Archive | Life

Smile you’re on Social Media!

By Rian Truter on July, Monday 11 2011 in 2011, Education, Life 3

At this stage in my life I needed a new challenge.

Something like Facebook.

I can hear teacups rattling and people choking on their sandwiches. Can’t you find something more edifying? Something safe? More your age? Never thought you would go that way!

I thought so too. But now that I have taken the brave step and finding that I am still alive, I am beginning to like it. Even thinking about starting to twit, or is it tweet?

But why? I hear you ask. I have a few close friends that also shake their heads in dismay and promise me that they will rather die than be on Facebook. Why so extreme? I will rather Facebook and be alive. Sounds like a better choice to me!

Let me tell you why and what I have discovered over the last weeks:

First, it’s not that difficult. If you’re able to read and know how to access the internet, you can do it. Tip: let the youngsters help you. They love to share their superior knowledge.
Facebook is not from the devil. Same with MXit and the other social sites. In a lot of these cases the unknown lends itself to wrongful and evil interpretations. But I won’t disagree that the devil may also know about these tools.
Facebook helps me to communicate with my friends and family. It facilitates the sharing of knowledge … or so they say!
It’s the biggest photo album in the world. You don’t have to wait for your children to come back from holiday to see their photographs. You can view it the moment they share it on Facebook.
News is instant. Much like the old plaastelefoon in days gone by. It feels if you are eavesdropping on your friends. The only difference; it’s legal!
But be warned! Facebook can also be dangerous.
Say only on Facebook what you would be prepared to say in public. The same with photographs. Only post pictures that you would be proud to see printed on the back page of a national newspaper.
Watch out whom you allow as your friends. Everybody is not your friend. You don’t have to accept their invitation to become friends. Especially people who haven’t been friends with you over the last fifty years. Suddenly they want to be your friend. Nonsense! Just remember that you already have enough friends as it is.
I have discovered that there is a difference between a personal profile and a page for a business. A lot of people don’t know this fact and open a personal page for their business. Do a bit of research before you dive into the ocean of social media …

Dat daar altyd doemprofete oor enige nuwe tendens/uitvindsel sal wees, is ‘n feit soos ‘n koei. Maar ek het my les jare gelede met die sage van die vrotmelkkultuur geleer! Toe ek na maande se wik en weeg besluit om tot dié geledere toe te tree, toe val die bedryf se boom uit …

Nie weer nie. Ek onderskryf nou Jack MacAllister se motto if you don’t make dust, you eat dust.

Marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make, but about the stories you tell. – Seth Godin

The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow. – Bill Gates

Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won’t bother you for weeks. – Author Unknown

Image: Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot/FreeDigitalphotos

Wie maak vir Gansbaai lekker?

By Rian Truter on July, Thursday 7 2011 in 2011, Education, Leadership, Life 0

Die gestoei oor watter spanne in die finaal van die Super Rugbyreeks gaan speel, het my onwillekeurig laat wonder wat maak ’n span of mens suksesvol. Hoe bepaal jy hoe goed jy/skool/besigheid is en is net die wenners altyd die beste?

Miskien lê die antwoord op dié vrae opgesluit in die bekende liedjie van oorlede Worsie Visser, Wie maak vir Gansbaai lekker? In een van die aangepaste Gansbaailiedjies antwoord ’n ander kunstenaar dat dit die seemeeu is.

Ek wil hiervan verskil, want net mense wat daarvan hou dat ‘n seemeeu op hulle kom bollie, sal hiermee kan saamstem! Die iets wat Gansbaai lekker maak, is net jy en jy en weer jy! Jóú betrokkenheid maak Gansbaai lekker.

If you have never heard of Worsie in your whole life, let’s use the words of Joe Dolan to tell you who is responsible: It’s you, it’s you it’s you …

Success relies heavily on commitment and investment. Commitment from everyone involved in the process, be it education or be it Gansbaai. To achieve any form of success the role players will have to invest skill, time and passion.

And a lot of themselves.

Eighty percent of success is showing up. – Woody Allen

You don’t have to be famous. You just have to make your mother and father proud of you. – Meryl Streep

Image: Dr Joseph Valks/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You can beat Djokovic!

By Rian Truter on July, Tuesday 5 2011 in 2011, Life 2

We are the champions my friend …

While watching the epic Wimbledon men’s final yesterday these words of Queen’s iconic song echoed through my head.

At the end of the match there could only be one champion and that was Novak Djokovic. But the way Djokovic and Rafael Nadal played and conducted them selves showed that you can be a champion even if you lose.

During the match both players illustrated that the game, and becoming a champion, was much more than just physical. Becoming a champion also depends a lot on mental fitness.

Even Rafael admitted that the mental part is a little dangerous for me. (The Telegraph 4/7/2011)

Its not just athletes that have to act like a champion. At some or other stage of our lives there will come a moment that we will have to be the champion. Even if we never see or touch the grass of Wimbledon.

For just that moment I have compiled the following thoughts to help you collect your trophy, promotion, prize or what ever it may be:

1. The first and great command is, don’t let them scare you. – Elmer Davis.

2. The minute you start talking about what you are going to do if you lose, you have lost. – George Schultz

3. The desire to win is born in most of us. The will to win is a matter of training. The manner of winning is a matter of honour. – Margaret Thatcher

4. Always imitate the behaviour of the winners when you lose. – George Meredith

5. A winner makes commitments. A loser makes promises. – Unknown

6. Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure. – George E. Woodberry

7. The difference between losing and winning is usually the difference between doing little things nearly right and doing them exactly right. – Edward Simmons.

8. A winner focus; a loser sprays. – Sydney Harris

9. You only get one chance. – William Wallace

Game, set and match!

Image: nixxphotograpy

Ek het genoeg …

By Rian Truter on July, Saturday 2 2011 in 2011, Life 0

Het jy al in die middel van die nag wakker geword en besef hoe geseënd jy regtig is?

Nou die oggend vroeg was dit weer my beurt.

Ek word so drieuur se kant wakker met die reën en noordewind wat teen die kamervenster stoei. Skielik kom daar ’n onbeskryflike dankbaarheid in my hart vir my warm bed, die dak oor my kop en die ruit wat die wind en reën van my lyf hou.

Tog is die Kaap nie eenhonderd persent Hollands nie. ’n Onverklaarbare ysigheid kom kruip tussen my en die komberse in. Eintlik moet ek sê, in my kop in.

Want ek onthou skielik dat daar iewers buite mense is wat nie so bevoorreg soos ek is nie. Wat net ’n stuk karton of plastiek het om die wind en reën buite te hou. Wat nie net kan omdraai en verder slaap nie, want ’n mens slaap nie lekker as jy nat is nie.

Dit is dan wat ek skaam word dat ek kla en nog wil hê, want het ek dan nie reeds genoeg nie?

Dit is ook dan dat ek die antwoord van die tuinwerker aan die miljoenêr onthou …

Miljoenêr: Ek verstaan nie hoekom jy nie ook so baie geld en besittings soos ek wil hê nie?

Werker: Want ek het genoeg …

In die vroegoggendure rol ek rond en wonder oor wanneer genoeg dan genóég is?

Ek slaap nou glad nie en dit voel of die wind en reën net met my praat.

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. – Oprah Winfrey

Persons who have been homeless carry within them a certain philosophy of life which makes them apprehensive about ownership – Jerzy Kosinski

Image: Maggie Smith

Franciscan Benediction

By Rian Truter on June, Thursday 23 2011 in 2011, Life, Presentations 0

I have used this prayer in a few presentations and always people ask for a copy. Maybe its the unconventional requests in the prayer that speak to them? I first read it a book by Philip Yancey called Prayer. Does it make any Difference?

May God bless you with discomfort

At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships

So that you may live deep in your heart.

May God bless you with anger

At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears

To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,

So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and

Turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness

To believe that you can make a difference in the world,

So that you can do what others claim cannot be done

To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen

Missie of Visie?

By Rian Truter on June, Sunday 19 2011 in 2011, Education, Leadership, Life 2

Foto: Graur Codrin

Al gewonder oor wat is missie en wat is visie? Klink dan amper dieselfde!

Dalk gevoel jy moet onnosel wees omdat dit voel of net jy nie verstaan nie. Dit lyk dan, as jy na al die instemmende kopknikke om jou kyk, of almal op dieselfde bladsy is. Net jy nie …

Wees verseker jy is nie alleen nie. Baie van die kopknikke is soos die hondjie in die Cortina se agterruit. Dit knik maar onwillekeurig kop. Verstaan of te not.

Dewald de Kock van die Stellenbosch Gemeente het in sy aanbieding by ‘n onlangse onderwyskongres, KDA Great Escape, hul visie met die afgevaardigdes gedeel. Ek dink dit is so relevant en toepaslik, dat ek dit graag hier aanhaal:

Haal diep asem.
Beleef ‘n groter storie.
Skep luistertyd.
Leef omgekrap.

Hierdie is mos nou iets waarvoor ek ook my kop kan knik!

Om oor na te dink:

Make your life a mission – not an intermission. – Arnold Glasgow
The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision. – Helen Keller

Sometimes.

By Rian Truter on June, Thursday 16 2011 in 2011, Life 0

Baie jare gelede was daar ‘n foto van ‘n padwerker wat mismoedig met sy kop in sy hande in ‘n bushalte sit. Sy graaf so eenkant neergegooi.

Op die een paneel van die halte was daar ‘n advertensie vir Life-sigarette met die klinkreël, Life is great!

Wat my egter tot vandag toe dié foto laat onthou, is nie die foto self nie, maar die ironiese onderskrif: Sometimes …

Life is Great! Sometimes … Hierdie sometimes tref jou soms op die onverwagste oomblike van die lewe. Soos wanneer ‘n waterpyp laat in die nag in jou erf bars.

Dit is dán wat jy al jou positiewe versies en slagspreuke hardop moet sê, want die why me’s wil soos ’n tsunami oor jou spoel. Weg is die great lewe!

Maar as ek weer tot verhaal kom, onthou ek skielik ’n gedeelte uit Scott Peck se boek The Road Less Traveled.

Life is difficult.

This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths.

Once we truly know that life is difficult – once we truly understand and accept it – then life is no longer difficult.

Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.

As ’n mens hierdie waarheid regtig onder die knie het, dan is life nie meer net sometimes nice nie.

Life is great al bars die pyp, al is die battery net voor die lewensbelangrike vergadering pap, al is…

Al hierdie dinge is deel van die somtotaal van die avontuur van die lewe.

Geronimo!

Photo: Simon Howden

Ver in die Ou Kalahari

By Rian Truter on June, Monday 13 2011 in 2011, Life, Reis 2

Kalahari-rooi

Was jy al in die Kalahari?

Nog nie?

Pak dan onmiddellik jou kar en kry jou ry, want van uitstel, weet jy, kom afstel.

Stel nie belang nie, hoor ek jou sê. Dan sit ek jou dadelik op my gebedslys, want jy weet duidelik nie waarvan jy praat nie.

’n Groepie van ons het ’n paar weke terug in Namibië gaan jag. En ook na die hart van die Kalahari gaan soek.

Gaan soek na daar waar hy begin. Waar hy van sy ma af loskom en op eie bene staan.

En ons het dit gekry. Net so anderkant Koës. Daar begin die hart van die Kalahari.

Dit is daar waar die rooi duine soos golwe oor die see mekaar in ’n amper eentonige reëlmaat opvolg. Dit is daar waar die versamelvoëlneste die kameeldoringboom se takke laat afbreek, want te veel plakkers het kom intrek.

Dit is daar waar jou naaste buurman 20 kilometer van jou bly.

Die hart van die Kalahari lê vasgevang in oë van sy spring- en gemsbokke wat vroegoggend die son se strale teen die duin weerkaats. Jy voel sy hart klop as jy in die strate tussen die duine jou bakkie in die tweespoorpad probeer hou.

Maar dit is eers as dit donker word dat die Kalahari die binnekant van sy hart vir jou wys. Dit is dan wanneer jy in ’n grootse skepping kan opkyk en weet dis genade. Genade dat jy weer die hart van die Kalahari kon hoor klop, want jy is net nog ’n skepsel in hierdie wonderlike Skepping.

Kan sulke klein voeltjies sulke groot neste bou?

: Kameeldoringboom en sand…

Daar begin die Kalahari - volgens Hentie Gericke

Oor die duine!

Maak ‘n Verskil

By Rian Truter on June, Thursday 9 2011 in 2011, Education, Life 0

Dit gaan rof in die Kaap!

Die Stormers wen en die eerste winterkoue het die Kaap getref.

Dit het tyd geword vir ‘n kaggelvuur, snoek, patats en ’n baie goeie rooi wyn.

Maar saam met hierdie baie welkome reën kruip daar egter ook so ‘n knaende kouerigheid in my hart, want ek weet êrens is daar mense wat aan die ongenaakbaarheid van dieselfde natuur oorgelaat is. Êrens is daar kinders wat honger en koud skool toe gaan.

Earlier this year I wrote about Ashley Kaimowitz and I mentioned a few charities I thought schools could get involved with. One of them was the Potato Foundation in Pretoria.

The Potato Foundation was established in February 2007 and the name of the organisation was adopted around the growth concept of a potato.

Giving is very much like a potato – its roots are hidden and the growing effect thereof is not visible until the potato is harvested. The Potato Foundation aims to be exactly that – the roots within our community sustaining and nurturing assistance to uplift and empower children and give them an opportunity to take their rightful place within society.

Esmarié Robbertse, an attorney who specialises in children’s rights and family law founded the Potato Foundation. She is ably assisted by her sister, Eugenie van den Heever, an accountant. The two siblings have a burning passion for children and advocate the promotion of children’s rights in our society. Both of them left their very successful careers to pursue this dream.

I again want to urge you to get your school involved with this worthwhile cause. If not them, any other organisation of your choice, but we have to teach our children not to wait for the world to change, but that they can change the world.

The willingness to share does not make one charitable; it makes one free. – Robert Brault

Meet om te weet

By Rian Truter on May, Sunday 29 2011 in 2011, Education, Leadership, Life 0

Meet om te weet is ’n spreekwoord wat baie maklik kwistig gebruik kan word.

Só ‘n gemeet kan baie keer tot ontdekkings lei waarvan ’n mens dalk liewer nie wíl weet nie. Soos om op die skaal te klim. In die meeste gevalle is dit baie geriefliker om nie te weet hoeveel jy weeg nie!

Miskien is dit hier aan die einde van die eerste derde van die jaar tog nodig om ten minste iets te meet.

Kom ons vra ons af of dít wat ons gedoen het besonders was of net weer plain doodgewoon?

Om jou hiermee te help, kan jy jou lewe/skool/besigheid aan die volgende verhaaltjie uit Seth Godin se boek The Big Moo meet:

Reggie fixes bikes in Mt. Kisco, New York. For every bike he fixes he does his best. Then he spends five extra minutes doing something special.

During that first hour, Reggie is a perfectly fine bike mechanic. He pays attention to detail and follows established protocol. He is careful and focused and diligent. Like one thousand other very good bike mechanics, he gets the job done and earns his pay.

In the last five minutes, though, Reggie transforms himself from a workman into an artist. In those few extra minutes, he becomes remarkable.

Sometimes, all he does is carefully clean the chain. Other times, he’ll take the bike out to the potholed parking lot and be sure the gears are adjusted properly. And sometimes, especially if the bike is for a cute kid, he’ll attach a horn or some tassels – anything worth noticing.

The astonishing thing isn’t how unusual Reggie is. The astonishing thing is how easy it is what Reggie does, and how many people don’t do it. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing accounts payable or product design. Those last five minutes make it easy for your customers to find the difference between you and everyone else.

It takes 99 percent of the time you spend just to be average. The remarkable stuff can happen in a flash.

Beslis iets om aan te kou.

Foto: m_bartosch

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