A former teacher at Fairmont High School – also a professional speaker, trainer, consultant, life and corporate coach – has published his first ebook.
André van Eck (36), who lived in Brackenfell until 2021 but now lives in Worcester, published his ebook Strategies to advance your career: How to get ahead, thrive and stay relevant in the rapidly changing workplace of the 21st century.
The book, a self-help and business non-fiction book, is a synthesis of various academic disciplines including business, psychology, sociology, management science, philosophy, education, history, and leadership.
He matriculated from Montana High School in 2005.
After finishing school, he started working for a local retailer. After only a year and at the young age of 20 he was promoted to a supervisory position, where his duties included stock management and control, as well as staff management and training of staff.
True passion
After a few years in the business sector, he went to university to pursue his true passion of education. Throughout his teaching career he has worked in adult, special needs, foreign language, and secondary school education.
He has taught at Hex Valley High School in De Doorns in the Breede Valley in 2020,where he was subject head of English, and at Fairmont High School in Durbanville in 2021.
In addition to his training as a teacher, he holds a degree in English and history with psychology as an additional subject.
He also completed a university certificate in counselling.
Van Eck is not nearly done with his studies as he is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in history.
He is focusing on his speaking and writing business and acts as a consultant for a trust with the writing and publication of a history book.
“I also still teach and tutor students on a freelance and part-time basis,” he says.
André used his knowledge and experience of business, as well as his research skills as a history graduate and historian, to write his book.
Van Eck consulted a wide range of sources for his research ranging from audiovisual sources and documentaries to academic, non-fiction and business books, academic journal articles, as well as various articles from business magazines and business websites.
Research
The research he did for his book led to him to developing the 12 Career Advancement Strategies, that his book is based on. At the beginning of his speaking career André was a protégé of Dr Gustav Gous, Speaker Hall of Fame Inductee and former president of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA), who mentored him.
André’s book is available in ebook format from the online retailer Amazon.
It will also be available in paperback at a later stage.
