So, Donna, who writes the most beautiful poetry and simply compels you to hear every word she speaks with that stunning accent, is also one of our external trainers.

She was born in Jamaica where she studied law and got her Bachelors degree with Honours. In her own words, she became disillusioned with law after about ten years and transitioned into conflict resolution, training and facilitation, youth empowerment and activism - which is what brought her to SA.

So, enough with all the fantastic qualifications! (Not that we don’t appreciate them Donna…), but lets get a taste of some of that poetic talent already!

Donna has very kindly let us add one of her poems to her blog!

Poetry

Poetry… is definitely me
Is a ting dat really mek mi feel so free
Poetry is ‘ow a lissen to mi soul
Is why a mek mi feelin’s tek control

Poetry… connec’ me an’ you
Becaas it only talk wat is true
Poetry is a voice fram de heart
One of de ways in which a play my part

Wid poetry, yu nuh need no dacta
Yu nuh affi consult no chiropractor
Caa’ poetry … it ease di min’
Like a blessin, someting divine

Poetry is not no 9 to 5
Poetry is wat keep me alive
Poetry, yes a my ting dat
No matta where, no matta wat!
Poetry…

ds 01/01/41

It’s so fabulous I’m almost speechless!

So tomorrow is my ‘official’ last day in the Avo space. It’s been two and a half years already since I joined the Avos again, and five and half years all together if you count the years I was here before my UK stint.

And now I’m moving on into a completely different space and looking forward to the new journey.

However - I am joining you all on Friday for filling the well and I refuse to think about how hard it’s going to be to say goodbye to all of you, who’ve been so much a part of my life for  these past few years!

But if you think this is the last you’ll hear of me, you’d be sorely mistaken…  Somone’s got to keep the comments going on the site!

Just a big, heatfelt “Thank You” to all of you and lots and lots of love!!!

(And when I come to visit a Number 9 chocolate cake wouldn’t go amiss…)

So you might be thinking, why am I getting emails from Gill, but “Carla-Jo” is the name at the bottom of the mail…

No, you are not losing your mind, and No, nor have we (yet? ).

Our Gilly (these days affectionately referred to as Belly Bean..) has disappeared overseas on some glorious travels with her hubby for a month (just look at all those memo’s, she needs it!) and so Carla-Jo is helping us out until she gets back.

To keep things running smoothly, Carla-Jo is using Gill’s laptop, so that’s why Gilly’s name is still on it!

However, seeing as though I am the chick who does the whole ‘email signature’ thing, I’m sure I can make a plan to keep confusion at a minumum!

Thanks for helping us out Carla-Jo!!!

I have to confess that when Jules sms’ed to tell me we were in the Star Workplace, I was expecting to find us on the front page, and there we were on page 2!!!

Hey Jules, at least I actually paged through this time!

In this article Jules talks about how managers need to coach resilience into themselves and the people they lead.

To quote: “The challenges SA managers face in day-to-day managing people are tough and complex, and stretch us to deal the issues and still remain competitive in a global economy.”

She talks about the challenges we face as South Africans and how managers “have a role to play in helping their people stay the course, and remain competitive and productive.”

It is, yet again, a fantastic but relevant read, and I’m afraid that if you want to know more you’re going to have to ask me to send you a copy to read!

One day you’re all sitting around the table throwing around ideas about what belongs where, descriptions galore and deciding on the importance of all these things, and then you wipe your eyes out and there are all these fantastic artworks to look at too!

Avo has been going through quite a process with the Blueprints team to identify the things we do as a company that will keep us successful, and also identify those things we do that could mean us closing our doors.

We then wittled down all the given suggestions into 15 Top Line (things that make us successful) and 15 Bottom Line (things that make us unsuccessful) items. Each “item” then needs a piece of artwork made for it to be kept on-site, as a reminder to us.

What then happens is we all vote monthly to keep track of what the employees think is working and/or not working, and this way we keep track of how we’re doing.

So all of our Bottom Line artworks have been completed by Jeanette and her dad, Colin, and they are absolutely stunning!

I wanted to give you a little taste of the fabulous work…

The guy on the left going into the mincer (ag shame!) represents ‘Bad Capacity Management’, and this one on the right stands for ‘Not managing the numbers’.

Don’t they rock?!

They’re all on display at the Avo site, so if you’re ever in our space, come and have a look!

(PS: Top Line artworks are still being made, so watch out for those pics!)

Avo’s gardener, Douglas, is in the process of setting up his own little garden business.

We’ve been helping him out where we can, and it’s starting to really work out for him!

He did his first “new business” job this past Saturday and has a fully booked Saturday for this weekend.

So, what has this got to do with us doing our jobs too well?

Well, Douglas is also one of the people who sees Meryl for coaching, and guess who had who making notes in the latest session?

At the moment Meryl’s playing PA, chauffer and personal shopper while he gets things up and running!…

So, when we upskill, we do it properly!

Douglas does all sorts of handyman and gardening jobs, so if anyone in the Kensington area is looking for someone who’s reliable to do this kind of work, please get in touch with Meryl.

Avo had a fab article in The Star Workplace yesterday.

The article, “Diversity is not enmity” was written by Elaine and centres around what diversity means today as opposed to what it used to mean (and what managing diversity was), and what that means for managers of diverse teams.

In it Elaine gives a relevant example of the conflict that can arise when different cultures come into the same space, without making an effort to understand each other.

And, of course, she mentions our very clever solution to this dilemma!

It’s a fantastic, thought provoking article thats well worth a read.

I have a PDF copy, so mail me if you’re interested.

Check out our totally cool new banners…

(Now I must just tell you all that I risked serious injury on an unstable chair to get this picture, but it definitely doesn’t do them any justice!).

After a vote on the pictures from the Avo’s and months of making sure we were happy with  the design and checking proof’s, they’ve arrived, and damn, they’re gorgeous!

Sniff, we’re growing up so fast!

You’ll have to come on our training or to one of our talks if you want to get a first hand look though!

Oh, to have such talent! Another fab article is available for all of you to devour!

Check out Jules’ online article from today, on Marketingweb, about Brand Management.

In it she talks about how branding doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg and require an entire team (no jokes!).

It’s more about being conscious of ‘who you are’ as a business and working with it.

It’s a great article with lots of insight and practicality, so don’t miss out!

Eish, you know, these Avo’s could all have sideline careers as models!

There’s me, trying to organise (and keep under control) a photo shoot for one of our manuals.

Now, it has to be said that in general, getting newbies (repeat - newbies) to a photo shoot’s like pushing someone up a hill…

BUT - one photo shoot in and it’s fisticuffs for a space in the shoot! (Okay, thats a slight exaggeration, slight).

After half an hour of ‘fresh shots’ for the Avos, the manual shoot could finally begin!

Well, at least I’ve got some willing volunteers who love the camera and make my job easier!

But I can’t really blame them, check them out… (ahhh cute…).

P.S: If you want to book any of them you’ll have to do it through me and I charge a hefty comission!

(And Noms, apologies for making you share the limelight )