Jodene is the co-founder of:
and founder of:
Published May 21st, 2012
The luxury Royal Palm Durban Hotel
We always like to host our #FollowSA out of town events so that we can spend the weekend in the gorgeous city and have extended time with some of our closest people we’ve connect with through Twitter. Wherever we go, it’s amazing how we realise the connection we have formed with people that were once just a Tweet.
We spend our weekend making bonds stronger and getting to know the city that we intend to visit throughout the year. It truly is Lifeology‘s intention to be at as many #FollowSA events as possible and I can’t say I’d have any issues traveling to Durban on a whim.
Growing up, I had a friend who owned a holiday home in Umdloti, so I have spend most of my life falling in love with Durbs. Time passed and eventually dear friends we made their or moved there (a certain @pixelslave10) … but then I met the love of my life.
Pat truly has the soul of a Durban boy, but more than that, his children still live there and for all his hard work in supporting #FollowSA, as the resident photographer, and for his love for me, I was thrilled that we could spend the weekend with his kids. I know his heart was torn at not being able to spend every waking moment with them, but from the moment we stepped into the hotel room at the Three Cities Royal Palm, we felt at home and it calmed all of the missing moments we wouldn’t have.
I can’t begin to thank Shamini Pather and everyone at the hotel for the most hospitable stay and for sharing our belief in the power of social media that I was afforded the time to spend in a city that grows closer into my heart as every day passes.
#FollowSA was born from the passion to unite fellow South Africans online so that we could gather offline and support each other as a community. I never expected it to grow as quickly as it has and didn’t imagine brands and community alike to be so passionate to welcome us to their cities … but they did.
I also didn’t expect to meet such a special man and share his life with two amazing children … but I am.
And when both worlds collide and I have a weekend where I couldn’t be happier with my career moves AND I feel more like a family with each visit … well there hasn’t been a greater gift in a very long time.
On behalf of Greg and myself from Lifeology, we thank everyone at the Three Cities, Royal Palm for your sponsorship that made #Howzit031 possible and on behalf of Pat and myself, we thank you for a weekend where we shared some treasured moments as a growing family.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published May 8th, 2012
The before pic next to a gorgeous MINI Roadster ... and then Pat took me for a spin!
I think we all find ourselves saying, “I should have done this ages ago.” On the other hand, I truly believe everything happens for a reason and after days of not blogging, I couldn’t wait to get through as much of the to-do list and just get here.
Just a few weeks ago I felt stuck with what to share from one day to the next and now I feel like so much has happened, I don’t know where to start.
Fast cars … that’s always a good place to begin and of course there was a great life lesson that came with racing around Kyalami race track under the full moon. I was so excited for the day to end and to climb into a sexy Mini Roadster, with my gorgeous fiance and take it for a drive. In the days that built up to the event, I imaged a semi fast (my fast) lap or two around the track and I couldn’t wait to blog about my experience. On the night, it was a very different story.
At this point I stop and thank the gods (and goddesses) for letting Pat drive first because what I got and what I thought I would get was two completely different things. Um … sexy meets speed was the theme of the mini and the only thing that wasn’t sexy about it was me screaming in the passenger seat. With a lead car in front and Pat right behind, this little car literally took me on the ride of my life. Screeching around corners, weaving through cones, flying between haystacks and she held on to the road much better than I did to the corner of the windscreen. We did have the top down, after all.
When we headed back to the pits and it was time to swap over, I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t keep up with the lead car, take those corners or have another 5 cars hot on my tale and it had nothing to do with not trusting the car. That’s what I kept smacking myself over the head about when Pat giggled like a kid because I gave him my laps too. If there was ever a time to let my hair down, take a few risks, drive fast and not care if I knocked over a cone … it would have been in Mini Roadster.
Le sigh … a part of me will always be sad that I wasn’t brave enough. It did comfort me that as the girls arrived back, they also hadn’t mustered up the courage to drive either.
The ‘project me’ lesson … well, it’s not so bad to say ‘no’ to something that you know you just aren’t ready for and I know my day will come when I can go, at my pace, in the very sexy, smooth and sophisticated Mini Roadster.
It’s not like the pace slowed down when I was out the car and all of a sudden I’m juggling 3 event, all by the 2nd June.
If I haven’t showcased myself by now and proven to people what I am capable of on social media, then I just don’t know. It’s been one pitch after another and then hurry up and wait. Instead of getting down about it, I’ve decided to keep doing what I do and giving people even more reason to wake up and realise they need Lifeology on their side where social media and events collide.
Amazingly, none of the events are as easy as the #FollowSA Tweetups we’ve organised in the past.
Now we have decided to head down to Durban for #Howzit031 and it’s no walk in the park. I’ve been fascinated at the difference in response to the Tweetups between the major cities and I’m trying to keep my chin up about Durban. Where are the people? What is the mindset? What is going to bring them to our Tweetup?
That’s it … tickets are booked and we are heading down to Durban, with some awesome sponsors, great prizes and fantastic reasons for Durban to come out and play … now I have 10 days to convince them of that.
Dashing between events and now to the Twitter Blanket Drive, where I’m officially hosting the event at Protea Hotels, Fire and Ice Melrose Arch. I’ve chosen two charities close to my heart, Nkosi’s Haven and Kitty and Puppy Haven and we need to collect 1 500 blanket by and on the night of the 26th May. I couldn’t ask for a better team to be supporting me than the GM of the hotel, Anton Gillis. I’m thrilled that my special friend, Karen Battaliou works at at the hotel because I couldn’t ask for a better co-host.
With the blankets already piling up in the window of the hotel, the offer for the Fire and Ice to buy blankets on guest’s behalf, everyone receiving milkshakes on the night … and the just the gorgeousness of the venue, I should be calm as anything … but we know that’s not me. We certainly have our work cut out for us, with events all over Jozi, so I wake up at about 4am every morning and have to figure out how to stop the chatter in my head and fall back to sleep.
What would my life be without events that I can’t announce just yet … but in the pipelines there are a whole lot of those that are taking hours to bring to life. Gosh, I can feel the adrenal rush with every word I type …
Then, just for kicks, some amazing person nominated me for the Rising Star SA awards and within a few days I’ve been notified that I’m a semi finalist, been selected and finalist and now have to sit in front of a panel of judges on the 15th May.
And then the sun begins to set on another day and I can’t wait to stop, take a breath, have dinner with my amazing man, cuddle with my kitties … and get ready for another very adventurous tomorrow!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published April 23rd, 2012
It’s amazing how I always come back to questioning (or at least having a slight panic attack) about what I know as my fundamental rules that I live by. Every once in a while I go into a phase of questioning all that I believe in and then life gives me the gift of reminding me just how stable my belief system is.
I had one of those days today. A very needed day because life’s getting exciting/crazy and the bad little voice in my head tells me that I’m going to drop the ball. Funny that, I haven’t dropped the ball yet. I remembered that thanks to a very special collaboration between Lifeology and our PR company, Black Sheep Media.
Jenn and Gabbi make such a dynamic team and are supporting Greggie and I parts of Lifeology that both of us need focus and support … marketing ourselves.
A great to start would obviously be for the Black Sheep girls to sit down with us and ask us ‘get to know you’ questions. Besides my day starting calmly, then becoming hysterically flustered because my damn laptop and stupid Blackberry don’t sync, I was ready for the challenge.
Of course I cried … you should know me by now … there’s always that one question that going to get me all chocked up and this time it was, “Who are those special relationships in your life?” With my best friend and business partner sitting with me and us both reflecting back on the unbelievable highs and lows that is our lives and the making of Lifeology … it had to be Greggie. The tears didn’t stop until I had included the unfailing support I get from my mom and the love I have found in my amazing fiance, Pat.
The questions flowed into each other and after sharing my fears, dreams, understanding of my personality and ah-ha moments that changed my life, I had another one of those life changing realisations. Reminding myself that we just remember things because we are all knowing (that’s another one of Lifeology’s lessons) I reminded myself that the greatest gift we can give ourselves in life, is knowing ourselves. Being able to answer the fundamental questions like, “When did you have that one moment in life that changed everything?”
We all have more than one. We have many. Every day there is a moment that gives us the opportunity to do something different. Those ah-ha moments are all around us, we just have to know that realising them sparks us to change and do something different in our lives. I used to ignore them too, before I discovered how powerful change and facing my fears truly was.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published April 5th, 2012
Every day I wake up and wish that I could change the story I share with you to one that’s a whole lot less financial stressful and emotionally trying because of the pressure that money issues always put on our lives. Yes, there are glimmers of income and we are sitting on so many exciting opportunities, that I know the stories are going to come soon, but in the midst of it, I could so easily fall back into the trap of sounding like a broken record and throwing in the blogging towel.
That’s the only throwing in that might … very slightly … have been up for option. There’s no part of me that nearly close to giving up the fight for my dreams or my business.
A few days ago I had a very big realisation about my blogging and how much I miss the part of me that shares the life’s lessons more than rambles on about the same old, same old events and trials of the day. That epiphany then sparked off another thought that took me to yet another huge change in my attitude towards my life and my dreams.
Greggie and I were chatting about my place in the Social Media community and what I set out to achieve in the world compared to where I am today. I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately and the word ‘thought leader’ has been the one thing that has been weighing on my mind most of all. Yes, I know I’m that, but I think the lines got very blurred about how I got to be that thought leader and find my place in the social media space.
I have to reflect back a few years because I get to my epiphany …
Greggie and I are great fans of Mike Dooley, who started Notes from the Universe. If you aren’t receiving a daily message in your inbox, then I’d change that fast, but in a nutshell, ‘The Universe’ a message every day, that keeps you focused, aware and conscious. When Mike was in South Africa, there was no way we were missing out on him and his seminar was amazing. I’ve learned that there’s always usually ONE thing that stands out and sticks with you forever and on that day Mike spoke about purely focusing on ‘happiness’.
Happiness means something different to everyone and sometimes we don’t even know what happiness means to us. We get fixated on plotting out our goals and making sure that we are following our dreams. All of those things are so effected by everyday life and things totally beyond our control. If we just focus on being happy and knowing that the road might be bumpy to get there, but we wouldn’t be doing anything else that could make us that happy, then everything seems so worth it.
Back to today …
What makes me happy? Teaching … sharing … inspiring … supporting … but mostly, giving people the opportunity to find what they can offer to the world that nobody else can. That’s all I do for myself, every day of my life and that’s how I became who I am in the social media space. Yes, the journey has been amazing and I’m now showing others how to find their uniqueness in their social media space … coz that’s what Lifeology does, but that’s not what made me who I am today.
Focusing on happy made me who I am today. Having faith in waking up and distinguishing between my fears and my happiness has kept me going when things have been the lowest of low. Sharing my ‘project me’ story, that in essence, is all about being conscious of ‘happy’ … that’s what people know me for. That’s what makes me a social influence. That’s where I set my compass when I was a little girl …
That’s my happy!
From as far back as I can remember, when all my friends where on their BMX’s and playing with dolls, my dolls were lined up in a row and I was telling them stories. Not reading them stories, telling them stories. I was teaching them life’s lessons … and I was happy. I hated school, but loved my school projects because I could do anything if I was just allowed to tell a story my way. That’s been the common thread through it all. The compass is set to happy as long as I’m showing just one person in the world that they have their ‘happy’ too … and all they have to do is set their compass.
You don’t even have to know what will make you happy, just know that what you want and deserve … happiness! Then know the difference between fighting on because nothing else will make you happy, even when the moment is sucky and you don’t feel like you feel happy at all. If you’re heart is set to ‘happy’ … you’ll know!
Trust me … you’ll know!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published March 11th, 2012
Sometimes we have to take a moment and thank ourselves at the very moment that we are thanking someone else. On another amazing milestone day, my 800th blog post, Pat and I are chilling in Sun City thanks to Chef Andrew of the Cabanas Hotel. Today we chilled and tonight we have a meeting about #FollowSA and Lifeology.
It’s far more than 800 days that got me to this point, but the ones I can count have been something worth chilling in a crystal clear pool and reflecting on.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published February 23rd, 2012
Mike Wronski studied electrical and computer engineering at UCT, and worked as a software engineer for a year before starting Fuseware. Fuseware deals with social media monitoring and analysis, and was created combining Mike’s two main passions for technology and psychology. Mike developed an interest in software development at the age of 10 and was involved in development ranging from games and 3D animations to business software and web applications. After seeing an opportunity to help companies understand what consumers think about them through social networks, Mike jumped into the deep end and started Fuseware.
On a personal note: As both Lifeology and #FollowSA grow to become a well known name in the circles of social media, it has been with much gratitude to Mike and Fuseware for helping us has stats to back up all of our hard work and effort.
Mike, you have also grown to be a good friend and your passion and support of myself, Greg and all of our ventures means the world to me. I can’t wait for both the stats and the friendship to keep getting stronger!
Mike tells his project me story:
What is your definition of happiness?
Mindfulness & appreciation for what you have
If you could have everyone say one thing to themselves every day, what would it be?
Today is the oldest I have ever been, and the youngest I will ever be
We all have that moment when we need someone to believe in us. Who is that person for you and why?
My dad, he has been an amazing pillar of support and love during the most difficult stages of my life
What quality do you believe we can never be taught because it is our birth right?
Passion
Describe the moment when you realised that you could achieve anything?
Closing a large corporate deal within only 3 months of starting my business at 23
How do you deal with the fears that could potentially hold you back?
Meditate on their opposite (e.g. instead of focusing on the fear of failure focus on love for achieving success), always keep on pushing my comfort zone until it becomes natural
What have you always dreamed of being or doing and have you reached that dream?
Owning a company that rocks an industry. I am halfway there.
When life gets in the way, what do you always remind yourself of?
The simple things that truly matter
We all have something unique to offer the world, what is yours?
An unrelenting desire to change the world
What do you believe we have lost sight of in the world as a whole?
Compassion for our fellow man
Follow Mike on Twitter
Follow Fuseware on Twitter
More about Fuseware
Read Mike’s blog: Startup CEO
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published February 21st, 2012
#FollowSA photographer and my amazing fiance @patsloanephoto overlooking Cape Town from the glass pool edge of Crystal Towers hotel
Sometimes the world’s impression of you can have shadows of misconceptions that are so well masked behind years of practice. Faking my composure and the illusion that all my ducks are in a row is slowly becoming one of my finest qualities.
This weekend past … well it was one of the biggest I’ve ever known in my career. Friday night’s #FollowSA Tweetup marked another huge step as Lifeology continues to showcase our business offering as social media campaign and event strategists. The upside was riddled with excitement and pride … the downside is that I was petrified beyond words.
#FollowSA has grown into the culture of South Africa’s Twitter community to such an extent that brands have been beyond generous with their sponsorship and my gratitude goes out to so many who have supported our Tweetups over the months.
But this one was different … when all was said and done and the last Tweet settled onto the timeline, there was no going home to our familiarity. No cats to cuddle up to and no cars to jump into when the Tweetup ended. We weren’t home … we were out of towners breaking into an unfamiliar market with few faces that we recognised in the crowd.
Then how come we felt so at home? Had that car to jump into whenever we needed it? Had the comfort? Felt the welcome?
African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel and Spa … this girl who started a blog and got some Twitter followers, then blogged some more and got more Twitter followers. This girl who is passionate about social media and a Libran who just loves to see people meet and mingle. This girl who started #FollowSA as a hashtag, turned it into a Tweetup and then another, never thought that the belief in Lifeology and #FollowSA would extend to such generous hospitality and the sponsorship that helped make our Cape Town trip possible.
Our gorgeous hotel room
Okay, so on my vision board is 5 star accommodation. There’s a chauffeur in a shiny luxury car. There’s a doorman who looks like his next stop is opening the door for Mr Trump and there are hotel room suits that I spotted in magazines and pinned into my mind as a dream destination.
Reward comes in many different packages and the hard work and commitment to my career manifested the #FollowSA event and weekend but my belief in my dreams and my worth, well that manifested the generosity of Gary Koetser and the 5 star hospitality of the African Pride Crystal Towers staff.
Being fetched right on time from the airport, welcomed with a genuine knowing of who we were, settling into a hotel that is beyond words and getting us to the #FollowSA venue once we were cleaned, preened and ready to face the Twitter crowds of Cape Town … well that sorted the nerves out. Calmly and with so much excitement we headed off to make it all happen!!
And when all the work was done Crystal Towers turned into a mini honeymoon
But there’s more to Cape Town than just a Tweetup for me. That;’s where my folks were born and a place that was so close to my dad’s heart. Every corner of the Cape reminds me of him in some little way and I’m still working through the sadness of finally finding the man of my dreams, getting engaged and not having my dad around to know him. On the other end of the scale … Pat has never been to Cape Town so every little thing was an adventure and thanks to Crystal Towers, we didn’t have to go to far Pat and I to have a moment where #FollowSA successes were celebrated and we could spend a few hours being a couple in a city so close to my heart.
When I did my stint of dabbling into the answer to what life was and how it worked, I came across a teaching that said something about not being able to have it all because there was lacking in perfection. I think that was the day I decided to come up with my own beliefs instead and this weekend, Crystal Towers, my business partnership and my fiance proved me right … we can have it all. All at one time, in one place and with perfection.
For each person it’s called something different and founds somewhere different but for me it all happened at Crystal Towers!
I always say that everything starts with a Tweet … well in my world anyway. Many Tweets ago I met Andrew Ross and the Twitter connections began and grew stronger. Thank you Andrew for showing me that the power of #FollowSA works and for being fundamental in connecting Lifeology and African Pride hotels.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published February 20th, 2012
I can’t quite explain all the emotions that I’ve experienced over the last few days that was the #FollowSA weekend in Cape Town, but I’m sure going to try.
Firstly, damn, it’s a shitload of work … um … yes that’s my chosen word to best describe what I feel like now that Greggie and I are putting the final tasks to rest on the event that took Lifeology and ~FollowSA nationwide.
Wait, before I get all mushy with the thanks to everyone who made this event possible, I do have to totally indulge in my ‘project me’ moment of surviving a weekend with my adorable fiance, Pat Sloane and my smashing business partner, Greg Arthur. Wow, but we make a freakin’ funtastic team and surprisingly, we didn’t try and kill each other nearly as much as I thought we would. I’m taking credit for that because I can see how far I’ve come at realising that we are fantastic at what we do and that these #FollowSA events are in our blood and every breath we take.
While sandwiched between these two incredible men on our flights to and from Cape Town, I had to fight back a very mushy speech and a few tears at just how lucky one girl can get. I’ve never been one to do things on my own and I revel in partnerships to make things happen. A floor in my character … not at all … I’d say it’s the smartest personality choice I made.
So now back to Cape Town and our first Tweetup outside of Joburg. I have to admit that everyone scared the hell out of me about Capetonians and I had a picture of no more than 10 of the 150 RSVP’s arriving and then them only pitching up after 9pm, when the sun had finally set. Granted … you guys do take your time arriving, but when you do, you’re one amazing crowd. With a turnout of 90 people and the Tweets overflowing the whole night through, I have a new found love for the people who were once just a Tweet.
Of course, my highlight was putting faces to the names of so many Tweeple I have been chatting to for so long. There’s a part of my personality that just wants to hug and finally get to say ‘hi’ to everyone I’ve met online and one of my Lifeology theories is that social media will never take away from our human need to just want to connect offline … that’s why #FollowSA is the success it is! It’s not just me. I watched so many people meet for the first time, after so many Tweets back and forth and the timeline was just filled with connections finally being made.
Who says something can’t be perfect? Because I had a weekend that was in every way possible and that’s thanks to the people & brands who believe in Lifeology, FollowSA and Greg and myself. We know this will be the first of many Tweetups in Cape Town and a stepping stone to the rest of South Africa … and it’s thanks to you:
Travel.co.za for being our flight partner and Protea Hotels, Fire and Ice for being such gracious hosts and catering.
To Emmanuel Castis for your talent and generosity and for always supporting #FollowSA. The crowd adores you and so do we.
Lovoka, you have become a brand that seems to truly get around at a #FollowSA event and we are so grateful for your generous sponsorship once again.
Thank you for your passion and support and for sponsoring a prize our new friend, Irit Noble.
To the technical sponsors Audio Sure and CCPP Professional Productions for bringing the event together with much needed equipment.
Many thanks to the amazing prize givers: Lovoka, News Now Mag, Hout Bay Manor, Morgenster, Irit Noble and Bella Rouge. There prizes are always the highlight of the event and show the true power of Twitter and brand awareness, so thank you for having faith in #FollowSA to bring exposure to your brand through our events.
To the special people, Grant, Karen, Liam and Mitch who gave so generously of your time … I’m so very grateful!
Here are all the pics of the event: #FollowSA #HowzitCPT
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published February 16th, 2012
It’s been a crazy day even though I’ve been sitting in one spot for most of it.
I can’t believe that tomorrow is it … we’re flying to Cape Town for an event that I only dreamed of. Wait, I don’t think I even had this in my game plan at all, but it sure fits like a glove.
Yesterday Greggie and I were looking at the first time I mentioned #FollowSA in a blog post and that was in June last year. Lifeology then grabbed the excitement that everyone showed for the hashtag and created our first event on the 30th of August. Excitement bubbled over until the talks began with Travel.co.za for a Tweetup in Cape Town.
I remember putting it out there and not holding my breath for much of a response, but that wasn’t the case at all. Everyone in the Mother City seemed just as excited as the Joburg crowd to have a Tweetup.
And so the planning began.
Every step of the way, Talitha Spykerman and Darren Napier have been the most amazing support and Travel.co.za have been just as enthusiastic about the event as Greggie, Pat and myself who are traveling down.
The day is still a little mad, with a whole lot of last minute loose ends to tie up, and that’s a post I’m going to write in the air tomorrow as we my make our trip down. In the meantime I still have my aunt coming for dinner to meet Pat, a whole lot of packing to do and … a stage to find at this short hour for tomorrow’s event!
Gulp … but at least we know we’re getting there!!
T and Darren I’m so going to miss you tomorrow night and thank you for the most amazing support and belief in #FollowSA. I hope this event knocks the sock of everyone in Cape Town and it’s the first of many exciting ventures we have together. You are amazing travel partners who are helping #FollowSA take an unbelievable step in going nationwide!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published February 8th, 2012
I’ve had one of those days. The kind where staying in bed and doing as little as possible is all that the body and mind seems to want to do.
Pat left for his first photography gig out of town and I’m stoked for him … such a proud fiance … but that left me feeling a little sad. It’s two nights of sleeping alone when we are that mushy couple that has at least a toe touching all night long.
I thought it would pass and I would finally get going once he was packed and off, but the engine just never kicked in.
Greggie arrived and I was about halfway dressed, while I searched for my personality in my makeup drawer.
Despite a super exciting meeting and more possibilities flying our way, a part of me just didn’t want to work today. I’m that girl who believes that everything happens for a reason, and I still believe that’s true. On the other side of the coin though, I have to stop spending my life trying to outsmart the universe (knowing that we are the universe) and not try figure out the reason why all the time.
A comfie lunch at our home away from home, La Vie en Rose was needed and when I was there I couldn’t hide my need to just not get back to reality. In a nutshell … I didn’t want to work today. We lunched, we chatted, we contemplated, we ate ice cream. Magically the ice cream did make me feel better. I’m sure it had something to do with the secret La Vie en Rose recipes that go into everything. Um … I still just didn’t want to work.
It ruffled my feathers that there’s so much to do, I’m a recovering workaholic and I had a day of just plain not wanting to.
Then one of my favourite songs crept into my head, “Mamma told me there’d be days like this!” and everything slowly started to settle. It’s okay to have a totally unexplained day of no enthusiasm and it’s not an indication that I’ve lost my life purpose, am afraid of hard work or can’t survive without my man. There’s just a blah day.
Amazingly, in the blahness, Lifeology still managed to get great sponsorship for the upcoming Cape Town #FollowSA event, had some great ideas and is working on a logo revamp. That’s not too bad for feeling like a popped balloon.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
