Joburg Internet Cafe workshop postponed

Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton CityDue to unforeseen circumstances I’ve been forced to move the date of the next Internet Cafe workshop schedules for this Saturday. The primary reason for this is that I’ve been on a short break in Uitenhage and on Sunday missed my flight back to Johannesburg. My car has been parked at OR Tambo airport for 3 weeks and I have to drive directly to Rustenburg from Tuesday till Thursday to deliver 7 talks to parents, teachers and children at Selly Park Convent Primary School, Selly Park High School, Fields College Primary School. Fields College High School and Lebone II.

So the new date is Thursday, 18 March 9am-5pm. And the venue remains Sandton Library on Nelson Mandela Square. Any queries? Please post your questions below as comments. More updates will be posted on this announcement.

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Fathers, Sons and questions from reading Manhood

Noel Murray and Raymond Thomas circa 1975Last weekend I spent some quality time with my best friend Bradley Minnaar. He’s mother passed away recently and now moved back in from a granny flat into the main house. All his sisters are married with kids and his one brother is married with kids, while the other became a missionary after his wife passed away only a few years after getting married. Sometimes while growing I envied to luxury, as I perceived it of having both your mother and father available to you.

One of the things we discussed was the missing father syndrome in so many families, including my own. One obvious thing for me is how strong the link is between poverty and missing fathers. I grew up primarily with my mother in Uitenhage, outside of Port Elizabeth, and probably one of the poorest towns in South Africa. The biggest employer is Volkswagen, Goodyear and some other factories, all which remove fathers from the household.

Anyway back to my own story. Until my father married his 2nd wife, when I was about 12 years old, I used to visit him for extended holidays in Johannesburg. I recall the feelings of trepidation I had when I realised my father was having another son i.e. my brother. The love that comes with a new born soon replaced whatever insecurity or anxiety I had about his arrival. Looking back, maybe the biggest disappointment for me was when my father could not make it for my 21st birthday in 1996. This was also the same weekend I graduated with a BSc degree, becoming the first person in my extended family to complete a university degree.

(more…)

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Are you also limiting your beliefs dating in Johannesburg?

Here’s an email from a reader of this blog. This is a very good example of a limiting belief in the post-apartheid South Africa when it comes to women and interracial dating. It is clear from his responses that he has convinced himself that its true. Anyway read for yourself and post your comments at the bottom:

“Hi ramon, thanks for ur blog. I find quite interesting. I have read books like the game etc but i dont think they will apply in sa. Given our history sa is a heavily polarized community and interracial dating is taboo. For example if u r a man of color trying to date a white chic, u then have to try and overcome any prejudices she might have. I think ur blog is useful but it wont apply in sa.”

Here’s my first response:

Thanks for the feedback. You have a limiting belief about white women and therefore you have the success or failure you experience. I recommend you Google “brent smith myspace” and read his blog entries because they will help you remove any and all limiting beliefs. There are more articles about interracial dating coming to my blog.

Here’s his reply…

“thanks for your response. It’s not that I have a limiting belief but it’s a unfortunate fact about south africa. All that I was trying to say is that this could be an additional factor that needs to be considered when
applying the game here in SA. There are quite a number of blogs for Brent Smith and I haven’t managed to
read all of them. From what I can see he seems to have a good approach and it seems to be bringing him great success. How has the game been going for you in JHB? I feel that night life and the dating scene in JHB is a bit disappointing. Most people that I chat to seem to feel that cape town offers better prospects. The ratio of males to females is a lot better down there…”

Here’s my final response:

Yes, the additional factors is what I am exploring on my blog. Maybe it’s not very clear or specific and I appreciate your feedback because it’ll help me improve my advice.

What evidence do you have about the facts of interracial dating in South Africa? I have experienced interracial dating since the early 1990s especially after completing Matric in 1992. And this has only accelerated. I have dated all races of women, except Chinese women and I’m a Coloured guy. In my professional life I have mixed mostly with white people and they have always respected me.

You have to lead the men and the women will follow. So I suggest you make friends with some white guys who have common interests and hang out with them so you can be introduced to their white female friends in a more natural setting. You know I’ve met Indian guys or black who exclusively date white chicks. And countless other variations. I am dating a woman for the last year so I am not actively picking women right now. That’ll change shortly.

Yes, Cape Town does seem better but again I think that is another limiting belief. There is no evidence, I mean scientific studies to prove that so it’s all perception. Your own perception is the most important thing that counts against you and you may want to explore Ross Jeffries, the creator or Speed Seduction.

Reducing Technology Stress in a Wireless World

You are invited to a this event hosted by Ramon Thomas in association with BulkSMS. These briefings have been designed to be fully interactive and will be looking at real-life examples, common mistakes and effective ways to reduce technology stress in a wireless world.

The cellphone has become an indispensable part of our working life, but our increased accessibility comes at a psychological cost. The cellphone comes with the blessing or burden of the ring. The phone rings and it needs to be answered or left to bother us or those around us. Our decision to answer the phone, be it at home or at the office, means that we disturb the people within earshot of our conversation. Personal issues could be verbally displayed in and around the office, interrupting colleagues. Work could be discussed in the confines of our homes taking up the precious time spent with family. People should be empowered to control their phone, otherwise their phones will control them.

The increase in cellphone usage for work and private calls or messaging can be a source of irritation. This talk will focus on ways that the cellphone and SMS messaging can be used to improve workplace productivity keeping the, sometimes welcome, interruption that the cellphone brings to a minimum and also ways that current technology can be used to reduce what is becoming commonly known as technology stress.

Dr Pieter Streicher BulkSMSSpeakers include Dr Piet Streicher, MD of BulkSMS and Ramon Thomas, leading authority in the psychology of technology.

Other information:
Participants will receive a comprehensive set of notes relating to the workshop, together with supplementary handouts. Participants will also receive tip sheets, and other supporting information, to take away for future reference. Each workshop will be 2 hours long and cost R150 pp.

Some of the topics that will be discussed include:

- 10 Steps for Cleaning up Information Pollution
- The Mobile Worker in South Africa
- The Multitasking Myth
- Increasing Focus and Productivity in the 21st Century office
- Strategies for the Automated Lifestyle

Cape Town:
Date: Thursday 17 April
Venue: The Cullinan Hotel
Time: 15h00 – 17h00 with networking afterwards (drinks & snacks provided)

Johannesburg:
Date: Thursday 15 May
Venue: Balalaika Hotel, Sandton
Time: 15h00 – 17h00 with networking afterwards (drinks & snacks provided)

Durban:
Date: Wednesday 28 May
Venue: Blue Waters, Central City District
Time: 15h00 – 17h00 with networking afterwards (drinks & snacks provided)

To register, email Deirdre van Zyl Smit at rsvp@bulksms.com or call her on 082 3244 639 today.

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Blog Action Day 2007 – More efficient living in Johannesburg

A while ago I joined the Blog Action Day campaign and I wasn’t sure what I may write about. However, as I’m in Durban, sitting in my hotel room, I’m feeling exceptionally relaxed. You see in Johannesburg the stress levels are likely to be among the highest in the world.

Crime is one of the biggest culprits for the cause of stress and next to that I reckon traffic problems is a close 2nd. Personally I am extremely averse to being stuck in peak hour traffic and working from home is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. And having lived in Johannesburg I can avoid most of the highways and using back routes to find my way to my destination when I do have to go and meet someone.

On the dating front I’ve set-up my relationships so that my girlfriends come over to my place most of the time. This has been a real logistical triumph because so much time is wasted go out, having drinks, dinner, and trying to get a woman to come back to my place. So when I got to the point where women come over to my place I retain the power. You can read being more efficient in your dating life from dating coach Brent Smith.

Anyway back to Joburg traffic my advice to you would be to find a way to work from home, or to begin early and leave early. Worldwide there is a trend to more and more teleworkers and this should be encouraged in South Africa as well. I’m keen to hear your ideas about more efficient living in Johannesburg.

Photos of Snow falling in Johannesburg in 2007

Last night I came home from watching the movie Next. I was freezing by but off walking to mall from my car and back again after the movie. And only when I got home did I realise there were actual snow flakes falling and it was NOT rain.

Anyway here’s some photos I took around my town house complex this morning. I’d be keen to hear from anyone else who’s experienced the unusual snow falling around Johannesburg.

snow on the car port Snow on my balcony
Snow in the yard of my town house complex Snow on my  balcony

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Parking Karma in Johannesburg

The traffic in Joburg gets worse every year. In one sense its a very positive sign because there is a lot more money floating around although much of it is in the form of credit. Anyway I first learned about parking karma from David DeAngelo in one of many programs on dating and success in life. And more recently one of the teachers from The Secret also mentioned it. So I started incorporating it into my daily thoughts. Until today I could never tell if it was working or not. However, today I went to Southgate mall to deposit a cheque, and practically the entire parking lot was full.

So I drove around some of the cars turning away from the entrance. And as I looked around I remembered that I sent out the message to the Universe to open a parking for me close to the entrance. So instead of looking for a parking spot further away I just turned and drove towards the entrance. Two cars pulled out and the parking lot were almost immediately filled. A few seconds later another opened and this one was mine.

So if you want to start exploring how visualisation really works this is one simple experiment you can start doing today. Steve Pavlina has convinced me that we do in fact life in a subjective universe where our consciousness when seen as a interconnected whole allows us to manifest thoughts into our reality.

Summary of the first Internet Cafe workshop

First Internet Cafe Workshop JohannesburgThank you very much for attending our first workshop on Saturday, 24th March. This e-mail is a summary of what was discussed and some suggestions on the next steps for you to consider.

If you have your deposit and a venue contact Terry to place your order on (011) 8346755 contact Ramon Thomas.

The aim of these workshops is to set the scene for those of you who have considered running and Internet Cafe as a small business. This is not yet a franchise business but we are considering that option. The main points we discussed is as follows:

  1. The infrastructure components of the Internet Cafe
  2. The benefits and advantages of this type of small business
  3. Revenue sources
  4. Background on the Internet industry
  5. Background on Ramon Thomas (NETucation) / Terry Mohlala (Terry Computers)
  6. Basic Costs Breakdown + Income Estimations
  7. Internet Cafe Industry Portal www.internetcafedirectory.co.za

To download the Powerpoint Presentation click here. If you have problems downloading the presentation please reply to this e-mail and I’ll send it to you. I’ve decided not to attach the presentation to make this e-mail as small as possible.

Get Your Copy of the Workshop DVD

Ramon Thomas explaining Revenue SourcesAs you may know a recording was made of the workshop including the Q&A and this is available on DVD. To purchase this DVD simply call Terry on (011) 8346755.

Business Plan and Financing

The first problem most people face in starting a business is financing the business. The starting point when seeking financing is to have a business plan. So I’m sending you a sample business plan – also attached. This needs some work from your part to rewrite with your own details and work through some of the numbers. Again through the Business Place you can access experts that will help you writing your business plan. Please contact them via their website here: www.thebusinessplace.co.za or call them on (011) 836 9000.

Marketing Research

If you have some uncertainties about your market size, your competition and you feel like you need some research to be more sure about setting up an Internet Cafe contact me directly on 082 9407137. I am happy to meet with you at your earliest convenience to take this further…

Some Resources

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy at Market Theatre

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy at Market Theatre JohannesburgOn Saturday, 23 March, I was blessed to attend the stage production of Shirley, Goodness and Mercy by my friend and author Chris van Wyk. Acclaimed director Janice Honeyman adapted and directed the play. There was some tension in the air as most of the people audience was made up of people from Riverlea, a Coloured township south-west of Johannesburg. And since this play is a memoir, set in Riverlea, its very, very personal matter to most people attending.

The play was first screened in Cape Town before coming to Johannesburg where it is actually set. Chris had generously offered me a extra ticket and I didn’t hesitate to accept. I was laughing from beginning to end at the witty dialogue between the characters, the funny moments, the inside jokes, the amazing depth of the story and how it relates to me, also a boy growing up in a world where Apartheid didn’t exist until I well into my teenage years and more so when I completed high school and went to study further at University. Being exposed to people from other races in South Africa brings the legacy of Apartheid in your face. Chris van Wyk strikes a wonderful balance between slapstick and seriousness.

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy has been described as nostalgic by some critics. Without repeating what has already been said before I want to leave with this comparison:

This is a wonderful story of childhood innocence. It is a story that runs deep into the veins of Apartheid, South Africa. Like in the film Life is Beautiful, the childhood innocence overcomes the struggle, the reality, the harshness of oppression. And like most of the best stories ever told, the is also a story of a boy and a girl who fall in love. Here’s some photos I took of Chris van Wyk and Janice Honeyman, and also Chris with some family outside the Market Theatre, Johannesburg.

Janice Honeyman and Chris van Wyk author Chris van Wyk and Family

If you are very, very curious about what has been said before please the following reviews:

Book now for Shirley, Goodness and Mercy at Market Theatre, Johannesburg. Its running from Friday, 23 March to 13 May 2007.

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Westlife at The Dome in Johannesburg

Went to see the Westlife concert at The Dome in Northgate today. Wow! I never thought much of this boy band and considered them a fad for a while. But hey they’re really slick bunch and the music is very catchy. They put on a great show but sad to say it was a bit short for the money paid. Total show must have been less then 1.5 hours and lets just forget Heinz Winkler opened for them. Who is he again?

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