Being Marica

If one has to ask what the new world order is...or what the theme of the global ruling party is...it would, in two words be called - SERVING HUMANITY.  Where we are one people. Where we are on the same side for once ( thank God!!).  Where we are building One Great World together. And it took an invisible virus.  Where convention centres and eventing halls are being turned into treatment rooms. We have doctors here from abroad. I've been nailed for being too careful where I would not in all these days meet any loved ones even in a public space to shop and to smile from a distance. I refused. We unlock to level 4 tomorrow. Our leaders and countries have been amazing with such generosity and support being displayed. While some people have each expressed their opinions to me pertaining to excessive media hype, restrictions etc., my position remains very clear - Would you rather have learnt in hindsight of a terrible invisible enemy and which you grea

Funny how a lockdown is almost weaning out and I am expected to forget and forgive unthinkable things. Signing out M

After a bad morning I decided to focus on what I needed to do. I built an e-commerce site today. My first attempt. It was liked by some of the team with some direction given and all well taken. Then I tried another template for the same store and made a mistake. I ended closing the shop. That means I'll be starting over. I wasn't happy anyway. Yes, I am still talking about Shopify! Signing out 😊 m

Is all I will ever ask. . Signing off. Marica

A lockdown was mentioned thirty-one days ago.  Thirty-one long and interesting days with restricted movement and no sureties of what was to come at the time. To some extend we still can't really tell because even with forecasts, we just don't know. But we are indeed better prepared, and our leaders are leading well. Sadly we saw that not all people, as I learnt for myself too, respect what this virus means and what the rules are even at Level 5. So I reminded some of them. All that aside -  It's been very interesting for me simply because there was so much to miss and as much I’m also ok to forego.  I mean, extraordinarily little can matter in being outside but with no purpose or real agenda. You can be free but I think real freedom is in liberating the soul, and in a way found by having a sense of more than existence.   I also believe that the freedom we have and as a democratic society is what I missed most. The freedom to move wherever and whenever I wa

So I never compromise on the quality of my food intake. This is a principle I've maintained even when I've had to compromise on various other lifestyle choices like travel etc. and since becoming an Entrepreneur. Even cheaper shopping options did not mean cheaper quality products, just less bags. Or even a salad instead of a gourmet experience. I find I'm a quality over quantity person and it's something I grew up with, so less bags of anything will never be an issue for me. Not ever.    Food options for me is a big one. The reason for this is that food directly impacts your physiology, your quality of health and your state of being. So you would find that while I enjoy all types of foods, I always look at the quality of ingredients and opt for organic, no preserves or a company selling a particular ethos and valuable product. I know that this is by far a luxury which many, too many, people simply cannot afford. And it's this reality which truly takes

Today I got to connect with nature and a bit more advancely. Well timed since we just acknowledged Earth Day. I had a link shared with me   https://wildearth.tv/safarilive/   and was asked to check it out. People realise my love for nature and my lockdown energy so it was well received. I too like to roam feeling like the queen ( with an invisible Corona as in crown being quite relevant given the obvious) but of our concrete jungle. For now though, I'm just a caged cat in our country lockdown. Well. I suggest everyone watches a live stream of the Safari drives or fix camera's offering real time footage of different parts of the bush. I saw animals which I am not sure I would be lucky enough to see in person on a Safari. Animals are smart that way. They hide when human's come to view them. You know how we can be. We want to own, capture, hunt and also eat them. While watching I thought I'm really glad to be a vegetarian. How beautiful those animals are. I'm th

Personally, I never eat it. I'd like to eat Archar and with a bashmati rice and a relatively clean (less oily) yellow Dhal. But Archar, nah, I don't touch it. Why? you ask.. Well, in the past..going back to 20+years when I did eat Archar on occassion, I notice a different scent on my skin. I think it has to do with an ingredient and spice called Methi ( Fenugreek). I'm sensitive this way. So I stay away. But I wish that this post was merely about Indian cuisine or spices and body enhancing scents. It's not. It is however about a video I picked off a notable advocates tweet thread and of a woman selling Archar. So I know the rules and what this lockdown means. But I also know what it's like to fight for survival and an honest days one. We also know there are so many other wrongs that need righting, but please can we find another way  noting precautionary measures and risks, to let people trade fairly where there's no real risks involved. Where they

So I said I am going to share more on why early stage seed capital is critically needed for high growth tech start-ups. I realise the depth of the subject matter and need another day to process some thoughts. For now think about this  http://launchafrica.vc/  extract taken from Launch Africa literature. Africa Is Ready For Technological Disruption • Africa is the world’s fastest growing market, estimated to account for 1/3rd of global population by the end of the 21st century. • There is a growing need to ‘leapfrog’ innovation as seen by a stark rise in tech hubs, accelerators, incubators and corporatestartup collaboration with unique tech adoption rates. • Closing the gap in Seed to pre-Series A - There is a big gap in early stage venture funding across Africa where most VC funds focus on $500k to $5m Series A and B type deal sizes. • According to research from Partech Partners, in 2019, $2.02 billion in venture capital funding was invested in 250 deals from 234 tech/

So I wanted to write a piece on the very interesting Elsa Majimbo.  As detailed and as an honorary one. A young lady I came across and who needs very little except herself to impress. Infact, very little except herself to deliver smart wit which still feels like it's straight from the sweetness of her heart. The things she says! Well, only the kind of things I truly value from my standpoint and what I appreciate as being said without malice by this smart young women. Her sweet still drips regardless of what leaves her daring lips. Maybe her smiling eyes helps her dare escape more easily. I get that. All I know is my day was hard and I didn't start this piece thinking I'll make it pass "I'll be back"...tomorrow with my shout out to Elsa". But here I am still writing. So. Like Elsa, I think no matter what the world brings or what type of day one faces, or what your setting is, very little is needed to simply deliver and to do so with an i

Ok ok, maybe I had to say that to get your attention but speaking of which, mine is honed in on essentials. My attention resides strictly in developing new businesses. We all are worried about this lock-down and what it means for the economy, finances, businesses and for my own wallet. You've heard me say many times how hard this was for SME's already before the lock-down. Then came this virus that "came to me" somehow in December and before China ( it's cryptic I know). Every single day I'm faced with a new challenge in another lock-down day. Some challenges are welcomed some aren't. Overall I'm inspired and we're all doing our best to make something out of this time and with a solid plan in place. Let's see. So to close with a reshuffle of the words - I am definitely grateful and no it is not easy being in a lock-down. But when we are released, what will you be heading to? Best starting that preparation and work now. Signing ou

  To think, you have a problem. I think that if you need to drink instead of to think, in this time of a lock down, you may have a problem. Now now, don't get me wrong. I love a drink I've earned at the end of a milestone achievement or a celebratory one.  But if you need a drink instead of thinking about what next for business, your job, your role, your incomes, your household - we have a bigger societal problem than we may realize. This is addiction aside as a numbing tool for other psychological or systemic induced infliction's. That too doesn't count if you need a drink to deal.

The freedom we took for granted.  So here we are. We're with a few more days in a country lock-down. Today has been a bit harder than usual. Simply being indoors and being unable to see loved ones. Then I think about people. People who had to observe funerals like that of their mother and over a Zoom call. I  wonder how hard it must have been. Tomorrow I myself observe a colleagues funeral on a Zoom call. The freedom we took for granted.

and will be for someone wanting to be with me...who likes to lose sleep daily...for years..because I'm consumed by vision and remain unapologetic for wanting to achieve impact  beyond my own life. I mean - it can't be easy getting to bed around midnight and then to leave your sleeping partner at 3am, for consecutive months, to be at your office so you can deliver to stakeholders. I did that. It can't be easy having your days, any day of the week, filled with activities of an unleisurely nature till ungodly hours. I mean he finished my barely touched meal and glass of wine that I left to take a long business call at valentines dinner. Thank God this year I had no Valentines dinner. It's safer and he didn't offer. Call me selfish? Maybe. Call me selfless? When you get what I see, I think you might!  It certainly also can't be easy explaining to hungry, homeless, unequal societies to live off faith alone. Can it be easy to perpetuate damaging sec

An eye opener of another day in lock-down. So by now some of you know my beliefs. As I improve, so do my efforts, understandings and quality of failures too. (by now you should also expect nothing less than this sense of humor!) So for a long time you heard me speak about the world as a collective of many expressions. You saw Collaboration, you heard One Great World, One Greater World Together. We know there's "Better World", "Safer World", "Kinder World" and more. Yes to all that but actually I know that we need a "Cleaner World". Literally, Innovatively, Philosophically and Intentionally. Through literal meaning of the words seen in asks for  hand washing, personal hygiene,  food safety, cleaner food, cleaner water, quality air, clean energy, clean design. It's a Cleaner World we're heading into. Signing out Marica

Her depth lay in her eyes. As deep as the ocean only twice more. A beauty so profound even life's hard stress lines on her aged face couldn't hide it. She hoped, watched, woke and walked with fire in her heart and soul. Her children made it easy to see how challenged her life was. Her son was the sun. Her husband was the protection she offered herself and others. These are the many aged women of the soil. Touch not our elders.

HOW THE HELL DO YOU CRIMINALS DO THIS TO OUR COUNTRY. HOW THE HELL DO YOU CRIMINALS DO THIS TO OUR CHILDREN. AND HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU WILL DO THIS TO OUR LEADERS WHO ARE MANAGING OTHER MAJOR NATIONAL CONCERNS. YOU, YOU WHO TRY MAKE IT HARD FOR REAL LEADERS, YOU WILL BE BROUGHT TO BOOK

EVERYTHING. Love has everything to do with it. Love feels really good. It's not meant to hurt. And in some famous words - No woman no cry.  But this really doesn't seem to be the case. So guys, many women seem to be experiencing more demands from their husband's and families in this time. It's as if they're not human-beings themselves. It always seems to be taken for granted that because a women can do so much, that its expected for her to do so and all by herself. Nope.  Hate to dismiss that fallacy fast.  Men, man up.  Show up and please show up well. I mean - What's the deal with some guys? And especially with those who can't seem to treat any women right. F emales are complaining in this lock-down time and guys and it's not looking good.   Lock down is a time to value the people who matter. It's also a good time to unlearn untidiness, unfair expectations and any abusive tendencies which shows up in any form.  Global stats shows in

I was having a pleasant day. I got to speak virtually with people I value.  It was a day of art, conversation and growth. A better day by virtual social engagement. This ended the last 20 minutes when I saw a video on Jimmy's twitter feed. People crying as their shacks get demolished. I don't care which party, I understand the instance of certain uprising of shacks in areas not permitted. I get it. But for now, I don't care about any of that and since that video, where people are crying and pain is felt, I am so hurt myself. How can we be displacing already displaced people when we have a deadly virus we are fighting. Stop that and think. Or if you must, pause temporarily but for God's sake, have a freaking heart. Marica

  It's really all good. We all miss everything about something, someone or the other. Could this be the death of an old us? The beginning of a new us? There is no perfect time and there is no perfect person.  I deliberately hadn't greeted anyone too personally or very specifically today because collectively is what matters with where we are as a race  - as the Human Race being bigger and seeing things right side up. Signing out M  

We should only be fighting against this virus and as what's known as Humanity. Signing out m

Dear CoVid19 Country Lock-down diary - Day 13 Missing the days when we were wild and free to go out and get pedicures. Lockdown SA has affected many service related industries whose staff's salaries relies on 'footfall'.  They need to insist that owners of these businesses access funding made available and claim through the UIF to pay staff where it's applicable. Signing out .. M

Dear CoVid19 Country Lock-down diary - Day 12 The persecuted always prosper. We will get over this virus as a better human race. Please God.. for whomever you refer to your Creator as. Signing off a bit later today. M

Dear CoVid19 Country Lock-down diary - Day 11

Dear CoVid19 Country Lock-down diary - Day 10 A few more days to go...or not. The data shows the positive impact resulting from self isolation and countries who were/are in lock-down. So staying put is a good thing for us SA.  I do wonder what will happen when we are eventually allowed out. May we remember why we had to stay indoors to begin with. I can imagine just how many of us would want to charge out...and all at once. Which could be detrimental too. Totally secondary to the lock-down but equally important to me is - I wonder how we are relating to one another in our various personal and professional relationships. Actually, how are we relating to ourselves?  Daily I have contact with certain people which is not negotiable. Not a lengthy list of contacts, but a significant one and for various reasons. Some personal but most for professional reasons. I can say that as an entrepreneur, I don't have the luxury of not working while I think about my current and

Dear CoVid19 Country Lock-down diary - Day 9 Who would have thought that the entire world would actually be forced to stop at once. I didn't think I would be part of this moment in time and in the making of history. Everything and everyone we took for granted is now classified under  force majeure. It's a good wake up call to those sitting expectant and under-utilising their own sense of purpose. Who did you ever think you were feeling so entitled? Some also find their businesses in the deep red troes of trouble. Those very same people, who were ever too comfortable to have abused and displaced many people and for a very long time, now find themselves very displaced too.  Whereas a cheers could be in order to them, we have to be bigger in overcoming ourselves and avoid low digs at all costs. We  are all in this together.  It also feels like positives will surface post Covid19 and promptly if we're in the good company of economic recovery strategies with sol

Dear CoVid19 Country Lock-down diary - Day 8 Covid19 HUMANITY RESET Sit on the couch, eat a little more than you would, do a little less than you need to and want to indulge this gift of life beautifully. You don't need money to appreciate this moment in your life or to be grateful for basics and blessings. Signing off ...a little earlier today. m