@SamsungSA on a Mission to Identify and Support Black Industrialists #BBBEE #EEIP

Hi Friends,

Samsung South Africa is running a search for 2 (two) established black industrials in the e-waste sector, which require financial and business support, to take their business to the next level. The initiative is part of Samsung’s R280-million Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP). EEIP is a Department of Trade and Industry (dti) initiative where multinational companies are invited to participate and contribute positively towards B-BBEE in South Africa. This programme is strongly aligned with the objectives of the National Development Plan 2030, which is the elimination of poverty through job creation and entrepreneurship.

“Samsung is focussed on two very important missions – the growth of entrepreneurship in the country and the development of e-waste programmes. This e-waste project achieves both objectives and affirms our commitment to growing South Africa and preserving the nation’s natural resources,” says Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Innovation Group and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa.

Supporting the Government’s Black Industrialist Programme

Samsung, in collaboration with the dti, aims to provide opportunities for Black Industrialists in the Recycling sector, to participate in the e-waste Black Industrialist program as one of the projects under EEIP. Samsung will be an integral partner in the creation of the only black-owned and operated e-waste beneficiation plants in Africa that can separate Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE). The objective is to develop and support the establishment of the e-waste Black Industrialists, who will be operating in the full value chain of e-waste management that includes collection, dismantling, pre-processing and beneficiation of e-waste materials.

Comprehensive Business Support

Business support includes grant funding for operational growth, mechanization, skills development program (quality control, safety, and business development) and the introduction of beneficiation plant technology. This Black Industrialist programme targets black Industrialists, including women. Ultimately through industrialization, the aim is to create employment, boost innovation and grow the economy.

Providing Access to Experts

Samsung has partnered with a black-owned incubator that will market, recruit and select the Industrialists for this programme. In addition, the incubator will support the selected enterprises for the duration of the programme.

Terms and Conditions apply

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra! 

5 Years of Life in #Johannesburg #SouthAfrica #6YearsofTheLifesWay

Hi Friends, 

It's been 5 Years in South Africa since I first landed at O.R.Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg from Gurugram, India. I was so much anxious and excited about coming to this country and the city after hearing a lot of news items on the Internet. But as I remember, one of my friend I asked before I traveled, told me that it's good to try out the new city rather than going back to London, UK. I made my decision to come to Johannesburg and here I was on 2nd November 2013. The day was Deepawali, the festival of lights and I had no SIM card, no way to contact my parents and family until I reached the place I was assigned to stay by my employer. The roommate allowed me to call my family back home and then cooked food for me. I was busy getting my stuff in the almirahs as I celebrated Diwali alone as he went out with friends.

My first day at Standard Bank office in CBD was meeting some of the important people and getting the access card and laptop sorted. I continued to be amazed by the cleanliness and the infrastructure of the city. During my initial days only I came across Fordsburg - H.K. Superstore which continues to be my supplier of Indian groceries ever since. Dosa Hut was one of the places I would visit to get my South Indian food in the evenings. I continued to eat at a Pakistani eatery daily during my lunch time for some months till Sai Amrit restaurant which was a better one started its business in CBD. It's still one of the best tiffin/snacks kind of restaurant on Marshall Street.

By the end of the first week, my company moved me out of Roodepoort to Morningside, Rivonia Road and I had to start my life afresh. I got a friend as one other associate directly came to those apartments and we hired a car and started exploring the office and the city together. Soon it was December and I went back to India to meet my brother and family who came from the USA after a while. It was too fast of a trip but I could do some of the blog posts as my Indiblogger rating fell in November as I didn't have any Wifi or Internet connection in South Africa. I also won some of the contests and wanted to bring the prizes back to South Africa for my entertainment.

Over the next few months, I took the internet connection and started watching all the TV series which I had never seen earlier like 24, Game of Thrones, How I Met Your mother?, House of Cards, Homeland amongst others. It was constant watching starting on Friday evening till Sunday night. Sometimes I won't even go anywhere outside the home to eat food or meet people. I used to continuously watch episodes after episodes of 24 (All Seasons) and was able to finish them in a month or so. In between, I used to do some blog posts and tweets which will earn me some of the great invites and prizes. I used to ask various brands for their PR companies contacts and slowly and steadily, I became a part of their lives. There are still many brands which I am not part of and still trying to reach there.

In the last 5 years, my biggest achievements will be getting 2 promotions at work, winning Samsung Bloggers Challenge which I always wanted to win since the day it was announced, winning Canon Instagram Engagement Award, winning Huawei Best Photographer (Jan 2019) and Huawei Mate 20 Lite, became debt free and start earning for the future, broken many relationships and making new ones. I have learned a lot and worked hard to achieve where I am now but this year I will take a break and relax a lot. I am not going to do any press releases as it takes time and benefits are not there at all. I will create my own content and blow my own trumpet to relearn what has been lost in translation during the last 5 years. I got so many gifts, tickets, show invites, launch events to attend and literally traveled around the city in my little Fiat 500. I love going to Montecasino, Silverstar Casino and many such places for their entertainment value.

Social media wise, when I came and contacted one Smartwatch company for their product review, they said I only have 50 followers on @TheLifesWay and now the same has crossed 8000 followers and increasing daily. The Instagram handle @araijain also was having around less than 1000 followers and now it has crossed 10k followers. The blog also crossed 2.16Million pageviews on 18th Feb 2019 and daily increasing along with the blog posts. I started my profiles on social media channels on Tumblr, snap chat, Pinterest and many others. This year I started focussing on Youtube channel too and soon there will be a lot of videos on the same.

Family wise, my wife started working as a permanent resource with a local company and my daughter loves her school and friends. We were blessed with a new baby boy who has just turned 1 last month. It's great to watch him grow as I missed the same with my daughter as I had to go to London, UK and they could not accompany me there. It's not easy to be constantly checking on the kids and sometimes I get irritated too but overall a smile from the boy gives me the courage to carry on.

It's still a struggle to earn some income from my blog or any of the social media channels but I will reach there soon where I can ask for my price. I am working towards the same and the changes due to my decisions will be visible to everyone. I am enthusiastic about all the time I am able to get as I could focus on important stuff rather than putting effort to post Press Releases on my channels and promoting it later for free.

Last 5 Years in Johannesburg, I have seen a lot of places in and around the city and still, I fall in love with the city as and when I travel in my car every morning or evening. I fall in love with the city when it's raining or when the rainbow comes after the rains. I still love going to Sandton City and visiting all the Indian Restaurants in the city. I love going to Fordsburg and going to Lion and Rhino Park too. I love my travel to Suncity and Hartbeespoort. I have made so many friends and so many people became my friends for life. I might have not seen South Africa completely too but I intend to do so in my next year of existence in the City of Gold.

That's my journey in the city and I continue to enjoy the rainbow nation! Not only my hairs have turned grey but my heart has turned more Red as I fall in love again and again with this beautiful city!

Cheers!!!
Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Jan 2018 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends, 

A very Happy New Year 2019 to all of you and I hope that you continue to create and accept whatever opportunities the Universe sends your way! I am very much excited for 2019 as I am venturing into totally unknown world of YouTube channel creation and I am coming across a lot of things which I was not aware of earlier. It's a learning curve and I am ready to embark on the same. I am testing different mobile cameras to shoot 4K videos and testing different lenses I have on the dslr camera bodies from Nikon and Canon. I have already bought the RODE microphone from Amazon India and soon it will be here in South Africa. Looking forward to going through more information about the same on Lynda.com.

1. The Rise And Rise Of The #Smartphone @SamsungMobileSA #SmartphoneApps - https://www.thelifesway.com/2018/01/the-rise-and-rise-of-smartphone.html - Smartphones are an integral part of everyone these days. Samsung is world leader in the latest smartphones and continues to bring the best and has taken the point and shoot cameras out of the market. Mobile Photography has brought the best of photographer in everyone who has some interest in the same. 

2. Sony Mobile Unveils New Selfie Smartphones: #XperiaXA2 #XperiaXA2Ultra @SonyXperiaZA - https://www.thelifesway.com/2018/01/sony-mobile-unveils-new-selfie.html - Sony Mobiles has the best camera technology built into their smartphones. They continue to held their castle despite being overgrown by so many other brands and they still remain leaders in bringing the latest tech to smartphones. Their front cameras are more than 20MP cameras to take ultimate selfies in Xperia XA2 Ultra. 

3. 17 Days To www.TheLifesWay.com 5th Birthday Celebrations #5YearsofTheLifesWay #27Dec2017 #Patience - https://www.thelifesway.com/2018/01/17-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html - I continued to post the countdown to my 5th birthday last year but it was a slow progress to complete and it took me a lot of time to get to the final post. I am now thinking of making a Amazon eBook out of all the posts and attach some photographs to match the stories. But that a project I will take up soon after the go-live and running of my Youtube channel successfully. 

Aashish Rai @Tsogo Sun Hyde Park - Island Bar

4. Are You Ready For #ArijitSingh Melodious Voice #SouthAfrica 10-11 Feb @BluBloodSA #Contest - https://www.thelifesway.com/2018/01/are-you-ready-for-arijitsingh-melodious.html - Arijit Singh has been favourite singer of many people across the globe including me and I asked for the tickets from the start to their PR company manager. I have been doing a lot of their other singers and shows promotion for free and I wanted tickets to this show at all costs. I felt so great to see the same with my parents and it was the show of the year. If you want to check out his other shows, it's available on Youtube and you will definitely fall in love with his voice and songs. 

5. DYNAMO Brings His Magic LIVE TOUR to #SouthAfrica For The First Time #DynamoSA #May2018 - https://www.thelifesway.com/2018/01/dynamo-brings-his-magic-live-tour-to.html - I really loved watching the magicians showcasing their art and Dynamo has so much of reputation to live up to. At the show I went with my mother-in-law and she totally enjoyed the show and it was an absolutely great one man show. Dynamo performed several magical tricks and people went gaga over the same. Many thanks to the PR company for providing me the tickets. 

This year I have to follow the minimalist lifestyle and follow it religiously and I have already started making a conscious effort towards the same. Wishing each and everyone of you All the very best to work towards your 2019 Resolutions and May you achieve and accomplish all of them!

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

6 Years of www.TheLifesWay.com #TheLifesWay #Birthday #Blogpost #6YearsofTheLifesWay #1675thPost

Hi Friends, 

1 Dreamer
6 Years (1 Year in India and 5 Years in South Africa)

1675 Blog Posts
2.1 Million Pageviews
5000+ Instagram Posts on @araijain
10000 followers on Instagram
152000+ Tweets on @thelifesway
Almost 10000 followers on twitter
1000 likes and follows on Facebook Page
Thousand of Likes and Retweets 
#TheLifesWay and #PhotoYatra

Now Starting YOUTUBE Channel! 

Heartiest Congratulations to myself for completing 6 years into a hobby that has become a passion and something I think of every day and night. This feat could not be possible without the help of each and every person working in the PR company, brands I worked with and my family, friends and well wishers. This year 2018 has been extremely good as our family welcomed a new member as my son was born on 29th January 2018 and in some days now, we will celebrate his first birthday.

2018 saw The Life's Way crossing 2.1 Million Pageviews and overall increase in all the social media platforms and the special focus was on Instagram. I really loved sharing the photos and videos on Instagram and in December I thought to clean the same and reduce the count of posts to less than 1000 from more than 4900 posts. The work is still in progress and I am doing it daily till I reach the goal of less than 500 or so.

The biggest gift I earned for myself was from Canon South Africa for their Instagram Meet where I was the Engagement Winner to win myself Canon 77D DSLR camera along with a 32gb SD card. I really am thankful to the brand for all their roadshows and gifts which everyone received to attend those shows. It's much more than you get from any of the biggest brands in the Technology Industry which are these days giving some low quality bluetooth earphones or speakers. 

The very first gift to start the year was from Lenovo in the form of their Mouse and Diary with Pen. I really loved the design of the mouse but I was not invited to their 2nd launch which happened some days back. Xiaomi via Gearbest.com sent me their Mi2 Band and Mi Health Thermometer which are really useful devices and there will be a video on my Youtube channel for those items soon. Samsung launched their Note 9 and during a display in Sandton City, I won myself their U Flex Bluetooth Earphones. MandM and Hasbro continued their support for my blog by sending their Media drops from time to time.

Aashish Rai - Blogger

Huawei invited me to all their launch events and I received some of the goodies for all the attendees but this year I was also the winner of their Huawei Mate 20 Lite smartphones because of my engagement with the brand. I have gifted the smartphone to my wife who was not happy with Android devices and let's see if Mate 20 Lite can keep her happy?

Gammatek was one of the brands which I promoted a lot via my posts and they gifted me some of their items in return. But overall, I participated in a lot of events at MTN where I worked the whole year and got a lot of goodies from popcorns to earphones at their head office in Johannesburg. The another big things I won this year was the MSI Gaming Keyboard at rAge Expo 2018 and I really loved the mechanical keyboard which is a boon for gamers! Adata gifted me their first 3D EMIX i30 earphones which I really loved and use them everyday. My wife too won their 1TB portable hdd in their facebook contest.

This year I gifted a lot of new items (received from events etc) which I was not using to many of my relatives in India and to my friends here in South Africa. The people who received it felt happy and I continue to do so in 2019 too as items I want for myself are still from last year's wish list which remained unfulfilled in 2018 - Apple MacBook Pro (Top Priority) and Bose QC35 Bluetooth headphones, PS4 Pro, and a Full Frame DSLR camera.

The strategy this year is to earn the same by either doing a lot of sponsored posts or by selling the old stuff I have not used till date. Meanwhile, while I was writing this post, I realized that most of the items I received were from the contests I won online or offline at events and not from the blog. The blog may have some influence but nothing much that can't be worked out using Instagram, Twitter and Facebook channels only. But running a blog gives you an edge to participate as an influencer in many events and with many brands that the first necessity. I will continue to publish my own content on my blog and also the posts I seem interested in from various brands for mutual benefits. The next step will be to update my media pack from being a long presentation to a 1 page document. 

Life is running fast and I need to read some books, watch some movies and fall in love with myself all over again. I can't be doing stuff which is not earning me income or pleasure of any kind. That's it for 2018! 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Dec 2017 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends, 

December is the month of festival celebrations and Summer holidays in South Africa and every year I also take some time off to define my goals for the next year. It not only gives you energy to venture into the unknown with full rigor but also relaxes your mind to let go of many of the tensions that gets build up during the year because of unfulfilled promises and expectations of self and others. 

This year in December, I didn't do any of the blog posts as my focus was to clean - junk emails/archiving Instagram posts/old magazines and data from laptop and hard disks along with having a good time with family and friends. Though I didn't felt very happy to part with my blog but it was a necessity and I did it intentionally. This being the 6th anniversary of my blog www.thelifesway.com I felt that I shall no longer post the press releases on my blog as many of the companies just stop responding, if I ask them for sponsored posts or gadgets or media drops etc. Why waste time on someone who doesn't care about you? 

The biggest decision I took was to start my Youtube channel and learn about the process of video making. As I am trying out shooting video's I am finding so many challenges which I need to overcome to finally launch my first video. But sooner than later, the link is coming on all my social media platforms.

1.  A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Dec 2016 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay #1350Post - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/a-memoir-this-month-last-year-dec-2016.html - It was 1350th post on my blog and now this year I am writing this 1674th post when I publish the same. It's hectic amount of work each year to post around 300+ posts even though most of them will be press releases. But I am thankful to my family for not shouting at me when I was busy doing stuff for free but now it has changed. My wife is constantly nagging to take care of our younger one who will turn 1 at the end of this month and she sees no value coming out of doing all this for free. 

2. The rest of the posts that I did in December was towards the celebration of 5th anniversary of my blog as I started a countdown posts from the 30th day to 27th December. I really loved writing these posts and this year I felt the lack of the same but you can read the ones from last year - 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/18-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/19-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/20-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/21-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/22-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/23-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/24-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/25-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/26-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/27-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/28-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/29-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/30-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html 

Aashish Rai in Durban, South Africa

3. Are You #CyberSmart and #CyberSure in Digital World? - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/are-you-cybersmart-and-cybersure-in.html - This was one of the posts I did for Webfluential clients and got paid. This year I didn't got any assignment from them so my money making capability was very much limited. 

4. Breathe: An Inspiring #LoveStory Of Hope and Determination @BreatheMov @SterEnt #5YearsofTheLifesWay - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/breathe-inspiring-lovestory-of-hope-and.html - I have not watched the movie still as I completely forgot about the same. This year I have started using many mobile apps to chromecast the same on my smart TV. People have been fans of Netflix and they have produced some great shows and movies. I am waiting for Game of Thrones and Avengers - End Games. In terms from Netflix, I am waiting for Sacred Games Season 2 if that gets released this year. During these summer holidays while I was working but watched a movie every night and saw many of the movies and really laughed a lot while watching Johnny English Strikes Again (2018). 

5. @Jhbproperty Wins Best International Public Services Development Award #GlobalIPA2017 #London - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/12/jhbproperty-wins-best-international.html - I have done several posts for this property company all for free and I don't think there will be any more such posts going forward. 

Companies makes you fool, you try to make them fool that the way of life but it gives a lot of pain and suffering in the end. Rather than doing that, you should set the expectations in the beginning and whether that goes as planned or not will be fate. I wish the same for myself atleast and let's start the youtube channel! 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Nov 2017 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends, 

November is the second last month to complete all your unfinished tasks and start planning for the Summer holidays and the new year. This year too I will try to finish all my pending blog posts and social media posts for this year by end of December 2018.

1. A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Nov 2016 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/a-memoir-this-month-last-year-nov-2016.html - November has been the month where I really start completing all the pending tasks and all the blog posts pending from my end like the product reviews. 

 

2.  A lot of product reviews was posted during the November which was really an achievement where I could do so much in a single month.

Product Review - @ADATATechnology HD650 2.5" External Hard Disk Drive #Gadgets - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/product-review-adatatechnology-hd650-25.html - ADATA launched a lot of computer accessories and is making a name for itself in the portable hard disk, memory storage, and power banks space.

Product Review - @AstrumSA ET300 True Wireless Freedom Headset #Bluetooth #Earphones - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/product-review-astrumsa-et300-true.html - Astrum gave their earphones in the press pack in 2017 and I chose this one and really enjoyed them as my first wireless earphones.

Product Review - @AcerAfrica Predator Z650 DLP #Gaming Projector @PredatorGaming - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/product-review-acerafrica-predator-z650.html - This is one of the best projectors I have ever seen in my life. It can project 3D pictures and movies which can be watched using the special 3D glasses provided by Acer.

Aashish Rai @ 1 Fox Street

Product Review - @LGMobileSA V20 Android #Smartphone @LGSouthAfrica #PlayMore - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/product-review-lgmobilesa-v20-android.html  - LG Mobile created a unique smartphone which not only surpassed their main device and this one was outstanding. I really loved the camera (Video) and audio capabilities of this smartphone. 

Product Review - @SamsungSA Level Over Ear #Bluetooth #Headphones @SamsungMobileSA - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/product-review-samsungsa-level-over-ear.html - Samsung sent me this headphone after a long long wait since it's launch many years ago. I really loved the over-ear headphones and missing them a lot.

Product Review - Bang & Olufsen H3 ANC #Earphones @BangOlufsenSA - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/product-review-bang-olufsen-h3-anc.html - Bang & Olufsen ANC earphones are awesome but with a caveat to carry the weird circular gadgetry attached to the wires to make them noise cancellation earphones. Really loved reviewing this device and LG Mobile was providing them for free if you buy their certain niche smartphone that year.

 

Product Review - @Vodacom Smart Prime 7 and Smart Turbo 7 #Android #Smartphone - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/product-review-vodacom-smart-prime-7.html - These are the series of smartphones for students and persons who just want to use the smartphone for the first time as they run on old Android OS and will not receive updates as fast as branded smartphones.

 

Product Review - @LGSouthAfrica G4 Beat @LGMobileSA Android #Smartphone - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/product-review-lgsouthafrica-g4-beat.html - LG  invited me to their events and I used to promote a lot of their products. I received this android smartphone for review and loved the unique packaging consisting of several back panels to suit your personality or dress.

Product Review - @SonyXperiaZA XA1 Ultra #Android #Smartphone #XperiaXA1Ultra - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/product-review-sonyxperiaza-xa1-ultra.html - XA1 Ultra is an amazing smartphone with selfie camera so perfect at the time before Huawei starting capturing the market by powering Beauty mode. Sony cameras have a lot of great technology to now follow others with double or triple cameras installed as the world around them uses their lens technology only inside several unbranded and branded smartphones. I really love Sony Products and bought a lot of them in London. 

3. I started a series of posts in terms of motivational as well as my learnings from starting the blog to the storytelling of my life in 30 posts and some of them I posted in November 2017. This year I will celebrate 6 years of The Life's Way and will think about something similar on these lines.  

30 Days To www.TheLifesWay.com 5th Birthday Celebrations #5YearsofTheLifesWay #27Dec2017 #Hope - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/30-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html

29 Days To www.TheLifesWay.com 5th Birthday Celebrations #5YearsofTheLifesWay #27Dec2017 #Perseverance - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/29-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html

28 Days To www.TheLifesWay.com 5th Birthday Celebrations #5YearsofTheLifesWay #27Dec2017 #Perseverance - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/28-days-to-wwwthelifeswaycom-5th.html

4. The ‘Melts in Your Mouth’ Goodness of #YumYum #PeanutButter #RCLfoods #5YearsofTheLifesWay - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/the-melts-in-your-mouth-goodness-of.html - Yum yum launched their new packaging and I was invited to the same with my family. I really enjoyed the event along with the goodies received from the same. I even won the hand-blender for dancing the best amongst all the parents by public voting along with all the several flavors of Yum Yum peanut butter which got finished just this month.

5. @EdgarsFashion UNiTE Orange #6KM Run On 2 Dec 2017 #BreakTheSilence @EdgarsOrangeDay #Jozi - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/11/edgarsfashion-unite-orange-6km-run-on-2.html -  Edgars launched Unite Orange Run and I really loved the launch event and the charity this event sponsors. Many women got empowered using this program by Edgars and this year too I will participate in the run if possible. 

Enjoy your life and post what you love and like. Let's create something unique with each and every post on whatever social media it gets posted on especially Instagram and this blog channel and on Youtube too. 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Oct 2017 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends, 

October is always a busy month full of new launches and expo's to attend to. I always look forward to Photo and Film Expo, rAge Expo and many new smartphone launches from many brands. There are also some birthdays of family and friends which keeps you occupied all the weekends. Lately, I have observed that if I am spending time on my blog, I am missing out on a lot of things and if I am not getting anything in return, then it's better to make this blog my own content only rather than posting press releases. If someone invites me to their events, I will post about them and if someone sends me press drops or money, then only I will post their stuff on my channels.

1. A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Oct 2016 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/10/a-memoir-this-month-last-year-oct-2016.html -  Last October, I was still using S8+ and was amazed at the photographs I was able to take and share them on my social media channels. I was marking Samsung also on all my posts on the network. I have been an unofficial ambassador of the brand. Many thanks to them for making all these capable smartphones to completely wipe out the market of point and shoot cameras. 

2. @HuaweiZA Unveils The HUAWEI Mate 10 and HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro #AndroidSmartphone - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/10/huaweiza-unveils-huawei-mate-10-and.html - I was not invited to the launch event of Huawei Mate 10 last year in 2017 but this year I attended the Mate 20 Lite and Pro launch. I have not asked for the review units yet, as I am unable to find time to finish all my pending items and tasks. I think about and worry about these blog posts but nothing moves. It gets into the delayed cycle for so long that eventually, I lose interest too and the PR company too. 

3. Website Review - www.ShopAcer.co.za #OnlineShopping @AcerAfrica #ShopAcer #SouthAfrica - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/10/website-review-wwwshopacercoza.html - Acer opened their online shop last year and I got the chance to review the same. I bought Acer's LCD display using the R500 coupon provided and I watched STAR WARS series of movies on the same and really loved the same. Black Panther, I really loved watching on the same too. 

Aashish Rai @ Howick Falls, Howick, South Africa

4. Product Review - @AcerAfrica Swift 7 Laptop #Swift7 #AcerForBlogging -  http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/10/product-review-acerafrica-swift-7.html - Reviewing any products comes with a huge responsibility to get not blinded by any particular feature but check those pros and cons which can really impact the person who will put their hard earned money to buy the products you review. I really loved this Swift 7 laptop which is equivalent to MacBook Air in terms of design and beauty with Windows OS. I missed touch panel and backlit keyboard on the version I received for review.

5. Hotel Review - Sangiro Lodge #Bloemfontein @LodgeSangiro @Bains_Lodges #SouthAfrica - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/10/hotel-review-sangiro-lodge-bloemfontein.html - I really loved a little trip to Bloemfontein invited by Sangiro Lodge to stay for 3 nights and enjoy the nearby towns like Kimberley and have a great time with family. I really loved my 10th anniversary in the employer I am working for last year. It's a long period and I am looking forward to many more if Universe has no other plans for me.

Time is money and we all heard or read this adage from time to time but to follow and spend this wisely is what needs to be learned. I am learning this and questioning all my decisions to write or not write or to promote or not promote by comparing my Return on Time from time to time. I am not worried about ROI as much as I am worried about sacrificing family and friends time to post some press releases which no one reads or is widely available on other channels too. On top of it, If I demand companies they ask for Analytics to say that no it doesn't match our requirements etc, so it's better to post what you are interested to write about in your day to day life!

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Sep 2017 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends, 

September is the start of the Spring and the first thing that comes in my mind, is my daughter's birthday on 1 Sep and then other things like Jacaranda Trees and Spring Cleaning the ecosystem around myself. 

1. @rAgeExpo is All Set to Celebrate 15 Years of Awesome Gaming #EscapetoPlanetrAge 6-8 Oct2017 - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/09/rageexpo-is-all-set-to-celebrate-15.html - rAge Expo has been an awesome event and last year it was special for me as I won stuff during and after the show. I got myself a Maxnomic Gaming Chair from ESL via Kwese Gamer in an online contest and also won 1TB portable HDD from ADATA Technologies. Also, the press pack included Astrum earphones too along with several T-shirts from various brands. 2017 has been my successful rAge Expo ever in terms of goodies received. 

2. A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Sep 2016 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/09/a-memoir-this-month-last-year-sep-2016.html - The story has been the same every year end when I stock take my efforts and the returns received. It's negative in most of the cases and where it's some positive, I am not able to devote time to those brands. This year I am ending this misery and no more Press Releases posts on my channel until it's paid for from 1 Jan 2019. Why be on the mercy of the brands when I can earn money and buy my own new stuff and tickets to shows I want to attend? 

3. New Motorola #Smartphone Models to Launch in SA #MotoZ2Play #MotoG5Splus @TelkomZA - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/09/new-motorola-smartphone-models-to.html - Motorola launched their smartphones and soon after some months, it was being sold at more than 50% discount on Dionwired because of bad battery performance and no return on investment from customer's perspective. I didn't get a device to review but I asked some fellow bloggers about the device who reviewed the same. If you tell brands the truth, they boycott you which is self-explanatory in one sense but you need to take sugar with a pinch of salt sometimes. 

Aashish Rai @CanonRSA Instagram Meet in August 2018

4. DJ Tira Massacres #RedBullCultureClash 2017 Opponents @RedBullZA #Jozi - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/09/dj-tira-massacres-redbullcultureclash.html - I loved DJ Tira at the media launch night in CBD, Johannesburg as I could not go to the actual event. But despite all the promotion on my channels, I didn't get any Red Bull cans etc from them for all the free promotion I did. But Red Bull is my favorite drink so I can let it all go without any guilt or so! 

5. @Discovery_SA @JacarandaFM #SpringWalk Welcomed Spring With A Beat #Pretoria - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/09/discoverysa-jacarandafm-springwalk.html - Last year I was invited to the Jacaranda FM for the Spring Walk and I did 5kms with my family. This year I did 15 km walk with my friend and it was difficult but I really enjoyed finishing the same in around 2hrs 42min. This was my 2nd 15km in this year after MTN Walk the Talk 15kms. The body was much more relaxed and I was able to complete the race as compared to the first time.

This year I will finish 6 years of The Life's Way and I don't want to waste my time on brands which don't value me or my efforts. I will only do what inspires me to write and what pays me to write and promote on my social media platforms. I have plenty of other things to achieve in my life rather than wasting my time on stuff and brands which just want free promotion. 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Aug 2017 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends,

It's been some days I have not written on my blog and it was like some long week of holidays where everything was put on hold. I didn't attend any events other than some Instagram Meets and posted a lot of pictures on the Instagram channel. It was an awesome feeling to take a short break from all the things and articles I was posting and to celebrate the 2 Million pageviews for The Life's Way. There is no new targets and nothing which I need to accomplish other than just loving the passion for writing and sharing my view and knowledge about the latest gadgets I come across. I am enjoying all the benefits that come to me via all my social media channels. 

1. A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Aug 2016 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/08/a-memoir-this-month-last-year-aug-2016.html - The series has been my constant guide to check all the brands which were there with me last year vis-a-vis this year. I have been seeing that most of them have been giving me nothing in return for my efforts and I am stopping posting those brands unless I get something worthy of my time. I have my family and I can enjoy my time with them or watch some TV or play some games. There is always something better to do instead of wasting time with those brands who are not trustworthy or their PR company is.

2. #DoBiggerThings with the New @SamsungMobileSA Galaxy Note8 Android Smartphone - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/08/dobiggerthings-with-new-samsungmobilesa.html - Note Phablet series from Samsung has been on my wishlist from the beginning since it's launch. All these years I waited and waited for some brand to give me their smartphone to use in my day to day life but nothing went as per my wishes. Finally, I went ahead and bought one when I got some coupons worth R1200 from my company for working there for more than 10 years and rest I paid via my credit card. I really love using the same but I have not used the S-Pen as much as I thought I will since my last 7 months of using the smartphone. The review will be posted soon on my channels.

3. @Discovery_SA @JacarandaFM #SpringWalk Promises a Fun Family Walk and Run #9Sep2017 - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/08/discoverysa-jacarandafm-springwalk.html - I participated in the event last year as an invited guest and did 5 km and really enjoyed the same. This year I have bought the tickets to do 15kms Walk with one of my friends and looking forward to completing it and record my time as a benchmark to break the same in the next walk. Let's see how good this year's race is.

4. #Bollywood Hunks in Relationship Drama and Changing Society @SterKinekor #SouthAfrica - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/08/bollywood-hunks-in-relationship-drama.html - Every Friday a new movie is released and some of them touches your heart and some are not to be seen at all. Bollywood is now undergoing some changes and a lot of new low-budget movies are taking the market by storm rather than big production houses mega-billion dollars projects. SterKinekor remains my choice of cinemas to watch the latest ones every Friday.

5. A Memoir - This Month Last Year - July 2016 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/08/a-memoir-this-month-last-year-july-2016.html - July being my birthday month remains special to me and this year I turned 38 years old and soon I will be in my 40's. Let's create something which will earn me some living along the way. I will only post those articles which are written by me no matter how short or long they are. These can be only 5 in a month or 20 in a single month but every word will be mines and mines alone. Any brands want to collaborate with me has to come on board with their products or sponsored posts or goodies. Money is my utmost priority as I need to buy certain gadgets for myself and my family.

Cheers!!!

Contact me at editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on paid/sponsored campaigns. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - July 2017 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay #1550Post

Hi Friends, 

July being my birthday month has always been dear to my heart and mind. As I was born on 22nd July, I always thought it's the Life of Pi as you know 22/7=3.14 and it goes on and on and on so is my struggle to earn a living and getting what I want after a lot of effort and hard work. My life has never been easy, and I always had to fight back to get my share of living. But as in my 38th year of existence, I am thinking about the limitless power of Pi (22/7), it also gives me the infinite ability to create several infinite possibilities as I am endless human being. No one knows what I can think of and what I can achieve? What I can work on and what I can get?  

1. Hotel Review - All Seasons Boutique Bed and Breakfast #Pretoria @Bains_Lodges #SouthAfrica - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/07/hotel-review-all-seasons-boutique-bed.html - It was a lovely overnight stay and enjoy the evening with some of the close friends and many thanks to Geniene Preston from UKSACommuter for the beautiful invitation to visit this impressive Boutique hotel. I really loved this unique property, and it was my first time staying for a night in Pretoria. My family too loved the same, and we had an excellent dinner and morning relaxed breakfast. 

2. @SonyXperiaZA Set Up #Xperiatial Mall Activation to Launch #ItsASony Devices - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/07/sonyxperiaza-set-up-xperiatial-mall.html - I think this was the only time, Sony Mobiles gave a great goodies bag which has in it their impressive bass enabled headphones and I got the same in RED colour which is still unpacked as I wanted to review them but never got time to do so. Otherwise, if you attend Sony events, the goodies bag is always surprising as it will have a dairy or pen or keyring or vinegar etc. to create a DIY volcano. The people who promoted the Sony smartphone now are promoting another smartphone brands, and that's the irony of life. Everyone is an opportunist and if they have niche skill they can always migrate to other brands. I have been a Sony fan and still owns the maximum Sony products which are self-bought, and I remember my first earphones for which I saved money and bought them lasted me long.

Happy Birthday Aashish using the Huawei P20 smartphone (review unit)

3. #AcerForYou 2017 Blogger Road Trip – Making @AcerAfrica Your Partner in Life - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/07/acerforyou-2017-blogger-road-trip.html - Acer is another brand for whom my blog is full of articles about their products. I am even getting press releases from India from them along with from PR company in South Africa. I really love their SWIFT series of notebooks and Predator Gaming series of laptops. It hurt me when they didn't invite me to their last event, but life goes on. In the blogging world, you have to make your heart little bit less sentimental, else you will always keep on crying, and no one will care too so if you in deep emotional shit already, stay away from blogging!

4. Will You be Supporting Admiral & Jahseed and Reggae? #RedBullCultureClash @RedBullZA - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/07/will-you-be-supporting-admiral-jahseed.html - I love music, and this was my first time to Red Bull Culture Clash special media event. There only I predicted that DJ Tira's Durban Massacre will win the tournament. Their sound system was something that was missing in other DJ's. I totally fell in love with the vibes at this event, and also Red Bull is my favourite energy drink. 

5. #SouthAfrica Welcomes Sleek, New Compact #Nokia5 @NokiaMobile #Android Smartphone - http://www.thelifesway.com/2017/07/southafrica-welcomes-sleek-new-compact.html - Nokia smartphones were launched last year in South Africa, and I only got to review them around March this year brings me to a question that shall I close down my blog? Or the PR company doesn't know who is the right candidate for them or shall I neglect the brand entirely? There is no right or wrong answer to any of these questions. It's all situation based on the marketing strategy and budget by the brands. Now you remember I wrote about being thick-skinned and that's very much true.

I do believe in the Law of Attraction and Universe, and it's those moments of Co-creation where I just think and the same happen instantly is what makes life experimenting with. The more you can co-create the more fun you can bring in your life. Happy Birthday Aashish from The Life's Way for creating this unique platform to share all your feelings and insights and also to create beautiful opportunities for yourself!!! Keep on going, and you will fulfil your heart's desires sooner or later!

Cheers!!!

Contact me at editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on paid/sponsored campaigns. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

A Memoir - This Month Last Year - Jun 2017 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay

Hi Friends, 

June saw the maximum number of blog posts in 2017 which was 58 for a single month. It was kind of work done for 2 months in a single month and only in May 2018, I could do more than 58 posts in a single month. I generally think of doing 30 posts per month but sometimes I am able to meet that target and sometimes not. But now connecting the dots, I can see many brands who are now not a part of #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra journey. So, I won't post about them in this blog post as whosoever is gone, let them be bygone and why to waste our more time on them. I will continue to do what I do and enjoy my life with brands that love me till the time I ask for sponsored posts and then they go on their own way. Everyone wants free stuff and doesn't offer the money but as this commercial world works is on the MONEY and not on free gifts and exposure.

1. @MarkexSA Celebrates 30 years of Promotional Strategy and Creativity #Markex2017 - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/06/markexsa-celebrates-30-years-of.html - I was part of this event last year and really enjoyed and received a lot of goodies in the press pack. This year it was not the case and goodies were not so interesting and very very less. If Marketing is not done via the media guests then it's not going to work is my thinking process.

2. Top 30 of World's Most Photographed Landmarks #XperiaNewPerspectives @SonyXperiaZA - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/06/top-30-of-worlds-most-photographed.html - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/06/worlds-most-photographed-landmarks.html - Sony has been the only brand who has always been dear to my heart as I had so many products except TV, I bought in London that even Country Manager for Sony India wanted to come to visit my home to see them all. I had everything from iPod docking to Portable e-Reader to mobile and everything was self-bought. None of the same was sponsored as there was no #TheLifesWay at that time in my life. Their technology is top class and I love them and they love me back sometimes.

Aashish Rai - Editor and Founder #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra

3. A Memoir - This Month Last Year - June 2016 www.thelifesway.com #1200BlogPost - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/06/a-memoir-this-month-last-year-june-2016.html - I love starting blog post series which gives me writing space and continuity to do so again and again instead of thinking about topics to write about. The topic finding is the most difficult task I think for any blogger at least for me it is.  Once you have the topic identified, then its easier to research and assemble your thought process to create unique blog posts.

4. A Memoir - This Month Last Year - May 2016 www.thelifesway.com #TheLifesWay - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/06/a-memoir-this-month-last-year-may-2016.html - This year I am thinking of crossing 2 Million Pageviews in the next month or so and also created a page for the same so that you can also be part of my journey of #TheLifesWay. Next on my list is to start posting on my YouTube channel asap. Once I start I will create some s

5. @OsmanSquare Now Owns Pretoria T20 Global League Franchise @T20GL_ @BluBloodSA #TheBluBloodWay - https://www.thelifesway.com/2017/06/osmansquare-now-owns-pretoria-t20.html - Indian Premier League (IPL) has taken the world of cricket by storm and South Africa too is launching their teams but have not seen any movement since then on the same. Let's see when it starts in South Africa.

Cheers!!!

Contact me at editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on paid/sponsored campaigns. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

5 Years of www.TheLifesWay.com #TheLifesWay #Birthday #Blogpost #5YearsofTheLifesWay

Hi Friends, 

The year 2017 brought me closer to my dreams and I could do what I always wished to do for my blog www.thelifesway.com and that is getting some paid assignments. With the help of Webfluential, I could work on 4 paid assignments during the year and received my first cash in my bank accounts with which I bought a Canon 50mm Lens for my new Canon 100D. Till now I was doing everything for free or for some goodies or samples received from brands and PR companies.

The year 2017 is the 5th year of #TheLifesWay brought 565147 page views in 12 months from 357 blog posts and my Instagram channel too picked up its fast pace. This year the biggest event which fetched me the maximum gifts was rAge Expo from where I won the Maxnomic ESL Gaming Chair along with several other goodies from 1 TB hard disk from ADATA Technology to various Tshirts from promotors and bloggers. Silverstar Casino continues to be my top admirer to call me to all their events happening in their complex. Many thanks to them all the time.

This year was mostly good because of a lot of lucky draws and coupons received from Montecasino, Wellington's Tomato Sauce, Edger's, Acer, Woolworths, and Cubot. For the first time after 4 years, attending Canon Roadshows has become an integral part of me and this year, my daughter won the Canon Selphy Printer as a lucky draw prize. I felt great to receive the same and she was overjoyed too. Cubot made me a winner on the Instagram contest for their Fitness Band which I gifted to my dad. Check out all the images on my Instagram and Twitter channels.

For the first time ever in my relationship with Sony Mobiles, this year they gave their awesome Bass headphones to all the invitees at the Smartphone launch event in Mall of Africa. I have never received anything like that in a long time as all the brands are going on cost-cutting or calling certain people for some unique experiences around the globe or within South Africa and showered them with their smartphones and other goodies. Earphones continued to flow into my life with Astrum giving their ones in the goodies bag at rAge Expo and TechSmart's Robin gifting me Sony Xperia EAR on my birthday which is a really awesome device.

This year also marked my 10 years at the job with my employer after completing MBA in Finance and to celebrate the same, I went to Sangiro Lodge in Bloemfontein on their invite to stay for 3 nights. This trip gave me a chance to see Kimberley, Northern Cape which my daughter always wanted to visit. I was also part of All Seasons Boutique Hotel launch in Pretoria and stayed for a night too. Finally, on 31 December I also could reach the bottom floor in the video game called Pink Panther for the first time ever @ Montecasino to win my daughter 150 tickets to get the goodies of her choice.

Ster Kinekor invited me to many of their new movies and I saw a lot of the cartoon movies along with some Hollywood and Bollywood movies too. I bought some Acer goodies too from their online store when they launched the same this year including a 21 inch Acer monitor to better work on my blog and movies/photos at the same time. I also started using Canon 100D DSLR camera which I bought in a deal from the DionWired online shop during some weekend sale.

In the end Year, 2017 was a lot of luck and I felt great to be a part of this winning year. Looking forward to achieving in 2018 what I could not still achieve in 2017 in terms of sponsorships for Laptop and Smartphone. I contacted a lot of them with a lot of rejections from many but then life goes on and coming much stronger in 2018 to persevere and win! In 2018, the target will be to collect a lot of money so that I can buy the likes of Gaming Laptops or Apple MacBook Pro and Bose QC35 Bluetooth headphones, PS4 Pro, and a Full Frame DSLR camera. Thanking You Universe!

Cheers!!!

Contact me at editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on paid/sponsored campaigns. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!

1 Day To www.TheLifesWay.com 5th Birthday Celebrations #5YearsofTheLifesWay #27Dec2017 #AllTheBest

Hi Friends, 

It time to celebrate the fifth birthday post for The Life's Way and series to end. It was a great topic to write all the posts as now I can just link them all and launch a book out of the same. There might be some editing required but it will form a good book to read to start the blog and to carry on working for your blog.

Your mind is something that plays with you all the time and either you control the same or you let it go on its own route. Blogging is where I find peace and release my emotions towards a lot of things. It won't take away the need of a friend but it will always stay close as much as your feelings are to you. Expectations are huge for my blog by myself and it sometimes gives me a lot of pain as I am unable to achieve them. Either I live without any expectations or just make small ones after they get completed.

To live your life joyfully, you need to take control in your hands as you can't be at the mercy of anyone else. Your happiness is in your hands only and no one else can make you happy. They may make you smile but not happy. To me, my happiness comes from completing my pending tasks on my blog and to get it done with. I keep thinking of new ideas and posts topics to go for. Many are lost at idea phase only and only some become a reality. Time is of utmost importance in our lives and we only have a set number of hours to achieve what we set our eyes on. Hence, I try to balance my life between the real life and the blog life.

Thanks to each and everyone who has invested their time and money in myself or my blog. Thanks to all the PR companies for including me in your press releases else I wouldn't have done 1500 posts so far. Thanks to all the brands for spending their money on the launch events and blessing us with goodies bag and a great evening of networking. Thanks to all the fellow bloggers to always inspire me to carry on and working towards achieving what they have been able to do so in their lives. Thanks to all the paying collaborations which are not much in the last 5 years but looking forward to having it multiplied 1000 times in the next 5 years. Thanks to technology innovations and new smartphones which are made to desire a sense of expectations in you and make you work towards achieving them. I am looking forward to a lovely time on my blog in the next years to come!!!

Cheers!!!

Contact me at editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on paid/sponsored campaigns. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!