Tributum Newsletter #49

Hello

This month’s newsletter will include reference to two individuals. The first will not be a name I expect most of the readers to know while the second should ring a bell at least. Nonetheless, their stories are of the same determination, and winning in the face of adversary.

On 19 March 2023, 32-year-old Alex Roca Campillo became the first person with 76% disability (severe Cerebral Palsy) to complete a marathon, 5 hours 50 minutes and 51 seconds for the Barcelona Marathon. At 6 months old doctors said he will not survive. Now 32 years later he completed a feat that most fully abled persons will find difficult to even start. According to Alex, “The limit is up to you, and if you want to achieve an objective, whatever difficulties you have, with attitude, willpower, perseverance and resilience, you can achieve everything you propose. And if you do not achieve it, you will have given everything and must feel gratified.” Google the video – get some tissues.

The second individual said the following: “The biggest of these are inflation, the rising cost of energy and the tremendous gap between the rich and the poor. These problems can develop into monsters unless we can handle them…In short, all the problems can be put under one umbrella and called the Crisis of Leadership”[1]

The above about sums up our current problems, early 2023 in South Africa (if not the world). But this was part of the speech given by Whitey Basson at the opening of the first ever Shoprite store on 30 April 1980 already. Not a lot seems to have changed over the past 43 years.

In the face of those problems and the stiff competition with Pick and Pay Whitey Basson started to build the biggest retail chain in South Africa. In Alex Campillo’s words Whitey had attitude, willpower, perseverance and resilience. He set his own limits, and he achieved his purpose.

Both individuals filled their unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance of run. Theirs is the Earth and everything that’s in it. Difficult – yes. Impossible – No. Hard work -yes. Quit – No.  They achieved their dreams through something that we seem to have lost or forgotten, and which the next generation likely never even heard of – GRIT. Roll up your sleeves, knuckle down, and put in the effort. You are the sum of the choices you make, so make good ones. And stick with it.

As to Crisis of Leadership it was apparent in the 1980’s as it is apparent now. It changed eventually, here’s hoping. Until next month – keep breathing.

[1] Extract from the book “Whitey”, p100, Niel Joubert