MUSINGS

Defeat is a very hard thing to swallow. No one loves to lose. As a result, most of us go on the defensive whenever we are faced with defeat and our default action is to blame someone else. I have observed over many years how people find it easy to lie during defeat or...

Scrolling through social media pages today, it is easy to know that there is something big happening in South Africa – and indeed the world. After all, today is the birthday of the late Nelson Mandela. To many he is father of the South African nation. To others he is...

The easiest thing to do is to hate Christianity or even the concept of God just because of Andre Olivier. Already many have fallen for this temptation. It is however understandable that his vitriolic diatribe has put God, the church and Christianity into disrepute. I...

Dear Jose I took a vow more than a year ago never to write an open letter again. But with the number of letters flying around right now, you have to agree with me that the ground is fertile for me to break my vow. For context, let me repeat the comments you made in...

In the introduction to a short manual I wrote called “Responding To Media Queries” I write that there is one basic assumption to make: “Bad news happens to anyone. It is just a matter of when, not if.” Even if you are honest and always operate with the best of...

Do you remember the most famous line by Commodus played by Joaquin Phoenix in the movie Gladiator? “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” People tend to judge and remember us by what we do and what we have done in life, than what we say or wish. How you have...

No one wants to start a new year on a sour note. We all always wish and hope – sometimes we even make plans – that the New Year is better than the previous one. I couldn’t help but spare a thought for Standard Bank when we all woke up yesterday to news of their...

I don’t get it. Maybe it is just me. Maybe it is the festive season affecting my logic. Imagine you accidentally witness your neighbour’s teenage child taking a dump on the floor of her parents’ lounge. While you are still disgusted at this act, then you see her...

My job takes me around to many corporates where I address them on reputation management. That is my keynote. Sadly not many government departments or even state-owned agencies or companies invite me to give talks. Go figure. One of my favourite topics in reputation...

I have a tendency to forget some item or another of importance when I go to gym. I have been known to forget my sweat towel, or water bottle or even shoes. Needless to say that sometimes I find myself having to cancel my plans to exercise because I have no stop gap...