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WEEKEND REFLECTION: Only ten years to overnight success…

Oct 19, 2017

Last week we paid a visit to the Eastern Free State. Back in the 90’s, my father helped to build the Katse Dam, and we lived in Ficksburg during my university years.

It was wonderful to Airbnb on Saxon Park, the beautiful farm of Friedl and Lindie von Maltitz, after more than 13 years. Friedl told me a little more about the family history and how his grandfather started the farm.

At the turn of the century, these farms were easily obtainable pieces of land, but in return the former government expected families to fulfil the role of ‘border police and army’. This role was largely performed by women because the men were compelled to work on the trade routes (for survival). The women and children were alone on the farms for months.

In due course these farmers experimented with various types of agriculture (trial and error). Over the years, Ficksburg became known as cherry- and asparagus-farming country, but this heritage was bought with blood and sweat.

So what is my point:

It’s very easy (and I’ve made this mistake too) to look at the success of people or businesses and assume that they have achieved that success easily or overnight. But there is always a price someone had to pay. Perhaps you are paying the price? That’s why the words ‘white privilege’ are a ridiculous new creation to me.

One of my favourite witticism is, ‘It took him ten years to achieve overnight success.’

As you know by now (or not), I launched my first digital products. The ebook is a 62-page business resource. It contains 104 sales strategies and business mistakes of Afrikaner business gurus as well as the brand new digital magazine KLIPKOUERS. Click here for more information.

Read also: WEEKEND REFLECTION: WHAT YOU FOCUS ON GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER

About the author

Jacques Basson

After a wonderful childhood in Riebeeckstad and many years at the Kovsie campus to perfect my pool game (half-truth) and complete a business degree, my corporate sales and marketing career started with the Coca-Cola Company in 1999. Coca-Cola’s management development programme, Kusile, quickly developed by business expertise and five additional companies and senior roles in South Africa and England later – for among others Parmalat, Ecolab, Luxottica and Polaroid Eyewear – I started a commercial cleaning company, VanBroc Cleaning, in 2007, followed by a joint venture with a commercial cleaning company in Austin, Texas in 2012. After 14 years in England my family and I moved back to South Africa early in 2018 and we currently reside in Centurion. Of course, Klipkouers podcast is the new baby in the business family and I need your help raising the child!

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