Before I dive into the career path, I should mention that I was born in Mauritius, and spent my early childhood there. I was a chronic asthmatic, and spent 10 years frustrated because I could hardly ever play soccer or run as and when I wanted. Instead I spent huge amounts of time reading, and by age 12, I had read half a library, and on a wide variety of topics.

My family emigrated to South Africa, via a tour in Western Europe, where it was discovered that I was allergic to cats and household dust (I don’t think anybody knew about house dust mite back then). The dry Johannesburg climate and staying away from cats delivered immediate and near miraculous results. I was able to dive into every sport available at school. Much to my parents’ great disappointment and eventually distress, I did not show nearly as much enthusiasm in my school work. I also had to learn to speak English and catch up to the rest of the class in Afrikaans. I quickly adapted to the social life and customs in South Africa, but remained more or less in the doldrums academically throughout my school life, relying on natural ability to get by. Except for a couple of short seasons, I have remained actively involved in sport and have spent a huge chunk of my life on a bicycle.

I have also had the privilege of more than 300 scuba dives, in sea and fresh water, in shallow and friendly coral reefs, as well as deep and dark caves, where I once became lost and disorientated during a night dive, when three of our four torches failed. More about this on request.

Cycling as a sport has provided a wonderful lifestyle which has enforced good eating habits, early nights and early mornings. Cycling can be enjoyed well into our advanced years, and I intend to keep at it into my seventies, and hopefully eighties, God willing.

Turning to business, I was told many times over the years, that I should be doing what I love. That I should love the work I do. For years I couldn’t fathom this out. For me, I had found something to do after I left school and college, and I did it. I did not intentionally seek out a career which would intrigue and fascinate me into the future.

After some years trying out accountancy and marketing, I responded to a newspaper advert, and found myself in a sales job, in a rubber company. For someone coming out of a pristine ‘white collar’ home, this was completely against the grain, but it was fascinating. It was industry. This was manufacturing. The sales office was at the factory, and I spent many hours observing the various machines at work. I received a crash course in the manufacturing of a hugely diverse range of products, and became exposed to mining and industry as a producer and supplier.

In desperation for a company car, I applied for an external sales job at another rubber company, and was hired. I became little more than an industrial tourist, selling industrial rubber hose. At first, I hated the job, but slowly I started attracting new customers, and then some bigger ones, and after some time I became the senior technical hose rep. I achieved a level of success purely because of technical knowledge and decent presentation; not because I was a natural born sales person. I had drifted into this sales job because of a need, not out of making an intentional choice.

Because I was doing well, I was offered finance to go on my own. Instead of carefully considering the consequences or timing in my life, or whether I was ready for such a move, I agreed immediately. The move was hasty and not orderly; my employers got wind of my intentions, and asked me to leave directly. I no longer had a choice. The die was cast. I had a young family to feed. I was once again propelled into a selling situation, out of need.

To cut a long story short, the new company grew and we became the second biggest industrial hose distributor in the country. Early on, Chick Henderson, well known rugby commentator, respected businessman, and also the owner of a large industrial hose distribution company in South Africa, had bought a minority share in my hose business. We were ‘friendly’ rivals in the market which helped our growth.

After seven years, I felt the need for change. I discussed the matter with Chick, and ended up selling both our businesses to a JSE listed company. Chick was by then well into his sixties, but I was still in my early thirties. In retrospect, selling out was a cardinal error, and one which I regretted for many years. There were many other ways to achieve the ‘change’ I was searching for, but all of them required changing some of my lifestyle patterns. Reading the chapter on the ‘Law of Trade-Offs’ in John Maxwell’s book ‘The 15 invaluable Laws Of Growth’ has provided clarity and given me understanding. I quote: ‘If you want to grow up to your potential, you need to be willing to give up some things you value.’ I failed to do that and I paid a heavy price for being unwilling to take the personal growth journey.

I spent years in the wilderness, with unplanned highs and lows. However, despite this very poor decision to sell (prematurely) a perfectly good business, my continued attempts at pioneering new products and ideas broadened my horizons, helped me to gain invaluable experience and knowledge, as well as allowed me to travel extensively.

Here is a selected list of products I have manufactured, traded in, imported or exported:

• Exported fresh produce by sea and air
• Exported live lambs (by air) as well as fresh meat
• Imported Seagate hard drives, as appointed MD of major distributor
• Co-owned and operated an alluvial diamond mine
• Manufactured Eco Braai Logs, which evolved into Fire Logs exported to northern Europe
• Manufactured flavoured salt for use with pop corn
• Exported paint, truck tyres, delivery bicycles, putty, bulk wine, shot blasting medium, recycled tyre carpet underlay, fresh flowers, galvanised wire, slate flooring, gym machines and equipment.
• Imported rubber hoses, hydraulic hose and fittings, wooden broom handles, cycling caps, promotional ‘goody bag’ items for cycling races.
• Manufactured rubber mats and stabiliser bars for bakkies
• Owned and ran a restaurant in the Karoo
• Edited a cycling magazine

This is an embarrassing list which does not even include another long list of products I investigated, but did not trade in. Every one of these products required a certain level of study, market research, technical knowledge, pricing, logistics, and often currencies.

The two common denominators shared by all these products and enterprises were that each was a good idea, and each required extensive sales and marketing. Also they were mostly pioneering projects in their day.

I enjoyed the research and the acquired knowledge, but disliked the selling, and did not have enough marketing expertise. I had drifted from one great idea to another, because they seemed good ideas at the time. Although I can make a decent presentation, I am not a good salesman. I spent all this time and effort using a weaker talent while ignoring my actual core gifts and strengths. The results were predictably average.

While I varied the products and the activities, I did not vary my approach. I expected natural ability to make the enterprises a success instead of investing in my own internal growth, which would have helped me concentrate on my God-given talents and strengths. The John Maxwell coaching certification has helped me to evaluate my experiences, and this has resulted in a better understanding of myself, my behavioural, communication, strength and work style.

Nine years ago, completely out of the blue, and while I was a super-fit and healthy cyclist, I was diagnosed with stage four cancer in the throat area. This was a shock. During my visit to the referring specialist ENT, he said that there was a ‘very aggressive’ treatment which, if I could see it through, would offer up an 85% cure rate.

“Will I go into remission?” I asked. “No, this can be cured.”

“What will be my quality of life be?” “There is an excellent chance you will recover to a normal life.”

All of a sudden, the 85% sounded like 100% to me. This was not toxic optimism, and I asked myself whether I had the character strength to see out the treatment, and if I did, then what was the actual message I should be looking out for in this ordeal.

I received a modest payout from insurance. All the signs were there for a chance to reboot. I was being given a fresh chance to write a new chapter in my life. As warned, the treatment was brutal; radiation every day for seven weeks, and chemo once a week concurrently. I lost 18kilos in two months because swallowing was near impossible. My body, for so many years accustomed to high intensity workouts, cannibalised itself. Many of my friends and family took turns to take me to the treatment rooms every day when I became too weak to drive myself. I am pretty sure most people thought I was destined for the grave as I became progressively thinner. They did not see the rainbow that I was seeing.

I survived the treatment, which besides allowing me to visit darker places than I ever thought existed physically, revealed the depth of resilience and perseverance of the human spirit which served me so well over the years. Also I received much comfort from my faith. As a spiritual experience, it was an extraordinary privilege, and I will remain forever grateful for it.

The fresh chances have kept coming. By the way, like most people, I have had my second, third and subsequent chances, so now I refer to them as fresh chances, and they are available to everyone. The only proviso is the willingness to introspect and grow.

I am grateful to be able to put all these experiences to good, worthy and significant use in the form of leadership and growth coaching and teaching courses, as well as speaking and writing.

My conclusion is that no experience is without some value, and it should be explored until I find that value. It is never too late to adjust our thinking, and apply the lessons learned for what remains of life this side of eternity.

I look forward to walking with you in your leadership and growth journey, as a certified John Maxwell Leadership coach and trainer.

P.S.

I have ridden enough kilometres to travel well past the moon (400 000km) and spent more than 10 000 hours in the saddle. I was never really competitive, even though I participated in hundreds of races. I was not scientific with the training, because I was cycling for fun more than results. Nevertheless, I was in the top 25 cyclists in the age group 50-59 (there were 10 000 cyclists registered in that age category in South Africa at the time) for a few years. It culminated with becoming the ‘Head Boy’, and being awarded the first lifetime honorary membership at Cycle Lab Super Cycling Club. It was then a club with 2 500 members, hugely organised and disciplined. As a result of my experience, I led and trained the club marshals, and the club continues to make use of the same guidelines for their group leaders and bunch riding etiquette.

Despite the health scare and treatment, I recovered with little or no side effects, and remain fit and athletic, still a committed club cyclist.