Blog

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Ian Martin in Pearly Beach

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

He enjoyed the hard physical work and the satisfaction of being his own boss. His two workers were not as strong as he was but more importantly, their intelligence was superior to his. By following Plug’s advice to curb his ingrained racial prejudice, he was now able to recognise this embarrassing state of affairs and turn it to his advantage. Whenever faced with a difficult task he would instruct his men to get started while he pretended to tinker with the bakkie’s engine. Once they had worked out a procedure to follow, he would close the bonnet and order them to carry on with what they were doing.

“I approve of this strategy,” said Plug. “It’s a sign of shrewdness. You have worked out, all on your own, the style of management preferred by the majority of businessmen in South Africa. You behave as if you have everything under control and you know exactly what’s going on, when in fact you are pretty clueless about most aspects of the work to be done. You have learned to take credit for other people’s ideas and hard work, you blame others for your incompetence and ineptitude, and, most important, you never ever admit you were wrong. You should do well, Frikkie.”

 
Read more here.

To view my longer work as an author, you can find me on Smashwords here.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit

Ian Martin

This is my writer's blog and it's a pleasure to have your company. You’ll see that the site is designed to showcase my writing.

View Profile

What is Xplorio?

Xplorio is your local connection allowing you to find anything and everything about a town.

Watch the Gansbaai Video
Read More

Recent Posts

Revolution: Chapter 12 - Defending the Nation

Revolution: Chapter 12 - Defending the Nation

By the fifth year after the coup, the Council turned its attention to a sector long neglected, yet essential to any sovereign nation: defence.

Revolution: Chapter Eleven - Healing the Nation

Revolution: Chapter Eleven - Healing the Nati...

By 2031, as the housing and agricultural sectors surged forward, the Council turned its attention to another pillar of national recovery: healthcare.

Revolution Chapter 6 - The Second Address to the Nation

Revolution Chapter 6 - The Second Address to ...

The Second Address to the Nation, delivered on 15 December 2026, was the most widely watched broadcast in South Africa's modern history.

Revolution Chapter 7: The Early Reforms

Revolution Chapter 7: The Early Reforms

The the close of 2027, a year after the September Intervention, the effects of the Council's reforms had begun to reshape South African society in visible and measurable ways. While challenges persisted, there was a growing sense that the machine...

Revolution Chapter 8 - The Rebirth of Learning

Revolution Chapter 8 - The Rebirth of Learnin...

By the second year of the Council's stewardship, it had become evident that South Africa's future depended not merely on political stability or economic revival, but on the quality of its education system. 

Revolution Chapter 9 - The Housing Drive: Building Dignity

Revolution Chapter 9 - The Housing Drive: Bui...

By the third anniversary of the September Revolution, the Council's achievements in restoring governance, stabilising the economy, and revitalising eduction had begun to bear fruit. Yet, as Harvey Jacobs repeatedly emphasised, "a nation cann...