March must be a good wedding month… As you might recall from my last ‘Avo update’ blog, we have two weddings this month! Gill tied the knot this past weekend and is now officially Mrs. Els, who says “I was an uncultured bride on the dancefloor!”. If you can admit it theres nothing wrong with that!

It’s Becky’s turn this weekend and she’ll be returning to us as Mrs. Smith!

Gill and Anabela are getting their blogging lessons next week so watch out for those… .

Jenny’s sister Bridget (a.k.a Biddy-Boo) has come to visit for three weeks so she is a happy chappie.

Don’t forget that the kiddies are all on school holidays at the moment (actually, only those of us without kids could forget that!) so the malls are all really full!

Catherine has already left us. It’s a pity that we only had such a short amount of time with you but hope that what you are doing now brings you every happiness.

Okay okes, I’m keeping it short but sweet this time. But watch out for the next one when hopefully our brides will have given us some pics to put up!.

Cheers!.

Connecting Conversations is a really unique programme that will challenge pre-conceptions and stereotypes in a fun, personal and soulful way.

Learners who attend the programme will deepen their own understanding of the complexities of diversity by listening to extraordinary speakers who have embraced diversity in various ways in their own lives. By doing this we deliberately move away from generalisations and stereotypes created around culture.

The three main cornerstones of the programme are:

Awareness - Becoming aware of self and the other person, with everything that makes them different from you.

Understanding - Your own personality, values, beliefs, strengths, weaknesses and ways of dealing with conflict.

Respect - Understanding why you and the other person communicate and interact the way you do which allows you to manage your attitude and leads to respect.

On the Connecting Conversations programme learners will go to historical South African sites and meet speakers who have particularly diverse (or non-stereotypical) backgrounds such as Lionel Davis, Matthew Ribnick, Noria Mabasa and more, who will share their stories, and will be able to part-take in discussions with them.

To quote Tracy Scott, one of our amazing trainers, who runs the programme; “If we want to understand a culture it means we want to understand ideas, beliefs and values which are different from our own. If we want to escape the stereotypes we need to understand that culture is complex, as complex as each individual in that culture and that it is only when we allow real people to share who they are with us (to let their life story intersect with our own life story) that we start to see the threads that are common to all of us and to see the differences as richness.”

If you’d like to take part in this special programme or have any questions, please contact Gill.

Three times a year, aspiring SAB Sales Managers gather at the SAB Training Institue to embark on a two week leadership journey - The Sales Leadership Programme. This is one of the exciting leadership programmes run by Ashley Lovell, SAB Learning and Development consultant from Marketing Sales & Distribution. Avocado Vision project manage this exciting programme, amongst others.

The programme in February saw Ashley and his Sales Leadership Programme delegates, together with Avo and Chris Vind from Corporate Adventures, getting together at the Mother of Peace Orphange in Northriding to take on an Extreme Makeover Teambuild.

The orphanage in desperate need of repairs was the lucky recipient of an extreme make over organised and executed by Chris (Corporate Adventures), Avo, Ashley and his delegates.

Gutters were put up, a water storage tank erected, paving laid, grass laid, shade cloth shelter erected, jungle gyms repaired and painted (even the rocking horse got a creative new look!!)….

There was even time at the end of the day to relax around the braai and have a couple of well deserved beers.

The kids were absolutely thrilled with the attention that their home received.

Well done everyone!!

I have a somewhat different approach to many coaches, in that I focus on getting stuck in and helping clients get their act together right now. Life is way too short to take anything for granted, so simply stop messing around and just do it. Whatever ‘it‘ happens to be for you.

My energy and enthusiastic approach to life attract people who are looking for creative solutions to lead more meaningful, juicy lives, and strength-filled passionate lives. I currently divide my time between my individual clients, running email programmes internationally, effective workshops, training in corporates and creating new material all the time.

Trained in the UK as a Master Life Coach (LCSi, Member of Association for Coaching UK and South African COMENSA), I also incorporate NLP techniques, and the unique EFT. I call on my qualifications of Industrial Psychology, Industrial Relations, Aromatherapy, Reflexology and Stress Management. My background includes a succesful Aromatherapy practice, owning a Holistic centre, Training, as well as a deep love and understanding of all aspects of the food and hospitality industry.

I am a natural entrepreneur with a wonderful combination of experiences and am committed to assisting clients to step into a life they love. I will often challenge you with “Why wait?”. We are never assured of tomorrow, so the trick is to decide what you really want in life, create the corresponding goals, and then start living each day as if it was your last. Get involved with your life and that leads directly to happiness.

My life purpose is to actively support women on the threshold of making courageous leaps in their lives, no matter what those leaps are and where they may take you. I am committed to assisting you in discovering your unique life signature. Now doesn’t that sound awesome!

If you would like to book Kate as your coach, please contact Carla-jo Barry.

The article “In the Meantime, the Lotto training continues” in The Star Workplace today, is about how Ngikwazi has carried on with their training for the new lottery terminal operators, in order to be ready for the April deadline.

Andre is quoted as saying “Our deadlines haven’t changed, our training hasn’t changed - we are absolutely committed to being ready for April 1″.

It explains that, once trained, lottery terminal operators will receive a certificate and will have the option to continue with further studies on the next NQF level. Also, as this is the first time that many people have had this kind of training opportunity, the attendance has been quite high with a good bout of enthusiasm following!.

It also mentions the workforce of 150 field workers that are going from store to store to make sure that things run smoothly when the terminals are all switched on, on March 19th during a trial run.

Again, to quote Andre “We can’t speculate on the outcome of the Uthingo-Gidani dispute, but those who have received training have undoubtedly gained something - new skills that they can use to improve their working lives”.

He actually did it!!!!!!

It seems that when the big “Four OH” looms, it becomes a time of ponder and planning, debate and introspection. No, I am not talking about deep, meaningful life changing philospohies or spiritual journeys. I am talking about the “what am I going to do for my 40th birthday” angst. We (Richard and I) started this process in April last year, preparing for October, Richard’s birthday. A number of possiblities emerged. Boating on the canals of Europe with a group of friends all turning 40 either last year or this year (me being the exception). An island trip with another couple. Europe to visit family with our daughters. A fancy rail trip to Namibia…. Nothing was quite right. Richard having Deliberative as a strength was, of course, pondering and probing everything. Nope, nothing was right. Then one sleepless night, whilst tossing and turning, head spinning, mind stressing (nothing to do with work mind you) it finally hit him like a steam train.

Richard has always had a fascination with all things to do with water and air. He is an accomplished sailor but has never had the opportunity to do much with regard to the flying (apart from be an envious passenger in other people’s aircraft). You can ask him almost anything about aircrafts, their prices, their names, details of their flying capabilities and on and on. Richard decided to get his Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL). This entails a minimum of 40 hours flying, exams, a two hour medical and of course the instruction itself.

He came very close on a few occasions to giving up. Not the physical capability of flying. Not the exams which he passed with ease. It was the emotional and mental stress of dealing with the actual fear of losing control of the plane and killing yourself.

However yesterday, the 13 March 2007, he did it. He got his licence!!!! I am so proud of his accomplishment for a number of reasons. Firstly, he was clever to identify what he really wanted deep down. Secondly, he acted on that dream and went and found the flying school, budgeted for the payment of the whole course etc etc. Thirdly, he actually started the training. Fourthly, he identified his fears. Fifthly, he faced up to them and dealt with them. And Sixthly, he achieved what he set out to do. At each of the steps he could have stalled but he didn’t. It is one thing to have a dream or fantasy - it is quite another to achieve it. Well done Richard!!!!

jen

Avo was interviewed by Juliet Koeman for the Entreprenuer Magazine and the article was published in this months issue.

It’s a beatufully written article about Avo’s growth. It covers how we got our name, how after humble beginnigs we are now a respected leader in this field, that we joined with Andre at Can Do to create Ngikwazi and the contract awarded to us by Gidani.

Its also about how Jules and Elaine each bring different elements to the company and how we bounced back from ’standing in the fire’.

To quote Jules from the article: “What we really try to do here is to plant ideas in clients’ soil. We invest in people, in soft skills and in helping people to shift their insights. After all, you have no idea what a person can become if they are helped to grow.”

Thanks to Juliet for writing such a wonderful article about Avo.

This is going to be one of the birthday wishes that you send, via a belated birthday card, because you missed someones birthday!!!! So, happy belated birthday Avo Website!!!

The site, actually turned 1 year old on the 14th Feb. The first official blog, was blogged by Mike Stopforth - remember this:

Hey Avo’s! Welcome to your new, improved, uber-sexy organic website, www.avovision.co.za. This is a new medium, it is not a traditional website, so it will take some adjusting. Have fun, experiment, add stuff, and watch it grow!!!. If you are struggling please do not hesitate to email me with your questions.

And so the change management process was set in motion, as the Avo’s were being convinced on a daily basis to start blogging - at times, it seemed like trying to push a watermelon through a hose pipe!!

But, look where the site is now….well done everyone…..i think the Avo Bloggers need to go down to the “Knuiper” for a beer or two to celebrate our first birthday!!

For many people successful conversations of persuasion and negotiation don’t come easily or naturally.

In order to have a truly successful persuasive conversation or presentation, a few fundamental elements need to be in place; you need to have planned an approach and be clear about what you want to achieve with the conversation.

You have to have insight into the ‘people’ stuff and have the persuasion, negotiation and presentation skills in order to manage the conversation or presentation for an effective outcome for both parties.

By the end of our programme, you’ll be able to:

Prepare and plan for a persuasive conversation, structure appropriate content, understand the role of your own personality and conflict handling disposition in negotiations. You’ll also understand how to negotiate for common ground and how to conduct truly persuasive communication.

We’re convinced that you’ll enjoy our blended training approach of theoretical learning, conversations, and roleplays.

If you’d like more information about our Persuasive Conversations programme please feel free to contact Gill with any questions you may have.

So you think you had fun last night? Well WE had fun this weekend (and where were the rest of you?) blacksmithing with Paul in Hekpoort. 8 Avos & friends did our boy-thing making amazing candle-holders in the medieval environment of Paul’s personal smithy. Funny how all of the men I’ve ever invited to this event have all said, “Can I make a sword?” Thanks Jen for your always supply of fringe medical solutions which always save the day. Thanks Jules for the lekker lunch and coming all the way out there to wash dishes for us! Thanks Grant for organising it all, and for your famous coffee. My blisters are nearly healed - when can we go again?