What can you learn from conversations
Business Problem or a Business Opportunity
There is a common saying I am sure you know—life wasn’t meant to be easy. Without being too pessimistic, we all face challenges and problems of some description throughout our lives. However, whether you treat these challenges as a problem or an opportunity, boils down to how you view and manage them.
Often people describe this as seeing the glass half full. I have heard problems described as ‘facts of life’ and some even say they are merely a ‘solution in disguise’. Business owners regularly face into problems when growing their businesses and finding a way to turn these into opportunities is a valuable skill to acquire. Ever-changing conditions require us to be innovative and learning to adapt is particularly important in today’s competitive markets. You need to continually move forward. Doing nothing usually makes matters worse.
COVID-19 Pandemic has shaken the world. It has changed lives. However, it is also a time when problems can become opportunities and we can learn from the experience and knowledge of others who have faced other life changing situations.
Learn and Adapt from Experiences of Others
We learn so much from conversations. We learn from the experience and the knowledge of others. and how opportunities can come from very unexpected places .
Today I'd like to introduce you to Garth Davis from Property Powerhouse. I met Garth on a Zoom call last week and when he talked about his life in Zimbabwe, I knew I had to introduce him to you.
Garth Davis, is originally from Zimbabwe in Africa, where he lived most of his life. He went to school there, university in South Africa, immigrated to Australia in 2002. His wife is from Zimbabwe and they two beautiful children, Kyle and Travis, who are 15 and 13 who were born in Joondalup.
Garth is the CEO and founder of Property Powerhouse. and specializes in helping mum and dad investors buy properties all around Australia.
He has had an interesting life. Growing up in Zimbabwe, where he experienced many conditions similar to Australia today where there were lots of shortages and lots of time going without things, before immigrating to Australia.
I hope you enjoy watching and listening to the interview…some of which is shared below…
“Well growing up, initially the country was called Rhodesia and then had sanctions from all the other countries around the world, which meant that the country battled to export any of its tobacco and agricultural products. But it also meant that we really battled to get things in. So there was a lot of challenges in those times of imported goods. And then even Zimbabwe when things weren't going well in the economy, the economy was basically collapsing. It was very difficult to get any type of day to day stuff. That includes fuel, include things like candles, matches.
So we were very used to having shortages. And the thing is people just sort of got on with it as normal day life. As the economy was very poor, it's like we're battling to get foreign currency so particularly anything that was imported, there was a shortage. And then as prices started to get inflation, what would happen is the government would impose fixed prices on things. So, for example, they would make a declaration, a law that you could only sell bread at $2 but it was costing the workers $2.50 to make it. But they were forcing them to sell. So what would happen, instead of producing 10,000 loaves of bread, they would only produce a thousand …
People'd be queuing for bread, queuing for cash at the bank. ..we kind of got used to in everyday life. It wasn't good, it wasn't something that you would accept easily, but you just got on with it. And one of the really good things that came of that is that people became very kind and it brought the communities together so that if there was chance for you to get two of something, you might share that with your friend and you just repay that when you got a chance to get two of something. So you had to come together, the community had to come together and you had to share and try to help your friends, help your community. And in a lot of ways that brought people closer together.
The important thing I think we're going to understand when we get out the other side of this is that the important things, we're going really to really appreciate the important things that now are like our family and our friends in our community. And really if the toilet paper supply this or supply that, is that really a big deal? You know? As long as you can get something of it. Some type of toilet paper, some type of soap, some type of sugar.
Sometimes it takes times like this to realize like is it really that important to be so fussy? And should we appreciate what we've got? And I think there'll be a lot of appreciation coming out of this. Just appreciate that you can go somewhere and it's available. Even things like now with us not being able to, and we know things are changing daily, but you know, just the opportunity to go down to the coffee shop and grab a coffee, sit down with your friends and have a coffee. That's a luxury and we'll appreciate that more when the coffee shops let open again. That we really appreciate the people that work there, appreciate the opportunity to go there. And so we should always be appreciating these wonderful things .”
Please reach out to Kerryn or Garth if they can assist or support you, now or in the future
Kerryn Powell.... The Network Catalyst, www. kerryn-powell.com.au
Garth Davis, Property Powerhouse , www.propertypowerhouse.com.au
Hello, for those of you I have not met, my name is Kerryn Powell. I am a connection strategist, conversation starter and network catalyst who thrives on building communities and creating the right connections for those seeking strategic allies to make a positive impact through connection, contribution and community.
My experience has equipped me with skills and knowledge to work with, encourage, support and empower business owners, professionals , teams and individuals to create true connection through authentic conversations that build real relationships, boost confidence and generate business and opportunities.
The relationships you build all start from the conversations you have. I invite you to subscribe to my podcast “Conversations and Connections to Amplify and Inspire” or Book a discovery call today if you would like to understand how I can help you. let’s start a conversation