If I were the boss....

Since my first year at varsity the thought of owning my own company or being the director of a company has always been very appealing. Who doesn't want to be the boss? Someone who makes the final decision, someone who is extremely knowledgable and known in industry for being an expert. However there is more to being a boss than just the successes and positives that come along with the title. The most important element is appreciating your employees, they are the assets of the company and ensuring that they are well looked after as in essence your employees are the ones who ensure the ship successfully sails to its destination.

If I were the boss...

3 day weekends would become the norm, as we are all well aware of the fact that a two day weekend really does not do anyone justice. Just as one is getting into the swing of relaxing, you wake up to reality which includes an early Monday morning management meeting. 3 days is sufficient to catch up on rest considering the hectic working schedules we all have, time to spend with family and friends, time for the inevitable catch up for those that are studying and working and time for ME.

Each employee will know exactly what is expected from them, their objectives, deadlines will be clearly marked out to ensure that there are no grey areas. Clarity on what is expected from each employee is essential and regular one on one meetings and team discussions will take place to ensure the employees are happy and fully understand their responsibilities. This will assist with employees taking ownership for their tasks and activities.

If the team meet their targets, on the last friday of each month, incentives such as spa treatments or vouchers will be given in order show appreciation and motivate employees for months to come. Employees can take their birthdays off to celebrate with family and friends. Monthly birthday celebrations would take place at the office to celebrate the birthdays of the past month.

Working hours for the team would be 8am - 4pm giving those with children time to collect the kids from school or make it in time for a gym class, time to make dinner, time for homework or just time to spend with the family before bedtime. Breakfast would be served at the office from 7:30am, as a good breakfast will ensure employees have the energy to start their days on a positive note.

Regular brainstorming and creative sessions would be held by internal and external facilitators to give staff the opportunities to explore their creative sides. By- monthly teambuilding sessions would be held to ensure that staff get to know each other on a social level which will assist with their daily dealings with each other. Time out sessions like teambuilding sessions are great ways for staff to re-energise and get motivated.

Workspace for the team would be spacious with lots of natural light, comfortable furniture, colours which stimulate creativity and happiness and a semi formal dress code would be appropriate. Staff will be well aware of the fact that if they do not meet their targets or do not put in the effort expected, this will be dealt with.

The reality is, in time you will be the boss whether it be of your own company, director of another company or the boss of your life. You are never truly prepared for what is installed for you but the important point to remember is to appreciate and motivate those around you.

We are closed for business

A close friend of mine lost her job yesterday, which was a big reality check as I realised you never truly know when the day will come that you will be unemployed. One week you are on top of it and the next week the company that you are working for is closing its doors. Ones first reaction if you did not see it coming is shock but once the idea of unemployment sets in,  you realise you need to get your CV out and start with getting your brand out there.

When employed, I think one gets into a real comfort zone, as you have a job, you are hopefully happy in your job, you get a monthly income, pay your bills and life goes on and this all becomes routine, month in, month out. Does losing your job make you reassess your abilities, skills, passion in life, profession and happiness? Possibly, as you have time to think, if you are not too panicked about where and when your next salary will come from.

The truth is,  no one wants to be unemployed and one is never really prepared to hear the dreaded words unless you have just won the lotto. The important thing about losing your job is not losing focus. You need to stay on top of your game, update your CV, send out your CV and contact your contacts. Its important to have an action plan going forward and committ to it. Its so easy to become lazy and procrastinate but its up to you to stay motivated. In todays society one cannot afford to be unemployed, the price of electricity, petrol, groceries and day to day expenses are increasing. If you are used to getting a monthly income, not getting one is definitely an adjustment as you need to cut back on luxuries and literally think about every cent being spent.

There are however positives about being unemployed, yes i feel there are. One has time to really focus on yourself and reassess your current profession, are you on track with your career goals, is the passion for your profession still lit, are you being challenged and the biggest question, are you truly happy? These are all questions which one should think about. Perhaps you are at the tipping point of your life, its your opportunity to go deep and decide if this is currently the industry for you or you could take a leap of faith and start a new career path entirely. Are you brave enough to get out of your comfort zone, the profession that you feel you know so much about and change direction?

One needs to remember the following when you lose your job:

1. It could happen to anyone.

2. Take time to get things into prospective, do not rush into a new job/adventure without giving it thought

3. Look for companies that have values and a mission that you can relate to, a team that you would like to be

    part of.

4. Something good will come from the experience, even if it just involves learning, one is never too

     knowledgable.

5. Accept the loss of your job, deal with it, mourn if you need to but move on, its hard but its for your own

    good.

Most importantly remember that you are talented, your time will come when you will find another job that will hopefully make you happy and challenge you again.As cliched as it sounds, there really is light at the end of the tunnel.

Time for reassessment & anti wrinkle cream

Cupcakes, jumping castles, fairies, princesses, these are the thoughts that consume my mind when i think of my birthday as a tiny tot, one should not forget Barbie.Every year we approach the day of our birth, which for some is a happy day for others its a reminder that they are aging and maybe its time to start using the anti wrinkle cream.

Birthdays should be days that we celebrate, celebrate our achievements, overcoming obstacles and most importantly sharing moments with those that are special in our lives. This years birthday brought about a feeling of reassessment. Taking a moment to look at the year that has been and assess whether you are on track with achieving goals or taking time to think is this where i thought i would be at this age, that is the big question. The reality of individuals having life plans is an everyday occurence but is it real? Do we honestly stick to our life plans? Can we stick to our life plans or are these plans just a guidance or sense of direction for where we would like to be?

The truth is whether we count down the days until our birthdays or merely try to pretend the day does not exist, our birthdays take place either way. Embrace the aging process, we all have to get old but as long as your mind is constantly challenged, you're learning new things, you are happy & healthy have an extra cupcake with butter icing and enjoy having the additional candle on your birthday cake.

"As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two."

Sir Norman Wisdom

Two People come out of a building & into a story - R91 million richer

R91 million rand richer, one cannot even begin to imagine the amount of money R91 million really is. Can someone actually win R91 million by purchasing a lottery ticket, the answer yes one can. This reality was true for Bella & her mother Susan who had just walked out of the national lottery office confirming that they had indeed, the winning ticket.

Bella bought her lotto ticket from her local supermarket, not knowing that her chosen numbers would be the weeks lucky numbers that every South African wished he or she had picked. Earlier that day, Bella's boss Heinrich, had said that one cannot wish or dream without making an effort or taking that leap. If you stand any chance in actually winning, you need to buy a ticket, Bella took these words heart & realised that she needed to get a lottery ticket, in order to actually stand a chance of winning. This action is very true and relates to life in the sense that if you are not willing to act, dream or take that leap even if it is daunting at first, it may be worth it in the end. Wouldn't you rather take the risk & win than not take the risk & wonder if you would have won. Risk taking is not part of most of our day to day activities as we get so caught up in our daily routines and enjoy our comfort zones that we dont take enough risks or any at all. The reality is if we want the unexpected to happen we need to take a risk and who wants to look back in 50 years time wondering about the if's, why's and hows.

Bella & Susan wondered what life would entail after having won the lottery. Would they stop working, carry on with their daily activities or do a complete 360 and see where life takes them? After winning the lotto, Bella & Susan decided that travelling would be the best way to discover the world starting in Africa by doing volunteer work in orphanges and assisting where possible. Bella & Susan believed that they needed to share their winning by making a difference in the lives of others.They both knew that their lives had changed but knew that they had been lucky and wanted to add a touch of luck or hope to the lives of those that rarely see or feel the warmth of life everyday.

A Jamaican Proverb states "To eat an egg, you must break the shell" . This is true in order to be successful or learn a lesson we need to take the risk of breaking the shell, and one never knows if the end result will be pleasant or not but are you willing to take the risk of finding out?

Designer PR: PR is no longer the sprinkles on top of your favourite ice cream but instead its the actual flavour of the ice cream

Standing in front of the glass counter, looking at the array of colours, flavours and sprinkles at the Italian ice cream shop got me thinking. Which flavour ice cream do i want, do i go for the usual cookies & cream or should i be healthier today and decide on fruit sorbet, do i want sprinkles, sugar cone or cup? These are real questions & decisions which need to be made whilst the gentleman behind me breathes heavily indicating that i need to hurry up & make my decision.

PR was always seen as the sprinkles on top of the ice cream, sometimes you want sprinkles, sometimes you dont. PR was seen as a sub division of marketing or advertising, a career path for party planners, not quite making the grade but an occupation which would get you by. For many years i have stumbled across the what i refer to as "uneducated" beings in society who view PR as an occupation which needs to be defended, an occupation where you organise events. Yes, organising events is part of the job but really not the core of the job. I would then find myself explaining to the "uneducated" exactly what PR entails, hopefully enlightening them that without PR, a business would not fully grow, develop to its full potential & make the impact that it is destined to do in society. PR no longer needs to be carried by marketing or advertising instead PR can carry its own baggage up to the very    top of kilimanjaro, reach the top & continue to conquer expectations.

It is partly our duty as PR practitioners to enlighten the "uneducated" and showcase our abilities in industry. Its time that we stand up for our profession, make a noise, rattle a few feathers & grow our industry. In a research paper which i conducted last year which looked at the difference between PR & Marketing in the corporate environment & how employees in the company viewed PR and its importance. Results indicated that just over 85% of employees feel that PR and Marketing are equally important & should work together in order to reach the desired outcome. There has definitely been a noticeable mindset change for many individuals with regard to their understanding of the PR profession and i think this change is ongoing which is positive.

Now its time that we continue to discover, master and invent new elements of our profession, as PR is a profession which is evolving & we're part of this evolution.

Leaving the city for canoes & paddling

Canoe, paddling...these words do not form part of my daily or weekly vocab.

When i was tasked with the activity of increasing the publicity & overall awareness of the PPC Nukakamma Canoe Trail, my thoughts were canoeing, when last did i go paddling & what do i know about canoeing. These thoughts soon faded when i realised that this task would include unexplored avenues for me which would be challenging & an outdoor challenge would be good for me.

For over a decade PPC have been involved with the Nukakamma Canoe Trail. A canoe trail based along the Sundays River in Port Elizabeth (PE). PPC have a factory & sales office in PE thus it was decided to get involved with a project which positively contributed and showcased the Sundays River and its environment. The PPC Nukakamma trail is run by Bob & Dee Richards, an active couple who absolutely adore the outdoors, educating others and preserving the environment. An inspiring couple who are 77 &67 years of age &who are more active in their community than your average human being.

I decided that the best way to fully understand the trail, what it offers & how best to promote it would be to experience the trail. This was the best decision as the overnight stay opened up my eyes to a world that i rarely explore. A world which includes no electricity, no laptop, no cell phone, cold showers, no worries, natural beauty, sounds of the river, bunk beds & appreciating the beauty of the night sky.

I went paddling for 4km up & down the sundays river, appreciating the birdlife, sounds of nature and gaining insight into the outdoors which is such a great way to get away from the city & recharge ones batteries. Just being away from the office, even though i was on a business trip i realised that we get so caught up in meeting deadlines, targets & the days really do fly by. Its so important that we take time to do things that we dont normally do, as you may discover that you actually enjoy an activity which you know nothing about, like canoeing for me.

I left PE feeling recharged even though i only got 4 hours sleep due to the sounds of mosquitos & all the other unusual sounds of sleeping in the bush along a river. Canoeing & sleeping under the stars is definitely a must to recharge our batteries & leave the hustle & bustle of life.

Is polygamy a feminist issue?

This question was posed to my media studies 4 class which resulted in a class debate taking place, which is a great way to get insight into how people really feel & understand a topic. Its a topic which has a yes or no answer no grey areas. Polygamy is a greek word which has been defined by dictionary.com as "the practice or condition of having more than one spouse." There are 3 specific forms of polygamy namely polygyny (one man has more than 1 wife), polyandry (one woman has more than 1 husband) and group marriage (marriage involves more than 1 husband & wife).

One may question why polygamy is even an option in many cultures, is marriage not a committment between 2 people? Is there a need to have more than 1 husband or wife? The reality is that polygyny is practised more than polyandry. A comprehensive survey of traditional societies in the world was conducted looking at the percentages of polygyny vs. polyandry. 83.39% practiced polygyny, 16.14% monogamy & 0.47% practised polyandry. Of the very few cases of polyandry being practised, fraternal polyandry (group of brothers sharing 1 wife) was the main form being practiced.

I do believe that polygamy is a feminist issue. In certain cultures it is accepted for the male to have more than 1 wife however if the roles were reversed, would it be acceptable, of course not. This raises the issue of equality between males & females & females being treated differently.

Polygamy is acceptable in certain African cultures as well as in the Islam culture.

Lets look at our very colourful President, Jacob Zuma who has recently fathered his 20th child, and he strongly believes & practises polygamy. He is proud of this Zulu cultural tradition & continues to pay lobola & get married. One questions if this is normal & should it be accepted? Would you like to be wife number 3 or 4 or 5? I certainly would not but am i missing or not understanding the culural aspect behind polygamy being accepted.

Imagine having a female president who strongly believed & promoted polyandry, this is a thought i actually cant imagine. The female president would not be assessed or judged on her abilities to lead the country but would instead gain more media attention & judgement for her actions. However it seems to be ok that Zuma has 3 wives & 20 children, should this be acceptable? Should it be ok because its part of his culture?

In Jan 2010, the TNS marketing research company conducted a survey with 2000 South Africans from a range of cities which resulted in 74% of the interviewee's feeling that a man having more than 1 wife at one time should not be accepted and that it is a problem. Zuma was asked about polygamy at the World Economic Forum in Davos in which a panel interviewer questioned whether practicing polygamy was not a symbolic step backwards or a way of increasing the inequality between men & women. Zuma's answer, "its part of my culture"

Is polygamy a feminist issue? YES i do believe it is as it promotes the inequality between men & women.

My French Adventure

Paris has always been one of the cities on my To Do List to visit ever since i saw the eiffel tower in a romantic movie, as i'm a big fan of the romance even the really cheesy romance. When the opportunity arose to visit a friend in Paris, i decided it was now or never. I jumped at the opportunity and before i knew it my ticket was booked to France in Dec '09. Before i knew it 5 months had passed, a crazy year at the office, busy year at uni & time for an adventure. Arriving in Paris at minus temperatures after leaving sunny cape town was quite an adjustment but just being there, experiencing a new culture was what i was looking forward to. We visited all the touristy attractions which i had to do & consider myself to be a real tourist, taking pictures in front of the Eiffel Tower, Eurodisney, Palace of Versailles, Louvre, Montmatre. Highlights of the trip include our trip to Orlean for new years, Reims, experiencing the student culture was amazing, made me think back to the days when i was a full time student. Moulin Rouge for Xmas eve, an 8 course meal along the Seine River for Xmas day, Montmatre, sledding in the park & sipping cappuccino's in side street cafes observing the french made me realise how badly i needed to see more of the world & experience other cultures. Apart from Bonjour, Ca va, merci, au revoir, s'il vous plait, my french was quite limited but none the less i was able to communicate. Leaving Paris with overweight luggage at 6am was not pleasant but the reality of spending 3 amazing weeks in a city i had always wanted to visit had been fulfilled. Several tears were shed on the plane from Paris to Amsterdam as it suddenly dawned on me my adventure was over & reality was about to set in. The thought of staying in Paris for a bit longer did cross my mind but coming home to share my stories with loved ones was what was needed. Landing in Cape Town was indeed bitter sweet but the more i think about it, its more sweet than bitter really. I have come home with the most amazing memories, experiences and travelling is the most awesome way to get insight into the diverse cultures of the world. I will miss the french accent, chocolate crepes, lying in bed listening to the snow fall, smelling the snow, the adventure & my rabbit however the trip has revitalised my soul & i'm already planning my next adventures :)