Archive
News & Opinions
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Are We All Slaves to FOMO?
September 19, 2012
Fear Of Missing Out or FOMO is an all-consuming uneasy feeling that you are missing out on something your peers are up to. The concept of FOMO is nothing new. It crosses gender, cultural and generation boundaries - no one wants to miss out. Logging into Facebook and realising you’re missing a party taking place just around the corner is sure to leave many with a sinking feeling. In a business environment, it could be...
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2010 FIFA World Cup™ & London 2012™ – Bad Press and Jubilation
September 18, 2012
The parade of champions from Mansion House in London took place on Monday 10th September, offering the last chance for the United Kingdom to share in the glory that kept the world entranced during London 2012. I was particularly interested to experience the tone of reporting and media sentiment in the lead up to London 2012. I was surprised at how negative, and even brutal, the UK media were before and on the eve of...
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Lonmin – When the House Is on Fire It’s Too Late to Install Smoke Detectors
September 13, 2012
The mining industry in South Africa is currently experiencing significant setbacks as strike action at the Lonmin Marikana mine continues to spread to surrounding areas; this is over and above the falling commodity prices worldwide and the closure of five platinum mines in almost as many months. In terms of crisis communications the initial Lonmin saga is an ideal case study highlighting the importance of not only understanding the market and being realistic about challenges...
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Facing up to the Faceless Man
September 10, 2012
The Internet, since the origin of the first chat room, has allowed us to be whomever we wish to be, ourselves or even Justin Harrison; whistle blower, self-proclaimed Internet entrepreneur, and if we are to believe the rather convincing evidence that 2Oceansvibe has uncovered: a rather uninspired pseudonym. See the article here...
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Va va Voom – Wealth Management; Play to Win!
September 7, 2012
I believe we have cracked the code in telling the investment and risk story! Wealth management remains a complex topic. But with all the information at our fingertips, we still remain uninformed about the very thing that has a great effect on us-our money. Often it is not taken seriously until we retire and by then, it’s too late. Our life journey needs careful planning and financial resources in order for us to survive. The...
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The Price of Luxury
September 4, 2012
Consumers are attracted to luxury but what defines it? Luxury for me is indulging in Lindt chocolates, possessing a GHD to tame my wild frizz, taking a long island vacation and spending quality time with my children. According to a report in The New York Times (August 2011), Nordstrom has a waiting list for a Chanel sequined tweed coat with a $9,010 price. Mercedes-Benz US said it sold more cars in July last year than...
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Boxing Smarter
July 26, 2012
Each and every year the general public groans when the Minister of Finance increases “sin taxes”, and yes this goes up each and every year. Those that smoke and drink alcohol cringe at having to spend a few cents more on a pack of smokes or their favourite bottle of wine. Looming on the horizon is an even bigger wakeup call to the alcohol industry. In 2011 Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the Minister of Health, began...
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Working and Studying – A Good Choice if You Play It Right!
July 19, 2012
Unemployment in South Africa stands at an alarming rate of 25.2 %, with young people being the most affected. So for young people such as myself who are lucky enough to not be a statistic, we have to work hard, giving it our all. That means making sure we are good at what we do and that we add great value. What happens then if you get bitten by the study bug and need to improve your...
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Editors Should Pick PR Brains For A Change
July 10, 2012
Two Fridays ago, 13 colleagues from the Fleishman Johannesburg office visited the head office of Avusa Media, home to newspapers and magazines including Sunday Times, Sowetan, Business Day, Financial Mail, The Times, The Herald, Weekend Post, Daily Dispatch, Elle and Home Owner. The idea behind the visits is to give our client service teams, especially juniors, a feel for the newsrooms, to get them to see first-hand how the news gathering process works. Understanding journalists’ needs...
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What You Learn as an Intern… In Technology!
June 26, 2012
Starting out your professional career as an Intern definitely has its benefits. You quickly learn that a 7am start is normal, Microsoft Outlook is your best friend, time management becomes your worst enemy, coffee evolves into your new diet, reports become your life and amongst all of that, you won’t become MD overnight. However, the amount of knowledge you gain in a short few months is astounding. Knowledge is king and as an intern you...