I received a copy of It’s Not A Big Thing In Life: Strategies for Coping Considerations for my adult grandchildren in exchange for this review.
I sat down to read this new book on Fathers Day as I was missing my dad. But through the book I could feel not only my own dad but David’s and I was able to call him and wish him a Happy Fathers Day just like I would have done my own dad.
I thought reading It’s Not A Big Thing In Life: Strategies for coping Considerations for my adult grandchildren would help me cope with the day better as I learned what the Author wanted to share with his grandchildren.
As I began reading I felt myself pulled into the story and I felt like talking about my dad to Charlie. I found myself sharing stories I didn’t know I remembered but hearing the Author jostled my memory.
I can never thank him enough for writing It’s Not A Big Thing In Life: Strategies for coping Considerations for my adult grandchildren not only for his grandchildren but individuals everywhere.
I can even see Charlie and I referring back to It’s Not A Big Thing In Life: Strategies for coping Considerations for my adult grandchildren in our Homeschool Classes.
As I finished the book Charlie let me know he wanted to borrow it to share some things inside with his dad. To me that meant more than life itself because it was allowing Charlie to share reading with David bringing them closer together on Fathers Day.
United Kingdom – In a world of algorithms and artificial intelligence this timeless and universal common-sense guide bridges the gap between the generations.
Originally written as food for thought ‘considerations,’ for his grandchildren, Arnie Witkin’s book doesn’t preach or prescribe. With empathy, the benefit of experience, and candour, Arnie engages the reader and asks them to consider what actions could be taken when handling life’s troubles and triumphs. The most important question is ‘What do I do now?’
The book offers a distillation of Arnie’s own experiences – from awkward and obese teenager to highly successful fund manager and in the past 17 years, speech writer, public speaking coach, executive coach, and mentor. Valuable insights can be found on every page in this easy-to-read treatise.
‘Ever since I can remember, my grandpa has been a constant source of insight, wisdom, and advice. When I was a very small child in London, he and I would sit in these big chairs and “contemplate the universe.”
He taught me at a very young age some of the most important things I know today. Amongst many other things, I learned about the value of family and loved ones, to listen and keep an open mind to other’s thoughts, to strive for happiness and to differentiate between the really big things from those that aren’t big things in life. I will always hold these values close, thank you Grandpa.’ Sarah Witkin … eldest grandchild
“5.0 out of 5 stars Should be given to every school-leaver!” said reviewer Neil Everitt.
Continuing “This is a fabulous book, really well presented and easy to read (and digest). I found it to be a great guidebook which I am sure will be of immense help and inspiration both to the titular recipients (the author’s adult grandchildren) as well as everyone else lucky enough to read it.
My only wish is that I could have read the book as I left school and had it with me as a companion on my life journey, the insights and values shared are very powerful.”
Synopsis:
‘It’s all about your big things in life and your less big things in life and the energy that you assign to each’ says author Arnie Witkin.
Covering an impressive 65 topics, ranging from love and relationships, humour as a coping strategy, the power of vulnerability and facing difficult challenges and decisions, there’s also advice and insights on age old issues such as anger, jealousy, envy, and trust.
Likewise contemporary issues such as how to deal with sexting, cyber bullies, pornography, racism, gambling, and drugs are subject to Arnie’s wise words and reflections.
A key message is that all the ubiquitous technology and screen time in the world won’t change those basic human emotions that have been around since time immemorial.
The foreword was written by iconic West Indian Test Cricketer, now commentator, Michael Holding. Illustrations are by famed South African cartoonist, Dov Fedler.
About the author:
Arnie was one of the most successful investment managers in South Africa in the 1980s up to 2004. He is informally known there as ‘The Father of Private Equity.’ In 2001 he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and in 2004 retired from formal business. In 2009 he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
He has been married for 47 years, has two sons and six grandchildren. Apart from his family and friends, his passions include investments, public speaking, mentoring, golf, cricket, listening to big band music and understanding the human condition.
He invented a chess opening – The Witkin Gambit,
Book details:
Publisher: Angel Glow Press
Language: English
Print Length: 206 pages
Available in the UK on Amazon:
About Arnie Witkin
Arnie Witkin is a speechwriter, public speaking coach, executive coach, mentor and author. He has been married for 47 years, has two sons and six grandchildren.
Early life
Arnie was born in Johannesburg in 1944. He attended Saxonwold Primary School, Parktown Boys High School, Damelin College and University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), where he studied accountancy.
He was a keen sportsman, playing cricket, squash, tennis, table tennis and soccer. A broken ankle when he was 15 side-lined him for two years. He had always had a tendency towards obesity, but that period of inactivity exacerbated the condition. In 1961 he weighed over 120 kgs (265lbs). In 1965 his weight was down to 80kgs (180lbs).
London in the mid-sixties
After qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1965 he went to London for two years. He worked in London as the accountant for the London Playboy Club and the financial director of an advertising agency.
Career in South Africa
He returned to Johannesburg in 1968 and became a member of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) with his father’s firm. In 1971 he left stockbroking and started a number of entrepreneurial businesses, including a Chinese restaurant and an Instant Print company.
In 1976 he became the investment manager of Legal and General Assurance Company of South Africa (L&G). For the five years 1977 to 1981 inclusive, L&G were the top performing institution in the country.
Private Equity
In 1982, with the backing of L&G, he started New Bernica Limited, the first formalised private equity company in South Africa. It took minority stakes in private companies, seeing them through growth periods before listing on the JSE. He was informally known as ‘The Father of Private Equity’ in South Africa.
In 1989 90% of the investments were listed and New Bernica was ‘unbundled,’ the assets were distributed to the shareholders and the company was delisted. Shareholders had received an internal rate of return (IRR) of 40% p.a. Arnie was responsible for six innovations on the JSE.
Emigration
In 1989 Arnie and his family emigrated to London where he consulted to a merchant bank and a South African investment company for two years. For the subsequent three years he was unemployed and had to live off dwindling capital resources.
Return to South Africa and private equity
After the South African elections in 1994 Arnie founded another private equity company, NSA Investments Limited, listed on the JSE. In 1997 this was taken over by Gensec Limited, a subsidiary of General Mining Corporation (Gencor). The shareholders received an IRR of 31% p.a.. In partnership with Gensec he then started Gensec/NSA Equity Fund.
Cancer
In 2001 he was diagnosed with advanced Thyroid Cancer. Following the operation he could only speak in a high pitched whisper before he was able to have corrective surgery in 2004. About 70% of his voice was restored. As a result of his poor health he retired from active business.
In 2009 he was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and also discovered that the Thyroid Cancer had Metastasised to his lungs. He was put on a Chemotherapy drug for 18 months and the Cancer remained muted until 2019 when it flared up again. At the time of writing, he has been on the same drug for 18 months.
Apart from that he is in good health and still playing golf three times a week!
Young Presidents’ Organisation (YPO)
Arnie has been a member of the pre-eminent international business organisation, YPO, since 1985. He was chairman of the London chapter for five years and chairman of the Europe Region for three years. He was on the main board of the World Presidents’ Organisation (WPO) which was the alumni organisation of YPO. The two have now merged.
Major speaking engagements
Arnie has spoken twice at the annual South African Financial Mail conference on the outlook for equities. He also addressed the International Conference on Private Equity in Montreal in 2000, speaking on private equity in South Africa.
Arnie appeared on the television programme ‘Diagonal Street’, a business programme on South Africa Television and was a finalist in the Association of Speakers’ Clubs annual speech competition in 1991. He is frequently asked to speak at family and business events.
Mentoring
For the past 16 years he has focussed on mentoring YPO members and adult children of YPOers, in addition to independent entrepreneurs. He also teaches people how to speak in public and writes speeches when required.
The Witkin Gambit
In the 1975 Twins Johannesburg Open chess championship Arnie played a chess opening that he had been experimenting with for two years. In the game against former South African champion Eddie Price, Arnie’s third move was an innovation that had never been seen before.
It was the sacrifice of a pawn – a gambit. The game was written up in the Star newspaper by the chess correspondent, Kurt Dreyer, also a former South African champion. Dreyer coined the phrase ‘The Witkin Gambit’ and concluded that it was perfectly playable.
The gambit has recently been analysed in greater detail by grandmaster Dejan Bojkov who concluded that it led to interesting, sharp and bright play with chances on both sides.
The Witkin Gambit can only be played against the Alekhine’s defence. Alekhine was one of the greatest chess grandmasters of all time. The sequence of moves is as follows: 1. E4 Nf6 2. E5 Nd5 3. F4 This is the sacrifice.
Arnie’s success record with the gambit on the Internet is over 90%, but it must be borne in mind that he has a relatively low rating so the gambit has never been tested against really good players.
Writing
In 2018 he started writing It’s Not a Big Thing in Life: Strategies for Coping. Considerations for my adult grandchildren.’ The book is a distillation of his experiences and philosophies learned over a rich and complex business and personal life.
It shows his vulnerability and his strategies for coping with life’s troubles and triumphs. It is not prescriptive or preaching. Rather he asks the readers to ‘consider’ what he says and take whatever action they think is appropriate for themselves.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
