While it’s hot

February 20, 2012

by Thurston Sebotsane

February 20, 2012

I had just launched an initiative which I hoped will help inspire learners to think deeply about the future and their role in it. I aptly termed it ‘THE POWER OF ONE’ (I will not take credit for this phrase as it is not original; it has been used a lot on television and other media). The main objective of my initiative is to start something good and to move others to action. I am hoping the forward momentum will be so strong as to move other people to initiate similar projects to help others.

For the launch; I had decided to embark on a tour around all provinces of South Africa using a motorcycle. I had hoped to visit schools and township communities to spread word of my intended purpose. I succeeded at the level where I had pitched it and I am now able to do a bit more than on the maiden tour. I am hopeful that I will be able to grow more and to touch more lives in the process.

I have heard people say that Africans are the biggest recipients of charity; but not many of them are willing to do anything to raise the required funds or attention to mitigate effects of poverty. It is further asserted that Africans are quick to develop a culture of entitlement. This culture is counter-developmental and instead serves to further entrench feelings of helplessness and laziness. I am however cognitive of the fact that international aid ‘aimed at improving the lot of poverty stricken Africa’ instilled and entrenched this dependency that is quickly feeding on the marrow of helpless people on our continent.

Douglas Booth writes about the culture of entitlement in his book; “The race game: sport and politics in South Africa”. I am particularly captivated by an excerpt under; ‘Beyond Apartheid’, where he writes:

“A culture of entitlement adds another burden to reconciliation. In the struggle against apartheid every state institution lost its legitimacy. ‘The struggle’ dictated a strategy of noncollaboration with state institutions. As a result, rents and bills, including those for housing and domestic electricity, went unpaid. These strategies may have psychologically empowered the black underclass, allowing them to negate the conditions they held responsible for their plight, but they also created a peculiar set of expectations about entitlements under a postapartheid government: a black government would provide all services free. Paradoxically, the apartheid state’s failure to act against debtors reaffirmed these beliefs. Mandela has called for a moral crusade against the culture of entitlement, and community education programmes were initially successful. For example, a year after the launch of the masakhane (let’s build together) programme, the number of Sowetans refusing to pay their electricity bills declined from 80 per cent to 35 per cent, but the initital impetus has died and South Africa desperately needs a new moral order. Sadly, there is little evidence of this new order emerging among ordinary whites”.

From what Douglas Booth has written about, it is apparent that the culture of entitlement is ‘psychological’ and as a result it is possible for people to adopt a new mindset that serves to empower them to do better. I decided to break from the mould to help myself and others and possibly to become a mouthpiece for this new moral order; this change is long overdue.

I launched my tour and travelled around the country where I visited learners at different schools and people in township communities. I started talking about all our responsibilities; responsibilities to myself, responsibilities to my neighbours, responsibilities to my community and responsibilities to my country. I also wanted to impress upon them that this is a process we need to follow to leave a desirable and lasting legacy.

As I travelled, I was amazed by how many ideas came to me as I allowed my mind to absorb the unspoilt beauty of our country; the endless plains, the rolling hills and mountains. I let out a solitary chuckle from within the confines of my helmet as I remembered one comedian saying: “if you were to look closely into the horizon in the plains of South Africa, you would be able to see the back of your head”. The effect of his un-scientific statement was clear and I could see what message he wanted to share with his audience.

I originally wanted to compile a coffee table book with pictures from my tour; this idea was soon overtaken by something bigger as events started unfolding around me. The main reason why I had embarked on this journey was to inspire others to be better and in that I would also be helping myself.

The moment of my inspiration and change of mind regarding the form my publication was to take came as I was riding through Britstown; this is a small and pristine town in the Northern Cape Province. It is so small that had I blinked, I would have missed it. I stopped for fuel and enjoyed the serenity brought on by the surroundings. At that moment something came over me that if I were really religious (at that point) I would have said it was owed to some divine intervention.

There was not a cloud in the sky and the sun was about to set. The soft colours that can only be evoked by the advent of sunset seemed to envelope the vast expanse and made me feel really warm from within. I could not help but smile as I got excited by what seemed to me as a wonderful idea and I decided then that I would see the project to completion. I played around with titles in my head and this seemed to further fuel my determination to succeed at this also.

The moment of my short-lived celebrity, brought on by the colour of my skin and the fact that I was on a motorcycle laden with camping gear, soon ended as I rode out of Britstown. I stopped again soon after; took in more of the beauty and sated my lungs with the wonderful fresh air. This was as though I had wanted to take it all with me. I took out my notebook and started scribbling a few of these good ideas lest I forgot. This was just wonderful and it marked the beginning of what was to be a book.

I experienced a lot of good and bad, in a short space of time and at a certain point, I had thought that my tour would fail but I would not allow my dream to fade away so easily.

This book is a guide from my experiences to help others to believe in and to follow their dreams. I know that all our experiences are different but we all share a similar determination to triumph over adversity.

As I continued to ride, I went through rain, wind, sun, heat and cold; this was so reminiscent of how all our life experiences play out. We all get faced with difficulties at least once, we either emerge victorious or we choose to accept defeat as we go through different seasons of life.

I choose to do my best so I can succeed; it is really easy to give up and accept that you have failed. I find it really fulfilling to do my best and to succeed in the face of failure.

Remember to remain passionate about your ideas; the rest will become natural as you progress. Do not shelve your good ideas for later, they will not remain hot for long.

–Thurston Sebotsane (Inspirational Speaker & Life Coach)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.thurston.co.za/while-its-hot/

Manage obstacles

February 15, 2012

by Thurston Sebotsane

February 15, 2012

‘No problem can be bigger than your determination to succeed’ — Thurston Sebotsane

A week before the launch of my tour on the 27th of September 2009; I got invited to a meeting in Sandton where I met Mr Collen Tshepiso Molefe who introduced himself as CEO of ‘Multimedia Communications’. He displayed excitement about THE POWER OF ONE initiative and pledged much needed sponsorship which included support for a further five years from the company’s CSI budget. This was clearly the backing that I had been looking for; I was now going to be able to reach my intended objectives.

The next day I got called to another meeting in the presence of the Financial Director where further details of the sponsorship got discussed and my banking details were requested for the transfer of funds. This all looked legitimate and with these promises I was ready to launch. I had been promised that the funds would reflect in my account by the 29th of September 2009.

To further fuel my determination, the management team from ‘Multimedia Communications’ attended the launch where Mr. Molefe again confirmed support for the initiative. I then launched and was on my way around the country.

When I got to Bloemfontein after having been to only two of the nine provinces, I had still not received the promised financial assistance from ‘Multimedia Communications’. I tried to reach Mr. Molefe on all the contact numbers he had given me; the phone would just ring but unlike before he would not accept any of my calls. At that point, it became clear that I had been used only for publicity and that none of the promised sponsorship funds would ever be deposited. I connected to the internet to try to confirm if ‘Multimedia Communications’ was a registered company; my search could not return a positive result. It seemed I had been caught in a hoax perpetrated my Mr. Molefe.

I now only had just enough money for fuel to get me back home. I was then faced with two options; ‘Quit and go home’ or ‘Rise to the challenge’. I decided on the latter, I started contacting people I know in an attempt to raise the required money to get me back on track. I only had a day and half from the Saturday afternoon to raise the required amount.

I had not embarked on the tour to fail, so I spent the weekend calling around to raise funds to enable me to continue. I contacted Richard Ho-Tong, Ongkgopotse Tabane and Prejelin Naggan; all of whom promised to come to my aid. Onkgopotse Tabane managed to get Sanele Nyoka to also pledge toward the tour. They promised to get some money to me by the Monday.

I woke up on Monday morning still faced with what-if scenarios: What if I fail, what if they do not deposit the money, What if I continue only to get stranded in the Northern Cape? What if… What if… What if… The thoughts were flooding my mind and they would not stop.

My determination to succeed was much stronger than all the scenarios. I packed my gear, strapped everything onto the motorcycle and navigated my way to Kimberly in the Northern Cape Province.

After addressing learners at the second school in the province, I received a text message on my mobile phone from the bank; Mr. Ho-Tong had kept his promise. I was now equipped to continue my tour further south to Western Cape. Later on in the tour, the other pledges became real. THE POWER OF ONE was still on track.

At times you will be presented with situations that may make you feel like giving up. What will set you apart from the rest is the way in which you choose to rise to the challenge. With the help of Mr. Ongkgopotse JJ Tabane, Mr. Prejelin Naggan, Mr. Sanele Nyoka and Mr. Richard Ho-Tong, I managed to raise the required amount and I was able to continue on the tour.

I could have easily given up and accepted failure, but instead I decided to take the road less travelled, I took a chance and now I am reaping the rewards.

“Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough” — OG Mandino.

I was determined and I succeeded.

On my way to Western Cape Province after driving through Britstown in Nothern Cape Province, my mood was improved and the weather was agreeable. The sun was moments away from kissing the horizon and it had blanketed the land in soft colours. This is when the idea to write a book came to me. I had initially thought of a coffee table book but the concept of something more meaningful was much more exciting.

– Thurston Sebotsane (Inspirational Speaker and Life Coach)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.thurston.co.za/manage-obstacles/

Culture of entitlement

February 6, 2012

by Thurston Sebotsane

February 6, 2012

I am concerned about the level of failure of the majority of South African small businesses and also of professionals. I have travelled around the country and I have seen many instances where Government and private funders have invested money in aid of ‘good ideas’ and to date these companies are failing where others could not even launch.

I visited a fisheries project in Limpopo in 2009; they had been funded to the tune of about R2m through a grant, they have been given municipal land (the size of three football fields) with complete infrastructure and rental at about R500 a month. They have LED mentors on call and still they are not improving. There was concern at that time that they may have to halt operations. I was disappointed to learn that they are still blaming the provincial governement for lack of support.

This is but one of the many projects that I have seen fail all around the country. I know of people who have registered Close Corporations and are “WAITING” for government to “GIVE” them tenders. There is a culture of entitlement that is quite rife in society; it does not have space in the business world. Should this be allowed to fester, we will soon wake up to a welfare state. Should nothing be done about this, we will find five million people (just under 10% of all South Africans) being over-taxed to care for our growing population which has now gone north of fifty million. The lack of new and innovative business ideas from within our borders will choke current ventures and entry into the South African corporate space will become expensive and might deter foreign investment.

Over the last five years I have done a lot of pro-bono work around the country. Along the way I learnt what makes people do what they do and I got to understand what sets winners apart from losers. Through this and coupled with my research about the human mind; I have found a mix that I know when implemented can yield results.

I often say that the subconcious mind is like fertile soil. You will reap whatever you sow in it. Human beings are wired for success; depending on where we concentrate our energies, we will see benefits from our efforts. Negative people who believe that they can never achieve greatness will “succeed in failing”. I have developed programs and aproaches to helping people realise their inherent mechanisms to success. My approach will benefit individuals, groups, startup businesses and even executives in established concerns.

Using the mind has never been introduced at school as a subject; that is why, once in a while there emerges a maverick who turns the world on its head and becomes the script in business circles. There is no special magic that makes daring entrepreneurs successful in what they do. These are people who have developed an understanding of the mind and have learnt to use it to great effect. These results can be replicated and even improved upon by another positive minded person. We have seen how one person can run a successful enterprise and another might take over the same business and run it into the ground. So handouts are not the solution!

Fortunately developing a positive mindset can be learnt and negativity can be reversed. I have developed a program that will create an individual who understands success and knows how to achieve it. This is a programs that seeks to rid our society of the culture of entitlement.

Currently the National Planning Commission (NPC) has lauched vision 2030; successful implementation and realisation of objectives vests in the fruitful mind of what they have come to term the ‘Active Citizen’. This is one who will not wait for handouts but will go out to create opportunities on the platform that has been set by Government. I have the tools to help create the ‘Active Citizen’. Positive results are within grasp and interventions are available for all.

– Thurston Sebotsane (Inspirational Speaker and Life Coach)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.thurston.co.za/culture-of-entitlement/

Through faith

February 4, 2012

by Thurston Sebotsane

February 4, 2012

Hebrews 11: 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I have written a lot about the mind and how we can all use it to our advantage. I have stressed the importance of positive thinking and I have also impressed upon the importance of visualisations  and affirmations.

All of what I have written about and what I continue to practice are also teachings in the bible. The best examples of these are to be found when following the teachings and parables of Jesus.

When you visualise, you form a mental image. The best way to use visualisation is to form a mental image of a reality that you would want to see in your life. When you have a very important job interview; it is best to visualise yourself acing it and being offered the job that you want. You will further visualise yourself answering all questions and feeling good about all your responses. You will want the panel that interviews you to hang on every word that you utter and to fall in love with you on the spot. You will have an image of a winner; one who has already conquered and had landed the job. This form of visualisation allows answers to flow through from the subconscious mind and to be ready for you consciously. Human beings are wired for success.

Mark 11: 24 For this reason I say to you, Whatever you make a request for in prayer, have faith that it has been given to you, and you will have it.

The key to the main teaching in this bible verse lies in the choice of words as used by Jesus. He impresses upon us that we should have faith that what we pray for “HAS BEEN GIVEN”. This means that we should believe that we are already enjoying the benefits today. This is the exact efficacy of positive visualisations and affirmations. We all have the mental capacity or power to produce a desired effect.

In Mark 10: 52 And Jesus said to him, Go on your way; your faith has made you well. And straight away he was able to see, and went after him in the way.

Again the choice of words used in this passage also indicate the value of healing when the recipient believes in the “miracle”. Jesus used the words, “your faith has made you well”. He did not say that I have healed you. The biggest part in this healing process came from the blind man in that he had faith. Now suppose for a while that whatever sent the blind man to go seek healing was the fact that in his visualisations and affirmations, he believed that he could be sighted. That is what he wanted and that is what he believed he would get when Jesus came his way. Further he did something by calling to Jesus even when others rebuked him, telling him to be silent. The reward to his faith, visualisations and affirmations was sight.

The mind is not capable of processing negative images. When I say to you now; “DO NOT think of a red car”. The statement in itself is supposed to be negative. I have used the word NOT to tell you what you should not do and yet that has not stopped the mind from thinking of a red car. No matter how hard you try, the car will be red and you will be thinking of it. The same applies in life, when you prepare for that job interview by telling yourself, “I DON’T want to mess this up”; the mind conjures “mess this up” because that is where the action lies in the statement. Most people who use such negative statements to “pep” themselves up normally experience panic because the mind is processing, “mess this up”. “I am good in this” would have been a more appropriate pep.

Words have power and often result in images. Let the images that come from your words be positive to work well for you. Success is within grasp; it is all up to you.

– Thurston Sebotsane (Inspirational Speaker and Life Coach)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.thurston.co.za/through-faith/

Be passionate

February 1, 2012

by Thurston Sebotsane

February 1, 2012

‘If you do not have passion for your idea no one else will believe in it’ – Thurston Sebotsane

Passion flowed through my veins as I thought of and planned my motorcycle tour around all provinces of South Africa. When I started, I had never been on a motorcycle nor could I drive one.


On the 25th of June 2009 I asked a friend of mine if he knew of someone selling his motorcycle, he immediately told me that there was someone in his neighbourhood who was looking for a buyer. I then asked him to arrange that I go see the motorcycle and if I liked it, I would be willing to purchase it. I bought the motorcycle on the 26th of June in 2009; I was so determined to ride that I asked my friend to give me a crash lesson so I could be able to ride it home. He hesitated at the thought of me being thrown off and offered instead to ride it home for me.

I refused and nagged him until he relented. I got my lessons which lasted all of five minutes, I got on the motorbike, stalled twice then I was off. I took three turns in his street then I was ready to ride home.

I have since borrowed a phrase from “THE GREATEST SALESMAN IN THE WORLD” by OG MANDINO;

“Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough”.

This is true in so many ways; people choose to accept failure before exhausting all avenues to avert an undesirable end. Others are afraid to take a step forward lest they stumble and fall. What if you were to take a bold step in the face of “fear of failure” and you succeed; would the fruits not be much sweeter and juicier? Would you not cherish that moment of triumph? Would your determination to succeed not be better fueled?

I had nothing to lose and a lot to gain when I spoke to the Ambassador of Germany to South Africa about THE POWER OF ONE motorcycle tour. I explained the whole concept to him and asked for contact details of the CEO of BMW South Africa.

On the same day when I got the details I drafted an email to the CEO of BMW South Africa. I detailed what I wanted to do and what I hoped to achieve. I included my proposal and did not neglect to mention how I will also benefit from all this. Words seemed to flow forth from my heart as I was typing the email. All this seemed so effortless, and then it occurred to me that I was acting with immeasurable passion and determination and this was reflected in the finished draft. I took a deep breath then pressed the send button; all was now out of my hands. I had given this my best effort.

A day after sending my request, I was then granted a meeting by the General Manager of BMW Motorrad. I arrived at a meeting with the management team of BMW Motorrad in Midrand. Before we could start, the manager of marketing communications explained to me that they could not guarantee to offer me a motorcycle. He added that he always receives requests from people wanting to tour the continent and others with different needs. He added that they do not have enough motorcycles to give to all who ask, so my presentation had to be exceptional. His statements did not deter but instead encouraged me to bring out my best at the meeting.

I had passion for the idea and that became clear, I managed to speak from the heart and that carried me through. I spoke not neglecting the main reasons why I wanted to embark on the tour and what I would be able to achieve with the help of BMW. I had only this one opportunity to create the desired impression and to sell the idea.

I exuded passion and I believed strongly in the idea. In my mind, there was no way that I could not get the message across about the good that can be brought on by BMW Motorrad partnering with me on this journey. I was also sure that my proposal was clear enough to deliver a message about benefits to BMW Motorrad.

All went well and I was successful. I later became Ambassador for BMW Motorcycles. I got to travel solo around the country on a new BMW motorcycle.

Determination is a reliable spark, when used wisely it can ignite an inferno of success. We all have it within us to succeed. Human beings are wired for success.

– Thurston Sebotsane (Inspirational Speaker and Life Coach)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.thurston.co.za/be-passionate/

Package it and sell it

January 26, 2012

by Thurston Sebotsane

January 26, 2012

‘Once you know exactly what you want to do, Do it’ — Thurston Sebotsane

 

Some years ago a friend of mine (Mlungisi Mtshali) and I, visited the then CEO of iBurst, Mr. Thami Mtshali (Not related to my friend) at his office in Sandton. The idea was to seek advice on how to start a company and how to market specific products through it.

At the time of this meeting, iBurst had struck me as the David who was taking on the Goliaths of industry in the telecommunications space. They had a fresh perspective on bringing broadband connectivity to clients with impressive turnaround strategies. If there was any place for me to learn from, this was it.

I had expected Mr. Mtshali to dedicate at least thirty minutes to explain the ins and outs of starting a business and the related challenges; How to start and how to clear all hurdles on the track.

We waited patiently in his office under the watchful eye of his ever present PA. He arrived much later than when we were scheduled to meet.

We got down to business with me introducing myself and setting the scene for the meeting and asking how we could market our services to potential clients.

“Package it and sell it!”; came the answer from this giant who seemed to tower over my friend and me.

This was indeed a very short meeting, I did not get the insight that I had hoped for and I was really irritated by what had seemed like an attempt to dismiss us and not to share his knowledge about success.

The wisdom in his statement only came to me in June of 2009 when I was learning how to ride a motorcycle. I had an idea of what I wanted to do, I believed in it fully, I had written it down and pasted some of the scraps of paper on my office wall to always keep me inspired. All that I needed was to draft a proposal that I would use to request sponsors to come on board.

All of a sudden, Mr. Thami Mtshali was like an oracle from the past, his words kept ringing in my ears so much that I could not ignore them any longer; “Package it and sell it”. I packaged my idea in order to sell it.

Never underestimate the relevance and importance of research. Read books, surf the internet, talk to people and ask a lot of questions. Not everyone that you ask for advice will be willing to share and some advice might be in a form you do not expect (like in my case with Mr. Mtshali). It is important that you should learn to get to where you need to be by doing the work yourself. Only after going through these motions will you truly appreciate the end result.

I take notice now that when I visited iBusrt to talk to Mr. Mtshali, I was also amongst those afflicted by the culture of entitlement and I did not even realise that. I had expected to be spoon-fed so I could just implement and enjoy the benefits of someone else’s hard work and intellect. Had Mr. Mtshali relented by giving me solutions to all my challenges, I would not have learnt to rise on my own.

I have met a lot of successful people, some in business and others are progressive professionals; I have approached a number of these people to enquire how I can be able to achieve like they have. I have noticed how this is such an uncomfortable question for most; the pain here is like trying to gain membership to a very exclusive club and you are just not of the desired pedigree. People who have worked hard all their life do not appreciate those that want to take short-cuts to success. This culture is not sustainable. The old adage still holds true today; “Give man fish and he will eat for a day, teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime”.

Closely linked to the culture of entitlement is the expectation that everything should come easy. I had expected easy answers from Mr. Mtshali; I had hoped he would load my solution on a silver platter which was supposed to be handed to me. Irritation and my refusal to see wisdom clouded me for over two years until my back was against the wall and I had to figure my own way out.

When you are faced with challenges and not enough answers and solutions; you should not be deterred but inspired and motivated to reach for your dreams. Like I had written previously; you need to believe in your idea so much that you should not be able to imagine life without it.

Many books have been written on the power and efficacy of positive thinking and people continue to preach about it. I am one of the converted, I believe strongly in positive thinking. That is why, even when the rich, the wealthy and the progressively successful will not allow me into their circle, I will never stop believing that I can be able to achieve greatness. I have also accepted that I will not be able to use a magic wand to conjure the life I desire, I will have to work toward achieving it; after all I deserve success.

Not everyone that you pitch your idea to will have the time to read your proposal. It is important to make it interesting and relevant to the reader and it is also wise to draft a two page summary to attach to the proposal which should ideally be read first before the full proposal.

I cannot over emphasise this point; RESEARCH IS VERY IMPORTANT. For example; if you plan to request sponsorship from a company; it is always prudent to find out all you can about that company, especially their policy on the subject. Once you have all the relevant information, you should be able to draft a proposal that addresses all the important aspects from your research.

Avoid long and bulky paragraphs, use bullet points if possible, include pictures and graphics that link to your subject. Most importantly, explain to the potential sponsor what they will be able to benefit from partnering with you. Once you have given proper attention to what you want to achieve and you have also researched the sponsor and what they stand for; it should then be easier for you to know how both you and the sponsor will be able to benefit.

Package it and sell it.

–Thurston Sebotsane (Inspirational Speaker & Life Coach)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.thurston.co.za/package-it-and-sell-it/

Ideas

January 20, 2012

by Thurston Sebotsane

January 20, 2012

IDEAS ARE IN THE AIR

Coming up with great ideas is simply not enough. It is very important to develop a culture of immersion and action. Doing something about the very ideas is key to success. Often we get struck by a good idea and we marvel and we go as far as considering a changed world brought on by our genius. Many of these ideas remain ‘just ideas’. We have a tendency of dismissing great ideas. We have a tendency of relegating what we can do today to whenever…Then later we discover that someone came up with the same idea and they have succeeded in bringing it to market and they are now basking in this fame and achievement.

How often have you said/thought:

  • That was my idea
  • I thought of that first
  • I had the same idea
  • I should have done something about that
  • I was going to do that

Have you ever thought about how new ideas are never really unique? It can almost be guaranteed that when you are busy mulling over mechanisms of what seems to be a good new idea, another person in the world is also thinking about the very same thing. If not, it will not be long until someone else will do that. Einstein once said; “Ideas are in the air”.

Author, Malcolm Gladwell writes that the phenomenon of simultaneous discovery, called “multiples” by science historians, is very common:

One of the first comprehensive lists of multiples was put together by William Ogburn and Dorothy Thomas, in 1922, and they found a hundred and forty-eight major scientific discoveries that fit the multiple pattern. Newton and Leibniz both discovered calculus. Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace both discovered evolution. Three mathematicians “invented” decimal fractions. Oxygen was discovered by Joseph Priestley, in Wiltshire, in 1774, and by Carl Wilhelm Scheele, in Uppsala, a year earlier. Color photography was invented at the same time by Charles Cros and by Louis Ducos du Hauron, in France. Logarithms were invented by John Napier and Henry Briggs in Britain, and by Joost Bürgi in Switzerland. “There were four independent discoveries of sunspots, all in 1611; namely, by Galileo in Italy, Scheiner in Germany, Fabricius in Holland and Harriott in England”.

For Ogburn and Thomas, the sheer number of multiples could mean only one thing: scientific discoveries must, in some sense, be inevitable. They must be in the air, products of the intellectual climate of a specific time and place.

–Philipp Lenssen

I have often thought of good ideas and that’s all they ever were ‘just good ideas’. Ideas only become truly valuable and useful when you choose to do something to turn them into reality. You need to also come to a realisation that ‘no idea is ever unique’. The first person off the starting block often gets to enjoy the fruits.

I am trying to impress upon you the importance of realising the dangers of procrastination and that no good may come from that. Learn to start developing good habits.

Some years ago I bought a car fully fitted with one of those very hi-tech alarm/immobiliser units with the transmitter permanently married to the key and formed into a single unit. Every so often, I had to open the unit to replace the batteries. This was not such a big deal, but frustration set in once when I could not gain access to the car; all this because of a depleted set of useless batteries that in effect helped to electronically barricade me from using my vehicle. I now had to walk a while to catch a taxi to where I could get replacement batteries, and then I had to commute back to my car with that additional walk and loss of essential time.

Subsequently, I thought how wonderful it would be if the unit was fitted with batteries that could be recharged each time the key got inserted into the ignition switch. In this way, the frustration of depleted batteries would be no more.

A year or two later, I came across this technology and I could only marvel at what could have been. Do not allow this to happen to you!

When you get struck by a brilliant thought, do not allow it to fade; put yourself in the middle and start imagining the change that can come about if you choose to see it through. No matter how insignificant you think it may be, write it down.

The ring-pull on your favourite can of soda; the buttons on your shirt; the zipper; these may have seemed insignificant at the time but they have since changed the way we do things. Most importantly, someone must have thought that they were good enough to invest extra effort and time to see them through.

If you spend enough time thinking about your idea, you should find it difficult to imagine life WITHOUT IT. Once you are able to immerse yourself in the idea, you will then be able to believe in it fully. This stage is very important; if you are able to be truthful to yourself and you thoroughly believe in the idea you will find it almost impossible to imagine life without it. You will be more effective when you start writing things down; this will also be good exercise for your mind.

– Thurston Sebotsane (Inspirational Speaker and Life Coach)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.thurston.co.za/ideas/

Quality

January 17, 2012

by Thurston Sebotsane

January 17, 2012

We can never get quality by lowering standards, this is an oxymoron at best. – Thurston Sebotsane

The ability of education to transform and empower societies cannot and should not be underrated. Education breaks the generational cycles of poverty and disease and is key to a nation’s development and prosperity. So far, my view on the current ‘qulity’ of education or lack thereof does not show a shift towards improving. Apartheid as a law, forced inferior education on blacks and this was to be a legacy. Why is it then that post the era of oppression South Africans are still holding fast to what was meant to break their spirit and to inhibit growth?

“Quality education equips and empowers boys and girls with the knowledge and skills needed to lead healthy lives, protect themselves against HIV and shape the course of their communities.” Quote from the UNICEF website

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has found that the quality of education in South Africa fares badly in comparison with that of other poorer countries. Trends in international and national pupil performance showed “dismal” performance in mathematics, science and literature. It found that nine out of 10 African pupils did not achieve the most basic benchmark in reading literacy tests.

South African education system is challenged by a lot of issues:

  • Poor literacy levels at home, where parents could not “foster a love for reading and learning, or help with homework”
  • Lack of textbooks and pupil support materials
  • Teachers who lacked training

The HSRC has also noted that about 20 years ago there were 150 or so teacher training colleges. The change to the new dispensation, with the amalgamated universities and universities of technology, reduced this to 25 teacher training institutions. This then resulted in some capacity to train teachers being lost.

With all these being said and true, I am still concerned that 29% of matric students in 2011 could not achieve a 30% aggregate to afford them a pass. In lowering the standards, learners also relaxed their effort to achieve and as a result, many of them still get left behind. The culture of doing just enough to get by has proven costly to some.

“I have found that people underestimate disadvantaged children and therefore lower standards. It is also indicative of your standards here that you can pass with 30%. Businesspeople can’t operate successfully if they function with only 30% to 40%.” – Oprah Winfrey.

– Thurston Sebotsane (Inspirational Speaker & Life Coach)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.thurston.co.za/quality/

Shackles of negativity

January 13, 2012

by Thurston Sebotsane

January 13, 2012

‘Shatter a person’s confidence and hope; You would have imprisoned the mind’ – Thurston Sebotsane

[Two days ago I posted "LOOKING BACK" and I took an excerpt from my book; "Lessons from my tour". I now figure that in order to paint a better picture I need to include a bit more from the chapter. This is my take on a part of the many reasons, causes and growth of negativity and the fall of the human spirit.]

“Racial discrimination and segregation have been integral components of South African history since the arrival of white settlers. By conquest and expansion, indigenous people were displaced. Despite this, the legal system continued to allow the possibility, however remote, that African landownership could expand. After 1913, however, the situation altered because the Natives Land Act passed that year drastically restricted African access to land. From that time onwards, African landownership was increasingly curtailed, and by the time of the Nationalist election victory in 1948, a plethora of legislation applied racially discriminatory restrictions both in rural and urban areas.

From the outset, the residents of Lady Selborne were politically sophisticated and resisted the ever-enveloping tentacles of state control over their daily lives. As segregation and apartheid tightened their grip on Africans, they fought determinedly to retain their long-held status as landowners. It was a battle they eventually lost. Having established an ‘African’ and communal identity in an urban environment, the inhabitants of Lady Selborne were scattered in the early 1960s — sub-divided into various ‘ethnicities’ and forcibly removed to a variety of remote ‘homelands’, ‘Bantustans’ and semi-rural townships — as a consequence of the Group Areas Act and related legislation.”  

From an article by Jane Carruthers: Urban land claims in South Africa: the case of Lady Selborne township, Pretoria, Gauteng.

 

My father grew up in Lady-Selborne; his family was amongst those deposed and forced to settle in Mamelodi. Africans could hold title to land in Lady Selborne which was 292.78 ha in extent and was situated against the south slope of the Magaliesberg some 10 km north-west of Pretoria’s city centre (now Suiderberg is on the site). Established in 1905 as a freehold township for ‘coloured’ people, Lady Selborne was ‘honoured’ to be named after Lady Beatrix Maud Cecil, whose husband had succeeded Lord Milner as High Commissioner for South Africa and Governor of the Transvaal and Orange River colonies until unification in 1910.

I do not remember much about my early days in Mamelodi, but I do remember what it was like growing up in Mabopane; a township in the dusty streets of the then Bophuthatswana. One of those so-called ‘Bantustans’ granted ‘independence’ from the South African Apartheid State and allowed a ‘Black-President” under the guise of freedom. It was in Mabopane that I started my schooling just a few paces from my parent’s home; in fact, I could see the house from my classroom window.

It was in Mabopane that I got to learn early on in life about how negativity formed the cornerstone of being black growing up in a township; I have now grown to detest this stark non-truth and I wish to change it. Another fallacy was that whites were superior in every way and that black people will remain subservient to the Caucasian master. Subliminally, I was getting trained how to be negative and to accept it, I was getting taught to accept that I am inferior and that I will never be able to rise to any notable heights. Adults could regularly be heard saying; “Go lela ga go thuse” (it is futile raising a concern as nobody will listen). To this day there are people who can be heard reciting this, either as a formed habit or as a way to escape facing the challenge to succeed.

I acknowledge that apartheid never touched me physically, but it seems that the damage done to me psychologically is as harmful; this from the inferior quality of education to decisions made about what I was good for. Though no longer a reality, the ghost of the apartheid state continues to haunt people; it will take a positive mindset to be freed from this prison of negativity.

In my adulthood, I have had to learn to fight against the indoctrination of negative thoughts and I have had to ask myself:

  • Why do people choose to be negative?
  • How did a minority win over and control the majority?
  • Why are people filled with self pity?
  • What is the root cause of a culture of entitlement?
  • Why do we not take charge of our own destiny?
  • Why do we keep blaming others for our failures
  • Can all this be reversed or corrected?

Granted; apartheid was designed to divide, conquer and rule through fear. It was engineered to make other races to feel inferior. It was meant to imbue the combined strength of a united society. It was supposed to leave a lasting legacy of self loathing and helplessness.

The first democratic elections in South Africa ended Apartheid rule but its effects can still be felt. Though deep seeded, this negativity can still be reversed and people can be empowered to reach for their dreams and to succeed. It all starts with accepting that the shackles are psychological and that it will take the mind to unlock them. A radical mind does not just happen, it has to be built. Like you were trained not to believe in your abilities, you can also learn to rise to the challenge of achieving greatness.

If you are at this point and you still believe that you cannot achieve better than what you have; then you should work on positive thinking, visualisation, seeding and Affirmations. Look around you and ask yourself how other people seem to succeed and you have seemingly hit the proverbial wall. If they can succeed, why can you not achieve same or better?

First you must want to change, and then you have to believe that you can.

– Thurston Sebotsane (Inspirational Speaker & Life Coach)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.thurston.co.za/shackles-of-negativity/

Looking back

January 11, 2012

by Thurston Sebotsane

January 11, 2012

Power of one

I have undertaken a solo motorcycle tour around South Africa where I visited some schools and community projects in all provinces.

I learnt a lot on my travels and my biggest worries were further confirmed; learners do not have an idea of why they are at school. They do not plan beyond the current day. Throughout my visits, I was saddened to realise that learners do not know what they will embark on after matriculating. I came across grade 12 students, who were soon to be engaged in their final year exams, who had not planned anything for when they leave school. This lack of interest has become so endemic amongst South African learners that schools are busy producing unemployable and uninspired matriculants.

These learners need to be taught the importance of discipline and responsibility. They need to be more involved in their communities. The country needs good quality learners to be injected into our institutions of higher learning with a long term view of strengthening our economy. We will not be able to get there if the current state is allowed to go on in perpetuity. Change needs to happen and it is needed desperately. Our levels of unemployment are unacceptable; we need to help Government where we can.

I visited community projects, some of which were launched as far back as 1994 and are still at start-up stage. I noticed that no matter how good an idea one might have, without the proper training, support, inspiration, guidance and vision; these projects will never become successful. The reality is that, without help these projects will fail, further fuelling the unemployment and poverty inferno.

In my book titled “Lessons from my tour” I wrote:

“It was in Mabopane that I got to learn early on in life about how negativity formed the cornerstone of being black growing up in a township; I have now grown to detest this stark non-truth and I wish to change it. Another fallacy was that whites were superior in every way and that black people will remain subservient to the Caucasian master. Subliminally, I was getting trained how to be negative and to accept it, I was getting taught to accept that I am inferior and that I will never be able to rise to any notable heights. Adults could regularly be heard saying; “Go lela ga go thuse” (it is futile raising a concern as nobody will listen). To this day there are people who can be heard reciting this, either as a formed habit or as a way to escape facing the challenge to succeed.

 I acknowledge that apartheid never touched me physically, but it seems that the damage done to me psychologically is as harmful; this from the inferior quality of education to decisions made about what I was good for. Though no longer a reality, the ghost of the apartheid state continues to haunt people; it will take a positive mindset to be freed from this prison of negativity.

 In my adulthood, I have had to learn to fight against the indoctrination of negative thoughts and I have had to ask myself:

  • Why do people choose to be negative?
  • How did a minority win over and control the majority?
  • Why are people filled with self pity?
  • What is the root cause of a culture of entitlement?
  • Why do we not take charge of our own destiny?
  • Why do we keep blaming others for our failures
  • Can all this be reversed or corrected?

Granted; apartheid was designed to divide, conquer and rule through fear. It was engineered to make other races to feel inferior. It was meant to imbue the combined strength of a united society. It was suppose to leave a lasting legacy of self loathing and helplessness.

The first democratic elections in South Africa ended Apartheid rule but its effects can still be felt. Though deep seeded, this negativity can still be reversed and people can be empowered to reach for their dreams and to succeed. It all starts with accepting that the shackles are psychological and that it will take the mind to unlock them. A radical mind does not just happen, it has to be built. Like you were trained not to believe in your abilities, you can also learn to rise to the challenge of achieving greatness.”

– Thurston Sebotsane: “Lessons from my tour”

When I embarked on this initiative, to travel the country, which I aptly termed: THE POWER OF ONE; I wanted people to witness how, when an individual chooses to make a difference, he will be able to move others to action and how that action will carry a reciprocal and contagious effect.

Anyone can change and it is possible to succeed when you put your mind and heart in it.

– Thurston Sebotsane (Inspirational Speaker & Life Coach)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.thurston.co.za/looking-back/

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