Greetings!
From The Desk Of The Editor
Welcome! to the first edition of The Dealmaker™ Newsletter. We hope you will find it filled with interesting information. The heart warming story of the two brothers should show just how close to home deals can get. There are also facts and a riddle to get you thinking. In the "Meet The Dealmaker™ Team" section you will get to meet one of our Master Coaches, Kim Meredith. Next month will feature David Black.
I hope the plight of Leratong School will encourage you contribute generously to this worthy cause, especially with Christmas just around the corner. Any donation you can afford, no matter how small, is always appreciated.
I hope this all sounds as good to you as it does to me!
Enjoy! - Portia Ngcobo
Did You Know?
You were born with negotiating skills!
Cast your mind back to when you were a child and you wanted a treat - maybe being taken to the park or having a sweet before dinner. How did you get what you wanted? Children peak as negotiators between the ages of six and eight. If you are having to negotiate with children of your own you already know this! How do they do it? Firstly, negotiation is a life skill with which humans are born. Secondly, kids do not apply associative logic to negotiations. Here's an example: Mom: "Johnny, eat your peas". Johnny: "If I can stay up late I'll eat six peas". How are peas and bedtime related? Who taught Johnny about trading? You need to encourage your children to develop this life skill, but do not allow them to get the better of you. This probably means you have to hone your own negotiating skills!
How can you do this? We invite you to attend one of our life changing dealmaking courses. Contact Portia for more details on 011 440 0193.
Close To Home
Two Brothers with Farms Quarrel
Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict.
It was their first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery and trading labour and goods as needed without a hitch.
Their long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work" he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"
"Yes," said John the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbour, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of wood by the barn? I want you to build me a fence - an eight-foot fence - so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the wood and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."
The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing, and hammering.
About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.
It was a bridge - a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all - and the neighbour, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.
"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder.
"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."
Extracted from www.cleanfunny.com
Meet The Dealmaker™ team
Kim Meredith BA (Psy Eng)
With a degree in Clinical Psychology and post graduate study in Didactics and Adult Learning, Kim has extensive experience at an Executive level in business strategy, negotiation and sales. Kim's expertise has earned her an excellent reputation as a global dealmaker.
In her last position in the corporate world (1998 to 2004) where she held the position of Executive Director: Strategy for a Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed Information Technology group, Kim was responsible for global strategy including actively driving negotiations for all critical worldwide acquisitions and disposals. In addition, Kim was Chairman of a start-up Revenue Services focused Internet company, which was subsequently sold to South African Revenue Services. Kim was also a Director of a large UK/European SAP software implementation company which she was responsible for conceiving, acquiring the component companies and preparing for listing on the London Stock Exchange.
Kim is fortunate in that she has been mentored by several internationally renowned business leaders during her career. In 1989 Kim was encouraged by her primary mentor to start a business of her own. It was then that Kim founded Spectrum Solutions to focus on the remuneration/payroll outsourcing market. Within a short period of time Spectrum Solutions had funds exceeding US$100 million per annum under management. To grow the business, Kim acquired an agency for the Miller Heiman sales strategy and process training products. In 1994, Kim also began lecturing for an international negotiation training company and in 1997, began delivering this training in the USA. Kim has thus been consulting to companies across the globe in negotiation strategy for nearly 15 years.
In 1998, Kim started creating The Dealmaker™ suite of programmes. The courses took six years to develop and two years to test. Kim is focused on growing the programmes into a global brand. Kim has developed an excellent network in UK, Europe, USA, Latin America and South Africa.
Leratong School
Peggy Chauke is a small beacon of light for 145 near destitute pre-schoolers. Tucked between council flats and shacks and a tiny informal barber shop in Alexandra is Peggy's pre-school, the Leratong School, Joy For One Foundation. In the midst of the shocking reality of daily life is this haven of hope, love, laughter and learning for these children aged between two and six years.
Many of these children are HIV positive and their living conditions are utterly appalling; they live in one-roomed shacks with not even the basic of amenities and often with no parents. Many of them are being brought up by siblings as young as 12 and 13, who themselves are in dire need of support - physically, mentally, materially, emotionally and educationally. A seemingly hopeless situation. |
Singing a song for the Ad Talent Team |
Many of these children are HIV positive and their living conditions are utterly appalling; they live in one-roomed shacks with not even the basic of amenities and often with no parents. Many of them are being brought up by siblings as young as 12 and 13, who themselves are in dire need of support - physically, mentally, materially, emotionally and educationally. A seemingly hopeless situation.
Peggy has carried this load on her shoulders for the past 14 years with little or no help. She has been the only shining light and ray of hope in these destitute children's lives. She started the school as a day care facility 14 years ago with seven children and is now looking after 145 children. This is a drop in the ocean of the number of children crying out for help. She could take hundreds, maybe thousands, more if she had the resources.
Should you wish to make a donation, these are Leratong's bank details:
Alexandra Learning Pre-School Centre
First National Bank, Bramley - 252 105,
Account number - 503 000 125 02.
Their registration certificate number is 002298.
Ref: SS0907
If you would like to visit Leratong with their primary sponsor, Ad Talent, to assess their situation and needs, or to just meet Peggy and the children please email the Editor.
Last Chance Saloon
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If you have postponed attending The Dealmaker™ programmes, you have only two more chances for 2007. With effect from 01 January 2008 the price of the programmes increases – so book now to take advantage of the lower pricing. |
The Dealbuilder™ on 07 & 08 November 2007
The Dealbuilder™ is a two day programme created for people with some sales and negotiation experience wanting to enhance their level of expertise (including new graduates, small business owners, etc). The Dealbuilder™ course competes (for budget only) with sales, negotiation, conflict resolution, problem solving and communication skills type programmes. The cost of a seat on a course is R5,725 (excluding VAT) per person.
The Dealmaker™ on 20 - 22 November 2007
The flagship The Dealmaker™ course is a higher level three day programme for more experienced sales and purchasing professionals, negotiators, managers, business professionals (accountants, lawyers, doctors, etc), medium-sized business owners and similar. The intellectual level of The Dealmaker™ is on a par with Business Schools, but the content differs from Business School offerings in that it is process-based and coaching-driven. The cost of the course is R9,540 (excluding VAT) per person.
The courses are conducted in small groups and thus there are a limited number of places on each programme. If you are booking for a team of 16 or more people, group pricing is available on request. To register to attend a programme or to request further information, please email enquiries@thedealmaker.com.
Are you ready to stop throwing money away?
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