The week that was 20190525

PROUDEST | MOST GRATEFUL MOMENT

I am very grateful to have been part of the #AfricaCommsWeek in Cape Town. It took place at the Radisson Red at the Waterfront. It took the format of a 'fireside' discussion, Lisa Wannell from Halogen Search and Selection and Palesa Mokomele from Botho Concepts  were great hosts and facilitators giving everyone an opportunity to participate and share ideas and knowledge. It was a great discussion.

One of the key discussion points that I found very interesting was Hennie Bester's explanation of the gap between expectations and reality that has an impact on hope and happiness. This was when the conversation turned to some leadership styles of countries being more successful than others. The expectations created in South Africa in 1994 were massive and the gap between the expectation and reality is vast, therefore there is currently a despondency amongst South Africans. The expectations for people in e.g. Rwanda when they started rebuilding themselves (at the same time we did), was just to move forward and the expectations were not as high. Their expectations were vastly exceeded and therefore they are considerably more hopeful, happier and unified about their country. They are perceived and experienced as being an incredibly successful forward moving country on the continent. Giving many hope that a clean, safe and successful country on the continent is possible.

There is bound to be a change in South Africa's expectations, which are now much more realistic. We all just want to move forward and want what is best for our country.  It is an interesting and exciting time for us.

I am also very grateful and most impressed by our client MetSkill who has been sharing the details of their Repudometer® scores weekly on social media.

MY BIGGEST LESSON THIS WEEK

There was a big rivalry between Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. What an amazing time in history to have such amazing artists in one city. 

I also had a fascinating discussion with someone yesterday about the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act. To be honest, I thought it was predominantly around direct marketing and getting people's permission to send them stuff. What I found out yesterday, if let's say someone on my team wants to apply for a bank account and the bank calls me to confirm employment, or someone phones me for a reference check, I must first confirm and get permission from the employee before I confirm employment with the entity. 

MY FAVOURITE QUOTE THIS WEEK

I am an absolutely massive fan of the movie 'Bohemian Rhapsody', the bio movie of Freddie Mercury and the Queen band. It was the movie option on RwandAir, and yip, I watched it there and back. 

A quote from the movie where he is having a conversation with his father:

"Good thoughts, good words, good deeds" ~Zoroaster 

WHAT MADE ME GIGGLE THIS WEEK

Two things:

Heard at the running club on Tuesday night:

"...there are three routes ~ 5kms, 8kms and 10kms..."

"How far is the 8kms route...?"

:)

Conversation while walking back to my car after a meeting in an area that I am not too familiar with, "Here we don't have security guards that protect us..." (for a split second I was thinking, oh ok, is it because it is so safe... still reeling in how exceptionally safe Kigali was...no...), "we have bouncers..." and just at that moment the biggest bouncer-looking guy I've ever seen came walking around the corner! True story :D