Charles Szente - Business Architect and Supply Chain Director

I’m looking for the next generation of high integrity characters, hot shots , eager to make a Mark , gain and grow experience , aspiring warehouse /DC supervisors as well as warehouse /DC team members for potential future roles in our JHB , KZN and Cape Town operations. We have exciting plans to grow and develop our team - unlocking the next level of growth and opportunity- and I am looking to see what talent is our there and may be a good fit for my team. Naturally as and when options become available. Please contact me with a short resume and note on what makes you tick and where you are based. Or pass onto someone of character and drive who may be interested in an opportunity down the line. Just remember, who you recommend also reflects on your standards so keep em high! Thanks in advance.

I’m looking for the next generation of high integrity characters, hot shots , eager to make a mark , gain and grow experience , aspiring warehouse /DC supervisors as well as warehouse /DC team members for potential future roles in our JHB , KZN and Cape Town operations. We have exciting plans to grow and develop our team - unlocking the next level of growth and opportunity- and I am looking to see what talent is our there and may be a good fit for my team. Naturally as and when options become available. Please contact me with a short resume and note on what makes you tick and where you are based. Or pass onto someone of character and drive who may be interested in an opportunity down the line. Just remember, who you recommend also reflects on your standards so keep em high! Thanks in advance.i

The business support programme

The Institute for Independant Business developed the IIB Business Support Programme™ specifically to meet the needs of independent businesses. The type and level of support needed within the IIB Business Support Programme™ is customised to meet the requirements and objectives of each individual business.

The Programme is based on a proven model from which countless businesses across the world have benefited. In order to determine if a business qualifies for support, a meeting is arranged by an accredited Associate with the Managing Director/Owner/Proprietor, to confidentially discuss the opportunities and challenges facing their business. The first meeting is free of charge and there is no obligation whatsoever - it is a private meeting to review all aspects of their business.

If any ideas or improvement areas are immediately identified the accredited Associate may be able to point the business in the right direction for assistance there and then. In many instances the businesses recognize a number of areas in which support is required and the Associate will call on specialists within the wider community of Associates accredited by the Institute to help solve specific issues.

This way practical advice that works™ can be made available to assist the owners and directors of small to medium sized business in virtually every way possible.

Source

Institute for Independent Business - IIB The Institute for Independent Business (IIB) | Introduction

Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?

So, this may be a strange question, right?

For me it would be difficult to say who. But currently living, it may be Seto-san, Desmond Tutu, Bra T (Thabo Mbeki), Scarlet Johansen (for her acting abilities naturally).

For those long moved on, it would be some of the key historical figures like a King Solomon (I would like to tap his brain), Moses (just because there is a character there that I am seriously intrigued about), and Jesus because there are some things I would love to hear from the horse’s mouth so to speak. Then off course the likes of Gandhi, Cleopatra and the founders of the Nubian empire (look it up – Africa has a rich history and many-many unheralded stories). Finally, my great grandfather, who seemed to have a life that could match (and better) one of our TV soap operas when it comes to intrigue, romance, cross continental politics and business – in dispersed by a world war.

For you this list would be different. Maybe it’s a family member that is far away, a movie or a music star, a politician or a founder of faith. For all of us, those people would be different, coming from different reasons why. And the great thing is that is okay. That is where beauty and diversity sits.

Of course if we are very lucky, and we get to be invited onto someone else’s wish list, and if we are, we may just learn a few things we would never even have thought about. Truly start to leverage the power of our diversity. Knowing that not doing so, would be closing ourselves off, limiting who and what we could be. Betraying the promise of all the potential that lies within us.



So, who is on your dinner list?

Good to great … we have hope of a better tomorrow.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
– Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

“It is for us to pray not for tasks equal to our powers, but for powers equal to our tasks, to go forward with a great desire forever beating at the door of our hearts as we travel toward our distant goal. “
-Helen Keller

“The real trouble with reality is that there's no background music. “
– Anonymous

And while we are on music

“Guess who's back, back again, Shady's back, tell a friend.”
- Eminem

***

I realize this is a broad audience note, but I hope you will take it where it comes from and use what is applicable for you.

As we look at our personal objectives, whilst using a little hind sight; I would like for us to invest some time thinking about what accelerates positive personal and organization growth, as well as highlighting factors that could derail success, so that we can proactively manage those. Naturally knowing that what we do builds our country as well.

Firstly, let’s look at what are the success factors / behaviours as leaders we should aspire too. And with we, I mean the royal we, i.e. You as well as a leader where ever you are.

1) Great leaders see the future:
a. They set a compelling sense of direction
b. They develop winning strategies
c. They anticipate problems and proactively do something about them. (this is key for us)

2) Great leaders know how to navigates the organization (they actively learn to do so):
a. They influence the organization by breaking down internal barriers and
b. They collaborate across boundaries, borders and functions to solve problems.

3) Great leaders invest in People:
a. They provide employees (even their managers, peers and community) with coaching and feedback to enhance performance
b. They build a strong teams around them

4) Great leaders develop insight and learning
a. They get to know their processes and situation in a hands on manner
b They solve their people’s problems, allowing for better performance.

It’s no surprise then the factors that can derail a career/organizational growth is the opposite of the above i.e.
1) Lack of organizational savvy/Influence
2) Lack of professional presence (not building credibility in the organization as an expert in what we do)
3) Not developing a strong team (you are only as good as your team, and your team will and can always do so much more that you can on your own)
4) Lacking strength in a key skill (technical skills and know how)
5) Lacking both strategy and ex*****on (seeing the bigger picture but also doing the hard work), or
6) having character flaws and cracks. (This is related not to the “what” we want to achieve, but to “how” we go about it– how we treat people, how we live our values for example, how we approach problems and issues)

As you look towards your objectives - I would like for you to take the above Accelerators and Derailers into account, reflecting on what this all means for you personally, your position and your team. I would also like you to review your values, your plans (the “what“ needs to achieve) and then out of that put together the items, actions, behaviors, and skills that you think you need to personally address in order to make 2019 a great year.

As always remember that our priority is to ensure our people are safe, healthy and more; more skilled, more motivated, more inspired and driven to be the best they can be: people who drive towards greatness and excellence. Remembering that we as leaders model what success and greatness should look like: it is our job to set a compelling shared vision of the future for ourselves our teams, and our country.

Also remember it is up to each of us to anticipate and resolve problems before they happen, whilst being a team that cares and knows our people as individuals. The “what” is as important as the “how” we go about doing things.

As a further reminder of what it takes to be a great manager, remember to

1) Invest - time and effort in your team and in yourself.
2) Value – don’t forget to let others know that are valued by you
3) Stretch – yourself and your people to develop.

Here is to a great 2019 for us all. We may not know what it holds, but we do hold the power to create the best chance of success. And as in life, we can hold too a faith that carries us through.

My sincere hope, is that this time will be a time of refreshment, rejuvenation, and that we can safely celebrate a time of new birth. As a Christian this time of year is particularly meaningful and hopeful for me, but regardless of your own faith, I hope it will be a great one for you too.

It seems over night every thing in our country has been devalued by 5%.(10% in a week?) I know it's early days but that is how analysts, investors, people tend to work . A just in case , automated number added that shows they trust us just a bit less (for now) by adding that number.
But what is 10% If you have 95%? Probably "100 trillion rand +" that we as a country are valued less. But if you are in the bottom 50% ( where most are) it could mean the difference between survival or not, making a go of life or being relegated beyond what you can cut to survive. Another 1 out of 10 times - added to the times you already cant pay - fees, for healthy food, transport, housing. Whilst many of us have options - many many more don't. Whilst the world has just giving us the first 100trillon rand bill for what it thinks the damage is that JZ can still do, spare a serious thought for those hardest hit. The millions of unseen people who will just fall short and cross the threshold. Yes we all pay for what may happen, what may be looted. But some pay such more.

If this is the end for JZ- his last gambit so to speak (I am conjecturing) with December so close would you take the chance ? I would hope they (new ministers) can see the big picture and jump sides while they can. Rather let one man fall so the org can survive. But I don't think they do see it that way. But even a few "no thank you's" may break the walls.

Sigh ....

To the students - have the courage of your convictions and march on Luthuli house and Nkandla. That would make a serious point. Whilst I support free education (practically not in the way you are and not neccecarily for the spaces you are where capacity is limited), but you are banging on the wrong doors - perhaps on purpose? The conflict at the universities is a lose-lose. If you genuinely want change, it's at the doors of the ones holding the purse strings.