Beware the experts Have you ever tried something new to improve your lot in life? Like a business venture, a diet, an exercise regime or a philosophy. If you have, soon after you’ll find a bunch of folks who pose as experts but are really just naysayers trying to keep you in the status quo. Keeping you in the status quo may be unfair because the ‘experts’ (typically, your family and friends) really just want to protect you from failing. The problem, in most cases is that whilst they are well meaning, they have no prior experience of the adventure you want to embark on. They may have heard from a friend of a friend that this diet doesn’t work or that business venture is a waste of time. But, they haven’t actually been exposed to your idea in any great detail. Remember opinions are cheap, especially ill-informed ones. I heard someone say this about opinions that I find apt: “If you have an opinion about my life; which of the bills will you be paying”. Here are two examples of other people’s opinions that changed the destiny of a whole bunch of people: - Joe Green walked away from the $200-billion Facebook. When Mark Zuckerberg asked Green to drop out of the Ivy League university to build the social networking site with him, he said no because his father disapproved. - Excite passed up buying Google for $750 000 in 1999 thanks to advice from its experts. Google is now worth in excess of $382-billion So, beware the experts. Listen to them with a bit of circumspection and cynicism. They don’t always have the inside track and could very easily stop your dreams in their tracks.

1. Volksrust Recorder - Rubrieke10 Recorder 14 November 2014
Een van die kenmerke van die menslike natuur is om ten gunste van hom of haarself te kies. Dit kan soms baie
selfsugtig wees. Hierdie tipe optrede kan ook dramatiese gevolge of implikasies inhou vir die mense na aan ons.
Keuses het ook implikasie op mense wat nie een enigiets met ons te doen het nie. Ons kan maar net kyk na
regerings wat verkeerde keuses maak; hulle keuses het ‘n rippel-effek in die ekonomie en lewens van die mense
van daardie bepaalde land. Elkeen van ons onthou sekere momente in ons lewens waar ons of direk of indirek
deur ander se keuses beïnvloed is. Hierdie keuses los soms wonde wat jare vat om te genees. Keuse kan ons in
‘n finansiële penarie dompel, keuses verwoes huwelike, keuses bring dood op ons pad. Hoe ons ook al daarna
kyk ons lewe in ‘n gebroke wêreld en niemand is immuun teen die seer van hierdie wêreld nie! Kinders van God
is nog in hierdie sisteem en die gebrokenheid tref hulle ook! Ek is dankbaar vir die Trooster, God se Gees wat ons
troos in die pyn, lei in tye wanneer ons nie weet watter kant toe nie, versterk wanneer dit voel ons kan nie meer
nie. Josua en Kaleb was manne van God. Hulle het in geregtigheid geleef. In Numeri 13 en 14 lees ons van die
verhaal waar twaalf manne na Kanaän gestuur is om dit te verken. God het hulle gestuur, God het die land vir hulle
gegee. Numeri 13:1 “En die Here het met Moses gespreek en gesê, stuur vir jou manne uit, dat hulle die land
Kanaän wat ek aan die kinders van Israel sal gee, kan verken.” Volgens my was dit God se wil dat Israel op hierdie
stadium die beloofde land moes inneem. Josua en Kaleb het dit ook geglo, maar die ander tien manne het getwyfel
of mag ek sê hulle het nie God se wil verstaan nie. Hulle het uit die vlees op getree. Hulle optrede en besluite het
Josua en Kaleb indirek geraak. Maar hulle optrede het die res van die volk ook geraak. Ons lees in vers 27-32
Num 13:27 -32, “ En hulle het hom vertel en gesê: Ons het gekom in die land waarheen u ons gestuur het; en
waarlik, dit loop oor van melk en heuning, en dít is sy vrugte. Maar die volk wat in die land woon, is sterk,
en die stede is versterk en baie groot; en ons het daar ook die kinders van die Enakiete gesien. Die Amalekiete
woon in die Suidland, maar die Hetiete en Jebusiete en Amoriete woon in die gebergte, en die Kanaäniete
woon by die see en aan die kant van die Jordaan. Toe het Kaleb die volk stil gemaak teenoor Moses en gesê:
Laat ons gerus optrek en dit in besit neem; want ons kan dit sekerlik oorweldig. Maar die manne wat saam met
hom opgetrek het, het gesê: Ons kan nie teen die volk optrek nie, want hulle is sterker as ons. So het hulle dan
slegte gerugte onder die kinders van Israel versprei oor die land wat hulle verken het”
God gee aan ons beloftes en soms ervaar ons dat die Here sekere deure vir ons oopmaak, ons voel God se Gees
lei ons in ‘n sekere rigting. Ons beleef en glo dat ons in God se perfekte wil is. Tog werk dinge nie uit soos wat ons
gedink het nie. Het ons dan verkeerd gehoor? Soms nie, want ek glo dat daar ander faktore is wat ‘n invloed het.
Ander partye of mense kan buite God se wil optree en sodoende ons lewens beïnvloed. Ons sien dit in die geval
van Josua en Kaleb. God is egter in beheer en soewerein Josua en Kaleb het ingegaan net op ‘n latere
stadium. Hulle het saam met die volk die woestyn rond geswerf maar ek glo hulle het bly vashou aan God se
beloftes, nie bitterheid in hulle harte toegelaat nie. Hulle het ook met opgewondenheid uitgesien na die dag dat
hulle, hul voete in die beloofde land sou sit. Ek wil jou vandag aanmoedig om; in gehoorsaamheid te leef sodat
jou optrede nie ander se lewe vernietig nie, te volhard in geloof totdat God se beloftes waar word. Moenie
bitterheid teenoor mense koester wat volgens jou uit God se wil beweeg en jou beïnvloed, nie. Kies vandag om
God te vertrou. Want Hy is in beheer.
Vrede, Pastoor Johan Venter
Have you ever tried something new to improve your lot in life?
Like a business venture, a diet, an exercise regime or a
philosophy. If you have, soon after you’ll find a bunch of folks
who pose as experts but are really just naysayers trying to keep
you in the status quo. Keeping you in the status quo may be
unfair because the ‘experts’(typically, your family and friends)
really just want to protect you from failing. The problem, in most
cases is that whilst they are well meaning, they have no prior
experience of the adventure you want to embark on. They may
have heard from a friend of a friend that this diet doesn’t work or
that business venture is a waste of time. But, they haven’t
actually been exposed to your idea in any great detail. Remember
opinions are cheap, especially ill-informed ones. I heard someone
say this about opinions that I find apt: “If you have an opinion
about my life; which of the bills will you be paying”.
Here are two examples of other people’s opinions that changed
the destiny of a whole bunch of people:
- Joe Green walked away from the $200-billion Facebook.
When Mark Zuckerberg asked Green to drop out of the Ivy
League university to build the social networking site with him, he
said no because his father disapproved.
- Excite passed up buying Google for $750 000 in 1999
thanks to advice from its experts. Google is now worth in excess
of $382-billion
So, beware the experts. Listen to them with a bit of
circumspection and cynicism. They don’t always have the inside
track and could very easily stop your dreams in their tracks.
Volksrust/Seme Chamber of Commerce was launched recently. With the initial spreading
of the word, it is obvious that a lot of people (Business Owners) question the initiative
and espescially the benefits. The Volksrust/Seme Business Chamber, envisioned an area
where business’ will thrive and benefitting actively participating businesses in equal
opportunities for our District. In short creating a better living for all. I took some time to
create a list of Pros and Cons for joining a Business Chamber, and we hope as Volksrust/
Seme Business Chamber to welcome you as part of the organised Business Community of
the Volksrust/Wakkerstroom/Amersfoort/Perdekop area.
Pros of Joining a Chamber of Commerce:
Publicity boost:
Your business increases exposure in online and offline formats. Did you know that
chambers run programs that welcome new residents to the community? Were you aware
that members receive an online listing (with a link) to help interested parties find you in
searches? Both of those opportunities alone could give your company a significant boost
in buzz. That’s something to think about!
Networking opportunities:
You’ll be in direct contact with other professionals. The Business Chamber put you in
direct contact with potential leads. Expos and conventions will frequently take place in
communities. Business Chamber members will typically gain booth access to those
conventions before non-members, and sometimes at a worthwhile discount.
Furthermore, the Business Chamber put you in direct contact with other professionals in
the area for networking purposes. Networking can be a pain if you cold call or blindly
attend events hoping to make new connections, but it’s infinitely easier when you’re in
the same room as area business owners for meetings.
Marketing Opportunities:
You have the chance to directly market to other business owners who may require your
services/products. Business Chambers have access to mailing lists that you wouldn’t be
able to access otherwise. Those mailing lists are especially helpful if your business is
primarily B2B (Business to Business), because you’ll be able to directly contact or visit
the person in charge instead of throwing darts in the dark hoping to reach someone with
buying power.
Also keep in mind that chambers refer their members’ products and services over non-
members’, which means that you’ll also gain referral opportunities as a paying member.
Consolidated Business Voice:
The Business Chamber is a stuctured institution consisting of economically active
business people and enterprises with the purpose of creaing joint bargaining power,
serving group interests and joining forces to create wealth and a buisess-friendly
environment in a region.
Training&Information:
What does a slow economic rate of return mean, where does local fit it with national or
even global? How do I create a online footprint, how do I implement a turn-around
strategy for my business? What impact does the latest changes to legislation (PAIA,
Labour Law, SARS, Retirement Funds vs Provident Funds) have on my business. The
Business Chamber provides its members with guidance and training where necessary and
serves as a link with Ahi National. The Business Chamber therefore serves as mouthpiece
and representative of business in the local interest.
Cons of Joining a Chamber of Commerce:
Membership fees:
Up-front cost gives people pause, especially newly-established businesses with low seed
money. Money isn’t everything, but it’s sure helpful for businesses with minimal starting
costs. The membership fees associated with chambers of commerce deter many from
taking the plunge. How much up-front cash are we talking?
ROI urgency:
Chambers are not a magical solution because hard work is still required. If face-to-face
time with competitors sounds dreadful, then you may not enjoy chamber meetings. This
point isn’t really a con that chambers can do anything about — it’s more of a
misconception. Paying your dues and sitting on your hands probably won’t net you any
new clients! You can’t think of a chamber as a one-stop solution. You have to put in the
work after you’ve put in the money, just as you would with any other effort. In other
words, you may not see immediate results from simply joining a chamber, but that’s
perfectly normal. The long-term benefits have vast potential to balance that out.
Potential conflicts:
Sometimes you’ll be face to face with competitors. If sitting in a room with your toughest
competitor on the other side of the table sounds intimidating, then you may not like
belonging to a chamber. Depending on what type of business you’re running, there’s a
chance you’ll face competition straight on when you’re in meetings. It’s important to
remember that chambers of commerce not only network with one another, but they also
work together to coordinate special community events and fundraisers. Sometimes you’ll
have to band with competing businesses in order to make the area a better place to live; if
you’re not cool with working together, then this could be a major deterrent.
So, depending on how you look at it, these cons might not be negative at all after you
take the time to analyze them…Should you join a chamber of commerce, or not?
The choice is up to you. However, I don’t think a few hundred rand is a bad deal for all of
the pros attached to chambers of commerce, nor do I think that hard work and potential
conflicts are much to worry your pretty head about. Membership dues, the main con on
this list, are intimidating for new businesses and it’s very likely that your company won’t
be able to justify them right away. That’s perfectly okay! And remember if you sign up
now, you get 3-months members free.In addition you will also miss the most likely hike in
membership fees due after the first AGM in March 2015.The key is to make sure you
carefully measure the pros and cons for yourself before making a decision. It’ll be
different for everyone.
For more information please contact Willem Hüsselmann 082 415 7725, Johan Botha 082
335 7274,Ashraf Moola 082 558 5515,
Ahmed Chotia 082 554 4886 or Freddie Kapp 017 735 4444.
BUSINESS COLUMN:
Ons keuses het 'n
rippel-effek
CONS of joining a
business chamber
ChangChangChangChangChangeeeee
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