Why Brand South Africa distractors have got it dead wrong

11 December 2024, Wednesday

 

 

From load- shedding to water- restrictions to a weak rand to ongoing crime and corruption – Brand South Africa’s distractors seem to be having a field day.

But, they have got it dead wrong.

 

 

They are reading the game wrong – and history teaches us that.

Many moons back , in 1941, when Britain was having its darkest days of World War Two , one of the world’s greatest ever leaders, Winston Churchill , told a generation of young people that :

These are great days – the greatest days our country has ever lived

Churchill knew that it’s only when times are tough, and conditions seem to be at their worst, that we learn what we are fully capable of .

Challenge serves to unite and it serves to elicit talents which in more prosperous times would often have lain dormant.

There can be few greater feelings than finding out that one can endure more, do more and achieve more – together as a nation.

Fast forward to today and South African born Elon Musk is regarded as ‘ The New Steve Jobs’. But, more than technology and talent, it’s MINDSET which  sets him apart .

Find out what is going to affect mankind most in the foreseeable future, find out what’s not working – and go and fix it ‘ : Elon Musk .

While Elon Musk is setting the world alight and receiving many of the game- changing accolades, it’s no different right here at home.

In Business and in Sport, Brand South Africa produces great leaders – with some of the greatest mindsets ever .

Consider what business leaders like Christo Wiese, Johan Rupert, Stephen Saad, Jannie Mouton , Brian Joffe, Brian Molefe, Whitey Basson, Patrice Motsepe, Maria Ramos, Adrian Gore ,Markus Jooste, and Koos Bekker are achieving on home soil – and on the world stage.

The list goes on and on, but what impresses most – is how they are all changing the way of the world from a South African base.

None of them are seen to be leaving our shores, as they know how great Brand South Africa can be.

They see a world of abundance and exponential opportunity. Great leaders adding billions to South African tax coffers – employing millions, and making a significant difference to so many South African families. They’re all exponentially

  Elevating Humanity

And it’s the very same mindset which is shared by our great sporting super-stars – who educate, entertain and enrich our nation. Consider AB de Villier’s three million twitter followers. Phew, how does he even get time to practice, when he’s now become our clear No. 1 sporting ambassador?

And consider what Ernie Els has done for Brand South Africa over a protracted period of time. And Gary Player who recently turned 80.And Hashim Amla, Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger, Ernst van Dyk, Chad Le Cos, Gary Kirsten ,Stephen Mokoka , Cameron van den Burgh , Lucas Radebe and others. The list of great South African brand ambassadors goes on and on.

We are truly blessed to have some the world’s great leaders – committed with head and  heart.

Part of the reason I agreed to take the job is because ,actually, having looked at Eskom closer, I didn’t think it was as bad a position as people had perceived it to be,” Brian Molefe. Eskom’s game- changing new CEO .

And as our Political , Business and Sporting leaders learn to pull closer and ever closer together, there can be no stopping a great brand.

Maybe it’s time for all the Brand South Africa distractors – to take heed.


 

  • Rob Opie is a Brand Strategist, Key-note Speaker, Author and ‘ The Greatness Coach’ to corporates and individuals. His new book: The Game Changers: Good to Great to Greater is available FREE as an instant digital download on his site : www.thegameplan.co.za