By Guest Blogger Martin Snoek
To be acknowledged as a captain of industry or commerce, or for that matter any sector of society or the business community, is in today’s environment a remarkable achievement.
We read about the achievements of many men and women, meet them in our day-to-day activities in business, on the sports fields, in social life, or hear them speak on radio or television. They have a presence in all walks of life and we take special note of those who not only excel in business and society in general, but also who take their ambassadorial behaviour to the frontlines of benevolence work.
Many captains stand tall in both the public and private sectors, but we also have those who go into hiding once the winds tear through their sails. I am sure you have met or heard of many such characters. Unfortunately, the condition of our society allows for self-appointed or mock-appointed ‘captains’ to abandon ship and retire ‘gracefully’ with healthy bank accounts.
Isn’t it time for us to take stock of our own personal situations and to ask the question: “Can I be viewed as a captain of my own destiny, influencing those that I come in contact with to become captains and influence others, and others, and others —- with cascading effects?”
So, let’s start to mobilize the true captains of society that have failed on many of us and create a new platform of leaders who can inspire us as role players for the future. A future which you and I can shape, starting today.
Martin Snoek is an experienced business person and communication professional. He was a director of communications for a multinational technology company for many years before starting his own communications consultancy. He subsequently transferred his consultancy to his son-in-law and still provides consulting and business advice. He has certification in global marketing ( Markstrat: Germany) and business leadership (UNISA) is a PRISA Accredited Public Relations
Practitioner (APR).
