Refirement
eZine March 2008

I have been looking forward to the first Refirement Conference for some months now. Creating and planning for an event is exciting and makes it all worth while when the event is over and has been a success. For all those that missed it, please chat to someone who did go. The feedback has been outstanding. The speakers were both brilliant and I know from many of the conversations that I have had that the value and level of information was immense. Both Pete and Rob speak on the national and international circuits. Please connect with me if you would like to work with them or discuss the possibility of a road show for your clients or employees.

The second Refirement Café went well and from late May we will roll out this concept across Johannesburg and Pretoria. These events are about networking and conversations. All Baby Boomers are welcome. Please come and attend one. It may change your life!

The media has been in overdrive around the SKILLS SHORTAGE due to the Eskom challenge. This is a global crisis and I believe one of the main results that I hope will emerge out of Refirement Network is awareness that skills are important, that we are never too old to develop new ones and that by using our skills to help others we become agents of positive change in our communities. Please list your skills on my website so that I can contact you if the need arises.

The next conference will tackle the Wisdom and Skills debate with some interesting stories from companies and organizations that have started to think with innovation to help bring about change. The date will be confirmed but it will be in early June.

May the month that lies ahead bring you joy and some time to think about change in your own life?

The X Factor

I came across this great piece in the Star newspaper. It reports on some research done by UCT Graduate School of Business. The student who did the research was an MBA graduate.

The research reveals that you do not have to be an intellectual to head up a successful business; all you need are seven basic skills.

I believe these are important skills to create in our lives to enable us to be of value in our community and the world of work.

• Allow for flexibility in strategy in building an entrepreneurial business and remain adaptable to change
• A high degree of self awareness, acknowledging their strengths and weaknesses.
• An emphasis on reflection and taking time out for thinking, assessing and planning.
• A high level of polarity management. Being able to manage the paradoxes that surface in modern business.
• Embrace and encourage diversity. Different thoughts, cultures, attitudes, opinions and voices increase the number of ideas and solutions.
• Linkage of networks. The more people extend their networks, the more they are exposed to a greater number of ideas and solutions for their business.
• Clarity and connectivity and the rate of information flow.

Given the growing importance of entrepreneurship on the global stage, there is great practical value in being able to identify the traits required to be a successful entrepreneur.

Wise words for the future from Rob Rusconi

At my conference this week Rob did an outstanding presentation on the landscape of what the picture looks like for the aging population of South Africa.

His closing challenge was the following:

It is important to save and build a nest egg for the future.

More important is that if you have skills you will survive.

Most important is the RIGHT ATTITUDE to live and enjoy and add value back into this country for the future of all its’ people.

Please give me a call if you would like to connect with Rob for your organization.

Baby Boomer Technology Classes in Sandton

Do you felt left behind in the world of computers?

Dave Collins runs courses to get you up to speed, help demystify and simplify the process.

For more details contact him direct on: 083 659 1712 or email dave [dot] collins2 [at] gmail [dot] com

Please contact Lynda Smith on +27 (0) 82 490 2822 or lynda [at] refirementnetwork [dot] com for more details. Our web address is www.refirementnetwork.com

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