Develop a Financial Plan
Always identify clear goals and objectives for your financial future. This applies to short, medium and long-term goals. Develop a plan to implement them. Without a clear plan, many things can go wrong.
Pay Yourself First
Invest on a regular basis. Regardless of age or income, you must place a high priority on the long-term investment in order to meet your financial goals.
Diversify
Make sure you understand the importance of diversification. Don’t put all your eggs (or your stocks and bonds) in one basket.
Understand Risk
Make sure you fully understand the word ‘risk’. It is more than the possibility of losing money. Risk includes such things as currency risk, credit risk, interest rate risk, risk of inflation, health risk, loss of income risk.
Obtain Proper Insurance to help Mitigate Risk
Often, people do not have insurance or, if they have it, they may have the wrong kind. This applies to all types of insurance: life, automobile, homeowners, health and disability. You may also want to consider investments that have historically provided a hedge against inflation, such as precious metals, oil, gas or real estate, which may help “insure” against a decline in the value of the dollar and protect their purchasing power over the long term.
Plan Your Estate
Don’t forget to plan your estate. Such planning can save you huge amounts of tax and family arguments.
Put Cost In Perspective
Don’t focus too much on the cost of making sound investments. There is a cost for having one’s financial act together.
Minimise Expenses - Reduce Taxes
People often pay higher taxes than necessary. By simply asking for help, this tax consequence can be decreased.
Be Persistent
Don’t abandon your plans in times of extreme optimism or pessimism. When the market takes a leap or a fall, some investors suddenly start believing their doubts and doubting their beliefs. You should keep focused on your goals and maintain a long-term perspective—no matter what the current market conditions.
Use an Independent Financial Planner
A good financial planner can help you find your direction. They will help an individual set
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Tips for Saving for Retirement
How to Save for Retirement
Saw a great article http://www.truerisk.com/saving-for-retirement/
Summary below:-
the golden rule of investing: START SAVING EARLY!! COMPOUND INTEREST IS KEY
How does compound interest work? By keeping your money invested over a long period of time, you earn interest on the interest you earned before, as well as on the part you save. It takes awhile, but soon you’ll see that a large part of your earnings is actually coming from interest earned on your “winnings,” sort of like playing blackjack with the house’s money.
Here’s how it plays out: Suppose you put $2,000 a year in an individual retirement account earning 11 percent compounded annually (the long-term average for stocks) from ages 30 to 39, then let the money sit there until age 65 without any other contribution. You’ll have around $418,000. Now suppose you start at age 40 with those same $2,000-a-year contributions. You still put the same $20,000 in, but because you started 10 years later, it’ll only be worth around $161,000 by age 65.
So, which would you rather have, the $418,000 retirement or the $161,000 retirement? The choice is largely yours: you can let compound interest do the work for you, or you can scramble like mad later.
Superannuation through Payroll Deductions
For the same reasons you withhold money to cover your taxes, you should use payroll deductions to fund your retirement. If the money never comes home, you won’t miss it much. Once the money hits your checking account, too many bills compete for your pay.
Put as much money into a Superannuation as you can afford. It is hugely tax effective.
Pay off your Credit Card Debts
Even if you make a decent wage, chances are that you have debt. If you’re like most people, the best financial move you can make is to cut up the cards and begin paying down credit-card debt. As you get a grip on your spending, you’ll have more and more money to save for retirement and other goals.
Pay off high-interest debt and pay yourself instead. If you carry a $6,000 credit card balance at 18 percent for a year, you’ll pay more than $1,000 in interest. Instead, invest that $1,000 in a stock fund that returns 10 percent and you’ll have $1,100 by the end of the year. That’s $1,100 more than you would have had if you carried all that credit-card debt. Do that over 20 years and you’ve made a massive down payment towards your happy retirement.
“When a client tells me they have $10,000 in the bank and $5,000 in credit card debt, I tell them to pay the credit cards off first. Sometimes they’ll say, ‘But I might need the money.’ Fine, if you need the money later, charge it on your card or take out a loan. In the meantime, you’re guaranteeing an 18 percent return on investment when you pay off your credit card debt, and there’s no way I’m going to guarantee that with another investment.”
Live within your Means
Live well, but within your means. Sometimes it seems like everyone else is doing better than you are, but you can bet if someone is making the same amount of money as you and they can afford things you can’t, they’re either deep in debt or they’re getting help from outside income sources.
Be Patient
Finally, remember that good investors need patience. By constantly jumping at every turn in the market or every hot trend, you may end up damaging your ability to amass the kind of wealth you’ll need to retire.
Saw a great article http://www.truerisk.com/saving-for-retirement/
Summary below:-
the golden rule of investing: START SAVING EARLY!! COMPOUND INTEREST IS KEY
How does compound interest work? By keeping your money invested over a long period of time, you earn interest on the interest you earned before, as well as on the part you save. It takes awhile, but soon you’ll see that a large part of your earnings is actually coming from interest earned on your “winnings,” sort of like playing blackjack with the house’s money.
Here’s how it plays out: Suppose you put $2,000 a year in an individual retirement account earning 11 percent compounded annually (the long-term average for stocks) from ages 30 to 39, then let the money sit there until age 65 without any other contribution. You’ll have around $418,000. Now suppose you start at age 40 with those same $2,000-a-year contributions. You still put the same $20,000 in, but because you started 10 years later, it’ll only be worth around $161,000 by age 65.
So, which would you rather have, the $418,000 retirement or the $161,000 retirement? The choice is largely yours: you can let compound interest do the work for you, or you can scramble like mad later.
Superannuation through Payroll Deductions
For the same reasons you withhold money to cover your taxes, you should use payroll deductions to fund your retirement. If the money never comes home, you won’t miss it much. Once the money hits your checking account, too many bills compete for your pay.
Put as much money into a Superannuation as you can afford. It is hugely tax effective.
Pay off your Credit Card Debts
Even if you make a decent wage, chances are that you have debt. If you’re like most people, the best financial move you can make is to cut up the cards and begin paying down credit-card debt. As you get a grip on your spending, you’ll have more and more money to save for retirement and other goals.
Pay off high-interest debt and pay yourself instead. If you carry a $6,000 credit card balance at 18 percent for a year, you’ll pay more than $1,000 in interest. Instead, invest that $1,000 in a stock fund that returns 10 percent and you’ll have $1,100 by the end of the year. That’s $1,100 more than you would have had if you carried all that credit-card debt. Do that over 20 years and you’ve made a massive down payment towards your happy retirement.
“When a client tells me they have $10,000 in the bank and $5,000 in credit card debt, I tell them to pay the credit cards off first. Sometimes they’ll say, ‘But I might need the money.’ Fine, if you need the money later, charge it on your card or take out a loan. In the meantime, you’re guaranteeing an 18 percent return on investment when you pay off your credit card debt, and there’s no way I’m going to guarantee that with another investment.”
Live within your Means
Live well, but within your means. Sometimes it seems like everyone else is doing better than you are, but you can bet if someone is making the same amount of money as you and they can afford things you can’t, they’re either deep in debt or they’re getting help from outside income sources.
Be Patient
Finally, remember that good investors need patience. By constantly jumping at every turn in the market or every hot trend, you may end up damaging your ability to amass the kind of wealth you’ll need to retire.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
A Programme for innovators
Text: Evelyn Pesikan – article by
Gunnar Huss; to call him a man with many irons in the fire would be an understatement. Gunnar is Director of Operations for the Nordic Region at 3i, which owns a portfolio of 2800 companies. For 3i, a tailored in-company IFL programme is where owners and managements meet to build team spirit and mutual understanding.
One of the company's mottos is, 'None of us is as smart as all of us'," affirms this easy-going 52-year-old, who was deputy managing director and deputy CEO at Atle. He is quick to emphasize that teamwork, not individual "Supermen," is usually the key to success.
A newcomer in Swedish business, a portfolio of 100 companies, Atle (bought by 3i) was clearly a success story, with a 50-percent return on investment. "Not bad as a bank book. You'll have a hard time finding figures like that anywhere else," notes Gunnar Huss.
When 3i took over Atle last May, he became Operations Director for the Nordic Region, where the firm now owns some 150 companies in a broad spectrum of industries.
"I have a fair share of common sense, I'm good at delegating, and I can sift the wheat from the chaff, but what really counts is teamwork. You focus your attention and your involvement on the whole picture." To hold such a highly diversified enterprise together and to create a more distinct owner profile, it was suggested that Atle start an in-company management-development programme.
"We saw a need to position ourselves more clearly, to teach others how we think as active owners, while at the same time giving something back to the companies," says Gunnar Huss, who asked IFL to help 3i in establishing a programme entirely its own.
After six months of intensive collaboration, the in-company programme, "Value-Creating Management," now in its third session, was ready for launching. For a total of 15 days each year, 25 people come together. About two thirds of them are from the management groups of the portfolio companies, and one third from 3i. They meet to get to know each other and to join in searching for the common theme that unites them. The IFL programme has become the meeting ground for the ownership and leadership points of view.
The overall picture, and being able to view your company from the outside and create useful networks, are important aspects of the programme," he explains, adding that 3i has shown an interest in continuing this programme started by Atle.
Gunnar Huss; to call him a man with many irons in the fire would be an understatement. Gunnar is Director of Operations for the Nordic Region at 3i, which owns a portfolio of 2800 companies. For 3i, a tailored in-company IFL programme is where owners and managements meet to build team spirit and mutual understanding.
One of the company's mottos is, 'None of us is as smart as all of us'," affirms this easy-going 52-year-old, who was deputy managing director and deputy CEO at Atle. He is quick to emphasize that teamwork, not individual "Supermen," is usually the key to success.
A newcomer in Swedish business, a portfolio of 100 companies, Atle (bought by 3i) was clearly a success story, with a 50-percent return on investment. "Not bad as a bank book. You'll have a hard time finding figures like that anywhere else," notes Gunnar Huss.
When 3i took over Atle last May, he became Operations Director for the Nordic Region, where the firm now owns some 150 companies in a broad spectrum of industries.
"I have a fair share of common sense, I'm good at delegating, and I can sift the wheat from the chaff, but what really counts is teamwork. You focus your attention and your involvement on the whole picture." To hold such a highly diversified enterprise together and to create a more distinct owner profile, it was suggested that Atle start an in-company management-development programme.
"We saw a need to position ourselves more clearly, to teach others how we think as active owners, while at the same time giving something back to the companies," says Gunnar Huss, who asked IFL to help 3i in establishing a programme entirely its own.
After six months of intensive collaboration, the in-company programme, "Value-Creating Management," now in its third session, was ready for launching. For a total of 15 days each year, 25 people come together. About two thirds of them are from the management groups of the portfolio companies, and one third from 3i. They meet to get to know each other and to join in searching for the common theme that unites them. The IFL programme has become the meeting ground for the ownership and leadership points of view.
The overall picture, and being able to view your company from the outside and create useful networks, are important aspects of the programme," he explains, adding that 3i has shown an interest in continuing this programme started by Atle.
Friday, March 05, 2010
An Awesome Site to Download Docs for Startups raising Seed Capital
Thanks for the heads up Romain Bonjean
http://www.seriesseed.com/
Overview
The Series Seed Documents are a standardized set of documents that can be quickly and easily deployed for a seed investment: to help get a company financed properly, legally quickly and intelligently.
Up until now, various smart people have talked or blogged about reducing the transaction costs associated with seed stage investment without rallying around a particular attack. Of course both entrepreneurs and investors would rather see their investment dollars used toward developing a new product and bringing it to market than toward what are usually routine transaction costs. The problem has been crafting a set of documents that provide adequate protections without being unduly burdensome. [more...]
http://www.seriesseed.com/
Overview
The Series Seed Documents are a standardized set of documents that can be quickly and easily deployed for a seed investment: to help get a company financed properly, legally quickly and intelligently.
Up until now, various smart people have talked or blogged about reducing the transaction costs associated with seed stage investment without rallying around a particular attack. Of course both entrepreneurs and investors would rather see their investment dollars used toward developing a new product and bringing it to market than toward what are usually routine transaction costs. The problem has been crafting a set of documents that provide adequate protections without being unduly burdensome. [more...]
Questions For Entrepreneurs You Meet – Survey taken from a Chapel Hill Business Student - My Daughter
• How did you come up with your Product Idea?
• History of idea/industry and how it was conceivedBSI Started when I left the accounting profession and said to myself that I would never fill another timesheet!
Everything that I did was based on some form of success fee based on a successful outcome for clients. Accessing Government grants was a major focus.
The grants that I focused on were was
• the EMDG – where for every $ spent on marketing and promoting your product overseas, the company gets 50c in the $ back up to $150k per annum.
• Import Credits in the Textile Industry – also export related
• R&D Tax Concessions and Grants – Incentives given to companies who innovate.
These companies had a huge need for business planning, capital, management advice and management accounting services.
2001 -
Enter an old school friend of mine, Alan Milwidsky, who was at the time a partner in a BIG 5 company, specializing in Growth Strategies – looking for a change…. I said Al… come spend a week in our business, have a look at our deal flow, join me in the business and you will make a lot more money and have a lot more fun… I was ½ right…. We have a lot more fun!!
We developed the BSI business plan – the Vision being “To Help Companies Grow” and “ To be a “one stop shop for the entrepreneur”
Providing Grants, Growth Strategies, International Gateways, Capital Raising.
We believed that in order for us to leverage our skill base, we would take equity stakes in Innovative Companies and back Motivated People, and over the years help there companies grow with the objective of getting a return on our investment.
We worked out the money that we needed to grow the business, identified a number of strategic investors and pitched our plan to them.
We were fortunate to raise the money that we were looking for from these parties, together with some of our own money.
With the money raised, we acquired
• A Bizcap team Specialising in Early Stage Capital Raising
• The leading R&D Tax Concession Firm, being run by an old friend of mine,
• a Recruitment Business (which acquired a few more recruiting businesses)
• a Training Business ((which acquired a few more training businesses).
• As well as making a number of Investments in Innovative Companies.
• More recently we acquired a financial planning business, focusing on helping an individual build wealth
Our model is to set up different Companies with a common brand and Philosophy, whereby each Head would be a stakeholder, and a group policy of X referring Clients, people and knowledge with a common culture.
THE BSI INVESTOR FORUM
It was 2001, and the dot com crash happened…. And there was no environment for the SME innovator looking to raise between 200k and $2m….
Alan M developed the
“BSI Investor Forum” – where every 3 months we showcase 8 innovative companies to 200 HNI and Funds in Sydney, Melb and Brisbane.
Over the past 8 years…. We have had 25 forums, showcased 200 companies, of which +100m have been raised for more than 80 of them.
We set up a USA office as part of our International Gateway Strategy, and have an Investor Forum every second year in Silicon Valley where we showcased 10 Innovative Australian Companies at “ALWAYS ON” – the key Silicon Valley Conference – attended by “the Captains of Innovation”
Our Investment Fund
In 2003, an amazing opportunity presented itself…..
We had the opportunity to acquire a small Government sponsored fund , from a group looking to get out of the early stage marketplace.
This Fund was a dream come true for us…. It gave us Capital to co-invest with our HNI and Funds, and we would not have to use our working capital to invest in these Innovative Companies.
We have subsequently merged with another fund, and together have made in excess of 30 Investments where we believe that some will be successful world beating companies.
Since 2001 – we have grown our Group from a turnover of 1m – 30m ….
Did I do this…. I have pretty much done nothing besides picking guys who are brighter than I am, passionate at what they do, with the right incentives to help them achieve their goals and objectives.
Where to from here?
We are currently working on a number of projects that will hopefully take us from $30m – 150m over the next 10 years.
• What would be a good new business opportunity if you were starting again (besides one you may be working on at the moment)
Currently we believe the best opportunity for us is growing a financial planning business, helping the individual grow wealth. If there was a better opportunity, we would be focusing on that!!
We have a large base of clients of which to x sell our services
• Were you solving a frustration or need and if so, what was it
The frustration for the entrepreneur was to pay for results vs paying for time. Everything we did was based on a fixed price or a % of the benefit, so the Client knew exactly what he was going to pay us, and that he could afford our bills.
The services of accessing grants solved a huge pain for the enrtrepreneur as there were/are mountains of red tape that need to go through to get the relevant grants.
We solved a pain for the Small Service Business Provider – by providing the back office, financing and marketing services in exchange for equity in their business.
• Describe the Market Opportunity at the time you started?
• What made it unique
Fixed fee and success fees vs fee for time
• How did you gauge the market acceptance of your idea before you started
Knocked on doors, pitched and performed. From there we got referrals. We focused on certain industries where government recognized market failure (TCF industry and ICT Industry) put our flags in that space, and became leading service providers in that industry.
Other services developed were based on client demand
• What was the competition like at the time and how did they react
Competition was and is accountants, business planners and consultants.
Many have adopted our model of fixed fees and success fees.
Our competition copied our methodologies, and tried to headhunt our key people.
• How important was location of your business and how did you pick the location
Location was important to retain the team. Inner City – access to public transport – good location and professional looking offices
• Tell us about the Business Planning Process?
• Did you develop and write a plan – if so, why and how good was it?
We spent 6 months developing our business plan. It was an awesome 5 year business plan… which we achieved in 2 years.
Our 2nd 5 year business plan was achieved in 18 months!!
The philosophy and concept and vision remains the same.
• How many iterations and how long was the process-
• How much did the original plan change over the company’s history
It set the path to our future growth
Basic philosophy the same. Achieved ahead of plan. We are on our 5th iteration!
• Did you have any help/would you recommend getting help and from whom
We had an independent facilitator – found it invaluable
• If you did not do a plan, would you do one if you started the same one today and why or why not
n/a
• How much industry knowledge did you have/should someone have
If you are interested in the industry.. give it a go, you will learn soon enough.
• What mistakes did you make in the planning process
We should have got an independent advisory board… who could make unemotional decisions based on fact.
4. Describe the Management Team and how it came together or evolved?
Management Team of the holding company was and is Alan, Mick Lynch and Me
We should have had an independent non executive board/advisory board on out team.
We were the founders of the business
Each division/subsidiary has its own management team, with either Alan , Mick or me on the Board of Directors
• What was your experience and background before starting the business
A Chartered Accountant working in a professional firm for 10 years
• What was your motivation to start your own venture
Independence and financial freedom.
• Did you have a mentor or someone to whom you turned for regular advice and why
Yes and still do… he keeps me sane, and prevents me from feeling alone!
• Who were the key employees you hired first and why
Key Employees were specialists in the relevant grants.. They cam on board, and offered them equity and profit share.
• If your partner or key employees are gone, why and what lessons did you learn
???? Our business is based on our people. Without our key partners/employees, we would not have a business.
• How did you motivate your employees to follow the same vision you had
We got them involved in the business planning process
Total transparency on results
There is generous profit shares
And the most important was picking the right people. Once we chose the right people.. everything else was easy
• Describe the impact of this venture on your personal life and would you change any of the way you managed the work/personal life balance
For the first 10 years there was no work life balance… the focus on the business was 24/7…
5. Describe how you Financed your venture?
• Who were the investors (not names) and how did you find them
Our staff/team
Family
A large High Net Worth Individual
• What did you learn from those investors that did NOT invest
How to cope with rejection!!
• For those that did invest, what are their four or five most important factors (besides the quality of the management team) in their decision
The team
The CEO
The vision
Ability to get a good ROI
• If you did not use outside investors, would you have done so if you started today
YES
6. What Mistakes did you make with the Company after it was started and what might you have done differently in the planning process to prevent them?
Hiring the wrong people and not getting them leave fast enough
Not being able to enable fellow companies to x sell with each other and synergise
Focussing on business that is not scalable and has ability to exit
Being too opportunistic
Not being focused
Not having an independent advisory board
Being too diverse
Other mistakes too countless to mention
Some General Tips
• Passion – if you aint got it – get a job
•Have a Vision – “help companies grow” and “ be a one stop shop for the entrepreneur
• Pitch – Invest in getting your elevator 30 second pitch right – have a pitch for every occasion – for an investor , for a customer and for a potential employee – as an entrepreneur , you are constantly selling!!
• People – Hire slow and fire fast – focus on the best people – the right people.. Make sure you look after them , take them for lunch, communicate with them , show them that you care – it’s the little things that count. Founders are generally technically oriented – know when to change the guard – example eway Tony Mcgrath – has built his business to 20 people… both founders were techos – 6 months ago hired a sales and marketing team – and sales have gone crazy!!
• Customer focused and Sales and Marketing is key –Customer Service is important for all in organization to get involved in as this is free focus groups… be on same wavelength as your customers. Develop relationships with them .
• Planning – is key – with knowledge of where you are in the business cycle –
• Penossa – make sure you have enough cash to fund your growth – growth = cash burn – if you cannot afford organic growth – make sure you have a group who has deep pockets who are supporting you or you will get crunched… cash flow cash flow cash flow!!
• Point of Difference – is key – why are you different from the competition – why are you going to hit the home run!
• Persistance and staying focused – keep going (however , ensure that when climbing the ladder – you are climbing up the right wall! (also know when to quit!!)
• Network Network Network – develop relationship with advocates of your product, networked groups, consultants, advisors – they will help you inject your business into the ecosystem – get them to buy into your dream
• Don’t be scared of giving your investors a great return on their investment . If you do this , they will invest in you again and again.
• Always try to climb on the back of giants – align with organizations that will make you look
• Get the brightest and best people, and make sure you look after them like gold. Your people are your assets
• Keep communication lines open – our biggest failures have been through an inability to communicate
• Avoid FTI – take action – make a decision and implement it – even if it is the wrong decision – you can always change it
• Your Database is an valuable asset keep it updated, respect it and guard it. Use it for networking
• X referring clients throughout the service lines – providing a holistic service to clients has been important
• Build your Brand – this is where you will get leverage and credibility – update your website, provide links, use professional mweb marketers, create your blog, have events, seminars, attend seminars. Become “the college of knowledge” in your field of expertise. If people perceive you as a leader, performer and creator – then that is reality – PERCEPTION IS
• History of idea/industry and how it was conceivedBSI Started when I left the accounting profession and said to myself that I would never fill another timesheet!
Everything that I did was based on some form of success fee based on a successful outcome for clients. Accessing Government grants was a major focus.
The grants that I focused on were was
• the EMDG – where for every $ spent on marketing and promoting your product overseas, the company gets 50c in the $ back up to $150k per annum.
• Import Credits in the Textile Industry – also export related
• R&D Tax Concessions and Grants – Incentives given to companies who innovate.
These companies had a huge need for business planning, capital, management advice and management accounting services.
2001 -
Enter an old school friend of mine, Alan Milwidsky, who was at the time a partner in a BIG 5 company, specializing in Growth Strategies – looking for a change…. I said Al… come spend a week in our business, have a look at our deal flow, join me in the business and you will make a lot more money and have a lot more fun… I was ½ right…. We have a lot more fun!!
We developed the BSI business plan – the Vision being “To Help Companies Grow” and “ To be a “one stop shop for the entrepreneur”
Providing Grants, Growth Strategies, International Gateways, Capital Raising.
We believed that in order for us to leverage our skill base, we would take equity stakes in Innovative Companies and back Motivated People, and over the years help there companies grow with the objective of getting a return on our investment.
We worked out the money that we needed to grow the business, identified a number of strategic investors and pitched our plan to them.
We were fortunate to raise the money that we were looking for from these parties, together with some of our own money.
With the money raised, we acquired
• A Bizcap team Specialising in Early Stage Capital Raising
• The leading R&D Tax Concession Firm, being run by an old friend of mine,
• a Recruitment Business (which acquired a few more recruiting businesses)
• a Training Business ((which acquired a few more training businesses).
• As well as making a number of Investments in Innovative Companies.
• More recently we acquired a financial planning business, focusing on helping an individual build wealth
Our model is to set up different Companies with a common brand and Philosophy, whereby each Head would be a stakeholder, and a group policy of X referring Clients, people and knowledge with a common culture.
THE BSI INVESTOR FORUM
It was 2001, and the dot com crash happened…. And there was no environment for the SME innovator looking to raise between 200k and $2m….
Alan M developed the
“BSI Investor Forum” – where every 3 months we showcase 8 innovative companies to 200 HNI and Funds in Sydney, Melb and Brisbane.
Over the past 8 years…. We have had 25 forums, showcased 200 companies, of which +100m have been raised for more than 80 of them.
We set up a USA office as part of our International Gateway Strategy, and have an Investor Forum every second year in Silicon Valley where we showcased 10 Innovative Australian Companies at “ALWAYS ON” – the key Silicon Valley Conference – attended by “the Captains of Innovation”
Our Investment Fund
In 2003, an amazing opportunity presented itself…..
We had the opportunity to acquire a small Government sponsored fund , from a group looking to get out of the early stage marketplace.
This Fund was a dream come true for us…. It gave us Capital to co-invest with our HNI and Funds, and we would not have to use our working capital to invest in these Innovative Companies.
We have subsequently merged with another fund, and together have made in excess of 30 Investments where we believe that some will be successful world beating companies.
Since 2001 – we have grown our Group from a turnover of 1m – 30m ….
Did I do this…. I have pretty much done nothing besides picking guys who are brighter than I am, passionate at what they do, with the right incentives to help them achieve their goals and objectives.
Where to from here?
We are currently working on a number of projects that will hopefully take us from $30m – 150m over the next 10 years.
• What would be a good new business opportunity if you were starting again (besides one you may be working on at the moment)
Currently we believe the best opportunity for us is growing a financial planning business, helping the individual grow wealth. If there was a better opportunity, we would be focusing on that!!
We have a large base of clients of which to x sell our services
• Were you solving a frustration or need and if so, what was it
The frustration for the entrepreneur was to pay for results vs paying for time. Everything we did was based on a fixed price or a % of the benefit, so the Client knew exactly what he was going to pay us, and that he could afford our bills.
The services of accessing grants solved a huge pain for the enrtrepreneur as there were/are mountains of red tape that need to go through to get the relevant grants.
We solved a pain for the Small Service Business Provider – by providing the back office, financing and marketing services in exchange for equity in their business.
• Describe the Market Opportunity at the time you started?
• What made it unique
Fixed fee and success fees vs fee for time
• How did you gauge the market acceptance of your idea before you started
Knocked on doors, pitched and performed. From there we got referrals. We focused on certain industries where government recognized market failure (TCF industry and ICT Industry) put our flags in that space, and became leading service providers in that industry.
Other services developed were based on client demand
• What was the competition like at the time and how did they react
Competition was and is accountants, business planners and consultants.
Many have adopted our model of fixed fees and success fees.
Our competition copied our methodologies, and tried to headhunt our key people.
• How important was location of your business and how did you pick the location
Location was important to retain the team. Inner City – access to public transport – good location and professional looking offices
• Tell us about the Business Planning Process?
• Did you develop and write a plan – if so, why and how good was it?
We spent 6 months developing our business plan. It was an awesome 5 year business plan… which we achieved in 2 years.
Our 2nd 5 year business plan was achieved in 18 months!!
The philosophy and concept and vision remains the same.
• How many iterations and how long was the process-
• How much did the original plan change over the company’s history
It set the path to our future growth
Basic philosophy the same. Achieved ahead of plan. We are on our 5th iteration!
• Did you have any help/would you recommend getting help and from whom
We had an independent facilitator – found it invaluable
• If you did not do a plan, would you do one if you started the same one today and why or why not
n/a
• How much industry knowledge did you have/should someone have
If you are interested in the industry.. give it a go, you will learn soon enough.
• What mistakes did you make in the planning process
We should have got an independent advisory board… who could make unemotional decisions based on fact.
4. Describe the Management Team and how it came together or evolved?
Management Team of the holding company was and is Alan, Mick Lynch and Me
We should have had an independent non executive board/advisory board on out team.
We were the founders of the business
Each division/subsidiary has its own management team, with either Alan , Mick or me on the Board of Directors
• What was your experience and background before starting the business
A Chartered Accountant working in a professional firm for 10 years
• What was your motivation to start your own venture
Independence and financial freedom.
• Did you have a mentor or someone to whom you turned for regular advice and why
Yes and still do… he keeps me sane, and prevents me from feeling alone!
• Who were the key employees you hired first and why
Key Employees were specialists in the relevant grants.. They cam on board, and offered them equity and profit share.
• If your partner or key employees are gone, why and what lessons did you learn
???? Our business is based on our people. Without our key partners/employees, we would not have a business.
• How did you motivate your employees to follow the same vision you had
We got them involved in the business planning process
Total transparency on results
There is generous profit shares
And the most important was picking the right people. Once we chose the right people.. everything else was easy
• Describe the impact of this venture on your personal life and would you change any of the way you managed the work/personal life balance
For the first 10 years there was no work life balance… the focus on the business was 24/7…
5. Describe how you Financed your venture?
• Who were the investors (not names) and how did you find them
Our staff/team
Family
A large High Net Worth Individual
• What did you learn from those investors that did NOT invest
How to cope with rejection!!
• For those that did invest, what are their four or five most important factors (besides the quality of the management team) in their decision
The team
The CEO
The vision
Ability to get a good ROI
• If you did not use outside investors, would you have done so if you started today
YES
6. What Mistakes did you make with the Company after it was started and what might you have done differently in the planning process to prevent them?
Hiring the wrong people and not getting them leave fast enough
Not being able to enable fellow companies to x sell with each other and synergise
Focussing on business that is not scalable and has ability to exit
Being too opportunistic
Not being focused
Not having an independent advisory board
Being too diverse
Other mistakes too countless to mention
Some General Tips
• Passion – if you aint got it – get a job
•Have a Vision – “help companies grow” and “ be a one stop shop for the entrepreneur
• Pitch – Invest in getting your elevator 30 second pitch right – have a pitch for every occasion – for an investor , for a customer and for a potential employee – as an entrepreneur , you are constantly selling!!
• People – Hire slow and fire fast – focus on the best people – the right people.. Make sure you look after them , take them for lunch, communicate with them , show them that you care – it’s the little things that count. Founders are generally technically oriented – know when to change the guard – example eway Tony Mcgrath – has built his business to 20 people… both founders were techos – 6 months ago hired a sales and marketing team – and sales have gone crazy!!
• Customer focused and Sales and Marketing is key –Customer Service is important for all in organization to get involved in as this is free focus groups… be on same wavelength as your customers. Develop relationships with them .
• Planning – is key – with knowledge of where you are in the business cycle –
• Penossa – make sure you have enough cash to fund your growth – growth = cash burn – if you cannot afford organic growth – make sure you have a group who has deep pockets who are supporting you or you will get crunched… cash flow cash flow cash flow!!
• Point of Difference – is key – why are you different from the competition – why are you going to hit the home run!
• Persistance and staying focused – keep going (however , ensure that when climbing the ladder – you are climbing up the right wall! (also know when to quit!!)
• Network Network Network – develop relationship with advocates of your product, networked groups, consultants, advisors – they will help you inject your business into the ecosystem – get them to buy into your dream
• Don’t be scared of giving your investors a great return on their investment . If you do this , they will invest in you again and again.
• Always try to climb on the back of giants – align with organizations that will make you look
• Get the brightest and best people, and make sure you look after them like gold. Your people are your assets
• Keep communication lines open – our biggest failures have been through an inability to communicate
• Avoid FTI – take action – make a decision and implement it – even if it is the wrong decision – you can always change it
• Your Database is an valuable asset keep it updated, respect it and guard it. Use it for networking
• X referring clients throughout the service lines – providing a holistic service to clients has been important
• Build your Brand – this is where you will get leverage and credibility – update your website, provide links, use professional mweb marketers, create your blog, have events, seminars, attend seminars. Become “the college of knowledge” in your field of expertise. If people perceive you as a leader, performer and creator – then that is reality – PERCEPTION IS
Rates rise to 4 per cent but martket is still hot
Posted on Tuesday, March 02 2010 at 3:35 PM
http://wbx.me/l/?u=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAPI_Property_News%2F%7E3%2FpuKLUlpG8x4%2Frates-rise-to-4-per-centThe Reserve Bank has lifted official interest rates 0.25 of a per cent to four per cent and has hinted at further rises to come.
The latest rise comes three months after the previous rise in December, after the Reserve Bank (RBA) board didn't meet in January and then surprised economists by keeping rates on hold in February.
RBA Governor Glenn Stevens says the risk of serious economic contraction in Australia has passed, and the central bank is removing the monetary stimulus put in place when the outlook was much weaker.
"Interest rates to most borrowers nonetheless remain lower than average," Stevens says.
"The board judges that with growth likely to be close to trend and inflation close to target over the coming year, it is appropriate for interest rates to be closer to average. Today's decision is a further step in that process."
RP Data research analyst Cameron Kusher says the rates rise is in keeping with positive economic in recent weeks, though he adds that dwelling approvals and housing finance data have both still showed some softness.
"Despite the fact that the decision was made to increase rates today, we expect that the RBA will continue to keep a close eye on housing finance, dwelling approvals (and) commencement(s) and property value growth data," Kusher says.
"Higher interest rates are anticipated to result in a lower level of property value growth, however, it's a fine balance."
"The RBA have previously indicated that they would like to see the supply of dwellings nationally increase. Given this, they would like to see the number of dwelling approvals (and) commencement(s) increasing as well as the number of housing finance commitments for construction of new dwellings so that the supply of housing continue to increase at a rate commensurate with demand."
PRD nationwide managing director Jim Midgley says today's hike won't hit the property market too hard.
"There are enough signs in the current market that property is performing well. The intention of keeping inflation down is a good move," Midgley says.
"We're not going to see a great slowing. The dynamics of the property market still look very strong."
http://wbx.me/l/?u=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAPI_Property_News%2F%7E3%2FpuKLUlpG8x4%2Frates-rise-to-4-per-centThe Reserve Bank has lifted official interest rates 0.25 of a per cent to four per cent and has hinted at further rises to come.
The latest rise comes three months after the previous rise in December, after the Reserve Bank (RBA) board didn't meet in January and then surprised economists by keeping rates on hold in February.
RBA Governor Glenn Stevens says the risk of serious economic contraction in Australia has passed, and the central bank is removing the monetary stimulus put in place when the outlook was much weaker.
"Interest rates to most borrowers nonetheless remain lower than average," Stevens says.
"The board judges that with growth likely to be close to trend and inflation close to target over the coming year, it is appropriate for interest rates to be closer to average. Today's decision is a further step in that process."
RP Data research analyst Cameron Kusher says the rates rise is in keeping with positive economic in recent weeks, though he adds that dwelling approvals and housing finance data have both still showed some softness.
"Despite the fact that the decision was made to increase rates today, we expect that the RBA will continue to keep a close eye on housing finance, dwelling approvals (and) commencement(s) and property value growth data," Kusher says.
"Higher interest rates are anticipated to result in a lower level of property value growth, however, it's a fine balance."
"The RBA have previously indicated that they would like to see the supply of dwellings nationally increase. Given this, they would like to see the number of dwelling approvals (and) commencement(s) increasing as well as the number of housing finance commitments for construction of new dwellings so that the supply of housing continue to increase at a rate commensurate with demand."
PRD nationwide managing director Jim Midgley says today's hike won't hit the property market too hard.
"There are enough signs in the current market that property is performing well. The intention of keeping inflation down is a good move," Midgley says.
"We're not going to see a great slowing. The dynamics of the property market still look very strong."
goal setting tip from Jack Canfield best selling authors of the Chicken Soup For The Soul series
http://www.realestateagentsuccessclub.com/newsletter/2010/03/5
It’s easy to lose sight of your goals. Sometimes we’re so busy we can’t see the big picture anymore. Schedule time to think. Make it a priority. Develop unusual clarity – a crystal-clear picture of what you want - so that you can refocus and look at things in perspective.
The Top-10 Goals Checklist
If you’re finding it difficult to focus on your goals, here is a wonderful checklist that will help you set, or re-set goals that will last the distance.
1. Your most important goals must be yours. It sounds obvious, but don’t let the media, parents, friends or neighbours set your goals. Make sure your goals are what you really want.
2. Your goals must be meaningful. If you’re goal isn’t meaningful it won’t last the distance. What are you willing to give up to achieve this goal? You can guarantee there will be sacrifices along the way. Your goals should be what drive you to get up in the morning – even when you don’t feel like it.
3. Your goals must be specific and measurable. Accurately define what you want. The more specific the better. If your goal is to be financially independent, define what that means. Does it mean having $50 million in the bank, being debt free etc. Be more specific.
4. Your goals must be flexible. On the road to achieve your goals, other opportunities may arise. You don’t need to try every new idea, but be open to genuine opportunities.
5. Your goals must be challenging and exciting. Think big. Your goals should be so exciting they keep you up at night. They don’t have to be epic, like climbing Mt. Everest (unless that’s what you want), but they shouldn’t be mediocre.
6. Your goals must be in alignment with your values. If your goals are in alignment with your values, achieving them becomes easier. There will be no internal conflict and this combined energy will propel you to greater success.
7. Your goals must be well balanced. When people in their eighties are asked what they would do differently if they could live their lives again, they never say, ‘I’d spend more time at the office.’
Set goals that include the more pleasant things of life such as family time, recreation, travel and hobbies.
8. Your goals must be realistic. If you’re four feet tall, it’s unlikely you’ll play professional basketball. Set goals that are challenging, but achievable, and give yourself enough time to complete them.
9. Your goals must include contribution. Many just set monetary goals and don’t leave any room for giving. Remember to also set goals that give something back. This contribution can take many forms, but the payback is guaranteed, though it often comes in unexpected ways.
10. Your goals need to be supported. You’ll need some help along the way. You have three options:
a) Tell the world – lots of pressure, but it works for some.
b) Don’t tell anyone – actions speak louder than words.
c) Tell a select few people whom you trust and who will support you (recommended).
When you find it difficult to focus on your goals, then it’s time to refocus. The next strategy will help you do this daily.
It’s easy to lose sight of your goals. Sometimes we’re so busy we can’t see the big picture anymore. Schedule time to think. Make it a priority. Develop unusual clarity – a crystal-clear picture of what you want - so that you can refocus and look at things in perspective.
The Top-10 Goals Checklist
If you’re finding it difficult to focus on your goals, here is a wonderful checklist that will help you set, or re-set goals that will last the distance.
1. Your most important goals must be yours. It sounds obvious, but don’t let the media, parents, friends or neighbours set your goals. Make sure your goals are what you really want.
2. Your goals must be meaningful. If you’re goal isn’t meaningful it won’t last the distance. What are you willing to give up to achieve this goal? You can guarantee there will be sacrifices along the way. Your goals should be what drive you to get up in the morning – even when you don’t feel like it.
3. Your goals must be specific and measurable. Accurately define what you want. The more specific the better. If your goal is to be financially independent, define what that means. Does it mean having $50 million in the bank, being debt free etc. Be more specific.
4. Your goals must be flexible. On the road to achieve your goals, other opportunities may arise. You don’t need to try every new idea, but be open to genuine opportunities.
5. Your goals must be challenging and exciting. Think big. Your goals should be so exciting they keep you up at night. They don’t have to be epic, like climbing Mt. Everest (unless that’s what you want), but they shouldn’t be mediocre.
6. Your goals must be in alignment with your values. If your goals are in alignment with your values, achieving them becomes easier. There will be no internal conflict and this combined energy will propel you to greater success.
7. Your goals must be well balanced. When people in their eighties are asked what they would do differently if they could live their lives again, they never say, ‘I’d spend more time at the office.’
Set goals that include the more pleasant things of life such as family time, recreation, travel and hobbies.
8. Your goals must be realistic. If you’re four feet tall, it’s unlikely you’ll play professional basketball. Set goals that are challenging, but achievable, and give yourself enough time to complete them.
9. Your goals must include contribution. Many just set monetary goals and don’t leave any room for giving. Remember to also set goals that give something back. This contribution can take many forms, but the payback is guaranteed, though it often comes in unexpected ways.
10. Your goals need to be supported. You’ll need some help along the way. You have three options:
a) Tell the world – lots of pressure, but it works for some.
b) Don’t tell anyone – actions speak louder than words.
c) Tell a select few people whom you trust and who will support you (recommended).
When you find it difficult to focus on your goals, then it’s time to refocus. The next strategy will help you do this daily.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Property and SMSF seminar
This should be a great seminar on 25ht Feb. Please book... best
Ivan
http://www.bsi.com.au/news/emails/smsf-property-feb10/smsf-invitation-bsi.html
Ivan
http://www.bsi.com.au/news/emails/smsf-property-feb10/smsf-invitation-bsi.html
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Life after Ripoll – what does it mean to your business? - Richard Kilpin – CEO of AFA
A Financial Planners Value Proposition:-
People
- Live to long – (ensure that they have adequate savings)
- Die too soon – (Life Insurance, TPD)
- Get Ill – (Income Protection)
A Financial Planner should
- give impartial advice to clients;
- help clients through tough decisions and events
- educate and coach
A Financial Planner provides Advice vs Selling Products.
Financial Planners have traditionally been paid by Product Providers vs getting paid by clients for services rendered. This could cause an inherent conflict of interest for the Financial Planner.
It is key that the Financial Planner has as part of his DNA the Trust, Respect and Transparency of his client.
RIPOLL INQUIRY
The Ripoll Inquiry covered the following:-
- Role of Advisers
- Fees and Commissions
- Advice Documents
- Adequacy of PI
Recommendations of the Ripoll Inquiry
- The Financial Planner is to act in best interests of Clients
- Pay for value of Advice – not by Product
- Tax Deductability of Financial Planning Advice
HENRY REVIEW
In 2030
- Population is currently 22m – will be 35m
- Health is currently 4% - will be 7% of GDP
- 22% of population will be greater than 65
- Superannuation Currently 1.3 Trillion – it will probably be $5 trillion in 2020
There needs to be a major overhaul of tax and superannuation and infrastructure so that Australia will be able to plan for the future.
The Australian Government needs a roadmap for the next 50 years.
THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION!!
Financial Planners and Advisers will need to step up to the Plate and ensure they are
- adequately educated to manage and advise on these funds.
- there are systems and processes to cope with the above
People
- Live to long – (ensure that they have adequate savings)
- Die too soon – (Life Insurance, TPD)
- Get Ill – (Income Protection)
A Financial Planner should
- give impartial advice to clients;
- help clients through tough decisions and events
- educate and coach
A Financial Planner provides Advice vs Selling Products.
Financial Planners have traditionally been paid by Product Providers vs getting paid by clients for services rendered. This could cause an inherent conflict of interest for the Financial Planner.
It is key that the Financial Planner has as part of his DNA the Trust, Respect and Transparency of his client.
RIPOLL INQUIRY
The Ripoll Inquiry covered the following:-
- Role of Advisers
- Fees and Commissions
- Advice Documents
- Adequacy of PI
Recommendations of the Ripoll Inquiry
- The Financial Planner is to act in best interests of Clients
- Pay for value of Advice – not by Product
- Tax Deductability of Financial Planning Advice
HENRY REVIEW
In 2030
- Population is currently 22m – will be 35m
- Health is currently 4% - will be 7% of GDP
- 22% of population will be greater than 65
- Superannuation Currently 1.3 Trillion – it will probably be $5 trillion in 2020
There needs to be a major overhaul of tax and superannuation and infrastructure so that Australia will be able to plan for the future.
The Australian Government needs a roadmap for the next 50 years.
THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION!!
Financial Planners and Advisers will need to step up to the Plate and ensure they are
- adequately educated to manage and advise on these funds.
- there are systems and processes to cope with the above
Investment Markets - what to look for in 2010
Willliam Tomac Global Ventures International - speaking at the GENXT Roadshow – AFA Conference 10 Feb 10
GVI invests in quality intnl companies
nestle,
colgate – good branding – endorsed by dentists, 75% revenue in emerging markets
Telefonica (Spain),
Exxon, Shell
http://www.gvi.com.au/downloads/news/Company_Profiles.pdf
What to look for in a Company
n• Looks to buy good quality businesses cheaply
• Either 1,2 or 3 in space and difficult to displace
• Transparent
• Good Point of Difference
• Regular and Increasing Dividends to Shareholders – generally outperform companies with low dividend yields re growth.
More than half of GVI’s holdings will increase dividends in 2009 - At the time of the last presentation on 13th August, some 51 out of 66 of GVI’s holdings had reported their results and of these 47 had delivered results that either met or exceeded analyst expectations. More significantly, 56% of GVI’s holdings are increasing their dividends for 2009. While another 39% have indicated that they will maintain their dividends for the year, with only 5% expected to cut their dividends. Those expected to cut their dividends are some of GVI’s more cyclical holdings, however their balance sheets remain strong and the quality of their businesses are high. http://www.gvi.com.au/downloads/news/09_ADVISER_BRIEFING.pdf
• Strong and Lazy Balance Sheets are good!!
• Grow earnings and Dividends over time
• Good Margins
• EBIT has consistent growth
• Strong Brand
Where to in 10 years?
Risky stocks will get nailed – go for quality and sustainability – with focus on emerging markets.
believes there will be a correction - probably won’t go to march 09 levels.. .but growth wont be like it was. upturn was emotion based not fundamentals based.
Inflation Expectations - means that bonds will look attractive -
Aus residential property most expensive - is it sustainable?
Commercial real estate in Aus - white elephant.
M&A will grow into the future . Large companies with strong management will be acquiring distressed businesses.
This happens typically after a recession where the shit is weeded out of the system.
Emerging and Developing Nations will play a key role over next 10 years.
Looks at Demographics, Infrastructure
Interesting change over the years… before Stocks were held for years… now average stock held for 7 months.
GVI invests in quality intnl companies
nestle,
colgate – good branding – endorsed by dentists, 75% revenue in emerging markets
Telefonica (Spain),
Exxon, Shell
http://www.gvi.com.au/downloads/news/Company_Profiles.pdf
What to look for in a Company
n• Looks to buy good quality businesses cheaply
• Either 1,2 or 3 in space and difficult to displace
• Transparent
• Good Point of Difference
• Regular and Increasing Dividends to Shareholders – generally outperform companies with low dividend yields re growth.
More than half of GVI’s holdings will increase dividends in 2009 - At the time of the last presentation on 13th August, some 51 out of 66 of GVI’s holdings had reported their results and of these 47 had delivered results that either met or exceeded analyst expectations. More significantly, 56% of GVI’s holdings are increasing their dividends for 2009. While another 39% have indicated that they will maintain their dividends for the year, with only 5% expected to cut their dividends. Those expected to cut their dividends are some of GVI’s more cyclical holdings, however their balance sheets remain strong and the quality of their businesses are high. http://www.gvi.com.au/downloads/news/09_ADVISER_BRIEFING.pdf
• Strong and Lazy Balance Sheets are good!!
• Grow earnings and Dividends over time
• Good Margins
• EBIT has consistent growth
• Strong Brand
Where to in 10 years?
Risky stocks will get nailed – go for quality and sustainability – with focus on emerging markets.
believes there will be a correction - probably won’t go to march 09 levels.. .but growth wont be like it was. upturn was emotion based not fundamentals based.
Inflation Expectations - means that bonds will look attractive -
Aus residential property most expensive - is it sustainable?
Commercial real estate in Aus - white elephant.
M&A will grow into the future . Large companies with strong management will be acquiring distressed businesses.
This happens typically after a recession where the shit is weeded out of the system.
Emerging and Developing Nations will play a key role over next 10 years.
Looks at Demographics, Infrastructure
Interesting change over the years… before Stocks were held for years… now average stock held for 7 months.
Monday, February 08, 2010
Is Avatar good for the Jews?
There's no doubt that it's very good for James Cameron who is making box office history. His latest sci-fi spectacle has amassed the biggest worldwide gross for any film, beating Titanic, the previous feature film also produced by James Cameron.
With so many people seeing it, discussing it, and analyzing every last nuance in it, it's relevant to ask the question that serves as the punchline for the old Jewish joke when the little boy ecstatically tells his immigrant father, “The Yankees won,” and the old man with bewildered expression responds, “But tell me, is it good for the Jews?”
For religious viewers there are many subtle messages in the film that beg for a theological response, be it pro or con. Not surprisingly, the spiritual overtones of Avatar were of interest in Vatican City, where the film was reviewed by Gaetano Vallini, a cultural critic for L’Osservatore Romano, the daily newspaper of the Holy See.
In his quite negative review, considered so important that it was reprinted in Catholic journals and newspapers round the world, Mr. Vallini wrote that for all of the “stupefying, enchanting technology” in the film, it “gets bogged down by a spiritualism linked to the worship of nature.” Its implied heresy overrides any other reasons to warrant approval for viewing.
Of course I can't speak for everyone (two Jews, three opinions), but this rabbi thinks it's a film you won't want to miss, precisely because of its myriad positive Jewish references and insights.
If Cameron never went to Hebrew school he surely had to discuss his work with a rabbi.
Watching it I had the feeling that if Cameron never went to Hebrew school he surely had to discuss his work with a rabbi. The connections with Torah, Midrash, and Hebrew words are just too frequent and striking to be accidental. And if anyone thinks I and the many others who have spotted the biblical allusions and the Jewish associations are reading too much into the story, seeing more than what’s there, it shouldn’t escape us that as one of those rare films meant to be watched ideally in 3-D, it literally begs to be viewed in every dimension, with keener vision and deeper understanding.
In the theater we have to put on glasses to better grasp the producer’s message. That is a perfect metaphor for our need to come prepared to “see” with what is often called “our third eye” – not just with the sight of our eyes but the insight of our minds.
It is a thrilling intellectual experience to note the little clues to Cameron’s intentions scattered throughout the movie.
The Na'vi
The name of the heroic people who live in the Garden-of-Eden-like planet of Pandora is Na'vi. I’ve had people tell me this couldn’t have anything to do with the Hebrew word navi that means prophet. After all there is no suggestion that these primitives were able to predict the future. But the truth is -- and it seems Cameron knew this -- the root word navi really means seer, someone with the capacity to see more than others. And that is exactly the point of the story.
With all of the technological prowess of the earthly invaders, the humans who came to despoil this new-found planet simply could not see what the far simpler and “less civilized” inhabitants recognized so clearly. The Na'vis worshipped not themselves or their achievements but a higher supreme power. And could it be mere coincidence that the name of the God they revered, eywa, is but the re-arranged letters of the Tetragrammaton, the holy four-letter name for the Almighty that Jews do not even dare to pronounce as written?
Man vs. God
The hubris of man who confuses technocracy with wisdom is a theme that continues to haunt Cameron, just as it was the pivotal premise for Titanic. “This is the largest ship ever built. It is a testament to modern man's genius. It is indestructible. We have finally and fully conquered nature. We are the masters of the universe.” That's what the builders of the Titanic repeatedly boasted before the luxury liner’s maiden voyage. But the iceberg was stronger. God's creation bested man's. Human arrogance was tragically humbled.
It was man the technocrat, in the age of the first industrial revolution of history, who proclaimed God as no longer relevant.
Titanic was a contemporary retelling of a powerful biblical story. Its theme goes back to the book of Genesis and the rebellion against God by the builders of the ancient Tower of Babel. Mankind had just learned how to build bricks, how to erect structures strong enough to withstand forces of nature. With the arrogance of man's first demonstration of his ability not to be totally subservient to the whims of his environment, he fooled himself into believing that he was nothing less than godlike. That was the generation that sought to build a skyscraper so tall that they would reach up and “pull God from his throne.” It was man the technocrat, in the age of the first industrial revolution of history, who proclaimed God as no longer relevant; the genius of human creators was deemed sufficient for ruling the world.
One of the biblical commentators of the 17th century even suggests that the builders of the Tower of Babel were smart enough to build a spaceship that could soar into the heavens, and in that way literally pull God off the seat of his power. That is almost precisely paralleled by what happened when the first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, returned from his orbit of the earth and mockingly said, “There is no God. I was in the heavens and I did not see him.” Human arrogance rooted in scientific achievement led to the mistaken assumption that the power of man exceeds that of the Almighty.
Earth's Caretakers
With Avatar, Cameron takes this selfsame message one step further. Man's ego, man's greed, man's indifference to the purity of nature and its creator is a threat not only to earth but to all of the planets that surround us.
In an interview with Agence France-Presse, Cameron explained that he saw his movie as a metaphor. “We’re here, we’re big, we’ve got the guns, we’ve got the technology, we’ve got the brains, we therefore are entitled to every thing on this planet and beyond. That’s not how it works and we’re going to find out the hard way if we don’t wise up and start seeking a life that’s in balance with the natural cycles of life on earth.”
That's a message so crucial to our survival that the Torah repeats it in countless ways. Every seventh year the land is to remain fallow to remind us that we are merely its guests, not its owners. Every 50th year is the Jubilee when every Jew is to spend his time not in work but in study, to reflect upon our spiritual responsibility to ourselves, to our families, and to the world. If we are forced into waging war against our enemies, we are commanded not to cut down the trees of a city. (Deuteronomy 20:19)
The utter rapacity of the human alien invaders in Avatar is forcefully illustrated by the cruel disregard of the magnificent natural setting of Pandora. And yes, they even destroy “the holy tree” worshiped by the Na'vi. A planet like the Garden of Eden with a holy tree -- what a remarkable reminder of the Tree of Knowledge in Genesis which is off-limits to man to teach that God's knowledge is superior to ours.
More Connections
The Na'vi in Pandora have a mountain that “hangs over their heads.” The only parallel I can think of is the famous midrash that tells us when the Jews stood at Sinai and made their commitment to abide by God's laws, the mountain was lifted over their heads to tell them that the consequence of disobedience would be their destruction.
The Na'vi in Pandora even have a mountain that “hangs over their heads.”
The human aliens in Avatar are mighty, with awesome weapons of warfare. The Na'vi defend themselves with primitive bows and arrows. And yet they succeed. And that too is a biblical message: “Not with might and not with strength, but with my spirit says the Lord” (Zechariah, 4:6).
The savior of the Na'vi and the film's hero is, remarkably enough, a man with a physical disability. In the Bible it was Moses, “heavy of speech and heavy of tongue,” who was sent as deliverer. In spite of his impairment, he got across the message. In the movie it is a Marine who cannot walk but who nonetheless leads the Na'vi to successfully defend their way of life and to walk in the way of their ancestors.
Yes, the Na'vi religion with its worship of nature is a little too close to the pantheism of Spinoza to make Jews feel comfortable. Yes, the Na'vis are still pagans, and like the church I freely acknowledge there are ideas in Avatar that are not in accord with our own belief system. But at long last I am grateful for a movie that can serve as a powerful springboard for valuable discussion, for a deeper clarification of Torah ideas and for an analysis of issues that go to the core of our search for spiritual perfection.
With so many people seeing it, discussing it, and analyzing every last nuance in it, it's relevant to ask the question that serves as the punchline for the old Jewish joke when the little boy ecstatically tells his immigrant father, “The Yankees won,” and the old man with bewildered expression responds, “But tell me, is it good for the Jews?”
For religious viewers there are many subtle messages in the film that beg for a theological response, be it pro or con. Not surprisingly, the spiritual overtones of Avatar were of interest in Vatican City, where the film was reviewed by Gaetano Vallini, a cultural critic for L’Osservatore Romano, the daily newspaper of the Holy See.
In his quite negative review, considered so important that it was reprinted in Catholic journals and newspapers round the world, Mr. Vallini wrote that for all of the “stupefying, enchanting technology” in the film, it “gets bogged down by a spiritualism linked to the worship of nature.” Its implied heresy overrides any other reasons to warrant approval for viewing.
Of course I can't speak for everyone (two Jews, three opinions), but this rabbi thinks it's a film you won't want to miss, precisely because of its myriad positive Jewish references and insights.
If Cameron never went to Hebrew school he surely had to discuss his work with a rabbi.
Watching it I had the feeling that if Cameron never went to Hebrew school he surely had to discuss his work with a rabbi. The connections with Torah, Midrash, and Hebrew words are just too frequent and striking to be accidental. And if anyone thinks I and the many others who have spotted the biblical allusions and the Jewish associations are reading too much into the story, seeing more than what’s there, it shouldn’t escape us that as one of those rare films meant to be watched ideally in 3-D, it literally begs to be viewed in every dimension, with keener vision and deeper understanding.
In the theater we have to put on glasses to better grasp the producer’s message. That is a perfect metaphor for our need to come prepared to “see” with what is often called “our third eye” – not just with the sight of our eyes but the insight of our minds.
It is a thrilling intellectual experience to note the little clues to Cameron’s intentions scattered throughout the movie.
The Na'vi
The name of the heroic people who live in the Garden-of-Eden-like planet of Pandora is Na'vi. I’ve had people tell me this couldn’t have anything to do with the Hebrew word navi that means prophet. After all there is no suggestion that these primitives were able to predict the future. But the truth is -- and it seems Cameron knew this -- the root word navi really means seer, someone with the capacity to see more than others. And that is exactly the point of the story.
With all of the technological prowess of the earthly invaders, the humans who came to despoil this new-found planet simply could not see what the far simpler and “less civilized” inhabitants recognized so clearly. The Na'vis worshipped not themselves or their achievements but a higher supreme power. And could it be mere coincidence that the name of the God they revered, eywa, is but the re-arranged letters of the Tetragrammaton, the holy four-letter name for the Almighty that Jews do not even dare to pronounce as written?
Man vs. God
The hubris of man who confuses technocracy with wisdom is a theme that continues to haunt Cameron, just as it was the pivotal premise for Titanic. “This is the largest ship ever built. It is a testament to modern man's genius. It is indestructible. We have finally and fully conquered nature. We are the masters of the universe.” That's what the builders of the Titanic repeatedly boasted before the luxury liner’s maiden voyage. But the iceberg was stronger. God's creation bested man's. Human arrogance was tragically humbled.
It was man the technocrat, in the age of the first industrial revolution of history, who proclaimed God as no longer relevant.
Titanic was a contemporary retelling of a powerful biblical story. Its theme goes back to the book of Genesis and the rebellion against God by the builders of the ancient Tower of Babel. Mankind had just learned how to build bricks, how to erect structures strong enough to withstand forces of nature. With the arrogance of man's first demonstration of his ability not to be totally subservient to the whims of his environment, he fooled himself into believing that he was nothing less than godlike. That was the generation that sought to build a skyscraper so tall that they would reach up and “pull God from his throne.” It was man the technocrat, in the age of the first industrial revolution of history, who proclaimed God as no longer relevant; the genius of human creators was deemed sufficient for ruling the world.
One of the biblical commentators of the 17th century even suggests that the builders of the Tower of Babel were smart enough to build a spaceship that could soar into the heavens, and in that way literally pull God off the seat of his power. That is almost precisely paralleled by what happened when the first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, returned from his orbit of the earth and mockingly said, “There is no God. I was in the heavens and I did not see him.” Human arrogance rooted in scientific achievement led to the mistaken assumption that the power of man exceeds that of the Almighty.
Earth's Caretakers
With Avatar, Cameron takes this selfsame message one step further. Man's ego, man's greed, man's indifference to the purity of nature and its creator is a threat not only to earth but to all of the planets that surround us.
In an interview with Agence France-Presse, Cameron explained that he saw his movie as a metaphor. “We’re here, we’re big, we’ve got the guns, we’ve got the technology, we’ve got the brains, we therefore are entitled to every thing on this planet and beyond. That’s not how it works and we’re going to find out the hard way if we don’t wise up and start seeking a life that’s in balance with the natural cycles of life on earth.”
That's a message so crucial to our survival that the Torah repeats it in countless ways. Every seventh year the land is to remain fallow to remind us that we are merely its guests, not its owners. Every 50th year is the Jubilee when every Jew is to spend his time not in work but in study, to reflect upon our spiritual responsibility to ourselves, to our families, and to the world. If we are forced into waging war against our enemies, we are commanded not to cut down the trees of a city. (Deuteronomy 20:19)
The utter rapacity of the human alien invaders in Avatar is forcefully illustrated by the cruel disregard of the magnificent natural setting of Pandora. And yes, they even destroy “the holy tree” worshiped by the Na'vi. A planet like the Garden of Eden with a holy tree -- what a remarkable reminder of the Tree of Knowledge in Genesis which is off-limits to man to teach that God's knowledge is superior to ours.
More Connections
The Na'vi in Pandora have a mountain that “hangs over their heads.” The only parallel I can think of is the famous midrash that tells us when the Jews stood at Sinai and made their commitment to abide by God's laws, the mountain was lifted over their heads to tell them that the consequence of disobedience would be their destruction.
The Na'vi in Pandora even have a mountain that “hangs over their heads.”
The human aliens in Avatar are mighty, with awesome weapons of warfare. The Na'vi defend themselves with primitive bows and arrows. And yet they succeed. And that too is a biblical message: “Not with might and not with strength, but with my spirit says the Lord” (Zechariah, 4:6).
The savior of the Na'vi and the film's hero is, remarkably enough, a man with a physical disability. In the Bible it was Moses, “heavy of speech and heavy of tongue,” who was sent as deliverer. In spite of his impairment, he got across the message. In the movie it is a Marine who cannot walk but who nonetheless leads the Na'vi to successfully defend their way of life and to walk in the way of their ancestors.
Yes, the Na'vi religion with its worship of nature is a little too close to the pantheism of Spinoza to make Jews feel comfortable. Yes, the Na'vis are still pagans, and like the church I freely acknowledge there are ideas in Avatar that are not in accord with our own belief system. But at long last I am grateful for a movie that can serve as a powerful springboard for valuable discussion, for a deeper clarification of Torah ideas and for an analysis of issues that go to the core of our search for spiritual perfection.
Some BFO's (Blinding Flashes of the Obvious)for Small Business
from anthill
We live in a world with a million possible distractions, pressures, emergencies and interruptions. How can we possibly stay sane and focused on our goals?
There are always going to be several things constantly competing for your time – marketing campaigns to design, team members to manage, customers to respond to, business opportunities to explore, issues to follow up, personal commitments, etc. However, whenever you try to work on too many things at the same time, inevitably none of them ever get done – or done well.
To assist you in staying on track and keeping things simple, I’ve developed the following list of five simple techniques/questions to keep things in perspective. When in doubt, check this list for guidance.
1.Has anyone died?
If not, relax and calm down. As long as no one has died, it’s really not that serious and there is a solution to every challenge you face.
2.Am I trying to eat an elephant in one sitting?
Breaking things into bite-sized chunks makes the world of difference. Having broad, high-level goals is good, but having an actionable plan is essential. A detailed, step-by-step plan can help you identify how you can get from where you are to where you want to be. Remember, a journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step.
3.Am I in a bad neighbourhood?
If you are not in a good place emotionally, change your physiology immediately. That means get up and get moving – put on your favourite song or do the “dance of joy”. Whatever it takes, do it now.
4.Am I grateful for what I already have?
It is impossible to bring more of what you want into your life if you are feeling ungrateful about what you already have. It has been said that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. In many ways, gratitude is a bit like that – it’s not what you say, the mere words that count, but sum of the words and the heartfelt emotion behind them.
5.Am I focused on what I want or don’t want?
Whether we realise it or not, we are visualising things all the time – visualising either what we want or don’t want. If you are relentlessly focused on the negative outcome and are riddled by fear, that will affect your reality.
It’s very easy to get so caught up in the emotion of emergencies, disruptions and day-to-day activities that you can easily lose sight of what is most important to your success and wellbeing. These simple tips and questions will help you stay more in touch with what is most essential to your future. Most importantly, these techniques – and keeping a sense of humour – are vital to helping you stay focus on your ultimate goals.
Rhondalynn Korolak is a lawyer, chartered accountant, clinical hypnotherapist and Master of NLP and is an expert at business acceleration and the power of influence. She is the author of On The Shoulders of Giants and Financial Foreplay.
We live in a world with a million possible distractions, pressures, emergencies and interruptions. How can we possibly stay sane and focused on our goals?
There are always going to be several things constantly competing for your time – marketing campaigns to design, team members to manage, customers to respond to, business opportunities to explore, issues to follow up, personal commitments, etc. However, whenever you try to work on too many things at the same time, inevitably none of them ever get done – or done well.
To assist you in staying on track and keeping things simple, I’ve developed the following list of five simple techniques/questions to keep things in perspective. When in doubt, check this list for guidance.
1.Has anyone died?
If not, relax and calm down. As long as no one has died, it’s really not that serious and there is a solution to every challenge you face.
2.Am I trying to eat an elephant in one sitting?
Breaking things into bite-sized chunks makes the world of difference. Having broad, high-level goals is good, but having an actionable plan is essential. A detailed, step-by-step plan can help you identify how you can get from where you are to where you want to be. Remember, a journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step.
3.Am I in a bad neighbourhood?
If you are not in a good place emotionally, change your physiology immediately. That means get up and get moving – put on your favourite song or do the “dance of joy”. Whatever it takes, do it now.
4.Am I grateful for what I already have?
It is impossible to bring more of what you want into your life if you are feeling ungrateful about what you already have. It has been said that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. In many ways, gratitude is a bit like that – it’s not what you say, the mere words that count, but sum of the words and the heartfelt emotion behind them.
5.Am I focused on what I want or don’t want?
Whether we realise it or not, we are visualising things all the time – visualising either what we want or don’t want. If you are relentlessly focused on the negative outcome and are riddled by fear, that will affect your reality.
It’s very easy to get so caught up in the emotion of emergencies, disruptions and day-to-day activities that you can easily lose sight of what is most important to your success and wellbeing. These simple tips and questions will help you stay more in touch with what is most essential to your future. Most importantly, these techniques – and keeping a sense of humour – are vital to helping you stay focus on your ultimate goals.
Rhondalynn Korolak is a lawyer, chartered accountant, clinical hypnotherapist and Master of NLP and is an expert at business acceleration and the power of influence. She is the author of On The Shoulders of Giants and Financial Foreplay.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Avatar - the movie
Watched Avatar last night - an awesome movie.... great story, fantastic effects... best movie of the year!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Self Managed Superfunds
Alex Lee of Ark Total Wealth talks about what a Self Managed Superfund is, the benefits,the risks,the requirements and how to go about creating an SMSF.
A must listen for anyone interested in having an SMSF
A must listen for anyone interested in having an SMSF
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
FROM DINNER WITH PIENAAR (played by Matt Damon) JUST BEFORE THE FILM'S RELEASE:
A letter from our friend David Berman in New York. David founded "Chess for Change" in South Afirca (A programme teaching four thousand underpriviliged kids to play Chess each week) and the "author" of the "rugger bugger letters"
Dear Rugger Buggers,
Last week in NYC there was a big charity dinner arranged and Pienaar was the guest speaker. I had just seen the movie the night before at the NYC Premier so I asked Pienaar questions in addition to his awesome talk. My short review of the film follows this.
It was a truly outstanding evening and the event was a sell-out, including 20 of us rugger buggers at one big table.
Pienaar is a magnificent speaker and leader who is now cemented into history through this film. Beneficiaries of this dinner were kids in SA - mainly Pienaar's MAD charity, but also Chess for Change, the Section 501 (C)(3) charity I founded four years ago, where we are now teaching chess to over 4,000 kids a week in the Cape area primarily. Chess is proven to make kids smarter and is a very cost effective way to help children.
Pienaar is a brilliant speaker and captivated us all with his honesty, humor, laid back demeanor, and stories, but before he spoke, there was a very successful live auction with a signed rugby jersey going for a whopping $14,000, a Madiba first edition signed book going for $13,500, and a bronze limited edition statue of Pienaar and Madiba going for $22,000, just to mention a few of the items. Guests were unusually generous. Clearly New Yorkers are feeling better than they did a year ago!
Permit me to share some of what we learned:
Pienaar met with Matt Damon as Damon wanted to get a sense of the role, and "to get into my head". Similarly, Morgan Freeman met with Mandela. Damon's words to Pienaar when they first met were "Don't worry...I am much bigger on the screen!" Its quite funny because in truth Damon is not very big, most especially for a loose forward! Pienaar was however very impressed with Damon's hard work ethic and trained with him in the gym where Matt worked on his upper body, which they focused on in the movie, and did a good job. Pienaar said that as a rugby player he has brute legs but that this was a problem for Damon, and that they laughed about how he would have to wear a few pairs of socks, and take the focus away from the legs, and that he'd wear tighter shorts to make him look bigger. Pienaar spoke very complimentary of Damon saying he was a real down to earth guy, which I concur with having spent a half hour talking to Damon myself, and that they hugged each other at one point. Pienaar said "I could not ask for a better actor to play me".
Of Clint Eastwood, Pienaar said Clint doesn't play dirty harry, "he IS dirty harry":.. On the set there is "NO faffing and its all very orderly" .. People call him Mr. Eastwood...
A few other issues were discussed:
1. Accent. Very good. Pienaar tried to convince the movie guys not to use that slow stupid SA accent one often hears in movies that makes them sound stupid, but rather to speak faster like Pienaar does. So they paid closer attention to the speed too.
2. The scene in the prison cell happened exactly like that and when Pienaar saw it, it made him cry.
3. Not necessarily in movie but Pienaar saw what happened in six weeks in SA and he saw SA change and the whole vibe changed, and he really did say he was playing for 43 Million not 60,000 fans.
4. Madiba never gave him a poem.
5. The poem Pienaar used was another which he personally loved, about a man in the arena by Theodore Roosevelt... about "If he loses ..." (my baby was named Theodore a few weeks ago, so that was good to hear)
6. Madiba came to locker room before the game. It was a great moment.
7. Players in the movie resisted singing the anthem but in reality everyone learned it and no one resisted; in fact, a coach was even hired for this. The players weren't as "bad" as they were made out to be in Hollywood style
8. While Matt Damon comes across as a quiet leader, leading by example as Mandela did, Pienaar was hardly this passive. I did think this was odd in the movie, didn't you? When the team in the movie didn't want to practice the anthem and Damon walked away, Pienaar said that would never have happened as he would've just made them. He spoke to the boys a lot more before the game than Damon did and he took no kuck!
9. Hollywood tried to make it more movie-friendly - note the plane heading for the stadium in 9/11 style only to say "Good Luck Bocke" as it did in real life - but Pienaar insisted that the players do not come across as racist, and thy didn't. They came across simply as resistant to change, as did many blacks in the movie.
10. Pienaar drizzed a lot throughout the film as he felt it was very moving most especially as it captured the emotions of the day. He felt it was a great honor.
When I later asked Pienaar if he was disappointed with the Haka as I was, and the rugby in general, as well as the rugby players who didn't seem tough enough, he said he felt that an opportunity was missed in that they could have used real players BUT importantly he added that to rugby connoiseurs like ourselves, it may be disappointing, but from a normal viewer's perspective it was done very well. To this end we must concur as we have only had rave reviews, especially from my biggest critic, my mother-in-law, who now understands me and my love for rugby a little better, as well as my desire to help kids in SA through chess!
From a personal perspective, and surely for all you rugger buggers in America, it is truly wonderful for the world to see what a great game rugby is, albeit about such a bunch of thugs as is often made out... though we love the phrase that its the smart man's sport - and its also lovely to have a movie about our home country in all its glory.
I hope you found this helpful and interesting, as well as my review below.
DB
PS Enjoy the reports and comments that follow!
=============================================================
DB's SHORT MOVIE "REVIEW"
Below is my review of the film as written to Pienaar just after the film (I was at a premier - it wasn't out yet). Love to hear your thoughts as always. Enjoy, DB
=================
Francois, hope you had a good day in NYC and that your wife and boys are having a blast. Good touching base today. You can be very proud. You are immortalized. You asked I should email my thoughts to you, so here we go... film was great. The "PEE FACTOR was 9/10 for me (see definition later). They def did not make your teammates out to be racists as I had heard. Rather everyone was made out to be resistant to change - both whites and blacks. In classic Clint Eastwood style, not much talking in film. No real relationships. Superficial. Kind of weird in that way. . But great to see feelings of people changing thanks to rugby game.. Best game on planet...Not overly impressed with Morgan Freeman who I loved in Shawshank Redemption; his speeches did not move me in the slightest. Politically correct however to nominate him for an Oscar. We'll see. Matt Damon as Pienaar OK I suppose but could've heard more speeches from him to his players and guidance. Too much "leading by example" and hardly any motivational and leadership talks. All Black HAKA WAR CRY scene lousy and I had expected so much here... would've been nice for the world to see the real intensity of this .. and rugby scenes exciting but too close up and full of grunts.. as Matt Damon told me in Cape Town, it wasn't hard to do the rugby acting as the cameras did the tricks and made him look good, as he said, which is so true - but Lomu scenes are absolutely outstanding.. only real rugby looking player - a real Somoan! Should've used real rugby players as actors.... Never got a team spirit feeling either, until right at end. One feels the movie should've gone back and forward between real scenes from the game and the acting. Feel they could've done a lot more with the movie - great opportunity - but loved the music and feel good at end - sho shaloza amazing- oh My Captain - and of course being S African made it unusually good.
David
Dear Rugger Buggers,
Last week in NYC there was a big charity dinner arranged and Pienaar was the guest speaker. I had just seen the movie the night before at the NYC Premier so I asked Pienaar questions in addition to his awesome talk. My short review of the film follows this.
It was a truly outstanding evening and the event was a sell-out, including 20 of us rugger buggers at one big table.
Pienaar is a magnificent speaker and leader who is now cemented into history through this film. Beneficiaries of this dinner were kids in SA - mainly Pienaar's MAD charity, but also Chess for Change, the Section 501 (C)(3) charity I founded four years ago, where we are now teaching chess to over 4,000 kids a week in the Cape area primarily. Chess is proven to make kids smarter and is a very cost effective way to help children.
Pienaar is a brilliant speaker and captivated us all with his honesty, humor, laid back demeanor, and stories, but before he spoke, there was a very successful live auction with a signed rugby jersey going for a whopping $14,000, a Madiba first edition signed book going for $13,500, and a bronze limited edition statue of Pienaar and Madiba going for $22,000, just to mention a few of the items. Guests were unusually generous. Clearly New Yorkers are feeling better than they did a year ago!
Permit me to share some of what we learned:
Pienaar met with Matt Damon as Damon wanted to get a sense of the role, and "to get into my head". Similarly, Morgan Freeman met with Mandela. Damon's words to Pienaar when they first met were "Don't worry...I am much bigger on the screen!" Its quite funny because in truth Damon is not very big, most especially for a loose forward! Pienaar was however very impressed with Damon's hard work ethic and trained with him in the gym where Matt worked on his upper body, which they focused on in the movie, and did a good job. Pienaar said that as a rugby player he has brute legs but that this was a problem for Damon, and that they laughed about how he would have to wear a few pairs of socks, and take the focus away from the legs, and that he'd wear tighter shorts to make him look bigger. Pienaar spoke very complimentary of Damon saying he was a real down to earth guy, which I concur with having spent a half hour talking to Damon myself, and that they hugged each other at one point. Pienaar said "I could not ask for a better actor to play me".
Of Clint Eastwood, Pienaar said Clint doesn't play dirty harry, "he IS dirty harry":.. On the set there is "NO faffing and its all very orderly" .. People call him Mr. Eastwood...
A few other issues were discussed:
1. Accent. Very good. Pienaar tried to convince the movie guys not to use that slow stupid SA accent one often hears in movies that makes them sound stupid, but rather to speak faster like Pienaar does. So they paid closer attention to the speed too.
2. The scene in the prison cell happened exactly like that and when Pienaar saw it, it made him cry.
3. Not necessarily in movie but Pienaar saw what happened in six weeks in SA and he saw SA change and the whole vibe changed, and he really did say he was playing for 43 Million not 60,000 fans.
4. Madiba never gave him a poem.
5. The poem Pienaar used was another which he personally loved, about a man in the arena by Theodore Roosevelt... about "If he loses ..." (my baby was named Theodore a few weeks ago, so that was good to hear)
6. Madiba came to locker room before the game. It was a great moment.
7. Players in the movie resisted singing the anthem but in reality everyone learned it and no one resisted; in fact, a coach was even hired for this. The players weren't as "bad" as they were made out to be in Hollywood style
8. While Matt Damon comes across as a quiet leader, leading by example as Mandela did, Pienaar was hardly this passive. I did think this was odd in the movie, didn't you? When the team in the movie didn't want to practice the anthem and Damon walked away, Pienaar said that would never have happened as he would've just made them. He spoke to the boys a lot more before the game than Damon did and he took no kuck!
9. Hollywood tried to make it more movie-friendly - note the plane heading for the stadium in 9/11 style only to say "Good Luck Bocke" as it did in real life - but Pienaar insisted that the players do not come across as racist, and thy didn't. They came across simply as resistant to change, as did many blacks in the movie.
10. Pienaar drizzed a lot throughout the film as he felt it was very moving most especially as it captured the emotions of the day. He felt it was a great honor.
When I later asked Pienaar if he was disappointed with the Haka as I was, and the rugby in general, as well as the rugby players who didn't seem tough enough, he said he felt that an opportunity was missed in that they could have used real players BUT importantly he added that to rugby connoiseurs like ourselves, it may be disappointing, but from a normal viewer's perspective it was done very well. To this end we must concur as we have only had rave reviews, especially from my biggest critic, my mother-in-law, who now understands me and my love for rugby a little better, as well as my desire to help kids in SA through chess!
From a personal perspective, and surely for all you rugger buggers in America, it is truly wonderful for the world to see what a great game rugby is, albeit about such a bunch of thugs as is often made out... though we love the phrase that its the smart man's sport - and its also lovely to have a movie about our home country in all its glory.
I hope you found this helpful and interesting, as well as my review below.
DB
PS Enjoy the reports and comments that follow!
=============================================================
DB's SHORT MOVIE "REVIEW"
Below is my review of the film as written to Pienaar just after the film (I was at a premier - it wasn't out yet). Love to hear your thoughts as always. Enjoy, DB
=================
Francois, hope you had a good day in NYC and that your wife and boys are having a blast. Good touching base today. You can be very proud. You are immortalized. You asked I should email my thoughts to you, so here we go... film was great. The "PEE FACTOR was 9/10 for me (see definition later). They def did not make your teammates out to be racists as I had heard. Rather everyone was made out to be resistant to change - both whites and blacks. In classic Clint Eastwood style, not much talking in film. No real relationships. Superficial. Kind of weird in that way. . But great to see feelings of people changing thanks to rugby game.. Best game on planet...Not overly impressed with Morgan Freeman who I loved in Shawshank Redemption; his speeches did not move me in the slightest. Politically correct however to nominate him for an Oscar. We'll see. Matt Damon as Pienaar OK I suppose but could've heard more speeches from him to his players and guidance. Too much "leading by example" and hardly any motivational and leadership talks. All Black HAKA WAR CRY scene lousy and I had expected so much here... would've been nice for the world to see the real intensity of this .. and rugby scenes exciting but too close up and full of grunts.. as Matt Damon told me in Cape Town, it wasn't hard to do the rugby acting as the cameras did the tricks and made him look good, as he said, which is so true - but Lomu scenes are absolutely outstanding.. only real rugby looking player - a real Somoan! Should've used real rugby players as actors.... Never got a team spirit feeling either, until right at end. One feels the movie should've gone back and forward between real scenes from the game and the acting. Feel they could've done a lot more with the movie - great opportunity - but loved the music and feel good at end - sho shaloza amazing- oh My Captain - and of course being S African made it unusually good.
David
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Property and Self Managed Superfunds
A fantastic explanation by Alex Lee of Ark Total Wealth on Property and SMSFs with the use of Warrants.
Ways to reduce your mortgage
1. compare the interest rate to other lenders' rates and fees
2. contribute extra to the loan by paying fortnightly instead of monthly, or making the loan a partial offset.
3. repay the mortgage as if its interest rate are two percentage points higher. This encourages a good savings habit and prepares for likely rate increases
4. List expenses and work out where expenses can be cut so more can be contributed to the mortgage.
For borrowers, especially those with multiple mortgages, it's important to give your borrowings a health check and see if there are savings to be made and if you can reduce the life of your loan. or if you're struggling financially, refinancing the loan and extending the term of the loan may just give you the relief you need."
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