Hi there,
Yesterday, it was exactly a year since I left Melrose Arch for the last time. After 15 years, it was quite an adjustment to not eat, sleep and drink my creation. But that’s passed. Life moves on.
It’s good to see Moneyweb flourishing, hiring while others in the media sector are having to trim down. Of course I’m sad it’s no longer my baby. But it’s sturdy enough to fulfill it’s own destiny. And is doing just fine without my interference!
@alechogg Congratulations on three months of challenging and engaging journalism – as always!
— Dr Thomas Oosthuizen (@drthomasbrand) October 26, 2013
After leaving Moneyweb, one of the first people I called was Jannie Mouton, who was in his 50’s when he founded what is today the mighty PSG Group.
Jannie gave my little news agency a break in the 1980’s by commissioning us to do a quarterly research assignment. We’ve kept in touch ever since. Our chat last year, and a re-read of his autobiography was more of an inspiration than he’ll ever know. As it has been for many others who’ve started again later in life.
Appropriately, Jannie called yesterday.
We missed each other, but he left a voicemail. This great entrepreneur who has a myriad of other things to concern himself with, called to say he enjoyed my Business Day column which gave tribute to the late Tony Twine.
Turns out just after Jannie was fired by his stockbroking creation SMK, Tony phoned him to say everything would turn out fine. As it has. Jannie never forgot that small kindness. Such is the measure of the man.
We’re approaching the end of Biznewz.com’s first quarter and already there are many “Tony Twines” that we’ll never forget. Thanks to the kindness and support of so many people, our little dream has far surpassed expectations.
One of the joys of being a columnist is the way it pushes you into researching interesting subjects. Including, in my case, Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos – specifically the way he has always put customers at the centre of his business.
In the news game, which he has just entered, even though it’s advertisers who pay the bills, Bezos believes readers are our customers.
My experience has always suggested Amazon’s founder is right. That’s been reconfirmed these past 11 weeks as our Biznewz community reminded us what works by what it is reading, tweeting and commenting on. You teach us every day. Thank you.
Progress has been such that we’ve now reached the point where we also need an extra pair of hands.
Over the years, I’ve had enormous pleasure being able to offer young financial journalists a start. Many of today’s “big names” in the sector got into the industry via our old Internship Programme.
Our most successful interns were typically young (early 20s); curious; bright as buttons; obsessed about the Internet; and possessed that rare combination of loving to write but also highly numerate. Being able to survive on a small stipend and incapable of letting time interfere with working hours are obvious requirements. As is living in Johannesburg.
Getting into financial journalism has never been easy. But for people hard-wired for it, nothing else comes close.
Becoming the first ever Biznewz intern is an opportunity for someone who has all the qualities our previous successes possessed, loves working in a small team and is excited by being part of the early stage of a growing business.
If you know someone who fits the bill, please pass this email on to them. And ask them to send me their CV and a motivation of no more than 800 words why they want to become part of the Biznewz adventure ([email protected]).
Thanks, in anticipation.
Until next week.
Best
Alec
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Geniet jou weeklikse nuusbrief baie – elke verandering is ‘n geleentheid! @alechogg Biznewz Weekly Newsletter http://t.co/wMlitCYXTE
— Theo Vorster (@sakegesprek) October 25, 2013
Past week’s best read articles:
Malema headed for Parliament with nine cohorts as ANC tipped to lose ground in 2014 Election
Want to invest in an early stage Berkshire Hathaway? Piet Viljoen’s R550m fund could be it
Cool heads please as SA contemplates a discovery equal to 310 years of oil consumption
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Don’t miss out. Here are the other stories that made the Biznewz.com Top Ten this week.
Why it’s so easy to fall into a debt trap if you don’t understand how the world of money works
Investment professionals challenge Pick n Pay 35% profit growth claim; retailer’s FD responds
Open Letter to Capitec, micro-lenders: how to fix SA’s shameful money problem
Opportunities from Gautrain’s coming R50bn expansion – fancy a flat in downtown Boksburg?
Sygnia set to shake up South Africa’s passive investment arena with massive fee cuts
It’s not black and white, nor Red October. It’s South Africa
The new, free, sharing business models – they’re all about a “spirit of abundance”
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Congrats @alechogg, a year of freedom from the corporate cage, 11 weeks of fulfilling your calling. http://t.co/r5vENoIUD9 rocks
— Bernard Swanepoel (@zbswanepoel) October 25, 2013
