Literacy, Compliance, and the Quiet Revolution of Taking Responsibility

Yesterday, my colleagues — particularly my General Manager, Faye Brownell, and my co-founder, Thabo Duma — taught and laid out a transformative way to think, process, and utilise information in all aspects and components of our company. It greatly benefited how I think about my component, which is businesses and side hustles. Below I want to show you what they shared, and then briefly single out one lesson I've learned because of their approach combined with my experience.

What was shared

Summarised, this is the framework — and it is predominantly used in research environments, where the quality and validity of data and information can make or break a department or organisation in the face of opposition:

What I wanted to focus on

My component, Small Business and Side Hustles, is interested in cultivating a responsive, contributive, and curious mindset.

Responsive, rather than passive to challenge and circumstance. Contributive, rather than exploitative in one's ecosystem. Curious, rather than indifferent to opportunity — whether it's work, learning, or earning related.

My component, also, as I personally see it — is trying to say to men and women of Africa:

You are responsible for your life. Understand this simple fact and your days will never be the same.

You are responsible for your skills, income, resources, network, habits, bedroom — everything. You are responsible. Not some politician, or spirit that visits at night to bless or curse your mornings. Because we live in an indifferent universe — governed by laws of cause and effect. But this is only my perspective.

The Wisdom I've gained in two years

Working with over a thousand individuals in the past two years — this is my conclusion, having gathered, sorted, connected, and observed the data and information at my disposal.

Literacy leads to:

• Compliance — those who are educated, with families who encouraged school and learning, tend to do better in programmes. They attend meetings, write reports, and ask questions when unsure.
• Then Competence — those who are compliant develop competency, because they realise what good work versus bad work looks like. They develop an innate grasp of the standards, expectations, and unspoken rules of the game.
• Then Contribution — those who are competent make all the difference. Their reports improve the whole, their efforts ripple across every component, their voices spark new solutions for the implementers who have the funds but not the experience at ground level.

And this is why my article is about productivity. I've noticed that it all boils down to how one uses their time — and that makes all the difference. It starts with education — self-taught or otherwise. But it's education that truly liberates the soul, long before it liberates the mind.

Sam