The Sound of one hand clapping

Thursday, September 16, 2010 I had longed for this day for a very long time. I will always remember that day, no matter what may happen. I held the former President Thabo Mbeki’s hand after his public lecture.

It was communicated to us as PR students to attend the lecture. I had a chance to ask the great icon anything that I felt the public needs to know. But if I wanted to be noticed and get my message across I had to look the part, I then got out my greatest outfit and grabbed my exam pad to draft the perfect and most appropriate question.

The day had come and I arrived an hour before, which earned me the best seat in front. I had my tape recorder and felt as if I were a journalist already. I scribbled on my notepad as he charismatically spoke and when the time of questions came the entire list of question that I have drafted were asked by the battling cloud of journalist.

You must assume that I was disappointed, yes I was. But the unexpected happened about an hour after the address.  I saw him walk out of the hall way with his guards. “Honourable former president” I yelled. I will never tell you as to where this adrenalin came from but I moved towards his direction and asked him my question. He laughed and answered me politely. The security guard started to clap her hands; it was a bizarre moment as I stood there embarrassed of what I just did, as the rest of the cloud joined , I started to smile and slowly moving away to a hiding place.

My goal was achieved. I mark that day in my diary. The day a sound of one hand clapping saved me from total embarrassment. The next day I bought almost every newspaper to see if I had made the cover story and there it was on the Tshwane sun. But there was nothing that outlined my scene… hew!, what a relief.

The Cluetrain manifesto, theses 15 (My Interpretation)

Theses 15

In just a few more years, the current homogenized "voice" of business—the sound of mission statements and brochures—will seem as contrived and artificial as the language of the 18th century French court.

There is something special that the manifesto calls the “voice” this “voice” connects the business with its people, referring to all the stakeholders who have or may have an impact on the organisation.

A business has a voice. You can obviously tell through the organisations website, what kind of organisation it may be. Even if the last graphic has not finished downloading, you can tell if the organisation is telling the truth, or basically lying, or they are just talking to you to pick your pocket.

Business is not going to sound as real as it does in the near future.

Communication is a powerful tool, and like any other powerful tool, it has been passed into the service of business-as-usual. Corporations need to engage in new market conversation and conversations occur in human “voices”

With the opportunities that the internet provides the businesses, organisations will say anything the customer wants to hear in order to become the Number One Provider.

Organisations feel the urge to control communication. They create organisational charts to define who gets to do the talking. They issue policy statements and control all communication sent out to stakeholders. The PR will talk to the press and the investor relations will talk to the financial folks.

In the future, this will lead the standardised voice of business to seem artificial and contrived.

Not all those who wonder are lost

Dear Ex-lover

I was wondering when the time will come, for us to rep up this thing, so I can get along with my life without feeling guilty. Yes! I was wondering when you will break up with me, because I just could not do it. I was not lost in that relationship, I was just sitting in that dark room, awaiting the end.  

Now that we have got that out of the way, I feel as if I just left prison. As I stand on Table Mountain, drinking cold water, I can feel the breeze run though my skin as the water slides down in to body. The stress is gone. “Scream” my instincts whispered to me “go on and say it” it kept pushing and pushing “I am free, say it” it pushed harder.

I looked at Robben Island and thought of the moments when I felt like I was traped on that island. From that moment and on I knew how Nelson Mandela felt in February11, 1990, because that is exactly how I felt. “Free at last” we share the same sentiment.

I must admit, it was a fun and interesting ride, but filled with depression, oppression as well as discrimination.  I felt as if I existed in the times of struggle against apartheid.

Now that I can go and be anywhere my heart tells me, without reporting to the great general. I am simply going to have a glass of water, let the breeze cleans my soul from all the darkness you brought and enjoy the beauty of nature

Yours, in the past

Regretful Ex-lover

The suitcase guy

The best advice I ever received was, “speak your mind.”

I would like to refer to myself as a suitcase person.  I believe that life is more fun when you move around.  So I made a vow to myself that I will study in three different Universities in my lifetime and around South Africa. So my journey began in 2007. One of the good days in the future, I would love to be the Editor in chief of a well-established magazine or Group CEO for communications at a well-established Media House. 

On my way to the second destination, I experienced shitty services from this bus company named “GRAYHOUND”, but I did not let it bring me down. I am a person that always looks at the positive and try my best to always smile. You may find me as arrogant or anything but my question still stands. Why do I have to keep quiet? This is how I am and there is nothing that I or you can do about it. “Please keep your voice down it annoys me” this guy on the bus said to me. My response to him was simple and clear. “It’s not my fault that you can’t afford to buy yourself ear plugs“

I am very opinionated and speak my mind at the exact time when I feel to do so. I believe that my voice can take me wherever I want and I can make as much business deals as I can. I aim to be seen as a hardworking, enthusiastic and an intellect that stands up for what’s right. “I believe that the public has the right to know, and it will start here with me.

So, why should I abstain from speaking my mind at the time that suits me? Why should I keep quiet?



Great Company, BAD Service

I had the greatest smile in the world when I was told that I qualified to buy that netbook I had always wanted on a contract. I believed that 8.ta, with its great advertising and marketing strategies will bring some difference, but I had a big surprise waiting for me on the other side. Let me simplify my 8.ta horror to you. 

February 10, "It" finally arrived and I was no longer in the mood, but I collected it because i desperately needed it.

I had arranged for the company to electronically take the money from my account and they decided to somehow not take the money and block my internet. This is my punishment of March.

March 18, I could no longer stand the situation that I had no access to internet so i visited the Telkom store to enquire. Guess what. I was told that "we can’t help you, we have nothing to do with the 8.ta, and we just sell their stuff. OW!!! So a number was given to me so i can call. 081 180, I dial... the number you have dialled do not exist... 

I still do not have access to my internet and I so regret that I bought something from 8.ta

.  

How do you step from the top of a 100-foot Pole?



When I realised that I had nobody to give me the balance, it came to me that I needed to find a way to step down from this 100 foot pole. I had some sort of feeling, a feeling that made the blood in my veins move faster than usual. I knew that something in me had changed and I could not put my fingure to it. I then figured out that I had to move from my comfort zone and face reality.

Reality had hit me when I least expected it to. It hit me at an unexpected moment when I needed someone to lean on for a longer period of time. “I’m leaving you in two days and you my friend will be left hanging".  Something in me said wake up and smell the coffee. You should learn to stand on your own I thought to myself. I must admit, it wasn't easy.

The ocean of emotions rose confidence in me. I told myself from that moment that I am done playing by somebody else’s rules to the game. I had to find my own mojo and depend to no one anymore. It is about time I trusted my instincts. it is about time I started over.

I looked down and said to myself, I will not let gravity bring me down. I am through with accepting limitations because someone said they are so. i am starting all over again and I will not be victim of circumItance. 

From today and on, nothing will bring me down. They say "some things will never change", but you will never know until you try. Something in me said; step down because someday in the near future, no one will be there to help you balance.

So I am stepping down from this 100-foot pole. I don’t know how but I know I will find a way to land comfortably.