A personal letter to my friends

Dear FRIENDS

First of all I want to thank you for not giving up on me. This year has been a very rough and demanding year and I have never undergone so many changes, trials, tribulations, pain, heartache, stress, worry, fear, seen everything that I have worked so hard for being swept away from me under my feet etc.

I am talking about growth on the spiritual (soul) level and the Life (survival on this planet) Level.

It all started in November last year when I decided to bring on board one of my suppliers to come and work for me. We had long discussions about business and I could hear that he has a wealth of experience in corporate business and how it works.

I unfortunately am in the founders trap and if I want to go from a small business to a big business I would have to give away some of my power and delegation to other people. I made Chris my Managing Director and gave him control of the business as well as made him the new business sales director.

In this year we have turned the business upside down – inside up – around – changed course – any and everything possible that you can think of. It has been a very stressful period for me as I was seeing my turnover drop quite substantially as we were losing clients as well on the ADS side and I had sold my shares in Namico (Pty) Ltd. To Philemon and survived off the money I got paid out for my shares.

Sooooo…………….. from having 57 people in the 3 companies last year December we are down to 4 people. – GOING SMALLER TO GO BIGGER!

Anyway we got rid of the last dead wood this month and even changed accountants, auditors, IT systems, outsourced my manufacturing of my products, outsourced or started setting up distributors of my products in different markets, got rid of sales people and as I speak I am getting rid of my six vehicles. I am selling the 3 UNo’s and buying one.

I am selling the Audi A6 and Chris is selling his Volkswagen Polo and we are buying one company pool car. And……wait for it.... a Audi A3 TDI. Once you have driven an Audi any other car becomes.... Well .... mundane??

I will once again buy myself an Audi A6 next year once we have built a strong and stable foundation.

We have spent the last six months calling on new business and implementing business systems and ways of working smarter and not harder. Somehow this new business we would find kept on coming in small drips and drabs. Just as if the universe is holding off the big one, or making sure that we have our ducks in a row before the flood gates open.

Anyway, all I can tell you is that I have not been in a very “NICE” peaceful, relaxed, contented place this last year. It must have been the most difficult time of my life with the most changes I have ever undergone.

Yesterday we went to see the CEO of the biggest medical distribution company that we have been working on since November last year and we finally now have everything in place and they are placing their first order with us before the end of the month. CONFIRMED - YEEEEEEEHHHAAAAAAAA!!!

They are the biggest supplier to the Government hospitals, the private hospitals , and supply the Vet’s, Doctors, and Dentists, markets. We also suggested to them yesterday that we move the manufacturing of our range of products to their factory as they also supply other Distributors with exclusive products for the medical industry.

Basically what we have become is a marketing, sales and Admin office. All we do everyday now is shuffle invoices between our manufacturer and our distributors and administrate the business (Annie’s job) and go and see more distributors in different markets (Chris’s and my job) and develop new and more products (Me and Professor's job).

Yesterday after our meeting Chris and I went for lunch to celebrate and it was like a crazy feeling!! We had such a anti-climax afternoon. It felt strange to not have to worry or have stress and to know that the wheel has finally turned and is moving for the better. All this hard work, being a recluse, working until 11pm at night, me slogging away for 11 years now on this flipping dream that just does not want to come real.

All the people I have had in this business already that I wanted to share the dream with that could just not see or envision the big picture of where I could take them all if they suffered the bad times with me, including Ex – girlfriends that gave up on me because they did not believe in me. Then of course there are the Rod Finnie's of this world that could not make it in their own business and now "magically" become coaches and consultants.

Having employed the wrong people. People that have cost me Hundreds of thousands of Rand’s damage. If I think of the money I have given away to incompetent people already I could have paid this house off cash!!

Anyway……… all very expensive school fees.

Funny, I have realized that very few people are prepared to sacrifice short term to gain long term. Chris came on board and took a major cut in salary and lifestyle comforts to help me in the business. Besides it worked out that he had to come and stay here and share my house and space on top of it. A NIGHTMARE!

The energy that we share is that we work on each others strengths. In business we have decided that he will be the ASSHOLE and I will be MR. NICE GUY. I cannot tell you how many times this has worked for us already.

In about 4 months from now I should have my own space back once we start to see serious turnover in our business and I can once again pay Chris what he is worth. We are also looking at a partnership and me giving away some of the shares in my company.

I want to start making this house that I bought a home. I want to next year come winter start renovating it and making it a real farm house where all my friends can come and share in my space and help themselves to food and beer in my fridge without having to ask me. Like I used to do when I was still in Westdene.

Sooo.. my friends this has been my life in a nutshell. So when I come and visit you guys in my new Pilatus PC12 or maybe my Beechcraft King Air 200 (SEE PICTURES ABOVE) please do not be surprised. As you know me I will still be the same Michiel I have always been. If I happen to get a big head or an attitude or become a complete asshole. (you know wealth changes people) I hope that you as my personal friends that I love very much will have the guts to give me a BIG SMACK and bring me back to the right path. (Smile)

Once again thank you for all the years of your unconditional friendship and love.

As always

Mike

PS: I include a pick of my real dream for you above. Maybe you guys will be able to help me make the final choice of “which one”