Diaries Of A Salesman

Name: Diaries Of A Salesman
Address: Sandton, ZA
Telephone: +27731705479

Home
South Africa
Sandton
Diaries Of A Salesman

Diaries Of A Salesman is an inspiration platform for entrepreneurs, founders of Small Medium Enterpr

30/03/2022

It’s time to take action and stay in the fight! On the 7th May 2022 Bongani Chinkanda will embark on a gruelling 160km off-road cycle from Harties to Sun City with the goal to raise R160 000 in support of SADAG (South African Depression & Anxiety Group).

Play your part and show your support at: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/160in160

07/06/2021

Only you know why you started, and what you want to achieve. Don’t let the world determine what looks like to

24/05/2021

Make sure 💰💰💰is coming in, it is the blood and oxygen of your business. GET PAID!

21/05/2021

Talking to both agency folk and clients, people are feeling over worked. The lines between work and home are no more.

I guess it’s were we are due to with it

The one thing we need to guard is our This should be a time for you and your loved ones. A time to recharge your and

If you are not about this time, when comes you won’t want to face your business, clients or employees.

For me, it’s my and being out on It’s my time and my loved ones know that too. I come back a better person.

How do you ?

19/05/2021

Are you that annoying friend, who has just started a business. The one who expects support in the form of orders from friends and relatives?

I was that person, early in my entrepreneurship journey. I would get friendzoned or family zoned and it would p**s me off.

I have grown up now. I actually accept being friendzoned with grace, no hard feelings. I also do some zoning myself now.

These are some of the reasons why we get friendzoned as entrepreneurs;

1. Sometimes your friendship just needs to be that, a friendship. You need friends who are cheerleaders and not necessarily clients.
2. Jealously is a real thing among friends. There is always a fear that you might end up doing better than them, if they support you.
3. Business gets hard and fights happen between clients and suppliers. Some of your friendships can never survive such tension. Don’t push that boundary.
4. Your friend does not have the power you think that have in their organisation. They might not to be honest with you about that situation.
5. We have weakness that show up in our friendships. With this knowledge, you might pose a risk in delivery, and compromise their position. They can accept the weakness socially, but not professionally.

It’s ok to really just be friends as I have learnt. Sometimes that friendship is for something else, like Mountain Biking, as I have learnt. Which is also not a bad thing, because you are not that annoying in that situation.

FYI, your chances of getting business from ‘strangers’ will greater than friends. As you will discover. Focus on growing that network.

17/05/2021

A deal is not closed until you have the Purchase Order.

14/05/2021

The terms are the same, both for entry and exit of an employment relationship. The employer is determined to pay the least amount of money and the employee is always hoping for more.

As a business lead, I both recruited and exited quite a few people. What I noticed is that at the exit, people get emotional. They believe the company owes them and the company needs to understand. However, my role as the representative of the company was to protect the interests of the shareholders. Pay out the least.

My turn had come to exit. I was emotional, how could they. I would have died for these people that am about to negotiate with. I thought they believed in me and my vision for the business. Why, why! I was emotional.

I accepted the what, but was battling with how it was being handled.

Hence I reached out to Tafadzwa at Banda TJA and Associates. He was not emotionally vested in my exit. His brief was, “Guide me through this process so that I don’t loose my head.” He was so level headed though out the process that I actually got more than I was initially offered.

I was cheeky enough to even ask for the laptop. Of course I knew I was not going to get it. But hey why not, I had a nothing to loose.

The lesson, when it’s time to exit. Get support from your loved ones. Totally, it’s important. They will be emotionally vested with you.

However, consult someone who is not emotionally vested in the matter. A lawyer if you can afford one, it’s first prize.

Remember even Human Capital/HR is for the company, they want to make sure they pay out the least as possible. So in the end, you are alone.

I hope by sharing these lessons, you will avoid the mistakes that I and many have made when exiting a business. The time will come for you to exit, it’s just the circle of life.

13/05/2021

Since a business is a living organism, it is inevitable that it comes to an end. The ending could either be closure, a merger or acquisition. (Even though there is never mergers really, just acquisitions)

Either way the process is traumatic for employees, it becomes personal as their livelihoods are threatened. This threat manifests itself in different forms. After all they are just humans with families and responsibilities.

What I found interesting with the ending of our business was how my exco members and staff behaved. People can be strange, I thought. But I now understand.

It made me think of when Jesus & The 12 (Pty) Ltd came to an end. In no way am I comparing myself to Jesus (for the believers reading this). It was a going concern for 3 year after all.

I now understand human behaviour based on that story.

You will always have your Judas’, I get them. In a sense they are the visionary, and are able to see power shifts quickly. For them, it’s about getting the best deal for number one. It’s about survival.

Then you have Peters, those who will profess their undying loyalty. Even though you have not asked for it. But when the reality of unemployment is right in their face, they will waver. They still check on you though, but never tell the rest of the team. Again it’s about survival.

The ones to be admired should be your John’s , James’, Timothy’s and the rest. You never hear of at the height of drama. They are loyal to the company and not the individual affected. Which is the right attitude to have. As employees always be loyal to the company, not the leader. They tend to survive.

Finally, Thomas. The most annoying. They call you months later to check how you are ‘doing’. Hoping you are not ok. When you say you are ok, “I knew it! You are the man/women. I have always believed in you.” Chances are they are looking for new opportunities. It’s about survival.

The lesson here is, as a leader whose business/department is coming to an end. Don’t play into peoples emotions, as they are only trying to survive and they don’t know how.

Your job in that moment is to EXIT WITH GRACE.

12/05/2021

Be Nice.

Just be , be nice to your suppliers, to your clients and the guard at the gate. Just be nice, not to be liked but because you are dealing with people.

Be nice to your competitors Be nice to your employees and your boss. Be nice to your colleagues. Being nice is how you grow your network.

As you get more senior in your career, your CV means nothing. It’s all about your network, its determines your next move.

As of getting work from clients, it’s all about your reputation in the network.

The day comes when you need to make a call or 5 as I learnt. Because I have made it my goal to be nice, everyone I engaged about my next move gave me an ear.

There was a 6th call on Saturday evening

By Monday 9am, I had a lawyer in my corner ready to advise me through the exit process. That is what happens when you have a network, they show up.

Yes, be nice because it’s ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE, but don’t be taken for granted.

It was now time to exit. It was clear, there was no future for me in the group. I also did not want to stay.

11/05/2021

Whether you are a Marvel or DC fan, the script is kind of the same.

There is a point our hero/heroine is banished or injured, and the villain seems to have won. All is lost, but is it?

What is true in the movies and in life, is that the Super Power is never taken from our hero nor us. It’s about the MINDSET and SPIRIT.

My employer did not need my super powers anymore. These are, being a good salesman and creative strategist. Them letting me go, did not mean I stopped having them.

It’s only in the past few years that I
discovered I have these super powers. I make sure I nurture them and own as mine.

They are mine, not my partners’ in business or my employer’s then.

They are what make me unique. They are what make me have a seat at the table.

So, their loss I said. It was time to move on.

By the time it was Monday post the Friday conversation, I was already in talks with 5 agencies. It was all about my next move, it sure was not going to be employment.

I wanted skin in the game.

This was me, TAPPING INTO MY NETWORK.

10/05/2021

I remember when I was passed over for a promotion at Unilever early on in my career. I took it personally, as I believed I deserved it.

The advise I got then and have taken through out life was;

“If you want loyalty get a dog.”

It’s cold, but it captures how sometimes employment relationships end. It’s easier when you get a bigger better paying job, and you resign. It sucks for the employer. It’s cool for you.

However, when the business decides to end the relationship based on change in strategy or decreased revenue. Employees are quick to believe it’s unfair. As we deserve to be employed. No we don’t.

Businesses are living organisms that require revenue to keep breathing, to pay out dividends. In the past months many have lost that revenue, and shareholders have had to make the ‘right’ decisions for their businesses.

That is what happened to me. It was nothing personal just business. I took no offence, as I remembered;

“If you want loyalty get a dog”.

I quickly asked myself; What is my SUPER POWER, that makes me unique to work with?

23/03/2021

Entrepreneurs are facing some serious challenges in our economy. Having connected with a few of them over the past weeks, it’s quite tough out there.

From my experience, what I know is you have to to experience the turn. Manage the risks but don’t or

Address

Sandton

Telephone

+27731705479

Website

http://www.diariesofasalesman.co.za/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Diaries Of A Salesman posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Diaries Of A Salesman:

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Business in Sandton?