Page 57 - KZN Leaders Portfolio E-BOOK 2107

Owner of Pro-Appointments, founder and chairperson of my strengths on a daily basis with a team of professional
the Robin Hood Foundation and driven staff. I love seeing people develop and grow
and I love the motivational speaking.”
INDY NORCOTT a business leader in constant
motion and it comes as no surprise that her She is emphatic that she is not a perfectionist but
book is titled ‘How to be Unstoppable’. rather a planner and stickler for lists. She lives by what
CApart from being an author she is a wife, she calls the basics. “Every Sunday evening between
mother to two girls, a businesswoman, has climbed 5.30pm and 8.30pm, I pour myself a glass of wine and
Kilimanjaro, built a crèche for needy children, has do a comprehensive ‘to do’ list for every area of my life”.
her own foundation, is a motivational speaker and The process helps her plan, keep focused and gives her
an entrepreneur who single handedly launched her the “confidence to say no”.
business, Pro Appointments, 22 years ago. She launched She believes in goals that have value. “I have learnt
her company in a spare room of her parents’ home with that, if an activity is not taking me closer my goal, I
an old desk, a couple of chairs, a telephone, fax machine simply won’t do it.” Apart from her energy-charged
and typewriter. motivational and inspirational speaking engagements and
“I started my business at 24 with R2 500 in my bank appearances, she is most proud about the contribution
account, and I have never had to touch that money. I she is making to the community through her Robin Hood
have never applied for a loan and I have been blessed to Foundation.
have been able to increase my profits year on year.” Eleven years ago she launched the Robin Hood
Norcott attributes her success to hard work, being Foundation – a non-profit organisation, running
exceptionally disciplined and surrounding herself with projects such as Love the Babies, Bless Granny and
“amazing” people. Failure she says was never an option. Grandpa, Hope Breakfasts and Gogo Bags. “We host
Although her business was from home, she would wake entrepreneurial conferences and parties for schools
up, get dressed and start work at the same time every with children with special needs. We run more than
day. “I worked all day filling assignments and visiting 100 projects per year and our focus is helping people in
clients and, at night, I would do my administration and need. As the name suggests, we take from the rich and
invoices. Every weekend I would work in my business we give to the poor. Through our work individuals and
and on my business plan. I loved what I was doing and I organisations are making a difference.”
was having fun.” She is strong on leadership. “I work with teams of

It was not easy and, she points out, with success people and they know what to do and how to do it
came growth and she had to learn new skills.“I lacked but when you can inspire people to do more than they
general business and accounting skills when I started thought they could, that is when the magic happens.
and I had to have a very steep learning curve to get my I have been gifted with a mind full of ideas and I love
head around the figures. I lacked managerial skills and walking away from a meeting where there has been
I battled in the beginning to be assertive and handle crackling energy and where I see lights going on in
conflict, especially when it came to dealing with staff.” people’s eyes. I believe that a good leader will get
people to do more than they think they can.”
Today her business in Westville is among the leaders in
the field. She has a team of nine staff and the focus is on She has won dozens of awards over the years for
placements of temporary, contract and permanent staff in business excellence and community involvement.
the fields of office support, accounts and sales. Awards that have meant a lot to her include the Paul
Success for Norcott is a combination of factors. “More Harris award from Westville Rotary and the Lead SA KZN
than profit I know that a happy business person is an Hero award. She was also awarded the Most Influential
opportunity thinker, has an ever increasing attitude of Woman in Business and Government award in the
gratitude, is anchored in self-respect and guides people.” services category in 2014 and also voted one of the 29
She says consistency and growing her skills and learning awesome women of the year by Cosmopolitan magazine.
more in her field has increased her credibility. She has drawn inspiration from a number of leaders in
Integrity is everything for Norcott. She says she was society including Nelson Mandela and Oprah Winfrey.
told by a wise businessman never to confuse integrity and She also pays tribute to her business mentor whom she
reputation. “He said reputation is what everyone thinks names only as Andrew. “I have also been inspired by
you are and integrity is who you really are. I believe that if Richard Branson and John Maxwell. I was lucky enough
you operate with integrity, you sleep well and you never to have my mentor, Andrew, in my first three years of
have to worry about remembering any lies.” business. He helped me push myself, believe in myself
and become more accountable”.
She is passionate about all the things she does. She
also mentors start up entrepreneurs free of charge Norcott’s book is an account of the lessons learnt as
and does motivational talks at various churches and a business leader. It challenges you to reconsider your
community organisations. “I love business and I really goals and actions, and encourages you to dream bigger
enjoy running my recruitment company and employing and expect more of yourself.

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