cake or a rabbit, who says you can’t have something that helps you fulfill the goals and dreams and help you become the person you are destined to be.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Which super power would you chose: flying or invisibility?

This one is easy…flying of course. I would take pleasure in the thought that I’m not bound to this earth. That my mind and capabilities have no boundaries, that I could go anywhere I wanted to and didn't need to book with an airline or the sit through the dreaded routine of checking in and having to watch the extremely dull safety video.

I would travel the world, meet new people and experience new and diverse things. I would get to live in all the beautiful places that I have seen but never been to. Most importantly, I have the opportunity to learn new things as I experience new surroundings, cultures and their social and economic circumstances. And when I learn…I grow in mind, spirit and character – invisible is the last thing I want to be!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when you only have one


I have learnt some valuable lessons, one of the most important being to have a plan AND to have a plan B. Planning the surprise party for my brother this weekend past was challenging yet I wouldn’t trade the adrenaline pumping chaos for anything else. Everything was set…venue, the catering, custom-made classic car cake, balloons, banner, champagne, speech, guests and DJ.

Now just as I am about to start getting excited and celebrating the success of the night to come, the manager of the venue explains that the entire block has been without power since 10am this morning. He assures me that an electrician has been working on it whole day but he cannot guarantee that the electricity will be up and running by the time that the guests arrive. My stress levels spike as I have a mini heart attack. This guy however, does something quite remarkable…he tells me how the plan is going to shit but offers me a life line – he arranges with a restaurant down the road to host the party if the power does not come on in time.

So now I am experiencing life on life’s terms but not completely throwing in the towel and calling it quits just yet. I enjoy surrounding myself with people who devise a plan B or look for solutions instead of harping on how unfair life is for putting an obstacle in their way. What it means is that life will hand me some sour lemons from time to time I am smart enough to think of plan B and make lemonade when it does.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Do you think that crying is a sign of weakness or strength?

Listening to my favourite radio station, they hosted a very interesting topic on men crying and whether it is seen as a strength or weakness. Men are taught to be tough and give off the perception that they have it all together. Women on the other hand show more emotions, sometimes often erratic.

So how do I feel about crying, personally…I am quite a hard person but do have sudden bursts of tearfulness. This can happen while watching a moving movie, when frustrated and I cannot bash the person next to me, when sad or just when ever the next mood swing is due to happen.

I often feel as I have been hit by a bus after a good cry and I don’t look particularly sexy afterwards but I do sleep like a baby. I feel emotional release, sometimes we get so caught up in the pretence to the world showing them that I have it all together – that I’m the perfect child/ sister/ aunt/ cousin/ girlfriend/ friend/ student/ employee/ Christian. It can be quite daunting that when one of the balls drops from the air, I can’t help but belt out a tear.

So do I feel the same compassion for a man that cries? I can respect a man who cries over a loss of a loved one or tears of joy when their child is born. I can respect it when he sheds a tear with me when I am hurt or sad.

A man that can cry definitely is a sign of strength, it shows that he cares and that for me is the most important thing. That being said, if he cried every two seconds because something was sooooo emotional that he just had to burst into tears – I would definitely tell him to man up or get out.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Have you figured out the second head fake?

Did you figure out the head fake? It’s not about how to achieve your dreams. It’s about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you - http://www.quotesstar.com/

I think that I live my life doing unto and treating others as I would like done unto me. I happen to think that I live my life according to God’s will and society’s rules. I understand what it is to have morals and integrity - and to live by them.

I fully understand that life can be cruel and unfair and when you least need it to be. That if I want something that I need to work hard to get – that there are no hand-outs in life. However, just because I worked hard does not mean I will get what I want. God has a greater plan for me. Sometimes, He closes doors to open a window to an even better opportunity.

I live my life in the present moment but also planning that God will grace me with a future, therefore, I plan my life accordingly. I have learnt to make mistakes, learn from them, pick myself up, to make amends where necessary and do things differently. I have learnt to be the kind of person I can respect.

Have I mastered the art of the second head fake? Not by a long shot, but the beauty of life is that there is no final destination, rather the constant opportunity to improve on myself to be the kind of person I want to be.

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

I feel that I have been moulded by society to be a corporate junkie, acting all professional and responsible every moment of the day – even when I leave the office. When in actual fact, I would like to be a kid again and be carefree.

I wouldn’t have to worry about paying the bills, check when my car needs to be serviced, ensuring I have medical aid, take out funeral policies, life policies, car insurance, saving for a rainy day and I wouldn’t need to feel guilty about procrastinating doing something important.

I would like to be 4 years old again, where the foolish things I do or say are seen as amusing rather than stupid and life was one big adventure. Where it’s not expected from me to map out my whole future in a five year plan and know where it was that I’m heading in life. Where I can wash the stink of adulthood responsibilities off and rather play with tea sets, in the park or with my Barbie dolls. Where no one asks you for your highest qualification, your strengths and weaknesses but is impressed that you can count to ten and you know your ABC.

Life would consist of playing in the sand and having the small pleasures in life, like blowing bubbles, be the best thing since sliced bread. To go back to a time where it was ok to have grass stains on the knees of my pants. Where you are able to go anywhere and do anything and the only thing you had to do was have an imagination. Not forgetting, the magical experience of holidays such as Easter and Christmas time.

At 4 you live in the disillusion that your dad is the only man you need in life, that he will never disappoint you and that he will live forever. You are sheltered from the violence, crime, poverty, hurt and pain of the world. You live in a fairy tale that your happy little family is going to live happily ever after.

I would love to go back to a time where I could eat cookies and cream or cupcakes without counting the calories. Without me obsessing the I need to lose weight…be thinner…taller…prettier…smarter…dress fashionable/ sexy/ corporate/ casual/ Christian-like – all because society expects it from me.

All that would be required from me is to play, be merry and explore my surroundings. To be young again…would be a blessing…to live in a bubble protected from life as we know it.

How hard is it to follow instructions?


How hard it is would be dependent on how badly the person wants what you have or what you are offering. Growing up, I must admit, I was super rebellious…the more I showed I didn’t need you the better I thought I was off. You told me one thing and I did the complete opposite. I grew up (it was inevitable) and I learnt that rules aren’t there to be broken and they can be pretty useful.

I happen to think that I follow instructions quite well: I read it carefully, make sure I understand what is required of me, ask for clarification (if needed) and get down to business.

Now even though the instructions state various things, here are some reasons why it may be hard to follow them:
* How clear are the instructions?
* Life does not care about instructions. If my computer crashes it does not consider my stress levels as to when my assignment deadline is approaching.
* Sometimes technology fails us…internet doesn’t work, pc freezes, printer runs out of ink, websites bomb out etc.
* We phone to clarify the specifications, not because we don’t understand but rather because we think ‘how are we going to juggle this with everything else already on our plate’ and we are silently trying to let you know this.
* Could it be that the instructions are ambiguous?
* Often when we tackle instructions we are at our most vulnerable…hungry, tired, overworked and underpaid.
* Then there is the major question: are all of these instructions really necessary? I know a few Com Science students who may beg to differ.
* Are the instructions longer than 2 pages because it is hard to find the time to do what is required and read a manuscript of what is required to be done?
* Last but not least…life as a zombie is not ayoba…there’s not enough time in the day to work, study, eat, sleep and have some form of a social/family life.

Creating opportunity one bite at a time

I thought this slogan from Khayelitsha Cookie is so remarkably true and had me thinking about the rise of these entrepreneurs in SA. With so many wasted talents overlooked when you find someone begging at a robot, I often stop and think that money feels better in your pocket if you have worked hard for it.

Here is a story of unemployed women from the rural township areas who are trying to make a better life for themselves instead of waiting for a hand out. We all know that life can be cruel and unfair, if you have to wait on hand out...you may just wait forever.

The Khayelitsha Cookie hire previously unemployed women from Khayelitsha and then train and skill them in permanent, affirming employment. These women are able to keep stable jobs to sustain themselves and their loved ones. Now this I can respect and support.

They offer delicious biscuits such as choc chunk, ginger snap, brownies, safari flavour and mamma rusk. So next time you compiling gift sets for clients or wanting to give someone something that is proudly South African, you should definitely give them these cookies - it is sure to have them going back for more.

Now while you think it can’t get any better, Khayelitsha Cookie is spreading the wealth amongst the community by supporting Learn to Earn. The organisation, also based in Khayelitsha, offers life skills to empower the individual to contribute to society in a meaningful way.

For more information visit their website www.khayelitshacookies.co.za

“In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes” - Andy Warhol


Is this guy on crack? This is not the case for everyone…some people’s lives are filled with poverty and despair. Some have the potential yet are just another number, cardboard cut-out; pencil pusher in the corporate world. No Andy...not everyone will be famous. Some will drop of the face of the earth without a single person knowing of their existence. Ok so enough with the gloom talk.

The above statement makes me question, if I had the opportunity to be famous…what would it be for? Now I know most people would rant like a Miss World pageant contestant and say “World Peace” but I am a simple girl…

I would like to instate that people only work 3 days a week instead of five and that Monday is always a public holiday. Perhaps I will invent breathable stockings that that doesn’t rip just before that important meeting.

Maybe I will team up with Bill Gates and invent a rubber bouncy computer so that when technology pushes me over the edge…I can throw the machine out of my two story building without having to suffer the expensive repercussions.

What if I became a top agency for the plus size model…kicking the anorexic models to their nearest Mc Donalds to get a double cheese burger.

Perhaps I will be become a famous exercise instructor like Billy Blanks or create affordable tastey meals like Jamie Oliver – what are the chances...I’m dreadful in the treadmill and kitchen lol.

Perhaps I will become a lecturer teaching common sense classes to society, that we don’t need multi billion monuments when there are people starving. We don’t need to pumps thousands of Rands into the sport industry to watch people play with a ball when so many are unemployed.

So what would I be famous for? I would be ‘famous’ for doing my small bit, volunteer work and speaking out about causes that make our society a better place to live in.

Fantabulous is an understatement

Life can be quite a daunting thing…prices are always going up, work and family life is demanding, the unexpected curve balls of life which seem to happen all at once make it hard to sit back and enjoy the little pleasures in life. That’s why when my boyfriend surprised me with tickets to go see Madame Zingara I was over the moon.

I was dying to see the show; I heard numerous excellent reviews about the show and was sure to whisper them in my boyfriend’s ear. The initial reaction was that tickets are quite expensive but if he wants to spoil me…who am I to say no.

You walk through the demarcated area, noting each and every piece of décor carefully selected to transform you on the Love Magic Show. What was so amazing about the show was that you were constantly entertained from the moment you walked through those doors, there was no curtain to showcase the start and end but rather from the moment you entered performers where interacting amongst the crowd.

The costumes were elaborate, it made you want to buy a feather bower to feel part of. The characters of the performers were beyond entertaining and their performances were jaw-dropping. Characters ranged from a woman on stilts, a midget who had the bubbly personality bigger than any I have ever seen, a clumsy magician, a dark angel, Russian acrobats, beautiful woman displaying art bound to make your heart skip a beat, a soulful rapper, contortionists, a woman who took a childhood playtime, holla-hoops, to another level and three voluptuous singers who had us linger on every note. Be careful though, if you see a large woman flirting with you…don’t’ be fooled…that is actually a man – you have been warned. I think the act that sent shivers down my spin was a couple, who managed to perform with roller skates whilst doing flips, dips and swings.


Now many of you may think that the tickets are overpriced, after the show, I beg to differ. With riveting entertainment to keep you enthralled in the show and scrumptious food throughout…what more could you wish for. The show provides a four course meals which is pure taste bud perfection. You receive a free non-alcoholic Motjio As you may know, the show is famous for their choc chilli steaks…I now understand why. This unusual combination is utterly delectable…the steak is so soft it melts in your mouth. If you are looking to be mesmerized, I highly recommend this meal to anyone going to the show. If steak is not your thing…trying their Thai curry or their generous portion of Lamb Shank.



One of the things that struck me was that the food was served perfect and on time. How often does that happen in a restaurant?! There were hundreds of people seated at round tables yet the service was spectacular – 5 gold stars. Staff was dressed to the T in the theme, friendly yet professional and highly efficient.

I left the show not wanting it to end, entertained beyond my wildest dreams and my stomach satisfied from all the mouthwatering food. We were unable to take photographs of the extravagant performances but take it from me it was impressive. Perhaps it’s a good thing that photographs were not permitted so that you can go and experience this show for yourself. Taking someone to see this show is the ultimate gift, so grab and friend, colleague or loved one and make your booking to see this unforgettable show.

To the Madame Zingara Love Magic Show…the show was magical, extravagant and worth EVERY penny. I can’t wait to see the show again on your next tour!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

A skill set called leadership

What is leadership and why is it on everyone’s lips? Leadership is more than the conventional definition to lead a situation by achieving goals or leading (managing) a group of individuals. It contains many characteristics, such as setting out new ways to strategically meet goals; it is not about managing people but advising and giving insight in how best to reach a mutually beneficial destination for all publics. The most important shift in leadership is the knowledge that leadership does no longer has to happen top-down in the hierarchy scheme of things and that there is a difference between leadership and authority.

The reality of life is that not everyone will go on to be a CEO of a big corporation. Despair not…not all is lost. We all have the ability or potential to nurture the skill set called leadership, whether it is be the leader of your household, the leader of your own life not waiting on others or life to go out and achieve what is that you want in life or just showing leadership skills in your office teams.

The Cluetrain Manifesto stated a remarkable evolution taking place…that management can now seek counsel from those at the bottom of the corporate food chain. The guys at the bottom are often overlooked, however, they are the ones who understand what it is that the customers are interested in or what there concerns are. This information is more vital than what can be achieved by a piece of paper stating you achieved an advanced qualification obtained at some University.

So don’t leave it up to the big boys to lead the way…get in there and play the game. Not all of us will become our own boss one day but given the right knowledge of our product/service, our consumer’s needs and concerns and the industry, the application of how to meet those goals can assist us in being leaders in our own right.