Amazing Grace - the Movie

Just thought I'd make a referal. I went to see this fabulous movie on Sunday. Now before you think I have a tendency towards addiction, what with my Sudoku fettish and also a movie bent - these are really my only two vices - the rest of the time I am working (believe it or not).

Anyway - back to the movie, I think it is worth a see no matter what your religious orientation. I was inspired. The cast is phenomenal and Ioan Grufford is quickly becoming a hot favourite of mine.

The thing that you really stood out to me was the reality of what pioneering involves.William Wilberforce fought for over 15 years to see his one dream fulfilled. The rest of his life was spent on his second dream.

I have been running this business for just under two years and at times it has felt too long, to hard. The temptation to stop fighting is very real, and yet like "Wilber" - if I can be arrogant enough to refer to him and myself in the same sentence - I choose to push on - because the vision is strong and unrelenting.

There is a choice, but the choice is essentially no choice. The work must go on! (I hear an orchestral maneuver in the background).

Can you relate?

Let me know what you think once you've seen it.

Disengagement of the Workforce

I am intrigued by the worldwide statistics that are bandied about concerning the levels of engagement in the workplace related to the workforce. Australia - 14% actively engaged. USA - 11% Actively engaged. China - 9% actively engaged. No accurate studies have been conducted in SA - but the belief is that we are between 9 and 11%.

Active Engagement being described as representing those employees who have a sense of belonging, ownership and connectedness to their work and employers. Active disengagement referring to those who will go to great lengths to sabotage their companies.

The four points of the continuum would be on the far left Actively Disengaged, then Disengaged (basically people with the philosophy of work is a necessary evil) to Engaged (people who find some sense and purpose in work) to Actively Engaged (those who love what they do and see great opportunity for self expression in it).

I am seeing more and more people opting out of the corporate world - looking for an a feeling of ownership and connectedness to their work and so entering the world of entrepreneurship. Is this truly the way to engagement?

The challenge however is that if we hope to grow our businesses - then most likely we will need to employ others. The question is - how do we keep our workforce engaged?


I look forward to hearing your comments.

Thoughts from a SUDOKU fan

I am realising that life is really like the game of Sudoku. Now I don't know about you, but I have become a compulsive player. Sad to say it, but I actually have Sudoku books, Sudoku on my laptop, Sudoku on my PDA (and sometimes....I even dream in Sudoku squares).

When it comes to life, I realise that Sudoku is very much like life. For example, when you start out you play the easy games. These build confidence and also teach you the in's and out's. However, as you progress, the puzzles become trickier and trickier.

Typically the following happens:
a) Start puzzle with great gusto
b) Solve two or three blocks ... I believe that I am a SUDOKU genius
c) I am stuck...for the life of me I can't see a way out
d) Do I give up, go to sleep OR shall I persevere....
e) I keep going .... still can't see a single breakthrough
f) Finally, a breakthrough and the momentum picks up and VOILA - Hooray - another puzzle solved.
g).............sometimes, no HURRAY...as whooops - I find a mistake. Now the big dilemma comes...do I start again, can I backtrack and find my error and correct or do I toss the whole thing and take up chess?

For those of you struggling to make the link, I find life similar to this...
I start with gusto, things flow quite easily and the natural momentum of starting something new propels me forward. Then I get stuck....where to go...what to do...can I see a way through. How wonderful to know that if I just stick it out, I can get that breakthrough and solve another one of life's puzzles!

The Power of Personal Touch

As I build this business I am constantly reminded of the power of personal contact with your client.

We currently run Conversations that Matter, these are phenomenal times of meeting with the readers of Women Inc. Magazine and our training clients where we interact with one another sharing from our personal experiences and thoughts. I always leave these events floating.

Whether I have 15 or 50 people in a Conversation I am touched by the wisdom in the room and the power of each person to impact one another. Not only are these conversations about the message we bring, but more so they are about the message each participant brings to the next person.

Currently we are running four types of conversations across the country...

a) Conversations for Leaders

b) Conversations about Life

c) Conversations about Money

d) Conversations for Entrepreneurs

If you are interested in participating in these blogs, please call +27 11 646-7878

When the rain comes...

Today is the first day in ages that we have broken the back of this sweltering heat with glorious rain. Granted the thunderstorms and lightening can be a little unnerving – but essentially the rain is a welcome reprieve.

How often do our lives feel like we need the soothing touch of the long awaited showers?

The showers in my life are found in the small things...
- the sms of encouragement from a friend
- the smile from the cashier at the supermarket
- the cuddle with my precious niece
- the giggle at a ridiculous sitcom
- the joy of a project signed off
- the delight in my team working well together
- a skype message from my beautiful friends in Austria

What showers do you achingly wait for?

I just need three days…

Do you ever get that feeling – that if only I had three days – I would be OK.

Three days of no meetings…
Three days of no interruptions…
Three days of enough sleep…
Three days of eating right…
Three days of no deadlines…
Just three days

Finding an oasis

An oasis can also be referred to as a retreat, a refuge, a haven or sanctuary. I find that in the busyness of life today that we sorely need a place of rest and respite. One of my places of rest is in Port Elizabeth. It is here that I find peace and clarity of mind. The characteristics of this place to me lies not so much in the beauty of the place – though a walk on Sardinia beach can compete with the best of them. The wonder of this haven lies in the people that live here.

It is in PE that I visit friends who speak understanding belief and hope into my life. They accept and love uncompromisingly and they provide a peace to life while the rest of the world races on.

I am always amazed how tired I feel when I am here; I cannot sleep enough. Yet there is no guilt in this need of sleep – rather I feel relief that I have found a spot that I can let my guard down, where I can stop trying so hard and I can be at rest.

Where is your oasis?