From 2001 to 2007, times were good. Plenty of monkeys climbed into the tree. From 2008 to 2012, times were tough, the tree was shaking. Plenty monkeys fell out the tree. From 2013 till 2022, times were good. Plenty moneys climbed the tree. Now the tree is shaking again. Take heart! The tree can’t shake…
Years ago, I had a minor travel disaster. Flying back from Colombia, I had been booked via New York to Joburg. As I was checking in at Bogota airport the attendant asked me for my USA visa. Me: “I don’t have one, but not to worry, I’m not leaving JFK airport, I’m connecting direct to…
(This is an extract from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz) Taking things personally is the maximum expression of selfishness because we make the assumption that everything is about “me”. All people live in their own dream, in their own mind and their own world. A world created by the agreements they have made…
The Proteas didn’t cover themselves in glory in the last T20 World Cup. But they didn’t choke. They simply got strategy wrong. Normally batsmen and bowlers are the scarce resources. In T20 time is the scarce resource. You have to pack in your best batsmen and bowlers early on… no point in leaving ammunition in…
In South African law, the over-arching principle is, “Substance over form.” In essence, this means the law is based upon actions not words. “I did not kill him,” is not a defence in itself. Especially if there is physical evidence that you did kill him. On the other hand, stating “I killed him,” is not…
Kids are essential for when you have a bad day at the office. Sometimes you drive home, feeling like a loser, picture putting a wet towel on your head and kicking the dog.And then you open the front door and your little girl comes running to you, oblivious to the “loser” label you’ve given yourself,…
There is physical risk. There is financial risk. But the greatest risk in life is to trust someone. You can always fix a broken arm or make back your millions. But a broken heart is much more difficult to mend. Richard Dawkins became famous in 1976 for writing The Selfish Gene. He argued that humans…
You’re leaving office. You look at your laptop, and you think, “Maybe I should just leave it on desk.” You won’t need it again until you’re back in office in the morning. What harm in not taking it home? Then you wake up at 2am, can’t sleep, get up. May as well do some work…
The most important think when choosing a life partner is shared values. This is not a race thing, this is a culture thing.And then, once married, the secret is to accept that “tolerance” and “compromise” are now a way of life, for both of you. If you refuse to accept that, then accept that you…
You have a lawn. You like it being smooth and green. And then a mole arrives. Every morning you awaken to a new mole hill. A new bump on your verdant carpet. What to do? Poison? Exterminators? Owl house? Nope. Just fill the hole, smooth the lawn, carry on. Moles exist. Moles dig holes. (The…
When someone says, “He’s a mercenary,” run. And don’t stop running. Stay far far away, never be tempted to hire or partner, no matter how desperate for help. People with the characteristics of mercenaries are psychopaths, pure and simple. They simply can’t think of anyone and anything other than themselves. They will destroy everyone and…
There will be many obstacles along the way. Headwinds slowing you down. Blocking your path. What do you do? Fight? Push harder? Wring your hands with fear and worry? You think that will take you to success? No. Rather use your brain. Figure out how you turn the obstacle into a helping hand. Instead of…