We're celebrating the builders

I woke up on Monday morning to find three pictures of my face (looking increasingly demonic in every photo) on the homepage of daily maverick. After reading the headlines, you could be forgiven for assuming that I was at the centre of some Gupta-esque scandal.

I've formally responded to the one-sided and deeply disappointing journalism from the Daily Maverick over here:

https://www.uctonlinehighschool.com/blog/uct-online-high-school-surging-ahead

However, that's not the topic of this post. This post is much more personal.?

After a tough day on Monday, something very strange happened on Tuesday morning - I woke up feeling deeply energised, with more faith in where society is going than ever before.?

Throughout the day on Monday, myself and the incredible team at UCT Online High School received hundreds of messages of support and encouragement from parents, learners, partners, educators and fellow entrepreneurs.?

The more the messages poured in, the more I saw a consistent theme:

As a society, we're getting increasingly fed up with those who criticise regularly, and contribute little.?

Over the last 15 years, we've managed to get ourselves to the point where society holds the production of criticism at a similar level of importance to that of building/creating... and we're getting tired of the consequences. It's crippling our youth, who see daily evidence that if you stick your neck out, you're likely to be attacked by a tribe of keyboard warriors who have a platform. Staying small is a much safer strategy.

But people have had enough.

We know that we need builders, leaders and creators. We know that we need people who are brave enough to say, "it can be done, and I'm the one to do it". We crave a world which celebrates and encourages those who are in the arena. If we truly listen to the quiet voice in our heart, we all know that we have something significant to contribute to this world, but society has made it increasingly scary to put ourselves out there.

To be clear, it can be tough in the arena.?For anyone who has ever built or produced anything, you will know that you are constantly taking a leap into the unknown. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes there are small mistakes, sometime there are big mistakes. Sometimes there are small wins, sometimes there are leapfrog innovations. No one has a crystal ball. That's the risk you take when you create.

As an entrepreneur, I've made tons of mistakes, and there are many things I wish I could turn back the clock to correct. It can be completely crushing. But I've also created a lot of opportunity and value, and I'm deeply proud of the thousands of people who have been employed in businesses I've been part of creating, and the hundreds of thousands of learners who I've tirelessly worked to serve. I wish I could make every employee, every partner and every customer happy, but that's not how it works. That's the risk you take when you create.

South Africa needs builders and believers now more than ever. This is true in many sectors, but it's especially true in my sector, education. If we keep doing things the same way, things are going to get a lot worse, and fast.

So here's to the makers.?

Here's to the builders.

Here's to those who are brave enough to step up and try.

Here's to those who are willing to take a leap into the unknown.?

Keep going. Society is changing. We're celebrating the builders, in education and beyond:

Sam Paddock Amy Johnson Cheryl Howson Grant Ruskovich Storm Clery Andi Friedman Karen Froneman Sebastian Rosien Banele Lukhele Emily Bate Leigh Bowden Shaye Pearson Tracy Horne Luke van Rensburg Micaela Viljoen Scott Lowry Mamokgethi Phakeng Reno Morar Jennifer Clements Leon Gazet Du Chattelier CA(SA) Johan Wegner Brett Schlesinger Brett W Simpson Christopher Vella Anthony Saunders Dale Williams James Bisset Andrew Golding Caitlin Mackenzie Gavin Williams Misha Teasdale Jon Molver Sara Daitz Aidan Wilmot Lonwabo Rani Luvuyo Rani Jackie Kennedy Farrel Strul Tim Withers Le Chat Jevron Epstein Jared Kruger Christopher Hosken Kim Whitaker Erik L?nnroth Ryan O'Mahoney Adrienne Watson Celeste Gilardi Alan Winde Hertzy K. Fabian Whate Sean Bastable Dean Villet Cornou Rykaart Samer Salty Michael Cohn Nick Miller Matthew Henshall Kieno Kammies Tom Dawson-Squibb Keelan Whiting Gareth Harrington Meg Faure Bas Hochstenbach Ian Thomson George Eadie Fred Roed Ian Merrington Nkazi Sokhulu Iain Williamson Stacey Brewer Jana Du Plooy Dr James Laporta Benji Meltzer Joseph Okleberry Martin Hall Keith N Maseko Bradley Elliott John Bradshaw Natalie Kolbe Hans Otterling James White Edward LePine - Williams James Lees Richie Laburn Johan van Zyl Christopher Vella Hannes Geldenhuys Ben Peters Brett Roux Paul Clüver Minette Havemann Vincent Motholo CA(SA) Stafford Masie Marc Sternberg Stephen Van Coller Colin Iles Krista Davidson Brendan Hughes Jamie Martin Aisha Pandor Sarah Binos Adrian Dommisse Adrian Marnewick Dinesh Patel Nick Hamman Reyburn Hendricks Jay Paul Rob Stokes