Tributum Newsletter #59

Hello

2024! The routine and hustle and bustle is in full swing again and many of us would already have forgotten that there was a break in between 2023 and 2024. Personally 2024 is a year with a few milestones but the general hope is that it’s better than 2023 – for everyone. It’s been a good 2024 for Dricus du Plessis so far as he now holds the UFC title. However, after his brutal assessment of our Government I am certain that Oom Cyril will not declare a public holiday to celebrate SA’s latest world champion.

Talking about assessing Government, in the coming month SA citizens will hear about the State of the Nation (SONA 2024) as well as its financial position when the Budget for 2024 is presented. As mentioned before talk is cheap and purposeful action and political will to do what must be done is sorely lacking, and in an election year I fear both events will be used as a marketing and public relations platform for the governing party rather than a springboard for real progress.

Hopefully there will be few tax shocks and some clarity about the funding of the NHI and basic income grant – although I fear the latter items will lead to the first. Newsletter #60 will unpack the Budget – may it read like a Wilbur Smith rather than a Stephen King. Holding thumbs.

While on the topic of books I managed to do some reading during the break. I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I got my hands on the new book by Arnold Schwarzenegger titled “Be useful”. They say don’t judge a book by its cover but if nothing else the back page of the book is a must read. With full compliments to the Terminator:

“If there is one unavoidable truth in this world, it’s that there is no substitute for putting in the work. There is no shortcut or growth hack or magic pill that can get you around the hard work of doing your job well, of winning something you care about, or making your dreams come true. People have tried to cut corners and skip steps in this process for as long as hard work has been hard. Eventually, these people either fall behind or get left in our dust, because working your ass off is the only thing that works 100 percent of the time for 100 percent of the things worth achieving.”

Sound simple. And it’s been a recipe that has been around since the dawn of time. But simple does not mean easy. Hard work is unpopular. Not just the doing but also the talking about it. In our instant gratification, work to live, safe space and get rich quick world very few people are prepared to actually put in the work. In the words of Denzel Washington – “Hard work works”. Especially the hard work when no-one is watching. It’s how you run your race when there are no spectators that makes the difference. Putting in the work, taking the hill, every day, consistently.

Just be careful not to confuse working hard with working stupid. Find what to work for. Find what works, and then work hard at that. I hope that 2024 will bring you joy and success. But remember, that will require you to put in the work. So, between “Hasta La Vista” and “I’ll be back” until next month – keep breathing.