I'm not sure if I was the first to coin the title but I have said it often. The codes are so vague that you can be relatively comfortable that you can persuade almost anyone that your opinion is correct.
But that's not the subject of today's lesson. I thought I'd do a little self promotion and go over some of the things I did in my professional capacity last year.
Got Google Reader and went wild with Google Alerts
Now that almost every site provides you with a RSS feed all you need is a reader to collect these feeds. I know that there are a bunch of them out there but I chose Google Reader. I now get everything sent to my desktop as and when the news breaks. Strangely enough the Business Day doesn't provide RSS feeds. Add Google alerts to that and you are on top of it all.
Fought with ABVA
Actually it was more of a battle with Theo "my buddy" Lombard. I don't know if I won that battle but Theo did resign. I was really shocked at his speech at the ABVA breakfast - sure BEE is an art and and not a science, but I was not convinced that what Theo was alleging was supported in the codes or the R-47 document.
Went on a tour with the ATKV
I went on country-wide tour with Wim de Wet of the ATKV. We went to all the resorts that the ATKV owns and spoke to their suppliers. I got on famously with Wim and I was overwhelmed by the facilities and the hospitality. I discovered what the word "kuier" actually means and what happens when you get down to "lekker kuier". The latter was learned at Goudini-Spa where we celebrated Wim's appointment as resort manager of ATKV-Klein-Kariba. All I am willing to say about that experience is that certain people at that event proudly declared that "die Engelsman het gaan slaap". Lekker kuier is something to be feared!!!!!!!!!!!
Spoke at numerous conferences
I still like talking at conferences. I relish every opportunity. I spoke on subjects ranging from enterprise development to triple bottom line reporting and BEE. I was also asked to chair a two conference on intellectual property which I thoroughly enjoyed. Reminds me of the old Zappa song.
Wrote the Nedbank codes handbook
I don't know if I have mentioned this but every time I get all screwed up about BEE, transformation and related subjects I go and plonk myself in front of Sakkie O'Neil. Sakkie is without doubt, the most respected transformation expert within the financial sector - this is the whole financial sector, not just the banks. I have told him that he needs to speak at transformation conferences, BEE conferences - any conference. He speaks with conviction and has a genuine desire to see Nedbank leading the financial sector in its transformation - and I think he'll get it right.
Anyway Sakkie asked to write a user's guide to the codes which I did. There are a lot of copies floating around Nedbank, I'm sure they won't mind if you take one. Sakkie very generously credited me as the author too.
Wrote the Financial Sector Charter annual report
This was one hell of a learning curve. Marisa and I were asked to write the annual report, which we wrote in conjunction with Leila Moonda of BEESA. I came into this very cold - Marisa is the expert on the FSC so I had to learn things very quickly. I was really lucky to have worked with the very patient Busi Dlamini who is the COO of the FSC Council. Not only did Busi help me with the data and the concepts she also proved to be a brilliant editor and writer in the places where I wasn't. Thanks Busi.
And thanks must also go to Andrew and his team from B1SA, they were the ones collecting all the information. If you haven't seen the publication you can get it here.
I got to work for the most amazing clients
I know this is a cliché but I have been very fortunate. People like Johan Gericke from File Hire Plant, Sakkie O'Neil, Trevor Karshagen from Fry's Metals, Mark Ferguson (and Cindy) from SA Mercantile (to name only a few) have made my job worthwhile.
I rubbed noses with the best BEE and related brains in the country
I get together with Kevin Lester and Louise Paulsen often. Louise is the IDC's BEE asset and she is one of the few women in this largely white-male dominated industry. I value Louise's opinion and expertise and abuse it whenever I can. I don't think there's much more I can say about Kevin, but I really feel good when he agrees with some of my wilder interpretations of the codes.
Marisa is not the kind of person who happily calls herself a BEE expert - so I'll do that for her. She is not only supremely versed in the codes but she leaves most people in the financial sector behind with her practical knowledge of the FSC. I've done a lot of work for and with Marisa, and I plan to do one hell of a lot more this year.
I mentioned Sakkie earlier. It's worth your while to meet with him.
Obed de Swardt of BEE-Matrix is my sounding board. I have learned that whatever I do I have to make sure that a verification agency will back me up. We argue and disagree often, but I absolutely respect his opinion and integrity. I do not hesitate to recommend him and BEE-Matrix. This is a company to watch - NERA might be the big corporate's verification agency of choice for now; they are already receiving a fair run from Obed's team.
Alon Raiz of Raizcorp is doing some of the most innovative enterprise development work. If you have money to invest in an ED project, Raizcorp comes highly recommended. I have done a lot of work with Greg Durst of Endeavor and they too have started an enterprise development project. Greg is moving on from Endeavor - I'll update his details on the blog when he takes up his new position.
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