Is Your Business Causing You Stress?…..You are not Alone!

If you get that “Monday morning feeling” on Friday night and wonder how Christmas crept up on you so quickly-afterall, wasn’t October the last time you looked? Then chances are that you are well and trully stressed. And if you notice these signs, then you can take solace in the fact that you are not alone.

Easter is approaching, it is a tough period for businesses with year ending 31st March. It is a period not only for preparing accounts but also to review and reflect on the performance of the business. For christians such as myself, it is also a period to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are some common sense steps that business owners can take to help ease pressure and perhaps attempt to approach Easter stress-free. To fellow Accountants and economists these may seem obvious but I have resisted the temptation to assume the same applies to everyone.

One of the things to do is to look at overheads. These past couple of years have not been the easiest in the recent times and the temptation for most businesses is to prune costs when really you should be eliminating them. Take a look at the existing budgets, bolt-on services and the way management is layered. Dont fix what aint broke, but you can be assured that there is always something there for profitable repair.

Your business actions should reflect the fact that the foundation for a successful growth is keeping overheads low while increasing turnover and profitability. You have to know what is superfluous to requirements and deal with it effectively.

Easing business pressure may involve cutting budgets. This is painful, but if your growth is being restricted then it is essential. You have to be ruthless sometimes. Too many companies rely on received wisdom for planning and accept habitual expenditure without asking “why?” It is always essential in business to challenge received wisdom which most often than not is not practicle but only serves as a guide.

It also essential to give fresh focus to realistic financial reporting, no matter how it hurts. Alot of companies fold-up for non-compliance with financial reporting guidelines. The only way to run a profitable business is through the accurate understanding and application of relevant financial dynamics.

Looking at cashflows, cashflow projections and forecasts and establishing the best way to fund a business forms an integral part of success. The importance of invoice finance in helping overcome cashflow difficulties cannot be underestimated. This reduces financing costs if the business is forced to take a loan inorder to finance its activities.

Finally, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Holidays are as important and essential for easing pressure as they are for giving you the distance and perspective to help and reflect on solutions to your business problems. Our own Lake Malawi provides just the fresh air, the breeze everybody needs to refresh and stimulate the mind. Exercise by working out in a gym or get engaged in any sport.

With water-tight resolve and direction, a strategically-focused product or service offering sound financial controls and strong degree of motivation, there is little reason why Easter cannot be a good and stress-free period for us all. Happy Easter!!!!

national bank of malawi poor online service

Chidanti,

Do Malawians really have to pay K400 per month for the online service to the bank? Koma abale ma bank kuba!!!! Where is their Corporate Social Responsibility? While most banks are encouraging this paper free service as a “Green” innitiative, its sad that our banks do not want to cut on unnecessary paper work by imposing prohibitive charges.The bank needs customers to use the online service more than customers themselves need the service. It reduces customers waiting time which reflects well on the bank. Reduces labour costs in the long-term whilst keeping stationery costs to a minimum, amongst other benefits. Therefore they should bear the cost than push it to non-suspecting customers. Now, when you look at this charge, 1,000 customers who use the online service for instance are paying the Bank K4.8m (four million and eight hundred thousand kwacha per year). This is fraud wrapped in technology offered by the banks.The Malawi government through its regulatory Authorities (Ministry of Finance and Reserve bank) is quiet over this fraudulent practice. Surely, the Banks are paying very little, if anything to the government in form of taxes as they claim capital allowances on some assets including computers which are imported duty free at the moment unless of course if things have changed since I have been outside the country.The worst is that despite all these high charges, poor Malawians still have to pay bank charges every month to keep the account going because they have no alternative. Surely, we all know how easier banking has become with the advent of computer technologies. While in the past the transactions were done manually, resulting in more work for bankers, the same is not true nowadays and yet banks used to charge ledger fees for current accounts. We know the banks have a justification for all these fees but surely, for a poor country like Malawi, we should not be exploited beyond the normal levels. When it comes to paying interests the banks do not pay anything while they keep their lending rates at an abnormal high.As long as these practices go unchecked the issue of economic liberation does not and will not make any sense to poor Malawians who have no alternatives to these exploitative tendencies. Surely we cannot continue to subsidize operations of the banks while at the same time they use our money to make more profits for themselves.

George

chidanti wrote:

Sometimes customers are asked to spend more by picking a phone and call the bank which sends statements through the email. am sure the systems admin knows that emails are not the safest way to send sensitive documents like bank statements in this world of hackers. as for today, it is completely not possible to access even the non updated statements. chikhalilecho they are chargging us K400 per month for the service, which service? tell us whats wrong, is it fire like celtel?to say nothing on the poorly designed website with very user unfriendly links.

chidanti.

BBC’s Documentary on The Great Global Warming Swindle

Scientists do not seem to agree on the concept of Global warming according to the documentary found on google video. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9005566792811497638&q=global%2Bwarming%2Bswindle Allegedly, global warming is being viewed as political campaign than a scientific fact of substance.It is a story of censureship and intimidation to hinder industrial development in the developing world. People are taxed heavily for driving 4 by 4 cars in the UK as they are high CO2 emission cars. The question that comes to mind is, are our sciencists great liars? Its either that or are just a bunch of confused people. First it was the story of pluto changing its planetary status. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5282440.stm . Matter of fact, the scientists came with the arbitrary decision at a meeting in Prague that pluto is non-existent. Now its issues about Global Warming!!! I hate to think that most of the things I worked so hard to learn in my primary school science class may turn out to be untrue afterall. Global warming is shifting developed nations attention from moral issues such HIV/Aids and world peace. Matter of fact most organisation see it as an opportunity to make more money by partipating in Green innitiatives. The bank of America for instance, the No. 2 U.S. bank by assets after Citigroup, announced a 10-year, $20 billion initiative to fight global warming with an array of environmentally friendly projects and products, according to The Wall Street Journal.

It promised to spend $18 billion encouraging business customers to develop green technologies. It also promised to launch the capability to trade carbon-emissions credits in order to enable clients to achieve carbon-emission neutrality. The bank will also develop several consumer products in the next year, including a credit card that, when used, will trigger spending by the bank on projects that cut greenhouse-gas emissions. Many listed companies recognise that it’s actually much easier being green than fighting a groundswell of public worry about global warming.The word “green,” while it’s still relevant, is no longer the main driver of many decisions to become more environmentally friendly. It’s just smart business for them.

BBC’s Documentary on The Great Global Warming Swindle

Scientists do not seem to agree on the concept of Global warming according to the documentary found on google video. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9005566792811497638&q=global%2Bwarming%2Bswindle Allegedly, global warming is being viewed as political campaign than a scientific fact of substance.It is a story of censureship and intimidation to hinder industrial development in the developing world. People are taxed heavily for driving 4 by 4 cars in the UK as they are high CO2 emission cars. The question that comes to mind is, are our sciencists great liars? Its either that or are just a bunch of confused people. First it was the story of pluto changing its planetary status. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5282440.stm . Matter of fact, the scientists came with the arbitrary decision at a meeting in Prague that pluto is non-existent. Now its issues about Global Warming!!! I hate to think that most of the things I worked so hard to learn in my primary school science class may turn out to be untrue afterall. Global warming is shifting developed nations attention from moral issues such HIV/Aids and world peace. Matter of fact most organisation see it as an opportunity to make more money by partipating in Green innitiatives. The bank of America for instance, the No. 2 U.S. bank by assets after Citigroup, announced a 10-year, $20 billion initiative to fight global warming with an array of environmentally friendly projects and products, according to The Wall Street Journal.

It promised to spend $18 billion encouraging business customers to develop green technologies. It also promised to launch the capability to trade carbon-emissions credits in order to enable clients to achieve carbon-emission neutrality. The bank will also develop several consumer products in the next year, including a credit card that, when used, will trigger spending by the bank on projects that cut greenhouse-gas emissions. Many listed companies recognise that it’s actually much easier being green than fighting a groundswell of public worry about global warming.The word “green,” while it’s still relevant, is no longer the main driver of many decisions to become more environmentally friendly. It’s just smart business for them.

BBC’s Documentary on The Great Global Warming Swindle

Scientists do not seem to agree on the concept of Global warming according to the documentary found on google video. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9005566792811497638&q=global%2Bwarming%2Bswindle Allegedly, global warming is being viewed as political campaign than a scientific fact of substance.It is a story of censureship and intimidation to hinder industrial development in the developing world. People are taxed heavily for driving 4 by 4 cars in the UK as they are high CO2 emission cars. The question that comes to mind is, are our sciencists great liars? Its either that or are just a bunch of confused people. First it was the story of pluto changing its planetary status. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5282440.stm . Matter of fact, the scientists came with the arbitrary decision at a meeting in Prague that pluto is non-existent. Now its issues about Global Warming!!! I hate to think that most of the things I worked so hard to learn in my primary school science class may turn out to be untrue afterall. Global warming is shifting developed nations attention from moral issues such HIV/Aids and world peace. Matter of fact most organisation see it as an opportunity to make more money by partipating in Green innitiatives. The bank of America for instance, the No. 2 U.S. bank by assets after Citigroup, announced a 10-year, $20 billion initiative to fight global warming with an array of environmentally friendly projects and products, according to The Wall Street Journal.

It promised to spend $18 billion encouraging business customers to develop green technologies. It also promised to launch the capability to trade carbon-emissions credits in order to enable clients to achieve carbon-emission neutrality. The bank will also develop several consumer products in the next year, including a credit card that, when used, will trigger spending by the bank on projects that cut greenhouse-gas emissions. Many listed companies recognise that it’s actually much easier being green than fighting a groundswell of public worry about global warming.The word “green,” while it’s still relevant, is no longer the main driver of many decisions to become more environmentally friendly. It’s just smart business for them.

Madonna’s orphan care innitiative in Malawi

Madonna’s orphan care innitiative has fast become popular and it appears alot of groundwork has been carried out already through raising malawi http://raisingmalawi.org It is pretty clear that Madonna is determined in her resolve to invest her massive fortune in Malawi’s orphanages. Whether for good or bad reasons is another matter. Would she be intending to spread the Kabballah faith in Malawi? It is rumoured that some Malawian fellas have already been to the United States for training in the Kabballah faith, they are working and actively involved in missionary work in Malawi as I write. A classmate I met whilst studying in London is one of them. And surely targetting children through the establishment of orphanages seems a pretty good strategy in the long-term.

Madonna’s orphan care innitiative in Malawi

Madonna’s orphan care innitiative has fast become popular and it appears alot of groundwork has been carried out already through raising malawi http://raisingmalawi.org It is pretty clear that Madonna is determined in her resolve to invest her massive fortune in Malawi’s orphanages. Whether for good or bad reasons is another matter. Would she be intending to spread the Kabballah faith in Malawi? It is rumoured that some Malawian fellas have already been to the United States for training in the Kabballah faith, they are working and actively involved in missionary work in Malawi as I write. A classmate I met whilst studying in London is one of them. And surely targetting children through the establishment of orphanages seems a pretty good strategy in the long-term.

Madonna’s orphan care innitiative in Malawi

Madonna’s orphan care innitiative has fast become popular and it appears alot of groundwork has been carried out already through raising malawi http://raisingmalawi.org It is pretty clear that Madonna is determined in her resolve to invest her massive fortune in Malawi’s orphanages. Whether for good or bad reasons is another matter. Would she be intending to spread the Kabballah faith in Malawi? It is rumoured that some Malawian fellas have already been to the United States for training in the Kabballah faith, they are working and actively involved in missionary work in Malawi as I write. A classmate I met whilst studying in London is one of them. And surely targetting children through the establishment of orphanages seems a pretty good strategy in the long-term.

Debt Cancellation is a Commercial Activity by the West

When America and European countries do business with each other, it is called: BUSINESS. And when America and European countries do business with Africa it is called CHARITY/AID or HELP. No wonder Africa is poor! No continent in the world is willing to do business with Africa. Does Africa stand alone in its struggle for economic liberation? and if it does, may I ask why? Didn’t the first Europeans that came to Africa find the Africans doing business with each other? They found a generation consisting of huge states, well organized to the smallest detail, with mighty regents, wealthy trade people, dressed in silk and velvet and civilized into the marrow.

There have been books written and destroyed about Africa so that modern man may not grasp the truth about Africa. We will never know the truth, will we? While Bush and Blair’s plan concerning debt cancellation is going according to the NGOs and charity/aid organizations, the Africans and other countries hit by debt, aid/charity and help solutions that have exacerbated poverty problems in Africa’s societies, have had very little to say. When told about the Washington and Europe’s plans about Africa, the Africans get very upset. We have always taken care of ourselves none of those rich nations have done anything for us, why should they continue saying they are helping us, what kind of insults are these? This is rough alright. Rough and unpleasant. So why do Western and European countries strive so much to help a continent that has been plundered, abused, wrecked, humiliated, lied to, and oppressed beyond control? Why all this help? What does it mean? To those that have eyes to see and are able to read the fine print, it simply means CONTROL. Slavery ended, and it was replaced by colonialism. Colonialism ended and it was replaced by Charity/Aid and Help organizations. When things are turning around and when help organizations should be ending their manipulative strategies/stratagems against Africa, a deeper cry is made to all four corners of the world (except for Africa) to erase the debt.The big question that should be asked is why has London and Washington turned to forgiving the debt in a time when industrialized nation’s economists are on their knees looking for a solution to end their financial crisis. In 2005, I witnessed the closure of Rover MG, a car manufacturing company based in the West Midlands (Birmingham where I live),because the British economy under Tony Blair could not sustain it. A due diligence report saved a Chinese company Shanghai from buying this loss making company at the eleventh minute as the deal was just about to be concluded. As I write, most of UK manufacturing companies are operating off-shore with view to cutting operating costs with China being viewed as a safe haven for Cheap labour. Most of the UK call centres operate in Mumbai India for the same reason as above, a move which has opened a barrage of criticism from clients of major UK banks as language problem is resulting into poor service.Isnt that exploitation?

Madonna,U2’s Bono ,Sir Bob Geldof and some pop stars, and other bad boys in Hollywood have again turned to Africa as their solution to solve the industrialized financial crises. Knowing African countries have been the main donors and the sustainers of the world economies and have enriched the industrialized nations, everyone else thinks it is time to use Africa again. The lenders are starting afresh. How do we know this? On June 09th 2005, the New York Times reporters Elizabeth Becker and Richard W. Stevenson wrote in an article titled: “U.S. and Britain Agree on Relief for Poor Nations. The article read, “The debts will be written off by the lenders in an effort to allow the debtor countries to start afresh, get their books in order and eventually be able to borrow again for economic development, health, education and social programs, rather than simply to repay existing loans.” We all know that these economic development, health, education and social programs are the famous MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS FORCED UPON AFRICA. These goals have nothing to do with Africa’s development neither are they in best interest of the African people. The African governments will be forced to have the debt erased and forced to take new loans on conditions that they follow the MDGs, which are cosmetic solutions to deepen Africa’s problems. Unlike China, it seems there are no other ways of how to run business. To the industrialized nations, there is only one solution. Just as Africa bailed the poor rich countries out of financial crisis in the 70s Africa is about to be used again, through debt cancellation this time. The NGOS and all other help and charity organizations including the Oxfam are overjoyed by this move, and say it comes at the right time. Right time? When the western economy is very bad? Trade balances won’t balance. European countries are falling away from each other, western and European firms are moving to China, worsening local businesses. So who is going to fix the trade balances and how? Looking up to China and trying to force the Chinese to strengthen their currency won’t help. The lesson to learn from China is that the Chinese accumulate very cheap resources from Africa and other countries around the world, why should they sell their products expensively? It is with this thought in mind that the western world is trying to compete with the Chinese at acquiring the resources much needed in their industries in order to cut on Chinese dependence. This act alone is theft. Africa still remains to be the world’s largest producer of the most important and needed resources. Gold, silver, diamonds, precious minerals that are used in the production of mobile phones and musical instruments, copper, livestock, herbs, plants, cotton, tobacco, tea, cocoa, sugar, fruits, vegetables, grains, name it. This includes Africa’s human resources. All these are exported in the name of debt and charity/aid. Thus the world citizens cannot do without Africa’s resources. In the recent past we have seen some European countries growing sugar and tobacco but their production capacity cannot meet the demands of their countries. The European countries have put up stringent measures in the agriculture and economic sectors so that Africans can produce their own goods for local consumption and they continue to claim that African agricultural goods do not meet export quality. The Malawian Tobacco industry is facing this problem where buyers dictate tobacco prices claiming that the quality of tobacco leaves does not meet the expected standards. So in the hope to save both American and the European economies, a battle for debt cancellation has been taken seriously. It is not time to concentrate on preaching about debt cancellation, it is time to concentrate on saving the industrialized nations’ economies that are in total disarray. Thus instead of the rich countries saying they are saving their own economies, they turn around and say they are saving Africa’s economies. How are they going to do this when they have worsened Africa’s economies? Africa debt cancellation will lead to the clean lawful silent apartheid systems of the 40s and 50s. During this period, Africans were treated like animals, while foreigners lived like kings and queens. Instead of writing with pencils and pens, pupils and students will return to writing on the sand with their fingers, deaths will triple. True debt cancellation would be seen in reality. So debt cancellation will leave Africa in deeper problems, while it will sustain the creators and controllers who have a greater need to control others through help organizations. And how can this debt cancellation uphold free trade in Africa. Isn’t China practicing free trade, but how come the US and the Europeans are against China’s free trade, yet they want Africa to practice free trade? Where is debt cancellation in all this? Debt cancellation would be plausible if Western countries gave the African countries all/most of their assets back, these include Forestry, Water, Agriculture, Local industries Education, Health, Fishing industries, Communication, Stop free trade businesses, high tariffs, give the local people access to job creation etc.Debt cancellation should mean job creation. Debt cancellation should mean doing away with charity organizations, and letting the Africans take care of themselves as they always have. Africa is going to bail the poorest wealthiest nations out of their economic crises again. The IMF and the World Bank are aware that many nations and western business houses don’t trust them, and many have boycotted their bonds, so why would any sensible person buy their gold today? One interesting question that any scholar would want to ask is, why are all charity organizations happy about this move? Charity organizations are happy because they put their money where their mouths are. Mind you while the whole world including bad boys like Bono ,Bob Geldof etc, have been advertising in the kitchen on how to help Africa, the Africans don’t know much about this. This very message has been kept away from the Africans. Knowing that the Africans as the world’s richest donor that sustains world poor powerful nations who want to control Africa’s natural and human resources would laugh at them asking what are you helping? The sad reality however, is that African leaders are too kin to accept this charity because they are the main beneficiaries as opposed to the people they serve. Charity is viewed as a morning star, anouncing their time for wealth accumulation and not wealth creation for the benefit of their people.