Christmas time is always a bad time for my family when it comes to eating.

There is always so much to eat and it tastes just divine overeating really cant be helped.
And then comes January when we are all on serious detox programmes.

This year was no different, of course.
But with the rushing out to buy all the healthiest, bestest, most organic foods we could find, we found ourselves running out of cupboard space to pack all this healthy stuff.

And at the back of one of our healthy cupboards I discovered yes lurking in the darkness in a corner a tin of condensed milk.
What to do?
That tin had been in the cupboard for about 6 months, completely hidden away and unused.
But now it could not stay there anymore.
It was sure to lead us into temptation it had to go!!!

But where to put it?
I couldnt throw it away!

Eventually, after a long hard think, the only available spot I could find was a little opening on a shelf right above our kettle.
And that was where I left it.

Now for the big question.
The tin had been hiding in the cupboard for 6 months.
How long do you think it lasted out in the open just above the kettle (a place that gets visited at least 10 times a day for various coffee and tea breaks)

Take a guess.

How long do you think?

Well, I am ashamed to say that the answer is a whole 4 days.

So what in the heck does my sweet tooth have to do with your business?

An immense amount actually.

Think about this the tin of condensed milk never tried to sell itself to me.
No hard sell involved.
It wasnt being pushy.
In fact it didnt even say a word.

But what did it do?
Nothing - it was just there.
It was creating an awareness.
And eventually, when I was ready, I HAD to give in.

In your business, do you have a plan in place to stay in contact regularly with your customers and your potential customers.
Remember you dont have to sell to them for them to buy from you.
You simply have to be in their awareness all the time.
Once a week, once a month.

But whatever you do, never drop the ball.

Eventually when they are ready for you (and if you are in their top-of-mind awareness), then you are the only person they will come to.

Put in place a 7-point system to stay in contact (over the next 7 weeks or whatever works for you), and then stick to that system.

Youll be amazed by how clever a tin of condensed milk actually is.

Rudi Jansen

Who is Rudi?

A Chartered Accountant. Who likes a challenge. And thinks outside the box.

Who pauses to say - is there a better way? Because, surely there is?

My Upbringing I had a very happy childhood in a South African coastal town, called Hermanus. A magical place where a mountain falls into the ocean. Where whales come right up to the beach to give birth to their young. Where there is champagne air and natural green beauty all around. Where, on a windblasted, stormy night, the white waves crash high up onto the dark moonlit cliffs.

The Challenge At the age of 23, after having bummed around aimlessly for a number of years, I decided to start my part-time studies to become a chartered accountant. Being single and ferociously independent, it was something that was impossible to afford on a full time basis. But I wanted it so much! My solution was to work in a pub during the day and study at night. Social life and friends - The choice I made did not leave much time for this. In retrospect, an incredibly painful and tough journey.

No One Believed In Me I remember the 1st year I started out - at that time, the only person who thought I would make it, was me. Everyone else ranged between the outright "You are totally crazy - give up right now" to the hesitant "You know, very few people are successful doing this part-time. It is REALLY tough."

7 years later I finally drank a toast to a piece of paper that recognised me for being a chartered accountant. And smiled.

Who Do I Believe In? I believe in people who will go against the odds to make it work. Because I have.

In fact, I have a passion for people who go against the odds to make it work.

Which is why I have a huge passion for entrepreneurs. Those ones who are a little crazy, who are absolutely passionate in what they believe in and ultimately want to make a difference to the world.

It breaks my heart to see such people - and their dreams - smashed against the rocks by the stormy seas they find themselves in. Because it is much more than just their dreams being broken. Much more.

That is the reason I've developed this business. It is my passion. My dream. It is much bigger than me.

And with Skype Video Call - You can now reach me wherever you are in the world. If I can't help you turn your business around - then I don't deserve your money!