My son taught me something about focus today. I watched him building a Lego burger restaurant. Not just any building, a burger 🍔 restaurant. He already had a picture in his mind of what it should look like. As he built it, pieces fell off. A wall collapsed. He stopped, picked them up and carried on. “It fell down a few times,” he told me. What impressed me wasn’t his creativity. It was his focus. He wasn’t distracted by building a fire station or a spaceship halfway through. He kept coming back to the picture he had in his head. It reminded me of Nehemiah 6:3 When people kept asking him to leave the wall, his reply was simple: “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.” Not every distraction is bad. In fact, most of them are good ideas. The challenge is they pull us away from the work that matters most. For me, that’s been a timely reminder. This year I’ve committed to one priority: keeping my marketing engine running. I’ve learned that when good conversations keep flowing, good clients keep coming. And when good clients keep coming, the business stays healthy. There will always be another idea, another opportunity and another shiny object. The hard part isn’t finding something new to do. The hard part is staying focused long enough for the right things to work. So today, before you start something new, ask yourself: What’s the wall you’ve been called to build… and what do you need to stop “coming down” for?

Your principles should be set in concrete. Your methods should not. One of the most dangerous assumptions we can make is believing that because something worked yesterday, it will work tomorrow. Knowledge is expanding at an incredible pace. Industries change. Technology changes. Customers change. The question we should keep asking ourselves is: "Is there a better way?" Henry Ford was a brilliant innovator, but even he got caught by this trap. When customers asked for more choice, he famously replied: "You can have any colour you want, as long as it's black." His principles weren't the problem. His unwillingness to adapt was. When something isn't working, we usually have four choices: 1. Find someone to blame. 2. Make excuses and rationalise it. 3. Take comfort that others are struggling too. 4. Change. The fourth option is usually the hardest, but it's also the one that creates growth. I've noticed this in my own life. Sometimes I hold onto a preference as if it were a principle. I become convinced that my way is the right way, when in reality it's simply the way I'm familiar with. A bamboo tree survives strong winds because it bends. A plastic ruler stays perfectly straight until it snaps. There is wisdom in knowing the difference. Lord, help me to know when my principles are at stake and when it's merely my preferences. When it's my preferences being challenged, give me the humility to listen, the wisdom to learn, and the flexibility to consider a better way. Help me remember that I don't always need the last word.

I’m 47 this year. And I’m learning that success and significance are not the same thing. Success builds your life. Significance builds others. Recently, through my friend Ben, I was introduced to the Basadi Ba Moshito (BBM) Foundation The Bold Men Skills Program participates with Charles H Their approach is simple: They don’t give handouts. They teach people how to fish. I met a group of 11 young men in the Bold Man Skills Programme. They’re being trained in practical trades—electrical, welding, carpentry—while also learning discipline, leadership, and financial responsibility through a structured programme with the Go Artisan Training Centre (via Hatfield Christian Church). Many of them are starting with very little. But they’re not short on drive. So I’ve decided to donate my time, once a week for the next five week. To share what I know about business—how to find problems, create value, and earn from it. Not as a lecturer, but as a foundation. Because real change doesn’t come from ideas. It comes from action. If you feel moved to contribute—your time, your skills, or your support—BBM is worth a look. Sometimes the best investment is in someone else’s future.

Do your clients fully understand what you do… the first time you explain it? Or does it take a few meetings before it clicks? I explored this with the team at TreasuryONE (Pty) Ltd. They realised something simple but powerful: If clients understood faster, they’d decide faster. And this is a team with 25+ years of experience, trusted by leading corporates, doing highly technical work in treasury and FX. TreasuryONE office in Pretoria The challenge wasn’t the value. It was how that value was being explained. So we translated their language: From: “Develop forward-looking cash flow forecasting models…” To: “We help you see cash shortages or surpluses before they happen.” Same work.Clearer message. And that clarity changes conversations. So here’s a question for you: Is your message helping clients decide… or making them think harder than they need to? If you’d like to explore this for your team, you can book a call here. P.S. Clarity doesn’t make you sound simpler.It makes you easier to choose.

My son started playschool this year. Half days. Certain days. A brand-new rhythm we’re still adjusting to. Our schedules had to change. We’ve had to be more intentional with our time and block out distractions because afternoons look very different now. Everyone keeps saying, “It gets easier.” We haven’t felt that yet. 🙂 That change got me thinking about business. I started my business in 2018 and made it past the first 1,000 days, a milestone nearly 90% of businesses don’t reach. I remember reading somewhere that once you pass that mark, business gets easier. I’ve noticed that hasn’t always been true. What has  been true, over and over again, is the need to change. This year, my main focus is simple: keep feeding the marketing engine. Because without marketing, there are no conversations. Without conversations, there are no meetings. And without meetings, there are no new clients. No matter how experienced you are. No matter how long you’ve been in business. No matter how good your work is. Markets change. Economies change. People change. The one constant is this: you will always need clients. As I turned 47 today, I noticed something else. I’ve become less risky over the years, especially when learning new things. I want progress without the awkward beginning. Then I watch my son learning to walk. When he stumbles, we don’t say, “What’s wrong with you?” When he stands up, we celebrate like he’s won Olympic gold. We delight in the attempt. Zechariah 4:10 (NLT) says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.” What stood out for me is this: the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. Not the finish. Not the scale. The work begins. If you’re rebuilding momentum, refining your message, or restarting your sales engine, maybe the win today is simply this: you started. I’d be glad to walk that road with you. Please book your call here

I was walking through the rocky paths of the De Kelders, watching every step so I wouldn’t twist an ankle. Then I saw a dassie. Short. Round. Not exactly built for speed. And yet it moved across the rocks with ease—quick, confident, effortless. Why? Because it’s built for that terrain . Its feet are designed to grip rock. Soft pads. Natural suction. A body made for balance. It doesn’t fight the environment—it fits it. Humans, on the other hand, are not built for rocky cliffs. But we are built for something else entirely. We are built to adapt . We create shoes. We design tools. We learn techniques. We study the terrain before we step onto it. And most importantly, we think . That’s the real advantage. Not raw talent. Not natural ability. Not even confidence. Adaptability. The moment you stop trying to win by someone else’s rules and start designing systems that work for how you are wired, everything changes.

I thought it was a one-off. But after getting quotes for solar, drywalling, and book publishing…the pattern became impossible to ignore. Every company spent time with us. Some drove to our home. They gathered details, put together a quote… And then? Nothing. No follow-up question. No attempt to understand the hesitation. No curiosity about the decision. It felt like: “Here’s the quote. Hope for the best.” But ONE person broke the pattern. She said: “Send me 10 pages. I’ll edit them. I want you to experience  what working together feels like.” That tiny “micro-experience” created more trust than any proposal. 👉 I explain the full story — and what you can copy for your business — in the video. It might be the shift you need.

When DataGrows reached out, they weren’t looking for another customer satisfaction survey. They wanted to understand and to hear, in their clients’ own words, what makes them stay, what makes them leave, and what makes them different from every other software option out there. They already knew their loyal clients loved them, but they couldn’t quite explain why.  They sensed there was a story hidden in their clients’ experiences but they didn’t have the process or the questions to bring it out. Insightful moments from the CIBA Roadshow — Datagrow’s CEO, L’Mri, and FD, Mariska, inspiring the audience with their expertise That’s where I introduced my Value-Selling Roadmap (Also known as The Listening Advantage ). It’s an immersive client interview process that uncovers stories and language that make price comparisons irrelevant. Drawing from my years of podcasting (where I’ve interviewed hundreds of people) , I helped them uncover the why  behind their success. I interviewed five of their clients and asked questions that went deeper than the usual survey. Questions like: “What was happening in your business when you decided to reach out to DataGrows?” “If working with DataGrows were a movie, what genre would it be — and why?” The answers were incredible. Clients described DataGrows as everything from a “microwave” (simple and reliable) to a “fish eagle” (focused and precise). When we started mapping these analogies, a clear story emerged — one about reliability, human connection, and responsiveness. When I presented the results, one team member smiled and jokingly said, “That was brilliant, can you do our presentations for us?” Now, DataGrows has: A clear story framework  that expresses their value Real client quotes  to use in marketing and sales Taglines, soundbites, and social media ideas  built from truth And a team that sells on value , not just price As one team member said, “You made our day.” That’s the power of the Value-Selling Roadmap  — hearing your story through your clients’ words and turning that insight into marketing that works. Author’s Note: After interviewing hundreds of clients and business owners, I’ve learned this: the words that sell best are the ones your clients already use to describe you. The Value-Selling Roadmap helps you uncover those words and turn them into your most powerful marketing asset. The next round is open to five companies only . If you want your team to sell value instead of competing on price, book your action plan call today .

When I started my YouTube channel , I thought my first 10 videos would blow up. Spoiler: they didn’t. Some got 50 views. A few got 200. I remember refreshing my stats and thinking, “Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.” Then I stumbled across the Law of 100  — do something 100 times before judging if it’s working. A photography professor once divided his class into two groups: One had to shoot 100 photos for an A. The other had to produce one perfect  photo. Guess which group produced better photos? The 100-photo group. Because perfection doesn’t teach you, practice does. Because perfection doesn’t teach you, practice does. Seth Godin calls it The Dip  — that messy middle between “this is exciting” and “why isn’t this working yet?” I’m still in the middle. And I’ve learned: mastery hides behind repetition. If you’ve hit The Dip , don’t quit — do your 100 reps.

A few weeks ago, I went to support a client, Datagrows , at an event. As one of the sponsors, they were given a slot to present. Instead of running through a typical slide deck (the kind that blurs into every other presentation), they did something bold. They created a game show that accountants would instantly connect with. That’s not something you see in a conference room every day. At first, the crowd was hesitant when they asked for two volunteers. To keep the energy moving, I jumped in. Within minutes, the room was laughing, smiling, and leaning forward. The atmosphere completely shifted. Here’s what stood out to me: nobody is going to recall bullet point number 17 on a slide. But they will  remember the experience. They’ll remember the energy, the laughter, and how it made them feel. Sometimes the best way to sell your idea isn’t with more slides. It’s by giving your audience an experience they’ll remember. That’s the power of selling an idea. It’s not just about what you say — it’s about the moment you create. The sales lesson:  Next time you’re tempted to add one more slide or one more stat, pause and ask: What can I do to give my audience an experience they won’t forget? How can I help them feel  the impact instead of just hearing the information? Data might fade, but moments stick. And moments are what move people to act.

"Every insurance agent promises to save you money… but do they really know the math?" I got a call today. The agent said she could give me a quote that would save money, provide better cover, and let me compare options. I asked: “Every insurance company says that. That doesn’t make you unique. What else do you offer?” She froze. Then I asked: “Where does the money come from when a claim is made?” Her answer: “From the premium.” I replied: “So if your premium is low, where will the company get the money to pay out when something goes wrong?” She froze again… and hung up. The lesson: Promises sound nice, but without real product knowledge and understanding the fundamentals, you’re left vulnerable. Sales isn’t about sounding good, it’s about knowing your stuff inside-out so your client can trust you.

We all want to do meaningful work. You want to know that what you do every day matters — to your family, your clients, and to yourself. And sometimes, it’s easy to forget the value of what’s in your hand. You might think: “I’m just a barista, serving coffee.” “I’m just a coach, giving guidance.” “I’m just an engineer, solving problems.” “I’m just a pastor, preaching sermons.” When we downplay what’s in our hands, we lose sight of the pride, identity, and purpose behind our work. In Exodus 4:2, God asks Moses, “What’s in your hand?”  Moses replies, “A shepherd’s rod.” To Moses, it was an ordinary tool — a stick used to guide, protect, and count his sheep. But God saw it differently. That same rod became a symbol of leadership and divine purpose , used to part seas and free an entire nation. Here’s how you can view your work differently today: Recognise what’s in your hand.  Whether it’s a rod, a coffee tamper, a coaching framework, a wrench, or a Bible – see it for what it truly is: a tool of impact. Take pride in your craftsmanship. A coffee barista  doesn’t just make coffee. They create moments of warmth, comfort, and connection at 6 am. A coach  doesn’t just share strategies. They change how people see themselves and their untapped potential. An engineer  doesn’t just solve problems. They build systems that keep society moving safely and efficiently. A pastor  doesn’t just preach. They guide souls and bring hope to the weary. A craftsman  doesn’t just create objects. They pour generational skills into tools and furniture that outlive them. Remember: Your work shapes your identity.  It forms who you are and who you’re becoming each day. Today, pause and ask yourself: 👉 What’s in my hand?   👉 How can I use it well?   👉 How can I take pride in what I create, fix, build, teach, or serve today? Don’t let the ordinariness of your tools blind you to their extraordinary purpose. When you dismiss what’s in your hand, you risk living life feeling small and unseen. When you take pride in what’s in your hand, you step fully into your calling. Like Moses, you discover that your ordinary work can become extraordinary impact — for your family, your clients, and your community!