Dressing for success organisation

image : www.dressforsuccess.com

Greetings students..how are you all doing. Thank you for viewing my blog once more. Today i am going to talk about dressing for success once more. No not the idea but the organisation. While i was doing my research for my previous blog i bumped into this unique company..by accident actually and i thought i would talk about it not only because it is a brilliant idea but because part of being in business is serving your community.

Dress for Success is a global not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 140 cities in 19 countries and has helped more than 850,000 women work towards self-sufficiency.

image : www.dressforsuccess.com

When i realised what it was i was very suprised and disappointed that we do not have an affiliate in our country considering the large number of disadvantaged women that we have so i decided to write a petition letter to one of the directors asking them to have an affiliate in Zimbabwe. If you want to be a part of that movement send me an email @nyashlvslv@gmail.com or inbox Nyasha Chiuswa on Facebook. 

As part of Dress for Success' mandate they provide clothing, career guidance and interview tips for women in an effort to level the playing field especially in business. They also help these budding professionals to serve their community even after they have been employed and have succeeded themselves. 

For more about Dress for Success go to their website https://www.dressforsuccess.org/about-us/ and find out more about being a part of the organization.

"If we can find approaches that meet the needs of the poor in ways that generate profits for business and votes for politicians, we will have found a sustainable way to reduce inequity in the world. This task is open-ended. It can never be finished. But a conscious effort to answer this challenge will change the world." Bill Gates

But my job today isn't to advertise dress for success i wanted to ask Zimbabweans this question...why do you not have such ideas yourselves. I challenge you to look beyond your borders and see what other countries are doing in an effort to improve themselves. Such ideas are relatively simple and may only require your efforts.

And because you might need a bit of help here are some other ideas to help you along.

• Provide underpriviledged girls with prom dresses or wedding dresses http://fairygodmothersinc.org/
• Have a soup kitchen and provide food for street kids
• Adopt a sister/brother-not literally but provide them with food,clothes and help them with their homework https://www.facebook.com/BigBrotherFoundation
• Adopt a grand parent or a parent from one of the local Old People's homes.
• Organise a marathon and collect money on the day. Give that money to a poor family or five.
• Be part of an initiative that provides school uniforms and shoes for children who walk several kilometres to school
• Teach English and Maths to dyslexic students for free http://www.vvob.be/zimbabwe/what-we-do/quality-education-and-vulnerability-programme?q=what-we-do/inservicetrainingofteachers

"It's very difficult to be continuously charitable in a capitalistic society. You've also got to make sure that you can pay everyone who works for you."Felix Dennis 

The list of things you can do is shockingly long so why not start today.

Look the part : a guide to dressing for success

Greetings everyone..thank you for visiting my blog once more. Today im going to talk about fashion. No dont get me wrong im not the changing the layout and theme of my blog but i figured that sometimes everyone needs a tip or two about how to dress for success-especially in the business world. First i wanna tell you a short story about a student that i know. For protection of privacy ill call this student A. A is a budding commercial student who likes wearing suits/formal clothing to school ALL THE TIME. Whether he is going to a lecture, class meeting, church meeting, lunch break or whatever he just does not take off his suit. For me this spells two problems 1) he does not know how to dress and is afraid to go out of his comfort zone 2) he is very rigid and set on his ways..but then again i might be biased because they say entrepreneurs and business minded people live in their suits. So today i am going to talk about the dress for success.

Firstly, in order for you to ooze confidence you must dress for the occasion. If you are going to a meeting wear your formal clothing to school wear your normal casual clothes to an evening event be glamorous and so on and so on. Secondly know how to clean up nicely, shave what must be shaved ,wash what must be washed and  groom what must be groomed. Thirdly do not be afraid to ask your friends and relatives for a second and third opinion on your outfit of choice but be careful-"the blind cannot lead the blind". Fourthly keep it simple..no one likes a purple suit or a blonde and yellow weave unless if you are in fashion and showbiz. Fifth be conservative-don't show us your belly button or your chest unless if we ask for it..Cover up so you not asked to do so. Below is a guide for both men and women.

image: www.bp.blogspot.com

Men's meeting/interview Attire

• Solid color, conservative suit
• White long sleeve shirt
• Conservative tie
• Dark socks, professional shoes
• Very limited jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Go easy on the aftershave
• Neatly trimmed nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

image : www.blog.bespokeedge.com

                                        

Women's interview/meeting attire

• Solid color, conservative suit
• Coordinated blouse
• Moderate shoes
• Limited jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Tan or light hosiery
• Sparse makeup and perfume
• Manicured nails
• Portfolio or briefcase

For both men and women it is best to avoid cheap versions of suits or fake brands. Because the person you might be meeting might be very particular about branding and might not like the fact that you wore a Hucci instead of a Gucci so again keep it simple and affordable. Avoid over accessorising  this one particularly applies to women who wear ten ear rings and a hundred bracelets. Take all that off please. And for men the same rules apply if you have ear rings and other facial piercings you need to take all of that off. And for those of us who are daring and generally love ink..cover up your tattoos or the only ink you'll see is the ink on your tattoo.

 Remember that first impressions do count so always look your best.

 

For more fashion advice do follow this blog http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkwilliams/2013/08/09/first-impressions-count-the-business-value-of-dressing-for-success/ and learn even more about looking the part.

 

For more about why it is important to dress for success go to http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/clothing/dress-for-success-0

 

http://as.cornell.edu/academics/careers/networking/upload/DressforSuccess-1.pdf 

 

http://www.inc.com/howard-tullman/news-flash-you-still-have-to-dress-for-success.html 

 

Thank you for viewing my blog lets continue to share and like my posts..happy moneymaking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Etiquette during meetings and/or interviews

image; www.lanzbc.com

Greetings students in my last post about etiquette im going to be talking about etiquette during meetings and interviews. First ill start by talking about my own experience in that area. One of my journalism lecturers decided to organise a public relations seminar for us where we would be taught interview etiquette and the like. I obviously thought that it would be extremely boring and did not attend the seminar. This proved to be my downfall when i was at a pageant and i could not answer the questions without stammering or breaking other unspoken codes. So i figured that i would share some of the "rules" that i am now very much aware of because i failed to follow them.

The interview

image : www.jobznation.com

• Dress appropriately and be well informed about the interviewer/company
• Always show up early-because anything can happen in the 10-20 mins before your interview ie it can be cancelled
• Greet the interviewer first
• Do not sit down unless if they offer you a seat
• Try not to eat or drink during the interview. Sip a bit of water but that is all you are permitted
• Do not lie-if you don't know the answer admit it and say you will research it instead
• Smile but not too much
• Ask questions if given a chance to do so
• Do not answer your phone or text during the interview..its clumsy and disrespectful. SWITCH THAT PHONE OFF
• Be approachable..tune in on your body language and persona
• Thank the interviewer after the interview and send a thank you note-because this makes you stand out.

For more tips and tricks go to https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-10-rules-of-interview-etiquette
For more important info go to https://www.experience.com/alumnus/article?channel_id=career_management&source_page=oh_behave&article_id=article_1200586167230

The business meeting
This especially relevant for young entrepreneurs who have very little info about how to conduct themselves when they come across billionaires and executives.

• Confirm the appointment a week before the date and then three days before
• Be punctual..always
• Make introductions if necessary
• Have all necessary documents and be ready to answer any questions
• Backup all your files if you are using powerpoint or tablets as they malfunction
• Dress for success always
• Do not eat or drink anything except a glass of water
•  Switch off your cellphone
• Avoid nervous habits like humming,clicking your tongue or playing with your hands/pen
• Respect personal space no nudging 

For more tips do read http://businessculture.org/northern-europe/uk-business-culture/meeting-etiquette/
http://www.inc.com/janine-popick/business-meeting-etiquette-8-pet-peeves.html
http://etiquette-ny.com/formal-business-meeting-protocol/
And that marks the end of the etiquette series for more info visit the websites ive posted above and become a code yourself.

Business dinner etiquette -because we all need to eat

Greetings students. Today i am going to talk about one of the most important aspect of business etiquette and that is lunch/dinner meeting etiquette. This used to be one of the worst things someone could invite me to or ask me to attend. I hated lunch meetings or business outings because i either feared i wouldn't know the fish fork from the beef one (or is it the fish knife??lol)  , or i would hold the dessert spoon when eating my soup or i would choke on olives which i hate very much. And i do believe i am not the only person who faces these culinary and social fears.
So i am going to talk about some of the things you should do to prepare for these kinds of business affairs.

 

"Dining Etiquette: The Business Meal As A Test Of Character"

 

BEFORE THE MEAL: Shake hands with all present at the table. If necessary, introduce yourself. Concentrate on remembering your host/hostess’ name 

Rule # 1 – Start On The Outside.  On a properly set table you usually see a series of forks on the left side of your plate and spoons and knives on your right. The very simple rule is to always work from the outside in. The cutlery farthest away from your plate is for the first course.

Rule # 2 – Build Bridges, Not Ramps.  When you put your knives, forks, and spoons down, place the entire utensil on the plate (bridge).  Do not put it back on the table, and do not rest it half on and half off the plate (ramp);
When you are finished, place your knife and fork together in the center of the plate slightly turned to the five o’clock position. This well let your server know you are done eating. 
Rule # 3 – Cutting Your Food.  You should always use both your knife and fork together.  You should not cut your food up at the start and then use your fork only.  You should only cut one edible piece of meat at a time.
Rule # 4 – Eating Soup.  When eating soup, push your spoon away from you starting to the farthest edge of the soup bowl. Bring the spoon to your mouth and drink the soup from the edge of the spoon and not by putting the whole spoon in to your mouth.  And, of course, do not slurp.
Rule # 5 – Napkins.  Your napkin should be unfolded and placed on your lap immediately upon sitting down at the table, folded in half once, and the open end of the fold facing away from you. It is never acceptable to tuck your napkin in to the front of your shirt in business dinner etiquette.
If you must leave the table before you have finished, you should place your napkin on your seat.  This tells the server that you plan to return.
Rule # 6 – Which Glass?  Normally you will have two or more glasses at the table. Your glasses are on the right upper side of your plate. You can have up to four glasses. They are usually arranged in a diagonal or roughly square pattern. The top left glass is for red wine. It will usually have a fairly large bowl. Directly below that you will find the white wine glass, which will be smaller. At the top right, you will find a champagne glass. Your water glass is on the bottom right.
Rule # 7 – Sitting.  You should not sit in your seat until your host or hostess has done so.  If there is no host, then you should wait for the senior or oldest person at the table to sit first before you sit in your seat.
Rule # 8 – Starting To Eat.  The same can be said for eating as well.  You should not pick up your fork and begin eating until the host, hostess, or senior person at the table begins.  You must not start eating until everyone has been served even if your food is getting cold.  If there are a large number of guests, the host may indicate that you may begin before everyone is served. If this is the case, then you should begin.
Rule # 9 – Spitting Food Out.  If you take a mouthful of food which contains something you cannot swallow, you should remove the piece of food by which ever means it entered your mouth.
Rule # 10 – Bread and Butter.  When you begin to eat bread or any other food from a common bowl using business dinner etiquette, you should offer the bread basket to the person on your left and then begin passing the bowl around the table to the right.
If you are having bread with your meal there will usually be a small side plate on the left hand side of your place setting.  Bread should torn with your fingers and never be cut with a knife if offered in the loaf form. When you wish to eat it, tear a bite sized piece off with your fingers.  Use your butter knife to transfer a sufficient portion of butter for your bread.  One get butter from the dish once.  So, make sure that you get enough.  Place it on the side of your side plate. You should butter each piece of bread as you eat it, rather than buttering it all up front.
For more tips http://www.businessinsider.com/rules-of-dining-etiquette-2012-4?op=1
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robasghar/2014/05/27/dining-etiquette-the-business-meal-as-a-test-of-character/
http://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/business_etiquette.html

Business etiquette in the workplace

image; www.slideshare.com

Greetings students and business personalities. Last time we were talking about business etiquette and sicne the topic is very wide i have decided to make it a series of about two posts covering etiquette in the workplace, during meetings, during interviews, during presentations and the like. First im going to talk about business etiquette in the work place. I know this may sound confusing ,since you are an entrepreneur or at least an aspiring one, but even if you are employed you still have to have small business ethic as some businesses are conducted in the work place for example selling cakes, sandwiches, typing for your workmates, etc etc. So it is important to have etiquette when it comes to conducting your separate business in the workplace or even school environment.

1. Do not let your business disrupt your work - as a business owner you may get so absorbed in your business that you may neglect your other duties. You might be a potential millionaire pastry chef but your employers dont need to know that so no cream on your proposals
2. Do not accept "we will pay monthend" customers- because people may refuse to give you your money and this might result in tension in the workplace
3. Conduct your business during your free hours-you can sell your products during lunch and tea break or after working hours so that you remain professional.
4. Do not use work phones and work email accounts for personal business transactions-information may leak and you will be in trouble.
5. PLEASE do not use company credit cards for your business transactions. This may lead to you losing your job or worse still getting arrested.
6. Obtain the permission of your employer-you need this so that if you encounter problems you may approach your employer for assistance and consultation.

The guidelines below apply for those with employees or those running their own businesses

• Have a good relationship with your employees- there should be down up communication with employees.
• Pay your employees on time 
• Have daily goals and targets that your workers are aware of
• Make unilateral decisions and involve your employees in decision making processes
• Never reprimand a friend/employee in public

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/workplace-etiquette/
http://www.bustle.com/articles/45274-15-workplace-etiquette-rules-everyone-should-follow-according-to-reddit
http://www.worketiquette.co.uk/
That is all for today friends..do follow me on twitter @ nyashawelove and happy money making

Business etiquette: Because most of us dont even know it exists

image from www.upnairobi

image; www.wikipedia.com

Greetings friends and students i trust you all had a wonderful easter holiday and are ready to get back some of that money you used and abused over the long holidays. And today we are going to talk about business etiquette because such a thing exists even though most of us are not aware of it. It exists and it is very much at work in the business world and as such you need to know what it is. In simply terms etiquette refers to rules of conduct or decorum when it comes to conducting business or any thing else. It is about mannerisms and codes of conduct that are neither written down nor spoken but should be common knowledge. And these codes of conduct also exist in the business world. First we will talk about some basic rules.

• Be punctual..for all meetings and appointments
• Use formal language and be professional
• Dress appropriately and look (and smell) your best
• Always carry your business proposal with you
• Know your products and suppliers inside and out
• Be aware of current business trends and news

1. Send a Thank You Note

This sounds very silly when you hear it for the first time but it is shockingly true. You need to send a thank you note to suppliers and the like when you conduct business with them. The thank you note should never die. If you have a job interview, or if you're visiting clients or meeting new business partners—especially if you want the job, or the contract or deal—take the time to write a note. You'll differentiate yourself by doing so and it will reflect well on your company too.

2. Know the Names

It's just as important to know your peers or employees as it is to develop relationships with clients, vendors or management. Reach out to people in your company, regardless of their roles, and acknowledge what they do.
We spend too much of our time these days looking up – impressing senior management. But it's worth stepping back and acknowledging and getting to know all of the integral people who work hard to make your business run.

3. Observe the 'Elevator Rule'

When meeting with clients or potential business partners off-site, don't discuss your impressions of the meeting with your colleagues until the elevator has reached the bottom floor and you're walking out of the building. That's true even if you're the only ones in the elevator.
Call it superstitious or call it polite—but either way, don't risk damaging your reputation by rehashing the conversation as soon as you walk away.

4. Focus on the Face, Not the Screen

When you're in a meeting or listening to someone speak, turn off the phone. Don't check your email. Pay attention and be present. It is the trend now to always be on your facebook, twitter but when you are in a meeting desist from doing so.

5. Don't Judge

We all have our vices—and we all have room for improvement. One of the most important parts of modern-day etiquette is not to criticize others.
You may disagree with how another person handles a specific situation, but rise above and recognize that everyone is trying their best. It's not your duty to judge others based on what you feel is right. You are only responsible for yourself.
We live in a world where both people and businesses are concerned about brand awareness. Individuals want to stand out and be liked and accepted by their peers--both socially and professionally.
The digital landscape has made it even more difficult to know whether or not you're crossing a line, but I think it's simple. Etiquette is positive. It's a way of being—not a set of rules or dos and don'ts.
http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/glp/28411/Business-Etiquette.html
http://www.cyborlink.com/
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/business-etiquette-important-3112.html

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Business terminology made simple

Greetings students and business people. Today we are talking about business terms, words and phrases that are necessary for any business owner to have as part of their repertoire. As you are probably aware , i am a journalism student meaning that i have never been fascinated with numbers and anything about the economy, indexes, margins makes me run for the hills. I only realised how crucial it was for me to know those things when a customer asked me what my profit margins were like and i had no idea what she was talking about. Therefore this post and many others to follow have simple explanations for complex and headache inducing business terms. First we will discuss crucial terms and ideas usually useful when you are thinking about a prospective business idea or you are thinking about applying for a loan at one of your local banks or companies.

• Business proposal- as the name suggests it is a document that proposes something to the reader or recipient of the document. When you apply for a loan they usually ask for this proposal which outlines how you to propose to carry out the idea, pay off your debt, make profits etc

https://blog.bidsketch.com/articles/how-to-write-a-business-proposal/

• Business Plan -this is very similar to the business plan but is different in that it is for your personal use. It is normal to draft a business plan when you come up with your business idea. The plan acts as a blueprint and helps you not to deviate.

•  Profit margin/profitablity- this is literally the foundation upon which your business rests. It refers to the amount of money that you are going to make from your business. That is the money that remains when you have paid employees, debts, purchased new products etc. Every business owner should be aware of their percentage profits every month.

• Suppliers- these are the people that hold your business together because like the name implies, they supply you with all the goods and services required for the operation of your business. These can include auditors, consultants, lawyers, producers etc

• Marketing /Advertising strategies - this refers to methods that a business owner uses in ensuring the success of their product. It entails making consumers aware of the product and advertising the product to them through social media, news papers and media houses and pamphlets.

• Target Markets-this literally refers to the customers that have the highest probabiltiy of purchasing your product. Every entrepreneur has to research their potential market before launching any products to ensure that they do not incur losses.

http://articles.bplans.com/business-term-glossary/

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/retail-business-terms.html

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/business-marketing-plan-financial-terminology.html

http://www.businessballs.com/business-dictionary.htm

http://www.allbusiness.com/barrons_dictionary/

For further reading consult the links i have posted above and make yourself a business terminology expert. Watch the video for more business terminology. Also watch the video to Happy money making shamwari