THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE CAPETONIANS
Hi sports fans,
I had a newsletter all written out, but it got lost in the madness that was December. Ooms hallo, and we are already full steam in Jan, and PG TOPS is thankful for a bumper summer but even more thankful for normality’s return.
Hence, I would like to share with you my thoughts on why this summer was/is/will still be awesome, as attributed to the good people of Cape Town.
I was super proud of my team Roelf and Yolanda, especially on New Year’s Eve, where they battled road closures, irate client liaisons, disorganized Italians and even flat tires to not only deliver our motherload of Italians to the ball on time, but pick up some errant reveller business along the way, and get a temp tire swopped out before midnight. Sterling work guys. I was out dancing to a DJ that looked like a pink elephant. Go figure.
THEY BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND
It’s as if the whole of South Africa decided to make Cape Town its favourite holiday destination this year. So in addition to a plethora of international visitors, we were also graced with hordes of sunseeking funloving binnelanders. Everybody was booked up months in advance, and yet we still managed to find resources to deal with a horde of last minute requests. I was happy to work with great companies like Chanti, Rumadani, FS Tours, Cape Town Tour Guide, Guide Connection and Cape Point Route who dealt with any and all requests with grace, patience and the belief that we can service the clients no matter what it takes.
Welcome to my life. No matter how busy we get, it’s important to have a good time as well. If you can do it while on the job, even better! Ask Luke Scott, my architect friend, who helped out with a private yacht request on 2 January!!! He took our clients for an exclusive cruise around the harbour, mooring to listen to the live bands off Camps Bay and for a sneaky sundowner at Basquille. Rock Star living at its best, and he did it because he also felt like getting out there. Thanks Luke!
I’m super fortunate to work and network with a bunch of companies like PG TOPS in Cape Town. Symbiosis is the name of the game, and Clive, Warrick, Sal and Barbs, Donavan, Pam, Charl and Tish, Hendrik, Norman, Jacques, Marco… you know it! Whether it was referrals, helping out with vehicles, guiding or just moral support, it’s been great working with you folks. Special mention to Petrie from Rumadani for coming out on New Years Eve to lend us a spare tire. Above and beyond… Let’s keep on being awesome in 2012!
THEY SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND BEFORE BEING UNDERSTOOD
Communication is the name of the game. Whether it be in broken Spanish, English or even Afrdutch, it’s been fun sharing cultures, challenges, stories and experiences with our visitors this summer. I think we hit a diversity record on 3 January, with PG TOPS out touring with five different groups – 5 Guatemalans, 6 Americans, 2 Indians, 2 Canadians and 8 Brazilians. In addition, we dealt with Mauritians, Brits, Dutch, Germans, Spaniards, Mexicans, Peruvians, Swiss, locals, corporate year end parties, transfers, cruises, New years bookings and all kinds of adventure activities! What a trip, and it was tough to keep it all together, but I think we managed…
Everyone pulled their weight, even the Big Guy, who gave us less wind and more beaut days to go up the Mountain this year. From the smiling petrol attendant to the receptionist at the hotel to the reservations girl at the agency to my girl Friday for picking up the cupcakes… if we weren’t in perfect sync, we were damn close most of the time. Solid.
On a personal note, January is still nice and busy, but I will take some time to get back into cycle training, go on a ski trip with my folks and enjoy the spoils of a good summer. Hopefully the team will make some time (along with German intern Sophie, ETA 15 Jan) to go chill out on the beach at Afrovibe (and maybe play some beer pong). We’re gonna need all our strength for the challenges of 2012, which include:
- Mayan prophecies – start building the survival boat
- Dog rearing– February. Gumtree. Lab puppies. The search for the PG TOPS mascot is on.
- Intern mentorship. Roelf you’re up, time for the student to become the teacher. Very zen.
- More flat tires, flat batteries and flat egos.
- Being less awesome. But we can’t help ourselves.
Also don’t forget to check out our revamped website www.pgtops.com, being my friend or fan on Facebook, reply UNSUBSCRIBE if you don’t want to hear from me again and check out this awesome perspective on armaggedon:
Be cool, stay in school.
PG
Kind regards,
Pieter Geldenhuys
PG TOPS TRAVEL AND TOURS
Cape Town, South Africa
www.pgtops.com
+27 83 288 4944
BBM 21e7bd12
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/PG-TOPS-TRAVEL-AND-TOURS/110729918944980
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Your attitude in life will almost always determine your altitude…