Business Tips - 8 Tips on stuff you should know before you start a Business - Part 1

BUSINESS TIPS – 8 Tips on Stuff you Should know Before you Start a Business – Part 1.


By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting – September 2014

After attending my “Starting and Running a Successful Business” workshop, many delegates have asked questions about various issues pertaining to either starting a business or running a business.  Over time it has become apparent that there are universal questions that pertain, generically to both.

Let’s unpack them here and see how they impact you as a ‘new’ Entrepreneur or in your established business.

Clarity

I can’t begin to tell you the number of people who say “I want to run my own business – just a little something to bring the money in!”

What exactly does that mean?

Chances are that if you ask them that particular question they will have no specific answer for you and the reality of course is that such a business is highly unlikely to get started and if by some miracle they got it going, it wouldn’t be too long before it fell over!

Clarity is key!  It is essential that you know exactly what it is that you are going to be selling be it product or service.

The reality is that if you don’t know “where” you want to go, you will not be able to work out how to get there.

This clearly pertains to every aspect of the business, from marketing, to sales, administration, operations, HR or projects -  the works.  Once you know what you want to do it will be easier to do the research to ascertain what you need to do in order to achieve your goals.

Whether you are starting a new business or trying to grow the one that you have, you need to know exactly what you want to do before you can decide exactly how you are going to achieve that. 

Business Plans

As with getting clarity on what you want to do, so to do you need a plan to get yourself there.

Business plans are badly underestimated and irrespective of whether you actually need one or not, for funding purposes, it is a good idea to have one.

Writing a proper business plan will ensure that you have worked out a sound strategy for your marketing and branding requirements as well as the calculations on forecasts from both income and expenses.

You will also be forced to look at the cold hard reality of what your costs are, literally before you even earn a cent, providing of course that you actually even sell anything.

A business plan also forces you to investigate and implement an exit strategy at the beginning of your journey before the emotional turmoil of dealing with trying to put together an exit strategy, when you are in the middle of the pain of closing your business down.

Issues around growing the business for sale down the line (or not) can also be tackled here and plans put into place to encompass these.

Remember a Business Plan should be a living, breathing document and it should be updated and tweaked on a regular basis.

Next time we will look at a few more of these points that should be taken into consideration before you even start.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Motivation - Belief

MOTIVATION –  Belief


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – January 2013

James Allen wrote “Belief always precedes action”.

Well I doubt that it can be any clearer than that!  Why is it then that people still try and do things that they don’t believe in or in fact fail to take action even if it is something that they do believe in?  It’s a shame that so many have gotten it wrong!

I think that on some level, it’s the whole ‘begging bowl’ mentality that we seem to have bought into and also on some level the fact that parents and teachers ‘do’ everything for kids these days, it’s left us with this whole idea that ‘someone’ will do it for us.

Thinking back on my childhood, my parents certainly did stuff for me, don’t get me wrong, but they also taught me ‘how to’ do things for myself and once taught I was expected to do them for myself.  Some of my earliest memories is of helping in the kitchen and believe me it was no ‘mod con’ kitchen that most middle class youngsters have access to today – it was a farm kitchen.  We had an old ‘wood’ aga that was used for everything but baking (which required a more precise temperature)  and it was a very hungry beast that had to be fed most of the day. Sure it produced some divine tasting meals on a regular basis, but everyone had to help – whether that help was to chop the wood into the correct size or carry the cut wood to the box that lived beside the stove or every-time you went out of the back door, to check the heat of the stove and if it was in need of a log or two, to do the honours.  When it came time to prepare the meal, I remember having to stand on a wooden box to reach the table as I peeled vegetables and then cut them up for the meal. Today children get home and sit around on their cell phones or watch TV whilst frazzled mothers who have had long hard working days, struggle to juggle everything that needs to be done before they fall exhausted into bed long after everyone else is asleep.

I went to boarding school long before my 5th birthday – the farm was at least a 3 hour drive from the nearest school.  There all your books were supplied and of course everyone had the same brown paper covers.  Unlike today, the brown paper came in rolls, not the precisely pre-cut sheets that we get today and the teacher showed us how to cover the first one and the rest we had to do ourselves. Today I hear mothers of teenage children talk about having to go home to cover the school books for their offspring and I often wonder if the child is paralyzed.

School projects were done by school children who all had access to the same raw materials and whose own efforts were rewarded with the appropriate marks.  Nowadays parents do the projects for the children, who reap rewards from the efforts of others – now how exactly does that make any kind of sense at all?

I hear parents of children who are about to embark on their tertiary journey, bragging about their children who are ‘following’ in the footsteps of their fathers, mothers etc., in terms of their career choice and when you speak to the child, their passions are in totally different directions.  Shouldn’t people be ‘being the best that they can be’ and if you agree with that statement, surely you can only be the best that you can be at something that you are passionate about, or something that you totally believe in?

So is it any wonder then, that people sit around and wait for something to happen?  Is it any wonder that there is this whole sector of the population, who work in jobs that they hate?  Stuck in lives that they despise, but unable to escape their drudgery because of their inability to act.  Think of all the people who say that they hate Mondays or that ‘can’t wait for the weekends’ and how sad their lives must be because they are going through the motions, without passion.  How very sad is that.

If only they believed in themselves and their ability to find a passion and then act on that passion, they could be bouncing out of bed every morning, excited to start the day, excited to live life to the full, to be all that they could be . . .  and, it all starts with one little action!

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Motivation - Doing for Others

MOTIVATION –  Doing for Others?


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – January 2013

It was Booker T Washington who said “I began learning long ago that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”

Wow, Wow and Wow again! Dr Maya Angelou (who is Oprah Winfrey’s mentor) said something along the lines of “We learn in order that we may teach”.  Actually now that I think about it, many of the individuals that I look up to for wisdom and guidance, all talk about ‘giving back and doing for others’.

Ironically my Toastmaster’s speech this month is about not only having a hero, but also being one.  For me, in that place deep down inside of us where we know the truth, I know that my life’s purpose is to teach, to share, to motivate and to inspire and I can honestly say that I am at my happiest and the most at peace with myself, when I am standing in a classroom, in front of a whole bunch of new business owners or SMMEs (small, medium, micro enterprises) or entrepreneurs and I am sharing my experience or teaching them about the ‘how to’ of starting a business or explaining how important the business infrastructure is to ensure that deliverables are met and to ensure sustainable business growth.

There’s nothing quite like seeing the ‘ah-ha’ moment look on the faces of people who have just learnt the lesson, got it, seen the light (insert anything you like here), quite frankly it’s is worth more and is more precious than any financial gain.  It is truly a wonderful experience.

Be warned though, you can only help people as much as they allow you to and you cannot live other people’s lives for them.  Sometimes they just have to learn the lesson for themselves and there is no amount of advice and pleading and begging and shouting  and fighting with them that will change that.  Once you have handed out the advice you have to step away and let them get on with it.  Think about it for a moment – when a child is learning how to use feeding implements, you show them how and pretty soon they want to do it for themselves and you let them (I mean who wants to be feeding a 30 year old down the road!)  Sure they make a mess that you will, in all probability, have to clean up, but in essence you let them go and get on with it.  Why is it so difficult then, to ‘let go’ once you have given someone advice.  The reality is that once you have given the advice, it is up to them to use it or not.  It is no longer your problem.

So don’t be afraid to ‘give back’ or pay it forward.  Don’t be afraid to share the experience or life lessons that you have learned.  You will be all the richer for it and the Universe is a strange place – often you will get back far more than you ever gave in the first place.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Motivation - Stuck Inside the Frame

MOTIVATION –  Stuck Inside the Frame?


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – January 2013

An unknown author said “It is difficult to see the picture when you are inside the frame.”

Oh you know that this one brought a huge big smile to my face and it just about how apt my “Step away from the car” saying is.

Ironically though, it is something that I have to consciously think about as I more often than not, react first and then think about what it is I have done rather that what it is I am going to do.  In the last couple of years though, I find it more and more easy to deal with situations once I have ‘parked’ the emotions in a corner somewhere, walked away from the problem and then made a decision once I have calmed down and looked at it from a logical perspective rather than an emotional one.

In fact, although I still get as emotional about stuff as I always used to, I find it a lot easier to come to a rational decision if I internalize the emotion first.  Once I have got the emotion under some semblance of control, I am able to focus or concentrate on something different until the anger or irritation dissipates and then once that has happened I can go back to whatever the problem/issue is and look at it in an almost completely detached manner or as I like to say it “in the cold hard light of day”, look at all of the options and then make the decision from there.  Once that decision is then made I am able to let go of the anger completely and that is fabulous!  There is nothing worse than hanging onto anger that just doesn’t seem to want to leave, but keeps lingering on as you play the whole scene of who said what and when and what you could have/should have done/said etc.  That just gets me all wound up all over again and does more internal damage.

So when you feel your blood pressure rising, along with the tone/volume of your voice – “Step away from the car”, go for a walk, have a hot bubble bath, play with your cat – do something completely unrelated until you have calmed down.  You will thank yourself in the long run!

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

HR 101 - All About the Polygraph (and other such tests)

All about the Polygraph (and other such Tests)

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC , October 2011

The reality of the matter, if you own your own business, is that you have staff.  The reality of the matter if you have staff and if you trade here in South Africa, is that you will experience theft and/or fraud in the workplace.  That’s just the way that it is.

What is really important however, is how we deal with it, whether it is from an employer or employee perspective!

On a personal level, I have no problem undergoing a polygraph test or any other type of security test for that matter because – well because I have nothing to hide, so I have no fear about what the results may show.

“But what about people’s rights?” I hear everyone shouting!

Let’s be honest, these days the criminals probably have more rights than their victims and sadly often the innocent get caught up in the mess and that is not something that is unique to South Africa.

Here’s the thing though – both the employer and the employee have rights and not dealing with these rights in a fair and responsible manner is what often gets us into trouble.

The employer who has suffered the loss, be it theft or fraud, has the right to investigate by whatever means he or she has available to them.  That loss may result in the closure of the business or the loss of jobs for the other employees.  It may have caused the company to come into disrepute and caused the loss of clients or income and sadly this is not something that the employees think of when they cause mischief.  Usually it is all about their greed and what they can get away with.

So what is the correct procedure?  Well first of all the employee needs to agree, in writing, to having the test performed.

For me, it is a pretty simple and fair requirement and so that my clients don’t have to get everybody’s signature every time something goes pear-shaped, I have a clause  in the letter of appointment that says that the employer “reserves the right” to have these various tests done when and if necessary and by the employee signing said contract, they have given written authority to the employer.

Be fair though, even if you do have the written authority of the staff member to run one of these tests, make sure that the person who is conducting the test is properly registered.  Actually, if they are not registered psychologists any result that they come to would be considered ‘unscientific, unethical and illegal’ as per the 1986 Industrial Courts finding between Mahlangu v CIM Delatk.  Obviously questions need to be pre-set prior to the test taking place, so that questions are not specifically tailored to the staff member in question.  This really means that tests need to be run fairly, without bias and certainly without any kind of hidden agenda.

Remember of course that from a legal point of view, the results of a polygraph test only indicate some sort of deception and this of course means that the employer then needs to continue on with the investigation.  It does not conclusively prove guilt and you cannot just fire or dismiss someone because they failed their test as the test is known to be not 100% accurate.

Also remember that even though the staff member has signed saying that they agree to the test you cannot actually force them to take one and you cannot dismiss them for refusing to take the test – the charge would have to be amended to ‘breach of contract’.

If the staff member refuses to sign giving authority to the employer to undergo the test a charge of ‘ breach of duty of good faith’ can be brought. In these circumstances it is also a good idea to ‘show’ that there are ‘special circumstances that exist that oblige an employee to assist management in the investigation of an offence’.  This will greatly assist your cause.

Clearly however, it is really important to distinguish between all the charges and which one relates to what because if you just charge with say  . .  dishonesty and the staff member just refused to subject themselves to the test, you are going to end up putting your hand in your wallet  . . . . .  again!

As usual though, if you are not 100% sure of what you are doing make sure that you seek the services of an experienced Labour Consultant.
Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

HR 101 - Some Strange Interview Questions

ARTICLE 73

Some Strange Interview Questions

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC , August 2011

It was with great amusement that I read (and I must say absolutely enjoyed) an article that I received from “Job search clinic on behalf of Gerard Le Roux”, entitled “3 dumb questions & a Bruce Lee quote.”

I was more than amused to find one of the questions that I always ask on there, although I am somewhat confused as to why it was classed as a dumb question.  Quite frankly, I don’t see it as such, but perhaps I should let you in on it – the question of course is “Why should we hire you instead of the other candidate?”

Oh come now – how could that possibly be a dumb question?  I guess it would have to do something with the ‘intent’ behind the question.  

You see for me, it’s about what you, as the candidate, think that you can give me, or do, or be that is better than or bigger than what you think that the other candidates can give me, or do, or be.  It’s about how you see yourself, whether you are different or the same as others.

In terms of this particular article though, if you as the candidate even attempted to answer the question, you would immediately be disqualified because . . .  wait for it . . .  because you would be ‘trying to answer without the facts.  How can you possibly compare yourself with people you’ve never met and know nothing about?”

Now that for me is just being difficult and trying to trip people up or be ‘clever’ at someone else’s expense.

The other two questions in the article are really strange – the first one being “If you were a shoe, what kind would you be?” and the second one being “Tell me about a time when you . . . ?  I guess for the first question, if you were intent on being in the fashion industry or it was a job to do with say colour it may have some kind of meaning and for the second question, I suppose if you were doing something that required instant use of your imagination it might have some sort of meaning, but for the average ‘Joe Public’ I can’t imagine what the right answer would be.  I think if I had ever been asked a question like that, as an Internal Auditor, I might have decided that that particular company was more than a little strange and whilst I do have a number of eccentric friends, working for an eccentric company would be altogether a novel idea.

So why am I telling you about these questions?  I promise it is not just to raise a smile, but also to let you know to expect the unexpected as well as the sometimes bizarre.  They may very well just be checking to see if you have a good sense of humour, nothing more.

On the other hand however, they may be checking to see how you handle difficult situations or situations ‘out of the norm’ or even how you solve or find solutions to things outside of your comfort zone.  So don’t be flippant when you respond. 

Oh yes – and the Bruce Lee quote was “The successful warrior is the average person with laser like focus.”

 Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Networking 101 - Be Prepared to Continue Learning

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 89

Be Prepared to Continue Learning

By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

I might be a natural Networker and a natural connector, but I am far from being an expert.  I am sure to learn something at every meeting that I attend and I take something away with me from every encounter.  I understand that in order for me to continue moving forward I have to continue learning – I have to keep striving to grow to get better.

It is also important for me to read more motivational business books.  I have to engage more with people who are like minded.  Now that may sound like I am stating the obvious, but you would be absolutely amazed at the number of people who don’t seem to have the drive, let alone the energy to move forward.

I need to keep my promises and in so doing strengthen my credibility.

I have to remember who I am, where I am, where I have come from and where I want to get to.

I have to nurture and try to understand all of my business relationships and one of the ways that I can do this is to continually add value and substance to the relationship.

I have to remember that although it is a service that I offer as apposed to a product – that in order for my business to flourish and be successful, I have to be the best salesperson in the company.

I have to understand that there will be times when I lose, but that in losing I will grow as an individual.  I cannot lose too much though so I must only be willing to put out what I am comfortable with, to learn the lesson.

Not only must I learn, but I also need to teach.  I need to teach people the lessons that I have learnt – to be successful and in the teaching, I am also connecting with people.  Without people there can be no communication and communication is very important not only to my business but also to every micro enterprise or small business out there.

I have to understand that the first thought or perception isn’t always the best – that I can be creative and think outside of the box and in the words of the popular ad ‘throw the box away.”

I have to understand that if I don’t see synergy with someone the first time I look, I need to look harder and longer – it is in there somewhere.

I need to remember that I do not have any competition in my business but rather I have more opportunity for collaboration.

As a closing thought I also need to remember that opportunities are never ‘lost’ they just go to someone else who is perhaps more suited and that it is in the ‘letting go’ of the opportunity, that I open myself up to receive yet more opportunities that are best suited to me.

This is why I network.  Why do you network?

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za

BUSINESS TIPS – Being in control of your money.

BUSINESS TIPS – Being in control of your money.


By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting – March 2014

Spending is out of control! The need for credit is out of control! Well that is what all the experts are saying here in South Africa.

It appears that we will have to once again pull in our belts.  There is the ever hungry and controversial e-tolling situation and of course the petrol price that bounces around month after month, not to mention the cost of all the strikes that we seem to be having, one after the other and of course let’s not forget the exchange rates that seem to have more “bounce per ounce” than a regular yoyo!

So how do we control our money when there are so many external factors that we have very little, if any control over.

Well the reality is that we very much do have the control over what we do spend, however the problem is that we often don’t know where the money has gone because we are spending money without taking notice of what we are doing.

Sure, most of us usually have budgets in place that cover things like rent or bond or levy and many of our accounts are automatically paid by debit orders and of course we are acutely aware of these, especially if our cell phones ring or ping when money goes out of our bank accounts.

Here’s the thing though – how many of us actually know exactly how much we are spending and what exactly we are spending it on and I mean to the last cent? I know I didn’t until I started keeping a monthly journal.

Once I knew how much I was spending and what I was spending it on, I was then able to make a conscious decision about where I wanted my money to be spent and equally important (if not more so) how much I wanted to allocate. In this way I am able to control what I spend and where I spend it.  This is more of a spending plan – it’s spending your money on paper before you spend it in reality.

Now that I knew where the money was going and how much, I was able to convert my monthly spending plan into an annual spending plan.  What I did then was to create categories (along the lines of my general ledger in my company books) and split up the allocations.  So quarterly requirements were split into 2 (so I could put away money on a monthly basis instead of having to suddenly come up with a lump sum every 3 months) and so on.

Now here is the fun part.  Each and every cent of your income must be allocated!  Yep – that’s each and every cent.  You should have a zero difference between your income and your expenses.

I can actually see the pained expression on your faces, but here’s the thing -  you get to allocate everything and that means it can be allocated to a savings account or a holiday account or a deposit on a home account.  You are the person who tells it where to go.  You are the person who is in control of the where it goes and where it is allocated.

You are the person in control of your finances!

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Motivation - Do you need approval?

MOTIVATION –  Do You Need Approval?


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – December 2012

Vernon Howard says “A truly strong person does not need the approval of others any more than a lion needs the approval of sheep.”

One of the most liberating moments of my life happened when I was still working in the Corporate world.  I took my power back!

I can hear many people saying “You did What?”  I’ll say it again – I took my power back!

For years I had been a doormat to bosses and colleagues alike who often took their frustrations out on me.  Work was taken away from incompetent employees and dumped on me and I just accepted it.  The more pressure that I was put under the more I just accepted it.

I can actually see a whole bunch of you reading this with absolute disbelief – you cannot even begin to imagine me being like that – well that is because I am a different person now – I took my power back.

For months I had been coached and guided by my mentor, for months I had resisted this profound change because I was afraid.  How would I do it?  What would my friends think?  What would my family think?  Would I still have a job?  Would I be fired or would I be forced to resign?

I was sitting in yet another meeting where it was brought to everyone’s attention that XYZ department was again in a state of chaos.  It was a department that was constantly in a state of chaos and the mess had already been handed over to me to sort out – several times.

Each time I had come to work at 4am and only left after 7pm, so that I could manage my already heavy workload and fit in the ‘fix up’ that needed to be done.  Each time I had handed everything back to the department in question, in pristine condition, figures balanced, reports completed, filing done.

Each time the incompetents had walked away without any kind of consequence, in fact  they had been rewarded in a way, because they didn’t have to work late or come in early to fix up their mess.  They took no responsibility and they were not held accountable!

Each time the mess was just dumped on me without any kind of reward or even so much as a thank you.  In fact that year my boss had even “forgotten” (his words) to give me an increase!  How disgusting was that?

So, there I was sitting at this meeting, listening to the whole decision and the discussion around the “mess” and how it was going to be given back to me to sort out again and something inside of me just broke!  As it broke, I realized that if I didn’t make the decision to change the situation, to in effect – take my power back, I would continue in this way for the rest of my life and that thought just made my heart sink right down to the bottom of my toes.

I grabbed my notebook and immediately wrote out my letter of resignation.  I signed the letter, tore the sheet out of my notebook, handed the letter to my boss and walked out of the meeting.  With each heavy step my terror increased – what had I done?  My footsteps faltered and I almost turned back, until I heard my boss say “Don’t worry about her, she’ll be back and she will sort this out!”  With those words I realized just what they did think of me and my determination and resolve to do what was best for me cemented itself into  hard granite.  There was no turning back! I started walking again to my office where I packed up my stuff and walked out the door.

On my way home, with each step that I took, it felt as though I was shedding a load that had pinned me down for as long as I could remember.  I also realized just how empowered I had become, when several phone calls later the bosses were begging me to come back and in fact even tried to get my aunt to ‘talk’ to me as I was making a very big mistake.  The only mistake I had made of course, was not doing that a lot sooner.

Was I cured overnight – of course not.  Like most things in life, it’s a process.  You have to do it over and over again until there is an imprint on your brain that tells you that you are worthy and that you do deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and it was only years later that I finally came to the realization that ‘other people’s opinion of me is none of my business”.  It was only years later that I came to the realization that the only person’s approval that I need is my own.  But on that day, the day that I handed in my resignation and walked out of the door, that was the day that I took my power back and gave myself permission to be the person that I could be, the person that I wanted to be and the person that I am happy to live with today – me.

Is my journey complete?  Of course not – we are all ‘a work in progress’, but I am most definitely going in the right direction.  The question of course is  . . . .  are you?

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Motivation - What is your life purpose

MOTIVATION –  What is Your Life Purpose?


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – March 2012

Jack Canfield says “when you follow purpose, the people, resources and opportunities you need naturally gravitate toward you.”

This is pretty much along the lines of “when you are ready to learn, the teacher will appear” and greatly in line with my beliefs.

I have often noticed that as I have made a decision about something that the people that I need or the skills that I need in order to make that decision a reality, suddenly arrives on my radar.  For example when I had made the decision to update and modernize my logo, I suddenly met or was introduced to a whole bunch of creative people who specialized in that sort of thing.

When I was wanting to find people to write and facilitate some of the workshops that I hold specifically for entrepreneurs, I was suddenly surrounded by teachers and writers and entrepreneurs, who are specialists in their own right.

When I wanted to secure recurring income instead of scrambling for new clients each month, I was approached by several corporates for project work that will secure monthly recurring income.  How cool is that?

Here’s the thing though, in order to manifest or attract what you need you first have to believe in what you are wanting to do or achieve (even if it is only on a sub-conscious level), you have to believe in yourself and you have to believe in your dream.  You have to be very clear about what it is that you want. Once you believe in your dream you still have to start “living” it and as you do that your energy will attract what you need.

I know what I believe – do you?

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Motivation - Be Willing to Improve Yourself

MOTIVATION –  Be Willing to Improve Yourself


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – December 2011

James Allen says “People are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves.  They therefore remain bound.”

This particular human trait was made quite prevalent during my holiday this year.  Here’s the story – I met this older man (let’s call him George), who has a real problem with acidity in his system. It’s really bad.  Not only does the poor old man suffer with arthritis but his legs are full of open sores that he then scratches badly in an attempt to stop the itching.  From what I can gather, he has been to several doctors and none can assist – I now know why.

You see George loves to drink wine – in particular dry white wine, but if there is no white wine open, he will gladly accept a glass (or three) of red wine or anything else alcoholic that is going.  George is also partial to tomatoes and granadilla’s and . . . . . .  I’m sure you get the picture.

In have suggested that George take some ‘base powder’, which is an alkaline type powder that will assist with neutralizing the acid in his body, but that of course won’t help on a long term basis because George puts more acid into his body than anything can neutralize.  The result of course is, that according to George – ‘the doctors don’t know what they are doing and he doesn’t believe a word that they are saying.”

I carefully explained to George that he would need to cut down on his alcohol intake as well as the acidic fruit and vegetables that he favors and that together with the intake of ‘base powder’ would help to reduce the level of acid in his body. George declined to reduce his alcohol intake, but he will “try” the base powder.

The reality of the situation is that George’s body will continue, unsuccessfully, to battle to remove the acid from his system.  He will continue to suffer from arthritis and he will of course, continue to experience open sores on his legs.  More importantly he will continue to increase his acid intake as he drinks more and more white wine or red wine or anything else alcoholic that he can lay his hands on.  Sadly, I will be the villain in the story as I will be the one who told him to take ‘base powder’ of course it doesn’t work.

As you can see from the story, George wants his circumstances to change but he is unwilling to change his own lifestyle in order for that to occur.

Many of us, both in our personal lives and our business lives, lament things that we would like to change.  Whether it is to do with our health or our finances or our clients (or lack thereof) or anything for that matter that makes us sad or makes life difficult for us, yet we seem unable or unwilling to change what we are doing.

I think it was Einstein who said something along the  lines of “Stupidity is doing something over and over in exactly the same manner and then expecting the outcome to differ!”

When things are not going the way that you want them to in life, something has to change.  The quicker we realize that and make the change(s), the quicker (and easier) it will be for us to get on with life.  Holding onto something and hoping that it will change, without us making any kind of change within ourselves, is just a waste of time.  The problem of course is that not only is it just a waste of time, but it is also a very negative and destructive course to take.

So I’m off to make a list of all the things that are not working for me and part of my goals for 2012 is to do things differently, make the changes and so ensure that my life going forward is easier, mellower and more rewarding.

What changes are you going to make?

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

HR 101 - Failure to Disclose - Part 2

ARTICLE 72

Failure to Disclose – Part 2

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC , July 2011

So now, as promised, the not so nice ending for the employer – let’s bring in the protagonists.  Michelle is the owner of a busy day Spa.  Men and women come to spend an entire day, or even just an hour or two, being pampered and spoilt. The Spa offers several different types of massages as well as the usual facials and what have you.  Michelle has had several requests from some of her regular ladies for a male masseuse and she had decided that that would be quite a draw card. So she goes about getting the right person for the job.

Michelle also has all the proper procedures in place and she is also careful to ensure that all the right questions are asked, one of them is “Do you have a criminal record” and her applicant George responds with a resounding “No, I don’t.”  George is the successful applicant and he is hired and starts work immediately.

From the very beginning, George is very popular with the ladies (and even a few of Michelle’s gay male clients) and the novelty of having a male masseuse is quite a draw card.  Business is great and Michelle is pleased with her decision.

A couple of months down the road, Michelle gets a new client (let’s call her Mary).  Mary is a model and is clearly a difficult customer who makes a lot of demands – very loudly. Mary is also very careful to let everybody know who she is and who she knows.  Mary wants everything done her way, done now and is very ‘public’ about what happens, when it happens and if it happens.  Michelle stresses out every time Mary arrives as she disrupts the quiet and peaceful tranquillity of the Spa and it takes several hours, after she has left, for everybody to calm down and for peace and quiet to be restored. 

On her 3rd or 4th visit Mary decides that she is going to try the male masseuse and despite the fact that George is fully booked for the day, Mary makes such a scene about it, that one of the regular clients decides to forego her scheduled and booked treatment with George and ‘give up’ her spot  for the sake of peace and quiet.  A very grateful Michelle promises, not only a replacement appointment, but also another at no cost.

Mary goes into George’s massage room and all hell breaks loose.  Mary starts screaming as though she is being attached and a very traumatised and distraught George hastily departs the massage room.  Mary comes out screaming like a banshee because ‘George is the pervert who tried to sexually abuse her’ at the previous spa that she used to go to and now he has ‘followed’ her here to Michelle’s Spa.  Mary describes in great glorious detail what George is ‘allegedly’ did to her and states that she brought charges against George and that the ‘law’ has taken its course.

Michelle is obviously outraged as she did ask if George has a criminal record and George had replied that he did not.  In her anger, frustration and obvious embarrassment, Michelle set about calling for a disciplinary hearing and George was dismissed for non-disclosure.  George goes off the CCMA and Michelle loses the case.

Here’s the thing, in this country ‘a person is deemed innocent until proven guilty’ and since the court case, having been postponed several times because Mary’s lawyers just did not bother to pitch up, was eventually dismissed for ‘lack of evidence’, George was not charged or found guilty of anything, therefore when he stated that he did not have a ‘criminal record’ he was telling the truth. Michelle was ordered to pay all sorts of damages as well as all of George’s legal fees.  Worse than that, Michelle still contends with Mary and all of her ‘loud’ snide comments about being subjected to a massage by a criminal.

As you can see from this story, if Michelle had used the services of a proper HR consultant, this probably would have been resolved without the huge legal costs incurred, because of her lack of understanding of the law. 

My advice to Michelle would have been to get hold of a reputable HR specialist who had a good grounding in IR (Industrial Relations) and also to ‘fire’ Mary as a client!

 Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

HR 101 - Failure to Disclose - Part 1

ARTICLE 72

Failure to Disclose – Part 1

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC , July 2011

I certainly have had a few clients that have been on the receiving end of this particular situation and all for the wrong reasons – however this topic, like most connected to HR, is a double sided coin and I will endeavour to illustrate this by means of two stories – one will be a happy ending for the employer and one won’t.

Let’s deal with the happy ending first and bring out my favourite protagonists.

Mike owns a high end jewellery store in a popular very busy mall.  He is well situated in the mall and his store is internationally known and respected.  His hand crafted, individually designed jewellery is highly sought after and prized.

Mike’s mother used to do his books and she was also the cashier in the store, but now in her 80’s she has decided to finally retire.  Mike is looking for someone to replace his mother – someone who is not only competent with accounting but also someone he can trust.

Mike puts the word out and starts the whole interview process.  Mike, being an ‘attention to detail’ kind of guy is very clear about what his requirements are and as part of his interview process he is clear about what qualifications the applicant must have, that references will be checked and what documents the successful applicant must be able to provide in terms of legislation and compliance.  Mike does not want to have any problems with the Department of Labour down the line. Part of Mike’s interview questionnaire is the question “Do you have criminal record”?  Sarah smiled when she answered this question with a very resounding No.

After several gruelling weeks of interviewing, Mike finally settles on a young Nigerian woman by the name of Sarah.  Sarah is well groomed, erudite, has all the correct qualifications and she assures Mike that she is able to work here in South Africa as she has the required documentation.

Sarah is employed on the proviso that her references check out and that she provides the relevant documentation.  Sarah starts work the following day and Mike is pleased with his choice of candidate as Sarah fits right in from the very beginning.

Mike starts checking references and cannot get through to any of the numbers provided.  Mike understands that the references are for Companies and people who live in Nigeria and with the time difference there could be some difficulty, but he is mindful of the fact that these references have to be checked and he persists.  In the meantime, every time he asks Sarah for her documentation there is some sort of reason or another as to why she has not brought them along.  Mike keeps reminding her that he needs the documents and Sarah keeps promising to bring the documents to work.  Somehow she never does.

Mike continues to struggle to get through to the numbers that Sarah has provided and eventually Mike decides to contact the Nigerian Embassy to see if they can provide him with the correct telephone numbers for the Company that he is trying to contact.  The Embassy gives him the correct number and he eventually (some 5 weeks after Sarah has started work) gets through to the Company that she worked for in Nigeria.  Mikes speaks to the Company  CEO and he is absolutely horrified at what he discovers.  Sarah was caught selling ‘blood diamonds’ and had served time for this crime.

Mike calls Sarah in and confronts her with his findings.  Sarah breaks down and admits that this information is correct but that when Mike asked her if she had a criminal record, she assumed that he meant in South Africa.  The reason that she did not give him her documentation is because this information appears on one of the documents and of course she did not want him to see it. Mike is understandably furious and a disciplinary hearing is held and Sarah is dismissed for non-disclosure.

Of course Sarah goes to the CCMA and lays a claim of ‘unfair’ dismissal because according to her she had been asked this question purely because she was Nigerian.

The Chairman ruled in favour of Mike because the question that he asked in terms of the criminal record was part of his interview process and that all the applicants had been asked the same question – Sarah had not been singled out at all.  Furthermore, in view of highly sensitive issue around blood diamonds and the fact that Mike’s business involved the use of diamonds, employing someone who had trafficked in blood diamonds, could have a negative impact on his business.

In this instance, following the correct procedures in terms of the interview process as well as disciplinary and  dismissal procedures is what won the day for Mike.  As usual, if you are not 100% sure of what you should be doing or where you stand legally, get yourself some help.

Next time we will hear about a not so happy ending for an employer.

 Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Business Tips - What is security . . . really?

BUSINESS TIPS – What Is Security - Really?


By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting – July 2009

So what does security mean to you as a small business owner?  Does it mean that your success will be guaranteed?  Does it mean that Joe Public will be blown away by the widgets that you want to sell or desperate for the services that you provide?

Whatever your idea of what your security actually is – how long will it last?  Is it long term or short term – seasonal or here for the duration?

Well here’s the reality – the answer to all of the above is actually ‘who knows’!

Security is more fickle than the most high maintenance person that you know or probably are ever likely to know.  What may be absolutely fabulous today and selling like hotcakes may die a brutal and lonely death tomorrow.

So how do we protect ourselves from this ‘lack of security’?

Well quite honestly there are several ways and I am going to share some of them with you now.

1.    Firstly we have to keep evolving, growing, changing, morphing – looking at new ways to do things, keeping up with technology or business trends.  We do this by researching, reading (not the heat type magazines), but what is in the newspapers and business magazines.  Read blogs and articles on line.  Take a course or two – meet with like minded individuals and discuss what is happening around you. Keep up to date with what’s in and what’s not.
2.    Don’t ever give up – be tenacious – find ways around obstacles (whether that means you go around them, under them, over them or even through them).  Collaborate with people who do/sell similar things or team up with people whose strengths are your weaknesses and visa versa.  If it is worth fighting for – fight back.  If it isn’t then perhaps you need to change direction or owning your own business is not actually for you.  Make a decision one way or another.
3.    If you have staff or are part of a team, work together.  Pull in the same direction and not against one another!  Be clear on what everyone has to do and choose people who have the same goals and aspirations.  It’s a lot easier than you think and a lot more productive that you on your own.
4.    Be ready for the unexpected!  Things often happen that were not factored into – don’t let those things trip you up.  Stop – look at the situation calmly (and without any drama and emotion), do the research and make an informed decision.
5.    Understand that there is nothing to be afraid of.  My friend and mentor Vanessa always tells me that the only thing I have to be afraid of is my own fear.  Face it, head on a squarely and I promise you it (the fear) will back down!

Remember that you are a special person and the mere fact that you have gone into business on your own, should tell you that you are stronger than you have ever given yourself credit for.

So be proud of yourself, proud of your achievements and go forward knowing that you can do this!  Oh and of course – don’t forget to have fun!  Always, always, always – have fun.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

MOTIVATION- What determines Your Destiny

MOTIVATION –  What Determines Your Destiny


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – February 2012


“It’s choice – not chance that determines your destiny” says Jean Nidetch.

It seems that I am on the warpath again!  It’s the whole thing about accountability and responsibility for the consequences of our choices and actions or non-actions.

There is this whole drive around education at the moment and like most people that I talk to – I get it!  I agree with it and quite frankly, I am on board.  Education is important and without it the youngsters of today are really going to battle.

At the moment though, there is this radio ad playing and despite all the good intentions, it gives the perception that the kid wasn’t ‘given a chance to get an education”.

To be fair, I haven’t heard the whole advert, but the bit that I have heard and that I keep hearing, got my blood boiling.

This kid is talking about how he went to a good school, but cut classes and started gambling and drinking when he should have been at school.  He tells how he didn’t listen to the teachers and educators and therefore ‘didn’t have a chance to complete his education”.  And yes, I have quoted it correctly.  I have heard that bit of the ad several times over and that is exactly what he said.

What does he mean he “didn’t have a chance to complete his education”? If he went to such a good school, of course he had every “chance” that his affluent parents could give him.  It was his “choice” not to complete his education.

He was unable to complete his education because of the bad choices that he made.  He chose to go drinking and gambling and he should take responsibility for those choices.  He doesn’t though and that’s just not the message that we should be sending out.  What’s with that?

Again, I understand that the “intention” is great.  It highlights the importance of getting a good education – but for me it falls very short on accepting responsibility and accountability for our actions and that is not a good thing.

It is very important for us to understand that our choices – good or bad – all carry consequences and that those consequences will affect our lives for the rest of our time on this planet, whether we actually accept them and own up to them or not.

This chap who “did not have a chance to finish his education” because of his choice (and clearly according to the ad), does not choose to complete his education now, (well that is now the perception that I have). The message sounds like he will therefore never have an opportunity to fulfill his potential or live his dream and the consequence of that is that we (as taxpayers) will continue to support him in one way or another.

Sadly, that is how this ad has been portrayed – well to me anyway.

More sadly still is that it is not portrayed in any way, that by making another choice now, a more positive choice, like going back to school or taking classes, he can correct his past and look forward to a brighter future.

You see, the fact of the matter is that we are not limited to only one choice and we certainly don’t only have one chance!

We can have as many choices as we have thoughts, but it is up to us to make the right choice and then action it.

Through my choices, I make my own chances!

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Motivation - Work

MOTIVATION – WORK


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

The quote today comes from Zig Zigler who says “The most practical, beautiful, workable, philosophy won’t work – if you won’t.”

This one sure made me smile – a big smile!  You see for years now, I have sat in Networking meetings and for me it was kind of like stating the obvious.  Networking doesn’t work unless you work at it!  No matter how great the opportunity that presents itself, if you don’t do something with it – nothing will happen. Building relationships is futile, if you don’t work at them. 

I am often astounded by the fact that people go to Networking meetings (or even Business meetings for that matter) and say things like – ‘It doesn’t work for me because nothing happened.’  Well of course nothing happened!  You did nothing!

Despite the fact that the Universe is really abundant, despite the fact that opportunities abound, despite the fact that for every door that closes, several open – you, the individual still have to do something!  For goodness sake people, think about it for a moment – in order to win the Lotto, you still have to buy the ticket!

So perhaps you will believe me now – now that I have the endorsement of the great Zig Zigler!

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za.

MOTIVATION - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

MOTIVATION – Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – April 2009

I’m not sure who penned this, but it says “Today is the tomorrow we were worried about yesterday.”

I have a friend (let’s call her Susan) who has a 7 year old daughter (let’s call her Jane) who has a slight problem.  She worries about everything!  Susan often has to go out of town on business and then Jane is left with her 28 year old brother – so it’s not like she is neglected in any way, but Jane worries all the time.  Susan now only tells Jane that she is leaving the day before she goes, to minimize Jane’s worrying.  Had Susan told Jane that she was leaving when the decision was made or when the travel booking was made, Jane would start worrying from that time.

The problem here of course is, that Jane would be so busy worrying about the fact that her mother was going away (not that anything has gone wrong for her to worry about this), that she hasn’t enjoyed any of the ‘now’.  All the fun things that they have done together, since the time that Jane got to know that her mother was leaving, have been negated because Jane was worried. 

What a way to go through life – not enjoying things as they happen, because she is worried about what might happen in the future.  Yet, most of us are guilty of this very same thing. Worrying about the future before the present even happens. 

I know I do it!  I often stress about things, like if I am called into a meeting by one of the clients and in my mind there is no need for that meeting to take place – I stress about it, dream about it agonize over it and then when it happens, it is usually something totally without any kind of merit and I could kick my own rear end for being such a baby – yet the next time it happens, there I push the panic button all over again.  In retrospect – what a waste of time!

Retrospect is a wonderful thing, don’t you think?  Looking back on what you did and how to change it – it’s in the ‘changing’, that we all need to do the most work – me included, actually it should be ‘me especially’ if the truth must be told.  I am a lot better though I must admit, but still not quite where I know I should be, because the panic button is still the first thing that gets pressed.

Logic tells me though, that worrying about something will not change the outcome.  What is to happen, will happen irrespective of whether we worry about it or not – so what’s the point of worrying?

Looks like I need to work on this a bit more – what about you?  Are you also a worry wart?

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

HR 101 - Religious Discrimination - Part 2

ARTICLE 70

Religious Discrimination – Part 2

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC - July 2011

As promised here is the story version of what happened at the CCMA.  Let’s bring out the protagonists.

Mike owns a very busy little gym in a quiet suburb and he has several body builder type staff working for him as personal trainers.  Patrons are not encouraged to work out on their own, but are allocated their own personal trainer(s) to assist them with getting the best out of a workout.  Patrons are then encouraged to make use of the gym’s masseurs, who are all properly trained in working with sports injuries.

As part of the branding, all staff are required to wear uniforms – the males are required to be clean shaven, with short hair (for hygiene purposes) and the females are required to wear their hair (specifically long hair) up in a ponytail and away from their faces.  When in the indoor heated pool, all staff are required to wear swimming caps, again for hygiene purposes and to minimize the amount of hair fallout.

Mike’s business is expanding with more and more sports patrons coming to his gym to receive expert training and he has had to increase the number of personal trainers and masseurs.  Mike’s letter of appointment specifies that the gym is open 7 days a week and the hair and hygiene requirements and he is careful to explain the reasons for the requirements at the interviews to ensure that both male and female staff are aware of the requirements and that they agree to them up front.

Everything goes along splendidly for several weeks and then he notices that several of the male staff are not shaving regularly.  Mike calls a staff meeting and reiterates the requirements and instructs all the male staff to come to work ‘clean shaven’ on a daily basis.  Mike further states that staff members who do not properly portray the image of the gym and the brand will be sent home to sort out what is required, at their own cost and without pay for the time wasted.

The following day, several of the staff again came to work unshaved and when Mike instructed them to go home and shave, they refused on religious grounds.  They explained to Mike that they belonged to the Nazarene religion and that this religion forbade them to shave or even trim their beards.  All of them were instructed to attend individual disciplinary hearings and all of them were dismissed.

Of course all of them went off to the CCMA and they claimed that their dismissal was automatically unfair as it was based on their religion.

Mike stood his ground and stated that:-
•    Apart from the fact that beards made personal trainers and masseurs look dirty and untidy, all of these employees had been briefed on the requirements of being clean shaven as this was a hygiene requirement as well as part of the branding and therefore image of the company.
•    All of the employees had arrived for the interview, clean shaven, they had signed their letters of appointment, thereby contractually agreeing to be clean shaven and
•    For the first couple of week’s  they had all come to work clean shaven, with no problem at all.
•    At no time, until they all refused to shave, had any of them advised Mike that they were of a religion that forbade them being ‘clean shaven’.  Clearly Mike was perplexed by this development.

The Court decided in Mike’s favour based on the following facts:
•    There were several issues with this particular religion that were forbidden, yet the staff had transgressed on all of them, such as but not limited to: - the employees worked on a Sunday (and had never refused to do so) despite the fact that they were forbidden to do so in terms of their faith.
•    The staff had arrived for their interviews clean shaven and had remained that way for several weeks despite the fact that they were forbidden to do so in terms of their faith.  These two issues indicated that the church was ‘flexible’ in the application of these rules.
•    The staff could not show that they would have to ‘suffer a harsh penance’ for breaching the rule of not shaving.
•    It was evident that these employees were selective in their choice of which religious laws and rules they would follow and which they wouldn’t.
•    The fact that Mike was very consistent in applying the rules of ‘clean shaven’ male faces etc evidenced that these staff members had not been singled out on the basis of their religion, but rather on their non-adherence to laid down company procedures that had been previously and meticulously followed, by these very same employees.
•    Grooming and hygiene was an important and integral factor in the running of a private gym.

Be warned though, just because Mike won this case , doesn’t mean that employers will always win cases based on ‘unfair discrimination’ relating to religion and beliefs – each case should be looked at in terms of its own merits and it is advisable to employ the services of a HR/IR (human resources/industrial relations) expert when in doubt.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

HR 101 - Religious Discrimination - Part 1

ARTICLE 70

Religious Discrimination – Part 1

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC - June 2011

The law states, in Section 6 of the Employment  Equity Act (EEA) that there can be no unfair discrimination against an employee on arbitrary grounds.  One of these grounds of course, is religion and this means that as an employer you cannot discriminate against an employee or a prospective employee, on the grounds of their religion.

Some of the area’s around religion that you would need to take into consideration are (but not limited to):-

-    You cannot turn down a job applicant based on the fact that they are no (or are for that matter) of the same religion as you are, irrespective of what that religion is
-    You cannot decide that only the employees belonging to a specific religion will be allowed to go to church/temple/shul/mosque etc., during working hours. The requirements of all the different faiths must be taken into account.
-    You cannot insist that employees of a specific faith or religion must work on  public holidays

That said, this is not an exact science and although the statements made above are examples of the types of discrimination out there, there are instances where they may not be considered “unfair discrimination”.  Whether the discrimination is unfair or not will depend on various issues, such as (but not limited to) whether or it makes sense.  Now whether or not it makes sense or not will also be dependent on the requirements of the job.

Here are some examples:
If you owned a factory type business where there were machines operating and where stupid mistakes could lead to loss of limb or life, you could not stop religious emblems being worn underneath garments as this would not affect the way that they worked or put them in any kind of danger.  However, that said, if under the same conditions and circumstances you staff insisted on wearing these same emblems on necklaces around their necks, dangling out of their clothing, you could state that this put them at risk of injury to themselves and their peers and in this instance, of course you would be well within your rights to make that rule.  What you absolutely couldn’t do though is allow some of the staff to then wear necklaces and not others.  You have to be consistent in your decisions.

Some of the other examples that I have seen posted by Ivan Israelstam are rather evident in themselves and I must admit that I had a good chuckle to think that someone would even have considered them – some of these are “You could turn down a Jewish person for the position of Pope – that would not be considered unfair.  You could refuse to employ an atheist as a priest – that would be considered fair.”

Next time we will look at an actual CCMA case where the staff cried ‘foul’ and see what happened.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Networking 101 - Being a Connector

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 87

Being a Connector

By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

I have often been told that I am a ‘connector’.  Now logic must tell you that in order for me to connect people there have to be a minimum of three people.  You see, I have to connect one person to the other.

Stephen Covey says that we should “Synergise principals of creative communication.”

Scott Cundill says that this means “Business is very three dimensional and there will often be alternatives to a situation that are not very clear at first.  If it looks like there are only two options, keep looking – it’s amazing how often a third option manifests itself to a dedicated mind.”

For me, this is often what makes Networking such an exciting adventure.  You see, I have no idea who I am going to meet and who I can connect them with.  More importantly, I also have no idea who I am going to meet and who I don’t know, and who they are going to connect me with.

To make use of Oprah Winfrey’s “What I do know for sure” is that when I go to a Networking event, I will meet people, like minded people who are as  serious as I am about doing the right kind of business and making a difference.

Why do you go to Networking events?

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za

Business Tips - When to give up control

BUSINESS TIPS – When to Give up Control


By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting CC April 2010

The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines ‘Entrepreneur” as ‘Person in effective control of commercial undertaking; one who undertakes a business or enterprise with chance of profit or loss; contractor acting as intermediary’ and “Manager” as ‘Person conducting a business institution.’  As you can see they are quite similar, but very different.

All the Entrepreneurs that I know have a dream.  They are also particularly skilled in whatever it is that they do – but here’s the question – does that mean that they are skilled in ‘the Business of Business’?  The answer, if I am to be honest is most definitely not.  It’s not from a lack of passion you understand – it’s just that they are usually not particularly interested in the ‘running’ of a business (unless that is what their passion is) and there in lies the dilemma.

You see, at some point they are faced with a decision and that is ‘should I continue to manage the company or stick with the dream?’

Whilst the company is small and they’re working out of their garage or one of the bedrooms in their home, this is not really a problem – as the business grows however, more and more time will be spent on ‘the business of business’, which is the running of the business and less and less time will be spent on doing what they love, which is what fueled their passion in the first place.

So when is the right time to hand over the reigns and the running of your business?  Many folk say that there never is a right time, some say when you are looking for investors or outside capital.  To each individual who has faced this particular dilemma the timing and when it should be done, may differ, but what does not differ is the difficultly in making the right choice.

Part of the problem is that many Entrepreneurs are themselves good managers, but that may not be their passion  or their dream and most of them think that they can ‘do it all’ themselves.  Personally, I think that the first decision that has to be made is ‘how big do you want to grow the company’.  How big is the dream?  Is it one that will provide you and your family with enough income for you to live adequately or is the dream to own an empire – perhaps it is somewhere in between.  Whatever your decision, it is really tough for anyone to relinquish their dream and hand it over to someone else to manage.

Once the decision has been made though, finding the right manager or management team to help you realize your dream is the next step and that often comes with it’s own particular set of headaches, so  making sure that you are clear about what you want and where you want the business to go is of paramount importance.

Ultimately though, it will allow you, the Entrepreneur to do what you do best and that is to ‘dream’ and to turn those dreams into realities.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Motivation - The right to choose

MOTIVATION – THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

It is said that “two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different.”

I believe that it is all in the perception of the individual – why else would some people see the glass as ‘half full’ and others see it as ‘half empty’?

I also believe that our perception is influenced by our mindsets and the choices that we make about things – why else would some people cry ‘the end of the world is at hand’ and others see it as ‘huge opportunities presenting themselves’?

I believe that many people sit back and wait for others to do things for them and on their behalf and then have a huge amount to say when things are not done to their satisfaction, whilst many others just make things happen by just getting on with the business of ‘doing’ as apposed to waiting and watching and hoping that something will happen and then of course there are those again that go through life in a bit of a daze and who are constantly wondering “what the hell happened”?

I believe that there are those who choose to go through life, walking on the dark side and who are content to wallow in the doom and gloom, whilst others prefer to live in the sunshine and smile at the rain.  I know which ones company I would prefer to be in.

I believe that no matter which path you choose to walk down, and no matter how different people are to you – you have the right to choose your own path, you have the right to be accepted and you have the right to be ‘different’.

Remember though, that although you have all of these rights, so to do the people who see things differently from you and you need to respect their views and accept that they have the right to be different to you too.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za.

Motivation - Today, Tomorrow & Yesterday

MOTIVATION –  Today, Tomorrow & Yesterday


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – October 2009

Today’s quote comes from an anonymous person who says “Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday.”

Ooh, ooh, ooh that’s me!  My hand should be up first in the class for this one!  The worse thing about it though is that it drives me nuts!  Fortunately I do recognize the fact that I am a work in progress, so I do know that I am constantly trying to work on it and one day, I’m sure I’ll actually ‘crack the code’ and put it behind me – it’s such a useless waste of energy!

The thing for me though is that I have a very active brain.  So when I am presented with something or if I have done something that I know is going to have a nasty consequence or even entered into an argument with someone, it all spins around inside of my head and often it spins around hard and long and fast enough to give me a headache!

I take a careful look at what was said and then look at the various consequences that could arise, then I take a careful look at what wasn’t said and then look at the various consequences that could arise, then I look at the various possibilities of what could have been said and then should have been said and by now I am sure you have a very clear picture in your own head of what is happening in mine – or perhaps not!  Pretty soon I’m all riled up and worked up.  My blood pressure is through the roof, I am angry all over again and literally quite cranky with the world in general.

Here’s the thing though, ultimately I cannot change what has already been done and whatever the consequences, I will have to accept them.  No amount of playing anything over and over in my head, in all the different scenarios and all the different consequences is going to change in any way what was done or said.  The only thing that can change is the way that I choose to look at it or accept that what is done is done.

Usually I am left exhausted from lack of sleep.  Wound up tighter than an elastic band and generally speaking not fit for human consumption for at least a few days.  Angry, dejected and alone – a punishment of my own making (it’s really not a good idea for me to be around people as I irritate myself) I might add, I usually feel beaten up and thrown away. I am completely drained!

Ironically, the reality of the actual consequence usually has far less impact than the one I’ve conjured up in my mind.  How’s that for a mind *&^+?

The bottom line, what have I actually achieved at the end of the day – well not much on the positive side, but I sure as hell have made a real dent in the negative aspect.  I wasted precious time, used oodles of energy that could have been put to much better use. Beaten myself senseless, irritated myself into a coma and all for something that is a perception that is inside of me and that more often than not, no-one else on the planet will ever even know about.

Talk about worrying over nothing – I have to be the worlds champion at this.  What about you?  Do you do silly stuff like this too?  If so, are you also trying to stop?

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Motivation - True Value

MOTIVATION - TRUE VALUE

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC

The quote today comes from Jim Rohn, who says -  “You don't get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.”
Oh, I do like this one!  As a Consultant, who charges and gets paid by the hour, this is like manna from heaven for me.  Not only does it make absolute sense to me it also takes into account my Intellectual Property (IP)!  I can just see all the eyebrows shoot up – well it does, and they do.

Ok, let me try and explain this on paper.  When I sit with a client, in a meeting and then charge him/her for that hour (or more), I am often looked at like I am crazy. Why? If you go to a doctor or a lawyer, you would expect to pay for that hour – why would my time be any different?  So, I don’t have a whole bunch of letters behind my name to say that I am a doctor or a lawyer, so what right do I have to charge anyone for my time?

Well it’s like this – yes a doctor/lawyer has studied for x number of years to gain their knowledge, which they use in order to address whatever problem it is that you have.  Well so have I – I have gained my knowledge through experience.  For the last 40+ years, I have had on the job training – I have lived, slept, eaten and . . ok let’s not go there.  Suffice it to say that I know exactly what I am doing, how to do it and when it needs to be done.

So when I sit in the client’s office, in a meeting, answering questions – I am giving that client the benefit of my 40+ years of business experience and like any doctor and/or lawyer who has studied, I deserve to be paid for the value that I have brought to that hour of discussion.

Take time to remember this, the next time you have a meeting with someone whose brain you are ‘picking’. 

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za.

HR 101 - Showing Remorse

ARTICLE 69

Showing Remorse

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC - June 2011

To be quite honest, this particular case “bent” my mind in several different directions simultaneously, and not in a good way either.

What it also did however, was clearly highlight the need to use someone with the highest level of labour law expertise when conducting disciplinary hearings that may result in dismissal.

Let’s bring out the protagonists.

Mike owns a small paint factory in one of the industrial parks.  He is very conscientious about the health and safety issues around what happens in the factory because of the paint fumes and chemicals that are used and how badly they can react with one another.  All the staff are trained on safety issues on a regular basis and safety drills and evacuations take place quarterly.  Mike employs around 100 staff members.

Mike walks onto the factory floor and with the usual smell of paint fumes he detects another underlying smell.  Mike is very concerned when he realized that that smell is in fact gas.  He issues an instruction for all the staff to leave the premises immediately, while the problem is investigated.

The usual procedure is for staff to meet in the lower car park, several hundred meters from the factory.  When they do the drill the evacuation generally takes less than 15 minutes.

Mike contacts his service provider and the authorities to report the problem and then goes to join the staff in the car park to wait for the technicians to arrive, investigate the problem and then proclaim the factory safe or unsafe.  If the factory is declared unsafe the staff will be sent home until such time as the ‘all clear’ is given.

Mike gets to the car park around 20 minutes after his instruction to evacuate was issued and some of the staff are still taking a leisurely stroll to the car park from the factory and not only that, it is also clearly evident that many of the staff are not present and accounted for.

After chatting to the safety officers and investigating the issue further, it was discovered that many of the employees just did not follow the correct procedures – some just took their own sweet time to get to the safety of the car park and some went straight home without even reporting to the car park.

Mike was furious, and understandably so – what if the factory had exploded while staff were still inside.  What if they were looking for the bodies of people who had actually gone home and even worse, what if the safety officers or authorities had gone into the building to ‘rescue’ those that had not come out and the factory had blown up whilst they were inside and the people who they were supposed to be rescuing were safe at home.  Clearly this was not acceptable at all.

Every person who had arrived late (after 20 minutes of the instruction to evacuate was originally given) as well as everyone who went directly home, were required to attend a disciplinary.

So far so good, I am sure you will agree – but here is where the whole thing goes pear shaped.  You see, some of the employees were issued with final written warnings and some were dismissed.  The dismissed staff took Mike to the CCMA.

The arbitrator found that the dismissals were ‘too harsh because the dismissed  employees has shown “genuine remorse”’

Wow!  So it doesn’t matter that someone could have been killed going in to look for them whilst they were safely at home, but they were ‘sorry’ so that’s okay then. Now that is not good for me at all!

What is also not good for me though, is the lack of consistency with the penalties issued at the disciplinary hearings – for me personally, that is where most of the problem lies and whether they showed ‘genuine remorse’  or not should have been featured as part of the mitigating circumstances.  I understand that they were all given individual hearings (as they should have been), but the fact of the matter is that they did not follow safety procedures and because of this they put other people’s lives at great risk.

Let me put it this way – if Mike had ignored the problem and not followed the safety rules and the factory had blown up and the staff had been killed, but he showed ‘genuine remorse’ would his liability, responsibility, accountability and ultimate penalty, been reduced?  I doubt it.

Once again this evidences the need to have someone with the correct legal HR ‘know how’, when dealing with these matters as the law is always open to interpretation.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

HR 101 - When is Theft not Theft?

ARTICLE 68

When is Theft, not Theft?

By Nikki Viljoen of Viljoen Consulting CC - May 2011

One of the most confusing experiences that I ever had is when I caught someone, literally with their hands in the cookie jar.  We held the disciplinary, followed the rules and the staff member was dismissed.  CCMA did not uphold the finding and we ended up paying a huge amount of money as a settlement.  Here’s a similar story – let’s bring in the protagonists.

Mike runs a small retail business in a busy mall.  He has several staff members, but today we are going to meet George and Jane, who are both sales people in the shop.

Everybody works well together and as a team and Mike is grateful to have such a great team.

We all know that month-end in a mall is crazy busy and there is no time to stop and smell the coffee, let alone slip out of the store to go and buy anything.

George has a new girlfriend whom he is besotted over and he is constantly messaging her from his cell phone and even sneaking the odd call while he ‘collects’ product from the stockroom.  Suddenly in the middle of a conversation where he is arranging to meet the love of his life after work for dinner, he runs out of airtime.

Caught up in the moment and concerned that he won’t connect with her that evening, George doesn’t stop to think about what he doing.  George walks into the staff room and takes Jane’s phone out of her handbag that was lying open on the table and calls his girlfriend back.

As he makes the call, Jane walks in and finds George making a call on her phone – she freaks and rushes off to tell Mike!  This is the first hint of any kind of dishonesty and Mike is furious.

When George is confronted, he admits that he took the phone of Jane’s bag and that he used it without permission, but he denies that he ‘stole’ the phone.  Mike disagrees because as far as he is concerned, when you take something without permission – it’s theft.

George is disciplined, found guilty and is dismissed.  George goes to the CCMA and they overturn the dismissal and Mike has to pay out 12 month’s salary as a settlement to George.  Mike is gobsmacked, as I am sure most of you are right about now.

The CCMA found that ‘dismissal was too harsh a penalty in this case because the charge had been unauthorised possession” of the cell-phone and that nothing was documented about dishonesty or that the relationship of trust had been destroyed.”

You see ‘Unauthorised possession” is not automatically a dismissible offence and had they proved or shown that George was dishonest or that he could no longer be trusted, the outcome would have been very different.

The reality of the situation is that as individuals, we would never even dream of representing ourselves in a court of law, and yet as Entrepreneurs, we consistently and continuously insist on representing ourselves and our company’s in labour issues.

Please ask for help when you need it, experience shows that it will cost you far less in the long run!

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Networking 101 - Networking for the right reasons

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 85

Networking for the right reasons

By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

Strange as it may seem – well to me anyway, many people who go to Networking events, really don’t understand how to Network or even what their objective is.

Most people usually join or attend a networking event in total desperation.  It’s often the ‘last ditch’ effort to keep their businesses alive.

That is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as they then Network effectively.

The problem arises of course, when they come purely to sell their widget and/or service and that is all that they are focused on.

Sadly at this point all that happens is that they foist their attentions on everybody at the meeting and/or event, telling those that are polite enough to listen, how wonderful said widget and/or service is.

Please believe me when I tell you that this is not going to work and they will leave, sadly disillusioned about Networking and Business and probably life in general too.

Networking is not just telling people what you have to offer – it is also about listening to what other people have to offer.  It’s about asking questions in order to understand what the other person does so that you can see who to refer them to.  It’s about answering questions, openly and honestly so that the other person can understand what you do in order for them to refer you to others.

It’s about building relationships.

If you go to a Networking event purely to sell – you will fail!

I go to Networking events to meet people who are like minded and who are serious about business, and who want to form collaborations or engage in dialogue to explore opportunities that are mutually beneficial.

I go to Networking events to develop relationships that I know will bring about a lot of work for me and for everyone else in my ‘circle of influence’.

Why do you go to Networking events?

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za

Business Tips - When is Too Much, Too Much

BUSINESS TIPS – When is “too much” Too Much?


By Nikki Viljoen – Viljoen Consulting – June 2009

It was really interesting for me to realize that the 80/20 principal works, not only in specific areas such as 80% of your clients often only bring in 20% of your revenue, but also in general.  I have come to realize that generically speaking, 80% of my results come from 20% of the actions that I perform.

How cool is that?  Actually the reality is that we should simplify it even more.

Whilst many of us have several irons in the fire, we function better and are more successful when we focus on one or two things at a time and make them work instead of giving only a ‘fleeting’ attention, time and effort to a great number of things that we are involved in. Often the greater number of things that we see ourselves as involved in don’t even see the light of day.

Simplicity is the name of the game as I have learnt time and time again.

Often complex and complicated problems are best served by simple solutions and often these simple solutions are actually right under our own noses.

Living life in the middle of clutter and in the middle of a hubbub of activity only makes it more difficult to see the simple solution.

Don’t get me wrong, at no time should all the opportunities and ideas just be discarded – there will be room for many of them to blossom and grow at some stage – just not all at once and just not right now.

So as the KISS acronym goes “Keep it simple stupid”!

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Motivation - Where is Greatness Found?

MOTIVATION –  Where is Greatness Found


By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC – January 2011

William Arthur Ward says “Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position or prestige.  It is discovered in goodness, humility, service and character.”

Well that should certainly shake things up a little, don’t you think?  There are all these powerful (well they think they are) people in the world who are so full of their own importance, puffed up and proud and according to this statement – they are not great at all!  That’s just really funny!

I guess that is why people like Nelson Mandela is one of the “greatest” men on the planet as opposed to, I don’t know – someone like George W Bush, who perhaps was one of the most powerful men on the planet (when his puppet masters pulled the strings you understand).

So who are the great leaders of the world today?  Sadly when I look around, I don’t really see any?  What I see are men who think that they are great, but who are destroying rather than building.  I see men who are concerned only with ‘what’s in it for them’ rather than for the greater good and I understand the ‘how’ and ‘why’ conspiracy theories spring up all over the place – because it’s all about the money, human kind be damned!

Then I look around and I see ordinary people, doing extra-ordinary things – making a difference one day at a time, one person at a time.  I see ordinary people who have become celebrities and have used that platform to make a difference, one day at a time, one person at a time. I see people who have very little, helping people who have even less, one day at a time, one person at a time and I understand that I am in the presence of greatness.

So where does this take us to, during the beginning of this New Year – to traditionally, the place and time when people start all over again, with new hopes, new determination and new resolve?  Who knows?

To borrow the line from Oprah Winfrey – “what I know for sure” though, is that there is hope, there is resolution and there is a change-a-coming and that we have the choice as individuals to be a part of that change or to sit back and reflect, in years to come on how we ‘missed the boat’.

I know what choice I am making – do you know what choices you are going to be making?

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za or http://www.viljoenconsulting.co.za

Motivation - The Right of Choice

MOTIVATION - THE RIGHT OF CHOICE.

By Nikki Viljoen of N Viljoen Consulting CC

Today’s quote comes from Oprah Winfrey, who says “Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege.  Use it.  Dwell in possibility.”

Actually Oprah comes up with some pretty dynamic stuff from time to time and this is one of those times.  How often do we actually get to choose our own path – well I guess the answer would be All the Time.  Strictly speaking I don’t think that that is true!

Now before everyone starts jumping up and down on my head, let me explain.

I recently parted company with a friend.  It was a relatively ‘new’ friend as the friendship was only about four years old (my ‘oldest’ friendship is going on for forty five years now), so in the grand scheme of things, I wasn’t too emotionally devastated.  Losing or walking away from a friendship is not something that is new to me, however, that said, it is not done lightly.

To give you a brief, if somewhat un-emotional run down of what happened here are the highlights.  Lets call her Anne.

Anne met a new man in November.  I have no problem with that, in fact I have always encouraged her relationships. Within 6 weeks he had purchased her a new lounge suite, new bedroom suite and there were new appliances for the kitchen on order. Still no problem for me as long as you are aware of why all these purchases are taking place.  What did start happening in the beginning of December though, is that suddenly arrangements that were made with me months and weeks before he arrived on the scene, were cancelled at the last minute (I mean an hour or so before we were due to meet) and the cancellation was done by SMS.  Not good.  For me this is disrespectful on two levels.  One is that now I am being treated like I am not good enough (and yes it is my right to choose to believe and/or react like that) and secondly breaking an arrangement like that should be done in person, even if it is done telephonically, with an explanation – not be SMS.  Again for me that is like saying that I am not worth the call.

Me, being who I am, I confronted her about this and then discovered that the problem is that this man is one of those controlling, manipulating type people.  It also came out that he was now paying most of her bills, rent and the like and that he basically didn’t want her to see anyone (and that included friends) except for himself of course.  Every time she told him of a meeting planned between the two of us, he ‘closed’ his wallet and threw a temper tantrum.  She, now being used to the additional money, gave in and then not wanting any kind of confrontation with me, sent me an SMS to cancel our arrangement.  Well that is also her choice I guess, but it is one that was very cleverly manipulated by this fellow under the guise of – ‘well I’ll help you financially because you have gotten yourself into a bit of a financial situation.”

This kind of behaviour also carries a huge consequence – you see not only has she lost me as a friend (my choice is not to allow anyone to treat me with this kind of disrespect) but further on down the line, she will lose the ability to make any kind of decision of her own – they will all be made by him.  Technically, she will have given him the right to make all decisions for her, because of the control that he will exercise over her in the disguise of money.  Not nice at all, but it was her choice to allow him to do it the second time.

You see, another of Oprah’s sayings is “Believe someone the first time they tell you something!”  The first time he manipulated her with money, she should have made the right choice.  She didn’t and the result is that in a way she has given him “permission” to continue in this way.

Oprah is right when she says that the right to choose is a sacred one.  It is something that many people have gone to war over and have given their lives for.  It is something that we as individuals should treasure and guard.

Whenever we make a choice, we should consciously remember those who made the wrong choice, in the first place, and who as a result of that, now have very little choice at all.

Nikki is an Internal Auditor and Business Administration Specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or nikki@viljoenconsulting.co.za