| Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela. | | | | And so, here I am, giving thought to what it means to |
| On the 18th of July 2010 Nelson Mandela celebrated his | | | | me to be a South African. |
| 92nd birthday. South Africans have been asked to | | | | To me it means: |
| give 67 minutes to uplifting South Africa on this day. At | | | | * Being proud of what has been achieved over the |
| the time of writing this I find myself sitting on a plane a | | | | past 16 years. |
| few thousand kilometers above this wonderful country | | | | * Being free to express the part of my culture that |
| of which I am so proud of, thinking of a way in which I | | | | makes me uniquely South African. A combination of |
| can pay tribute to this man with my 67 minutes. And | | | | heritage and an ever-evolving aspect of my present |
| so, I realized that I could spend the next 67 minutes | | | | daily interactions. |
| writing this post and giving thought to all the things that | | | | * Immense pride at our World Class World Cup |
| South Africa has done for me, and meant to me over | | | | achievement. |
| the years, in the hope that it will do the same for those | | | | * Opportunity. As an entrepreneur in South Africa, I |
| who read it. | | | | see awesome ability and great market opportunity. |
| Firstly, it's important to note that Nelson Mandela is an | | | | We can both contribute and take part in the global |
| idol of mine. Many years ago, I was asked during a | | | | economy. |
| Life-line Personal growth course, "who is your idol?". | | | | * Beauty. Our land holds awesome beauty. I have yet |
| This question raised some anxiety in me. I was against | | | | to see a country that holds as much diversity and |
| idolizing any human being. We all have flaws and we all | | | | splendor as ours. |
| contribute to this world, however small. However, | | | | * Technology. We have first world technology. Yes |
| instead of saying I don't have one, out from the back | | | | we could always have faster bandwidth, but hey I |
| of my mind I realized I did have an idol, and I found | | | | work from Greyton with an ADSL connection and feel |
| myself saying mine was Nelson Mandela. The reason | | | | as connected as if I was working in a big city. |
| for this is largely based on his ability to forgive. One of | | | | * Energy. In our people and in the earth. South Africans |
| the hardest traits to master of our humanness is | | | | have a reputation as being great workers overseas. |
| forgiveness. Our ego usually gets in the way. We | | | | We have an innate spirit of energy and it spills over |
| have been schooled and brought up with the notion of | | | | into all that we do. |
| fairness. Those who do wrong will therefore never | | | | * Resilience. South Africans bounce back when |
| succeed and the scales will be balanced. All to often, | | | | adversity strikes. Not only in business but also in our |
| we feel we are the one who should administer the | | | | personal lives, our history has taught us to continue |
| balance of the scales. No one has taught forgiveness | | | | when the going get tough. |
| by example more for South Africa than Nelson | | | | * Our Sun. Our weather creates positivity. From the |
| Mandela. I was extremely fortunate to have the | | | | crisp sunny winter days in Johannesburg to the glorious |
| opportunity in 1994 of meeting him in person and | | | | windless summer days of Cape Town in February. |
| sharing a few words. | | | | The rain brings sustenance and the sun energy for our |
| During the late eighties and early nineties many South | | | | country to grow. |
| Africans fled our beautiful shores based on a fear of | | | | This land, the people, and the leaders, all have had a |
| South Africa's future. Today they still carry with them | | | | part to play in getting us to where we are today. |
| something they will never lose, an affinity and joy for all | | | | Nelson Mandela was one of the first torchbearers in |
| things South African, and a part of their cultural | | | | this relatively short journey we have been on so far. |
| makeup. I was studying at the time and remained | | | | These 67 minutes have shown me that I have so |
| optimistic about the potential future that hung in the | | | | much to be thankful for as a South African. I hope |
| balance. Could we pull this unified nation off? Looking | | | | they have inspired your thoughts to thankfulness |
| back over all those years, I think the answer is an | | | | instead of criticism. To joy instead of fear. To hope |
| overwhelming yes. The people of South Africa have | | | | instead despair. Lets celebrate the positivity of our |
| done this, and the leadership of Nelson Mandela guiding | | | | country with Nelson Mandela as we wish him health |
| us through those early years of transition contributed a | | | | and happiness for the years ahead. |
| major part to this success. | | | | |