Start With Why
This article is based on the book ‘Start With Why’ by Simon Sinek.
“People don’t buy WHAT you do; they buy WHY you do it.”

This year I have embarked on a journey of reading broadly. Reading not just business-related books, which is what I have been reading the past few years, but to read all kinds of materials and genres from fiction, autobiographies, articles you name it. This is to get myself into reading as a habit, and to improve my general knowledge and stretch myself.
I’ve recently just completed the book ‘Start With Why’ by Simon Sinek, and I decided that such knowledge was just too great for me not to share. My reasons behind sharing my thoughts and review about this book are based solely on my understanding that this book could greatly benefit anyone who seeks to develop a brand – whether a product or service brand, or a personal brand in order to become a digital entrepreneur or influencer – that they want to be successful but also to live a passion-driven life.
I absolutely love this book for the fact that it draws on examples we know to prove its point of why it is important to start with WHY. There are several brands mentioned in this book and their journey towards becoming highly successful brands or brands that are struggling in the market at the moment. As you could probably guess by now, the Simon Sinek argues that the focal point of any successful business comes from looking at the ‘WHY’ more than the ‘HOW’ and the ‘WHAT’. ‘WHY’ is what differentiates brands.

If you just think about it for a moment, when you ask anyone to “tell you more about their brand or business” what they usually explain is what the brand does right? “Well, we create premium hair and body care products, our products help your hair grow because of the ingredients we use that accelerate hair growth…” etc. This is how brands have been selling themselves to would-be consumers for decades if not centuries, by telling us what their brand does, how it does it better even going as far as manipulating us.
Starting with ‘WHY’ is different, and it is a concept, which has been adopted by many leaders and brands, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Apple and many other brands that follow. Instead of sharing ‘what’ it is that they do, they focus on the ‘why’ they do what they do, and this is the reason those brands have been able to have longevity and popularity for many recurring years.

Chapter 5 of the book focuses on Clarity, Discipline and Consistency. It all starts with clarity, the clarity of WHY. He goes on to say that we all know WHAT we do, and if people don’t buy WHAT we do, they will definitely buy WHY we do it. Therefore, if we don’t know WHY we do WHAT we do, how will anyone else? Basically, if the aim is to inspire others, there has to be the clarity of WHY.
It’s easy to answer HOW you do what you do when you know WHY you do it. In the simplest sense, HOW holds the process, values and principles that will guide how we bring our product or service to life. It’s important to understand how we do things, as well as having the discipline to hold our employees accountable to those guiding principles enhances any organization’s ability to work at its natural strength. Lastly, understanding the HOW of your organization will give you greater ability when it comes to instances of hiring people or even finding the right partners who will naturally thrive when working with you.
The WHAT is about understanding that everything you say and everything you do has to prove what you believe. Sinek explains that a WHY is just a belief, HOW are actions that you take to realize those actions and WHATs are the result of those actions – everything you say and do: your products, services, marketing, PR, culture and whom you hire. Again, if people don’t buy what you do, they will buy why you do it, therefore you can see why all of these things have to be consistent. The key understanding from the consistency of WHAT that was derived was that with consistency, people will see and hear without a shadow of doubt, what you believe.

He further elaborates that after all of the above are in place, there is specific order in which they have take; it’s the final step known as the right order. For example, when marketing your product or service, he actually gave an example using one of Apple’s marketing campaigns, that they were so consistent with the order and that order of marketing always began with the WHY.
Yes, WHAT is important, only so as far as it being the tangible proof of the WHY. However, WHY always comes first as it provides the context for everything else. If you could look up any of Apple’s marketing projects or campaigns, it is always at the start of the ad that they will give you an inside depth of WHY a particular product was introduced or even innovated to life. It is the WHY that is first communicated followed by the HOW then the WHAT. Because we are able to see what is presented to us and with a bit more information fully grasp all that it is and what it can do, this is the same with any product.
But how then do you convince a prospective client beyond that? Your product/service has to ‘hit home’, giving a resonance, familiarity and belonging. Apple has been the master of this for decades, and how insane is it to think that once a client buys an Apple product, they almost never switch to any other brand, because they can see themselves within the brand almost as if they were part of the creating process. Even the people that work for Apple love working there, it gives them a sense of feeling as if they are part of a new world changing project or order and it simply because the WHY speaks to all of them.
So WHY do you do you do what you do?
Check out these YouTube videos to hear Simon Sinek speak on ‘WHY’
- Published in Books, Career Guidance, Entrepreneurship, Money Matters
Becoming More Productive
In the shower, every morning before I start my day, I always ask for the universe to bless me with more productive energy, because the universe knows better. For the longest time, I‘ve always believed that I was cursed with a sleeping disorder. I am literally those people, who jump out of bed, make their bed and before they leave the house, I look at my bed and say to it “I can’t wait to see you later” because if I’m being brutally honest with myself, that is my sacred haven. There is no better place in the world for me than my room, my bed. But this is not particularly something I am proud of. I wish I were more the type of person who hears their alarm go off once and springs out of bed. I wasn’t always like this though; I’d like to believe that my varsity time period had a lot to do with my changed body clock.

Back in my days, I use to be a part of the 5 am club. This is a concept by Robin Sharma who believes that the 5 am club is something practiced by some of the most successful CEOs in the world. The idea of waking up at 5 am means that you can do more with your day than others if you consider the fact that the average waking time for most people is at 7 am. You have a 2-hour head start, which means you can do more with your day. This was by far my most favorite routine as I found myself to be at my most productive during this time. It’s tricky now, I won’t lie, it being winter and all, but it is still a winning recipe. In those two hours, you can exercise, meditate/pray, journal, read, type up emails, work on a proposal and ideas you may have for yourself or your business. At times it may feel as if you are working with energy that you don’t even have to begin with, but the amount of energy you will have throughout the day is immeasurable.

This routine, including a supporting diet, is all one needs to be honest. The food that we eat contributes a significant amount to how hard we push during the day. Consume foods that flood your body with essential and good nutrition. You know during lunchtime, we tend to be unforgiving, especially if you work in the office and your colleagues just went to buy some food from the food truck station, and before you know it you’re also ordering your plate of a full meal with includes carbs, meat, salad, and excess oil. Not long after that meal you are stuffed. Being too full can hinder your ability to continue your day filled with energy. It’s imperative that we practice good diet habits and drink water regularly, and of course, get in those snoozes. Sleep is necessary; if you find that 7 hours of sleep may be too much, you can cut it down but nothing less than 5 hours. For as long your body rests, otherwise, it will eventually crash, and what is the purpose behind that?
Read more books that inspire your cause. There is honestly nothing as quite as motivating than reading books by authors whose journeys resonate with yours. It’s said that the top successful people in the world read an estimated 50 books a year, which is slightly over 1 book a week. You have to find the time to read. Nowadays there are audible books for those who aren’t big readers as yet, and for those who can’t find the time to sit down and read a book, it does, however, need your attention. But you must read, more than you are doing at the current moment.

Align your headspace. If there is clutter in mind you need to clear it pronto. You always need a clear head that steers away from the drama. Hence meditation is essential. A lot of people still do not understand the concept behind the meditation practice. But it’s basically about clearing your head from all of its distractions and finding a clear uninterrupted Zen that will allow you to connect better with God. Many people have reached unbelievable revelations about themselves, ideas, and answers through this process. There is no better way for you to get to know yourself. Just clear the clutter before each day then press the start button and you’re set. Lastly exercising, you need an exercising routine, one that works for you of course. These days I just find it impossible to be outside for too long, I just can’t seem to stomach the cold, so what I do is yoga, right in the middle of my sitting room. Whatever I do, I just make sure that I break a sweat at least 4 times a week. It motivates me, especially when I feel like I just cannot anymore. It reminds me of how much I can actually persist through, and it is pretty much the same with life.
- Published in About, Books, Fitness, GIRL TALK, health, Health, Real Life Stories, Spirituality
CHRONICLES OF A SLAY QUEEN: BOOK REVIEW

AUTHOR: MUTSHIDZI MUTSHINYA
PUBLISHED: 12 SEPTEMBER 2019
PUBLISHER: MALOMA CONTENT & BULA BUKA PUBLISHING CONSULTANTS
GENRES: DRAMA
AGE RESTRICTION: 18
GIRL BOSS RATING: 4/5
SLAY QUEEN, what used to be a word of bossing up, looking good, and killing the game, has now been associated with negative connotations. A slay queen is now seen as a woman who does anything to get money, which includes sleeping with men, clubbing to get the next buck, and putting yourself in semi-risky situations.
Sindi is a young female who has just finished school and has found herself feeling stagnant as she can’t afford to go to university. She has a retail job, however, that isn’t enough to give her the life she wants. Her cousin, Amogelang (Amo), who looks like a model that has just stepped out of a magazine, out of nowhere surprised her with an all-expenses-paid trip to Dubai. Fed up with her lifestyle and struggle, Sindi takes the offer. Little did she know, she would be stepping into a new world of glitz and glam but at a price.
Sindi jets off to Dubai with Amo and Palesa (who is Amo’s friend). Sindi is taken aback with the good life, from expensive flights, expensive drinks, and expensive LUXURIOUS hotels. And its everything she’s ever wanted. As she gets settled, Amo and Palesa leave the hotel without telling her and don’t return. They also aren’t available on their phones and this is when things get tricky.

What I loved about this book:
I absolutely loved this book, it’s the perfect book to read on that night that would’ve been perfect for a girls night out but didn’t work out (all thanks to COVID 19). The book is well written, you go on a journey with these girls and feel their pain deeply. The book does touch on the issues that women are experiencing currently in South Africa. Gender-Based Violence has been a discussion for years, however, we aren’t seeing a change. More and more women, go missing and days later we are saddened with terrible news. That’s the cycle at the moment.
I think a lot of females can take this book as a lesson. As women, we have to be careful what decisions we take. We always have to protect ourselves and think twice. Our intuition and instinct are there to send messages. Listen, if something doesn’t feel right then it usually isn’t right.
What I didn’t love:
The end was so disappointing, I remember having an “Is that it” moment. This book had me on my toes, excited about what will happen next. So when it just ended the way it did, it didn’t seem like we would get a sequel. Besides that, the book is a great read and you’ll definitely enjoy it.
- Published in About, Books, Reviews, Uncategorized
A lot can happen in 21 days
You know the feeling of wanting to try something new but never had the time to do so? Or you did try something new, but you only did it for 1 or 2 days? You may have either gotten bored of doing it or you just lacked the discipline of continuing with it.

Well, as we are all currently under lockdown for the next 21 days to control the spread of Covid-19, we can learn a lot during this time. Try something new for 21 days and stick to it, even it is something big or small, it is completely up to you.
Here are some ideas:
- Doing yoga in your home
- Reading a couple of books
- Quitting smoking
- Home workouts
- Cooking different meals
- Trying a new diet
- Drinking more water
- Trying out a new skin care routine
- Not biting your nails
- Quitting alcohol
- Quitting cool drinks
- A short online course
Why specifically 21 days?
This is based on a long-time belief that it takes 21 days to fully form a new habit. According to research it apparently takes 21 days to form a new habit into your routine. Research states 21 days is the time required to for a new neuropathway to be fully formed in your brain.
Now the 21-day trial in some cases is claimed to be a myth, however 21 days is a comfortable time period to build and maintain a new a habit. You will either learn that is something you like doing or not.
Why try it for 21 days first?
- Procrastination
Many people have low commit levels and therefore start procrastinating on developing new habits, new habits are meant to be good and bring you significant benefits into your lives. The idea of doing something may be overwhelming.
When you try something for 21 days, the task becomes much more manageable. If you think about it 21 days is just 3 weeks which is much shorter commit period than forever. Since you are trying something new you don’t need to commit beyond 21 days if it something you didn’t enjoy. Instead you can either go back to how you were doing things or try something new for another 21 days.
2.Great way to try new things
Let’s be honest trying something new really won’t hurt in anyway. 21 days is a great way to try something new, challenge yourself. Explore, see what you like and don’t like. Learn about yourself in the process as well. The whole point is to experience a new habit and to do things differently for 21 days and remember this is a trial so if you don’t like it do away with it and try something else.
3.Good way to build good habits
Remember you should be testing out a new habit that will be good for you. So as much as you are trying something new, it should be something that you will benefit from. This may be something which is good for your health, self-esteem, build up your confidence, reaching your goals etc.
How to succeed in these 21 days
- Research about your new task
- Spend some time mentally preparing yourself for your new task
- Track your progress during the 21 days
During these 21 days try something new and see how it works out for you. 21 days is a long time to do nothing. Make the most of it and remember trying something new doesn’t have to be a daunting task keep your tasks simple and achievable for you.
- Published in About, Beauty, Books, Bossing Up, Fitness, Food, GIRL TALK, Hair, Hair, health, Health, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Real Life Stories, Skin, Spirituality, Uncategorized
Coconut Kelz’s Guide to Surviving This Shithole
AUTHOR: LESEGO TLHABI
PUBLISHED: 4 SEPTEMBER 2019
PUBLISHER: JONATHAN BALL
GENRES: HUMOUR, FICTION, PARODY
GIRL BOSS RATING: 4,2/5

Coconut Kelz also known as Lesego Tlhabi is a comedian using her platform to discuss pressing issues in SA. She is highly misunderstood by a lot of South Africans because her style is different. However, if you’ve been following her on the socials, you’ll understand she is a satirical comedian.
GUIDE TO SURVIVING THIS SHITHOLE, HILARIOUS! Coconut Kelz is a young Caucasian woman trapped in a black woman’s body. Her place of safety is Sandton and literally makes sure she stays within that area. She strongly supports the DA and follows their political standpoint. This book is a great way to shed light on the racial and class tensions in South Africa. It also can teach those who turn a blind eye to racism to wake up and smell the coffee, racism still exists in South Africa.
Her guide touches on:
- Why you should stay in the suburbs, the perfect suburb and how to host your fellow suburban neighbours.
- How to catch the perfect white man, in perfect white spaces and emphasis on speaking eloquently by elongating your vowels.
- What is in your lunchbox and are you about that Woolworths water life.
- Her favorite political parties and why they are so important.
- Lastly, tips on how to not to pass the line of caucus (have a read if you’d like to know what that is).
How did I feel about this book?
I enjoyed this book, I think it’s really worth the read. I enjoyed how it sheds light on social and political problems in South Africa. So, if you are someone who isn’t really clued up on politics, this will teach you a lot. It also highlights so much about white privilege and how some white people shy away from that reality “No, come on, man, it has been 25 years. They must get over it” and “ I’m not being racist, but…”.
So whilst many black South Africans take offence to Kelz, she is actually holding a mirror to white privilege and the advantages white South Africans have, and yet they complain the most. And perhaps challenges black people to actually do something about the white privilege that they continue to enjoy!
It is refreshing and about time that we have a young, black, female comedian that is killing it. I think that to a certain extent she is catching a lot of flack because she is female, and South Africans need to get used to a young, black, female comedian. She is definitely pushing boundaries and being a #GirlBoss
Go buy it and support local. You won’t be disappointed. It retails for R200 at Exclusive Books.
- Published in About, Activism, Books, Bossing Up, Contact, Entertainment, Entertainment & Reviews, Politics, Real Life Stories, Reviews, Studies, Studies & School, Uncategorized