Framing the Mandela and Other Moments

Walking into the room, one cannot help but notice the positivity and exuberance that seem to come so naturally to Alexandra Adamczyk, owner of Artform Framing Factory. But, before meeting the woman who has sustained her market-leading business in the South African market for 17 years, one is struck on entering the Artform Framing Factory front office by the beautiful array of different frames that adorn the walls of the office. This is merely the starting point for an interaction in which those special moments can be frozen and preserved for eternity through frames that are nothing short of wondrous works of art. Adamczyk quickly notices that we are enthralled and says, “This is what we do. Artform specialises in framing sports and political memorabilia for private and corporate clients.” She takes us to a large frame balanced against the wall and, immediately, there is a note of pride in her voice as she enthuses: “This is one of our most important works to date. It is part of the Nelson Mandela work that we are doing by telling the story of the beloved statesman through artefacts that bear his original, and famous, signature.” 

 

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Why Personal Branding Isn’t Entirely All about You

In the digitally enabled economy of today, connected and intelligent individuals face a world rife with competition when it comes to career advancement or even business survival. To stand out above the clutter as an individual, you need a newer, far reaching approach to building your personal influence and equity. According to the 2014 Edelman Trust Barometer, only 17.5% of people around the globe said they trust their business and government leaders to solve social issues, correct issues within industries that are experiencing problems, make ethical and moral decisions, and tell the truth regardless of complexity or unpopularity. This is indicative of a world-wide trust dilemma, and coupled with a pressurised society demanding immediate value from us - we need to map a new way of standing out by offering additional value. How do you set yourself a part and authentically connect with key stakeholders, whether it is a potential employer, client or investor?

 

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Good Business Facets- Where It Stands or Falls

It is ironic how we all hope to have a good life, good body, good mind, and good spirit and be part of a good society. And yet, we are most of the times, so unwilling to honestly look in the mirror and do the needed work on ourselves to improve our body, mind and most of all, spirit. In order to be ‘good’ and experience the ‘good’, it often requires introspection and lots of hard work on the right issues. ‘Good’ does not fall out of the sky. You may have a much better chance winning a lottery. The Quester in Ecclesiastes 7: 10 advises: Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. So let us not fall into that trap. However, for perspective, looking back in history can be useful. It is important to get a sense of how our collective story unfolded over years, decades and centuries. It may help us to understand some of our predicaments in modern societies. Today, most societies are characterised by the principles of democracy and the free market. It directs the social order and culture of doing things. If in the past it were philosophies, religious doctrine, science and political ideologies that were the major elements of influence in how people led their lives, then today it is the economy and more specifically, a capitalist and free market economy.

 

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