City fear
City fear
When talking to someone recently about Johannesburg, they suggested that this was one of the world's top ten "no go" cities. It has a reputation for crime and violence. I have never been but suspect that like most cities it got its reputation very quickly and is taking much longer to lose it. Would I go?Certainly. I would like to form my own judgement. Does this make me curious,brave or foolish? Those descriptions are often very close. Brave and foolhardy are often adjectives of hindsight. In terms of my own, simple decision about Johannesburg, I just think that life is too short to let others make too many decisions for you. So, I would read the advice, and bear it in mind … but still go! What is the business lesson here (I hear you ask)? Simply that business often demands a similar act of faith. By all means research, prepare,investigate. But business demands something more – it needs personal values to be put "on the line". I am what I am – in my home life and in my business life. I do what I think is right. It is probably for others to judge whether I get it right all of (I will settle for most of) the time.
