'The Naki'

Edition 126 Monday 13^th February 2012

Hi, few things beat getting out of town for a weekend, last week was extra short for us as we headed off to the ‘Naki’ on Friday to check out the Half Ironman event on Sunday. Wow talk about find the summer sun, we roasted in high 20’s degree heat all weekend and I paid the price now resembling a steamed crayfish! We went ‘back in time’ staying at a seaside motorcamp just out of town overlooking the Port and the Tasman Sea. It bought back some memories of family times spent at these type of camps up and down the country. We mixed it with a wide cross section of campers, all nationalities and ages under canvas, in mobile homes and cabins all off for a real kiwi adventure doing the same thing. It was exciting to share the experience with so many like minded intrepid travellers and to be reminded yet again what a great place this is we live in. There is some truth in another old adage and that is not to “ leave town till you have seen the country!” The Half  Ironman event was a buzz and further fuelled our desire to train hard in order to  have another crack!

Thank you for the ‘heart’ felt feedback from last weeks edition, things have quietened down for me nicely with  all systems in synchronised harmony. I appreciated your concern and the timely wake up call. I have focused hard on reducing the stress levels and relaxing more.

On that note I hope you all had a great weekend relaxing and having fun with your family and friends wherever you were and whatever you were up to. Life is too short to drink bad coffee, bad wine or not to take time out to enjoy it with family and friends.

Take care and have a great week ahead (don’t forget Saint Valentines day Tuesday !!)Cheers Jonesey

 Harry and the Hendersons met dogsitter ‘little John” who spoiled them rotten all weekend. They cant wait for us to go away again, thanks John, you are a dog legend!  

“Jealousy and anger shorten your life” Mainfreight quote on their building Sunday 12/02

I have mentioned it before and I will mention it again I am sure but Mainfreight are a kiwi success story. Started with one truck running on the smell of an oily rag  the business is now an International freight heavyweight and a favourite home grown stock for kiwi investors to support.

Mainfreight is  one of those companies you cant help but notice. Their vehicles are always immaculately presented and all feature motivational, positive quotes prominently displayed for high exposure. The appearance of their fleet is no accident as their company policy ensures that all vehicles are cleaned and polished daily before they leave their respective depots. Appearance, image and perception is everything , sharp look , sharp company!

Their offices all feature the same motivational vibe with quotes prominentyly displayed and in some cases electronically changing daily (like the one above on their Airport Branch). I had an appointment with one of their Auckland Managers recently and was lucky enough to visit their Head Office.

The atmosphere was positive and “UPBEAT’, their staff looked and sounded happy to be there and all made an effort to engage in conversation and to assist.

They have a Mainfreight training centre that all staff spend a week in being inducted to their business. All staff learn what the company does and follow an item of freight from its entry to the company to the time it is delivered to its destination and all the important stuff that should happen to it along the way! Mainfreight figure out if you have ‘blue blood’ in week one, if not then you don’t get to week two, if you make it through week one then it is highly likely you will be there for life which is what makes the company so successful. They are there because they want to be and they make you feel you are lucky to be doing business with them. I felt priveleged to be exposed to their culture.

I think we should all be looking for a business like Mainfreight to model our own on and one from which we can learn from personally and collectively. I know I drove them nuts asking heaps of questions about why they were so good….to me this is a key secret to success, how about you??

“Think, believe, dream and dare” Compliments of Walt Disney and the team at Mainfreight NZ