Time to show a little Empathy to teachers

Yours in Empathy,

Andeline Williams-Pretorius
Inspirational Speaker / Trainer / Author
Empathy & Relationship Expert on RSG
Life Coach & Columnist to Kuier magazine
info@andeline.co.za
Mobile: 072 856 0218

Making Expert Positioning Work

I am writing here with a heart filled with gratitude, a mind filled with many dreams and a life filled with wonderful examples that show that with hard work and commitment, everything is possible.

I guess by now most people know me as someone who does a lot of things, in spite of people telling me that I shouldn't; that I should be known for only one thing. Well, if I would do that, I would be throwing the other talents and passions that God gave me, right back in his face. I chose to develop them all, to make money using them all, to ensure that I am in an even better position to contribute to others.

In this competitive world we live in, it is in our best interest to know something about more than one thing. This is what I believe. Indeed, you cannot do it all, all of the time. This is why, when you get to a certain stage, after laying solid foundations, you should find the right people to work with you in building your dream. You'll not only create employment, but this would also allow you more free time to lay the foundation for the next initiative. This is what “speaks” to me and I intend doing it this way.

Doing more than one thing, has just secured me wonderful credits towards my Psychology qualification. Some of us are wired to do more than one thing, just like others are meant to do only one; some people are meant to be employees, while others do their best work when they are an employer.

Just last week, I read a blog post where the author addressed the same issue – how it is the no. 1. mistake to do more than one thing. Because I heard this before and strongly disagree, I proceeded to read the blog post. Everybody was “ooohing” and “aaahing” about the great blog post. I thought that it was great writing, but I told the author that I disagree with him on a few points. I used this larger than life example: Richard Branson. Look at everything that he does: Fitness centres, an airline, space craft, an NPO for entrepreneurship, music, he is an author & speaker, etc. He lays the foundation and then he employs people to work with him on building his dream further. That way, he has enough time to think up the next initiative.

Some people have an urge to give unsolicited advice, telling me that I should do only one thing. Today, I have wonderful credits, because I dared to do more, because I risked being seen as “wrong” for having more than one passion. The most important thing, is that I do not feel “wrong.” I simply feel that I'm following my passion. And I will continue to do so. More wonderful things to come my way, because I made it my business to know something about more than one thing.

Some people have one thing that they are passionate about. Others have more than one. Regardless of the category in which you fall, don't allow anybody to tell you that you are “wrong.” Be you and live your individuality. We were not meant to be the same, anyway.

And it is okay to sometimes deviate from the norm, from doing something the way it's always been done and to make a few new rules.

Wondering how you could position yourself as an expert?  Enquire about my training programmes.

And because I made it my business to know something about more than one thing, chances are that I'll be able to solve your problem.

Yours in Empathy,

Andeline Williams-Pretorius

CEO, Andeline's Motivational Training

Inspirational Speaker, Trainer, Author

Empathy & Relationship Expert on Afrikaans radio station: RSG

Life Coach & Columnist to Kuier magazine

Creator of The Empathy Campaign

Mobile: +27 72 856 0218

Http: www.andeline.co.za

You can also find me on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter

Are you prone to road rage or have you been a victim?

My Empathy contribution on RSG, tomorrow morning.
How could we all be more considerate and show more empathy to our fellow road users?


I have invited Dr.Marlet Tromp to participate in the conversation and to shed some light on the possible role that stress plays, in the occurrence of road rage.

Do tune in, between 09h00 & 10h00, between 100 & 104FM.

"RSG, Dis Die Een." 

Do you have an Empathy or Relationship challenge?  Let us know and we might focus on your challenge next time.  You can stay anonymous.  
Send a text message to 33343; or and email to brink@rsg.co.za  

Text messages are charged at R1,50 each.

Are you a Life Coach without your own book? Change your status and reap wonderful rewards

Andeline is CEO of Andeline's Motivational Training
Inspirational Speaker, Trainer, Author
Life Coach & Columnist to Kuier magazine
Empathy & Relationship Expert on RSG
Featured in the book: Miracle Women, by Dave Metzler, for overcoming severe low self-esteem and lack of assertiveness.
Recognised by African Innovations as one of South Africa's Most Inspirational Women - their glossy-page coffee table book is available now.
Mobile: 072 856 0218
Email: info@andeline.co.za

When nurturing your family, don't forget about yourself

My Empathy contribution on RSG, this morning. Stay tuned between 09h00 & 10h00; between 100 & 104FM.  

"RSG, Dis die een."

There is nothing wrong with taking care of your family. However, you have to make sure that you do not loose yourself in the process. In the age of women empowerment, we still hear of too many cases where women are at the financial mercy of the men in their lives. This often happens when women stay at home to raise their children and take care of their family. When the kids are grown and when the husband's business is successful (something that would not have been possible without his wife's support), she often gets rewarded with a divorce.

Just last week, I read someone's wall post on a social media platform. She mentioned that she just witnessed her neighbour (an abused woman) leaving her home, with only the clothes on her back, before her husband arrived home.

And then someone else quoted something written (by a journalist) in a newspaper. In the article, she focused on women, who from generation to generation, allow themselves to be at the financial mercy of the men in their lives. One piece of the article (written in Afrikaans) roughly translated as: “...those women who still haven't woken up to realise that there is life beyond their husbands, children and sunlight liquid; these are the women who are often raising their young girls in the same way...”  This is heartbreaking. 

Recently, someone shared their story with me. After getting married, she was expected to stay home to raise four children. She accepted this to be her role, because this was what her mother had done as well. Over the years, she support her husband in building a successful business.  When she told me her story, she was sad, because she missed out on growing herself. She regretted the fact that she neglected her needs. Today, her children are grown, her husband's business is successful and he recently asked her for a divorce.

Yes, it might be noble to take care of one's children instead of having a career, but we shouldn't do it, while neglecting our needs and our personal growth. I'm certain that if mothers were to ask their children whether they would want that for their mothers, that the answer would be “no.”

My advice to women who decide to stay home to raise their children and take care of their families, do so, but make sure that you continue to learn and grow. There are many short courses that will allow you to spend appropriate time with your family, while at the same time, allow for your personal growth.

Nothing is cast in stone

Life is unpredictable. Even though you may start out your marriage as a committed couple, there is no guarantee that you will live happily ever after, because of your sacrifices. I recall a story that was shared on the Oprah Winfrey Show a number of years ago. It was about a woman who gave up her own needs to raise her family. In her interview with Oprah, she mentioned that she did that, because that was what her mother had done and she believed that that was how it was supposed to be. She supported her husband in building a successful business.

Her husband left her for his assistant, whom he later married. It was hard for her to accept being replaced when she had sacrificed so much.  One day, she went to her husband and his new wife's home and shot them both. What a tragedy?

She is still serving time. If only she had valued herself enough and continued growing herself, while supporting her husband and nurturing their children. 

See this link for a snippet of the story. http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/family/broderick/1.html

You can also see this link – Oprah's most memorable guests. http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Memorable-Guests/4

Where do you stand?

We need to do more with regards to the empowerment of women. However, we should take care to ensure that we do not empower women, while dis-empowering men. 

We should focus on finding that healthy balance.

And to the good men out there, I salute you.

Do you have an empathy / relationship challenge?

Let us know.  We may focus on your challenge next time.  Send a text message to 33343. Costs: R1,50 per text message;  OR you could send an email to brink@rsg.co.za

You can stay anonymous.

Yours in Empathy,

Andeline Williams-Pretorius

BA (Health Science & Social Services) Unisa

CEO, Andeline's Motivational Training

Inspirational Speaker, Trainer, Wife & Mother

Regular Empathy & Relationships Expert on Afrikaans radio station: RSG

Life Coach & Columnist to Kuier magazine

PR Consultant

Author of self-published: Success; it's your choice which was approved for the school curriculum in

2006; and In mekaar Se Skoene, published by Naledi in December 2011.

Recognised by African Innovations Publishing as one of South Africa's Most Inspirational Women.

Their glossy-page coffee table book is available at selected branches of Exclusive books.

Mobile: 072 856 0218

Http://www.andeline.co.za

The Empathy Lesson In The Oscar / Reeva-tragedy

The Oscar / Reeva tragedy has shocked us all, black and white. And now, weeks later, perhaps it is time do reflect, time to find possible lessons, locked up in this tragedy.

When I first heard the news, I was shocked, because: “how could this happen and what went wrong?” And what could we learn from this tragedy? 

Various comments

People have different opinions about this tragedy. Some are crucifying Oscar, while other's believe that it was an accident. Where do you stand and is your position motivated by race? Some people say that they do not understand how this tragedy has suddenly become about different races, especially since Oscar and Reeva belong to the same racial group.

Well, I know how this became a racial matter. It is because many things (issues) in our country, is about race, even when not necessarily so, because we often find a way to turn it into a racial matter.

I am proud of South Africans when I hear or read comments like: “We should not judge...” or “I have no right to judge.”

The only problem with such comments, is that in most cases, the absence of our judgment, is reserved to those times when the person, who appears to be on the other side of the law, belongs to our own racial group. And we gladly judge when this person does not belong to our racial group.

I see some black people do this, I see some white people do this, I see some Coloured people do this, etc.

Life is not fair...

People who have money, normally receive better services than those who have less money. This is one of those times when it seems as if race does not necessarily matter. We often hear of high profile individuals or those with “the right” connections, who went to jail and received “preferential treatment.”

We see people object against this “preferential treatment”. And once again, those who object, object when the one receiving such “preferential treatment”, belongs to a different racial group.

Why do we seem to turn a blind eye when the person receiving “preferential treatment”, belongs to our own racial group?

I'm certainly not writing here to judge. My objective, is to make us look in the mirror, to make us realise that we still have a lot to learn, when it comes to empathy, to getting into the shoes of others – to try and see things from their perspective.

When we object, we should do so irrespective of who the person is on the other side. If we could get this right, then there would be plenty of hope for South Africa, for improving and taking race relationships to the wonderful level where it could be.

When we are against something, let's be against it all of the time.

When we object against something, let's do so even when we have to object against our own, BECAUSE, people are always watching.

Do you have an Empathy & Relationship challenge and don't know how to deal with it?

Send us a text message (33343) or email (brink@rsg.co.za) and we might focus on your challenge next time.

You can stay anonymous.  Remember, text messages are charged at R1,50 each.

Thank you.

Yours in Empathy,

Andeline Williams-Pretorius

Regular Empathy & Relationship Expert on RSG

Life Coach & Columnist to Kuier magazine

info@andeline.co.za

"South Africa's Most Inspirational Women"

The glossy-page coffee table book, titled: South Africa's Most Inspirational Women, is available at selected branches of Exclusive Books.


The first launch took place in Sandton, yesterday.

I am honoured to be featured in this beautiful book.

Andeline (page 218 - 223)

From left to right: Delphine, Andeline, Jeanette and Mercy.

Signing copies, purchased by guests.

From left to right: Delphine, Andeline & Sheriefa.

Self-esteem and Assertiveness - Your Life's compass

To order your copy, contact Lonwabo.

E-mail: lonwabo@africaninnovations.co.za

...............................................................................

Thank you.

Yours in Empathy,

Andeline Williams-Pretorius

BA (Health Science & Social Services) Unisa

CEO, Andeline's Motivational Training

Inspirational Speaker, Trainer, Wife & Mother

Regular Empathy & Relationships Expert on Afrikaans radio station: RSG

Life Coach & Columnist to Kuier magazine

PR Consultant

Author of self-published: Success; it's your choice which was approved for the school curriculum in 2006; and In mekaar Se Skoene, published by Naledi in December 2011.

Andeline was recognised by African Innovations Publishing as one of South Africa's Most Inspirational Women. Their glossy-page coffee table book is available at selected branches of Exclusive books.

Mobile: 072 856 0218

Http://www.andeline.co.za