#YourBetterSelf

  What do you do when you are deeply disappointed by a loss? How do you handle betrayal from someone you thought you trusted? How long do you celebrate a triumph?  Everyone has a way of dealing with the aftermath of incidences of this nature when they occur. Some ways can be destructive, even leading to depression. Other ways can be helpful in moving on, and staying the course towards a more desired or positive outcome. After watching the Netflix Docuseries, entitled, “The Playbook: A Coach's Rules for Life” I got an interesting insight on how to move on after facing a loss, an undesirable situation or even a victory! The Series provide a fresh perspective with behind-the-scenes views from some of the biggest coaching names in athletics. The Coaches share the rules they live by to achieve success in sports and in life. The featured coaches include: Doc Rivers, Jill Ellis, José Mourinho, Patrick Mouratoglou, and Coach Dawn Staley. The sub-title for the series: ‘A Coach’s...

  So today – 17 April 2022 marks 18 years since I walked down the aisle with my beloved Sweetheart and Wife - Gertrude. Prior to the wedding, there were several hurdles we worked through, including: arrangement of the dowry negotiations, preparation of the traditional wedding and later the white wedding we held on this day 18 years ago. Coming from different cultures, we had to quickly acquaint ourselves with each other’s’ cultural dynamics.   At the same time we had to (and have had to) chart a unique course for ourselves acknowledging our respective cultures while mindful of how to celebrate our love towards each other. I still recall our wedding day like it happened yesterday. It was wonderful; and it went fast! Our family and friends joined us to witness our exchange of vows. Through the years, we have done our very best to live those vows – through thick and thin. Today we are Celebrating this Milestone of our wedding anniversary. We have heard stories of people...

  This past week, I was privileged to attend the Enterprise Supplier Development Training sponsored by Impala Mines ( http://www.implats.co.za/pdf/fact-sheets/implats-enterprise-development-fact-sheet-april-2016.pdf ) and facilitated by Classic Oriental Consultancy (PTY) Ltd ( https://classicoriental.co.za/ ). Our class of participants comprised budding Entrepreneurs like myself. All of us are at different stages of our entrepreneurial journey. The interesting thing, I found about the class is the diversity of the industries represented. One Entrepreneur alone is involved in PPE Supplies, Events Management and Logistics under one company. Others are into Farming, Construction, Information Technology, Tourism, Mining Supplies and so on. The profound message that was clearly conveyed by all the Session Facilitators revolved around acquiring knowledge and actually applying that knowledge. The host facilitator Mr Thapelo Rapoo dramatically demonstrated why knowledge is important fo...

  What are you not doing that you should be doing? What are you doing that you should not be doing? What were you supposed to have done that you did not do? What do you enjoy doing that you have ignored for so long? Do you know what you are supposed to be doing now, at this point in your life? Are you happy with what you are doing in your life right now? When will you start doing it… that which you know serves you well, and brings out the best in you? Doing that one thing; that one must do to make a difference in one’s own life and the lives of the loved ones, is a challenge that many find themselves in. How come we find it a challenge to do that one thing, which could lead to our breakthrough? What stops us from being bold to take that very first step, especially when we are aware of that which must be done? Is it fear of success or fear of failure, or laziness? "You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind," so says an Irish Proverb. In other w...

There is pleasure in giving. In fact one ancient author famously known as Luke says, “it better to give than to receive.” “What has giving got to do with anything?”, one may ask. But it has a lot to do with how one perceives life. From a Coaching perspective, I get curious about how much we give to ourselves as individuals, that is, from time to attention and everything in between. The other day, I was inspired to clear my wardrobe of clothes that no longer fitted and still in very good condition. In fact some I had worn only about three times. After doing a sterling job of clearing, I looked at the heap of clothes and asked myself, “What am I going to do with these now?” And something told me, “take them to the Hospice!” And so a few days later, I did just that. After dropping them off, I felt a warm pleasurable feeling of accomplishment. I thought to myself, this is interesting! So this is really what it means, when the good book says, it is better to give than to re...

I recently had the privilege of interacting with members of the Student Representative Council (SRC) from Tshwane North College (TNC) during a Leadership Training Workshop facilitated by Unity Actions. These types of leadership workshops are organized by the College(s) to equip the Student Leaders with grounded knowledge and practical skills to fulfil their role of Student Governance effectively. As usual in such settings, we get to discuss our individual understanding and the concept of Leadership in broad and specific terms. Earlier this year, Ronnie Letshabo, an avid writer and author, published a book entitled: Leadership – the answer to everything. In that book, which is a master-piece for anyone who wants to venture in any kind of Leadership role, Ronnie has named each Chapter beginning with the title: Leadership is… So during the SRC workshop, we inevitably had to define the concept of Leadership from a position of personal understanding. Hence we started our contributi...

  Every time you look in the mirror, you will see your face looking right back at you. The mirror is a great invention. Stories from the olden days, are told about how colonialists presented mirrors as gifts to African Chiefs who would be so amused in wonderment about seeing their own images for the first time. For some odd reason, in return, the Chiefs would permit the colonialists to take men and women and children away in slavery. But this is not a history lesson. As a Coach I am always intrigued by the mirror both as a metaphor and a physical object. In the song entitled: Man in the mirror, Michael Jackson sings: “I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways.” The mirror is fair. It simply reflects back, what is placed in its sight. The mirror simply replicates what is placed in front of it. It shows exactly what it sees and how it sees it! “Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”   So goes the famous line in ...