Refirement eZine July 2009

The death of Michael Jackson has caused global reaction around the world. I was surprised when they mentioned that he was 50 as I always assumed his age was more in line with my children than my own. Our ideas and frameworks about how the world operates are formed when we are in our formative stage of life (the first 10 years). Most of our children grew up hearing Michael Jackson’s music and hence the reason he is an X generation icon and not a Boomer icon. The second thought for me is that this hugely talented man led such a sad life. What needs to happen for us to value who we are and use our God-given talents and make the most of life around us?

I have been in Europe for the past two weeks visiting friends and family. The recession is evident on the streets of London. There is much talk about working longer and re-thinking retirement. The real challenge is to try and manage this process taking into account what you want out of life and to ensure that you map your own future. To do this you need to ask yourself some real questions and know who you are and where you are going. It is always a good idea to attend a workshop that may help you on this journey. See this newsletter for the NEXT CHAPTER workshop that will help with that process.

The other two workshops on offer at the moment are for grandfathers and those interested in improving their social media skills. Please read more details if these may be of interest to you.

I have been requested to look for 6 specialists in the engineering/manufacturing sector who may be able to help with a project of benchmarking in the steel and foundry sector. These will be spread out countrywide mainly in the areas around South Africa where these industries operate. Please send me the names of anyone who may be interested in a project of this nature.

Enjoy the latest article written by Pete Laburn.

I was privileged to attend his week-long leadership course called Ubuholi Nobuntu - Leading with Humanity this past month. It has opened my eyes to the wonder and beauty of our nation and the tasks that need to be addressed at a leadership level to help bring about change in our nation. I challenge you to question how you are using your skill set to help with this process. We live in a beautiful part of the planet, filled with diverse groups of interesting people, many who may need the hand of a willing experienced person to help them reach their own destination. Why not question this in your life? We all have skills and can help. This needs to be done with understanding of humanity and an open heart willing to walk the journey with another human being.

Warm Regards

Workshops on offer The art of Grandfather Stories - 11th July Social Media Simplified - 9th July Your next chapter - 11 Aug , 22 July and 6 Aug

 

Boomers could cushion the effects of the global skills crisis
Pete Laburn

Countries such as the US, UK, Europe, India, China, South East Asia and Australia have all reported a worsening shortage of qualified personnel including engineers, health care professionals, information technology workers and tradesman. By 2012 two-thirds of the maths and science teachers in Western countries are scheduled for retirement, and as close as 2010 the US is reported to be short of 6-million talent workers, including more than 85 000 physicians.

The problem will worsen by 2020 when 70-million Baby Boomers will have exited the work force – and been replaced by only 40 mill Gen X and Millennial generation workers. A recent Indian Management Association study suggests the global skills shortage to have reached between 32 – 39 million talented workers by 2020, with the US short 17- million workers, Japan short 9-million workers and Germany, France and the UK each short 2-million talent workers by 2020.

Closer to home, South Africa’s own mining, engineering and construction sectors, which are experiencing astronomical growth due to high commodity prices and large scale infrastructure development, are limited in their growth prospects due to a lack of technical skills. In addition, leading specialists in the field are saying that SA has a vast shortage of municipal civil engineers, which is putting our water supplies at risk.
Municipalities are employing junior or inexperienced engineers as there are not enough experienced engineers available.

Another factor which is exasperating the situation is that there just is not enough young talent coming into the market to replace the Boomer generation as they retire. This is due to the declining birth rates experienced in Europe over the last 30 years.

These are just some of the examples which highlight the large scale skills shortage facing the world as countries strive to develop and advance. But while most companies compete to attract, retain and excite new young talent in order to take their businesses forward, they should not overlook the Baby Boomer generation (born between the late 40’s and the late 60’s) as a vital component which could cushion the impact on companies and markets against the full negative impact of the global skills shortage.

Boomers have skills, knowledge and technical ability that are still hugely needed, and institutional wisdom gleaned over many years of experience. These are assets that companies can utilise during these difficult market times, and that Boomers can provide well past their retirement date. Boomers have always dreamed big and have demonstrated the resolve to work very hard at what they believe in. These are excellent
attributes which could be vital to the survival of many corporates as they enlist the services of Baby Boomers with their vast experience to help mentor and train tomorrow’s leaders.

While Boomers could be a vital component of any future business strategy to deal with the imminent skills shortage, companies need to be aware that Baby Boomers as a whole are finding the corporate world becoming more complex, demanding and frankly less pleasurable than it used to be. Many are tired of playing to corporate rules and interminable management meetings. Furthermore they are frustrated at having to work with a new generation of young highly mobile staff with little loyalty to the organisations
causes, who do as they please and still seem to be in even greater demand. Organisations have a new generation of young talented managers, who have qualifications but not always the experience and institutional wisdom of the Boomers, who have the skills and could mentor younger talent.

It is for this reason that companies hoping to enlist the services of Baby Boomers in the years to come should be flexible in allowing Boomers to contribute and provide their services on their own terms. Boomers need to be released, but not lost. This could mean working flexi-hours, or on a contract basis, which could further decrease costs to the company as they would constitute a variable cost to the company.

Boomers, have worked hard and contributed much. Now is the time for them to leave a legacy. Its time for organisations to let them disengage from the formal corporate world, but encourage them to transfer their knowledge and abilities back to a skills short world. The skills and abilities they love using must drive them, not doggedly hanging on to their turf as they wait for retirement, frustrated at having to do the very things they don’t enjoy, but have to.

So Boomers and organizations need to consider a ReFire strategy. Boomers have another 15 – 30 years of working life left, but not in its current form. Organisations have huge skills shortages. Jointly they must create opportunities for Boomers to reinvent themselves and their careers, and maybe our looming skills shortage will not be as severe. Similarly ‘ReFire’ offers organisations innovative solutions to unlock the
blockages in senior ranks caused by change resistant Boomers, and the simultaneous concern over loss of skills and knowledge. The challenge is to ‘let Boomers go, but simultaneously keep them’.

A proactive, big thinking approach is needed where organisations need to create a climate of understanding and support for 50-plus Boomers. Similarly Boomers need to signal to the organisation their willingness to retire themselves from formal employment, and become a variable source of skills, knowledge and wisdom, at a variable cost to the organisation.

Pete Laburn is an international strategy consultant based in Johannesburg, South Africa
petelaburn@iafrica.com

Please contact Lynda Smith on +27 (0) 82 490 2822 or lynda@refirementnetwork.com for more details. Our web address is www.refirementnetwork.com

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Refirement eZine May 2009

Who I am, should guide me in what I do.

This looks like such a simple statement but most of us know that this is a life journey of discovery and can be exciting and challenging if we will open ourselves up to the possibilities.

Most Baby Boomers live in a world of what I do defines who I am. At the stage in life when you are leaving your formal workplace or starting to ask some questions about your future this kind of context brings many challenges and problems.

It is critical to ask yourself these questions and try and understand the world outside of your current work context a few years before the formal retirement party. For many in the current economic climate the timing comes much sooner than planned and this can cause much emotional turmoil and uncertainty.

Some of the offerings within Refirement Network that can help this dilemma are the online profiles tests, Next Chapter Workshops and one- on- one coaching. Please connect with me at lgsmith@mweb.co.za if you need more information or visit the “What we do section” of the website.

One of the ways you can grow is to volunteer some time in an area that may interest you beyond formal retirement. A simple option that has just emerged is the Heartlines Mentors Program. Please read my article on this subject in this newsletter.

We now have more than 130 Baby Boomers on the Refirement Social Site. The article written by Social Media IQ explains why this is becoming an important trend and tool. Why not join and connect and learn with us?

The elections are behind us, we are hearing a vision of a country that will grow and work together over the next five years. Baby Boomers will play an important part in that history. Join my network, encourage your friends to join and ensure that your skills are listed on the Refirement Network. Have a great month.

Refirement Social Network This is a new social network that I have set up for Refirement Network. Please join and invite all other Baby Boomers. Click to join

Heartlines Mentors

Many of us want to mentor and are not sure what to do and how to go about it. There is much formal mentoring going on but Heartlines have come up with a great concept that allows ordinary South Africans to mentor someone they know or would like to approach.

Mentoring young people is a powerful way to change society for the better - one person at a time. It helps to build trust, understanding and shared values that bring people together to take collective action for good.

Traditionally in South Africa, young people were surrounded by caring adults in their families and communities who helped them to become responsible adults. In modern times, there is a lot more strain on families and communities, and many young people do not have the support they need to make positive and healthy choices.

Mentoring a young person means sharing their life - spending regular time with them, learning about their hopes and dreams, building their self-confidence, listening to their listening to their stories and challenges, expanding their sense of what is possible for their lives.

This is what you will receive when you have registered and been approved by filling in the application form and agreeing to the code of conduct.

• Regularly updated information about mentoring on this section of the for good website
• A Mentorship ‘Starterpack’ for people who successfully apply to be a HEARTLINES Mentor. This mentoring resource consists of a book, a DVD and access to a Mentor Helpline
• Access to a social networking platform where HEARTLINES Mentors can share their experiences.

To join or find out more go to: www.forgood.co.za, register and then click on the Mentoring tab. If you are not connected to the internet you can sms the word “mentor” to 33250.

Go out there and make a difference to ONE LIFE. It may change your as well.

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Social Media Communication is the life blood of any relationship whether personal or in business. The better we communicate the better our lives.

Think of the incredible impact the telephone has had on the way we interact with each other! Today it would not be practical (or wise) to be without a phone. It allows us to stay in touch with those that matter to us. The internet is continuing to have a similar impact on how we communicate with each other. Today just over 2 billion people are using the internet every day. With the arrival of the Seacom cable to Africa another billion people are expected to join the “Net Generation”, meaning that half the world’s population will have access to the internet and each other.

This technology is driving change like never before, just like the telephone did in its time. It has become the backbone of our world and the recent advances in communication tools on the internet are beginning to overshadow the telephone! Keeping up with the advances in this particular field is very important, as those who don’t may soon find themselves in a situation similar to being without a telephone!

The internet has evolved from a place where you simply did research, to a place where the world communicates. 2009 has been the year of Social Media and there is every indication that social media will change the world forever. Sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are having a massive impact on how information is created and shared.

What is social media exactly? Perhaps the best definition is: content that is being created by the internet’s audience, namely you and I. It’s about conversations flowing in all directions, similar to a family gathered around a table for dinner. Everyone has a voice in this new world, which is extremely important as we are no longer dictated to by a company, a newspaper editor, or TV news broadcast. In fact, these are now considered Old Media.

Here are three social networks not to ignore and the reasons why:

Facebook: Now racing ahead with just over 200 million active users. This is a platform that you can use as both your personal and business online “home.” It’s a safe, convenient way to connect to family, friends and business associates all in one place. This network will continue to define the way we connect to those we care, whether separated by distance or not.

Twitter: This network is experiencing staggering growth. Its members grew by 76.8% from February 09 to March 09! This will soon reach the 100 million mark. This network is a simple, fast way to learn about the world around you. In fact we are at a point now where your voice and what you have to say is as powerful as an entire news network! Twitter has dramatically changed the way we get the latest information on any topic at any time.

Ning: These networks allow groups of like-minded individuals to come together in one place on the internet to share information on topics that are of interest to the group. The Refirement Network is a good example of this. This is a safe place to ask questions, share insights and learn from others. The collective knowledge and experience available on a network like this is truly staggering.

In order to stay relevant as an individual and as a business there are two very important steps to take. First, would be to gain a basic understanding of the technicalities of these networks (i.e. how to use each network) and secondly how to use each network effectively so that you and the network you are on can receive maximum benefit from your presence there.

This article was compiled by Social Media IQ who conduct wonderful practical workshops.

Please contact Lynda Smith on +27 (0) 82 490 2822 or lynda@refirementnetwork.com for more details. Our web address is www.refirementnetwork.com

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Refirement eZine April 2009

Dear Boomers,

This is an important month for each South African as we go to the polls on 22 April. I believe we should all take this opportunity to think very carefully about the future of our beautiful country and what we will do to help bring about positive change. I have added a great article by my good friend Pete Laburn this month on this subject.

Are you a female Boomer who has been out of the workforce for sometime? (or know of anyone like this) . I am embarking on a survey with Business Women’s’ Association to try and discover how we can help this group re-skill and enter the job market. Please email me on lgsmith@mweb.co.za if you are interested in being involved in this online survey?

I have also been asked to find someone to do a 6 month fulltime contract in the Linbro Park area. It is in the Conference and Travel industry and will require general administration skills. Please email me if you want more details.

I have now run two Next Chapter workshops in Johannesburg and I know that the delegates all benefited from the interaction and learning. I will be running another one in early May, please let me know if you are keen to attend.( dates to be confirmed)

I read a great blog the other day and have included it in the newsletter this month (with permission from the author) The questions he is asking are great reflection statements to help us discover and fine tune our journey towards REFIREMENT. Enjoy.

I have spent the last three weeks enjoying a family visit and again am reminded on how different our journey is compared to previous generations. Family living all over the planet brings new challenges that we need to address as part of our journey. Joining a site to do this may help you to get answers to some of these challenges.

Join the Refirement Social Network and share your own experiences. Have a blessed month and make sure you vote on 22 nd April.

Refirement Social Network This is a new social network that I have set up for Refirement Network. Please join and invite all other Baby Boomers. Click to join

The Road Less Traveled by Harold Frick

This week I will be in Palm Coast with my son, daughter in law, and grandsons. In addition to spending time with my family, this is also a good time to think about my life, my plans for the future and also spend time to reach out to people in my network.

In this fast paced world, we need to take time to see where we have been, where we are going, where we want to go, and who is important to us. Being raised in the Midwest, I have always been a workaholic. When I was younger I rarely reflected. Now I realize how important reflection is for my health, my outlook, my business and my life.

Here are some things I am evaluating. This is a continuous process so I come back to many of these things again and again:

As a young man starting out in the world:

1. What did I stand for?
2. What did I want to be?
3. What impact did I want to make?
4. What were my passions
5. What did I think I needed to improve then?
6. Who were my friends? My mentors?
7. What did I do right and wrong in my first jobs?
8. What were my hobbies, my avocations?
9. What was I reading then?
10 Was I balanced? If so why? If not, why not?
11. What were my spiritual feelings?


As I progressed in my life:

1. What things did I discard? Why?
2. What new things did I embrace? Why?
3. What friends and mentors did I discard? Why?
4. What friends and mentors did I embrace? What new friends and mentors did I make?
5. What were my biggest accomplishments? What did I learn?
6. What were my biggest failures? What did I learn?
7. Was I balanced? If so,why? If not, why not?
8. What were my spiritual feelings?

These are not one answer questions, but drill down questions-perhaps lifelong questions.

Why do this?

1. I want to make sure that I have not strayed away from my core values and moral compass
2. I want to revisit old passions, avocations, and goals, to see if I should "try them on" again
3. What actions and directions should I take on?
4. If I retire tomorrow, or if I only have 5 years to live, what things are important? And what things would I do.

I think of Frost Poem, The Road Not Traveled:

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference

We are faced daily with taking one of many roads. We discard some things, and embrace others. Those decisions change our lives. We can, however, look back and reflect and perhaps find new paths that take us to some of the roads we could have taken. In ways it is a second chance.

Posted by Harold "Butch" Frick

http://hfrickjr.blogspot.com

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What is our common purpose - where are our values ?

South Africa’s National Strategy has no backbone

Why is Barak Obama such a breath of fresh air? It is because he is not behaving like a politician, but is bringing in a new way of thinking and doing things that is giving people hope in the political system and its ability to bring about change. Amid the partisanship and bickering of today’s public debate, he believes in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose - a politics that puts solving the challenges of everyday Americans ahead of partisan calculation and political gain. He is leaving behind all back biting and has a genuine respect for the outgoing administration and his opposition. Since his days in the Illinois State Senate he has been working with both Democrats and Republicans to help solve the problems faced by working families, and now as the US president he has brought in many members of the opposition to serve with him on his leadership team, in order to make up the best possible team to take on the challenges his nation is facing at present. Not least of which is Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton, who Obama has put in charge of US foreign policy as the Secretary of State. The way he is behaving as a politician is unheard of, and it is utterly delightful.

In addition, it would seem that Barak Obama is focusing on all that unites Americans together in an effort to mobilise them behind a joint vision and strategy to deal with the challenges they now face as a nation. He has cast a vision that the majority of Americans believe in and they have hope again for the future. This is exactly what is needed in order to build a nation. People need to focus on what they agree on and work together to make a difference.

He is a true example of unconstrained leadership. This type of leadership looks at the negative circumstances around us, and then gets involved in asking what can I do to contribute, what is the ideal or right response to the challenges we face? The right response is not determined by personal agendas, but rather by what is right for the whole, for the nation, society or organisation as a whole. This is the type of leadership that is so desperately needed on our own African continent. We have seen glimpses of it in Botswana’s former president Festus Mogae, a man who has been heralded for his impeccable example of African leadership and has helped to create a nation marked by peace, economic growth and the containment of HIV/Aids. Mogae, 69, stepped down 8 months before the end of his term of office and handed over power to his successor in a smooth transition otherwise unknown in Southern Africa, and in stark contrast to the political turmoil in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

It would seem that our own country South Africa’s current political situation, marked by law suits and public backbiting, also stands in stark contrast to this wonderful example of African leadership and the new administration entering US political office. There are ongoing law suits between the country’s potential president, the previous president and what is supposed to be an independent organ of state, the National Prosecuting Authority. Our own ruling party has done all it can to bring the new political party COPE into disrepute, and many of its members have been accused of interrupting other party meetings and events. Instead of working together, political parties are only involved in bringing one another down. Party agendas are placed ahead of national agendas and priorities resulting in a lack of delivery.

An additional problem with South Africa’s political system is the absolute lack of divisions of power between the ruling majority party, government, and the state. This again has resulted in party specific issues being dealt with and not necessarily the most pressing issues for the country as a whole. Government organs, as well as the state, are instruments of the ruling party to fulfil their wishes and not necessarily those of the country as a whole. A case in point is our current President Kgalema Motlanthe who is often challenged by the ruling party for not towing the party line.

Where is our nations shared vision that we can all unite behind? I would suggest that our greatest problem is that we do not have a shared purpose or set of values. As we have opted not to have an official religion, it becomes even more important to have a value system that we all share. Even a diverse society such as our own needs a common purpose to work towards and set of values to guide it. Every successful organisation, let alone country, is bound by a certain set of stated values. Purpose and values are the axils that hold a society together. They are the constants that should guide us through this turbulent and complex world, keeping us focused on what is important to us. Without a shared set of common purpose and values we are a nation tossed around by every situation that we come across.

This was not the case during 1994 when South Africa, on the brink of civil war, joined together to peacefully cast our votes and usher in a new democracy. We were lead at the time by a visionary Nelson Mandela, who showed us how to overlook our differences and embrace our commonalities as members of a rainbow nation. It was a time of hope and peace brought about by a country’s shared purpose of building a new peaceful democratic society and guided by the values of justice, equality and liberty for all. But times have changed and the years of former President Thabo Mbeki’s stoic leadership style of divide and control, have taken their toll on our nations sense of unity and focus.

In addition, a sense of disappointment has permeated the nation, as what was promised by government has not been achieved. Government’s own policy of Black Economic Empowerment has severely inhibited her ability to deliver on her promises, as large numbers of talented, trained black professionals have been lured into the private sector, leaving the public sector without the capacity to achieve its goals. Examples of governments’ failure to deliver include the health care sector, education, water and electricity sectors, local government with issues of sanitation etc. and the provision of housing for all.

While government has been coming up with some impressive strategies and scenarios to deal with our countries challenges, the only strategy an organisation or nation is able to implement is that which they are capable of delivering, and have the capacity to implement. As a result, many of the impressive plans thought up by government are not implemented and the money allocated to projects is not spent, especially at provincial and local government level. Hence we have a public sector that moves from the management of one crisis to the other, and a disillusioned and frustrated civil society that is tired of waiting for delivery of what it was promised nearly 15 years ago.

As with the United States, we too are a country entering a new era of political change in globally turbulent times. We too have the opportunity to change things for the better by uniting behind a common purpose and set of values, and all working to make things better. This can only happen with good strong leadership at the helm of this country, casting a common vision for the nation to follow, and steering it through these turbulent times. We need someone honest enough to speak the truth about where South Africa is, even if it isn’t pretty, and we need someone that South Africans can trust to lead them forward. We need a national common purpose and set of values to rally behind and a comprehensive strategy, with the corresponding capacity, to bring about change and make things better.

Unfortunately, during uncertain times, the majority of people take what they can get and just focus on taking care of their own. This is not the attitude we need to have as South Africans at this time. We are in need of a leader who will convince people of the hope for this country and the future, and that he will not act out of his own agenda’s or even that of his political party, but of the nation as a whole.

Even before he took office, Barak Obama worked with his economic team and leaders of both political parties on an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan. Faced with an economic crisis unlike any we have seen in our lifetime, and having lost 2,6-million American jobs during 2008, Barak Obama is honest enough to speak the harsh truth of the current situation, but also takes the time to cast vision and inspire hope for the future. In January 2009 Barak Obama addressed the American people regarding the grim economic situation facing that nation at present. He said “We have come through moments like this before. We are the nation that has faced down war, depression and fear itself – each time, refusing to yield or accept a lesser fate. This is the spirit that has always sustained us – that belief that our destiny is not written for us, but by us, that our success is not a matter of chance, but of our own courage and determination. Our resources may be finite, but our will is infinite. And I am confident that if we come together and summon that great American spirit once again, we will meet the challenges of our time and write the next great chapter of our American story.”

South African is in need of leaders with character, honesty, courage and vision to lead us through the writing of our next chapter as a nation. We too, have gone through dark times, coming out victorious on the other side. But we need leadership, strategy and capacity in order to take us on into our future. Lets hope our leaders take a few feathers out of Barak Obama’s cap before its too late.

January 2009 / pjl Pete Laburn is an international strategy consultant based in Johannesburg, South Africa
petelaburn@iafrica.com

Please contact Lynda Smith on +27 (0) 82 490 2822 or lynda@refirementnetwork.com for more details. Our web address is www.refirementnetwork.com

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Refirement eZine
March 2009

Dear Refirement Network members,

The third month of the year has come about so fast. I still felt relaxed and on holiday in January but the year seems to be taking its’ usual increase in pace and responsibility as time passes.

The economic crisis globally must be having an affect on many of us. Your retirement savings may have diminished over night, you may be facing early retirement or retrenchment and the world in 2009 does not seem like a happy place to many. This may be a good time to relax, take stock and count the things that are really important in your life. We did the first “Next Chapter” workshop in January and this was enjoyed by all the delegates. It is empowering to take account of who you are, what skills you have and to then plot the journey for your future. This should be an exciting time in your life regardless of the credit crunch and all the doom and gloom. Take note of the date of the next one in March. Should you be keen to attend elsewhere in the country, please drop me an email as I will be planning this workshop in other major centers this year.

The PRIMETIME breakfast in March is a must for all companies and financial planners as well as Boomers. Book early to avoid disappointment. We only do this event once a year so don’t miss the opportunity.

Social Media is the new buzz word, mainly for the X generation and some early adopters in the corporate sector. Refirement Network is doing a joint workshop on Social Media especially aimed at Boomers. The training will help you as an executive or individual to understand the landscape and see the opportunities you can apply in your business or life. More details in this newsletter.

The Corporate Wellness divisions of organizations should be including the wellness of the boomers in their strategy. As a Retirement Coach, I am able to help you in this regard if you are interested. Please see my advertorial attached to this newsletter.

I am including a great article, written by my good friends Ernest and Angelique Du Toit, this month. Taking a sabbatical is an opportunity to sit back and reflect on where you want your life journey to take you. This article will give you great insight into this process.

Don’t forget to join the Refirement Social Network. The 70 members that have already joined are enjoying the interaction and this platform opens doors for your business to flourish as you share and market what you do.

May you find love all around you during the month of March. Kind Regards

Refirement Social Network This is a new social network that I have set up for Refirement Network. Please join and invite all other Baby Boomers. Click to join

Lessons from a sabbatical at 50 and how we managed this as a couple  

By Ernest and Angelique du Toit

The most crucial thing about life, is to understand and be clear about one’s purpose and passion. Purpose and passion creates the foundation and the boundaries, within which one makes sense of life’s opportunities and challenges. The greater the clarity of purpose, the less the challenges which we face in life, are able to impact our equilibrium and peace of mind. When one is fully involved in mainstream business, it is generally accepted that successful entrepreneurs or business executives, are fulfilling their purpose and passion. This may or may not be true, but for those individuals who are really clear about their purpose and are clearly focused on fulfilling it day by day, it makes no difference if you are in mainstream business or on a sabbatical. Generally, one of the greatest challenges of taking a sabbatical, is whether one is financially independent and whether you have the means to take time out of mainstream business. This is often a major source of stress, particularly for people who are retrenched, or who leave their business careers in other than voluntary circumstances. Angelique and I were in the fortunate position, that finance did not present a major challenge. Notwithstanding this, from our perspective, financial issues should not be a major concern, since our purpose is to impact and positively change the lives of others and when one has that type of value to add, then financial opportunities will present themselves as one makes a contribution to the growth and development of others.

It is imperative in life generally and whilst on sabbatical specifically, that one learns the critical lesson, that one must come to the market, not with your need, but with your value. If you approach life’s challenges and opportunities with your need, the likelihood is that you will not succeed, since people will sense your need, your desperation or your fear. However, if you approach the market with your value, your confidence, competence and ability to contribute, you will draw people and opportunities to you. Angelique and I have been blessed, in that our relationship has developed to the place where there is total inter-dependence, where we are able to communicate clearly, are unified in our purpose and understand the contribution that we wish to make individually and corporately. We, prior to going on sabbatical, came to an unequivocal agreement on how we would approach and balance our spiritual, family, physical, emotional, business and intellectual lives. The analogy is that all these elements are balls that we constantly have to juggle. All of the balls are rubber balls, aside from the spiritual ball and the family ball which are crystal balls. This assists us in deciding on our collective priorities, as we are constantly juggling all these balls and you cannot keep them all in the air at the same time. It is therefore fine to drop one of the balls from time to time, aside from the spiritual ball and the family ball, which are crystal and therefore need constant care and attention.

I went on sabbatical after the eight companies which I was responsible for at the time, were sold to a different multinational corporation, which applied business practises with which I did not agree and the corporation followed a code of ethics which was at odds with my personal belief system. I decided on a sabbatical, since I believed it would give me some time for stillness and reflection after 33 years in the corporate jungle. Initially Angelique and I took complete time out and spent time travelling, relaxing, reading, exercising, socialising and communicating even more intimately. Without the stress and pressure of time and deadlines, we became even more clear about our purpose on earth and the contribution that we were destined and able to make. What becomes evident, is that over the years, one acquires knowledge, skills, experience, expertise and wisdom that can be applied in many different circumstances and to many different people. Both Angelique and I then started to work with a variety of people in a wide range of businesses, coaching, training, strategising and assisting management with their strategic plans and operational execution.

We also found that the sabbatical gave us time to devote to our own growth and development, time to “sharpen the saw” in the words of Stephen Covey, time to further enhance our strengths and make our weaknesses irrelevant. It was a time in which we identified what the key drivers, the key facilitators and the key inhibitors of our future success was, as well as how we could leverage the key drivers and key facilitators and counter the key inhibitors that could constrain our efforts. We also realised, that some of the most critical attributes one can have, is commitment, dedication and resilience. It is crucial that nothing should prevent you from achieving your objectives. Hurdles and obstacles are purely challenges to be overcome, and it is important to stand each time after having stumbled and ask, what lessons have I just learnt from that experience, and then move on. Remember pain is temporary, quitting is forever.

Lastly, Angelique and I would wish to share our recipe for success with you:

Principle # 1 : Always stay focused on the main thing.

Principle # 2 : It’s all about relationships and only about relationships

Principle # 3 : Communicate, communicate and then communicate again.

Principle # 4 : The future will belong to those who best cope with volatility, chaos and change.

Principle # 5 : Innovation and creativity will win the day, every day.

Principle # 6 : Flawless execution makes all the difference in the world.

Principle # 7 : Integrity and ethics must be the cornerstone of your life.

Principle # 8 : Have fun, and live life with optimism, joy and fulfilment.

We wish you every success as you walk your path and fulfill your purpose on earth. May your journey be one of great contribution, hope, fulfilment, pleasure and great blessings.

Ernest and Angelique du Toit

Please contact Lynda Smith on +27 (0) 82 490 2822 or lynda [at] refirementnetwork [dot] com for more details. Our web address is www.refirementnetwork.com

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