Required Branch Manager in Tanzania (Africa)

Company Type:  Wholesale Distribution network for FMCG and Cosmetics

Qualification: Graduate with English, Computer literate and Good Communications skills

Experience:  Minimum 5 years in the field of sales management. Experience in the field of FMCG will be preferred.

Duties & responsibilities:

      Research & Build relationships with new clients

      Assess local market conditions, identify current and prospective sales opportunities

      Develop forecasts and business plans

      Locate arrears of improvement and propose corrective actions that meet challenges and leverage growth opportunities.

      Setup meetings with client’s and company’s Managers

      Plan, Approach & Work with team to develop proposals that speaks to the client’s needs concerns and objectives.

      Present new products and enhance existing relationships

      Submit weekly progress reports and ensure data is accurate

      Forecast sales targets and ensure they are met.

      Understand the company’s goal and purpose in order to enhance the company’s performance.

      Creative skills, ready to drive sales team and distribution every day.

      Reaching budgets in time with set targets and available resources.

Send Your CV at vacancy@aerizogroup.com

-Aerizo Group

http://www.aerizogroup.com/

Make Your Every Day More Productive

The right morning routine can make your day, every day. The trick is to be intentional about your mornings, understanding that a.m. hours are precious and should be handled with care. As the day goes on, we have increased difficulty exerting self-control and focusing on our work. As self-control wears out, we feel tired and find tasks to be more difficult and our mood sours. This exhaustion of self-control kills your productivity, and it makes the morning hours, when self-control is highest, the most important hours of the day.

 

"For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something." – Steve Jobs

 

Here are some powerful tips that will help you transform your morning routine and set a positive tone that lasts the entire day:

 

    Start with exercise

Researchers at the University of Bristol found that people who exercise during the workday have more energy and a more positive outlook, which are both critical to getting things done. Getting your body moving for as little as 10 minutes releases GABA, a neurotransmitter that makes your brain feel soothed and keeps you in control of your impulses. Exercising first thing in the morning ensures that you'll have the time for it, and it improves your self-control and energy levels all day long.

 

    But drink some lemon water first

Drinking lemon water as soon as you wake up spikes your energy levels physically and mentally. Lemon water gives you steady, natural energy that lasts the length of the day by improving nutrient absorption in your stomach. You need to drink it first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach) to ensure full absorption. You should also wait 15-30 minutes after drinking it before eating (perfect time to squeeze in some exercise). Lemons are packed with nutrients; they're chock full of potassium, vitamin C, and antioxidants. If you're less than 150 pounds, drink the juice of half a lemon (a full lemon if you're over 150 pounds). Don't drink the juice without water because it's hard on your teeth.

 

    No screen time until breakfast

When you dive straight into e-mails, texts, and Facebook, you lose focus and your morning succumbs to the wants and needs of other people. It's much healthier to take those precious first moments of the day to do something relaxing that sets a calm, positive tone for your day. Jumping right into electronics has the opposite effect—it's a frantic way to start your day. Exercising, meditating, or even watching the birds out the window are all great ways to start the day.

 

    Eat a real breakfast

Eating anything at all for breakfast puts you ahead of a lot of people. People who eat breakfast are less likely to be obese, they have more stable blood-sugar levels, and they tend to be less hungry over the course of the day. And these are just the statistics for people who eat any breakfast. When you eat a healthy breakfast, the doors to a productive day swing wide open. A healthy breakfast gives you energy, improves your short-term memory, and helps you to concentrate more intensely and for longer periods.

 

    Set goals for the day

Research shows that having concrete goals is correlated with huge increases in confidence and feelings of control. Setting goals specific to the day puts everything into motion. Narrow your goals down to a few achievable ones that can easily be broken down into steps. Vague goals such as "I want to finish writing my article" are counter-productive because they fail to include the "how" of things. The same goal re-phrased in a more functional way would read something like this: "I am going to finish my article by writing each of the three sections, spending no more than an hour on each section." Now, you have more than simply something you want to achieve—you have a way to achieve it.

Smart People Never Make These 10 Mistakes

Everybody makes mistakes—that's a given—but not everyone learns from them. Some people make the same mistakes over and over again, fail to make any real progress, and can't figure out why.

"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them." – Bruce Lee

When we make mistakes, it can be hard to admit them because doing so feels like an attack on our self-worth. This tendency poses a huge problem because new research proves something that commonsense has told us for a very long time—fully acknowledging and embracing errors is the only way to avoid repeating them.

Those with a growth mind-set land on their feet because they acknowledge their mistakes and use them to get better. Those with a fixed mind-set are bound to repeat their mistakes because they try their best to ignore them. Smart, successful people are by no means immune to making mistakes; they simply have the tools in place to learn from their errors. In other words, they recognize the roots of their mix-ups quickly and never make the same mistake twice.

When you repeat a mistake it is not a mistake anymore: it is a decision." – Paulo Coelho

Some mistakes are so tempting that we all make them at one point or another. Smart people learn from these mistakes and never make them twice.

1. Believing in someone or something that's too good to be true

Some people are so charismatic and so confident that it can be tempting to follow anything they say. They speak endlessly of how successful their businesses are, how well liked they are, who they know, and how many opportunities they can offer you. While it's, of course, true that some people really are successful and really want to help you, smart people only need to be tricked once before they start to think twice about a deal that sounds too good to be true. The results of naivety and a lack of due diligence can be catastrophic. Smart people ask serious questions before getting involved because they realize that no one, themselves included, are as good as they look.

2. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result

Albert Einstein said that insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Despite his popularity and cutting insight, there are a lot of people who seem determined that two plus two will eventually equal five. Smart people, on the other hand, need only experience this frustration once. The fact is simple: if you keep the same approach, you'll keep getting the same results, no matter how much you hope for the opposite. Smart people know that if they want a different result, they need to change their approach, even when it's painful to do so.

3. Failing to delay gratification

We live in a world where books instantly appear on our e-readers, news travels far and wide, and just about anything can show up at our doorsteps in as little as a day. Smart people know that gratification doesn't come quickly and hard work comes long before the reward. They also know how to use this as motivation through every step of the arduous process that amounts to success because they've felt the pain and disappointment that come with selling themselves short.

4. Operating without a budget

You can't experience financial freedom until you operate under the constraint of a budget. Sticking to a budget, personally and professionally, forces us to make thoughtful choices about what we want and need. Smart people only have to face that insurmountable pile of bills once before getting their act together, starting with a thorough reckoning as to where their money is going. They realize that once you understand how much you're spending and what you're spending it on, the right choices become clear. A morning latte is a lot less tempting when you're aware of the cost: $1,000 on average per year. Having a budget isn't only about making sure that you have enough to pay the bills; smart people know that making and sticking to a strict budget means never having to pass up an opportunity because they've blown their precious capital on discretionary expenditures. Budgets establish discipline, and discipline is the foundation of quality work.

5. Losing sight of the big picture

It's so easy to become head-down busy, working so hard on what's right in front of you that you lose sight of the big picture. But smart people learn how to keep this in check by weighing their daily priorities against a carefully calculated goal. It's not that they don't care about small-scale work, they just have the discipline and perspective to adjust their course as necessary. Life is all about the big picture, and when you lose sight of it, everything suffers.

6. Not doing your homework

Everybody's taken a shortcut at some point, whether it was copying a friend's biology assignment or strolling into an important meeting unprepared. Smart people realize that while they may occasionally get lucky, that approach will hold them back from achieving their full potential. They don't take chances, and they understand that there's no substitute for hard work and due diligence. They know that if they don't do their homework, they'll never learn anything? And that's a sure-fire way to bring your career to a screeching halt.

7. Trying to be someone you're not

It's tempting to try to please people by being who they want you to be, but no one likes a fake, and trying to be someone you're never ends well. Smart people figure that out the first time they get called out for being a phony, forget their lines, or drop out of character. Other people never seem to realize that everyone else can see right through their act. They don't recognize the relationships they've damaged, the jobs they've lost, and the opportunities they've missed as a result of trying to be someone they're not. Smart people, on the other hand, make that connection right away and realize that happiness and success demand authenticity.

8. Trying to please everyone

Almost everyone makes this mistake at some point, but smart people realize quickly that it's simply impossible to please everybody and trying to please everyone pleases no one. Smart people know that in order to be effective, you have to develop the courage to call the shots and to make the choices that you feel are right (not the choices that everyone will like).

9. Playing the victim

News reports and our social media feeds are filled with stories of people who seem to get ahead by playing the victim. Smart people may try it once, but they realize quickly that it's a form of manipulation and that any benefits will come to a screeching halt as soon as people see that it's a game. But there's a more subtle aspect of this strategy that only truly smart people grasp: to play the victim, you have to give up your power, and you can't put a price on that.

10. Trying to change someone

The only way that people change is through the desire and wherewithal to change them. Still, it's tempting to try to change someone who doesn't want to change, as if your sheer will and desire for them to improve will change them (as it has you). Some even actively choose people with problems, thinking that they can "fix" them. Smart people may make that mistake once, but then they realize that they'll never be able to change anyone but themselves. Instead, they build their lives around genuine, positive people and work to avoid problematic people that bring them down.

Bringing it all together

Emotionally intelligent people are successful because they never stop learning. They learn from their mistakes, they learn from their successes, and they're always changing themselves for the better.

11 Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs

Habits form our lives. They provide a framework on which we build professional success and personal happiness. As a society, we're fascinated with the habits of others, usually prominent figures – celebrities, political figures, and, of course, famous entrepreneurs. 

One trait that nearly all entrepreneurs share is that they've developed specific habits that help them be successful. Over time, they test and experiment and figure out what works best for them -- habits you too can learn from, to improve your life business.

1. Get up early.

It's hardly a shock to recognize that adding more hours to your day lets you accomplish more. Many entrepreneurs make it a habit to leave the pillow behind long before the rest of society hits the snooze button.

2. Keep good company.

Friends are great to have around, especially when they drive you to become a better person and push you to new heights. Long-term entrepreneurs make sure to associate themselves with others who are successful, often in the form of mastermind groups and dinners.

3. Plan and strategize.

If you fail to plan, you're planning to fail. Those looking to build companies and create wealth always have a plan. They know what the goal is and where they are in regards to achieving it at all times. A plan serves as a road map, helping you understand what steps are coming next. It also keeps you accountable to your goals.

4. Always keep learning.

There's something new to learn every day, and there's a better tool to use introduced every year (heck, every week or month in some industries). Lifelong achievers realize this and constantly look for the next thing to propel them toward their goals. Don't think you have enough money or the right advanced degree? Hundreds of self-education options are available online.

5. See opportunities, not failure.

Like anyone else, successful entrepreneurs can't always stop bad things from happening, but they can choose their reactions. So, be like them and waste no time on self-pity: Rather use the time to learn new lessons and overcome obstacles. The co-founders of KISSMetrics, for instance, spent $1 million on a product they never launched. The CEO of Moz admits to having wasted years on projects with little visibility or ROI. These things didn't sink their companies; they just allowed the founders to learn and move on, with an improved focus and vision.

6. Never stop coming up with ideas

Entrepreneurs are idea machines. Not every idea is a profitable one, but true businesspeople believe the more ideas they can generate, the better their chances are of coming up with a really good one. No matter how many projects they've completed, lifelong entrepreneurs keep dreaming and thinking about the next one. Thomas Edison is credited with over 1,000 U.S. patents, Ted Turner is involved in a variety of ventures from television stations to restaurants and today, Magic Johnson Enterprises is worth over $700 million.

7. Make things happen instead of making excuses.

Excuses are not productive. So why spend time on them? Lifelong achievers move forward past the naysayers and the excuse creators and march straight toward their goals. Even CEOs experience self-doubt, but they overcome it and move on anyway. If Oprah Winfrey can find the time and confidence to run a marathon, you certainly don't have any excuse for why you can't reach your goals.

8. Persevere.

There are countless stories out there of entrepreneurs who failed miserably, including plenty who failed multiple times. But they kept going -- and thank goodness they did. Think of all the inventions and products we wouldn't have if entrepreneurs gave up the first time something didn't work. Arianna Huffington faced serious criticism when she started The Huffington Post, but she didn't quit. Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple, before returning several years later to save the company. When Christina Wallace's company Quincy Apparel shut down, she spent three weeks in bed. But the deciding factor for all of these entrepreneurs was the same -- they never gave up. 

9. Have a passion for your work.

Successful people are passionate about what they do. Entrepreneurs know they're making a difference in the lives around them and, ultimately, the world in which they live. They don't show up just for a pay check; they live for the next breakthrough and the smiles on the faces of their customers. Entrepreneurs who are passionate are more motivated, have more social capital and over time sell more, earn more and build a stronger following.

10. Run a marathon, not a sprint.

Entrepreneurship can be quite a rollercoaster, both mentally and financially. Those that choose this life realize that a single day may not seem to make a difference, but a lifetime of those days can result in massive success. Lifelong entrepreneurs take periods of time where they relax and recharge and then return to work, more determined than ever.

11. Face hard choices head on.

There are few black and white choices for entrepreneurs these days. Everything is set in a gray scale, and few things are clear. Yet, despite this obstacle, diehard entrepreneurs don't shy away from the tough choices. They understand that tough choices are inevitable to be a pioneer in business, so they make those calls and move forward. Business leaders face challenges, ranging from recruiting top talent to dealing with legal regulations, but they never flinch.

Hobbies Make You a Better Entrepreneur

Many entrepreneurs find it difficult to disengage from their businesses and nurture their personal lives. If this feels familiar, consider this: not taking time for relaxation and recreation harms not only your personal life, but also your business. Having hobbies is healthy for both your body and your business.

Studies show that people who engage in hobbies, especially creative ones, perform better at work. Many people even report a sudden burst of insight about how to solve work problems while focusing on a totally unrelated activity. Hobbies are highly personal and are based around your interests, but not everyone has a clear idea on where to start. Try one of these seven hobbies that can make you a better entrepreneur:

Spend time outdoors

Depending on where you live there are a wide variety of potential outdoor hobbies you can pursue. Walking, hiking, skiing, fishing, horseback riding, swimming, surfing, bird-watching, golfing, and joining a local amateur sports league are all good examples. Not only do most outdoor activities require you to move your body in one way or another (contributing to physical health and fitness), looking at and being in nature has been shown to reduce your blood pressure and help reduce the physiological and psychological effects of stress. In other words, being outside is good for your insides!

Support causes that matter

Nowadays, social activism is practically required in business. Consumers want to do business with people who care about something other than making money, so when you pursue something you care about, not only are you helping the community (children, animals, the environment, etc.), you're also benefiting your brand.

Find a cause that you care about and pursue it. You'll most likely connect with potential new friends, colleagues, and clients, and even if you don't, you'll feel good about helping others.

Engage in creative pursuits.

Creativity is the mother of innovation, so if you want to come up with new ideas for your products and services, you need to flex your creativity muscle. The type of creative activities doesn't matter nearly as much as the fact that you're pursuing them. Color in a colouring book, take up a new arts and crafts project, paint a room in your house, learn ballroom dancing, sing or learn a musical instrument, arrange flowers, build a table (or a bird house), play chess, garden, restore an old car, journal/ write poetry, take photographs, homebrew a craft beer, hone your baking skills, or become an amateur chef. Any activity that helps you think differently in life can help you think creatively in business!

Still not sure? Become a connoisseur! Choose something you really like (beer/ wine, books, art, etc.) and learn more about it. You never know, your extracurricular passions could help your business in ways you've never even imagined!

Hobbies are a fun and effective way to relax your mind and carve out time to do something different than business building. Hobbies can also make you a better entrepreneur through the lessons learned while pursuing them. What will your next hobby be?

True Leadership: Team Succeeds even when you’re away

As precious as every project is, entrepreneurs often need to step away from their ventures for long periods of time. Sometimes, it's to start a new company or explore other amazing opportunities. Or, maybe it's just for a long, well-earned vacation overseas.

Whatever the reason, your business can't just pause while you're gone. When the need to leave arises, your company has to be ready to run on autopilot. Preparing for autopilot is a several-step process, but if your company can soar without you around, the benefits are innumerable.

Laying the groundwork

First, learn to loosen your own grip on your company. Yes, the early stages of launching a business do require leaders to engage in a lot of hand-holding and supervision, but over time, self-confidence and self-governance must also be encouraged.

As your company grows and becomes more complex, you simply can't have a say in every single decision. It's just not feasible, nor is it something you should strive for if you ever plan to take a vacation. Instead, empower your employees to be problem solvers. If they require constant validation and need permission before making decisions, you're not even close to being ready for autopilot. Empowerment, confidence and technology are the three key ingredients to running on autopilot. Once you've built a foundation by adjusting your mindset and updating your tech tools, here's how to prepare your team for success while you're gone:

Practice

Placing an unprepared company on autopilot will have disastrous results. Long before you leave, conduct training sessions that put your team in theoretical scenarios in which they won't be able to ask you questions or seek your approval. Showing them they're capable of productivity in your absence will build their confidence and make them excited for autopilot.

Ease into it

Don't let your company's first autopilot attempt occur when you head off for a two-month trip to a place that doesn't have Internet access. Instead, try staying home for a few days while maintaining a minimal presence in day-to-day affairs and see how your team fares. Short, unannounced absences will keep your employees on their game and allow them to get used to you being gone.

Never completely disappear.

You still run a business. Completely checking out for long periods of time is dangerous, and it may send your team the wrong message. Yes, challenge them to make hard decisions while you're away, but be sure to check in on those decisions regularly and continue going over key reports and statistics while you're on autopilot.

The way to see whether your company can run without you is simple: Let it run without you. Still keep an eye on things, and make yourself available -- but encourage and empower your employees to not contact you every time a decision needs to be made.

Once you're ready to let go of the reins, don't hesitate. If your employees need anything -- or if something unexpected comes up -- your number is on the fridge.

50 Golden Rules for Being a Great Leader

Becoming a great leader isn't something that happens overnight, but it can be achieved through discipline, hard work and a commitment to improvement through experience. Great leaders aren't born, as some people suggest; instead, they are shaped over time. And, while what makes a "great" leader in one application doesn't always apply to others, there are some general rules that all great leaders follow.

If becoming a great leader in your own business or organization is your goal, these 50 rules are a good place to start:

1. Listen to your team. Rule one. Always listen to what your team has to say, even if you don't like it.

2. Communicate as efficiently as possible. Make your expectations and feelings clear, in the appropriate medium as often as possible.

3. Talk less. Sometimes saying nothing is better than saying just anything.

4. Be an example. Be the type of person you want your team members to be.

5. Be passionate. If you aren't passionate about your business, you're in the wrong business.

6. Be consistent. Be consistent in your behaviours so your team knows what to expect from you.

7. Make firm decisions. Don't leave things undecided for long, and don't waver about a decision once you've made it.

8. Identify mentors and role models. Find people you can look up to and learn from, and follow them closely.

9. Interfere only when necessary. If you trust your team to do good work, don't interfere unless absolutely necessary.

10. Know your limits. Don't extend yourself beyond your means.

11. Know your strengths. If you're good at resolving disputes, step in and resolve them as often as possible.

12. Know your weaknesses. If there's something you're not good at, admit it, and work on it.

13. Don't make excuses. If you make a mistake, take ownership of it and don't pass the blame to someone or something else.

14. Accept the unforeseen. You can't control or predict everything.

15. Choose your partners carefully. Work only with people you can count on and trust.

16. Do well. Commit yourself to being a good person and giving back to the community when possible.

17. Meet new people all the time. Take every opportunity to expand your network and expose yourself to new experiences and perspectives.

18. Stay in touch with your emotions. Don't be a robot -- let yourself feel.

19. Temper your reactions. Hold back your reactions until you have a moment to clarify your internal thoughts and feelings.

20. Have fun. Take the time to have fun with your team.

21. Research everything. Before making a decision, know the pros and cons -- do your homework.

22. Think everything through. Never exclusively trust your instincts or first reactions.

23. Choose your team carefully. Hire only those you can trust to get the job done (and to get along with others, as well).

24. Prioritize your team. Your team is everything. Give them whatever they need to succeed.

25. Be humble. Don't get big-headed about your wealth, influence or position as a leader.

26. Forgive mistakes. Everyone makes them.

27. Forgive yourself. Don't beat yourself up too much over anything. Move on.

28. Be rational. Make decisions logically.

29. Be reasonable. Listen to dissenting opinions, and be fair.

30. Make time for what's important. There's no such thing as "not having time" for what's really important in your life. Make the time.

31. Constantly learn. Read as much as you can, and take classes whenever you have the opportunity.

32. Improve everything. Work on improving your approaches, your skills and your processes constantly.

33. Never give up. Don't throw in the towel when a little extra persistence could put you over the edge.

34. Transform your methods when necessary. If something isn't working, change your approach.

35. Cut your losses when necessary. If you're fighting a losing battle, retreat and start again somewhere else (or in a new way).

36. Learn from your mistakes. Try not to make the same mistakes twice.

37. Ground everything with data. Back up all your decisions, opinions and thoughts with hard, objective facts and evidence.

38. Don't ignore signs of stress. Stress is real and can interfere with your ability to lead. If it starts setting in at abnormal levels, take action to reduce or relieve it.

39. Give feedback. Let your team know what they're doing well and what needs further improvement.

40. Trust, but verify. Trust your team to get things done, but always follow up to make sure the work is completed.

41. Be approachable. Let people know they can trust you, and open your door to anybody who need it.

42. Treat everyone equally. Don't play favourites; it breeds resentment and makes you appear immature as a leader.

43. Don't pursue close personal relationships with the team. Be on friendly terms, but don't try to be best friends with everybody. You're a leader, first and foremost.

44. Get the team together. Use team-building exercises or other excuses to get your team members talking with one other and having fun together.

45. Return favours. If someone helps you, make it your responsibility to pay back the favour -- even if it's years later.

46. Don't burn bridges. Never cut a contact completely out of your life.

47. Stay in touch. If team members leave or change roles, stay in contact with them.

48. Don't sacrifice your personal life. Your personal life is necessary to retain your own mental health. Never sacrifice it for the sake of leadership or professional responsibilities.

49. Enjoy leadership. Try not to stress too much about being a leader. Instead, enjoy all the benefits it offers.

50. Take advice with a grain of salt. Even with these 50 rules! Because nobody knows everything, and no one piece of advice applies to all situations.

Follow these rules, trust your instincts and continually strive for self-improvement. Eventually, through your experiences and your efforts, you'll become the type of leader most people only aspire to be.