SA Rocks

“Don’t give up before the miracle” I remember seeing this as one of the quotes from some luminary at the Hands that Shape Humanity tour.
Miracle, no less, was used to describe the unexpectedly peaceful birthing of the “new” South Africa after the first free elections. Thanks to the transcendent midwifery skills of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, it didn’t end in a bloody mess as anticipated.

In the lead.up to the change.over of power, thousands of people fled South African shores believing the worst; the statistically probable future would crash in, leaving SA awash in civil warfare.
Once again the same quesiness has rocked SA, from all sectors of the community, thanks to the surreal soap.opera political show we watch avidly (if the electricity is on of course).

The “challenges” have been acknowledged to be at the level of national emergency by the president in his State of the Nation address. It’s not a sentiment issue this time around, the infrastructure is indeed buckling under the load of progress and short-term profit caching in South Africa.

We ALL know the well.worn “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it” (thank you Herr Einstein), but it’s probably well.worn because it actually is an effective way to subvert problem paths that are ..well.worn. [Perhaps it was an on MP's email signature and it sparked a subconscious epiphany. Perhaps the backpressure of that exit door. Something changed.]

On 9th of Feb 2008, President Mbeki didn’t offer up the quite the same ‘Teflon Thabo’ political deflection speech we’re accustomed to hearing. This Business Unusual address did have all the usual political rhetoric politicians have been hypnotising us with for eons. But also the urgency of the last.chance that MAY well elicit action.

If his 24 “apex priorities” to accelerate change are actually enforced at the end of his erratic reign, it may ensure a more positive legacy in this president’s wake.
But I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Putting our salvation in the hands of a politician seems as dependable as the Eskom load.shedding schedule. The metaphorical punch may be where the value lies. If we intend to stay on in SA, there’s no doubt it’ll have to be Business Unusual for each of us.

Those who can innovate and do things differently (not more copycat derivative solutions from elsewhere) have the odds stacked in their favour.
Conservative, wait-till-someone-else-in-the-industry-has-had-success strategies will leave businesses faltering in the tracks of those faster companies that no longer regard experimenting with unusual ways of operating as a luxury, or just for the freaks in the creative department to tinker with.

Case in point: Someone who unexpectedly stole the show at the Opening of Parliament was the Fantastically Fabulous Fairy Godmother (seriously, I kid you not). Donna McCallum (the FFFG in question) preceded debate on the State of the Nation address; and got prime coverage on the news on all stations, and Top Billing and newspapers to follow.

There in official capacity, she sprinkled magic dust over the politicians. Since miracles are her stock in trade, she clearly isn’t phased by notions of silliness or statistical improbability on getting results from her efforts.

Inside her black suit, with fairy wings attached and wand at the ready, beats the heart of a woman who knows the power of the Attention Economy. She has forged her way as a business strategist through corporate corridors, and loses none of that edge in driving the success of Fairy Godmother Inc.

Hers’ is an an extraordinary, innovative and wholly whacky business: in between doing Dream Mapping around the world, find offerings of Giant Twister, Free Hugs, Nekkid Streaking and Trolley Races that she co.creates with 5FM. Utterly bizarre business model, but it works.
Business Unusual.
Borne of an epiphany on a bus somewhere in South America.

Have you been putting off your epiphany for lack of precedent? What Business Unusual could you unleash on SA? It may be a really good chance to do as the President is doing, and give those promised plans some last.minute vooma (or some believe-it-or-not fairy dust) before it becomes even more “challenging”.

I’m not convinced that this time the miracle could happen to us. Yet, if we dare to pioneer untested paths, perhaps even look a little foolish en route, it could happen because of us.

[Maybe the President and the Fairy Godmother are onto something there .. ]

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