Blog - Page 19 of 46 - Rowan Spazzoli

The Friday Shoutout: Pineapple

Warning: this is a blog about an amazing experience with an insurance company🍍. I know that sounds weird, but bear with me. You’re about to be blown away

On Tuesday this week my phone fell off the table and the screen smashed. It looked like this:

Not such a happy looking phone. I took it down to the WeFix at the Waterfront at about 1pm and they had it fixed by 4pm. And the replacement cost was R750

When I got home, I opened up my Pineapple app. And within 15min I had already been paid my insurance claim. It blew my mind.

What’s a Pineapple?

So for context, Pineapple is a tech startup that’s aimed at disrupting the insurance industry. I’ve been following them online for about a year, but got much closer to the team when my brother joined the company as a programmer last month. And a friend of mine, Sizwe, is also working there.

Pineapple’s story goes like this:

The Pineapple founding team (Matthew Elan Smith, Ndabenhle Junior Ngulube and Marnus van Heerden) got together as part of an innovation competition run by Hannover-Re, during 2016, in an effort to find disruptive models to the reinsurance/insurance space. The competition ran for 6 months and it was out of our little innovation spot in Rosebank, Johannesburg where the Pineapple story begins.

They set out to reinvent the way insurance is done with an entirely new business model that aims to achieve affinity, fairness and simplicity to decrease costs, cap profits and deter fraud in an effort to create more value from an insurance policy than the traditional model.

(For more of the story, visit the Pineapple site)

So they’ve recently started doing demos of their app and I’ve been fortunate enough to be one of the testers. And it has been awesome.

To set up insurance on any item (I’ve insured my headphones, iPad and iPhone), all you do is take a picture of it and state the insured amount. The app detects what kind of device it is, gives you an insurance quote and then BAM… you’re covered.

And the insurance claim process was just as simple. I uploaded a picture of my phone on the app, sent a voice note to describe what happened, ticked a few boxes and next thing I’d been paid out.

The entire process of setting up my insurance was nearly instant. And my claim was paid out in 15min without having to sit on the phone once.

#FirstClaimSwag

I also now hold the title of first claimant on the Pineapple system. Which is like being the best clumsy kid. It’s a title I hold with pride.

I don’t think I’ve ever said this, but I really really love my insurance. And this team are going to completely revolutionize the industry.

The app is set to launch in the next few months, and I’ll be sure to write a blog about it when it does. For now, you can follow them on social media (Facebook, Instagram)

Thanks again to Pineapple, you’re all so awesome 🍍

#Number1Fan

Image is of the team, taken on my brother’s first day 🙂

Song of the day: Freedom - Akon

Blog: 214/365. Read more about my #365of25 journey here

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Published by rspazzoli on June 8, 2018 | Permalink

Wheels

After 7 weeks, countless phone calls and massive logistical exercises, I finally have my car back.

My only set of keys had been stolen in the break in. And so there was no way to get the car moving again.

On the day of the robbery, a locksmith opened the car up. Under instruction from insurance, a tow truck brought it to the nearest Merc dealership. Which ended up being in Malmesbury.

To order a replacement key from Germany, I needed a massive amount of documentation. And this wasn’t on hand because my parents had moved and we couldn’t find some of the paperwork (turns out I had it). And then, it would have taken around 10 weeks to get a key from Germany.

So we were able to find a locksmith (thanks Jared) who could get it done much quicker. And I ordered it last week, and got it sorted today.

A big thank you to NK Locksmiths and Malmesbury Motors for being so great.

I finally have wheels again

Image was taken while at a stop and go on the way to our Orange river trip in 2015 🙂

Blog: 213/365

Song of the day: Getaway Car – Taylor Swift

Published by rspazzoli on June 7, 2018 | Permalink

Bookdash and MySchool

A close friend of mine, Julia, runs an incredible organisation called Bookdash. I’ve been wanting to do a Friday Shoutout about them for a while and will do so soon.But in the meantime, I received an urgent email from her, which I’ve included below. If you shop at Woolworths, please please sign up!

Email from Julia

Book Dash (the non-profit publishing organisation I manage, find out more here) has been approved as a provisional beneficiary of the MySchool loyalty programme, but to prove that we have adequate support, we need to submit 50 completed sign up forms by the end of June (we’re sitting on 20!). To be part of the programme would mean passive income for us, and that’s invaluable to any organisation trying to make an impact.

The form to fill in is available here (it’s an editable PDF):

• If you are an existing member of MySchool, you still need to fill in the form but can just add Book Dash as a beneficiary, because you are allowed to have up to three beneficiaries (tick “Change beneficiary” at the top and then fill in your details).

• If you don’t yet have a MySchool account, please consider signing up for one and indicating Book Dash as a beneficiary (tick “New Card” or “Link to Woolworths” if you have a Woolworths card and then fill in your details).

Please then send the completed form back to me (juliaclairenorrish@gmail.com) before June 20th. You can even print it, fill in by hand and Whatsapp a photo to me on 0744645588 if that’s easier!

Keep up the great work Julia! And to everyone else, please make sure you sign up as soon as possible!

Image is Julia,myself and Elisabeth (from left to right) 🙂

Blog: 212/365

Song of the day: The Jetsons Theme Song

Published by rspazzoli on June 6, 2018 | Permalink

Taking it in my stride

My iPhone smashed today. I was sleepily making my morning coffee when I bumped it off the counter. It landed on the corner and, despite having a cover, it smashed into tiny fragments.

I’d fished this phone out of my cupboard after the robbery and, although it has been a little slow, it’s been great. But now it had turned into a little glass kaleidoscope. And it had completely lost touch sensitivity.

I picked it up, gave it as test and realised that I needed to replace the screen.

It technically went against all the plans I had for the day.

But I grabbed my diary and added it on to the to-do list. I shuffled my plans slightly and, next thing, everything fitted.

Into your stride

Once the phone had been broken, being angry at myself would have accomplished close to nothing. I’ve experienced this sort of admin before and it is hardly a blip on the radar now.

I’ve come to realise that you can expect these sort of things to happen at least once a year. One theft, one device breakage, one important document being lost, one car accident. And so this is part of every day life.

I got my phone fixed at weFix and returned by 4pm. It now works like new 🙂

P.s. I had the most incredible experience with my insurance \but I’ll save that for the Friday Shoutout 😉 🍍

Images is of my broken phone this morning. It shattered completely. It no longer looks like this though 🙂

Blog: 211/365

Song of the day:Muse – Resistance

Published by rspazzoli on June 5, 2018 | Permalink

Spending Money

Ever since I can remember I’ve had an odd feeling towards spending money. I’m not talking about the day to day items such as food or transport. My oddity has been around spending bigger sums of money: buying myself clothes, purchasing new tech or even buying big household goods.

I remember in 2003 I’d saved up all my money for almost a year to buy a new speaker/radio. I researched the one I wanted for ages. I’d chosen one that had CD/MP3 Disk and radio capability, as well as an alarm setting. While we were in Australia I finally bought it.

And the next day I was really upset.

Not that I didn’t love the device. I used it every day for nearly 4 years after that. I was upset because I felt like I shouldn’t be spending money. That I should rather hoard it and save as much as I can.

Part of this may have been a fear around whether I would get more money, which is something that lingers to this day. And part of it is that money is fungible. In theory, I could have spent my money in many ways, and I got to imagine that. But as soon as I bought the radio, I was locked in.

I’ve since tried to begin adapting this mindset. The idea isn’t to spend more money or be more irrational around spending it. And it doesn’t mean buying everything I want.

Instead, I’ve started to look at my needs and the utility of a purchase.

For example, I went shopping for comfy pants the other day (mine were stolen in the robbery… I mean, who steals a guys pants? That’s just rude. And they took my nachos. And Amarula. And my freaking keys… okay let’s move on).

I found two pairs of pants, both of which I really liked and both of which were on sale.

I initially thought to myself “I should only buy one of these, otherwise I’m wasting money”

But on second thought, I recognized that I would probably wear both of them really often. And when one was in the wash, I’d have the other to wear. It wasn’t a reckless decision, I was fulfilling a need.

Shifting

Recognising these in built quirks about ourselves is important, especially for managing the way we make decisions. I’m trying to learn to look at money differently, and understand that I’m allowed to use it to meet my needs. And I’ll slowly unpack this, one purchase at a time.

Image was taken today in the Greenpoint park while on my run 🙂

Blog: 210/365

Song of the day: Vengaboys – We’re going to Ibiza

Published by rspazzoli on June 4, 2018 | Permalink

Expectations

I caught up with a friend this evening who, last year, quit his job and moved to a small town. He sounded happier than he’s been in years.

I told him that he was sounding great, and he replied “yeah I’m so happy here even if it doesn’t live up to society’s expectations”.

This struck quite a chord with me. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to come to terms with some of my own career decisions that have been good for me but have gone against the expectations. Either those of my family, friends or society as a whole.

The pressure of expectations is as much external as it is internal. Some of it is due to what people think we should be doing. But much of it is ourselves, and what we think that other people think we should be doing.

It’s easy to fall in to this trap, particularly if you don’t know what you want. You examine the expectations and try to line yourself up to them if you can.

But ultimately, this isn’t benefiting anyone.

The best way to make decisions is to learn to separate yourself from these thoughts. And the best way to do this is to decide what you want and what you need first.

This doesn’t mean running away and ditching capitalism.

You may be in need of a decent salary, or a house. And if you want those, then pursue them.

As long as your driving force isn’t to please someone else. To meet up to expectations that really don’t matter.

My friend is exactly where he needs to be. He’s doing what he wants to be doing and has found a way to make that sustainable. And it’s beautiful.

So don’t worry about the expectations. Cause they’re, probably, mostly in your head.

Image was taken in Moullie Point two weeks ago. We were sitting on the see-saw at the time 🙂

Blog: 209/365

Song of the day: Ocean Floors – Headphone Activist

Published by rspazzoli on June 3, 2018 | Permalink

We met Draco Malfoy

Last night we were at Cabrito, a bar right next to our apartment. While I was chatting to a friend, she blurted:

“Omg that’s Tom Felton”

I turned around to see Draco himself walk in to the bar.

So, I casually walked up to the bar counter, ordered a round of tequila shots and offered some to him and his friend.

We then had a toast, took our shots and chatted briefly.

And later on we were able to get a selfie with him (even if the picture quality isn’t great).

He’s a really nice guy. Even if he was the cause of Dumbledore’s death 😉

Image is of us with our new friend Tom

Blog: 208/365

Song of the day: The Harry Potter Theme Song (aka Hedwig’s theme)

Published by rspazzoli on June 2, 2018 | Permalink

The Friday Shoutout: FemWash

Today’s shout out goes to an amazing team of social entrepreneurs who are representing UCT at Oxford this weekend. They’ve done research and development work on a menstrual health and sanitation product for low-income African women, called FemWash.

They’re travelling to Oxford for the Map the System competition, which is for social entrepreneurs looking to make systemic changes in society. Myself and two friends were finalists in the competition last year and were given the opportunity to mentor FemWash before they headed out to England

A bit more background on Nyasha and FemWash can be found on recent Mail and Guardian article, which reads:

The multiskilled Nyasha Chimhandamba began her studies in Genetics and Biochemistry, earning an Honours Degree in Molecular and Cell Biology, and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Inclusive Innovation at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business.

This graduate entrepreneur is the co-owner of FemWash, a feminine hygiene management product which she co-developed.

If you’d like to follow the competition, watch the live-stream or attend the final (if you’re in Oxford this weekend) you can do so on the Skoll Facebook page.

Congratulations to Nyasha, Ru and the FemWash team. We’re super proud of you and wish you the best of luck! 😀

Image is of Nyasha and I after her last practice pitch on Wednesday

Blog: 207/354

Song of the day: Muse-Starlight

Published by rspazzoli on June 1, 2018 | Permalink