Siyabonga Tiwana

18/02/2018

Unemployed in 2018? #4

This is almost my last post for now until I wrap up my research on other industries for how people can create opportunities for themselves and others. It is in my heart to see humanity advance financially and also in their well-being, instead of growing in jealousy and envy. Information dissemination is often something that holds people back, we can argue that if a person is really hungry: they will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals, but there are still those that $Grind really hard but haven't reach a breakthrough.

A lot of organizations from the first and 2nd world countries are looking forward to grow in Africa, however some of them lack a reliable point of contact. Therefore we have a great opportunity to provide Market Research, information about setting up an entity locally(CIPC, SARS,Banking,etc), and we can be their strategic distribution partner(Sales); not to forget the Black Economic Empowerment regulations.

If one can create a website and position themselves with the above options, set up Google Analytics, improve on your Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and invest much time on LinkedIn, understand all the possible incentives you can get from the government, build relationships with as much Embassies as you can; you will stand a greater chance to find your niche and grow a successful global company in the next few years.

I know this might require a bit of technical skills, I would suggest you rather partner with people that will add value to your initiative. I already have a lot of responsibilities at Skywalk but I am willing to help where and when I can.

$GrindHardAcademy

06/02/2018

Export to Atlanta,United States!

If you know businesses in the Furniture and Interior design and home accessories, help them export to the United States by sharing this information with them.

The Department of Trade and Industry is running a permanent showroom at the AmericasMart Atlanta, which is aimed at promoting South African craft and design products in the US market. Entries for suitable products are requested to reach the department on or before 17 February 2018.

If you need more information, I will connect you with the right people.

$GrindHard

06/02/2018

Unemployed in 2018? #3

I know a lot of my few friends in different provinces that are making an extra income from being a supplier to private and government entities. Some government entities might need simple supplies such as Laptops, phones, stationary, etc; however the procurement process might require them to find a service provider that will help them acquire or lease those things. Look for these opportunities and make extra or base income.

Here's what you might need to do:

- Register a private company
- Get BEE Certificate,
- Tax Clearance and VAT
- Create your corporate branding (Website, Emails, Logo, Business Cards, etc (Note: Get only what you feel is important and you can afford)
- Get a Bank Account
- Register on the Central Supplier Database
- Source work that you can deliver

Note: Source free resources and support you can get from the entities like: NYDA, SEDA, DTI, etc.

Share the information and help a brother or sister out there. Let us fight unemployment together.

$GrindHard

31/01/2018

Unemployed in 2018? #2

South Africa has 9 provinces, each of them has key drivers of the economic development within the province. Mpumalanga has Mines, Agriculture, Forestry, etc. A person can explore opportunities in Logistics to distribute resources that are scarce to other respective provinces.

E.g Construction is very heavy in most provinces all the time. People are building residential houses, shopping malls, etc. I literally see trucks filled with bags of cement every single day coming from Gauteng to Mpumalanga and/or Limpopo.

1. Find a client
2. Find a supplier
3. Lease a truck / Source funding to purchase one.
4. Find a driver
5. Make money and support your family.

This is just one example. You can export Wine and many other things. These are kind of opportunities that doesn't require a lot of your time.

Please do share ideas with friends and family. 5 - 20 years time we might reduce crime, unemployment and poverty

$GrindHard

30/01/2018

UnEmployed in 2018? #1

Let's unpack what one can do. Do a research on one of your favourite industries and find a need that you can serve. I like agriculture, here is a basic example:

Approach department of Agriculture, find out opportunities for new farmers, funding from the government to support farmers, research what kind of farming is doing well (Knowing that we have water crisis in the country), understand the market (Supply and Demand), current challenges faced by farmers, opportunities to export in Africa or other parts of the world, etc.

There's no way you cannot find an opportunity that will generate revenue for you. You may not be necessarily a farmer, but maybe a supplier, provide market access to farmers, an advisor/mentor, etc

$GrindHard

09/04/2017

BUSINESS STRATEGY

I have spent most of my time since the beginning of the year doing Research about Negotiations and Business Strategy, will share about my learnings from Negotiations later but wanna share something interesting about business strategy:

I am privileged to sit in the board of Skywalk Innovations and discuss business strategy. Like most business, we mistake Goals with Business Strategy. Such as: Growing the business with x percentage per annum, reach a revenue of x amount, keep customers happy, etc. Then we end up setting up tasks as action plans. Set Visions and Missions from templates such as: "Being the leading Software Development company in Africa", " No1 (bla bla).... in the world".

Not to forget the recent template business models: "Uber for (bla bla).....", AirBnB for (bla bla).....", Make money through paid Ads, User Licenses, Transactional Fees, etc.

I should probably have a series about this topic to share my R&D. There's absolutely nothing wrong with some of the things listed above, however it has limited a lot of potential opportunities for most businesses because of a copy and paste. A proper business strategy has to address a specific challenge, not a list of goals and action plans.

E.g: One of the challenges with most businesses(Product based or Services) is finding New Clients. I will write about things to consider when you want to create a strategy around this challenge.

16/03/2017

IDEAS WORTH SHARING:

I have realized that I probably spend a lot of time thinking about what I am about to share with you just now. There are lot of people that will like to get married(Assumption) but the cost of getting married comes at a price. Especially when you have to engage on activities like Lobola first.

We are living in a system that encourages people to live on credit, infact if you do not have any debt: you are recognized as a high risk. It make sense because the country need to have a lot of people in debt just to keep balance on the economy of the country, conversation for another day.

You can literally live on credit for everything that you own: From you clothes, phone, car, house, furniture and everything.

Imagine starting an organization that will eliminate barrier to entry on marriage. Where lobola can be paid through debit orders for a specific period of time, including all the activities that needs to happen when paying Lobola and in your wedding (White and Traditional). Where catering, clothing, music, lobola amount and wedding expenses can be packaged in tiers that will allow people to pay on a monthly basis for a period of time.

Created Opportunities:-
- More officially married couples.
- Sustainability of small businesses because they will paid on monthly basis for a long period of time
- More jobs created for businesses have guaranteed monthly revenue

regards Siyabonga Tiwana

06/02/2017

Growing the Team. Growing the quality of our service.

A warm welcome to Geoffrey for a Senior Software Developer role and a team lead, to join our Skywalk Engineering team. We value his vast amount of experience in Software Engineering, his hard work, value and belief systems and his commitment fits very well with our company culture and what we stand for as a business.

We not only growing our team but we also growing the quality of service that we offer our clients and strategic partners. We are excited and looking forward to keep our clients happy.

22/01/2017

Idea of Entitlement:

We all in a way fall into the idea of entitlement. Employees feel entitled to a salary every month end regardless of their effort on that month, because it is contractually agreed upon. Men/Women feel entitled to something in relationships, parents and children also share similar sentiment.

One of my insane reality is the entitlement to success we often have, especially when using the basis of what got us where we are at that point in life. Too often that idea alone deprive the thought of working twice as hard and it also underestimate the amount of effort required to reach those goals. Hence New Years Resolutions are hardly achieved by most of us.

One other major factor that psychologically destroyed us from reaching our core potential is because we mostly aspire things that we think that they are within our reach, one of my favourite quotes: "Most people are not going after what they want. Even some of the most serious goal seekers and goal setters, they're going after what they think they can get. Set your sights higher" ~Bob Proctor.

I believe that destroying old habits, the idea of entitlement, the idea of success without having a proper plan, strategy and KPIs, and rather acquire a desire to learn, take constructive criticism, adapt quickly and emotional intelligence; humanity will be way better off.

01/01/2017

Compliments to the new Season. May 2017 be a Crazy but interesting year.

22/07/2016

As a new season already started. It is always better to start with a new look and feel of our improved beautiful website. http://moleculesoftware.co.za/