Alec’s weekly newsletter: The Bobby Godsell moment at Joburg Mining Indaba

Hi there,

The most magical thing in life is hope. With just a smidgeon, mankind becomes able to bear incredible hardship. Without it, even the most privileged life can become a gilded cage. A pit of despair from which there seems no escape.

AfricaOccasionally one bumps into fellow South Africans whose lives are so dark that on the sunniest of days, they bring thunder. They see half-full glasses even when expensive bubbly is on tap.

Because of the way I earn a living, when spotted in the crowd – especially after delivering a presentation – society’s ultimate nihilists seem to regard it as their mission to explain the error of my optimistic ways. They offer no easy escape. The only upside is that getting dumped on develops tolerance.

During such tirades, I’m usually at a loss. Nodding only encourages them to close the conversion deal. Trying to get a word in requires over-talking. And that’s rude. But in future, there’s Bobby Godsell to call on.

Bobby calls himself a grateful pensioner, although as chairman of Business SA, he’s hardly retired. He was, for me, the highlight in a star-studded cast at this week’s Joburg Mining Indaba. His message will linger long after I’ve forgotten that the forceful presentation by the world’s best share promoter, Robert Friedland.

Godesell reminded us the wisdom of appreciating we are part of a collective. That despite the wide acceptance of a “service of self” propagated by Ayn Rand Capitalists, human beings are only truly happy when contributing to something bigger than themselves.

So the next time some Perth-bound fellow tries to brow-beat me about how our nation is in a state of terminal decline, I’ll patiently wait my turn. When it comes, instead of responding with facts, the reply will be vintage Godsell with a touch of John F Kennedy.

What, Dear Sir, have you done for your country lately? When last did you read the cornerstone of our society, the world’s best Constitution? The one giving you inalienable rights to participate in a non-racial, non-sexist democracy. In a South Africa here for all its people. And if you don’t think that’s happening, what have you done about changing it?

Before his keynote, Godsell, the former CEO of Anglogold Ashanti, made sure that there were Active Citizenry signup forms on every chair. I signed up. So did most of the 200 or so others in the room. That’s going to add four hours a month to my schedule. One hour a week. Hardly a hardship for the privilege of living in the most magnificent country on earth.

The Joburg Mining Indaba’s chairman Bernard Swanepoel says Godsell’s message was so relevant that it turned the conference’s mood on its head. Pre-Godsell the talk was all about mining’s problems. Post his keynote, the focus switched to seeking solutions.

Amazing how powerful a little bit of hope can be.

Until next week.

Best
Alec

 

Past week’s best read articles on Biznewz.com:

 

ANDREW KINGSTON - Sanlam InvestmentThis top fund posted 27% a year for 5 years – manager shares investment strategy

 

 

SA third fattest nation on earth.Turning it around starts by cutting down on KFC…..

Nicholas van der Nest - Liberty

 

 

Telkom Dream Team’s dilemma:a rich, out-of-sync CFO who is righteously indignant

Sipho Maseko - The leader of Telkom's dream team
Sipho Maseko – The leader of Telkom’s dream team

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the other stories that made our Top Ten.

Open Letter to Capitec, micro-lenders: how to fix SA’s shameful money problem

Retirement reform shake-up – winners and losers

The appeal of Platinum Stocks – rock bottoms tend to spark strong recoveries

OUTA’s fight against e-tolls reboots after court losses

Farewell Mrs Oppenheimer – the closing of a South African chapter, not just for racing

How to start and run your own investment club

Bayport’s purchase of SA unsecured lending business is not ill-timed says CEO

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