Growing up in Eldorado Park, there was a lot to aspire to. You will see the uncle with the nice car, the big house and the lifestyle. So my perception of success was to be wealthy. Do whatever it takes to make a lot of money so you can have a lot of things.
This perception lagged into my twenties where, instead of chasing my passion, I was chasing money and that having a lot of money would mean that I am successful and if I am successful THEN I will be happy.
Then the onset of my thirties and also the time I discovered comedy, brought about a beautiful realisation that if the sum, success = happiness then it means happiness = success. The way sums work, the equal sign is the same in both directions and that was the change for me. I started chasing what made me happy not success.
So now what does success mean to me? Happiness. So, what is happiness? Happiness is finding your truth and your balance and not comparing yourself, your ambitions and what makes you happy to everyone else’s version of happy.
So find your true balance and understand what you have to do on both sides to maintain that balance. It is hard to find happiness, but then so is success.
The Difference Between good And Great | You have to be good before you can become great. Some people are content with being good at something and that is ok.
But when it comes to being great; if I think about being a performing artist, it is about wanting not only more than what you have already achieved, but understanding the bigger picture, being an active player in the industry you are in, wanting more for yourself and always pushing your limits.
Greatness comes with massive reward, but also comes with patience, responsibility and sacrifice and some people aren’t willing to face those things – they are content with what they have and the life they live. It depends on how badly you want it really.
A Key Talent | Relatability. I have the ability to relate to and understand so many different types of people. It is a blessing I got from my mom. My mom always taught me to treat people the same but also respect everyone the same.
Because I take an interest in and respect everybody’s culture, where everybody comes from and their beliefs, it is easy for me to get on with and relate to people. In the same breath it also makes me relatable. This strength allows me to perform to and interact with different types of audiences, brands, clients and people.
Principles I Live By | My main principles are; to be kind, to be honest, to be fair and, as silly this may sound, just to love and have fun. Time is the only thing that we have and it is running out every day. So what are you doing with your time? If you are not having a good time or happy – then what are you going to do about it?!!
How I Use My Mind | It took me a long time to grasp the concept that everything is helping me.
If everything that I have done in my life has led to this point then all the good times and the bad times are all equal because they all helped me to get to where I am and I love where I am.
So my mindset is one that understands that I am not going to get anywhere unless I start moving forward, but before I move forward, I have got to understand what I want which is far more difficult than I think people understand.
Also, be careful what you wish for. Once you understand what you want (the reward), you also have to be realistic with yourself and understand the cost which is not only money, but the time, the patience, the sacrifices and the effort. Then just move forward.
I like to think I have a decent sense of logic. Things become more logical when you break something down. Most things are logical if you are honest with yourself and what you want to achieve, if you break it down and then act accordingly.
Performing At My Peak | This is one of the most difficult parts of being an artist because there is nobody that teaches you how to not need sleep, how to give all your energy every single time you are on stage even when you are exhausted or had a bad day, and to be creative through the whole process.
I am already is a space where on a Sunday I am thinking about how I am going to manage my time and energy for the week that lies ahead. When you want something as bad as I want it, it is as simple as prioritising.
It is an adjustment, it comes with peaks and troughs, but as you go you learn there has got to be some give and take to help preserve vital energy that you need in order to perform as well as to create and function as a human being.
The Best Advice I’ve Received | I received a lot of advice along the way and feel mentors are really important.
But the best advice I received was from my friend Siv Ngesi, who met me before I started doing comedy when I was busy with an acting job. He said I should try stand-up comedy. My response was, that I am only funny around a braai and being stage funny is very different. Siv told me that I was thinking about it wrong. I should not think about it as a career off the mark. But that I should try it out and see how it makes me feel and said I would be good at it and that I would probably enjoy it. So instead of jumping on stage with the pressure and expectation of becoming a successful comic, I just jumped on stage to try something new and had fun. This is the same approach I have now when I try anything for the first time.
The Legacy I Would Like To Leave | There is a phrase that I picked up along the way that stuck with me (I honestly can’t remember how or from where or from who):
“Imagine the man you want to be and be that man”. Sometimes life is just that simple!
I think the legacy I would like to leave behind is that I am proof that you can be whoever you want to be and still stay true to yourself and that happiness can lead to success. I only started comedy in my early thirties.
Imagine that person you want to be, understand what it will take to be that person, understand the level of reward that you want, the work that goes into it then just do what you must. Don’t get caught up on, or stress about, the end result. Just focus on the steps getting there. Once you have completed the first step, then focus on the next one.
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