ORT Jet Business Community

17/10/2026

TESTIMONIAL TUESDAY | AN ORTTOBER STORY 💙

"Sometimes, all it takes is someone who helps you see things differently.After a difficult period in my life and career, I was feeling professionally and financially stuck. Despite trying to create new opportunities for myself, I struggled to see a way forward.Through my interactions with Ian Janet at ORT Jet, I was encouraged to look inward, reflect on my circumstances and approach things from a different perspective. What followed was an unexpected turning point. New work opportunities began coming my way, and an opportunity I had applied for months earlier resurfaced. On 28 September, I started a new job. While I cannot attribute these changes to any one thing, I am incredibly grateful for Ian’s guidance and for the fresh perspective he gave me during a time when I needed it most." - Annelize Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen

As we celebrate ORTtober, we’re reminded that behind every journey is a person, a challenge and the possibility of a new beginning. This is what mentorship can mean: having someone in your corner who encourages you to keep going, even when the way forward isn't clear.

17/10/2026

17/10/2026

16/10/2026

We asked our team to explain ORT Jet in one sentence! 🎬✨

From fueling businesses to the next level to helping ideas take flight, watch to see how our amazing crew describes what we do best.

Do you know an entrepreneur or business owner who needs a boost? Tag them below! 👇

GrowthMindset

14/10/2026

Every business has a story. Every entrepreneur has a journey worth celebrating. 💙

For ORTtober, we’re looking back at the ORT Jet Business of the Year winners from 2016 to 2025, entrepreneurs who have turned ideas into businesses, navigated challenges and continued building their dreams.

But these are just some of the stories that make up the ORT Jet community. Behind every business is a journey of its own, and there’s always more to the story.

Now, one question remains… 👀

🏆 Who will be the 2026 Business of the Year?

Stay tuned. The next chapter is coming.

08/10/2026

What does it take to build a business that lasts?

For Colin Lazarus, CEO of Lazarus Motor Company, the answer has never been just about selling cars.

It’s about people, service and trust.

From a family business that began in 1957 to a 12-brand automotive operation, Colin’s story is a reminder that while businesses evolve, some fundamentals never change.

SERVICE ISN’T A SLOGAN.

It’s something your customers should experience.

Don’t just tell people you provide great service. Give them a reason to talk about it.

PEOPLE ARE THE BUSINESS.

Hire the right people. Coach them. Train them. Know when to move on — and when you find the right people, look after them.

FIX THE PROBLEM FAST.

Growing up around farmers taught Colin an important lesson: when a tractor breaks down, waiting isn’t an option.

That same thinking carried into his approach to automotive service. When something goes wrong, customers need solutions — not excuses.

DON’T WAIT FOR BUSINESS.

Build the relationship. Understand the customer. Know your product.

Don’t simply wait for an opportunity to walk through the door. Create the opportunity.

And perhaps the biggest lesson of all:

TRUST COMPOUNDS.

One of the clearest signs that you’ve built something meaningful is when a customer can say:

“My grandfather bought from your grandfather. Now I’m buying from you.”

That’s more than a sale.

That’s trust passed from one generation to the next.

As we continue ORTtober, this conversation is a powerful reminder that building a lasting business isn’t only about growth.

It’s about building something people believe in, return to and recommend.

🎙️ What was your biggest takeaway from Colin Lazarus’ conversation with David Zinzan Zidel?

Tell us in the comments 👇