For those familiar with personal training you may know that a strength programme is well complemented by a flexibility routine. Some research has shown that stretching can increase muscle mass by over 300%! The same is true for making plans. The more flexibility (room to stretch) your plan has, the stronger it can be. A plan needs to consider many things and allow for alternatives to bolster any situation that may occur. This way, flexibility also […]
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Reasons for SA SMEs to smile
It’s not always easy to see, but there are unexpected positives in South Africa’s current financial situation. Of all the segments of our population who could be grumbling, many would say that SME owners are right up there. Squeezed like the middle-class tax payers, but with the added brutal success figures of less than 10 percent after two years, SMEs seem to have it doubly rough. But could there be a silver lining? Things cost the […]
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Planning is a process
One of the hardest elements of a plan is that when we begin, it’s largely intangible. It’s hard to commit to something that we can’t see, touch or feel. In our heads, our plans are very real, but further than that – they’re a little hard to engage with. Sometimes, it can be helpful to view our plans in the same way that we would view a road trip. If we’re planning a holiday or a […]
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It doesn’t just happen
Success isn’t something that simply lands in our laps. When we look at successful people, we only see their most recent achievements, not the backstory. What we’re actually seeing, is someone who was willing to do what it took to be the best that they could be. Most successful people don’t follow a seven-point plan or even think that they will be perceived by others as successful. Success requires focus, hard work and persistence. But none […]
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The retirement gap needs a new rap
Retirement (as well as education and the job market) is one of our greatest future-unknowns. We know it will happen… but we are finding it harder to understand and predict what it might look like. This doesn’t mean we should abandon planning for it. If anything, it simply means that we need to change the way we start to talk about, engage with and plan for retirement. According to a global survey done by BlackRock, about […]
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Integrity and authenticity are key to happiness
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. – Mahatma Gandhi” Integrity in our lives is developed by constantly evaluating: the way we think, the way we speak, and, the way we act. As we are able to bring these into harmony, we develop our authenticity and grow our happiness. Relooking at our perspectives and our motivations gives us a chance to be honest and see what we […]
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Investing masterclass: Four tips for the long game
When it comes to coffee-shop conversations, little is said about the long game in the investment space – it’s often about which asset manager did well this year, what outperformed everything else in the last quarter… etc. But, if you’re an investor, chances are high that you’re saving for future events that have a five-year-plus event-horizon (as we all should!). Here are four thoughts for investors looking to improve their long-term results. If you’re feeling shaky […]
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It’s time to make up your mind
“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” ― Abraham Lincoln How happy we are in our lives depends on how happy we decide to be. If we decide to continue focusing on what didn’t become or what mistakes shouldn’t have happened, we will struggle to thrive and experience happiness. It is important to decide whether you want to be happy and whether you choose to give yourself a chance […]
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The dollar’s time is running out
South Africans (and many others) sometimes suffer from an unbalanced bias when it comes to the United States: we assume that anything American is top-class. Certainly, when talking about the markets, South Africa’s indices and analyses are always about what America is doing. The dollar has, for a long time, been the most influential currency. However, this may not be for much longer. Investors are preparing for what’s becoming known as ‘de-dollarisation’. What is de-dollarisation? De-dollarisation […]
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An expanding life is ultimately about our relationships
“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” – Robert A. Heinlein” The love you have for your family is what makes you want a better life for them. You think about their happiness and work to create a better future for them on a daily basis. This is one way in which we show and experience love. Essentially, this is what relationships are about; showing love for […]
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