Category: Book club

Grounded African is 1 year old!!!

I cannot believe that it has been a year since I took the plunge and started my blog.  Every word written has been a joy (published and unpublished).  I had a look at my stats the other day and was floored at how inactive I have been.  I will have to remedy that ASAP 🙂 I must also say thank you to all of you for your support, your encouragement and feedback.   You have made a huge impact in my world 🙂

The past year has been quite a journey.  With tons of research on blogging, SEO and the like under my belt, I feel like I am ready to take it to the next level.  This new digital world is so fascinating.  Besides,“A goal without a plan is just a wish”.  according to Antoine de Saint-Exupery.  A plan needs action to reach that goal so enough reading and planning and time to start doing.

I have also had a few queries about blogging and how to go about it so  I thought I would share some of the learnings I have had  over the past year.

Blogging is a cool place to start getting your feet wet in the world of writing.  If you are still trying to find your voice, this is a good place to start.  I have found WordPress quite easy to use but it can be quite limiting if you are not looking to spend too much money on your blog right now.  If you don’t want to be limited, then it is best to find a host and use the wordpress software to create your blog.  It does come at a price though.

Blogs are not the only place online to practice your writing.  I have enjoyed writing on Quora and Medium as well.  You can follow me on these sites as well. No matter where you write though, if you are looking to grow a following, you need to write fairly often (no less than once a week) and interact with other writers and readers on the sites.

There are lots of writers and books out there that are worth getting your hands on.  The ones i have found most useful are:

  • On Writing by Stephen King  (a great autobiography and loads of writing tips)
  • The Elements of Style by William Stunk jr (highly recommended by Stephen King)
  • You are a writer by Jeff Goins
  • Starting a successful blog by Gundi Gabrielle  A very useful book. In fact her entire beginner marketing series is full of handy tips and tricks.  She also has a proven method of achieving “number 1 seller” status as a self publisher on Amazon.  All her books have achieved that status if I am not mistaken.

There are a few more that I have read as well but I found these to be most helpful.  By the way, a lot of good books are found on Amazon.  Don’t despair if you don’t have a kindle.  You can simply download that app on your phone or tablet and read your books on there.

The most important lesson I have learned is to devise a schedule and stick to it in order to be consistent.

There is definitely loads more to learn but, like I said earlier, it’s time to start doing.   I’ll learn as I go.  Looking forward to another year of writing and sharing my world and the lessons that come with living in it.  Thanks again for your support.

5 books that have had a positive impact on my life

Hi All,

Those of you that know me, know that reading is one of my favourite pleasures in this world. For the first 20 odd years of my life, I got lost in fiction.  Through conversations at work, attending training courses and the internet, I became aware of non-fiction books and their power to help me grow and learn.  I am a Philomath (lover of learning and studying…some higher grade english …lol) so these books have proven to be right up my alley!   Today I want to share with you a few that I have found helpful on my journey thus far.

1. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
This book was first published in 1937.  The lessons still apply today.  In it, Napoleon Hill shares 13 “steps to riches” that he devised based on his observations of some of the wealthiest people of his time as well as interviews he had with them.   Key messages from this book were that your thoughts play a vital role in your success and that hard work alone will not get you there.
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2. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Reading this book was such an eye opener for me.  I excelled in basic accounting until grade 9 but I never truly understood the definition of an asset until I read this book. You will change your understanding of wealth creation once you have read this.

3. Suze Orman’s Financial Guidebook.  Put the 9 steps to work by Suze Orman

After reading this I was able to get myself out of debt within a year. I kid you not! While Rich Dad Poor Dad teaches you about the bigger picture, this book will teach you the nitty-gritty of budgeting. How to plan your financial portfolio.  You will also learn how to treat money with respect. You will understand where your money habits originate from and acquire the tools to change them. The most important message for me was, once again, how powerful our thoughts are and how they determine our success or failure in this life.  I don’t think the South African version is in print anymore, unfortunately.  You can still use the American version as it is not largely different.

4. A year of Miracles by Marianne Williamson

Food for your soul. That’s the best way I can describe it. Each day you work through a reflection and, approximately once a week, a devotion. This book helps you view the world through the eyes of love so that you send positivity out and find peace within.

5. Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking by Allen Carr

I picked this book up at the airport and held onto it for about a month before I was ready to open it.  To be honest, I didn’t think it would work.  I could not imagine life without cigarettes! I did want to give up smoking however, I wasn’t fully committed to the idea when I opened the book.  I was definitely 90% of the way there though.  I started reading it on a Friday night.  At around 1 pm on Saturday, I smoked my last cigarette.  That was 4 years 5 months ago.  I do still miss the ritual of smoking,  however, I have no regrets about giving it up.  Overcoming addiction of any kind is no easy task but it is possible once you decide to do it.  I wish you all the best if this is your challenge to yourself.  You can do it!

There are so many more books that have touched my life and many more that wait in the queue on my bookshelf :-).  I will continue to share them with you as we go along on our journey together.  I would also love to hear about the books that have touched your life in some way.   They don’t have to be non-fiction books as fictional books are capable of touching us as well.  The Alchemist by Paulo Colelho comes to mind.   Feel free to share your book list in the comments section.  I look forward to learning from you!

Please like, follow and share if you enjoyed this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Bye for now 🙂