The Jacob Strategy

By Abe Sibiya

“The writer cannot be a mere storyteller; he cannot be a mere teacher; he cannot merely X-ray society’s weaknesses, its ills, its perils. He or she must be actively involved in shaping its present and its future.”

― Ken Saro-Wiwa

There is something to be said for the anatomy of dreams, ideas and spoken thoughts. Abe maintains that he is a product of words and insights from the village to the city, beyond the oceans and into the realms of dreams. He has cherished the freedom to observe and analyse words and actions and the value of human toil as a stepping-stone.

The young Abe was always a practical dreamer, a climber of trees and one not afraid to dive into muddy pools of water after the summer rains. Always fuelled by the intrigue of what lay beyond the hills in what were then his boyish dreams, he was always persuaded that dreams are a factory of realities only when attempted repeatedly. ‘My world was always beautiful,’ he says.

A journey that has led him from the humble village where he discovered the love for music and all things melodic and poetic, Abe’s life has weaved through a maze of interesting milestones from playing multiple instruments, to exploring lessons in leadership, courtesy of the bush. The benefits of self-education and formal international education, have led him to the world of entrepreneurship and all that is possible. His view of life is that unless you are willing to risk something for what you cannot see based on what you have learned, you cannot hope to gain anything. This work explores the nexus between dreams and reality. It is the sum total of our efforts and a reward for never losing sight of the prize. Abe believes that it is wise to respect and learn from the honey bee if honey is to mean anything.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abe Sibiya
• Release date: Nov 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005709594

Book preview

The Jacob Strategy

Success Lessons from old Wisdoms, the Kraal,

the Boardroom and the African grasslands

Wisdom is a sober guard and a prudent guide to

anyone who wants more out of life

Abe Sibiya

Copyright © 2020 Abe Sibiya

Published by Abe Sibiya Hicks Publishing at Smashwords

First edition 2020

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the copyright holder.

The Author has made every effort to trace and acknowledge sources/resources/individuals. In the event that any images/information have been incorrectly attributed or credited, the Author will be pleased to rectify these omissions at the earliest opportunity.

Published by The Human Business Practice using Reach Publishers’ services,

P O Box 1384, Wandsbeck, South Africa, 3631

Edited by Celine and Ilse Lourens for Reach Publishers

Cover designed by Reach Publishers

Website: www.reachpublishers.org

E-mail: [e-mail]

Illustrations by UYanda Sibiya

Abe Sibiya

[e-mail]

About the Author

Through the years Abe has been part of setting up and leading successful companies including television channels and a commercial radio station. He has led a range of companies as CEO, Executive Chairman and as a shareholder. He continues to be invested as Founder and Partner in multiple fields including, eCommerce, Media, Training, Entertainment, Retail, Music business, Property and Digital Content platforms.

Dear African child,

It’s often the young that suffer, too young to understand life and survival strategies when unguided and unguarded. Life presents itself as a waterhole and always demands grasslands, vigilance and a compromise. It is a world of hunters and the hunted, leaders and those who are led, takers and those who get taken. Truth be told, it is also a world of winners and those who fall short.

The wisdoms of the African bush teach those who will learn that there is no real rest in the grasslands. If you cannot make sense of your surroundings, and are not willing to change direction when called to, know that you can easily walk into a trap. Those who survive are those who are aware and have a good sense of smell, hearing, sight, touch and even intuition.

Survival takes a set of skills that enable us to survive (well). Soon we learn that even though size and strength might not count as they say, it is not to be ignored.

Those who will survive should be able to hear the call from the far off storms as the rain of opportunity calls. There is always another rain-drenched grazing patch where the horizon meets the setting African sun, but it demands the resolve to make the arduous journey through the unforgiving life terrain. Be agile and never get caught too weak from extended fruitless effort. It happens, we might get left behind to the mercy of the elements and marauding opportunistic scavengers when the current serves or even when the sun sets. The promise of learning more about ourselves and everything good and beautiful must be premised on the reasons we rise to a new day every time. Never venture out when unprepared, as the African saying goes: ‘Calves always walk in the middle’. Never expose more than is necessary too early and always guard the periphery! Hate laziness with a passion.

Dad

Table of Contents

Preface

Foreword

1. The Success Hypothesis

2. The Battle Within

3. Fact, Lies, Fiction or Truth or a Combination

4. The Jacob Strategy (A test of patience and resolve)

5. The People (Trust vs Scepticism)

6. The Moral Hypothesis of re-education (to be or not to be?)

7. Wisdom, Understanding and Ability

8. The value of time

9. The Cost Proposition

10. Fair value (According to who?)

Preface

Looking back, I have had the pleasure of life’s lessons within the context of the paths I have been graciously led to. I recall with a deep and fond reflection of years gone by. There are waves of people who have touched my life and many circumstances that have shaped my outlook.

My earlier years are a picturesque set of recollections of my father and mother at a dusty village and sprawling rural homesteads and settlements hemmed in by a dusty network of roads. There the sounds of bleating goats and braying donkeys were the soundtrack of my youth, with the occasional blaring stereo from those who had returned from places of work far from home. Life was great, we were innocent and we witnessed everything from those we considered great and we aptly labelled some as village fools, for idle chatter and too much sorghum beer.

Mornings were as pleasant and eventful as the eastern dusk on the shores of what seemed like a blue mountain range in the far distance beyond the sprawling sugar cane farms on the banks