Every now and then I manage to get away from my laptop and get out of my room. When this happens, I go to a coffee shop or restaurant so that I can just hang with people.Then I remember why I’ve chosen a semi-hermitic lifestyle because, in the main, all I hear is moaning, complaining and whining. On my best days I battle to keep my equilibrium without still having to contend with negativity.Yes, I get that a good whine every now and then to unburden oneself probably feels good as one vomits all the negativity out of oneself. I’ve been prone to a pity part or two in my time. But, I’m not sure it is very helpful, though. It’s also futile because we seldom have power to change the things we whine about: blackouts, a broken leadership, petrol price increases, the USA’s stance on gay marriages, the economy, al-Bashir, the Guptas, Mugabe, Pistorius and the neighbour’s dog. So, I understand that getting things off one’s chest is cathartic and probably necessary from time-to-time. But what I don’t get is when people who have so lining.You know the ones: They complain about the bed that was too hard in their 5- star hotel in Paris, the wine that wasn’t chilled enough in their business class flight to the Bahamas, the Internet connection is patchy in Perth, their flight was delayed in London, Sydney, Cancun or wherever, their lobster was laborious in Mauritius.I’m not sure what universe they come from? I think most of us would love the opportunity to be able to fly business class or first class, to go to exotic places, to meet amazing people and to eat ‘master chef’ quality food. I for one wouldn’t care if my Internet connection is patchy, the service is not entirely up to scratch and the food is not always up to par. I would be focusing on the gift that I have. So when we whine, let’s reflect on those folks that have less than us (no matter our circumstances) and then maybe, just maybe we will realise we already have more than is due to us and that an attitude of gratitude is probably a better choice than the one that some of us take.

1. Volksrust Recorder - Column / Rubrieke10 Recorder 03 July 2015
Change
Your
Story
With Jacques de Villiers
DoYouWant
CheeseWithThatWhine?
oNTHOU
Volksrust Seme
Business Column
Every now and then I manage to get away
from my laptop and get out of my room. When
this happens, I go to a coffee shop or
restaurant so that I can just hang with
people.Then I remember why I’ve chosen a
semi-hermitic lifestyle because, in the main,
all I hear is moaning, complaining and
whining. On my best days I battle to keep my
equilibrium without still having to contend
with negativity.Yes, I get that a good whine
every now and then to unburden oneself
probably feels good as one vomits all the
negativity out of oneself. I’ve been prone to
a pity part or two in my time. But, I’m not sure
it is very helpful, though. It’s also futile
because we seldom have power to change
the things we whine about: blackouts, a
broken leadership, petrol price increases, the
USA’s stance on gay marriages, the economy,
al-Bashir, the Guptas, Mugabe, Pistorius and
the neighbour’s dog. So, I understand that
getting things off one’s chest is cathartic and
probably necessary from time-to-time. But
what I don’t get is when people who have so
much have so little gratitude.I’ve noticed
there’s a trend on FB (in my circles anyway)
to ‘make of heaven a hell’. I have ‘friends’
that will find the dark cloud in every silver
lining.You know the ones: They complain
about the bed that was too hard in their 5-
star hotel in Paris, the wine that wasn’t chilled
enough in their business class flight to the
Bahamas, the Internet connection is patchy
in Perth, their flight was delayed in London,
Sydney, Cancun or wherever, their lobster was
laborious in Mauritius.I’m not sure what
universe they come from? I think most of us
would love the opportunity to be able to fly
business class or first class, to go to exotic
places, to meet amazing people and to eat
‘master chef’quality food. I for one wouldn’t
care if my Internet connection is patchy, the
service is not entirely up to scratch and the
food is not always up to par. I would be
focusing on the gift that I have. So when we
whine, let’s reflect on those folks that have
less than us (no matter our circumstances)
and then maybe, just maybe we will realise
we already have more than is due to us and
that an attitude of gratitude is probably a
better choice than the one that some of us
take.
Forfurtherinformation:
Jacques de Villiers
jacques@jacquesdevilliers.com
082 906 3693
Productivity (noun):The effectiveness of
productive effort, especially in industry, as
measured in terms of the rate of output per
unit of input. synonyms: efficiency,
production, productiveness, work rate,
output, yield, capacity, productive
capacity.It’s no use you wake up every
morning, drag yourself out of bed, pitch up
to work unmotivated, and spend the day
twiddling your toes. Wasting your time is
such an unhealthy habit that some (we won’t
say who) may call you a thief. A thief that’s
stealing the company’s money by getting paid
for being a lazy bum.Each person in your
department has the same amount time to do a
different number of things. No, Sarah isn’t
superhuman (or any other superhero for that
matter). She just has more energy and is more
motivated than you.The trick is to muster the
energy to keep you on a high for longer.
Working more hours means a big fat zero
hollow egg if you don’t get things done
anyway. Here’s a secret: The best managers
don’t care how much time you spend at your
desk, they just want quality results. Results
results results. And to get results, you must
produce produce produce.Fun fact: Did you
know that produce is the root word for
productivity? Well now you know (insert
gasps, wows, and mindblowing ‘boom badow
boosh’ sounds.)So now that we’ve convinced
you, Mr Lazy Bum, that you need to stop
thieving time, let’s get you to increase your
productive juices and even put Super Sarah
to shame:
1.Findabalancebetweensleep,exerciseand
nutrition.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know it’ll
get your energy up.Actually it took scientists
to prove it. But it’s common knowledge now.
So use your common knowledge and balance
your life.
2.Combatprocrastination.
Because later becomes one-minute-before-
deadline. Or worse - never. Procrastinator may
sound awesome, like Terminator or
Governator, but it’s not. Not even almost. If
you don’t know what to do, look up Nike’s
slogan.
3. Productivity and being busy are not the
same thing.
It is possible to be busy doing nothing. Super
Sarah already knows that working and getting
things done are different. Get serious and ask
yourself: Is what I’m doing right now adding
value to my job and growth? If you’ve been
typing all day e’ry day, but answered no…
Honey, you’re doing it wrong!
4. Plan your tasks.
Simple: make a to-do list. Simpler: decide how
much time each task needs. Simplest: Do it
top to bottom without distractions.
5. Do the most important task first.
Remember that simple to-do list you need to
make? Of course you do, just look 3 lines up.
On your to-do list, put the most urgent, the
most important and the one with the closest
deadline at the top. Duh!
6. Time’s money so treat it as such.
Have a clear understanding of the amount of
time a certain task will take to complete. Set a
strict time limit to complete it. Oh look, we
already mentioned this. You may therefore
deduce that this is an important point. Yes.
Yes it is.
(Bonus Tip: Googling ‘Set Timer’ is a rea
l thing!)
7. Master the art of saying no
If the meeting doesn’t concern you don’t go.
If a task can wait, add it to a future to-do list.
You have to do your best to stick to the task
at hand and follow your to-do list. As you
can see, this to-do list thing really is important.
8. Have a break.
Have a Kit Kat if you must. Since you’re not
a robot (we’re pretty sure you aren’t) your
mind needs to rest in order to refocus. You
can do at least this one, right? I mean, how
hardisittojustchillforawhile?#chill#chilling
#coffee #lunch #socialisingatwork #freedom
#kitkatbreak
9. Practice, practice, practice.
There are no shortcuts in life. Work hard. The
more you do it, the easier it gets. If you don’t
believe us, believe Gary Player: The harder
you work, the luckier you get.
10.Add some pressure.
We get it. Sometimes work is boring.
Sometimes the tasks and deadlines are easy
and you lose all oomph. And that sucks. But
you can get your oomph back! All you have
to do is power-up: Add more tasks to your
list, set personal goals, do a lot more than the
bare minimum, and reach the deadlines with
time to spare.Working under pressure
awakens a drive you never knew you had.
You’ve got the power!Soon you’ll be
productive with your eyes closed (Disclaimer:
Do not close your eyes while working. This
is an idiom and is not to be taken literally.)
11. Tune out.
Put in your earphones (or headphones if
you’re one of those people who says ear buds
feel like creepy crawlies) so that annoying-
boring-story-telling-Sally doesn’t interrupt
you, your thought process or your tight
schedule. It’s okay to be selfish.
12. Don’t rely on your memory.
Take notes, always. Us humans suck at
remembering stuff. Yes, even you. In fact, if
you’re reading this, it’s probably especially
you. Write down everything. Or if you want
to be fancy and complicated, use your
phone’s voice recorder.
13. Now get off Facebook.
You already know this. Facebook wastes time
that you could be using for better blah blah
blah…Do you think Superman wastes his time
on Facebook? No, because everyone will die
and the bad guys will get away. Metropolis
will literally fall to pieces (like a sad Gotham)
if Superman couldn’t control that notification
icon and its red numbers. So get back to
work!And that’s all you need to do.
Congratulations, You’re now officially
crowned Super Productive Man!
We wish for all employers and employees to
have a productive week this week.The
Entrepreneurship programme will kick-off in
August. For all of you that have entered,
thank you. We will keep you posted as to
when exactly we will start.
Willem Hüsselmann - 082 415 7725
Freddie Kapp - 017 735 4444
Johan Botha - 082 335 7274
Ashraf Moola - 082 558 5515
Ahmed Chotia - 082 554 4886
13 Productivity
Hacks To Get More Done
Johannes 3:1-3 “Kyk watter groot liefde die
Vader aan julle bewys het, dat ons kinders
van God genoem kan word! Om hierdie rede
ken die wêreld ons nie, omdat dit Hom nie
geken het nie. Geliefdes, nou is ons kinders
van God en dit is nog nie geopenbaar wat
ons sal wees nie; maar ons weet dat ons aan
Hom gelyk sal wees, omdat ons Hom sal sien
soos Hy is. En elkeen wat hierdie hoop op
Hom het, reinig homself soos Hy rein is."
Watter kosbare belofte, meer nog kragtige
herinnering aan wat God deur Christus vir
ons en in ons gedoen het. Hierdie belofte het
te doen met die verlede, hede en toekoms.
God se groot liefde is geopenbaar deurdat
Hy Jesus na hierdie aarde toe gestuur het om
die mensdom te verlos van hulle sonde. Dit
wat ek en jy nie kon doen deur werke nie, kom
doen God deur genade. Jesus neem ons
sondes en ongeregtighede op Hom. Hy, die
heilige vir ons die onheilige, Hy reine, vir ons
die onreine, sodat ons deur Hom ook heilig
en rein voor die Vader kan staan. Deur Jesus
of deurdat ons versoen met God deur Christus
neem God ons aan as Sy kinders. Wow - ek en
jy is kinders van God. Ons word erfgename
van God en mede erfgename saam met
Christus. (Rom 8:16 -17). Let wel, dit alles is
genade, hierdie werk van die Heilige Gees
bring ‘n verandering in ons. Ons diepste wese
word getransformeer deur die opstan-
dingskrag. Ons is nou nuwe mense, ons dink
anders, praat anders en leef anders. Ons word
gees mense. Dit maak ons egter nie beter as
ander nie, tog anders, en dit is hierdie
andersheid waarvan die wat vashou aan die
sonde nie van hou nie. Onthou, alles waarvan
die vlees hou, skop teen alles wat die Bybel
ons leer. Moet dan nie verbaas wees as jy
teenstand van jare oue vriende kry nie. Ek en
jy moet juis die nuwe wat ons ontvang het
leef, sodat ander Christus in ons kan sien.
Nog ‘n kragtige belofte is dat kinders van
God Christus sal sien maar ook soos Hy sal
wees. Ek glo Johannes verwys hier na Jesus
se opstandings liggaam. Kinders van God
gaan by die wederkoms in ‘n oomblik verander
word om soos Jesus te wees. 1Kor. 15: 51-
58. Vlees en bloed kan nie in God se
teenwoordigheid ingaan nie. Ons vlees is
sondig en swak. Ons ontvang hemelse
liggame net soos Jesus. Jesus het ‘n
verheerlikde liggaam gehad. Die dissipels het
Hom erken, aan Hom gevoel en Hy het saam
met die dissipels vis geëet. Hy kon deur tyd
en ruimte beweeg. Wat ‘n wonderlike belofte
en vooruitsig. Johannes herinner gelowiges
om hulle self voor te berei vir hierdie dag van
ontmoeting. “ En elkeen wat hierdie hoop
op Hom het, reinig homself soos Hy (Jesus)
rein is. Net soos die bruid haarself voorberei
om die bruidegom te ontmoet, so moet ons
as kinders van God ons self voorberei om
Jesus te ontmoet." Hoe? Deur heilig te leef,
gehoorsaam te wees aan die Heilige Gees. Om
die sonde wat ons omring te ignoreer en te
doen wat reg is. Om ons vlekkeloos te bewaar
vir ons Here Jesus se wederkoms. Ek en jy
moet altyd reg wees. Hy kom vir ons by ons
afsterwe. Kind van God, ons het ‘n
wonderlike vooruitsig saam met Jesus.Volhard
in geloof, volhard in heiligmaking, leef in
gehoorsaamheid en koester die genade wat
God aan jou bewys het.
Vrede
Pastoor Johan Venter.
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