Welcome back. And welcome to 2002. No matter what last year was like for you, this year is going to be faster and more exciting than any year you’ve ever had. How do I know that? Just look at how much faster everything has been getting these past few years, and you will see what I mean. And all of this means more stuff to worry about!

In fact, the massive glut of information threatens to suffocate us if we don’t take a few simple steps. 

Firstly, decide where you want to be at the end of this year. And write it down in your diary. That’s the focus. A little like a ships captain deciding that he wants to get to Rotterdam. That’s the goal for the year. If you don’t have a goal for the year – then I can guarantee you won’t get there! And if you don't write it down, chances are strong you won't get there either. You will have forgotten your goals by the middle of next week!

Then work out where you are right now. That’s the result of just one thing – your imagination thus far. You might think that it is the circumstances – the good or bad stuff that has touched your life until now – but that’s not true. Where you are now is the result of your rising above all those circumstances and running with them [or not, as the case may be].

And then work out what you need to get from NOW to THEN – how to leverage everything you have now to get to where you want to go. And then switch on the engines and drive!

From that point onwards, ignore the excess information that simply makes you worry more. Every time I read a local newspaper I want to emigrate – the events in SA are so sad, violent or farcical – and there are so many of them – that I get scared. Then I worry. But the reality is that I can’t do much about them – but I can change my own circumstances.

For example, at the end of this year I want 50% of my income to be in a stable offshore currency – ideally UK pounds. I want to stay in South Africa because Knysna is the best place in the world in my humble opinion [although Vancouver and Melbourne come awfully close]. But to allay my fears of a long term future in this country I want to develop an income stream that is independent of the vagaries of our local economy. [Actually I’ve been wanting to do this for ages – but didn’t have the cahones to get out and do it!]

Last years bungee jump of the Rand prompted me to take them both in hand and jump as well. It’s not 17 times more difficult to earn a pound than to earn a Rand – although I am told that it might be twice as difficult. In my simple mind this means that I will still be 8 times better off earning Pounds.

What this means for 2002 is that I will be focused on helping you export anything. Services, products, ideas, technology, fruit, accounting, law, thoughts, letters, programmes, training, education – anything that will keep you here in SA but help you earn offshore. That’s one of the many things we can do to profit from the current situation. [It will also help SA – but I don’t want to get too altruistic!]

This year will also be focussed on using technology to get more done with less time and money. My business credo – How can I better help more people while earning more money with less effort? Got some interesting ideas to share in this regard over the next few months. [Amazing how inspired you can get lying on your back on the Knysna lagoon while watching the birds!]

One last focus for 2002 - your life partner. This whole process is supposed to be fun, and that’s for your family as well. There’s not much point to it if you end the year stressed and single [and worse –with the kids!]. So right now, won’t you please take 2 Post-It notes. On the one write –“Spontaneous Dinner” and on the other write “Spontaneous Flowers”. [If your partner won’t be impressed by flowers – insert something that really turns him/her on.]

Insert them both into your diary on different days somewhere in January. When you get to that date – be Spontaneous! And as you use each – move them forward a few weeks. You will be amazed at how this simple spontaneity will impress your partner. And you’ll be amazed at how quickly these little notes pop up. [Failing this expect your partner to start getting real unhappy sometime soon. And rightly so.]

You can really help me to help you by posting your questions, queries and thoughts at the Entrepreneurs Forum – rather than emailing them to me. I am finding that I cannot answer them all adequately – especially as many questions are very similar. This Forum allows me [and the Business Entrepreneurial Support Team] to answer most questions in depth – knowing that the answer will be available to anybody else in future. Over time this makes it much easier for all of us to get answers. I hope you agree.

I hope that this year will be the best ever for you – and that each year in the future will be even better. No matter what challenges you face this year, I hope that you will emerge stronger and with a better sense of humour. Let’s have fun together in 2002.