Easy

If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

If it was easy, would it really be worth it?

(The power of) social media

(The power of) social media for governments, corporates, politicians, etc. is not about its utility as a messenger. It is about engagement, fighting for the hearts and minds, trying to influence the narrative.

Using social media merely to issue media statements is so pathetic. After all, the traditional route still works just fine. Media outlets will publish the statement.

The problem or challenge occurs afterwards, when commentators start analysing it, pulling it apart, and creating (their own) narrative. By the time you get involved with a complaint about being misunderstood or misrepresented, or with a denial or clarification, it is too late.

Take the initiative, go out on a limb and try to influence or control the narrative. After all, this is what politics or marketing is all about. You may not always succeed, but people, especially your sympathetic supporters, will appreciate the effort.

Lessons from car guards

Four lessons from observing car guards...

Lesson one: car guards always make sure they are noticed by parkers parking their cars. This is not very different from sales and marketing and advertising.

Lesson two: car guards always make sure they are noticed by parkers preparing to leave. This is all about collections.

Lesson three: showing up daily. Car guards know if you don't show up, there is no sale and no cash.

Lesson four: despite the annoyance and occasional abuse from parkers, they never give up.

Entrepreneurs can learn valuable lessons from observing car guards.

Consistency

The mother of success is #consistency. When you find or learn the tools and methods that work and you apply them consistently, success is likely to result.

Variety is good, talent helps, brilliance makes a difference, but consistent application, consistently showing up, that is the key.

The #golfer who consistently practices his swing, his putting. The #tennis player who hits balls for hours, everyday. The #Iranian #football team returning to practice late into the night after their world cup qualifier against #China. The long distance runner who piles on the milage on a regularly, hardening the muscles, toughening the mind, creating muscle memory. These are the people who create the possibility and potential of success.

Focusing on the right number

The news of the South African GDP growth rate of 3.3% Q on Q is quite encouraging. This, however, is not the whole story. Perhaps not even the main story. What has happened to the employment number?

Employment creation is the key. And we know that South Africa's economy is plagued by 'jobless' growth. It is the number the SARB should also be using to base its interest rate decision on. It is a number that creates multiplier benefits across socio political and economic impacts. If this number has increased too (or conversely, unemployment has fallen), then rejoicing would be truly justified.

Misdirection - the West has won

The takeover of our economic policies is now complete.

Misdirection is the main weapon of the magician. "Focus over there while I perform a sleight of hand and produce a rabbit out of the hat here". This, unfortunately, seems to be what has happened to the whole nation of South Africa. Or to be more precise, to the governing party, the government, the media, commentators and the intelligentsia. Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, the "communists" have also been taken in.

I refer here to the collective sigh of relief that took place nationally when Standard & Poor's left South Africa's credit rating unchanged after there had been fear that there would be a downgrade. The ANC and the government pulled out all the stops to avoid this and have seemingly succeeded. There is a threat, however, that a downgrade is still possible at the next review later in the year. The expectation, therefore, is that everything is going to focus on avoiding this. Any action that deviates from this will be seen as betrayal, akin to high treason.

Thus, has begun a never ending series of relays aimed at avoiding a downgrade, with no regard to the long-term policy direction and targets of the governing party and the needs of the people.

It began with AGOA. The government had taken a stance in the interest of South Africa, but the US flexed its muscle and enlisted the media and the opposition. Government resistance immediately crumbled for fear of being accused of destroying the economy.

In light of all this, what happened to BRICS and the new direction of looking East? BRICS was meant as a kind of showing the middle finger to the Bretton Woods institutions and their economic and political order. It appears BRICS has been rendered impotent even before it can have an impact. With the exception of India, all the BRICS economies are experiencing shocks of varying degrees. Recession and impeachment in Brazil, sanctions and economic contraction in Russia, an economic slowdown and a desire to be liked and accepted by the West in China, and a South Africa who's economy is in the doldrums and plagued by a series of political and economic missteps.

From here on it is hard to imagine South Africa adopting any truly independent economic and political path.

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