Kara Botes Digital

03/07/2023

👉 Fostering a Culture of Self-Improvement: The Key to Strong Leadership

In the realm of strong leadership, fostering a culture of self-improvement becomes paramount. It is essential to acknowledge that not everyone may be willing to embrace personal growth and development. Individuals who resist the journey of self-improvement are likely to face stagnation in their progress.

Without a willingness to step outside their comfort zones, learn new skills, or embrace challenges, they may find themselves trapped in a state of complacency. In such cases, effective leaders must provide guidance and encouragement, emphasising the importance of continuous learning and the benefits that personal growth brings to both the individual and the collective.

However, it is crucial to remember that personal growth is ultimately a choice that each individual must make for themselves. While leaders can inspire and motivate, it is up to the individuals themselves to take ownership of their growth and actively engage in the pursuit of self-improvement.

12/06/2023

👉 Exploring AI's Impact on the Creative Landscape

11/06/2023

AI in the Spotlight: Nick Bostrom's Insights on Harnessing Technology Safely and Ethically 🌟🔒

09/06/2023

🌍💭Exploring the Quality of Discourse:

In a thought-provoking conversation with ChatGPT, I delved into the challenges we face in today's society. It appears we've lost the art of embracing diverse perspectives and engaging in meaningful conversations. Let's break free from our echo chambers and rediscover the power of open dialogue. Join me as we navigate the path to a more inclusive and enlightening discourse! 🗣️✨

09/02/2023

"Capitec says that poor data literacy continues to roadblock South African companies, and the ability to deal with data will be the most in-demand skill by 2030.

According to the bank, a recent report titled Data Literacy: The Upskilling Evolution revealed that global business leaders and employees predict that data literacy – the ability to read, work and communicate with data – will be essential in the future of work."

Capitec is investing heavily into developing critical skills.

09/02/2023

A true leader has the courage to take risks and the strength to take responsibility when things don’t go as planned. - KB

08/02/2023

Leading with purpose is more important than leading with authority. - KB

07/02/2023

Don't be afraid of failure – it's just an opportunity to grow and improve! - KB

06/02/2023

Leadership isn't about being in charge, it's about making sure everyone around you succeeds. -KB

03/02/2023

Leadership comes at a cost 👇

"Leadership. Alpha. Comes at a cost. You see, we expect that when danger threatens us from the outside, that the person who's actually stronger, the person who's better fed, and the person who is actually teaming with serotonin and actually is higher confidence than the rest of us, we expect them to run towards the danger to protect us.

This is what it means to be a leader. The cost of leadership is self-interest. If you are not willing to give up your perks when it matters, then you probably shouldn't get promoted. You might be an authority, but you will not be a leader. Leadership comes at a cost. You don't get to do less work when you get more senior.

You have to do more work, and the more work you have to do is put yourself at risk to look after others. That is the anthropological definition of what a leader is."

By Simon Sinek

30/01/2023

Are you sacrificing culture by enabling poor performance?

Maintaining a facade of fairness by disregarding work ethic and colloboration under the guise 'equality' is what allows poor performance to remain unchecked. This can lead to diminishing returns in productivity, motivation and morale – ultimately weakening an organization’s competitive edge and culture instead of strengthening it.

Acknowledging individual strengths while weeding out under-performers takes true courage. Doing so shows respect for those who have earned it through their efforts and contribution. Recognition for excellence should never be held back by mediocrity.

27/01/2023

The real 'pink tax' 👇

I probably won't get be liked for this post, but something needs to be said.

Ladies (and yes this is a sweeping statement so take it with a pinch of salt), sort yourselves out. Stop gossiping, projecting and tearing down other women because you have insecurities. It is DESTRUCTIVE, and engaging in this type of behaviour is bullying.

👉 If you make a mistake, own it.
👉 If someone gives you feedback, listen.
👉 If you don't know something, ask.
👉 If someone else receives recognition, celebrate.
👉 If someone is better than you, learn.
👉 If you have a goal, work.

Lashing out by finding fault in others and trying to manipulate a narrative isn't going to solve the feelings you have about yourself. Do the work and figure out how to love yourself, because that's where the real problem lies. You are not a victim, you just don't have control. And that's on no one else but you. ✌️

26/01/2023

Are you trustworthy? 👇

Building trust in a team and company helps everyone go further. Toxic people could be performing well, but if they are negatively impacting culture by through manipulation and dishonesty, then the effect of that performance is negligible. Why? Because toxic people create division and fuel fear which hinders the team's ability to perform.

When people have faith in each other, there is an inherent understanding that everyone wants to succeed together. This makes it easier to share ideas and have honest conversations when something isn't working. Creating an environment of trust gives people permission to take more risks and experiment with different strategies. A team is strongest when the people in the system have psychological safety.

Get more of Simon Sinek and his books here https://amzn.to/3Xn7q2m. This video is hands down one of my favorite Simon Sinek video talks of all time.

25/01/2023

Are you a leader who avoids conflict?

In today’s business world, it seems people are quick to want a high salary and fancy job title yet aren’t as willing to accept the responsibility that comes with the role.

If you occupy a leadership position, your decision-making capabilities set the tone for culture over time. If you start making excuses and avoiding conflict, you’re teaching people that self-protection and self-interest are acceptable.

When you’re in a position of power, you have to be willing to make tough calls and risk "being the bad guy". It's not always easy and you may not always be liked, but that is the burden that comes with your position. You have a responsibility to those in your care to address challenges that affect the well-being of the group.

What kind of example are you setting for your team? Are you showing them that it’s okay to put your own interests first, or are you leading by example and putting the organization’s success above all else?

28/04/2022

Maintaining brand consistency is more important than ever as companies use numerous digital platforms to communicate with their audience.

Unfortunately, it is rare for these platforms to have the same set of standards or dimensions. While non-designers might not take umbrage to this, designers find it tedious to maintain as each size needs a different design.

13/03/2021

A very risky but clever marketing campaign 😳

"Many butternut squash were harmed in the test cycle before it was refined and ready for reality."

13/03/2021

Takealot is losing its CEO and CFO at a time when it is facing a barrage from competitors and a Competition Commission investigation.

08/02/2021

3 REASONS YOUR LEGACY TECHNOLOGY IS HOLDING YOUR BUSINESS BACK

THE BRIEF
To design an easy-to-understand post that highlights the reasons why businesses need to digitally transform and stop using 'outdated' technology.

THE CLIENTai

08/01/2021

In a world full of horses be a unicorn 🦄

If you need to level-up your social media game, drop me a DM and let's make it happen! 😉

14/12/2020

I know I've been quiet lately, but quite honestly it's been difficult to find the time to post for my own page when I've been so chock-a-block with client work and projects. I honestly did not expect that when I retired from hockey (post about that to follow) that I would hit the ground running (or should I say sprinting) when it comes to my career. I can't believe that I get to to do what I love every day and work with people who push me beyond what I thought I was capable of. I guess it's true what they say, luck is what happens when opportunity meets hard work.

12/10/2020

Montserrat is one of SANS fonts (think block fonts with no frills or fuss) found in Google Fonts. SANS fonts usually convey simplicity and have better readability than their SANS Serif Counterparts and have been the preferred choice over the last couple of years because of this. 😀

11/10/2020

11/10/2020

11/10/2020

13/08/2020

⛔ STOP LIVING IN FEAR ⛔

If you really want to enhance your social presence then it's time to start colouring outside the lines. Too often companies live in fear of offending people, often overthinking and wasting resources by focusing on the wrong things. I am not for one moment saying that it's not important to be professional and adhere to certain rules and standards. BUT, don't let that stop you from experimenting and exploring. You should always be on the lookout for different ways to connect with people because people love to interact with brands that are authentic and real 😊

12/08/2020

Had a ton of fun editing this video for the Teraflow.ai team. It's always a pleasure working with the Mike and Brett, I love their vibe and how they do business. They really do inspire me to explore new ideas and different ways of thinking. Anyway how kiff did their YouTube Cover come out 🤩

In the first episode of our Teraflow.AI 'Questions Customers Ask' segment, Brett StClair, and Michael Cowen, answer the question: What is AI? Why? Because ma...

16/07/2020

😎 Design Completed 😎

I am soooo happy with how this brand revamp came out for 😎 Thanks for trusting me with your baby 😊 It definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone that's for sure but I think I showed some BMT (*wink wink) and managed to pull it off. 🤡

08/07/2020

Meet ...not only is he my husband, biggest cheerleader, and business sounding board, but he's 'client' as well. 😅

📖 The Story

When Sheldon moved into the financial services industry just over a year and a half ago to become a Financial Advisor for Liberty, we both agreed he needed a personal brand. Financial advisors are not always well-received by the general public because of the few bad eggs out there. We decided to use the power of social media to:

1) Educate people on personal finance because of the low literacy rate out there; 📕

2) Showcase Sheldon and his ethics and values 💪;

3) Be real and authentic about the struggles and issues facing us as normal humans navigating the world of business, work, and money (you are not alone despite what social media may tell you) 💸

✍️ What I currently do for him:

✏️ Brand Management (consistent look & feel)
✏️ Website Management (hosting, development & analytics)
✏️ Website Strategy (usability & content)
✏️ Content Strategy (design & maintenance)
✏️ Content Creation (what do people want to see)
✏️ Photography

And a whole bunch of other stuff that goes into growing a brand 😱

07/07/2020

Ever heard the term less is more? 🙀

Using white space effectively in your designs can really emphasise the point you are trying to make. In a world where everyone is competing for attention, sometimes it's the simple designs that make the biggest impact. 😉

01/07/2020

😲 On the fence about digital marketing? 😲

Well, don't be! We live in an age where your next customer is probably positioned behind the screen of a mobile device, just waiting for something to grab their ATTENTION! The question is, are you doing enough to be noticed? 🤷