Renowned business coach speaks in Polokwane

“Money is not everything or money is the root of all evil. Anyone who tells you that does not have any money.”
These were the words of globally respected business coach Andrew Barsa when he addressed an audience of about 300 entrepreneurs and business leaders at the Business Hangout Network Seminar at Meropa Casino and Entertainment World on Saturday morning. The seminar was organised by The Hangout Network and local entrepreneur, Kholofelo Pholafudi.
The morning’s procedures started with author of the self help book, ‘Stress Gone’, Bridget Edwards speaking to attendees about the effects of stress on people’s lives. She offered some tips on how to use positive thoughts to overcome the ravages of stress on the body and mind.
Edwards closed her presentation with a plea to all present not to keep other people at arm’s length.
“Human beings are hard wired to connect. Please don’t let cultural differences stop you from connecting with others as physical touch relieves stress,” she explained.
Barsa walked into the auditorium to a rousing standing ovation when he took his turn at the podium and said there are three types of people in this world; those who do not have the ability to create wealth, those who know how to work the system and make money but do not know how to keep the money, and those who have the ability to create and sustain wealth.
“Let me tell you a secret. You can choose which type of person you want to be,” he said, shocking the audience into silence. “Each person has the choice to be in a specific class. Don’t be a victim of your circumstances. Remove yourself from that environment, even if it is not easy,” he continued.
Barsa then went on to explain how he grew up in a middle class family in Australia and how much of his parents’ stress was caused by money related problems. As a teenager he decided that he would do anything he could to ensure that his children would never have to experience that same kind of stress in the home.
He went on to enrol for a course in business studies, but could not understand why his lecturers were all struggling financially. “I then realised that there is a difference between having knowledge and applying it in the real world. Successful people have mastered the process between having an idea and bringing it into the physical world and put monetary value to it.” Barsa explained that he dropped out of college and entered the property market, consciously making the decision to only surround himself with successful people.
According to Barsa people may think positively about money, but that they feel negative about money due to the conditioning of society. “People do what they feel, not what they think and that is why we have to change our whole outlook and attitude about money.”
He warned the audience that nothing in life comes easily and that creating and keeping wealth was a tough process that involved a lot of discipline. “Self discipline is the key. Be careful not to fall for consumerism,” he said.

Story & Photo: Marki Franken – Kholofelo Pholafudi, Business Hangout Network Seminar organiser, with keynote speaker, Andrew Barsa.