Tag: Blogs

It has not been easy adjusting to these turbulent times. However, amidst every storm, there is always something that we learn in the process. Right from the onset, we really had no idea how long the pandemic would last. The optimistic thought that this would fizzle out quickly while the pessimists dug in their heels for the long haul.  Living in turbulent times calls for a tough skin and reinventing, discovering and stretching our limits to be the best version of ourselves - despite the many difficulties that we are up against. All in all, these turbulent times have opened our eyes, made us explore our strengths and face our fears especially in times of uncertainty. Hence this common phrase that most of you have probably heard or said – ‘Covid-19 has taught us...’ We could probably write a book about general lessons that we have learnt so far with regards to living in turbulent times. Hmmmh… what would the title be? I’ll leave you to marinate on that, but for now, let us delve into some of the magnified highlights of the COVID-19 pandemic

Your mental health matters

Change is not always easy, especially when it’s sudden and affects the entire world. Right from the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, most of us got into distress owing to reasons such as fear of the unknown, isolation, unemployment, lifestyle changes and so forth. Previously, this was an unspoken topic that we hardly thought would be discussed openly especially in cultural settings. Our new normal world has indeed helped break the myths and stereotypes pegged on mental health.

That said, here are some things you can do to stay mentally healthy:

• Learn to speak up. If you are feeling somewhat stressed, depressed or overwhelmed, it is okay to talk to a friend or a professional about your feelings.
• Exercise – it improves your self-esteem, reduces anxiety, stress or depression.
• Learn to take breaks – whenever you feel overwhelmed or that something is weighing you down, take breaks from negative impacts to heal and build your emotional state of health.
• Learn to count your victories and blessing – It’s great to pat yourself on the back by celebrating your achievements and victories so far. This promotes an attitude for gratitude.
• Create time for family. Family plays an integral part in building us up and the first social fabric. We need companionship to thrive in life.

You are stronger than you know

When life throws you lemons and curve balls, what do you do then? Some of us made lemonade and hit the ground running respectively. It is through the toughest of times that we emerge stronger, better and determined to push through. The courage to push on has seen us through difficult times - we have experienced the loss of loved ones, financial constraints, felt helpless and confused owing to uncertainty, witnessed businesses collapse and many other events that have caused turmoil. There is one thing you should know, you are strong! Why? Despite all that is happening around you, you have overcome the present huddles and you are here. Cheers for pulling through this difficult time. Do not give up, you have already come this far.

Technology plays an integral part in communities at large

We saw a variety of app inventions that took the perspective model of global and local communities to a whole new level. We saw the explosion of video content both in the personal and business aspect. Businesses turned to digital platforms to make sales, build revenue, educate, entertain and engage with their audience. The digital age was pushed to evolve much faster than expected. Where people couldn’t walk into stores, or touch/access a product or service, smart technology such as virtual walkthroughs or testing, internet banking, etc. came into play.  In our personal lives virtual meetings became the order of the day, whether planning a wedding, a funeral or meeting our chamas and other social interactions. It didn’t end there, with physical distancing ruled in place, our way of doing the things we have taken for granted changed completely from how many can attend an occasion, how we acknowledge each other, to how we mask up………...chinless and smiles camouflaged!

Man is not an island and we cannot downplay the importance of human contact in our lives. Right from the beginning of this Covid-19 pandemic to date, there is still a level of isolation, travel restrictions, curfews and numerous restrictions that e prevent us from having previously normal interactions or simply travelling across the globe to visit our relatives. This said, it is just amazing and refreshing how technology has made it easy to connect globally. It is evident that technology is now important in accessing and bringing communities together, enabling collaborations, and learning from each another. All these emerging technologies to date are centered around one common thing – connecting communities in one way or the other.

We bet there are many lessons that we have learnt including the doomsday scenarios and the misinformation brigades peddling what they believe to be their own versions of the truth and muddying up the waters in the process. Or that in the midst of a global pandemic there are those who are out to make a handsome profit for themselves through their ingenuity and ability to change their business models based on the new reality………or conversely those that enriched themselves unjustly by exploiting the system.  Such is life. We live and learn every day. We do hope that you will make the best out of what you currently have.

No matter what, We Are On Your Side!

Is your image outdated, do you have new management, are you looking for rapid global expansion, or suffering a reputation crisis? These are all reasons you should consider for rebranding your business.

Quick question – why do you dress the way you do? Do you know that by looking at you, one already forms a perception of who you are and what you are like based on what they see? We live in a world largely driven by perception and that doesn’t just affect us as individuals but also our businesses as well.

A business’s branding tells the story of that business when a customer interacts with it. Subsequently, the branding should communicate exactly what the business owner wants it’s stakeholders, staff and customers to understand and perceive about the business. In a nutshell, the perceptions of these three groups are what guides a business’s branding. With that said, is your branding reflective of your values or is there a need to rebrand?

Here are a few factors to help you to determine whether your business is due for a rebrand

Your brand compass

Any comprehensive rebrand begins with solidifying your company’s purpose, vision, mission, and values. Your company’s branding should align with these tenants and a change is needed If your brand doesn’t match with:

1. Why does the company exist?
2. Where is it headed?
3. How will it get there?
4. Which values define the company’s culture?

Your brand name no longer reflects your brand vision

Your company’s branding tells your brand story. Cultural changes within the organization may also cause a need to rebrand. For instance, if a microfinance changes its vision from supporting medium business to supporting women in business, then there will be need to change the company’s image to reflect that.

Need to stand out and differentiate yourself from competitors

When a business fails to articulate its key differentiators, sales and business growth can become extremely challenging. Branding is all about competitive differentiation, you don’t want to look the same as other players in the market.

You’ve out grown your brand

A time will come where your venture has outgrown Its original iteration and then there will be a need to rebrand to accommodate growth. Rebranding to accommodate for growth doesn’t have to be completely a new look, an improvement of your old look works best as there some old brand strengths you’ll want to continue to leverage moving forward.

Mergers, acquisitions and demergers

When it comes to changes in business ownership, such as mergers, acquisitions and demergers, there will be a need to rebrand, not only to make the change visible, but also to comply with legal requirements. When it comes to demergers, the party that has split off is required by law to develop its own brand. For mergers and acquisitions, a completely new brand might be adopted or one brand may be absorbed into another hence retaining the host’s brand

These are just some of the major reasons a company might need to rebrand. When you decide to rebrand, take all the necessary precautions as rebrand comes with its own risks.