Thursday, January 2, 2014

E-Newsletter From Mikono Business Consult(T)Limited-January 2014





 

E-Newsletter from Mikono Business Consult (T) Limited – January 2014

Our Esteemed Clients,

Happy New Year!

On behalf of the entire management and staff of Mikono Business Consult (T) Limited, let me take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for choosing us as your preferred business consultants throughout an eventful 2013 during which we scaled new heights with your support. As always, your loyalty to our company is very genuinely appreciated.

2013 saw us increase our client and partner portfolio to an unprecedented level. We are proud to have worked with Sanitas Hospital, Golden Tulip Hotel, Tanzania Agricultural Productivity Programme (TAPP), Infinity Communications, Feed the Children, Multichoice Tanzania, Pathfinder, AAR Insurance Tanzania, Softnet, Intertek Tanzania, Tanzania Private Sector Foundation, Tanzania Cigarette Company Ltd, Evin Schools of Management, VSO, JB Belmont Hotel, Equity Bank, NICO Insurance Tanzania, Heritage Insurance, CRDB Bank PLC, National Bank of Commerce, Serengeti Breweries, Compassion International, Flight Link, AMI Hospital, Montage, Africa Microfinance Limited, IRIS, Ministry of Industry Trade and Marketing, Tanzania Distilleries Limited and others. We are very proud of working with all of these organisations and our sincere gratitude to them.

During the last quarter of 2013, we underwent major restructuring of our operations in order to improve our already excellent service delivery even further. We consolidated our major activities into two subsidiaries, Mikono Speakers and Focus Tanzania.

Mikono Speakers is now our one-stop centre for high quality professional and personal development training programmes as well as inspirational workshops and seminars. On the other hand, Focus Tanzania has been transformed into our marketing services outlet, providing your organisation with innovative marketing solutions for maximum results. As our new motto, Joining Hands To Save Lives suggests, we have re-engineered our work process to ensure that creating a positive impact to our clients and the society at large is at the heart of everything we do at Mikono.

2014 promises to be an exciting year for our organisation as we continue to grow and improve our services even further. Our Training Calendar for 2014 will see us conduct training on leadership, project management, labour law, negotiation skills, client service, public speaking and so much more in here in Tanzania, UAE and Canada. To see our training line-up in more detail, please visit our website www.mikonospeakers.com. In addition to the scheduled training programmes, we also offer on-demand, tailor-made courses for your organisation. Our doors are always open for you.

In 2014, we will strive to bring our training programmes closer to you by launching online training courses, Mikono E-Learning. As one of our flagship innovations for the coming year, Mikono E-Learning will be a convenient and cost-effective means of training your staff, saving you both time and money while improving performance

In addition to the training programmes, we will also be hosting 3 major events in 2014. We kick things off with the Love & Dine Valentine’s Day Dinner on 14th February 2014. The dinner will feature a special presentation on love and marriage from relationship guru Mr. Freddy Kyara. We follow up this event with the High Performance Leadership inspirational seminar with Mr. Brian Tracy, a highly respected speaker from the USA. August 2014 will see us host the Africa Business Economics Consciousness Summit 2014 where Heads of Africa states and major business corporations will meet to discuss economic prosperity of Africa. More than 35 heads of states are expected to attend this one of a kind event.

Our Focus Tanzania Business Directory 2014-2015 is now open; we welcome you to advertise and book space in it. More than 200,000 copies will be published and distributed all over Tanzania as well as Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Zambia.

As a proudly African company, we are constantly giving back to the society that not only surrounds us, but has gotten us where we are today. In the past few months alone, we have sponsored a number of social events that aim to bring positive social impacts in Tanzania, such as Women Initiative footprint Tanzania Gala Dinner, Stand Up For African Mothers fundraising dinner and the Africa+ Food Festival. We believe in a better life for all Tanzanians and we will continue to support noble causes.

Once again, we thank you for working with us in 2013 and we hope to continue serving you for mutual benefit in 2014.

Sincerely,

 

Deogratius Kilawe

Managing Director

Thursday, June 20, 2013

GRAB YOUR TICKET NOW!


Step-by-step from invention to market

Author :
Fiona Rom
So you’ve got a brilliant idea for a product that will change the world – but now what? Here are eight tips to help you take your invention from concept to business reality.
New Idea
  1. Create a record of invention. This should include a clear description of your idea, the date, your signature, and the signatures of two people you trust who have ‘witnessed and understood’ your invention. Throughout the project, keep complete and accurate written records that document each step you take including test results, experiments, and modifications. Keep copies of all correspondence, including emails, and all invoices and receipts relating to your invention.
  2. Be discreet. Until you’ve registered a patent, make sure that non-disclosure agreements (otherwise known as NDAs or confidentiality agreements) are in place and signed before you discuss your idea with anyone outside your trusted confidantes.
  3. Research new-product development. Go to your local book store or library and search the internet to educate yourself about the basics and create a road map for the future. Find out as much as you can about manufacturing and pricing of products, distribution channels, designing a product with an eye to packaging and shipping, and product liability.
  4. Do a product and patent search. Have a thorough look on the internet to see whether anyone else has already patented or is marketing your idea. Don’t necessarily be discouraged if you do find something similar – you may have a modification or a new approach. If you’re improving on something that’s already been patented, is your invention a new physical feature, a combination of prior separate features, or a new use of a prior feature? Does it produce a new and unexpected result? Employ the services of a patent professional to help you file the patent; shop around for the best reputable and affordable option.
  5. Consider viability of sales. Are the total sales likely to be at least twenty times the cost of inventing and patenting your idea? Take into account the cost of filing fees, hiring a lawyer to help with your patent filing, and payments to anyone employed to develop the product.
  6. Develop your brand. A great name or brand image can exponentially increase your chances of success when marketing your idea. A catchy image will help in the development process, inspiring you to make new design decisions or improvements to include a broader range of markets.
  7. Fund the invention. Create a customised ‘pitch’ targeting potential investors or manufacturers to give your audience a clear concise idea of what your product does, how it does it, and its consumer appeal. Have a tested prototype they can see, and provide printed brochures, business cards, projected financial information and a business plan. Make a webpage they can visit.
  8. Network with other inventors. Join a local inventors’ organisation – the best people to guide you are those who have successfully developed and marketed new products. Inventor organisations include inventors, lawyers, prototype makers and others in the field of new-product development. When questions or problems come up, you’ll have someone you can trust to turn to for advice.
Remember, successful product development is a team sport. Put your energy into the things you do best; be honest about your weaknesses and get help in those areas where the expertise of others could be useful. Keep your passion for your invention alive, and enjoy the journey!