Black Economic Empowerment : The real beneficiaries

This past Saturday I went to an SME workshop, planned and organized by Magna Carta for Standard Bank. We engaged in a conversation that birthed this post, with some of the delegates.

The conversation began with Anthony saying, since the initiation of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) many white owned companies were disgruntled. He says his courier company lost contracts with regular clients, which they negotiated after 1994 therefore still within the new dispensation.

Contrary to popular belief, South Africa’s black owned companies also hardly benefit from this innovation that was meant to assist in the emergence of new businesses. Most government projects, known as tenders, don’t reach the youth owned companies, as was intended. These tenders under the banner tag of “BEE” return a chunk of the profits as bribes to government employees.

One of the entrepreneurs I know whose company was built from these tenders confessed to having paid bribes for the past 5years and now outsources most of the labour, but pockets the profits. The other, an entrepreneur who has been in business for over 10years hasn’t seen any benefit from BEE. In fact he discourages any other company to embark on this direction. Both are ‘wholly black owned’ companies and account for very little of the intended recipients.

Evidently race and the qualifying criteria are by far not the least restrictions.

Not a fan. . . .

. . . . of buses in early morning traffic. After the frustration though, this marketing message struck me.

Idols also happens to be the one my least favorite programs on TV, in fact television for me
is a distraction. At the best of times.

This was quite a message. Someone has their act together.

One matchstick: Party of the Century with DJ Al for 150 people!

The One matchstick trader has made another move. View her post here.

Netweb Event last night

The Netweb Event last was made possible by a lot of remarkable people.

Among many I would like to thank:

- Oupa Moumakwe with his outstanding talk on forming Strategic Partnerships.

- Osman Nkosi of Dynasty Strategists.

- Themba Zulu of Doppio Zero in Newtown, both was remarkable along with their staff.

We also received free copies of Succeed Magazine as a giveaway at the dinner, which were really helpful.

Thank you guys. You rocked out.

Appreciation of little things

Ricc Webb attended one of our Netweb Events and I had a chat with him afterward. He used to work as a car salesman at Lexus, always in a suit, before some occurrences that eventually led him to a 27Dinner where we met for the first time.

“Some guy walked into the dealership one day looking like he stepped out of a skateboarder’s hangout” (not his exact words), is how the conversation started. This person wasn’t the kind you’d expect to come into a Lexus dealership, let alone say he is looking for the most expensive car on the floor and actually buy it.

They test drove one of the best cars in the dealership, played heavy metal instead of the regular jazz or classical music. Ricc told his client about the features, handling and the usual things he normally would. Along with that he also asked him about his preference in music, his interests and the things that made this guy different from everyone else.

They would normally give new car owners chocolate and cigars upon delivery of their vehicle, but this wasn’t an ordinary buyer. He was someone very similar to Ricc himself, on a Friday evening, and the gift with his delivery had to be distinct.

It is the little things that intrigue us about products, people and companies. The small things you do for me, which are distinct and memorable. How many people do you think talked about Lexus thereafter?

What fascinated Rich, some companies he gave the talk at and I, after 2years of the encounter, was the gift Ricc chose. He away put the cigars Lexus would normally provide and went out to buy a belt at a skater’s store. That minute detail caused Ricc to score himself the coolest job in the world working at Thunk. A company started by Rich 2years later. Have a look at his gift here.

What could you do to cause so much conversation?

And oh, he doesn’t miss being in suits.

3000 Blog posts: Congragulations Seth

Congragulations to Seth Godin who wrote 3000 posts in 3years. It's amazing how you still keep it fresh, informative and somehow ahead of this time.

As for my all time favorite, well that would be a hard one. Read through these to find one that speaks most to you.

Read the 3000th post here. Don't know much about him being a lucky guy though.

If you can change perception consistently for 3years, think otherworldly and apply yourself as an agent of change for this long. Then you are far beyond luck.

Interesting challenge

It has become increasingly challenging to prove value in what you offer. And everyday the goal posts keep shifting.

If your product or service is something worth using and you happen to be confident enough to let people craft it further. Then it becomes a matter of getting it out there as much as possible, without spamming the world of course. More things become unusable as new ones hit the shelves.

The interesting challenge here becomes how you continually expand your outreach, using as much relevant media to you, as you possibly can.

Once you think you have that figured, there's also the risk of becoming stale in what you thought was "unique".

Find the balance and start over again every day. Interesting, isn't it?

Netweb Event: Thank you's

The February 2009 Netweb Event was made great by the support of a lot people. There are far too many names to mention but here are some few:

• Shamillah Wilson of Sowilo : Thanks for making it to speak and once again transforming my perception.
• Telana Simpson: People found your interview inspiring.
• Don Packett who not only is a comedian, but also knows his way technical stuff.
• Ricc Webb had a very interesting story to tell about the appreciation of little things.
• Nikki Viljoen: Thank you for making it and contrubuting valuably.
• Lantz Mattinson: Thanks a boatload for making it and the online marketing ideas.
• StevieB for the interview and an opportunity to spread the word.

The gig wouldn't have happened with out every single person attending as they did. We appreciate all of you guys.

Netweb Event video footage will be available for you to view on NetwebTV and our youtube channel here.

Netweb Event : Radio interview on KayaFM

I was interviewed by StevieB on KayaFM about the February Netweb Event.

You are the brand

Adventure, suspense, thrill of a lifetime and being at the edge of your seat all describe a lot of Hollywood movies. A new business on the other hand requires you to be remarkable and memorable, which will engage people in conversation about you and your services. Fortunately, you do not have to be scripted. Remarkable people and companies appear once in every million, then for everyone else there is developing your personal brand. You decide everyday whether the memories people leave with are worth sharing or earn you an undesirable reputation.

Most new companies start with loads of energy and ideals of taking over the world, if not then being the next big thing will do. However, the reality is that you cannot buy a brand from a shelf as most of us believed and some still do. The single greatest asset, among others, for SME’s is marketing the experience behind themselves. Branding has little to do with banners and glossy business cards, but more with how distinct you are.

The most notable and innovative companies make it big and sell businesses. Everyone else has to work daily to ensure new business comes through their doors. In a small business, though there is nothing small about being in business, we all have to be remembered as people of value thus develop a brand.

The starting point of building a brand or least what I define as the basic components are:

a. What do you stand for?
b. Why are you in business besides the money?
c. What are you marketing except the tangible product?

Are you prepared to offer your service without the monetary returns?

It has been proven time again that the most influential people in business and in other vocations don’t do it for the money, but the love and thrill of it. This might sound like another Hollywood line. However, Seth Godin’s Bootstrapper’s Bible, which was a free ebook downloadable online, was the most circulated book online. It is one of the many things that enable him to outsell many other authors in his genre. As a small business, there is very little business without “you” which makes you the business.

The giants have all the finances that the new kid on the block doesn’t, but they also have a legacy of what works, or proven to, which stunts creativity. You have the ability of throwing out what no longer serves you and improving on what does quicker than they can. If it is a matter of buying your way to prominence, then you are doomed, but it’s not. So be resourceful in where you position yourself and how you start conversations around your service. The Word of Mouth Manual says: 30% of our conversations include some product or service. People will always talk and spread the word, but are you part of the good news they spread? If not how do you make it there?

If it was within your reach to make potential customers talk about you, what would they say? Would they be ecstatic and want everyone to buy from you or even just meet you, or would they have almost nothing great to say? This is where Hollywood and business are similar. For instance, in movies a series of events happen to cause a certain reaction for the audience and many others thereafter. In your business it is also possible to receive a certain reaction all the time, but you need to be clear what that reaction should be. And you might just be in line for an Emmy.

Branding yourself should'nt be expensive and outside your immediate control, which is the reason for our forthcoming Netweb Event. We have selected a highly recommended and seasoned life/business coach, business mentor, entrepreneur and recruitment specialist whose experiences will prove very valuable.