WECBOF e-Bulletin I VOLUME 7 I December 2019
Western Cape Business Opportunities Forum
As the year is nearing to an end not only is the organisation poised to fulfil its role in empowering our small business members towards prosperity and reaching their potential in the coming year but we are also proud to reflect on a successful year of doing just that.
This past year has seen a hive of activity to ensure that our members have access to the very best of business support and advice, to network with each other, do business together and learn both new management skills as well as connect with international business overseas.
This year saw the growth of our Breakfast Bites held every alternate month in the northern suburbs which enable members to talk about themselves and network effectively as well as well-attended. The Forum sessions at which top-notch speakers had given our members the benefit of their knowledge and experience – not least MAYCO member Ald. James Vos Economic Opportunities in the Western Cape – who had spoken about Opportunities for Businesses. These regular Forum meetings have also been well attended and offer discussions on a variety of business related issues.
We had the first of what we intend to make a calendar event – City Meets Business, a grand success. I would like to thank all involved for making it a great networking and opportunity event. WECBOF also got the Sector Forums started. Members in the eight different sectors have a lot to look forward to.
It is never complete without the support of our corporate members as well as our sponsors. We take the opportunity to thank Absa, Olympia Paints, Boshards Construction, TEMO, OLD Mutual, NuEra Group and LEN24our various speakers and our staff viz. Mariam. Thank you all.
Without the generosity of our Chairperson Colin Daries who has kindly housed us in NuEra Group, a big thank you to you and your most wonderful staff for making WECBOF part of your family.
So what about next year – 2020? I can confirm that we are working hard towards more of the same and better! We plan to bring you in contact with Provincial and City officials to ask them those niggly questions you might have but have not been able to convey or have answered via correspondence and to provide more access to international importers, more access to business opportunities – in fact – just more value all round.
All I can say at this stage is “watch this space” – do keep track of our web page – brilliantly administered by our lovely Mariam Baulackey who justifies her time and energy thereon. Thank you Mariam! We are also to be found talking about WECBOF and business related issues in the media – i.e. Radio 786, Smile Radio and occasionally Cape Talk.
With the high season almost upon us, the organisation will be open for business and assistance up to 13 December 2019 and will take a break from then to 6 January 2020
Finally, on behalf of WECBOF we would like to wish our members a very pleasant and successful festive season with high turnovers and no problems, a very happy Christmas for those who celebrate this festive season and a very prosperous New Year.
IN THIS ISSUE
- CEO’s Corner
WORK ETHIC – IS IT A REGULAR VISITOR OR AN ABSENTEE?
UPCOMING EVENTS
Dates to remember:
WECBOF closes:13 December 2019
WECBOF reopens: 6 January 2020
GALLERY
WORK ETHIC
IS IT A REGULAR VISITOR OR AN ABSENTEE?
The year is fast coming to an end, end of year parties are in full gear, people are relaxed (we hope). Some of the staff and perhaps you as the Boss are eagerly anticipating some time off – time to spend with family and friends to chill out at the beach, the back garden or somewhere exotic. The last thing on anyone’s mind at this point is reflecting on one’s work ethic – planning for the next year!
If you Google “work ethic” you will see a number of descriptions, all very wordy full of modern clichés that are used mostly in motivational speeches. Personally, and having worked for a living for over 50 years, I think it is very simple: you have the privilege of a job – a career – or a small business and should realise how very lucky you are in this difficult economic climate and in return you apply yourself to this task with enthusiasm, with diligence, competency, responsibility and above all, honesty.
Do you, on your first day back to work – be it an office, a workshop or a factory roll up those proverbial sleeves to Get Organised or are you still grumbling about whatever you didn’t achieve last year or is that hangover still plaguing you !? Are you even grumbling about your colleagues soaking up the sun while you are there as part of the skeleton staff roster?
I would say be thankful for that quiet time as it gives you room to work out your strategy for the months – or the year – to come. Peace and quiet with fewer phones ringing gives you the space to THINK! To work on your AT WORK TO-DO LIST!
It also gives you no excuse not to tidy up that desk or work area you should have done in November!
Work ethics also, of course, relate to conduct and behaviour at work and if you don’t already have one, you should have a Code of Ethics and/or Conduct as part of your staff policy. If members of staff fail to follow these rules then there are ways and means of dealing with it.
In my field of work – labour law and mostly chairing disciplinary hearings, I regularly find myself handling a case of what I like to call “Cant-be-bothered-itis!” They know HOW to do the job but they lack the will or energy to get excited about doing it. This is usually a case for disciplinary action as a performance issue would be that they CANNOT do it for one reason or another. This affliction is certainly a good example of a total lack of work ethics!
Many of us have great thoughts of setting down New Year Resolutions but fail miserably by the third day – especially if it is that diet you meant to go on and let’s not even think about the budget you should be keeping to! Still, I would like to suggest the following and hope that they last longer than 30th January!
· Clear that desk/worktop/workshop area – a tidy work area is conducive to a tidy mind.
· Make a To-Do list of things you want to achieve and things that are still outstanding. Get phone numbers ready for when people are back at work.
· Give yourself an “ethic audit” – are you upholding your contractual obligations, do you arrive on time, do you pay attention to detail, do you know and uphold the rules of the company? Do you uphold the company’s reputation and brand when you contact clients? Do you call back when you promise to?
· Remember – time is money in any business – wasting time is wasting money! If money goes down the drain in a business so often does one’s job!
Have a great holiday period members and staff thereof – enjoy yourselves and be safe. Come back refreshed and entirely ready to hit the ground running – ethically speaking!
WECBOF would like to wish all members, family and friends a joyest christmas and a happy new year
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