Letting go

I let my first member of staff go.

I fired him.

It feels terrible. It feels really wrong.

This is not why one pours his or her life in a startup. I want to create job. I want to see people thrive and reach their potential.

But with G this didn't work out.

I hired G in December. His family back ground is complicated. His dad was murdered. His family are very poor. Life is hard.

Since he started working he has missed work on so many occasions I had to do something as it was affecting the morale of my staff.

I think he has a drugs or/and alcohol problem. I organised a place in rehab for him. The councillors of the rehab told me that I cannot change him. He needs to make the first step by acknowledging his addiction.

Against my labours consultants advice I asked G if he had an addiction. I asked if I could help.

He turned me down. He turned help down, an opportunity to start again.

I wonder where he will end up. He is a good man. As struggling man, but aren't we all struggling in some way.

Be blessed G. Travel the journey of life well. May you find freedom. 

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Blueberry trial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Part 2

10 months have past, since I planted my blueberries from the nursery in 20 liter black bags.

I planted 5 plants of each variety in:

50% Compost

20% Perlite

20% Woodchips

10% Sphagnum moss

I planted 4 plants of each variety in:

30% Compost

30% Perlite

30% Woodchips

10% Sphagnum moss

Finally, I added one teaspoon of Aluminium Sulphate to keep the soil Ph between 4.5 and 5.5.

It is too early to draw any conclusions on the viability of a blueberry project in the Port Elizabeth region. It is impossible to see which varieties will do better in our climate, as none of the plants are bearing fruit.

So far, I have come across a concern. Blueberries are very thirty. 

I have to water my plants every second day or they show leaf loss.

This makes me wonder if a water needy project like this will ever be a good idea for a water scarce country.

Dixi seems to be most affected by the drought, with Misty being a close runner up. The other varieties are all very similar in water neediness.  

Happy New Year to all blueberry enthusiasts. May 2016 bring lots of growth and many berries. 

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Blueberry trial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Part 1

I love walking through orchards. They are beautiful. An orchard seems to be a place where a heart finds rest. I know very few people who don't love the beautiful rolling hills with vineyards, or the pleasing sweet smell of an orange orchard in full bloom.

From a business point of view, orchading poses exciting opportunities. The economics of most orchards are really good. The farmers I have met all admit that returns on orchading in South Africa have been incredible in the past couple of years.

My personal involvement in the orchard industry, focuses mainly on the pollination of several crops. I run a highly specialized bee pollination business. www.urbanbeekeeper.co.za

 

I long to be more involved in orchading, but it is nearly impossible due to the high costs of purchasing an orchard. A second option, is to plant a new orchard, knowing a return will take years. On citrus, nothing under 3 years, but on macadamia nuts it might take up to 7 years to break even. Plus, setting up an orchard from scratch is still pricey.

I also understand that farming is not a hobby, but a highly challenging skilled job. Training and experience are vital.

After looking at many different options, I decided to run a trial blueberry 'orchard'. I got my hands on 7 different varieties of blueberries.

1. Sharpblue

2. Dixi

3. Powderblue

4. Misty

5. Centurion

6. Brightwell

7. Chandler

In my next Blueberry blog I will look at some of the challenges and opportunities I see for blueberries in South Africa.

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The story of our heart

We study degrees. Get engaged. Get married. Go to school. Find a religion. Have children. Buy a car. Open bank accounts. Invest money. Buy houses. Get jobs. Change jobs.

I have done many things in my life. Not good nor bad. Not right nor wrong. I just did them. Lately I wonder out loud why I do what I do.

I have done a lot because it was the cultural, had religious approval or met my family's expectations. I supposedly 'pleased' them (them we refer to when we are not too sure who). The truth however is that none of those 'them's' are pleased. They are all on their own life journey.

I realize that finding freedom has to start with finding the 'I' within me. Who am I? What do I want in life? What do I want from life?

This might all sound very selfish. It might be selfish, but life is too short to only go through the motions without stopping from time to time to questions the why's and what's in life.

The fear of change and the comfort of what I have hold me back.

I am trying to slow down to hear the story that is unfolding in my heart. What is the unfolding story in your heart?

Our hearts are not evil of deceitful. Our hearts are the place where we connect more and deeper with the meaning of life - YWH.

Our stories should not be about meeting other people's expectations, but they need to be about us being us. It needs to be about playing - (we should play more) - fulfilling our part in the bigger story of the universe. It doesn't have to be grande for the world, but it needs to be deep and real for our hearts. It needs to unlock passions and bring life.

My story in search of freedom is only just starting.

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Where do you start fundraising?

Finding investors for you next world changing idea is not easy. Yes we have all heard the story of the guy doing a fundraising round in Silicon Valley and getting 50 Million dollars in 1 session That story leaves out the hard work that was put in the fundraising project in the years beforehand.

We never hear the stories of the businesses which failed to raise any money - because you guessed it right: They failed. Nobody likes a failing story.

So where do you start?

Firstly: Put your own neck on the line. Don't expect other people to invest in your business if you are not willing to put everything in it.

I don't like this. I like having a safety net. But the truth is that if you are not willing to put everything in you clearly aren't too sure this is going to work.

Secondly: 3 F's - Family, friends and fools

You should go and ask your family and friends for money. Most of your friends and family will love your startup idea. Until you ask them for money. You will clearly see if they still think it's such a great idea.

Beware however with loaning money from friends and family. Make sure if your business fails you find a way to pay the money back. There is nothing worse than going to the next Christmas meal and feel nothing but dislike.

These investments will probably be smallish, but they hopefully get you going.

Thirdly: Angels

Angels are people who have extra cash and are looking to invest in businesses. Angels are investing their own money so they can be very hands on. Often angels bring more than just money to the table - contact, experience... Before you go and approach a angel group know what they are about. Don't go with a oil drilling project to an angel group which specialize in green energy investments. You will look like a fool.

Angels might invest substantial amount. Anything from 250000$ to 1.5mil. $.

Fourthly: Venture capital

These guys will probably only come in at a later stage and come in with large amounts of money. They use other people's money.

Funding can be anything from 1mil $ to 10's of Millions.

My one word of advice: Remember to be wise in bringing other people's money on board. Most people want something back. Make sure you get a good deal and you give your investors a good deal.

Also follow you gut.

Good luck in growing your baby.

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