for only a fool knows the price of everything but the value of nothing

It's a difficult task, to sum up, what I'm about, but here's the simplified version

I believe as we journey through life, every possible path we have or may have taken, includes an element of self-discovery. My perception is that the older we get, the frequency of self-discovery may reduce, but in no way does it end.

As of today, I am 30 and think I still have a long way to go to fully understand who I am, but the past 30 years have surely given me a good idea of who I might, or simply aspire, to be!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Seek first the Kingdom of God

The reality is that everything I am, everything I have overcome, everything I have achieved, has been at the will, grace, and mercy of God. I believe he has given me talent, wisdom, and purpose, among many other things, and to deny him the glory, love, and fear he deserves, would be to lose the essence of my life.

While I do not see myself as religious in any traditional sense, my values and core are centered with the Lord above. I strive to follow the example he has provided through the Bible while battling through challenges and temptations day after day. The miracle of Jesus’ life is all the assurance I need to know that God loves me, and regardless of my imperfections and failures, he remains forgiving and merciful, he gave his son to suffer and die so I may have eternal life.

I believe he will return in the clouds, and it is written, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” As growing up in South Africa has taught me to always be vigilant of thieves, I can give thanks to my mother for teaching me a righteous path, to know right from wrong, and continuously praying that I wear the hope of salvation as a helmet, to be ready for the day of our redemption.

``It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.``

Frederick Douglass

A happy family is but an earlier heaven

The 2 you see in the picture above are the 2 most important people in my life. They are the connectors of my reality, the force behind my drive and ambition, the gifts that keep on giving. A lot of my refinement and self-discovery have been driven by their existence and parts of my life. I find myself in a constant battle to maintain a good balance between family, personal and professional goals.

Raising a champ

As children, my younger sister and I pretty much grew up on the tennis court. For many years our life revolved around training to be the best tennis players we could be, and we excelled further than most. We got the opportunity to represent South Africa internationally on several occasions, although my sister’s achievements far exceeded my own, with her being ranked 1st in the country from the age of 11 through till 16, at which point she turned pro after winning the African Cup and being crowned the best player on the continent. Anyways the full story requires more time and space than what’s available here. 🙂

Tennis continued to be a big part of my adult life, as I became a tennis coach in my early 20s. Naturally, Lorenzo picked up the sport and has been my longest, and now only, student. He has an impressive eye and talent for the game, and therefore a unique opportunity to achieve what neither of us did. So besides being his father, I am also his coach, and the dedication and time it takes to mold a champion while being a dad is pretty much a job within itself.

Dynamic duo

Laycken, my wife, what an amazing and beautiful woman indeed. We complement each other so well, so much so that ever since we met, our ambitions, visions, and way of thinking have mainly been aligned. The traits and characteristics that I am missing, she possesses, and vice versa, a match made in heaven indeed.

When we met I had just started a new business venture on campus at university, selling second-hand textbooks, and immediately she contributed towards the success of the business. At the time she also had a business of her own, a printing company. God wasted no time in ensuring she remained in my life forever whether I liked it or not, by blessing us with Lorenzo a year on from when we met!

Not only is she my wife and co-parent, but also my best friend, business partner, and colleague. I believe our relationship is so unique, and managing emotions and dynamics can be difficult at times, but as you already know, love always wins. Two and a half years after meeting, we went on to officially establish our first business together, the Centre of Music, Sport, and Dance Excellence, which achieved more than we could have ever imagined. Now as a Learning Designer, her career and development continue to run parallel to mine, and as a team, we have always been, and continue to be, a force to be reckoned with.

the time is now

I have reached a point in my life where I have realised that time is my greatest restriction and asset. I am very helpful by nature, and many times my helpful nature has set me back. Being a software developer, I’ve found myself giving a lot of my time away to try to assist family and friends get ahead in business without having to fork up buckets of money for websites and apps. This eventually created a lot of tension at home, with Laycken saying I’m always busy but also always broke! So as of recent years have had to become more conscious of how I spend my time when I’m “working”. I still help my family and friends when needed and when I have time, although take a lot more into consideration as my time has become somewhat limited.

I strive to consistently increase the value of my time, in an attempt to buy some back, or increase my reward for the same hour invested. I do this by aiming to consistently improve the quality of my work, and by investing time in projects and businesses I see potential in. In my attempt to achieve financial freedom for my family and generations to come, I aspire to follow the advice that King Solomon left us in Ecclesiastes 12:2. I love what I do, and have come such a long way to find the balance I currently have. I’m blessed to work with an amazing and talented bunch of people and have been given opportunities beyond measure, which makes my path a whole lot more pleasant. Below is an outline of how I currently spend my time in an attempt to maximize my value.

the time is now

I have reached a point in my life where I have realised that time is my greatest restriction and asset. I am very helpful by nature, and many times my helpful nature has set me back. Being a software developer, I’ve found myself giving a lot of my time away to try to assist family and friends get ahead in business without having to fork up buckets of money for websites and apps. This eventually created a lot of tension at home, with Laycken saying I’m always busy but also always broke! So as of recent years have had to become more conscious of how I spend my time when I’m “working”. I still help my family and friends when needed and when I have time, although take a lot more into consideration as my time has become somewhat limited.

I strive to consistently increase the value of my time, in an attempt to buy some back, or increase my reward for the same hour invested. I do this by aiming to consistently improve the quality of my work, and by investing time in projects and businesses I see potential in. In my attempt to achieve financial freedom for my family and generations to come, I aspire to follow the advice that King Solomon left us in Ecclesiastes 11:2. I love what I do, and have come such a long way to find the balance I currently have. I’m blessed to work with an amazing and talented bunch of people and have been given opportunities beyond measure, which makes my path a whole lot more pleasant. Below is an outline of how I currently spend my time in an attempt to maximize my value.

Digital Learning
Business Development
Personal Development
Trading & Investing

I’ve found a home and special place in the world of online learning. I believe my ability to teach others, along with my software development skills and creativity, naturally pulled me into the industry. I am currently adding my value and making an impact at the British Safety Council as a Digital Platforms Manager. I can see my career in this industry growing exponentially, and what makes it ever so pleasant is not only the opportunities available but the enjoyment the work provides me.

My unique skill set, way of thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit provide the motivation I need to commit to specific businesses and opportunities that continuously rise around me. The value I add to the businesses I have interests in is mainly derived from my skills, including management and strategic consulting, which is based on my knowledge and experience gained through previous ventures and continuous development. I currently have business interests in OfficeSpace, Swift Learn, and Fitness Icon SA, and am also part of some exciting projects still in their development phases.

I am grateful that I have this as a priority again, as it has made a difference in my thought processing and the value I add. While you can learn a lot through experience and working with different organisations and on various projects, learning through discovery and skill-specific resources provides an important element to the journey of self-development and advancement, something I am committed to and have embedded into my everyday life.

While this is a fairly new commitment for me, I find it to be a crucial part of my journey to financial freedom and wish I had started a lot sooner, but hey, you know what they say, better late than never! At the moment my focus is on the cryptocurrency markets and getting to understand utility and the overall Web 4.0. While this is new for many and still fairly volatile, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and smart contracts are fascinating, and this technology is ever-growing and gaining global adoption, and inevitably here to stay, so I see my position, interest, and investment, only increase from here! My biggest position is in XRP!

Digital Learning: I’ve found a home and special place in the world of online learning. I believe my ability to teach others, along with my software development skills and creativity, naturally pulled me into the industry. I am currently adding my value and making an impact at the British Safety Council as a Digital Platforms Manager. I can see my career in this industry growing exponentially, and what makes it ever so pleasant is not only the opportunities available but the enjoyment the work provides me.
Business Development: My unique skill set, way of thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit provide the motivation I need to commit to specific businesses and opportunities that continuously rise around me. The value I add to the businesses I have interests in is mainly derived from my skills, including management and strategic consulting, which is based on my knowledge and experience gained through previous ventures and continuous development. I currently have business interests in OfficeSpace, Swift Learn, and Fitness Icon SA, and am also part of some exciting projects still in their development phases.
Personal Development: I am grateful that I have this as a priority again, as it has made a difference in my thought processing and the value I add. While you can learn a lot through experience and working with different organisations and on various projects, learning through discovery and skill-specific resources provides an important element to the journey of self-development and advancement, something I am committed to and have embedded into my everyday life.
Trading & Investing: While this is a fairly new commitment for me, I find it to be a crucial part of my journey to financial freedom and wish I had started a lot sooner, but hey, you know what they say, better late than never! At the moment my focus is on the cryptocurrency markets and getting to understand utility and the overall Web 4.0. While this is new for many and still fairly volatile, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and smart contracts are fascinating, and this technology is ever-growing and gaining global adoption, and inevitably here to stay, so I see my position, interest, and investment, only increase from here! My biggest position is in XRP!

Time is free, yet it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can spend it. You can’t keep it, but you can use it. And once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back. The key is in not spending time, but in investing it.