The Real Business of Business

I know it may seem like we're living in a world of unparalleled greed and corruption - it can certainly look that way a lot of the time. And it is the common paradigm that enslaves most people, passed down in fear of there not being enough - a lie that supports control. 

So the individuals, businesses and brands who distinguish themselves through extending great service and respect and consideration for their staff, customers and the resource base they depend on, starting with our beautiful planet - cannot fail to prosper. 

Because ultimately the success of a business depends on the success of its relationships. It's really how you treat people that counts. 

 

"Our real business here is to care for and make life a little easier for one another." 

 I wrote this piece a while ago, now published in the African Independent on The Real Business of Business.

It doesn’t matter what type of business you’re in. Whether you’re offering a product or a service, you’re still in business to serve others – to uplift, assist and support other people and ultimately, to make their lives better.

But often it seems that we are so busy focusing on the business of business – the importance of what the business does, instead of the people it serves. ....continued here  

I'd love to hear your feedback. Comments welcome below!

With Love and Encouragement,

Love and Kindness and Support is Everywhere, because You are Here 💞

Dearest Glorious GloWomen,

Yesterday was my Mum’s 80^th birthday and we had planned to celebrate with a lovely lunch in the country. However, as we hit the highway, a warning light on my car dashboard started to flash. 

I couldn’t pull over on Cape Town’s notoriously dangerous N2 and so kept affirming that we would get to a place of safety to stop the car and get it sorted out – which we managed to do!

I had to drive for quite a while before I pulled into a roadside filling station and asked the first man I saw parked in front of me for some advice on what to do. As it happened, he owned a car workshop in the area and knew all the right people who could help me get my car back to Cape Town. 

Within 30 minutes, he had called a tow-truck from a trusted and vetted company; I had sorted it out with my insurance company and my car and my mother and myself were delivered safely back to Cape Town by the driver, Leon. My car was dropped off at the garage where the owner had opened up specially (it was a Sunday) to take delivery of my car.

Leon could not have been kinder. I was absolutely TERRIFIED to drive my car onto the tow-truck as I couldn’t see the sides of the platform, but I was determined and breathed in deeply to contain my fear as Leon guided me safely up. And I DID IT!! Wow, I felt so proud of myself. Another first – Go Betsie!! 👏👏👏💞

As he drove us back to Cape Town, Leon told us that he loves his job because it allows him to help people, and that he feels that most people have lost their humanity. 

And then I felt that ping of recognition….a kind and loving soul who had been sent to help….just as I knew there would be… 

In all my years and all the scrapes and difficulties I’ve found myself in, there have always been kind and loving people around me to help! I have never and nor will I ever, find myself all alone in the world. I have always been surrounded by the love and care that I need at the time.

I’ve often been told how “lucky” I am. But I want you to know that we all have that luck and love and support available at any time that we choose to recognise it!  We just need to know that it’s there for us.

So if there’s something you need support in your life with right now, then please ask for it, know that you CAN expect it, you are entitled to it, and it WILL come when you are open to it. 💜

And when you encounter someone else who needs your help – whether it’s in your personal or professional life – then remember that your real ‘job description’ is to BE the Love and Light that You are and to share it to UPlift YourSelf and those around you.  

I know we always complicate life and make things seem so much worse than they really are, but it truly is that simple…know that you live in a loving Universe and that you are supported and cared for,  and do the same for those around you - and it’s ALL GOOD, ALWAYS❣️

So here’s wishing you all a deLIGHTful week ahead and let’s Spread that loving Glow as faaaaar as it CAN GO! 

(I’ll be taking Mum out for her belated birthday lunch as soon as I get my car back and we’re looking forward to it even more!) 

With Love and Light, 

Remember Who You Are and Simply BE Magnificent You!

#MagnificentMonday

Dearest Glorious GloWomen,

I know that it seems that Life can sometimes leave us reeling, confused and thinking “Wtf am I doing? Wtf am I supposed to be doing? Wtf am I doing here? Why is this happening to me? This isn’t what I want. I can’t believe this is my life! If only I had…. (usually tons of money!), life would be so much easier/better/ more fun…”

I know that sometimes our circumstances can leave us feeling beyond crappy and cause us to forget our uniquely talented and beautiful selves; our priorities and our desires and the very essence of Who We Really Are….
And it happens to all of us! 

I know that circumstance in my own life have left me feeling lost and scared and alone and unsure of what to do…and the more I disconnect from my own love and joy, the more I disconnect from my own life force, the more powerless I feel and yep… the worse my life gets…aaaggghh! 

But the wonderful thing is - as soon as I remember who I am, what’s important to me, and what I intend to create and experience – BOOM! Just like that - all the Good Stuff in the Universe is available to me and I open UP to allowing it to flow! ✅✅✅💞💞💞

So for all who are feeling lost and afraid, or battle-weary – here is your REMINDER: Your circumstances do not dictate who you are. Remember Who You Really Are!! You’re not here by some random accident and you do matter. Your Life matters.

You’re a vitally important part of our Universe, a gift to our world, a powerful Light created to SHINE; to do what makes You happy, and to share your gifts of Love and Joy with the world. And the best way to get over Yourself is to enJOY BEING YOURSELF! 🌟🌟🌟💖💖💖

The more joy and pleasure and love and laughter you add to your day, the better you’ll feel and the more you’ll find your circumstances improving; the Good Stuff starts flowing through you and to you – what a win! It’s really so simple, it’s just easy-peasy…when we REMEMBER to simply BE the Love and JOY that we are! 💞

So here’s to rocking a Magnificent Monday – remember to BE Magnificent YOU – your happiness, your pleasure, your joy, your creativity, your desires – intend them, create them, enJOY them and share them and you’ll keep your Light shining and Get Your Glow ON! 💜
With Love and JOY, 

Nurturing the Nurturers with Dementia SA Bergvliet Support Group

Thank You Annette Milner, facilitator of the Dementia SA Bergvliet Support Group, for inviting me to share my Nurturing the Nurturers interactive talk.

Those courageous and loving people who have undertaken to care for their parents or spouses with dementia often find themselves depleted and heading for burnout, as they sacrifice their own well-being in caring for their loved ones.

I believe burnout is a deep cry from our soul, for our own self-love, self-care, compassion and kindness. A cry to honour ourselves. 

We can't effectively care for anyone else, until we honour and take care of ourselves and our needs, including the things that bring us pleasure and joy.

It's easier to deal with the tough stuff when we fuel ourselves up with the Good Stuff. So I share tips, techniques and tools to help make life less frightful, and more delightful! 

I love facilitating these Glow sessions and helping people to release their fear, guilt and regrets and to re-connect to their gratitude, appreciation and joy 💜

And it's sooo wonderful to feel the energy in the room change....people come in feeling overwhelmed and fearful, and they leave smiling and feeling inspired. 

Thank You Universe for delivering these blessings through me and to me 💞 

When We Get our Glow ON, we CAN Light UP our World!

Believing and Receiving - my nomination for BWASA Business Woman of the Year Award 2018.

How many times have you found yourself so bogged down in the tough stuff, that you completely overlook the Good Stuff, the very miracles you’ve been hoping for, because they may not appear in the form that you were expecting?

I’m all about expecting miracles and wonderful things to happen for me in My Wonderful Life - and indeed, they do!

I give thanks for all the Good Fortune that I have, and all the Good Stuff that’s coming my way and I affirm that I’m willing to receive it all. But I’m not always as open to receiving as I think I am…

It happened to me recently and I almost missed out on something so amazing and wonderful that was happening for me, because I did not recognise it at the time. But the fabbydabulous thing is, the Universe was not going to let it pass me by! 

I was in the middle of what felt like a debilitating cash flow crisis – dumped by my biggest client who was moving their offices to the Middle East, workshops postponed and rescheduled months down the line and nothing that I could see coming in to replace them. No money coming in… I felt overwhelmed by the deluge of communications from creditors – emails and texts, threatening letters from attorneys and phone calls all hounding me for money… 

So the very last thing that I ever expected was an email from inspiring GloWoman and businesswoman extraordinaire, Margaret Hirsch, congratulating me on my nomination in the Business Woman of the Year Award 2018 Emerging Entrepreneur category!

This was followed by another email from the Business Women’s Association – letting me know that Margaret Hirsch herself had nominated me, and the criteria for accepting the nomination.

Talk about a low self-esteem moment (Yes, we all have them!) – I took one look at these emails sitting among all the other emails that were demanding payment and and thought  “Haha this is obviously spam…. me, nominated?? Yeah right, as if…what a joke!” - and didn’t give it another thought.

About a week later I was having a coffee meeting with one of the top financial planners of a big blue-chip financial services company, about running my GloWoman workshops for their staff. She mentioned in passing that I should join the Business Women’s Association and then I remembered the nomination email...  I told her about it, still thinking it was spam.

She insisted I read it to her and that’s when I looked at it properly for the first time and realised that it was in fact not spam at all, but the real thing –  this was no joke, it was an actual nomination! 

I was completely shocked! I had never ever thought of myself as someone who could even be in the running for such a business award!

The financial planner Mariëtta Marx (happy to name and publicly thank her, she’s an amazing woman!) insisted that I reply immediately, thanking Margaret Hirsch and accepting the nomination. Which I agreed to do, even though I still didn’t think I actually qualified to enter… One of the main criteria was the business had to show profit and growth over three years and I definitely didn’t believe that I could show that with my accounts.

So I wrote to thank Margaret and told her that I didn’t think I could submit my accounts, as there was nothing in them at this point! I also told her that the reason we had not yet met in person was because although she had kindly invited me to her monthly Women of Worth (WOW)dinners, I was not able to attend due to lack of funds!

Margaret emailed me back immediately with kind words of encouragement and support.

Hi Bettina

Thank you for your letter and you know you have to start somewhere and this is such a good place to start. You would have had the whole of businesswoman South Africa supporting you.

The fact that you have been nominated is in itself an honour and the fact that you have been accepted to be a finalist is also an honour. Its something that nobody can ever take away from you. It gives you much more credibility.

Although you are just starting out this is a good place to start.

When the time has come at least you will know what to do and where to go and I am sure from now you will go from strength to strength.

Kind Regards

Margaret

I still wasn’t convinced that I qualified so my mum told me to call my trusted friend and bookkeeper Sara who has looked after me for more than 20 years - to check out the management accounts. This was embarrassing in itself as I still hadn’t paid her this year (eek!)…. 

But she was thrilled for me and delighted to help. When she came back and told me that I had actually made a profit three years in a row and that I qualified to accept the nomination – no-one could have been more surprised than me!!

I mean there I was so bogged down in my own perceived crises that I had not realised that the Universe was offering me massive support, magic and miracles!!  Can you believe that? Me - the GlowCoach, the Chief Glow Officer, didn't even recognise the Good Stuff when it appeared for me!

I have always spent my life encouraging others. But I’m so grateful that the Universe always puts people in my life who encourage and support me!

One of the best things about the nomination was my own discovery of what I have achieved with GloWoman up to now. I think we often overlook how well we’re already doing because we’re so busy focusing on what still needs to be done.

To all the nominees of the BWASA Businesswomen of the Year Awards – Mazal Tov and Congratulations! I am thrilled and delighted to be included among you!

Here’s to remembering to enJOY the journey, to allowing ourselves to receive the Good Stuff and to Getting our Glow ON!

With Love,

Nurturing the Nurturers: GloWoman morning at Brenthurst Residence

What a wonderful start to the year! Thank You Matron Lizann Painter for inviting me to share the Nurturing the Nurturers GloWoman program with your staff at the Brenthurst Residence for the elderly.

I created the GloWoman Nurturing the Nurturers program to support our beloved nurses and care-givers, who give so much of themselves providing care to those who cannot care for themselves -  but are not always so good at giving what they need to themselves, which can leave them depleted, heading for burnout and low on glow!

The theme for the sessions was Rocking the Good Stuff in 2018: Out with the Old and in with the New and we focused on the following areas to help us tune into our Love, Happiness and Joy, no matter what our circumstances!

• Breathing In Love, Breathing out Peace: Exercises to to re-connect and centre ourselves.
• Entitlement vs Taking Responsibility for Joyful Outcomes (If it’s going to be it’s up to me! - the power of Choice) 
• Rocking our Attitude of Gratitude – Appreciation always raises our vibration!
• There’s always an UPside – rocking our positivity to find the blessings in the stressings
• Reconnect to Wonderful You: Self-Appreciation, Self-Love, Self-Care.
  
  
    
   
  I'm so delighted with the wonderful feedback I received from all the ladies. It's always great to Spread the Glow and heartwarming to know that the ripple effect sends the Good Stuff out into the world as faaaaar as it can go! 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to do the "work" I love to do.  
  Here's to Getting our Glow ON, and lighting UP our world!
   

  
  With Love,
  
   
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
  
  
  

A Little Gentle Encouragement Goes A Long Way!

When I first started giving my GloWoman talks, I struggled with being called a “motivational speaker”. I felt it was a bit snake-oil salesmany, a bit fake - and I just wanted to share my experiences and what I’ve learned, to encourage others.

Although it works for some people, and admittedly it’s great for the sportsfield, but I’m not a huge fan of that “Ra-ra let’s GO!” war-like type of motivation, and I know it doesn’t work for everyone.

Personally, I’ve always found it a bit cringeworthy when the motivational speaker works the stage to get everyone revved up and they’re all shouting a rousing “Yes!” and waving their arms in the air. 

Of course it’s not the shouting “Yes!” that bothers me, it’s the whole group frenzy thing I’m not crazy about – the mob mentality, which is seldom kind, loving and compassionate and mostly a little bit aggro and centred around “winning” or “beating the other side”.

It’s all very well to work yourself up into a frenzy of positive energy in a group, but most of the time when you need to pull that energy out of yourself, you’re alone, feeling disconnected, a bit lost, stressed out, exhausted and insecure over some perceived crisis or deeply worrying circumstances - and the mob isn’t there to help you out of it!

Ultimately no matter how connected we are, there will always be times when we find ourselves all alone, facing ourselves and our challenges and feeling weak and wobbly. That’s when a little self-love and self-care, compassion, nurturing, gentle encouragement and quiet determination can go a long way.

Regardless of what is going on around us, it is always possible to choose love and loving thoughts over fear. And it is only we who can shift ourselves out of fear and into that loving place and sustain ourselves there. The mob can incite enthusiasm and energy to fuel us up for a brief moment in time, but opening up to the love in our own hearts, for ourselves and for the world, is what keeps us connected to the Good Stuff.

Being easy on ourselves; gently, gently encouraging ourselves, loving and nurturing ourselves through our challenges, while remembering to connect with our pleasure and joy along the way, will always uplift and heal us in heart and soul. And when we do, we bring more love and healing to the world. And so the world around us changes.

I know what it’s like to feel so alone and helpless that you don’t know where to turn. So I’ve learned to become the person I always needed in my life – and I’m here to support you with tools, tips and techniques to Rock your Happiness and connect to your Joy! 

And how do I know that it works? Well, I’m just like you! And I’m doing this everyday, for myself and for others. 😊 And now I'm comfortable with being called an "inspirational speaker" and I'm happy to inspire others to shine their light and Get their Glow ON!

How can you give YourSelf a little more self-care today? 

How can you be kinder to YourSelf today? 

How will you connect to your joy today? 

❤️ The love in my own heart is where it starts.❤️

With Love and all the encouragement in the world,

Related Read: Be Kind to Wonderful You!

Bettina is an inspirational writer, speaker and GlowCoach supporting women to embrace their personal power, Rock their Happiness, shine their Light and Get their Glow ON! 
She offers intuitive and insightful personal mentorship and consultations face-to-face or on Skype, group and corporate workshops and keynote talks for organisations. 
Email: bets@glowoman.org 

Show UP for Your Positive Possibilities!

Dearest Glorious GloWomen,

Are you really open to receiving whatever it is that your heart desires?

Think about it….

It always amazes me to hear people talking about what they really want in Life – and then giving a big sigh….and talking themselves out of it completely! ☹️
Because if you really believe it’s too difficult, too expensive, out of your reach etc – you’re not going to show UP for YourSelf to receive it.

But somebody else will! Right now there are millions of people enjoying whatever it is that you want. It is absolutely possible.There are people showing up for what they want to enJOY! 😊

So if you truly want to enJOY your aspirations – then please STOP defending your limitations! Open UP to believing in the POSITIVE possibilities for Your Wonderful Life (why would you even consider anything else?!)

Because you can’t get what you want until you show UP for what you want. So what are you showing UP for today?

I wish you a Wonderful Week filled with positive possibilities! Set your intention to believe in them, show Up for them, enJOY them and Get Your Glow ON! 💞

With Love,

Related Posts:

Don't be your 'own opposition' - Be your own Best Friend

Choose to leave Victimville and Get Your Glow ON!

Dearest Glorious GloWomen,

One of the most emPowering things you can do for YourSelf is to realise that only You are responsible for Your Wonderful Life!

And the quickest way out of Victimville, is to lose the blame and to take responsibility to step into your power to choose.

You can choose to get your woe on…..OR You can choose to get your Glow on!
You always have the choice to respond, rather than to re-act to your circumstances. 

So here’s to choosing your emPowered response.

Even if you’ve experienced the most adverse circumstances – your circumstances don’t have to define who you are. Being victimised does not make you ‘a victim’ - unless you choose to let it. So why would you let it? 😊

So dearest GloWomen, here’s a helpful GlowTip if you’re feeling powerless and that Life has got you down…
The quickest way out of Victimville is to choose to be a CREATOR of Your Most JOYful Life and not a victim of circumstances! 

Choose thoughts, word and actions that UPlift and emPower Wonderful You! 💞

Because choosing Love, Laughter and JOY and all the Good Stuff, is a lot more fun than feeling stuck in Victimville! 

And the easiest way to steer YourSelf towards Rocking your most Wonderful Life is to choose to enJOY the ride! 

With Love and JOY, 

 

Related Posts:

Decide what you want, remind yourself of what’s really important (to you!), focus your attention on it and forget about the rest!

The quickest way out of Victimville is to use your power to choose!

Appreciate Wonderful You and Get Your Glow ON!

If you’re feeling a bit pissy and miffed and under-appreciated – wishing that you could enjoy the best that life has to offer – then here’s a little GlowTip and some Very Good News! 😊Maybe it’s time to appreciate Wonderful YOU!

Firstly - please get rid of this notion - It’s not vain or conceited or arrogant to appreciate YourSelf. 

Vain, conceited, arrogant people are actually coming from a place of fear. Secretly, they don’t really believe that they’re good enough so they’re trying to convince themselves, most of all – instead of appreciating themselves, and others for who they really are.

When we love and appreciate ourselves and all that we are and all that we have to give and share, we want to give the best to ourselves, to make the best of ourselves and to share the best of ourselves – and there’s nothing vain, conceited or arrogant about that. It’s a Good Thing!

Because when we do love and appreciate ourselves – oh happy day…Life reflects that right back to us….we start to receive appreciation and all the Good Stuff that flows to us in return!

So here’s to Rocking our Attitude of Gratitude for who we are and all the gifts and talents we were born to share! We are all born with gifts and talents to UPlift ourselves and those around us - no-one gets left out!

Instead of taking it all for granted, let’s get out and share who we are and what we have with the world.

Because the more we shine our Light, the brighter our world becomes. So when we Get our Glow ON – we CAN Light UP our world! 💞

Here’s to making Your Wonderful Life, a reflection of Wonderful You!

With Love and Appreciation,