Finding closure by yourself

Certain situations will move on without you, leaving you behind without a reason. They will leave you without closure. As a result you are left wondering why? Some situations will leave you no choice but to find closure on your own and move on. The death of a loved one, the loss of a job,…

Everybody needs a shrink

Someone I know believes that a key part of their role as a manager is as a therapist. Their reasoning is straightforward: “Everybody needs a shrink. And, it is often the manager’s role to be that person.” I have come to believe in the “everybody needs a shrink” idea over time. We all have work through…

Wisdom and stillness

I am beginning to believe that wisdom lies in calm, in stillness. It is in stillness that we are truly aware, of ourselves, our surroundings and the world. It is in stillness that we have a perspective that is beyond the here and now. And, it requires stillness to filter the noise caused by the…

If A equals success…

"If A equals success, then the formula is: A=X+Y+Z. X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut." - Albert Einstein Let’s look at the 3 variables in this equation. They are:1. Work2. Play3. Keeping your mouth shut! 1. Work: Albert Einstein had a tremendous work ethic and because of that gave…

Capitalism vs. The Climate

In her book This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate, one of my favourite author and activist, Naomi Klein says the following about the dangers posed by climate change: _______________________________________________________ “Slavery wasn’t a crisis for British and American elites until abolitionism turned it into one. Racial discrimination wasn’t a crisis until the civil rights movement…

Listening more…

If we want our ideas to be embraced, we have two choices. We can shout to be heard, or we can listen to understand. When we shout, we are not even sure who is listening. We assume because we are shouting people are listening, but we mistake hearing for listening. They may hear our noise,…

The journey to finding yourself

In her book Me, My Selfie and Eye: A Midlife Conversation About Lost Identity, Janna Lopez struggles with the challenges that comes with her midlife crisis. In an endeavour to rediscover her identity, she goes to see her counsellor who advised her to do the following three things: exercise, writing and meditation. Who have identity…

Do schools kill creativity?

"If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original." "Creativity is as important now in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status." "If a man speaks his mind in the forest and no woman hears him, is he still wrong?" Rest in peace…

Stories we tell…

Most entrepreneur stories: Start with what the marketer needs to say, not with what the customer wants to hear. Describe product features and benefits, instead of customer problems and desired outcomes. Prioritise conversion above emotional connection. Seek to build brand awareness rather than create brand affinity. Invite customers to pay attention while ignoring opportunities to…

Which is worse…

Failure or fear of failure? Fear or fear of fear? Trying and failing or not trying at all? Speaking up and not being heard, or suffering in silence? Caring and losing, or not caring at all? Doing or wondering? Creating or watching?

Sawubona and the pandemic

A couple of years ago I had the privilege to give a TEDx talk on the isiZulu greeting of Sawuboona. Sawubona means We See You. It means we do not only see and acknowledge you, but we also see and acknowledge your lineage. We bring you and your lineage into existence of our present meeting.…