Butterfly wings

Each of us has an ability to influence things, whether it be in a small way around us, or in a big way that affects the course of history. We all get small moments where our decisions and actions may matter. If we choose to act, change happens. However, frequently, we choose not to, whether out of deference or simple inertia. 

 

I recently had a discussion with a good friend on just this issue. Although we were both broadly in agreement, he, however, said that his process is to evaluate first whether or not his intervention will have an impact. If he feels it won’t, then he does nothing. I guess you can see the flaw in this? Often, we don’t really know if our actions will have an impact. You only see after the fact whether or not change did happen. Inaction, therefore, sounds like a cop-out.

 

John Maxwell, the leadership expert, has made the point that leadership is not about titles, that often in organisations the leader is not really the person with the title. You have to look elsewhere to discern who the leader is. This is the same about impact. It’s not always, even not necessarily, the titled big people who end up having the big impact. Take the case of Greta Thunberg, for instance. Or Malala Yousafzai. Just kids, but their impact reverberated around the world.

 

Just like the proverbial wings of the butterfly, your small actions can start a storm. 

CJ Mogoeng and his foot-in-mouth moments

 It can’t be argued that we didn’t know what we were getting when President Zuma decided to appoint Mogoeng as the CJ of South Africa. Mogoeng was apparently already well-known among the judiciary for his strong religious beliefs, and he certainly didn’t hide his position during his public interview.

 

I have, in fact, been a supporter of the CJ since he was appointed. He is, however, off the mark on Israel, and his pronouncements on the COVID vaccine were bizarre, to say the list. 

 

While I have no quarrel with his strong religious beliefs, after all, as he himself asserts, this is guaranteed in the best constitution in the world, I have a problem with his naïveté. On the one hand, he allows himself to be used by the Israeli lobby, while on the other he espouses cultish beliefs. This wouldn’t matter much from an ordinary person or a minor leader, but to be coming from the CJ of the country, especially while acting in his official capacity, is problematic.

 

Although he has opted to challenge the sanction of the JCC on his Israel pronouncements, he would do himself a great deal of good if he simply apologised and moved on.

Mthokozisi Ntumba: Stop arming police during peaceful civil protests!

Numerous times police actions during civil protests have resulted in deaths or serious injuries on the part of protesting citizens and bystanders. Surely, enough is enough?!

A number of points need to be made in addressing this issue.

First, our police are clearly sadly untransformed, despite having Black leadership. Black leadership seemingly will never guarantee transformation, as long as the police tactics, methodologies and tools are the same as they were under Apartheid.

Second, clearly our police don’t have a clue about dealing with peaceful civil demonstrations. Under Apartheid, the then government and their police force didn’t care for Black demonstrators, because for them they were the ‘enemy’ (as wrong as that thinking was). Using armed force, therefore, seemed ‘justified’, and in any case they didn’t care about the loss of Black lives or well-being. Human rights were non-existent.

In a democracy, however, that dichotomy doesn’t and shouldn’t exist. Moreover, the role of the police is not just to protect property, but more importantly to protect the lives and well-being of citizens, both the protesters and non-protesters. Participating in a protest doesn’t suddenly remove or reduce one’s constitutional rights; in fact, the very act of peaceful protest is protected by the constitution. 

However, coming armed to a protest clearly belies this. It appears that our police view Black demonstrators in similar fashion as happened under Apartheid, as the ‘enemy’. It appears the default position of the police is always to come to a protest to 'kick-ass'.

It is high time for the government and parliament to take drastic steps to create a new policing paradigm fit for a human rights culture. This includes retraining the police command, but also more critically, ensuring that police deployed to a civil protest are never ever armed, not even with rubber bullets.

How to Prepare a Feasibility Study

 Zoom Virtual Training

Date: 06 – 08 April 2021; Time: 10:00 – 13:00; 14:00 – 16:00 daily; Price: R6,990 per person.

Terms and Conditions: 

·      Payments may be made at paypal.me/msinsi. 

·      A 20% early-bird discount is available for registrations and payments up to 26 February 2021.

·      Registrations and payments will close on 12 March 2021.

 

Course Benefits

·      To company: Empower your employees with practical training that they can immediately apply at work and increase their productivity, improve decision-making, and reduce potentially costly errors.

·      To employees: In addition to the above, immediately delight your bosses and colleagues with your improved practical skill-set and expanded analytical repertoire, and thereby enhance your career prospects.

 

Registration and Course Details

For more details and to register, please follow the link: https://sandstormfinanceacademy.com/how-to-prepare-a-feasibility-study/

New!...

Quantitative Techniques in Marketing

Zoom Virtual Training

Date: 04 – 05 May 2021; Time: 10:00 – 13:00; 14:00 – 16:00 daily; Price: R3,990 per person.

Terms and Conditions: 

·      Payments will be through our PayPal gateway at paypal.me/msinsi.

·      A 20% early-bird discount is available for registrations and payments up to 26 March 2021. Please calculate and pay 20% less on the above-quoted price.

·      Registrations and payments will close on 09 April 2021.

Course Benefits

·      To company: Empower your employees with practical training that they can immediately apply at work and increase their productivity, improve decision-making, and reduce potentially costly errors.

·      To employees: In addition to the above, immediately delight your bosses and colleagues with your improved practical skill-set and expanded analytical repertoire, and thereby enhance your career prospects.

Registration and Course Details

For more details and to register, please follow the link: https://sandstormfinanceacademy.com/quantitative-techniques-in-marketing/

Finance training courses

 Sandstorm Finance Academy Training Courses for 2021

 

Good Day

 

Sandstorm Finance Academy is delighted to invite you and your colleagues to participate in our training courses for 2021. Please see the information below and visit each webpage for full details on each course.

 

In difficult times successful organisations engage in more, not less, training in order to equip their employees to be more creative and innovative and be better able to weather the storms. Only such organisations emerge stronger on the other side and are better positioned to thrive in the new paradigm.

 

For your peace of mind, we offer a 30-Days Money Back Guarantee! If you are not happy with your course, for whatever reason, you can claim a full refund of your fees within 30 days, no questions asked!

 

The training courses will be offered virtually via Zoom, while two of the courses, Practical Project Evaluation & Appraisal and Business Modelling & Analysis, are also available online at https://sandstormfinanceacademy.teachable.com for self-study.

 

We have selected Zoom as a generalised and popular platform. For in-house training, however, we are able to utilise your platform of choice, be it Teams, Skype or any other platform.

 

Who should attend? These courses are mainly targeted at professionals in the following fields:

 

·      Finance, Business Development, Engineering, Contracting, Entrepreneurs, Consultants, Freelancers.

·      Project Development, Project Finance, Banking, Development Finance.

·      Investment, Treasury, Government, NGO’s.

 

The goal is to equip your employees with skills and tools to simplify their work and their lives. As Leonardo da Vinci said, “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. 

 

We look forward to welcoming you on one of our training courses.

 

Please review brief profiles of the courses below...

How to Prepare a Feasibility Study

Zoom Virtual Training

Date: 06 – 08 April 2021; Time: 10:00 – 13:00; 14:00 – 16:00 daily; Price: R6,990 per person.

Terms and Conditions: 

·      Payments may be made at paypal.me/msinsi. 

·      A 20% early-bird discount is available for registrations and payments up to 26 February 2021.

·      Registrations and payments will close on 12 March 2021.

 

Course Benefits

·      To company: Empower your employees with practical training that they can immediately apply at work and increase their productivity, improve decision-making, and reduce potentially costly errors.

·      To employees: In addition to the above, immediately delight your bosses and colleagues with your improved practical skill-set and expanded analytical repertoire, and thereby enhance your career prospects.

 

Registration and Course Details

For more details and to register, please follow the link: https://sandstormfinanceacademy.com/how-to-prepare-a-feasibility-study/

 

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Practical Project Evaluation and Appraisal

Zoom Virtual Training

Date: 13 – 15 April 2021; Time: 10:00 – 13:00; 14:00 – 16:00 daily; Price: R6,990 per person.

Terms and Conditions: 

·      Payments may be made at paypal.me/msinsi. 

·      A 20% early-bird discount is available for registrations and payments up to 05 March 2021. Please calculate and pay 20% less on the above-quoted price.

·      Registrations and payments will close on 19 March 2021.

Course Benefits

·      To company: Empower your employees with practical training that they can immediately apply at work and increase their productivity, improve decision-making, and reduce potentially costly errors. 

·      To employees: In addition to the above, immediately delight your bosses and colleagues with your improved practical skill-set and expanded analytical repertoire, and thereby enhance your career prospects.

 

Registration and Course Details

For more details and to register, please follow the link: https://sandstormfinanceacademy.com/practical-project-evaluation-and-appraisal/

 

Online Academy

If you prefer to learn at your own pace, please visit our online academy at https://sandstorm-finance-academy.teachable.com for registration and payment. Take advantage of the much lower price and register now!

 

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Business Modelling in Excel and VBA Macros

Zoom Virtual Training

Date: 20 – 22 April 2021; Time: 10:00 – 13:00; 14:00 – 16:00 daily; Price: R6,990 per person.

Terms and Conditions: 

·      Payments will be through our PayPal gateway at paypal.me/msinsi.

·      A 20% early-bird discount is available for registrations and payments up to 12 March 2021. Please calculate and pay 20% less on the above-quoted price.

·      Registrations and payments will close on 26 March 2021.

Course Benefits

·      To company: Empower your employees with practical training that they can immediately apply at work and increase their productivity, improve decision-making, and reduce potentially costly errors.

·      To employees: In addition to the above, immediately delight your bosses and colleagues with your improved practical skill-set and expanded analytical repertoire, and thereby enhance your career prospects.

Registration and Course Details

For more details and to register, please follow the link: https://sandstormfinanceacademy.com/business-modelling-in-excel-and-vba/

 

Online Academy

If you prefer to learn at your own pace, please visit our online academy at https://sandstorm-finance-academy.teachable.com for registration and payment. Take advantage of the much lower price and register now!

 

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How to Build a Business Case for a Project

Zoom Virtual Training

Date: 27 – 28 April 2021; Time: 10:00 – 13:00; 14:00 – 16:00 daily; Price: R2,990 per person.

Terms and Conditions: 

·      Payments will be through our PayPal gateway at paypal.me/msinsi.

·      A 20% early-bird discount is available for registrations and payments up to 19 March 2021. Please calculate and pay 20% less on the above-quoted price.

·      Registrations and payments will close on 02 April 2021.

Course Benefits

·      To company: Empower your employees with practical training that they can immediately apply at work and increase their productivity, improve decision-making, and reduce potentially costly errors.

·      To employees: In addition to the above, immediately delight your bosses and colleagues with your improved practical skill-set and expanded analytical repertoire, and thereby enhance your career prospects.

Registration and Course Details

For more details and to register, please follow the link: https://sandstormfinanceacademy.com/how-to-prepare-a-winning-business-case-for-a-project/

 

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Finance for Non-financial Executives

Zoom Virtual Training

Date: 29 – 30 April 2021; Time: 10:00 – 13:00; 14:00 – 16:00 daily; Price: R2,990 per person.

Terms and Conditions: 

·      Payments will be through our PayPal gateway at paypal.me/msinsi.

·      A 20% early-bird discount is available for registrations and payments up to 19 March 2021. Please calculate and pay 20% less on the above-quoted price.

·      Registrations and payments will close on 02 April 2021.

Course Benefits

·      To company: Empower your employees with practical training that they can immediately apply at work and increase their productivity, improve decision-making, and reduce potentially costly errors.

·      To employees: In addition to the above, immediately delight your bosses and colleagues with your improved practical skill-set and expanded analytical repertoire, and thereby enhance your career prospects.

Registration and Course Details

For more details and to register, please follow the link: https://sandstormfinanceacademy.com/finance-for-non-financial-executives/

 

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Masterclass in Applied Corporate Finance

Zoom Virtual Training

Date: 13 – 14; 20 – 21; 27 – 28 May 2021; Time: 10:00 – 13:00; 14:00 – 16:00 daily; Price: R9,990 per person or register and pay per module (no closing date): Part I, Part II and Part III: R3,790 each.

Terms and Conditions: 

·      Payments will be through our PayPal gateway at paypal.me/msinsi.

·      A 20% early-bird discount is available for registrations and payments up to 26 March 2021. Please calculate and pay 20% less on the above-quoted price.

·      Registrations and payments will close on 09 April 2021.

Course Benefits

·      To company: Empower your employees with practical training that they can immediately apply at work and increase their productivity, improve decision-making, and reduce potentially costly errors.

·      To employees: In addition to the above, immediately delight your bosses and colleagues with your improved practical skill-set and expanded analytical repertoire, and thereby enhance your career prospects.

Registration and Course Details

For more details and to register, please follow the link: https://sandstormfinanceacademy.com/masterclass-in-applied-corporate-finance/

 

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How to Analyse Companies

Zoom Virtual Training

Date: 08 – 09 June 2021; Time: 10:00 – 13:00; 14:00 – 16:00 daily; Price: R4,990 per person.

Terms and Conditions: 

·      Payments will be through our PayPal gateway at paypal.me/msinsi.  

·      A 20% early-bird discount is available for registrations and payments up to 30 April 2021. Please calculate and pay 20% less on the above-quoted price.

·      Registrations and payments will close on 14 May 2021.

Course Benefits

·      To company: Empower your employees with practical training that they can immediately apply at work and increase their productivity, improve decision-making, and reduce potentially costly errors.

·      To employees: In addition to the above, immediately delight your bosses and colleagues with your improved practical skill-set and expanded analytical repertoire, and thereby enhance your career prospects.

Registration and Course Details

For more details and to register, please follow the link: https://sandstormfinanceacademy.com/how-to-analyse-companies/

 

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How to Value Any Business

Zoom Virtual Training

Date: 22 – 24 June 2021; Time: 10:00 – 13:00; 14:00 – 16:00 daily; Price: R6,990 per person.

Terms and Conditions: 

·      Payments will be through our PayPal gateway at paypal.me/msinsi.

·      A 20% early-bird discount is available for registrations and payments up to 14 May 2021. Please calculate and pay 20% less on the above-quoted price.

·      Registrations and payments will close on 28 May 2021.

Course Benefits

·      To company: Empower your employees with practical training that they can immediately apply at work and increase their productivity, improve decision-making, and reduce potentially costly errors.

·      To employees: In addition to the above, immediately delight your bosses and colleagues with your improved practical skill-set and expanded analytical repertoire, and thereby enhance your career prospects.

Registration and Course Details

For more details and to register, please follow the link: https://sandstormfinanceacademy.com/how-to-value-any-business/

 

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