Time for reflection. A life unexamined is not worth living - Socrates

My recent vacation in Italy has been a wonderful experience in more ways than one. The combination of beautiful landscapes, art, lovely food and wine, centuries and centuries of history and then modern living in between was also in a way overwhelming. As much as one can try to get a grip on the history and cultures of the Middle Ages and before, you realise that you can only scratch the surface… and then go back wondering about life, time, planet earth, the universe and how you fit into all of it. Since life is full of mystery, even in this age of science, information and technology, we all become philosophers (in search of wisdom) at times - perhaps more so now than ever before since the more we think we know the more we realise how much we don’t know! One area of our thinking is often that of significance. I think most people believe there is something like eternity and that you don’t stop existing after death. I then often wonder: if our lives (let’s say 70 – 90 years) as we know it hear on earth is so very very short in comparison to eternity, does it mean that it is also insignificant in comparison to eternity? Or does it mean that it is precisely for that reason very, very significant – that we only have so many seconds to experience this life and then there is eternity (whatever conception we have of it)? You could probably argue that my question is an example of typical Western (linear) thinking. You could also say it is one of the many paradoxes that make life so interesting – but then so many things that we may think of as only interesting could in fact be very important in the context of eternity! Enough of that … maybe I’ve given you something to chew on in December - the month many people reflect on and contemplate things they would not in the rest of the year.

On my return I felt sympathy with the traveling South African CEO in particular and leaders in general. Being exposed to very different worlds in the North, East and West, I can imagine how hard it is to re-orientate in a day or two’s time to the realities we have to deal with in a hectic business environment – not to mention the effects of jet lag. Physical distance from the office usually presents the opportunity to get better sight of the ‘big picture’. But as we return we might already be aware of and fear the very good possibility that all the benefits of that better vision will disappear very quickly in the sea of day to day realities we need to deal with back at the office. I can imagine that the CEO on his return flight might be thinking –

· How can I get people, my team in particular, to see the big picture and the need for change? Some really need a wake-up call. Some, I suspect, pay lip-service to the organisation and are only motivated by their own agendas. People whose main concern is to protect their comfort zones or little empires can drain one’s emotional energy in a second.

· I’m tired of crisis management, but the reality is that there could very well be one waiting for me on my first day back at the office.

· We’ve been so busy this year … which I suppose is a good thing. But were we busy for the right reasons, doing the right things? Is it possible to be true to oneself, one’s dreams, beliefs, values and uniqueness and stay in business?

· I feel sooo RESPONSIBLE for everything. Should I relax more … but then who will think about our next step? The moment I take my foot of the pedal, everyone always seems to freeze with a question mark on their faces.


And then of course I assume no crisis at home and only loving support. As you know, we can be surrounded by friends and colleagues and remain very lonely when we wake up day after day with the weight of being responsible for so many things we can’t really control. Do you have someone outside of your work environment with the necessary level of understanding of your challenges that you can trust and respect and at least share some of the emotions and thoughts that I have described?


My sympathy/empathy with leaders in general grows when I think about the pains of transformation in our society. The challenge to find and build enough unity and common purpose amongst people, who in many respects have different worldviews coming from their different cultures, is a huge one. (A recently published book by BJ van der Walt with the title: When African and Western cultures meet, from confrontation to appreciation, grapples with this challenge). 12 years into our democratic dispensation and one has to say that there is a lot of disillusionment. I believe that people of all different backgrounds will tolerate most of the problems we experience in the country, if they could only have the confidence that those people who are in leadership positions (all different levels and all different spheres) are morally strong, humble and committed to serve others. Therefore, if a person can make any contribution towards establishing that trust, he/she is indeed doing something very meaningful and significant for a future South Africa. By raising the bar for myself I also raise the bar for others.


So, that was my word of inspiration, encouragement and appreciation in my last communication of the year. May God bless you, your loved ones, our country and our Africa. May you enjoy a wonderful, peaceful and joyous Christmas time.



If you’d like to meet for a coffee and a chat in December, let us do so (if you are in Johannesburg/Pretoria). Send me an email.