To dream and be open for change

On question addressed to the 2006 Chairperson of the Centurion Business Forum about success, Leonie Smit's remark was as follows:

"The most wonderful gift we can ever offer someone is to open our heart to that person to start somthing and to succeed in what they want to be. Success reminds me of the movie Forest Gump; 'Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what little surprises lie ahead, until you have opened it.'"

"It can also be an extremely difficult thing to do. There is a delightfully apt urban legend about a tourist who was walking along a jetty where low-rimmed buckets of crabs were being off-loaded from a trawler. 'Why do you use such shallow containers?', the visitor asked. 'Surely the crabs will soon try to climb out'. 'Not to worry', said one of the boat's crew, 'whenever one starts to claw its way upwards, the others always reach out and pull it down'."

"I know that I too have felt like pulling someone back into the trough of ordinariness when they succeed in a goal that I had set for myself. I soon discovered that negative thoughts are self-defeating and decided to change my way of thinking by surrounding myself with energy makers and successful people, forging ahead as an inspiration into a real paradigm shift."

"I opened myself to change; accepting any ideas successful people might have had or a system they had used that I could possibly adapt. I continuously look for tips on how to do things more effectively and implemented serious time management. I am inspired by the honest commitment that my mentors have shown, or maybe their dedication in helping me to reach the goals I have set for myself. I love to quote Martin Luther King 'I have a dream'. It is also a delight for me to see the pleasure that comes from my colleagues and other business people's successes when their dreams come true."

"After undergoing several hip replacement operations, I have come to realise now, more than ever, the importance of one's health and the value of life. Every day is borrowed time. Therefore, I make the most of every opportunity that comes my way. I believe that the more one gives of oneself, the more one will receive from God's hand. I truly believe in the empowerment of women. Being an outspoken non-feminist, I believe that women are specially equipped with a source of power, energy and wisdom and through the diversity of our gifted talents in networking; we will, must, can and should contribute to the quality of life and standard of living of all South Africans."

We have to add value and have to be involved n the community, especially there where we have had the privilege of achieving our success.