Verity's Blog

Thought for the week...

Life is a grindstone.

But whether it grinds us down

Or polishes us up,

Depends on us.

     -  L. Thomas Holdcroft

Speaking at The Innovation Summit..

On Monday 17th August I packed my bags and my nerves and got ready to fly to Joburg where I was billed as "Verity, SA Music Innovator" for the 2nd annual Innovation Summit being held at Maropeng in the Cradel of Humankind. For some reason I had mistakenly been booked to OR Tambo instead of Lanseria which meant I was in for a long drive in the dark! As luck would have it, another of the key speakers for the summit - Michael Kahn - was in need of a lift, and we headed off together. Professor Kahn heads up the innovation survey and innovation policy for South Africa, and despite us getting hopelessly lost we had a fantastic & inspiring drive chatting about all the possibilities that exist in SA.

The organisers booked us into the stunning Maropeng Hotel and I awoke the next day in the lap of luxury and to a breathtaking view of the rolling Magaliesberg Mountains. The summit was kicked off with  thought provoking speech from the Minister of Science & Technology and the day went on to feature presentations from experts in science, technology, big business & open innovation. Understandably I started to feel rather nervous to be the closing speaker for the day, given that I am really just an ordinary girl who had a crazy idea and acted on it.

When I finally stepped up on stage after being introduced by Ruda Landman I was a bundle of nerves. But, as I stood facing this room full of some of the top minds in SA, I realised that we are all the same - full of hopes, ideas, dreams & fears, and that my story is about acting regardless of the obstacles in your way. I relaxed into the knowledge that I was no different to anyone there & that The Lucky Packet Project is a fantastic example of thinking out the box and also making a social contribution by using open innovation to achieve a goal. The response from the delegates was overwhelming and I had many of them buy the album and alot of fantastic opportunities to speak at more innovation & corporate events!

I left the summit inspired by the amazing innovation happening in our country and also with a renewed sense of certainity of the relevance of my business model & project as it is essentially a story of saying "YES" to an idea, giving myself permission to act on it, saying "I CAN DO THIS" and just getting out there and starting. And those basic steps are the same for all of us - be we ordinary people, small companies, big business or government - without the courage to think out the box, test new waters & innovate, we stay stuck and nothing happens. The first step is the most important and I am so grateful I had the courage to take mine!

Speaking at The One & Only...

Going back to August 12th... I bundled myself off to The One & Only Hotel in Cape Town to give an inspirational talk on my journey through to music industry to 100 women attending a Women's Day lunch for Business Partners & The Fine Women Network.

We were treated to an outstanding lunch & top SA entertainer Irit Nobel & her Love Diva's were our MC for the day. Proceeds from the lunch went to an amazing charity Sisters Incorporated - helping women to help themselves - and they displayed some of the stunning jewellery women in their shelters make. It is amazing to see the incredible iniatives being run in this country to help uplift and empower people! Sisters Incorporated is an organisation that not only provides shelter for women coming out of abusive home but has also implemented a business plan that teaches a viable skill and empowers them to sell their creations not only in SA but also overseas and thereby rebuild a sense of value and worth.

I loved being part of an event that celebrated women and really felt like I got into my groove of delivering a talk that not only looks at my personal experience but also ties in the lessons I have learned about innovation, Edward De Bono's Six Thinking Hats & being an entrepeneur. The response from the audience was fantastic and to top things off I sold a stack of albums, won four theatre tickets and a pair of Police Sunglasses!

Just goes to show that saying "Yes" to every opportunity delivers unexpected gifts!

 

Getting the fire started...

The last two weeks have kept me so busy that I haven't had a chance to give an update on my adventures! Seeing this blog is essentially my journal, I hate to miss out on things that I will one day look back on and perhaps see significance that I didn't realise at the time. The more events, talks & gigs I do, the more I realise that this is pretty much like starting a fire - every bit adds up to create the fuel and you never know what is going to be the spark that gets it all really roaring.

Since adopting that attitude to my work I am finding a renewed sense of excitement with every opportunity that comes my way. Even apparent obstacles like being booked to fly to the wrong airport have delivered me incredible gifts of meeting interesting people and having experiences I wouldn't have had had things gone according to plan. If making sure YOU show up for opportunities in life & creating strong networks is the wood you use to build your fire, then action provides the spark and enthusiasm the oxygen to keep it burning.

Burn baby burn!

 

Thought for the week...

The best preparation for good work tomorrow

Is good work today.

    -  Elbert Hubbard

Thought for the week...

I believe that one of life's of greatests risks, is never daring to risk... -  Oprah Winfrey

Thought for the week...

There is no fear in love. Fear lives in need. No-one can give you anything you can’t already give yourself. Keep your vision of your life clear. It doesn’t need any supporting actors to make sense. It is your soliloquy. Enjoy that vast stage and every word you utter. Allow other actors to play their parts but don’t try to be their part and ask them to be yours. You signed up for the role, so play it with aplomb! You are the lead in your story – the center of your universe. You don’t need to orbit anyone else’s sun – you have all the light you need. Shine it!

Some Honey in The Sun...

The launch of the Honey Ultimate range this last Saturday saw me talking on innovation and living your dreams to over 640 women - what an experience! The lavish event took place at the Cape Sun in Strand Street where we were treated to a delicious lunch and high tea and the gorgeous new range of Honey Accessories. It was a fantastic way to start Women's Month and having so many women singing "I'm going to shine" with me by the end of my talk saw me leave the event with a huge smile on my dial.

I am looking forward to sporting some stunning Honey items very soon which feels like a great way to be this August and get blinged out for a very busy month of events & gigs!

Thought for the week...

I couldn't wait for success

So I went ahead without it

     -  Jonathan Winters

My first review on iTunes!

I have been live on iTunes for only a week and already I have had reports of people downloading "Journey" in the states which is super exciting! Watunes have taken me on as one of their priority artists and in the next few days the album should be up live on Amazon MP3 as well and I am feeling like "Journey" has had new life breathed into it to ensure it reaches the world! This review on iTunes has made my week! 

"Verity's lyrics are a fresh inspiration combined with the best that acclaimed artists such as Dido and Beth Orton have to offer. This album is worth every penny."