Weekly Wrap-Up: Kindness, Innovation, and Cape Town’s Rainy Charm
Missed the latest posts on IdeaAccelerator? Here’s a quick digest to get you up to speed—with a little local colour and some reflections along the way.
Cape Town Conversations: A Pub, A Retrenchment, A Rugby Game
Last night, after the rugby, I overheard a woman in a pub telling her friends she’d been retrenched. She worked at an advertising agency—there’d been a reshuffle and some downsizing. In advertising, this happens often: people come and go as accounts are won or lost. If nothing new comes in, people get let go. I hope she at least enjoyed the rugby.
It’s a tough time for many. Even those in so-called “safe” professions—lawyers, engineers, software developers—are being retrenched. Some of it is driven by the dire state of the economy. But in other cases, it feels more like deliberate, even malicious pruning by management. They want to “get rid of” people they don’t like. No real reason—just don’t like their face? Gone.
This Week on IdeaAccelerator
Here’s what we covered on the blog this past week:
• ? Kindness in an Unkind World
• ? Infotainment and the Attention Economy
• ? The Rise of Cash-Only Businesses in South Africa
• ?? Warning Signs: Our Aging and Neglected Infrastructure
• ?? A Winter Poem to End the Week
A Note on Kindness
The piece that stuck with me the most this week was on kindness. A little more kindness in the world really does go a long way. Lately, I’ve come across some unkind people—enough to make me stop and reflect. The upside of writing about it? I’ve come to understand kindness (and its absence) a bit better.
It’s the small gestures that count. People may crack jokes at others’ expense, but really, those aren’t the kind of people you want around. Even your mother would agree.
Meanwhile, in Cape Town…
Back in the real world, we’ve had relentless rain—day after day of it. And yet, despite the grey skies and wet feet, there’s a strange charm in this weather. If you’re into visuals—photography, painting, that kind of thing—there’s beauty in the mist and the glistening streets.
On Friday, I was amazed to see the Forrester’s Arms in Newlands jam-packed by 2 p.m. Just shows you how Capetonians know how to enjoy life, come rain or shine.
Doomscrolling Detox
One blessing this week: I haven’t heard from the doom-scrollers lately. They seem to be off living their own lives (bless them). One thing I dread is getting forwarded junk from social media—those endless depressing clips and rants. I’d never say it out loud (that would be unkind), but it’s a relief when my inbox stays clear of doom-scroll spam.
That’s not to say social media has no value. It does. I’ve come across some surprisingly informative posts on TikTok, though these days, you need a sharp eye—there’s so much AI-generated content, it’s tricky to tell what’s real.
I’ve also found Grok useful for straightforward news summaries—information without the usual spin. But you still need to tread carefully. The internet is full of doomsayers. Best to steer clear of that energy when you can.
Wishing You a Kind, Clear-Headed Week Ahead
Let’s be kind where we can. And if it rains—take a photo. Or better yet, grab a coffee and watch the world go by.
Catch you next week.
– The IdeaAccelerator Team
