One can learn much from a mentor. My best was a boss from two decades back, then Absa CEO Danie Cronje. He taught me much still drawn on today, among them encouragement to travel widely and often. Danie would say, with only slight exaggeration, you could learn as much from an overseas trip as a university degree.
The past month has provided something of a travel overload with London, Davos and this week’s roadshow around SA keeping me out of mischief. With my eyes and ears open, it has truly delivered the kind of learning experience Dr Cronje predicted.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway is a reminder of the science behind DNA which now proves human beings are 99.9% identical. With Google available to all, it pays to never under-estimate the intelligence of fellow beings. Once they are properly informed, they will always surprise on the upside.
This information revolution is one of the big reasons why I remain so optimistic about the world – and, indeed, our country. Because once properly informed, people generally make the right choices, take the appropriate decisions. Providing the wisdom of the ancient Persians – that this, too, shall pass.
