{"id":26467,"date":"2013-12-19T17:00:53","date_gmt":"2013-12-19T15:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/2013\/12\/employees-have-the-last-laugh-as-father-christmas-jumps\/"},"modified":"2013-12-19T17:00:53","modified_gmt":"2013-12-19T15:00:53","slug":"employees-have-the-last-laugh-as-father-christmas-jumps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/employees-have-the-last-laugh-as-father-christmas-jumps\/","title":{"rendered":"Employees have the last laugh as Father Christmas jumps"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Employees at a national insurer had the last laugh today after their CEO lost a bet that they could not beat last year\u2019s sales and was forced to dress up as Father Christmas and face his fear of heights by plunging off the world\u2019s highest commercial bridge bungee, the 216m high Bloukrans Bridge along the Southern Cape .<\/p>\n

Despite his fear of heights, Multisure Corporation<\/a> CEO Denton Goodford was forced to eat humble pie after jokingly betting employees last month that surpassing 2012\u2032s sales was next to impossible.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been a tough year for everyone,\u201d said Goodford, a former state prosecutor who started the company in the mid-2000s, \u201cso I never thought it would come to this. I said it half joking, but also wanting to try and motivate my staff and the company\u2019s marketers. I guess the joke was on me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Following his bet, Multisure\u2019s staff and marketers around the country went on a sales blitz, signing up thousands to the company\u2019s insurance policies. By mid-December, they had comfortably surpassed last year\u2019s sales.<\/p>\n

Multisure marketing assistant Kate Saunders-Puntis even went as far as sending out an email to the group\u2019s employees, saying: \u201cWe can\u2019t let a comment like that go. Bloukrans Bridge in the Southern Cape is the highest bungee jumping spot in the world! We think we should make Denton jump.\u201d<\/p>\n

With its headquarters in Port Elizabeth<\/a> and offices in Johannesburg<\/a>, Cape Town<\/a> and East London \u2013 and soon to open in Durban<\/a> and Bloemfontein \u2013 Multisure offers legal and funeral cover and has a national footprint of network marketers (known in the industry as independent consultants) who earn a second income from marketing the company\u2019s products.<\/p>\n

Shortly before taking the plunge off Bloukrans, Goodford joked that at least he made use of his company\u2019s products.<\/p>\n

Afterwards, he said: \u201cI\u2019ll never do that again, but it had to be done. Let this be a warning to all the CEOs out there \u2013 be careful what you say to your staff, because they\u2019ll hold you to it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Goodford has become a popular motivational speaker around the country, encouraging pupils and students to work hard and follow their dreams, as he did. Having grown up in Uitenhage, Goodford studied in Cape Town to become a state prosecutor. After returning to work in Uitenhage, he took to earning an extra income by driving a taxi part time as he furthered his studies to become an advocate. Later, after seeing the dire need for legal insurance among his clients, he started Multisure.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes you have to give up what you are successful at in order to enjoy more success,\u201d he said. \u201cThings won\u2019t always go according to plan. . . but decide on your values and constantly improve your knowledge about your business and industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Respect was also an important factor in success, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am always mindful to be grateful and remember to thank those who played a part in your life, no matter how small.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Denton<\/a><\/p>\n

Multisure CEO Denton Goodford was forced to face his fear of heights and bungee off Bloukrans Bridge, dressed as Father Christmas, after losing a bet with his employees.<\/p>\n

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