Soccer Feva has well and truly hit Avocado Vision – we are all buzzing around in the euphoria which has hit South Africa. To say we are seriously wrapped up in the excitement would be an under-statement.  We are attending matches, watching matches on TV, talking matches and trying to get tickets for matches (Clint - !)… Each Avo has even been assigned a team (some are happy, and some not so much) and we are all indirectly, actually participating in the matches…

It’s been a great experience to personally attend a couple of matches myself, to walk through the stadiums with a sense of pride at how we are actually pulling this show off – It has been said so much, and rightfully so, we really do have a lot to be proud of… There is no denying that it’s great to rejoice and celebrate the way we do, when we do so in our personal space, but we all felt that we needed to raise up the energy in style and truly step it up at the office (bring the joy into the space in which we actually do spend a majority of our time)…

A decision was made when The World Cup started, that we would celebrate her arrival with a good old fashioned, Avo-Family, Socca Feva Braai… We put a projector up in the conference venue, connected it to a TV and prepared ourselves to watch South Africa play their last game (against the French) in the group stages, hoping against all hope that our Bafana would make us proud, and that perhaps we would maybe even make it into the next round…

Avo Family members brought their families along for the ride; Chicken and steak prego’s sizzled on the braai; Laughter, joviality and the bellow of our Avo-zelas echoed and rolled down the hill as we took the opportunity in full grasp to relax and enjoy each other’s company; chatting, joking, anecdote-ing and energizing each other with the spirit of South Africa which is currently connecting the people of our nation…

There were a few absent members of our Avo family… can I just say that you guys really and truly missed out… The day before the braai I was offered tickets to attend the Greece–Argentina match (in Polokwane, which under normal circumstances would’ve been a no-brainer), but I made the decision to attend the Avo braai (which had been a long time in planning) and watch My Bafana Bafana with my colleagues and friends – and I am so glad that I made that decision: Call me Crazy, it really was the best time, and the best way, to enjoy the day…

The weather was perfect, as the sun beat down we painted faces, the Avo children running around, playing soccer on the grass; we snacked and giggled amongst each other over glasses of wine, a beer or two, and passed the time away as the big match approached, drawing nearer, with nerves and excitement in it’s stride. We belted out our anthem full force with the start of the game… We had gathered together, and cheered together, and screamed together in joy and pain, we hoped together, we wished together, and together we prayed that Bafana would reign…

As the sun set, after some glorious moments and nail-biting tension the end drew near, and when it ended we smiled, shrugged our shoulders, of course we were disappointed, a little upset, but we were most definitely proud at the same time… A great day had been shared, a valiant effort put forth by our boys, a victory achieved, a first for the team, at the first for a continent, the Avo’s had a day like only the Avo’s can – And there is simply no denying the fact that Our Bafana Bafana have done us proud!

2010 is officially here, most of the Avo’s are back at work, and the hustle and bustle of activity has returned to not just the city of Jo’burg, but the Avo premises too. Part of the activity that was in action this week was the running of an in-house training session of our Let’s Talk Program (previously called Persuasive Conversations).

The Creative Forces at Avo (I affectionately call them the Avo Grocers ) have been hard at work these holidays on “Project Fresh” – an initiative to come up with ways to update and innovate our products so that we do indeed stand true to our promise of Fresh Learning Solutions (Now wouldn’t you want your grocer to have the freshest produce for you?)

The training we had at Avo this week, while being a session on one of our most successful programs, was also a test run of some of the new fresher concepts and tools which we are currently developing (People! Words can not explain, you’ll just have to attend one of our courses to sample the new flavours on offer – That goes to you Avo’s too! Our Grocer’s make us proud!)…

However…

I can tell you this! Let’s Talk is our Communication Course which provides folk (like me) with huge insights as to the tools and concepts which one must use and engage to be a successful communicator. On the program one is taught to identify within yourself and others the obstacles which cause breaks in communication, what this means is that once identified you are able to overcome these barriers and walk out of conversations with the confidence that your message has been successfully delivered. For me in my position, this is of utmost importance, my team requires that I represent them at all times efficiently and effectively – and while I like to imagine that I do, there is always room for improvement, and the learnings I have gathered over the past two days will enable me to up my game – Is that ever a bad thing?

As always, the sessions are awesome – you learn so much, while actually having a good time! Well done Grant for the facillitaion, armed with your Avo Magic you guide us through the arena with discussions and debates that really make for a truly interactive learning experience – could one really ask for anything more than to communicate in a communication course? I have been at Avo for nearly a year, this is the third time I have been on one of our courses and there is clearly a reason as to why we are Trusted Suppliers to our clients – It makes one proud when you know that the company you work for puts a standard of product out there that is not only tried and tested, but actually works! Insightful, Exciting, Challenging, Thought-Provoking, Engaging – an Avo product never lectures! And this is how we lucky Avo’s who attended got to start our year…

(Smile…)

Avocado Vision is a company with a strong family culture…
While we all work together as colleagues, we do so as members of a team which genuinely cares for each other, because we are after all not just cogs in a wheel, but first and foremost people, who by the opportunity of our work spend alot of time together. This week we celebrated the victory of the matriculants who are part of the extended Avo family, we share their success with their loved ones with a sense of pride, because their victory is the victory of lives we directly or indirectly (but existentially) participate in.

The nature of life and family is that with the good we enjoy, comes the unfortunate low moments we endure. For those who are members, associates, clients and folk like you who follow the blog of Avocado Vision, it was with sadness that we reported towards the end of last year on the unexpected passing of our dear Anabela’s father - Avocado Vision sincerely thanks you for your support and concern during what is usually a Festive time.

Sadly, we learned today that Clay (Our Resident Marketing Wiz, Technical Genius, Design Doctor and Usual Blogger) and his family, have unfortunately lost their beloved grandfather.
Clay, the whole of the Avo Family sends our condolences, thoughts and prayers to You and Yours during this time. We wish you strength and support, and remember! that if there is anything any of us can do you need just let us know…

Sometimes there is just absolutely a necessity to blog! I have just gotten back to the office side of Avo this morning, after two days of participation in one of our Open Course Workshops, On The Spot…

Had just the greatest time, this is the second time I have attended one of our Courses, and I am yet again blown away by the product we offer… Now I love to learn, and I love to be challenged, but I have never liked being On The (proverbial) Spot – unless I voluntarily fling myself there, which surprisingly I do quite often. The thing is that I have always liked to be in control of when and where I will be the focus of attention (as well as with whom), and if I do not feel the time is right then you can just find me amongst the wall-paper.

So, while I was excited about the opportunity to attend another one of our courses (especially after attending our Let’s Talk program), I was not particularly thrilled with the idea of facing that fear of being forced to step into the spotlight, and managing myself in that… with a bunch of strangers to boot!!!

The facilitation was awesome! Errol (Van Der Merwe) was just brilliant at handling the nerves, and relaxing the trepidation we all had at the prospect of failure… We laughed, discussed, analyzed, debated and validated not only our personal points of views and fears but the lessons that were being shared with us – and all this happened under the umbrella of “Avo Magic” which Errol so expertly gave us each a chance to hold and experience. Too often Facilitators can talk AT or TO the attendees as opposed to the masterful art of discussing WITH us – and Errol was Fantastic at this, at all times leading the pack… But never was it forced, exhausting or exclusive which made the experience optimal for all in the room.

My fellow delegates (Adele, Stephen, Nyamy, Masego, Phillemon, Cèzanne, Rachel) and Myself had a blast – I challenge you to find one of us who didn’t – and by the end we were all more confident, relaxed and structured in our final presentations than I think any of us thought we could be… We all walked out knowing that we still have more growth to do, but so well-equipped to continue growing in this regard - It’s really like we were given (as opposed to a blunt boring kitchen knife), a Nice Shiny Red MacGuyver Swiss Army knife with all the tools and fixings required to improvise and improve…

I think that the best example of the strength of this workshop is that one of my fellow delegates turned around and said the he has been on two other presentation courses in the recent past, and this was by far, the better of all three – I liked that, being an ambassador of such perception is an awesome feeling…

When I started I mentioned how nervous I was at the thought of facing my fear, perhaps the more appropriate word is phobia, as in an irrational fear, totally unfounded and not as serious as I thought – I do feel more relaxed about the prospect of being required to stand up in front of people, especially strangers, and what nerves remain I know I can tackle and (even more shocking) embrace.

To find out more about the open courses we are offer you can go to the Course Date on the website or contact me at the office 011-614-0206, or by e-mail soz.theo@avovision.co.za