Everybody lives their lives according to certain values, ideas and lessons learnt.
This blog is meant to capture the one lesson that has shaped people's lives, that has created values and principles that govern their lives. The one incident, the one comment from a friend, the one book that was read, the one … There is always one defining moment in a person's life that shapes the rest of that life.
This blog wants to capture those stories. Those stories of everyday people, living everyday lives.
Yet they live by a set of principles and values shaped by the one wise lesson learnt.
What was my One Wise lesson you may ask……
I was a student with an imagination. They were building a new shopping centre in the town of Stellenbosch (1978).There was one old movie house, falling apart, dirty and not the place to be seen.
It was my idea to approach the large movie distribution company to open a brand new cinema complex in the new shopping centre with a steakhouse on the side that served light meals and refreshments. Everybody thought it was a great idea on paper
Then the questions started:
How old are you "20 sir"
What about money "you can lend me some this is a no brainer it will succeed. There are over 10 000 students alone in the town"
You don't have any management expertise – "you can teach me"
The end result, "sorry but we just can't take the risk, but we like your idea and we will go ahead without you because you are to young/inexperienced and broke"
Their decision made me go back to university to study a course that was safe and not what I really wanted to do. I did not push I did not try again I accepted that the answer no.
How different my life and career would have been had people shown faith in me and had people been willing to invest a little in the dreams of the young.
My wise lesson. Always listen when the young people speak, never be quick to write of their dreams and whenever possible, be a source of encouragement to those who dream big.
Send your One Wise Lesson to mailto:ian@paymaster.co.za?subject=One wise lesson
