Just a quick word to say a "Big Thank You" to Pfire for the excellent Business Improvement Seminar which I had the pleasure of attending on 19 & 20 October 2009.
My overall estimation of the seminar was that it was extremely well-organised (that must have been you!), ran clock-work smoothly (that credit should go the indefatigable Kenny!), and conducted in a most professional manner by a very learned, wise and experienced gentleman, Prof. Koop Lubbinge. Hats off and congratulations to everyone!
A spin-off from the event was the wonderful group we found ourselves in and here I have to say that I really enjoyed the meaningful interaction and communication between all the member participants. Each participant brought so much to the meeting and all of this added to the overall experience of "exploring" and "discovering" which were key objectives underpinning the event. Such a learning scenario is priceless and just does not come by everyday so in this sense I feel especially privileged to have been a part of it.
Finally, while the seminar was extremely beneficial to me personally, I definitely feel that it would also be beneficial to the constituency of my sponsors, the Durban Chamber and I will be most certainly highlighting its numerous advantages at our next SMME meeting.
Dr. Pravin Thakur, Entrepreneur, Businessman, Academic, Durban
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Been an opportunity to cement a host of concepts and provided chance to apply mechanisms. A powerful growth experience.
Nicola Jenvey, Freelance Journalist, Durban
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A lot of sense that never occurred to me before. An amazing starting block off which to launch my career. Puts business into perspective and narrows all the grey areas into clear concepts that deserve attention.
Gareth Hopkins, Marketing and Sales representative, pfire explore, Durban
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Opening my mind on how to see things from a different view. Go and learn how to think out of the box.
David Werner, CEO, Werner Group, Johannesburg.
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A new way of doing my job which involves (directly) cash flow. If you want to revolutionise and revitalise your business then this is the way to go.
Daphne Lombard, Debtors and Creditors Manager, pfire holding company
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Alternative methods/styles of delivering and enabling those that I work with to better understand their businesses, the impact their actions have on the bottom dollar, the importance on involving their employees in all aspects of their business. I believe that this would be very beneficial at the onset of a startup so entrepreneurs have the right tools from the start.
Thelma Vito-Ndlazi, Business Practice Manager, Liberty Life, Durban
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How important it is to work out of the box. A total honour to have met Koop, an inspiration in itself. An exploration that should not be missed.
Andrea Putz, co-owner and Marketing Director, Vaya Smooth Cosmetics, Durban
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A better understanding of what effect your actions and attitudes can have on the success of your business. Exceptional ideas on involving your employees to ensure mutual benefit and success. To anyone who owns a small/medium business this exploration is vital to anyone who wants to start their own business it gives an excellent format to start with and keep going with.
Cindy Buxton, PA pfire Consultancy, Durban.
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A new mindset on business in general. The “facilitator” is an extremely knowledgeable person.
Jeremy Kleynhans, Manager DJ Thermal Engineering, Durban
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More confidence in running my business. A growth experience and getting out of a rut!
Cheryl Goble, Coffee Shop and B & B owner, Durban.
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Better understanding of basic business principles. Worthwhile and beneficial.
Robin Cook, Business Practice Manager, Masthead, Durban
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“Afforded the opportunity to re-look at problem solving solutions and causes for ‘Where has all the money gone?’ questions. A direct uncomplicated look at what and where are all the general business profit and loss causes and what to look for?
“A good “course” to open mindset and re-educated problem solving solutions”
Tony Currie, Business Co-owner, Econ Construction, Hluhluwe
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“How to make my company more profitable? All people have personal goals they want to improve on. Possible ways to improve customer services and now knowing that profits can be monitored daily.
This exploration will change your mindset on the day to day running of your business, improve your skills in handling your staff and you could save your business on costs”
Du Toit Visser, Business Co-owner, Spar, Hluhluwe
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“Simply looking at the functioning of a business from an entirely different perspective. The excitement of taking a conceptually workable model and applying it to our business, if not in its entirety, certainly in areas where it is quite obviously workable, then watching with interest how the benefits develop.
This Exploration opens up your mind, makes you see business, management and workers in an entirely different light. It leads you to ‘thinking out the box’ and opens up very exciting opportunities in almost any business.”
Shane Davey, Business Co-owner, Vaya Smooth Cosmetics, Durban
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“I learnt a Lot!!!”
I will encourage others to attend. It is NOT a waste of time!”
Dale Mackensie, Business Co-owner, Ironstone Construction, Vryheid
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“I am going to go to the level of my employees and see what their needs are and try to motivate them to start their own business as sub-contractors to me, the employer.
This brings you back to basics and to the heart of where your business starts – at the production and customer lines. If your customer is satisfied and your quality is right, I think you got a winning team”
JJ Sinden, Business Co-owner, MJ Metalworks, Vryheid
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“The total understanding what the actions of one individual or department can and usually does influence the actions and outcomes of the entire organisation. Clear and defined targets are very important. Making sure that everyone has a clear understanding of results and consequences of his or her departments.
I have learnt more in two days than in any other environment I have been placed for training or development in business. What an easy way to learn and understand the complexities of business and all the consequences of ones actions. I will do it again….”
Jon Buxton, Senior Manager, Dimension Data, Durban
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“Getting back to basics. Cash Flow is exactly what it says. The Cash must Flow! Manage it and profits will flow. Get your workers to take ownership for what their job is and for them to understand the implications of good and bad performance.
This is a practical ‘Exploration’ with a lot of fun and reference booklet to take away with you, that will let you re-live the whole experience all over again. It is so simple. Where has all the money gone? It is a real live experience….shooting buffalo”.
Gaukes Mostert, Entrepreneur and business owner, Durban
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“Practical knowledge of how I will identify and solve the problem of how to get more customers. Also that people have a natural desire to succeed and to capitalize on that fact. The need for a practical financial model is key to where people’s performances can be measured and improved on a real time basis.
If they want to find a simple way to significantly improve their business, this is the ‘Exploration’ to go on. Highly recommended!”
Tim Lombard, Business Co-owner, Famous Publishing, Durban
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“Communication is the key to staff relations. ALL sectors of my business is vital to its success. Financial results CAN be filtered to departments with positive results and implementation of ideas is the key to succeeding.
Come with an open mind to explore the possibilities of non conventional methods of running your business”.
Kenny Christie, Business Co-owner, Pfire, Durban
“Some vague ideas and innovations I have been contemplating have been justified. A practical way has been shown to me to implement and manage these changes. Am more willing to think “outside the box”. Being able to identify natural and assignable risks to prioritise these changes.
Come with an open mind. Be willing to modify your ideas. Use personal experiences to apply the practical and theoretical lessons. You WILL be motivated and eager to explore further.”
Steve Meyer, General Manager, Odigg, Vryheid
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“Improved knowledge on business operations and the pitfalls. I have learnt ways of quantifying and avoiding problems encountered in business.”
They will be introduced to a different yet very logical approach to business. They will definitely learn about themselves and their business and make easy changes that may drastically improve their business.”
Andrew Taylor,Business Co-owner, Linkup Security, Vryheid
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“I will evaluate every situation whether business or something else and determine what is the best possible solution or way to do the operation or the process to be followed”
This concept that has been taught will make you completely rethink how you would run your business to make the business more viable or productive”.
Albert Mitchell, Business Co-owner, RAWS Consulting Engineers, Vryheid
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“New ideas. Excitement at the possibility of doing things differently.
As a Manager, businessman etc you may think you know business but this course gives you a different viewpoint that can help solve problems. Problems that you may not even be aware of.
Jonathan Taylor, Business Co-owner, Linkup Security, Vryheid
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“Enjoyed both days.
New ideas for creation of wealth, new angle for goals, reduce risk management. Must be prepared for new ideas. That is, explore at low risk. Ideal break from work for 2 days to hear new and different views”.
Pat O’Reilly, Business Co-owner, MJ Metalworks, Vryheid
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“It has opened my mind as to what motivates people and how to try and design a financial model to get more out of my business.
These two days have allowed me to step back and reflect on how we do things by habit! It gives you an insight on how to look at the same business from a different viewpoint”.
Patrick Friend, Business Co-owner, Vryheid Meatmasters, Vryheid
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“A lot of mind bulging thoughts. A careful consideration and evaluating of our own business. Careful evaluation and thought where a business plan can be implemented. Discuss with the labour force, explain it and decide together if you want to implement it.
This is a new line of thought to run a business with tremendous advantages to build pride and confidence in your labour force, to make them more efficient and caring for their jobs. Your advantages would be more time to spend on other aspects of your work and take out a lot of stress”.
Walter Thiele, Farmer and Business Co-owner, Thiele Estates, Luneburg
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“I will work with my workers in a different way. I will try and re-plan my whole working conditions and plan it in a better way. See life in a different way.
It will definitely benefit your business. You will get a broader view of life”.
Carl Thiele, Farmer and Business Co-owner, Thiele Estates, Luneburg
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“Some interesting ideas to implement in my own business. Will certainly approach problems in a new way.
More beneficial for someone with a well defined business. But definitely an enjoyable experience which motivates to improve your own business”
Stephen Friend, Construction Business Owner, Farmer, Vryheid
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“Motivated to look at our business from different angles and to get all departments and processes organized into a financial model to get a better view. I also think the exercise is going to have the same effect on my staff which would also be positive.
I would say to them that it is always a good idea to get a new perspective on business management. Even if the whole process cannot be used in there environment they will still definitely take something away from it”.
Simon Taylor, Business Owner, Link-it, Vryheid
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“Confusion. Setting up models/plans. Also, to explain to people what there actions will have. Trying to minimize MP’s.
Go shoot some buffalo! Your eyes will open”.
Alvin Bohmer, Business Owner and farmer, Lunebur
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Need to make change. To go and look at the design to change our outlook with a way forward for future. What a way to open your mind with a way forward to making change to your company in the future.
Ray Durrett, Business Owner, DJ Thermal Engineering, Durban, RSA
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To create Customers and my mystery partner. I did not know the importance of this. If I had to encourage any person to attend thus exploration, I would say “Come and explore yourselves”
Richard Mazibuko, Business Owner, Mazcon Construction, Vryheid, RSA
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Grater understanding of the importance of teamwork and the necessity to include all staff in the whole process. The need to be very careful about placing the blame and the importance of clear and unambiguous targets. Emphasis on creating customers. Plan for implementing system to motivating most valuable asset (staff). An opportunity to take your business to the next level. Innovative and Inspiring.
Dawn De Klerk, Business Co-Owner, Diva, Durban, RSA
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A 180% turnaround in how we look at and model a business. My mindset has changed but I need to be reminded and … to prevent a return to old thinking. It will grow you first and give you the skills to grow your business.
Ashleigh Botha, Business Co-owner, Vertigo Flooring Systems, Durban, RSA
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A new way of looking at business. A great way at looking at implementing and structuring an easy and understandable method of changing mind set of people involved in business. Great learning experience. If you are an individual business owner this is definitely a course you should attend. It will change the way you look at business into the future.
Grant Hopkins, Senior Manager, Liberty Life, Durban, RSA
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A new way of how to set up the design of my business. With careful planning I could change the mindset of my staff. I thing you (people) should go on this course in order to learn and Implement a way to help grow your business and yourself as well as grow the people in your business. Fun and exciting way to learn.
Brenda Quin, Business Co-owner, Diva, Durban, RSA
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I am taking away the new Grant leaving the old Grant way of thinking like our marksman. I feel if I don’t start making a change I’m only doing my business harm. I need to start bringing my emotions to the problem and to my staff and in a huge way change my body language. To customers and staff. Excited to make the change. Excited to see how it grows and see where the money has gone! The experience is hard to explain but if you are looking into how to “ignite the fire within” you will find out how to manage your company. With putting more time on your hands and to focus on the big focus (picture) at hand and to take a closer look from the outside.
Gran Van Greune, Business Owner, Kelden Auto-Electrical, Durban, RSA
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A unique growth cemented into my mind, heart and soul to grow further and to re0design my business in order for all staff members to grow and become part of over and above profit sharing. An exploration not to be missed by any entrepreneur. I cannot explain it in words. – You have to experience it and make up your own conclusion. I can assure you, nobody can afford not to attend.
Drienie Vyncke, Business Co-Owner, Pasteur and Remedia Pharmacies, Vryheid, RSA
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Great! So much to think about – so let the work begin! Cannot wait to implement and see the results. Definitely an eye opener of doing business smartly. Wish we had met them earlier!!
Monica and Julien Vyncke, Business Owners, Siyaqandisa Air-conditioning and refrigeration, Vryheid, RSA
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Looking at my business from the different levels. A model I would like to implement in my business. You will look at your business in a different way. It will be for your own benefit.
Tyron Botha, Business Co-owner, Vertigo Flooring Systems, Durban, RSA
