Black is King… Damn We Love Beyonce
Just feeling so inspired right now, I haven’t even seen it yet, it drops in South Africa tomorrow at 8 pm on MNET (channel 101), but I know that is going to be one of the greatest films of all time, I mean the clue is in the name. We have been stuck on Beyonce’s social media pages for a minute, looking at the scenes and possible visual album production and I just know, deep in my heart that it’s going to shake the industry. She’s not only a musician; she is an artist, a creative genius. We know this from her previous and first visual album ever, Lemonade, and by the look of things, she definitely will not disappoint.
I love Beyoncé simply because she is a hard worker who is relentless in seeing her vision come to life. I absolutely admire her style of work as she does not limit herself to what the media leaders are currently doing, she really is capable of expanding one’s imagination beyond the conventional and the is truly inspiring. Her vision is so broad that the film Black is King was shot in all kinds of locations, from the backyard of her home to the streets of Johannesburg, Ghana, London, and Belgium. The film is based on the re-telling and re-imagination of the iconic movie and play, The Lion King. She uses all kinds of art to narrate the story, from fashion, dance, music videos, and astounding natural settings not forgetting raw talent.
The idea behind Black is King is born from wanting to change the perception of the word black on a global scale. It is about acknowledging the beauty, the love, the strength, and inspiration about everything black. Hence every character in the film is black, sourcing talent, directors, creatives, and artists from all over the globe to present to the world this fine piece of black art. I am in awe and beyond exuberant at this point. Sis, is bringing up and exposing not only black American talent but black talent from all corners of the map. That is the epitome of leadership, and we stan. She truly lives up to the understanding behind making it with your people. Like it’s great to make it, but it’s even better when your people make it with you. Perhaps this is one of the underlying reason why Beyonce will continue to soar in all that she does because her work is not only inclusive but it is empowering, like just imagine the doors that will open for all those who contributed to the making of this masterpiece, I feel so grateful on their behalf, and aspire to be living in the future; forever working to elevate and to better the black community as I grow myself.
The visual album is going to follow shortly after the film drops, there has already been a release of one music video, and of course, the bar is set sky-high. If we can remember from Lemonade, she is still unmatched, and we just love what she is doing to change the game. Ladies, just watch and learn. Black is King.
- Published in About, Bossing Up, Entertainment, Entertainment & Reviews, fashion, GIRL TALK, Movies, Music, Reviews
Minding Your Own Business
In 2013, the year after my matriculation, I gained access to a book that would change my life forever. I recently came across a post on Facebook that asked ‘which book was it that you read that you believed changed the course of your life forever?’ and I instantly thought of this book, Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki. You may be well familiar with this read, and if you aren’t getting your hands on a copy ASAP. It is actually one of the books that I have read that I will never say is overrated. It has lifelong lessons and information that we could all resonate with, especially if were born into a lower, middle, and missing middle-class household. It teaches us the fundamental differences between a household where there is a spirit of winning, becoming rich, and gaining generations and generations of wealth. It also highlights how the rich continue to be rich if not richer and why the poor stay losing.
It was just after high school when my friends were jetting off to university where they would religiously study into a course that would pave the path for the rest of their lives. I was very confused, and maybe a part of me can say that I didn’t spend too much time thinking about which course it was that I wanted my life to go. Not only did I have an idea once I read this but I knew that I certainly wanted to be rich, like not just rich but “rich rich” and this was something I definitely wanted to pass down to my children and grandchildren, that kind of mentality. Not the mentality to be rich, but rich dad’s mindset. I became aware of the fact that what separates the rich from the poor is simply the way we perceive situations. Rich dad sees an opportunity in everything even if it may be considered as disastrous to some, rich dad always looked at a life filled with endless possibilities and poor dad was the opposite. When poor dad sees a situation that is extremely unplanned for and seems impossible to overcome, poor dad saw a dead end.
The best advice I got from this book is learning how to mind my own business. No, it’s not as it sounds. Most of us who have entered the working world, where we have to fight on a daily to make ends meet, are caught in that 8 to 5 job. Not everybody hates this by the way, but they do encourage us to want more from life. There is absolutely no shame in wanting more than what life has giving you, but you have to go and claim what you want to be yours, hence the concept of minding your own business. If you do find yourself working at that 8 to 5 job, be grateful for it of course, but also create time to work on your own, just like they have you working on their own right? The idea is to take what you are learning at work and apply it towards your business idea and concept. For an example, if you work in IT or are a marketing coordinator at any respectable company, what you learn from and do for your boss is exactly what you apply and do for your craft. Mind your own business. Get home from work every day, take some time to enjoy with your family, unwind, relax, take that night shower, and work on your baby.
Robert Kiyosaki talks about the Rat Race. The rat race is the idea that your whole life has been narrated to you and what you have been taught is basically a trap within a very vicious cycle. Go to school, they said, you better get the best grades, go to university, graduate at the top of your class, find a good-paying job, that comes with benefits, work hard, they said, get that promotion, etc. you get the idea, this is the cycle that keeps you in a position of constantly serving others and doing right by others just so you can survive. A key aspect of all of this is the idea of working smart and not hard. Not that you shouldn’t push as hard you can for your dreams but if you get people to do that for you, all you have to worry about is working smart, like thinking of creative solutions or strategies in which you can outcompete your competitors, but those are rich dad problems. But the first step to getting out of this cycle, and refraining from becoming a John Smith for the rest of your life is by Minding Your Own Business until you are strong and have enough ground to believe that you can stand on your own. It is actually just a safe and smart way to get the ball rolling for your journey towards becoming a successful somebody one day.
So that brainstorming meeting you had at work today, play around a bit more with it and see how you could apply it and other creative ideas towards your own business. The marketing strategy that your supervisor approved, test it on your brand. Play around by asking questions that are also related to your brand that somebody of better and longer experience can share with you, whatever you do work on and mind your own goddamn business!
- Published in About, Bossing Up, Career Guidance, Entrepreneurship, Money Matters, Real Life Stories
Taking Up Online Courses
Most things in our lives are based on traditional values and systems or modus of operandi. The same can be said about our conventional ways of attaining recognizable degrees from prestigious and well-acknowledged institutions of higher or tertiary education. In the same breath, it can be said that the world is also shifting towards the unconventional. With the digital space simply booming, a lot of what was undermined in the past is gaining traction and value more so than ever before. The exposure to this phenomenon was revealed by a lot of what happened during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s not to say that access to educational material was nonexistent prior to this, but it kind of hit like a revelation, that people could actually work and study at home. To some, it may not be the ideal way to pursue their work and studies but for most, it is not only a matter of convenience but a lifestyle that can fit into some people’s lives.
For students who had already committed to self-study programmes, like those from the University of South Africa, this is just a walk in the park. But I guess the majority of students have had to learn the discipline that comes with such a practice. This has also been an opportunity for more people to take the time off and admit and apply themselves to learning opportunities that are available for all want to be students all over the world. We all face different and demanding circumstances in our lives. You may find that attending school at a physical institution was just not part of your life plan, maybe due to financial constraint, but attaining an education, of any kind, was always an achievement you sort after. Hence, taking up online courses may be exactly what could work in our favour to bag recognizable degree knowledge even if for no degree purposes.
Udemy has easily become a favourite, with over 100 000 courses to choose from, and with over 50 million students, and 57 000 instructors across the globe teaching courses in over 65 languages, there is actually no excuse as to why you are not fulfilling your educational desires. Get with the times, it’s honestly okay if you don’t find the load leading your life to traditional institutions, the question is what do you do with that and what are the means are you taking to empower yourself. It is true when they reiterate the term that students never stop learning, not because you are required to finish that Ph.D. to be recognizable human in society, but because there are increasing channels to pursue growth and education. Yes, a Ph.D. is honorary, but so are other milestones in your educational career. The only requirements for winning with online courses is the amount needed to sign yourself up for these courses, which are usually at a reasonable cost, a secure internet connection, and dedication. What’s even great is how quickly you can get through the course work and the material at hand. It should be noted that even when attending university, many students find that watching the recorded lecture, with the lecture’s material is a preferred way of studying, especially for students who have other commitments such as family or even work.
Here are some of the recommended online ‘schools’ that you can sign yourself up for, some are even free of charge:
1. Udemy – as mentioned this is a favorite that is aimed at professional adults and students. With tons of courses to choose from, with lecture videos, study material, quizzes, and more, it gives you the nearest experience to the real-life school experience. In the 10 years that Udemy has been operating, there has been a recorded 295 million course enrollments.
2. LinkedIn Learning –also targets professional adults and students who are looking to upskill. They offer online training courses for creative, technology, and business skills. These are fundamental skills that could really set you apart from the rest, as the world currently holds more opportunities for people who possess these skills.
3. Udacity – offers Nano degree programmes aimed at advancing one’s career with online courses in programming, data science, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and more. This school is a for-profit educational organization with about 200 free courses.
4. Google – holds a variety of learning programmes and online courses that are highly acknowledged outside of the digital space. Some of the best and free Google courses &certificates for 2020 include Coursera, Google Digital Garage, Google Developers Training, and Google Analytics Academy Courses. These programmes include tutorials, training, class, and certificates.
5. Online School – if you are seriously bent on the idea of receiving a certificate from a prestigious university in or outside of your country, you may want to check out the courses that they offer online for students all over the world. Most institutions including Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge University, and the likes offer a range of certificates for their online courses and can be attended from anywhere.
The classroom idea is great for those of us who prefer traditional ways of attaining an education, however, there are now more opportunities than ever to gain an education just as significant as traditional degrees online. Whichever you choose, there are no longer that many excuses to give for your lack in anything really.
- Published in About, Bossing Up, Career Guidance, Real Life Stories, Studies & School
Have you ever thought about the possibility of a female president in SA?
In a recent tweet at the beginning of July, Kanye West announced that he would be running for president of the United States. Many people showed him messages of support and encouragement. With the election only four months away, West still needs to register with the Federal Election Commission, present a campaign platform, collect enough signatures to get on the November ballot, and more. He has already missed the deadline to file as an independent candidate in many states. It’s also important to note that this is not the first time Kanye West has teased the idea of running for US president. It is neither questioned nor asked whether Mr. West has the correct qualifications for the presidency. I hate to admit that I don’t think it would be the same if South Africa had to announce there would be a female running for president regardless of whether or not she had all the necessary qualifications and skills. And I mention South African specifically because it’s also important to discuss this in the context of our country, however, I do speak for all African countries with male presidents.
Female presidency is not a foreign thing either, I just think we need to make it more common than it is now. If you did not already know below are some interesting highlights of female presidents in Africa.
The first female President in Africa was Slyvie Kiningi. She was the Prime Minister of Burundi from February 10, 1993 to October 7, 1994. A big girl boss shout goes to Slyvie Kiningi, a female whom I strongly believe started this revolutionary change for women. Being recognised as the first female President in Africa.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa’s first elected President who served two consecutive terms after winning the 2005 and 2011 Presidential elections. She was President of Liberia, January 2006 – January 2018.
Rose Francine Rogombe served as interim President of Gabon from June 2009 to October 2009 after the death of President of Omar Bongo.
Agnes Monique Ohsan Bellepeau was the Acting President of Mauritius from March 31, 2012 – July 21, 2012.
Joyce Hilda Banda served as President of Malawi from April 7, 2012 to May 31, 2014 following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika.
Catherine Samba Panza was the Acting Head of State of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016.
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim was the first female President of Mauritius from 2015 to 2018. She was selected to be a Presidential candidate in 2014 following the resignation of then-President Kailash Purryag.
The two most interesting and notable ones are:
Ivy Matsepe-Cassaburi also served temporarily as the acting President of South Africa when the President and his vice were out of the country for four days in September of 2005. Although she died in April 2009. Dr. Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri left with us an unbelievable female power. One which definitely goes down in the history books.
• I believe that since the opportunity was once given it is something that should continue for a period longer than 4 days.
• I would also like to applaud this huge achievement, and this was a big step for women’s power and equality.
Sahle-Work Zewde is the first elected female President of Ethiopia and currently the only female out of the 54 Presidents in Africa.
• This is such a proud moment for females in Africa, as Sahle-Work Zewde is currently the only female president in Africa. This woman power and she making boss moves.
• A round of applause for the queen. I feel so proud to know that such an amazing possibility exists in Africa.
It is also important to note that female presidents around the world who are making intense boss moves especially through their Covid-19 strategies. Countries such as New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Iceland Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, and Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin just to name a few. The moves they have been making during this pandemic is definitely a conversation worth discussing and these women have not gone unnoticed.
It is also important to discuss this context in terms of our country and the times we are currently in. Everyone may have different views and opinions but if we had the opportunity and I would recommend Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu and Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma.
What are your thoughts? Who do you think would make a great female president in South Africa?
- Published in About, Activism, Bossing Up, Politics, Real Life Stories
A Girl Boss Come Back Challenge
We have just entered the second half of the year and there is no better time to reboot yourself, your work, and your energy than now. A comeback challenge is necessary at times like these to encourage ourselves to fulfill the dreams we had set at the start of the year. It is never too late for us to start or reboot our journeys towards success. Yes, the coronavirus pandemic has slapped most economies around the world in the face, some people being more hit than others. It’s absurd to think that a virus that was out of sight a year ago has severely altered our lives. But such is life right, full of surprises, and there is almost nothing we can do about it, simply because it is out of our control. But what we can do is work on things that we do have control over. Throughout our lives, we have always experienced instances that we did not prepare for, but you know what they say, fall 7 times rise 8. And that is exactly what we are going to do right now. Come on sis, BOSS UP!
What are the goals that you wrote down on a piece of paper at the start of the year? How many of those have you ticked off? Do you feel as though you could do with a restart button? Then this is it. First of all, I hope that people are aware by now that dreams tend to not kick off if they are not written down on a piece of paper with a real pen – Erykah Badu. That is legitimately where all dreams and goals commence. There is a particular saying that I absolutely love that goes as follows:
“A Dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a Plan. A Plan backed by action becomes reality.” And that is all it takes to be frank.
So, if you’ve played yourself, it’s time to reevaluate your dreams and how badly you want them to become a success. If you really have an innate burning desire to achieve something in your life you really need to take the measurements required to fulfill those desires, and this is something you have control over. It’s preparation that will determine how far you can go in an attempt to reach your dreams, and of course mindset. Once these areas are covered then you are destined to be successful in almost everything that you do, and unforeseen occurrences like the COVID-19 will have nothing on you, they would barely even rattle the ground under your feet. But preparation is key.
I may be different from most people, but I’m always in search for what aligns with my purpose, and through my purpose, I can derive my passion, or my passion for a particular thing just stems and oozes out of me and hence there are little to no hurdles that can burn my fire out. I think that is something vital to ask ourselves because ideas are always there, we are all creative beings and through our life experiences, we can draw inspiration from almost everything we experience. Hence, we know what we like and are into and what we don’t like and doesn’t appeal to us. But seeking and finding your purpose is definitely something we all have to look into.
There is a quote from a movie that I can’t seem to recall at this moment, but the protagonist insists that he has all of this purpose but he doesn’t know what to do with it. That is a feeling common amongst all of us, and it is not a limited process, it is almost a lifelong process, but the sooner you start questioning and journeying towards your purpose the sooner you will reach a revelation about yourself, and at that moment things will begin to change… for the better. Especially if you have found yourself to be a person who easily gets excited about certain adventures in their life and in no time, that excitement has turned into laziness and procrastination. Chances are that is not a dream that is aligned with your soul, especially if you feel as though you have backed that dream up and have been putting in some efforts. So, this is the time now to rewrite your narrative, do some deeper soul searching, and inclining towards your truth. What is your truth, even if it is not what others may expect from you, it’s not about them right?
It is time for us to all make our comebacks, not just for the year but for the rest of the life that awaits us. Now is the time to visit those goals you had set at the start of the year, change anything you may feel is no longer in par with what you envision for yourself, and make that come back. Watch motivational videos and talks; take up some online challenges that may perhaps help you reach a new and unfamiliar destination in your life. Make that change; get uncomfortable if you have to, it will all pay off eventually, you just have to fight for it.
- Published in About, Bossing Up, Career Guidance, Real Life Stories
