The Entrepreneurial Spirit

He enjoyed the hard physical work and the satisfaction of being his own boss. His two workers were not as strong as he was but more importantly, their intelligence was superior to his. By following Plug’s advice to curb his ingrained racial prejudice, he was now able to recognise this embarrassing state of affairs and turn it to his advantage. Whenever faced with a difficult task he would instruct his men to get started while he pretended to tinker with the bakkie’s engine. Once they had worked out a procedure to follow, he would close the bonnet and order them to carry on with what they were doing.

“I approve of this strategy,” said Plug. “It’s a sign of shrewdness. You have worked out, all on your own, the style of management preferred by the majority of businessmen in South Africa. You behave as if you have everything under control and you know exactly what’s going on, when in fact you are pretty clueless about most aspects of the work to be done. You have learned to take credit for other people’s ideas and hard work, you blame others for your incompetence and ineptitude, and, most important, you never ever admit you were wrong. You should do well, Frikkie.”

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