THE POWER OF NETWORKING - PART 20

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 20

Craig Harrison says that the reason that Networking may not be working for you is because of the basic 9 mistakes that Networker’s make. I will be going through these over the next few weeks and let’s see if this is what is holding you back.


To get to know a bit more about Craig Harrison, please visit his website on www.craigspeaks.com.

The seventh mistake, Craig says is “You don’t mind your manners. Networker’s can’t make small talk, don’t show an ability to exchange pleasantries and interrupt others. Can you gracefully engage and disengage from conversations? Are your questions intrusive and your answers curt? Are you showing proper respect for the stranger you’ve just met? Or are you singing Opera? If so, your tune is familiar: It’s ‘me-me-me-me!”.

Well that one certainly is familiar to me. Why is it that people seem to think that their time is more important than mine. That what they have to say is more important than what I have to say.

Often, when I am engaged in conversation with someone else, they rudely push in, shove something either into my hand or the hand of the person that I am busy in conversation with and demand to be heard there and then! How rude!

I must admit, that although I will get to them eventually, I usually leave them until last. I find it difficult to be pleasant to someone who has treated me with such disrespect.

Going to a networking meeting with the only thought being what you can sell to someone is not going to work for you at all. Remember, everyone is there for the same purpose – we all want to sell something. I mean, think about it – who goes to these things will the sole purpose of buying something – certainly not me and if you are all honest with yourselves, neither do you.

The mindset needs to change though, because you need to go to the meeting with the idea of helping others – through connecting others with each other, you yourself will become connected.

That’s how it works for me and that is how it will work for you. You have to give in order to get.

UNFAIR PLAY IN THE WORKPLACE

Oh, so life is unfair! And your point is. . . . I doubt that there has never been a time, that everyone of us have not had this same lament! No life is not fair, not in the workplace, not on the playing field and certainly not at home or in the bedroom. But guess what, life is what it is and it is up to us as individuals to make what we will of it.

So the choice is there - wallow in self pity and lament on how unfair life is, or get up, dust yourself off and find the opportunity in that 'unfairness' to make work for you.

Therein lies your challenge for the day!

Unfair play in the workplace

Tumi Makgetla: NEWS ANALYSIS
22 March 2007 11:59

Racism in the workplace is often difficult to prove. Racism in the workplace continues to dog corporate South Africa, according to union leaders and black professionals. Yet few individuals who experience racism try to tackle it, preferring to avoid the stress by finding a new job. Experts say that where individuals do seek legal action, racial discrimination can be extremely difficult to prove. Moreover, the equality courts have played almost no role in combating racism in a corporate environment.

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) reported to Parliament late last year that the majority of cases heard in the equality courts concerned racial discrimination and disability matters. Yet HRC commissioner Karthy Govender said he could only think of one or two cases that were concerned with racism in the workplace. He said the court would only address matters outside the jurisdiction of the labour court or the CCMA. About 50% of the grievances that banking union Sasbo receives from its members concern racial discrimination, said Sasbo's deputy general secretary Ben Venter. Grievances range from not distributing empowerment shares to Chinese workers to derogatory language use and language policy. The union organises about 60% to 70% of the employees at the four major banks. Yet Venter said that racism was subtle in the financial sector, compared with industries such as mining, where it might be more explicit. "It's very difficult to say that it's motivated by racial discrimination," he said.

Issues of racial discrimination become more difficult at regional or branch level, where senior management depends on a local manager's representation of events. Venter's perception is that racial discrimination was a bigger issue in the early 1990s, because people from previously disadvantaged backgrounds have greatly increased their participation in the industry since then. Wits University law professor Tshepo Mosikatsana said a complaint can have a racial dimension depending on how it is characterised. "It is very difficult to prove the racial dimension, so most people prefer to go the route of enforcing rules," he said. Venter commented that about 80% of the cases they deal with concern not following company procedure. "The workplace is fraught with racism," said Mosikatsana. He added that black upward mobility has been interpreted as encroaching on white territory and not as a levelling of the playing field, which results in serious problems. He said that often discrimination is subliminal, although it is perceptible. For example, someone might find that their comments are consistently ignored during meetings but it could be difficult to prove that this is because of racism. "People don't have the same levels of endurance," he said, explaining that people often leave a company in response to racism. It is especially difficult for junior staff to combat racism because they lack the clout or knowledge of the company to deal with it as effectively as more senior staff.

"[Bonga Bangani's] letter really has brought to the fore the whole issue of racism in the workplace," said Sello Moloko, the president of the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals. "Racism and sexism and other forms of prejudice are quite prevalent in the workplace. "He said that in some cases people who try to use internal procedures to deal with racism have been pushed out of the company. "People lose confidence in the human resources desk of these companies as they tend to toe the management line," he said. "What I find very alarming about corporate South Africa is the indifference of executive management toward racist behaviour, and the tendency to deny it when it comes up," he said. Senior people often want to "kill the issue" of racism in an aggressive manner, which might make it difficult for junior people to raise it as a problem. This could have the effect of disillusioning "starry-eyed youngsters" who are excited about the companies they work for. Moloko says strong mechanisms are necessary to combat racism. This includes having strong black people in the workplace and structures that can be tested by independent outsiders. This gives young black people the opportunity to "prove or disprove" themselves.

Dear Investec, here's the problem"Overwhelmed" is how 22-year-old Bonga Bangani feels about becoming an accidental newsmaker this month, with President Thabo Mbeki singling him out in the concluding paragraphs of an open letter. "There can be no better message to all of us as we celebrate Human Rights Day than these very wise words from a young African professional in his early twenties," writes Mbeki. These "wise words" were contained in a carefully structured five-page letter that Bangani wrote to his division head at Investec, Richard Wainwright, on March 5. The letter explains why Bangani chose not to stay on after a year's internship with the company. It mentions colleagues' attitudes towards training black employees and he contrasts his experience with that of a white colleague. Bangani says he witnessed staff leaving Investec without voicing their problems. "It does not make the situation any better for the next person who comes after you." Wainwright told the Mail & Guardian that he was "absolutely surprised" by the letter and believes it reflects an isolated incident. Bangani emphasises that he never intended for his letter to appear in the media, adding that the publicity has been a "real shock". He has avoided reading online responses and has been swamped with emails because he included his contact information in the postscript. Initially, Bangani was reluctant to be interviewed. He laughed when asked for a photograph, responding: "No, I still want to have my life."Bangani says he forwarded his letter to some friends with the message that "you do not have to be powerful or have money to change your environment". He hoped they would find it inspiring.

The letter found its way on to a news website and Investec CEO Stephen Koseff responded by holding a company-wide discussion on transformation issues. This excluded the Cape Town office where Bangani worked "for technical reasons". Internet forums have also generated pages of debate over the letter. Some writers are critical, one writing "I suspect he wasn't suited to fast-paced corporate life. He wasn't cutting it and decided to pull the race card.""How is it playing the race card?" counters Bangani. "I'm not asking for any red carpet treatment. I thrive on competition, that's why I want to work in the industry. I was just saying why aren't you being consistent, ya bona? I'm just looking for answers. "He adds that his letter was not an attack -- he never actually fingers anyone as "racist". Others online applaud his courage: "Ah, the fearlessness of youth! Men twice his age would shiver in their boots imagining the repercussions of writing that letter."Bangani -- who graduated from the University of Cape Town with an honours degree in business science and who talks with relish about derivatives -- still hopes to make a career in investment banking. He is not entirely fearless, saying: "Potential employers will probably see me as a troublemaker." Anticipating these problems, the president of the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals, Sello Moloko, has urged the financial sector not to throw Bangani's curriculum vitae away but to give him a chance based on the constructive message in his letter. "On the upside, a lot of people will benefit from my stance," says Bangani, referring to Investec's transformation session, where some employees reportedly supported the claims made in his letter. "We need to stand together and build this country. Racism needs to be addressed," he says, echoing Mbeki's reading of the importance of his letter. Mbeki referred to the letter in a commentary on the importance of addressing the realities of racism to achieve national reconciliation.At times, Bangani sounds like he was made for politics, expounding articulately on nation building and the importance of dialogue. He says that his interest in change came from his dislike of what he saw around him. "I would go back to the township to visit my grandparents and see young kids in shebeens. I would ask myself what's going on in this country."He says that people such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King have inspired him and so it is surprising when he reveals that he steered clear of political parties at university. They were all "too white or too black" and ended up as popularity contests. "I'm not in that space, but where I feel like making a difference, I get involved."In contrast, he fondly recalls his time at the predominantly white and Afrikaans-speaking Paarl Boys High, where he was elected on to the student representative council. As the school's first black prefect and first black matriculant to receive distinctions, he believes he probably changed the perceptions of those around him.He describes his active role in having football made into a school sport. The four-year campaign met strong opposition from rugby supporters, but the introduction of the sport allowed particularly English speakers to contribute to school spirit."I don't step into places where it's just me trying to satisfy my own ego," he reflects. Some online writers have criticised his idealism as misplaced in the corporate world. "Yes, it sucks, you do get biased managers *gasp*, you do get unfair systems and you do get abused in corporate settings," writes one.

Bangani acknowledges that he has only one year of work experience, but says he cannot understand why people would tolerate unfairness. "Why not challenge companies to be fair and work to bring it to their attention?" -- Tumi Makgetla

TV SERIES FOCUSES ON EMPOWERMENT

Clearly this is something that we as Business owners should also be watching. Have a look at www.summittv.co.za to see what's on and when. We are missing out on a great deal of information people - there is so much out there, we need to watch and learn. It is not in our own job description to learn off only our own errors, we can learn from others too.

Have a great weekend

TV series focuses on empowerment
Network Reporter10 January 2007 at 06h00

In a new series on Summit TV, leaders in organisations - such as Metropolitan Asset Managers, Moreland Developments, Xstrata and the MAPPP SETA - bring viewers face to face with South African business's views, strategies and insights about the current empowerment framework from their industry-specific vantage points. Presented by Aakash Bramdeo of etv news fame, the Impumelelo Empowerment Series sees Bramdeo interviewing guests - all captains of South African business and industry - about their organisations' empowerment issues and goals. The eight-minute empowerment-focused feature series is sponsored by Impumelelo, South Africas's top empowerment companies' publication, and will be broadcast three times a week with two repeats. Impumelelo, now in its seventh edition, is rated as one of South Africa's top business-to-business empowerment and transformation company directories. Published by TopCo Media, it showcases the empowerment and business successes and achievements across government and private business sectors and highlights the best empowered companies in the country.

Summit TV, on DStv's channel 55, has become essential viewing for the country's top business decision makers, and attracts over 180 000 viewers, of which 58% are chief executive officers, managing directors, business owners or senior management. Unique brandIn the first programme, Bramdeo speaks to Metropolitan Asset Managers managing director, Abel Sithole. In subsequent programmes, he interviews Bongani Gumede, Moreland Developments' Director of Corporate Services; Xstrata's Communications Manager, Songezo Zibi and the CEO of MAPPP-Seta, Melanie Bernard-Fryer. The Impumelelo Empowerment Series is the first partnership of its kind between Summit TV and TopCo Media, and presents, to both the publication and its profiled clients, a unique brand extension programme which offers clients (advertisers) an opportunity to align and consolidate their media campaigns across different media while remaining part of Impumelelo, the directory of the country's top empowered companies.

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU IGNORE

Oh good grief! Sounds like a 'bunny huggers' paradise! You know what, we all get lonely, we all get frustrated, we all go through stages of feeling like 'no-one' loves us yada, yada, yada! Get over it and move on. Instead of focusing on how we 'need' to massage the egos and hurts of everyone on the planet, perhaps we should be focusing of what needs to get done and do it!

If the chairman of the company walks past you in the corridor and he does not greet you, it does not mean that he hates you, or he does not appreciate what you have done for him and his company or he has a personal vandetta against you or even that he feels that he is above you - what it means is that he has something on his mind that he is busy dealing with and it would probably do you the world of good to get something on your mind to deal with other than how he has hurt your feelings!

Good heavens man! Get a life!

Be careful who you ignore...
Timothy Webster01 May 2007 at 11h00

Has the workplace become a haven for cliques with elitist personal brands looking down on the no-names? Recently I was interviewed on a local radio station and a caller phoned to ask me how to deal with the folks in his office who feel that they are too important to greet him. Before his emotions caused his voice to flutter, I asked him to tell me how he felt about being ignored by the pseudo office celebrities; after pausing to wipe away a tear, he replied: "I feel lonely and it hurts." By now everyone has either read or watched the horrific nightmare that the students and family members of the American university, Virginia Tech, have been forced to endure. Many revelations have surfaced about the mass murderer infamously known today as "Cho". But the one thing that I find most startling - as it relates to the caller who was hurt so deeply by his aloof colleagues - were the comments by Cho's writing teacher, Lucinda Roy.

Roy told ABC News that "Cho seemed extraordinarily lonely - the loneliest person I have ever met in my life." As a passionate promoter of personal branding, I want to make it very clear that your pursuit of individual success should not come at the expense of the least popular and especially those who find it difficult to assert themselves.

To save you from having to endure my rhetoric on the self-interested lot of the land, I'll simply say that the correlation between status, power and egocentricity is highly uncomfortable for me. While I don't expect you to walk through the shopping centre and identify every lonely lad that passes you by, buy them a drink and then discuss their issues, I do, however, at the very least, expect you to greet people when they pass you in the office. And moreover, those of you who have admittedly worked hard and built your personal empire, I need you to recognise that the significant brand power you've been awarded is largely due to the fact that other people perceive you positively. It's impossible to build a brand without the favour of other people. If you look around closely, each and every one of us has a circle of influence in which to leverage our personal power. Whether it's a little sister or a junior staff member, take the time to empathise with the no-name brands. Before you know it, the no-name brand that you overlook could be the one you are looking up to.

TREND SPOTTING LEADS TO SUCCESS

Specially for all you widget sellers out there! Take note and and be aware!

Trend spotting leads to success
Impti Du Toit

25 April 2007 at 11h00

The UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) is launching a new course this May that will help local business people master the art of trend forecasting, enabling them to make strategic choices for their businesses that result in sustained business success. Course director Kate Blaine says that in today's complex business world, competitive advantage comes in knowing what the future holds and exploiting that knowledge before anybody else does. "Trend forecasting is a global industry for the simple reason that accuracy in forecasting can be vital to the successful running of a business," says Blaine. "Getting it right can result in big profits and success; getting it wrong could mean an overstocked warehouse filled with stuff nobody wants to buy.

"But while some get it spectacularly right - like Apple, a company that has brilliantly read the mood of the consumer and then, critically, given them what they want when they want it (the iPod, the iPhone) - most others let opportunities get away," she says. "There are easy steps that businesses can take and processes they can follow to maximise their chances of getting it right … like the more successful trend spotters out there."The three-day course, which runs in Cape Town from May 14 - 16, will introduce delegates to the range of processes and tools available for spotting trends, enabling them to distinguish a trend from a fad and demonstrate how to integrate trends spotted back into the business to lead to new product and service generation.

Delegates will be updated on the current top 100 trends sweeping the globe, and be exposed to the thinking of some of South Africa's most successful business people who have spotted trends successfully, including Raymond Ackerman, chairperson of Pick 'n Pay, and Brad Armitage, founder of the Vida-e Caffe. "The three-day programme will be largely experiential," says Blaine. "Delegates will be engaged in games, simulations and exercises to get them to absorb what they are learning in a whole new way. "We think that it is a powerful course that ultimately will enable delegates to interrogate material and process information differently, promoting business success," said Blaine. "An unseen trend could strike a death blow to any business. It is vital that South Africa's business leaders learn how to spot and work with trends or we cannot hope to compete successfully in the global economy."Global Trends will be run by the Executive Education unit at the UCT Graduate School of Business, which has a global 2005 and 2006 Top Ten rating from the Economist Intelligence Unit for its short courses.Contact Junita Abrahams on 021-406-1323. The course website is www.gsb.uct.ac.za/globaltrends.

ARTSCAPE ADMINISTRATION INTERNSHIP[ 'A HUGE SUCCESS'

And they wail and weep and gnash their teeth because there is no work out there for them! Look at the huge opportunities that are there for the taking, you just have to open your eyes and recognize them for what they are.

The opportunities are not just for the students that are learning, but also small business that can provide service. All the equipment people, designers, graphic designers, printers, branding specialists, sound guys etc - here is a wonderful opportunity to meet young people who are stating out and who would need your services/products/guidance etc.

Seize the day!

Artscape administration internship 'a huge success'
02 April 2007 at 04h00

Fifteen young people recently completed their training programme as part of the Artscape internship project, which was launched in June 2007 with the financial support of the department of social development. The main aim of the project was to give young unemployed artists and people interested in the performing and visual arts an opportunity to gain work experience and develop skills in arts administration and management. The project was facilitated and managed by Artscape's Audience Development and Education department under the direction of Marlene le Roux.

Most of the interns have some background in the performing arts and were placed at the various departments at Artscape as well as community-based arts projects such as Gugu S'thebe, Nyanga Arts Development Centre and Novalis-Ubuntu centre.

During their nine-month placement they were involved in a structured learning process that included training, working alongside a mentor, and talks by heads of different operational areas at Artscape. Interns also attended Seta-accredited courses in project and event management and marketing. Le Roux said: "The project was a huge success, with the most important achievement probably being the number of young people who will be gainfully employed." Le Roux says her department is already accepting applications for the next intake although funding has not yet been confirmed.

For information call Toberin Meyer on 021 410 9917, or collect an application form at the Resource Centre at Artscape, DF Malan Street, Cape Town.

THE POWER OF NETWORKING - PART 19

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 19

Craig Harrison says that the reason that Networking may not be working for you is because of the basic 9 mistakes that Networker’s make. I will be going through these over the next few weeks and let’s see if this is what is holding you back.


To get to know a bit more about Craig Harrison, please visit his website on www.craigspeaks.com.

The sixth mistake he says is “Leakage. Is there an inconsistency between what you say what you do? Your card may say one thing about you, your clothing suggests something else and the language and vocabulary you use further confounds strangers in getting a fix on who you are, what you’re about and your skill level. Strive to send consistent messages verbally, non-verbally and in your materials and correspondence. When everything works together the sum is greater than the parts.”

Whilst I agree that this may have some bearing on whether you are a good networker or not – my biggest grip in this area is that of pre-judgement.

Personally, I don’t really care what your card says, how you dress or what you look like, I am going to hook up with you to find out more about you, what you do and most importantly, who you know!

Too many times, I have watched people pre-judge someone only to discover (often when it is far too late) that they person that they dismissed ‘out of hand’ is someone that they really should have hooked up with.

One of my biggest clients today, is a chap that I met in a bar. He was dirty and smelly, his t-shirt was torn and dirty and his shorts hadn’t seen the inside of a washing machine in a very long time. We got to talking and I discovered he had just gotten back from a fishing trip and was having an ice cold beer before going home to off load the boat etc. He actually owns 4 different businesses, several boats, a ‘holiday/weekend’ home on the Vaal and his own helicopter. When he travels nationally, he ‘charters’ a plane as he hates having to ‘wait’ or be dependent on airlines. Sounds like someone you would like to do business with, doesn’t it?

So my advice to you on this one is, don’t worry too much what it says on the business card, or what the person looks like. Talk to them and find out who they are and who they know!

SA ENTREPRENEURS ON WORLD STAGE

Wow! How fantastic is this - how wonderful it would be if we could all enter this! I am sure, that somewhere down the line it could be done.

Come on guys and gals, this is something that we could all work towards.

Have a great day!

SA entrepreneurs on world stage
Network Reporter

22 June 2007 at 11h00

Entries for the South African chapter of the internationally renowned 2007 World Entrepreneur Awards is now open. Organisers and sponsors of the awards - Ernst & Young, in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank - have made a call for nominations for the categories of "best entrepreneur" and "best emerging entrepreneur" for 2007. The awards aim to recognise the exceptional achievements of South African entrepreneurs, and their efforts in creating jobs and contributing to the growth of the country's economy. In 2006, Bill Lynch of Imperial Holdings became the first South African ever to win the overall Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Awards in Monte Carlo. Koos Bekker, Chief Executive of multinational media company Naspers, was announced South African winner in November 2006, and represented South Africa in Monte Carlo on June 2 at the Global Awards ceremony this year. However, Guy Laliberte, founder and CEO of Canada's Cirque du Soleil, beat Bekker and 37 others to scoop the 2007 Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Previous South Africa chapter winners in recent years include Mark Lamberti ( 2001), Patrice Motsepe (2002), Brian Joffe (2003), Stephen Saad (2004), and Bill Lynch (2005).

"The awards create the opportunity for both personal and business development through interaction with established and emerging business leaders. "The media coverage received by finalists and winners highlights the valuable contribution these entrepreneurs have made," said Anton de Souza, Country Leader: World Entrepreneur Awards Programme at Ernst & Young. Now in its 10th year in South Africa, the awards form part of a global Ernst & Young programme, which recognises and rewards entrepreneurship in 38 countries. The award recognises two categories of entrepreneur:

SA's Best Entrepreneur: An owner-manager (or joint owner-manager) who is responsible for the recent performance of a company that is at least five years old and has an annual turnover of at least R100 million; or a founder member of a listed company who is still active in senior management and retains some equity ownership.

SA's Best Emerging Entrepreneur: An owner-manager (or joint owner-manager) who is responsible for the recent performance of a company that is at least two years old and has an annual turnover of at least R20 million. The Emerging Entrepreneur Award category was launched in 2005 and was won by Brandon Leigh of Leaf Wireless. Fulton Ramaphakela from Moloko Group Holdings was the winner last year.

The deadline for nominations is July 15. To view the selection criteria and to apply, go to www. ey.com/global/content.nsf/South_Africa/About_Ernst_&_Young_- _World_Entrepreneur_Awards. Alternatively, telephone Katharine Janisch at 011 772 3213.

YOUR BOSS CAN'T MONITOR YOUR E-MAIL

We all need to make ourselves aware of the implications and take the necessary steps. Be warned people!

'Your boss can't monitor your email'
November 07 2003 at 09:27PM
By Douglas carew

Big Brother shouldn't be watching your email at work. Companies have been warned that getting written consent to monitor staff email and Internet activities may not be enough to escape fines of up to R2-million under the new Regulation of Interception of Communications Act. The act, which was signed by President Thabo Mbeki last December but has yet to become a reality in the workplace, aims to control Big Brother by protecting privacy rights of individuals and imposing penalties on anyone who unlawfully intercepts or monitors a communication.

Capetonian Steve Ferguson, of electronic or e-law specialists NicciFerguson, said this did not mean companies could not monitor such activities but they would have to do so under specific conditions to ensure it was done in a fair and lawful way.

'Employers and employees are in the dark about exactly what the act permits'

Although the act had not yet come into operation, commentators had expressed conflicting views on what it meant for workplace monitoring. "As a result, employers and employees are in the dark about exactly what the act permits," said Ferguson, who has studied the issue of workplace monitoring in relation to comparative practices in the European Union and United States.Section 5 of the act allowed monitoring where one of the parties to the communication had given prior written consent. But Ferguson said companies wanting to protect themselves against criminal or civil liability would have to go further than simply getting written consent."Consent alone does not always justify an invasion of privacy, especially in the context of the employment relationship. Consent cannot be seen as freely given when a staff member feels that failing to co-operate could result in dismissal or being passed over for promotion. "Written consent also only applied to emails written and sent by staff and not to third parties sending emails to staff from outside the company.

'Consent alone does not always justify an invasion of privacy'

Ferguson suggested companies ask their staff to inform friends and other contacts that incoming emails could be monitored. A message to that effect could be placed at the bottom of all outgoing emails. The need to ensure that employees did not make confidential information available to rival companies was just one of the reasons for companies introducing monitoring. Companies could also be held legally liable if offensive material, such as racist jokes, was circulated via company email or by what an employee did on the Internet.

Businesses would also want to make sure staff were not wasting work time on personal emails or surfing the Internet while large attachments, including pornographic photographs and viruses, could slow down or even crash networks and severely affect efficiency. "Any company, regardless of its size, can be plunged into financial ruin as a result of email or internet abuse by its employees." The advantages to monitoring were clear, but Ferguson said it could have a negative effect on the relationship of trust between staff and employer, resulting in a lack of motivation on the part of the employee. Therefore when developing communication policies employers should not think only about protecting business interests and avoiding liability under the new legislation but aim at policies that respected the privacy and dignity of employees.

Transparency was the key and a blanket statement that monitoring could take place would not be sufficient. Companies should detail the method and duration of monitoring, the type of information that would be collected, the reasons for doing so and then outline how the policy would be enforced and the penalties. "Assumed understanding among employees and employers is dangerous and can lead to costly disputes." Personal e-mails could result in much work time being lost but they should only be monitored in exceptional circumstances, such as when a company needed to protect the security and efficient operation of its network.

Ferguson suggested companies either set up a separate Internet email address for staff for personal use, or encourage staff using the company network to indicate on the subject line that the email was personal.Either way, companies could keep track of how much work time was being lost to personal business without having to read email content. "A complete ban on all personal email and Internet activities is unrealistic. Permitting a degree of personal use could make for a more efficient staff." Ferguson said informing staff how email and Internet activities were automatically stored on the computer hard drive would probably go a long way towards reducing levels of abuse.

Hello there bloggers. My appologies for being so quiet over the weekend, I have been bitten by the flu bug and am feeling shit! Having visited the doctor today and been given a host of medication to take. I am now attempting to function in a fog, being in a semi stoned stated from a variety of tablets that I have been told I "must" take in order to feel like a human being again! Oh well!

So here is another opportunity being presented to anyone who cares to take it up - perhaps all we will hear is the steady stream of "No-one helps us!"

Opportunity is something that needs to be recognised and then acted upon. It is very sad to see that more often than not, people do not recognise the opportunity (or will not) and then they insist on crying "Woe is me!"

My response is this, get up off your arses and do something instead of waiting for others to do it for you.

Have a great day!

Young accountants sharpen skills in quest for success
02 May 2007 at 11h00

Unemployed accounting graduates will again be given a helping hand to attain their dream of becoming professional accountants or CAs through the Guarantee Trust work-readiness programme, which is being run in Cape Town for the third consecutive year. The programme aims at producing more professional accountants by getting graduates from previously disadvantaged back- grounds on to learnerships at accounting practices, and giving them the soft skills to be more efficient and effective staff members from their first day at work, says Lindsay Langenhoven, the marketing and PR manager for the organisation's Cape Town division.

Fully sponsored by Fasset (the Seta for finance, accounting, management consulting and other financial services), the four-and-a-half month programme is run twice yearly in the Cape and 30 students are accepted on each course. Former Guarantee Trust students speak highly of the work-readiness programme, which is run throughout the country. Among them is Radichaba Malapane, a 25-year-old student, originally from the Limpopo province. He is now working on his articles at chartered accounting company Sprigg Abbott Incorporated, and has successfully passed his CTA and written the CA Board 1 exam. He says: "Guarantee Trust has provided the exposure I needed and given me a second chance in life." Masibolekwe Ndima, 26, from Engcobo in the Eastern Cape, is completing his articles at Bruk Munkes & Co, another chartered accounting company. He says Guarantee Trust helped him develop his analytical skills and taught him how to get clarity and understanding on any issue.

Langenhoven adds: "The skills taught on the programme not only help students in their career, but also to overcome problems in life." Xolile Mgijima is now in his second-year articles at a medium-sized CA company called PKF Incorporated. The 25-year-old, originally from a small Eastern Cape town, is loving every challenge his new employers throw his way. "If it wasn't for Guarantee Trust I wouldn't be where I am today: they gave me the motivation." In Cape Town, Guarantee Trust has a learnership (articles) placement rate of 83%, according to Langenhoven. "We have a network of accounting firms who want our graduates. At the end of our training programme they are placed in various accounting or auditing positions, initially completing a one-month review period with an accounting practice, followed by permanent employment at that firm. "To apply for the programme, students must have a financial accounting NQF level 3 qualification, but need not have any work experience, she says. Students on the programme will receive a monthly stipend from Fasset.

The next programme in Cape Town will begin on July 7. The closing date for applications is June 30. Contact Julia Mashologu on 021 762 9345, 021 762 9245 or 082 536 7459.

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN

Good morning bloggers.

This was sent to me this morning by my colleague Kerry Jack of Cognosa. (kerry@cognosa.co.za). Kerry is an attorney that specializes in Risk Management.

So the next time someone says they’re emigrating “for a better life”…. Send them this article from MWeb’s news site.

Jhb wealth difficult to beat
2007-06-20 10:56:41
http://www.fin24.co.za/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-25_2133326http://www.news24.com/Images/Photos/20070620105443Johannesburg_Skyline.gif

Don't think that an offer to work in New York, Moscow, London or Tokyo for three times your salary is going to increase your wealth.

Johannesburg - Don't think that an offer to work in New York, Moscow, London or Tokyo for three times your salary is going to increase your wealth. Johannesburg is one of the cities in the world with the lowest cost of living, according to Mercer, an international human resource consultation group. Johannesburg rated 136th on Mercer's index of 143 countries. That is cheaper than last year's position (117), probably because of the weakening of the rand against the US dollar. The aim of the index is to guide to governments and companies on the remuneration packages for their overseas workers.

Moscow is for the second year in a row the most expensive city to live in, followed by London, Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Paraguay's capital, Asuncion, is the cheapest city to live in for the fifth year running. Mercer spokesperson Alistair Peck says the index compares the cost for housing, household goods, transport, food and entertainment. New York was used as a benchmark with a score of 100. The cost of living in Moscow is 34% higher at 134.4 points, while the cost of living in Asuncion is half of that in New York.

Rebecca Powers, senior consultant at Mercer, said employers must be constantly aware of the cost of living for their overseas workers to ensure their remuneration packages are fair and competitive. According to her, there were significant changes to this year's list, mostly due to volatility in exchange rates. Due to the stronger euro, most of the European countries find themselves in the top half of the list. London is the most expensive European city, while Sofia in Bulgaria the cheapest in 108th position. New York (15) is the most expensive city in North America, five places cheaper than last year, while Ottawa (109) in Canada is the cheapest. Accra (76) in Ghana is Africa's most expensive city to live in.

Zimbabwe's capital Harare, previously the most expensive African country, was not included in the index because "the serious economic crisis made it impossible to compare costs".
Finance24/Sake

YOUR JOB IS A BIG PART OF YOU; CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONE

Absolutely fantastic! This kind of workshop is sorely needed. You cannot begin to imagine the number of people, to whom I have spoken in the last 18 months, who have no idea what their passion is and who I believe are wandering around the perifery of their own lives as a result of this.

So if there are any of you out there, who do not know what your passion is or what kind of work it is that you want to do, for God's sake, get hold of this woman and attend a workshop!

Regards

Nikki

Your job is a big part of you; choose the right one
Workplace staff02 March 2007 at 06h00

Many students, and adults, are confused about the career choices they need to make. They are often unsure of their career interests and their own abilities, and often have limited knowledge of the world of work and the different career fields available. This is unfortunate as the result of this confusion is often an incorrect career-choice decision, which can lead to job dissatisfaction and an unfulfilled life.

Career counsellor Heather Jones believes that doing the wrong type of work for a sustained amount of time can lead to a deterioration in the quality of life. "Career-related research makes a link between career choice, job satisfaction and mental health."In her own career, Jones found herself in a series of work positions to which she was unsuited. "I could never work out why I was unhappy in the jobs I had but, even more importantly, I was never sure of what I really wanted to do," she says. "There were times when I felt I would never find my niche. "Today, Jones runs a career-consulting business offering career counselling and career education to both young people and adults. She is passionate about people development and helping others to improve the quality of their lives by improving their career choices. "I am also very interested in the patterns and meanings of lives that you find embedded in the life career history," she says.

Jones has recently launched a career self-exploration workshop that focuses specifically on exploration - of the self and of the different career fields. The workshop helps people to identify their career interests, abilities, values and the meaning embedded in their life career histories. "We also focus on assessing levels of career maturity and the influence that family and culture has on career decision-making," she says. The workshop includes a theoretical component, which is used to explain the various career-related concepts used. It also focuses on work environment and career field exploration, career decision-making, goal-setting and how to create a new reality for yourself. The workshop is run over one day and includes research assignments to be completed by participants. These research assignments include interviewing someone in a career field you have a particular interest in, obtaining information on specific careers and researching the world of work. "The workshop is fun, interactive and includes exercises, questionnaires, and individual and group work," explains Jones. "From the response I have already received, it is clear there is a big need out there for this type of career workshop and individual career counselling. "Adults and students alike are seeking help for the important career choices we all need to make," says Jones.

Those interested in the Career Self-Exploration Workshop can contact Heather Jones on 011-312-2082 or 083-976-2716 or secretrain@xsinet.co.za

THE POWER OF NETWORKING - PART 18

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 18

Craig Harrison says that the reason that Networking may not be working for you is because of the basic 9 mistakes that Networker’s make. I will be going through these over the next few weeks and let’s see if this is what is holding you back.


To get to know a bit more about Craig Harrison, please visit his website on www.craigspeaks.com.

The fifth mistake he says is “Unfocused conversation. Networking is a chance to demonstrate focus, drive and confidence. Aimless rambling is pointless and suggests you’re not a focused professional. Showcase your communication skills by expressing yourself succinctly and ask precise questions.”

This is also one of my greatest pet hates! The only way that I can describe this to you is by telling you an actual story. Obviously I cannot use names as that would not be the right thing to do.

There is a young chap, let’s call him John, who faithfully comes to as many meetings as he possibly can. He is passionate about what he does, he is passionate about networking meetings and he really does see the value in them. What can possibly be the problem, you may ask – well it’s like this – I have no idea what it is that he does!

I have been seeing him at networking functions now for the better part of almost two years, he is still doing the same thing (I think – there is no way to tell) and I still have no idea about what he does. I have tried meeting him on a one on one so that he can explain it to me in greater detail and I was more confused than ever!

You see, when he gets up to tell his story, it changes all the time and it hops about. It is so bad that I am not even sure if it is a product or a service and I am not alone in this, as everyone that I have spoken to is as confused as I am!

Sadder than that even, is the fact that he knows that I do not understand what he does and instead of trying to assist me to ‘get the point’ he is amused by my confusion. So amused, in fact, that his latest introduction of himself, starts off by him telling everyone that he will try and keep it short so that they will not be as confused as what I am. How bizarre!

Perhaps a good way to deal with this is to set down points of what it is that you are trying to sell (product or service – let’s get that right from the beginning) and from there what the advantages are and the value adds.

Confusing the very people you need to assist you with contacts and referrals is just the way to go about things. People need to understand what it is that you do in order to hook you up with the right people.

CORRUPT COPS AND CRIME FOREMOST ON SA'S MIND

You may wonder why I am putting Corruption and Crime statistics up on the Business Reality blog - well, it's really quite simple. If we don't get a handle on the crime and corruption in this country, we will fail in our quest to entice foreign investment in this country. Tourists will stop coming here and this too will affect the economy.

so don't get clever when you think that the 'little' bit of corruption that you are involved with can't hurt anyone (I mean after all, all you are doing is bribing the metro cop because you went through the red robot), it can and it does because there is a bigger picture out there.

Stop corruption, prevent crime, become proactive!

Corrupt cops and crime foremost on SA's mind
January 25 2007 at 06:57AM
By Vusumuzi ka Nzapheza

Half of South Africa believes most police officials are corrupt, according to Robert Mattes, director at UCT's Centre for Social Science Research. His findings, published in the Institute for Security Studies' crime quarterly bulletin, are based on public opinion surveys done by Afrobarometer and the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa) from 1994 to 2006.

Mattes found that given the heat generated by media coverage of crime and opposition parties' critiques of government performance in tackling the problem, crime replaced fears of political violence and became one of the most prominent public concerns after 1994. Between 1997 and 2000, six in 10 South Africans rated crime as the second most important problem government should address, ranking only behind job creation.

In the run-up to the 1999 national elections, the levels of public emphasis on crime fell and crime lost its position as the second most prominent problem. It fell below housing, poverty and HIV and Aids. "Over the years, government has fended off questions about these public concerns, often chalking them up as the whinging of previously protected white communities now exposed to the same realities long endured by black South Africans."The data, however, paint a far more complex reality with 55 percent of black respondents listing crime as a priority problem," according to Mattes.

Crime was one of the five most cited problems by all groups in 2006, rated as the second most prominent problem by 48% of whites and only the fifth most frequently mentioned by blacks. Mattes ascribes the decline to the emergence of other problems competing for public attention like HIV and Aids. Besides the continued, though decreasing public dissatisfaction with the levels of crime, the SA Police Service's public image remained poor. Last year, 40 percent of respondents said they found it easy to get help from the police when they needed it while 49 percent said it was difficult. In contrast to the racial patterns in ranking crime as a priority issue, 41 percent of white and 50 percent of Indian respondents were more likely to report positive experiences when getting help from the police than blacks (39 percent) and coloureds (37 percent).

The SAPS was rated as more user-friendly in the Free State (74 percent) and the Western Cape (62 percent). Police in Gauteng (33 percent), KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape (37 percent) got the lowest ratings.

CORRUPT COPS AND CRIME FOREMOST ON SA'S MIND

Corrupt cops and crime foremost on SA's mind
January 25 2007 at 06:57AM
By Vusumuzi ka Nzapheza Half of South Africa believes most police officials are corrupt, according to Robert Mattes, director at UCT's Centre for Social Science Research.His findings, published in the Institute for Security Studies' crime quarterly bulletin, are based on public opinion surveys done by Afrobarometer and the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa) from 1994 to 2006.Mattes found that given the heat generated by media coverage of crime and opposition parties' critiques of government performance in tackling the problem, crime replaced fears of political violence and became one of the most prominent public concerns after 1994. Between 1997 and 2000, six in 10 South Africans rated crime as the second most important problem government should address, ranking only behind job creation.
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In the run-up to the 1999 national elections, the levels of public emphasis on crime fell and crime lost its position as the second most prominent problem. It fell below housing, poverty and HIV and Aids. "Over the years, government has fended off questions about these public concerns, often chalking them up as the whinging of previously protected white communities now exposed to the same realities long endured by black South Africans."The data, however, paint a far more complex reality with 55 percent of black respondents listing crime as a priority problem," according to Mattes.Crime was one of the five most cited problems by all groups in 2006, rated as the second most prominent problem by 48% of whites and only the fifth most frequently mentioned by blacks.Mattes ascribes the decline to the emergence of other problems competing for public attention like HIV and Aids. Besides the continued, though decreasing public dissatisfaction with the levels of crime, the SA Police Service's public image remained poor. Last year, 40 percent of respondents said they found it easy to get help from the police when they needed it while 49 percent said it was difficult.In contrast to the racial patterns in ranking crime as a priority issue, 41 percent of white and 50 percent of Indian respondents were more likely to report positive experiences when getting help from the police than blacks (39 percent) and coloureds (37 percent).The SAPS was rated as more user-friendly in the Free State (74 percent) and the Western Cape (62 percent). Police in Gauteng (33 percent), KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape (37 percent) got the lowest ratings.

TIME TO . . . .

Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness.
Edward Stanley
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

If anyone is guilty of this, I am surely the biggest culprit! I understand, from a logical perspective, that I need to excercise and take care of myself. I am an insomniac, who is hugely over weight and who at 50 is starting to have the usual aches and pains that come with this particular territory. Excercise does not come naturally to me and it is something that I have to consciously think about doing and now with owning my own business, I tend to think about it for a nano-second or so before it is dismissed out of hand because of other more pressing issues that need to be dealt with! Not a good thing I know, but there it is.

Ironically, I am the first one to tell my friends and/or colleagues that they need to take care of themselves and excercise properly, eat properly and get enough rest - just when it comes to me I seem to think that I am some sort of 'super woman' who does not need to follow the rules of maintaining good health.

Oh don't get me too wrong - I go every year for my annual check up from head to toe and I tell myself that this enough. I am very proud of the fact that a couple of years ago, I discovered that I was 'slightly' over the acceptable norm for cholesterol and so I gave up beer and drink whiskey instead - that seemed to have sorted that particular problem out and within weeks I was again well within the "norm". I am now conscious of the fact that I may have a problem in that particular area and in all honesty, I am very aware of what I eat. Most of my food is grilled and/or cooked without any oil (except olive, which is actually good for cholesterol), but when it comes to excercise, well that's a whole different ball game for me. It takes time you see!

The botton line here though is don't do as I do, but rather do as I tell you! So I'm telling you all - get proper excercise, eat properly and get sufficient rest - or believe me the Universe will make you do it!

HOW CAN YOU KEEP YOUR PENSION SAFE

Oh what a lot of absolute BS! All of them are as guilty as the next. The FSB did not do their jobs properly, the Trustees did not do their job properly, The Asset Managers did their jobs a little too properly and for their own gains and finally where were the FAIS compliance officers? Why didn't they do their jobs properly?

I have recently had first hand experience of what happens when people working in this industry have no idea about what it is that they do. It's not a tiny brokers office either, it is one of the largest Insurance Groups in South Africa and the reason that I am not naming them at this time, is because everything is now under investigation ( or that is how they are handling it at the moment). The money started off as an ABC type investment, which at some point between the 1990's and now has turned into an XYZ investment - which of course has a whole host of different implications!

Then when it came time to cash the policy in, I have been stalled, insulted, shouted at, investigated and just tied up in internal policies and procedures for the last 5 months. The worms have finally crawled or rather slithered out of the woodwork and it is time to put all the cards on the table. This is going to be a very interesting excercise, to see how they intend to wiggle out of this one.

Rest assured though, I will be taking this further, it will be reported to the FBS and I want big answers - not the usual ones that go "well the computer . . . .". I want someone's head on a block. I want "unjust interest" for money that they have wrongfully withheld to the tune of almost R900 000 and I want them to understand that the misplaced "power" that their insignificant mindless staff members thought they had will wilt in the presence of the type of power that I can weild when the chips are down on the table.

So much for all the checks and balances that these companies like to tell us are in place - they still do what the hell they like with money that does not belong to them. It is time for them to answer!

How can you keep your pension safe?
Maya Fisher-French
14 February 2007 11:59

If an asset manager can defraud a large pension fund such as the Mineworkers Provident Fund (MPF), we have to question the relative safety of our pension fund assets. What safeguards are in place and what exactly is the role of trustees and watchdogs? Fidentia Asset Management, along with two other sister companies, was placed under curatorship recently. This after the Financial Services Board (FSB) submitted affidavits to the Cape High Court in which it alleged about R689-million of assets could not be accounted for. The FSB has subsequently revised that figure to R406-million.

It appears that a portion of the missing funds was used to grow the company through various acquisitions. According to the deputy Pension Fund Adjudicator (PFA), Naleen Jeram, the first line of defence is the trustees. “Trustees of funds have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the fund and its members and must avoid a conflict of interest at all times,” says Jeram. However, in this particular case, it would appear that the trustees failed in their duties. Firstly, questions will be asked of the Living Hands Trust, which was set up by the MPF to pay money to families of members killed in mining accidents. Despite receiving advice to terminate their investment with Fidentia, they failed to do so. Ultimately the trustees of the MPF are also accountable for not keeping a closer eye on the actions of the trustees they had appointed to the Living Hands Trust.

At best, it was a case of not being vigilant enough, at worst, that some trustees possibly had a vested interest in Fidentia, considering reports that Frans Mahlangu, the principal officer for the fund, was suspended for raising concerns around Fidentia.According to one industry expert, who asked not to be named, the fund trustees should have run a health check on the service providers selected by Living Hands as a matter of course. Especially when the trust changed asset managers in 2005 from Old Mutual to the relatively unknown Fidentia. While the PFA has made several rulings that set the precedent of holding trustees personally responsible for unsavoury practices in a pension fund, commentators argue that many trustees are not competent or trained sufficiently to carry out their fiduciary responsibility.

Trustees have to be aware that people presenting to them may have vested interests and need to be clued up enough to know when to dig a little deeper. As members are able to elect 50% of the trustees of their pension fund, it becomes imperative that they select people capable of fulfilling the task of protecting their retirement fund. The role of members being actively involved in safeguarding their money is also highlighted by the statement from Jeram that any investigations into Fidentia by the PFA will only occur if there are complaints from members.If, however, the safeguard of the trustees is broken, as was the case with Living Hands, and considering the relatively low training of trustees, what exactly is the role of the FSB? In this particular case, the FSB only became aware of the problem when approached by a former employee of Fidentia in February last year.

Fidentia had failed to submit its December audited financials. According to the report submitted to the courts by the FSB, it would appear that by July last year they had enough evidence, including testimonies and documents supplied by three employees, to begin an investigation. But, according to Gerry Anderson, the FSB’s deputy executive officer, it was only in December that Fidentia was told to cease taking further investments. According to FSB spokesperson Russel Michaels: “In terms of the Financial Services Board Act 97 of 1990, we are precluded from telling anyone whether or not an entity is being investigated.”A question needs to be raised about the balance between following due process, which is time consuming, and acting quickly to protect public interests.

HOW TO FLOURISH DURING A SLUMP

Thank you to Toni Q - In Love with Life Freelance Writer - Business or personal writing, travel writing (with photos), oneliners and tag lines.toni@toniqfreelancewriter.com, of Business Warriors (www.businesswarriors.co.za) fame. I am sure that we can all use some of this advice from time to time.

How to flourish during a slump


Great Things To Do With a Gift of Time

Every business has times that are less busy than others. You can use this time to fret and worry that your entrepreneurial life has come to an end—or you can view it as a gift of time to do some of those things you’ve been telling yourself you’ll do when you have time. It just makes sense, it seems to me, to spend this time wisely and well. Here are a few possibilities.

REVIEW AND REVISE YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM.

Is it time to hire a virtual assistant? Find a new tax accountant? Get expert advice? Unless you’re willing to settle for the first person that comes along (and we all have had times when we’ve done that and regretted it later), this is a perfect opportunity to clarify what you need from various service providers and make certain that you’re getting it. If you are ready to add to your support team, start interviewing potential sources of support.

SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY.

Been meaning to clean out your closets and pass things along to a charity shop? Get your office in shipshape? These are time-consuming tasks that aren’t very glamorous, but the psychic rewards are huge.Get out some trash bags, put on some upbeat music and have at it. Get rid of the junk in the junk drawer. Weed your library. Update your filing system. Clean out your e-mailbox. It’s as liberating as losing twenty pounds.

UP YOUR WELLNESS.

Use this extra time to walk or workout. Get a massage or facial. Read up on nutrition. Experiment with new healthier foods that take time to prepare. Start meditating again. Plan a stress reduction program. Work these things into your schedule now and you’re more apt to keep up with them when your busier times return.

VOLUNTEER.

Pass your gift of time along to someone else by helping out. If you live in a major metro area in the US and are needing ideas, go to www.volunteermatch.com which lists a wide variety of projects in search of help. Why not volunteer at your kids’ school or at a local foodbank or shelter? You could even instigate a project of your own and get your friends involved.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW.

Build some brain cells with a class or seminar. Add to your computer skills, start learning a new language, take up salsa dancing. Use this time to saturate yourself in a new subject that catches your fancy.FINISH THINGS. Okay, not everyone has unfinished projects gathering dust, but chances are there’s an article you started writing or a home improvement project that got bogged down and abandoned because it didn’t seem urgent. Imagine if all these loose ends were tied up before you plunge back into your business. It would feel great, wouldn’t it?

TAKE A MINI-SABBATICAL.

Got a stack of books you’ve been wanting to read? For years, Bill Gates has gone away on a reading retreat. You don’t have to be a billionaire to borrow this idea. Been meaning to visit a historic site in a nearby state? Need to refresh your creative spirit? Plan some purposeful time away. Borrow a friend’s cottage. Rent a motorhome. Don’t check your messages. A change of scenery may be just what you need to recharge your batteries and come up with some fresh insights.

INVEST SWEAT EQUITY IN A LONGTERM PROJECT.

Been putting something off because it will require lots of hours to get to completion? This could be the time to start putting in those hours to get it launched. Since most of us flourish when working on new projects, getting started has the added bonus of re-energizing other more familiar things.

HOST AN IDEA NIGHT POTLUCK.

Invite four or five other positive self-bossers to share food and ideas with each other. Make sure that everyone gets equal time and that all ideas get a hearing. Idea Parties are more successful if you lay down the ground rule that arguing or discounting ideas is strictly forbidden. Guests go home with an inventory of potential ideas which they can evaluate later.

EXPAND YOUR VISIBLITY.

Write a press release. Have a new photo taken. Start an ezine. Get yourself interviewed on a local radio show. Revamp your Web site. All this seed planting takes time and is easy to overlook when you’re busy. Why not do it now and see what doors might open?Whenever you find yourself with a gift of time, think of ways to spend it wisely and creatively. It’s a worthwhile investment.by Barbara Winters .

CREDIT CARD CRIME ON THE RISE

My question still has to be , if France perfected this whole anti fraud, anti skimming thing over 10 years ago, why are the South African banks only waking up now? This is absolutely ridiculous! It would have cost them a lot less then to sort it out and furthermore, that means it would have cost us a lot less too - you do know of course that the cost of all of this will be handed down to us, the end users, in the form of more bank charges!

Wouldn't it just be lovely if we could sue their arses for 'Negligence'!

Credit card crime on rise

Yunus Kemp December 04 2006 at 07:54PM

A surge in credit card crime at hospitality establishments in Cape Town has prompted Business Against Crime to request that owners and managers in the sector be "wary" of staff targeting tourists. Business Against Crime's offices in Cape Town were made aware of nine complaints involving credit card skimming this past week alone. Skimming involves attaching a small electronic device to the card entry slot of an ATM to record a card's details without the cardholder's knowledge. Criminals are then able to produce a fake card and use it to withdraw money from an ATM. Business Against Crime managing director Annelie Rabie said it had received "quite a number of complaints" since its skimming awareness campaign began.

'A lot of people are also not aware of how much money gets skimmed off their accounts' "But not everything is reported," said Rabie. "A lot of people are also not aware of how much money gets skimmed off their accounts, and not everybody checks their credit card statements immediately." BAC asked that owners and managers of hotels and restaurants be wary of staff targeting tourists during checking in and out procedures or at points of sale in restaurants. Hospitality staff were prime targets for syndicates looking to recruit insiders "in need of cash". Business Against Crime said it was important that a staff member suspected of conspiring with syndicates should not be approached directly, as this might jeopardise police investigations. "Rather contact the SAPS commercial branch on telephone number 021 918 3217," said, Business Against Crime.

The growing use of chip-only cards will ensure that copying chips is not possible. Meanwhile, South African banks are spending millions of rands on added security measures in an attempt to stem a growing wave of card skimming crime at ATMs across the country. In a press statement, Standard Bank security expert Pat Pather said the rise in skimming coincided with a significant drop in Internet-based crimes like hacking and phishing, "We've put a lot of systems in place to foil Internet crime like two-factor authentication, but, as banks close off one avenue, criminals will try another," said Pather. "Card skimming is now the most frequently used method of ATM fraud being perpetrated across the globe. "Standard Bank said it was spending "millions of rands" on security around its cash machines. The measures include increasing physical security, displaying warning posters, installing new anti-skimming devices and monitoring customers' accounts at identified hot spots. The bank said card skimming was on the rise, but predicted that it would start dropping in the next year or two as new high-tech smart cards were steadily introduced. The growing use of chip-only cards will ensure that copying chips is not possible, because they are encrypted. New chip-based cards aim to cut fraud by including a smart chip, which can store more information than the usual magnetic strips, and also by having users verify transactions by keying in a PIN rather than signing a receipt.

France pioneered the technology more than 10 years ago, and reportedly cut fraud by almost 80 percent as a result. Absa, South Africa's largest retail bank, last week kicked off its Fraud Awareness Week, which runs until Wednesday. The bank has warned customers to beware of opportunists who pretended to be representing organisations they were not part of or try to access clients' accounts by means of identity theft.

THE POWER OF NETWORKING - PART 17

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

PART 17

Craig Harrison says that the reason that Networking may not be working for you is because of the basic 9 mistakes that Networker’s make. I will be going through these over the next few weeks and let’s see if this is what is holding you back.


To get to know a bit more about Craig Harrison, please visit his website on www.craigspeaks.com.

The fourth mistake he says is “Spiel too long. Networking is not speechmaking. You have a finite window of opportunity to introduce yourself and glean a few details about the person you’re talking to. You can’t recite your resume, tell your life story or otherwise drone on. Keep it short and sweet!”

Sitting at a networking meeting last night, my mind wandered to the pile of work that is sitting on my desk, my 17 year old cat that seems hell bent on starving himself to death, my 7 year old nephew in Australia that I need to buy a birthday present for and even what I was going to have for dinner! Why you may ask – well the person who was telling everyone who they are and what it is that they are doing/selling was going on and on and on.

Unfortunately I have sat through this spiel on more than one occasion and it seems to be memorised word for word. It never changes or varies and there have been occasions when I have repeated it word for word as he has gone through it. Nowadays, I usually use his speech time for a comfort break, but last night I really didn’t need one, so my mind went on ‘walk about’!

Sad this, because the service/product that he sells is really worthwhile and he could sell so many more of them, if he just didn’t go on so much.

I wonder what I’ll do next week, when I again sit in a networking meeting and have to listen to the monologue all over again!