In the 1980s, many of our family and friends emigrated from South Africa to a variety of global destinations, because they didn’t believe there was a future for them (as whites) in South Africa. As I am from Dutch parentage and my wife was born in the Netherlands, we had the option to do the same. Yet, I never considered leaving the country of my birth.
Two main reasons were cited by those who left:
- Crime
- “Our kids don’t have a future in South Africa” (as they were white).
To a certain degree, I can understand that the level of crime in a country motivates people to look for safer pastures. There aren’t many South Africans that haven’t been touched by crime, either directly or indirectly. I was the victim of an attempted armed car hijacking some years ago and it’s not a pleasant feeling.
Does moving to another ‘safer’ country eliminate the risk? I agree that the risk would be less, but there are no guarantees. We live in a dangerous and unpredictable world. Ironically, 2 South Africans died in the 9/11 attacks. Does living in another country guarantee a job? Once again the answer has to be “No”. Many South Africans abroad lost their jobs in the world recession between 2007 and 2009 and had to return home.
I strongly disagreed with the statement “Our kids don’t have a future in South Africa”. Sure, white kids would not automatically get the top jobs in Government or big corporates, as was the law at the time, but they could become entrepreneurs. One of the big ‘complaints’ in South Africa (and most of the world) is about poor customer service. Therein lies a massive opportunity. If you start your own business, irrespective of what it is, and you give excellent customer service, you will do well.
A few months ago, I was invited to do a presentation at a workshop at Monash University in South Africa. The subject I was to talk on was “What does it take to be a Leader / Entrepreneur?”
The organizer of the event explained that graduate students were faced with the problem that a degree in itself was not enough to guarantee a job. Other skills were required and these skills and qualities are not explicitly taught as part of undergraduate degree programs.
A platform was therefore created to facilitate professional, leadership and entrepreneurial development. Here, university students would have the opportunity to interact with business leaders, entrepreneurs and inspirational individuals.
What advice did I give these young, multiracial students? Exactly the same as I told my friends and family some 30 years ago. If you give excellent customer service, you will do well.
Two very different scenarios, many years apart, and yet, the same principles apply.
How well you do in this world is not determined by your race, cultural background, political dispensation of your country or any other external factor. If you use those as ‘reasons’ for not succeeding, you are not giving me a reason, you are making an excuse.
It’s all about your attitude.
A negative thinker sees a difficulty in every opportunity.
A positive thinker sees an opportunity in every difficulty.
Which are you?
