Everyone is born to be great

THERE is no stopping this 42-year-old Verwoerdpark resident to turn his dreams into reality, and he is not waiting for tomorrow to seize the moment – after all, the time is now!

Veli Ndaba was born in Soweto, and after finishing his schooling, he qualified as a mechanical engineer. Through hard work and dedication, he soon reached managerial level but something was amiss. “I did not feel alive. It was as if something was suffocating me, and I knew I had to make a change. After all, if we do not move forward, life will just move on without us,” he said.

It was then that he realised that he will have to make the decision to move on and move forward with life before he is left behind. Three years ago he started his own business, Sekusile Technical Services. Aptly so, the business is called Sekusile, which means a new day or early in the morning, and his slogan is: “Now is the time.”

Specialising in corporate training, life and business coaching, Veli also had no doubt that for him to be his best ever, there is always something one can improve. That was when he joined Alberton Toastmasters in the same year he started his business.

“If one shows the courage to commit, then you have to commit properly. Fear is the one thing that holds most people back. It is that fear of the unknown and living your life in a safety zone, that makes many older people wonder what they could have been when they reach retirement.”

He agrees that Toastmasters enabled him to communicate even better and gaining even more confidence when dealing with customers and doing his presentations.

Today, three years later, and in his dedication to succeed, he was elected president of Alberton Toastmasters for 2014/2015, and the club’s theme for this year is of course, “Courage to commit”.

On a personal note:

Veli Ndaba is a family man and married to Mpumi, also a Toastmaster. They are blessed with two sons, Ntokozo and Sanele. Understanding and treasuring the importance of family life and the development of young children, Veli often offers his services free of charge to schools where he gives motivational talks to the learners. “We are all born into greatness. It is our own personal insecurities that keeps us behind in life. Children need to learn this at an early stage. They need to realise that each and every one of them were born into this world to do great and amazing things. Sometimes they just need to be reminded and guided into the right direction.”

Leading Toastmasters

When he joined Toastmasters his intention was to improve. With a former president, Ronnie Martin, as his mentor, Veli completed his Competent Communicator’s Programme and he was subsequently elected president.

Assisting him will be a committee consisting of Sofia Tasker (VP Education), Quinton Losper (VP Membership), Chris Haddon (VP Relationships), Richard Hiscock (treasurer), Athol Nicolls (secretary), Thea Haddon (Sergeant at Arms), Brian Gorden-Davis (Immediate Past President).

If you are serious about improving your communication and leadership skills, which automatically increases your confidence level, look no further. Join the Alberton Toastmasters. You can make contact with the following members: Chris Haddon sales@trackafrica.co.za  or 082 4418107or Veli Ndaba veli.ndaba@sekusile-ts.co.za