Joshua Govender, Author at 1Africa

Being confident in your kicks

Joshua Govender

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June 23, 2016

You can tell a lot about someone by what shoes they wear. I’m not saying its a fool-proof approach, but I have found that often you can get pretty close.

Footwear is a big deal in the world right now, whether we like it or not. It’s easy to throw on a plain T-shirt and look cool – but settling on the right foot gear takes a bit more time. To me, personally, it’s one of the hardest things to shop for.

I could wear a cheap white T-shirt and old jeans – but if my shoes aren’t on point, then it spoils the whole thing for me. There are now so many different trend and brands in footwear that I struggle to keep up. The possibilities truly are endless.

Footwear makes a powerful impression. For example, when I see someone with Vans on – especially if they are beat up and old – I automatically think skater or BMX rider. When I see running sneakers, I immediately think either urban street hipster, or just a gym enthusiast. When I see boots, chances are the person is a nature lover or enjoys the outdoors.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not sitting around judging people – but it’s also kind of fun to guess and then actually find out what people do or like. It’s entertaining in a way.

It’s crazy how something as simple as a piece of material wrapped around your feet can totally change the perception people have of you. It’s not about people and it’s not about what people think – but I’m not going to lie, it’s fun when people notice my shoes!

So, be confident in you kicks! It doesn’t matter how much they cost or where they are from – in the end, you determine how cool your kicks are.

Godspeed.

What’s your favourite pair? What’s the one brand that really excites you? Let us know below!

How to become more inclusive

Joshua Govender

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June 21, 2016

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Do you ever feel like you don’t have any friends? Does it sometimes feel like somehow you miss every coffee invite or hangout? That you hear about cool things happening but you are never there to experience them?

We all like to believe we include others, but sometimes we are “exclusive” in our thinking without realising it – especially when it comes to friendships. I felt really challenged by this recently when I wasn’t invited to a hangout. I’m certainly not trying to feel sorry for myself – but it was definitely a weird feeling.

Having felt the sting of this experience, I swore to myself to always be inclusive of others. I know I may not get this right every single time, but I’m making a more conscious effort to make sure I always make people feel like a friend. Here are a few things I found helpful:

1. Have inclusive conversations

When a group of people come together, conversations often concentrate around one or two key people in the group. This actually excludes other people who don’t know what you are talking about. Making eye contact with people within a group helps to draw them into an existing conversation, even if they are not yet sure about what is being discussed.

2. Go out of your way to connect

This is the hardest point for me because I am naturally introverted, but going out of your way to make people feel included (even if it is just to greet them) goes a long way when people aren’t confident enough to start a conversation themselves.

3. Be approachable

People often stick to their “clicks”, making it almost impossible to chat to them. This actually creates a negative space between you and others. Allow people to be a part of your world!

Godspeed.

How a father’s love impacted my life

Joshua Govender

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June 21, 2016

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I used to think that my father didn’t love me.

It was hard to think otherwise, because he was never there, and when he was, I could never do anything right in his eyes. The life we lived was never a peaceful one – there was a constant state of tension.

To be honest, growing up all I wanted was to be as far away from him as possible. Don’t get me wrong: I didn’t have daddy issues. It was more the fact that his work took priority over me. He would leave early and come back late and even on the weekends when he was at home he would be working. It was like I only existed as a buffer for his frustration.

However, my Father will always be my hero – and here’s why: As I grew up, he grew up in a way, too: he began to actually see me as his son, and I began to see him for who he really was – a humble dad from a poor upbringing trying to give his family everything he never had.

To be honest, he succeeded: my dad never complained, never gave up, always worked hard, and made sure we had everything we needed. Was he perfect? Not at all. But I will forever be impacted by my dad.

As Father’s Day rolled by this year, I reflected on my experiences as a son. It wasn’t the perfect story, but I can tell you that the journey I undertook with my dad remains unforgettable.

If you are a son or an adopted son, remember that the desire of a father is to always protect and guard your heart. Don’t forget to thank him for that.

Godspeed.

How to lead creatives well

Joshua Govender

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June 17, 2016

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Are there any people in your world that simply aren’t like the rest? You know, the kind of people who will always be different – not on purpose, but just because that’s how they actually are? I guess in our own ways we are all pretty different – but where it gets tricky is when leaders, business owners, co-workers, or friends try to suppress the creativity of those who are “different”.

Having attended a college for creatives, I used to constantly find myself surrounded with people like this – people that see the world a little differently. I guess I’m like that. I was a little relieved to be in contact with other people like me, but it also made me see people in a different way – especially when it came to leading others with a creative streak.

So how do you lead a group of creatives like that? Here are a few tips to help if you have friends or team members like this:

1. Find common ground
This is the hardest part, because often creatives are introverted and don’t say much. They may seem to be closed off, but once you become a consistent presence in their world, it helps to try and find some common ground. It could be something that both of you like to chat about – something positive and interesting.

2. Use their strengths
Leaders tend to focus on people’s weaknesses, and try to help them improve on these – but when it comes to creatives, that may be the wrong approach. Rather play to their strengths: Are they good at dealing with other people? Do they excel on time management. Helping them build on their strong points could be more productive in positioning them for success.

3. Provide clear vision
The mind of a true creative is occupied by a thousand things at once. In order to break through the noise, you have to cast a clear vision – you have to start with a well-defined idea of where you are heading. We all know the concept of “thinking outside the box”. But without a “box” to begin with, you just have a bunch of people shooting in the dark. So casting vision – defining the “box” – is a great starting point.

The bottom line is this: If you want to build creative leaders, you have to be patient and intentional!

Godspeed.

That dreaded question

Joshua Govender

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June 16, 2016

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It’s a question that most guys try to avoid answering at all costs.

“Do I look fat in this?”

There we were, my girlfriend and I, enjoying a peaceful day out, just walking around the mall having a look at clothes, an getting some food. It was actually a very pleasant day. We saw a shop that we were both interested in, and decided to go in. We browsed a bit, and my girlfriend found something she liked.

She went to try it on, while I was still browsing. A few moments later she texted me, and asked me to come see if it looks good on her. I walked into the changing room (which was kind of awkward because it was mostly girls).

“Does this look good?” she asked.

Now if you’re a guy, you know the answer should be and always will be “Yes, you look beautiful”. Without hesitation, I gave my answer.

To which she replied: “Do I look fat in this?”

You already know there’s one of two ways this can go: it can either go wrong, or horribly wrong. I’m kidding, it was not that bad – my first instinct was to say she looked amazing in it, and that I loved her no matter what. It all ended well enough.

However, a few weeks later I asked my girlfriend what guys are actually supposed to say in a situation like that. Following our conversation, here are a few tips I can share:

1. Don’t be too quick on the draw: When asked that all-important question, don’t be too quick to answer. Answer calmly, and make sure you’re not just giving a rehearsed answer.

2. Be honest: It’s never just as simple as “Yes, you do”. Give her a truthful and encouraging answer, one that helps her see how beautiful she is to you, without resorting to over-the-top compliments.

3. Follow up: A few days after being asked that question, remember to mention how good she looks in that dress. Remind her how much you love her.

I hope this helped – it sure has helped me!

Godspeed.

How to find the gold in others

Joshua Govender

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June 13, 2016

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The more I speak to people, the more I’m reminded of their potential. People often exceed your expectations, and more often than not I find myself surprised by the capabilities of others. It’s actually quite encouraging – it spurs me on to step into my own potential. Call me crazy, but other people’s success makes me feel successful!

Recently I have been making a concerted effort to pour into other people – just spending that little extra time getting to know them. We’re often too busy to spend extra time looking for the gold in others. So I’ve made it my mission to not only push people, but to also make sure I find the gold in them – and to help them find it in themselves (that’s often the hardest part).

Here are a few tips to find gold in people.

1. Be consistent

When you’re consistently involved in someone’s life they usually become more open to the wisdom you have to share. Consistency builds relationships, which builds people. There are seasons in life, but relationships should not be a priority only when you are in the mood.

2. Bring out the gold, not the gift

It’s not about the gift in someone – it’s about the gold. Gifting can be developed – it’s the easy side of building into someone; but bringing out someone’s full potential (gold!) is the hardest part.

3. Love through flaws

People will always have flaws and habits or characteristics that don’t agree with you, but true acceptance will bring real growth. Just because a person does not fit in your mould doesn’t mean that they don’t have potential.

Hope this helps. Be encouraged.

Godspeed.

R.I.P. Kimbo Slice

Joshua Govender

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June 9, 2016

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I followed Kimbo Slice’s career from an early age. I often watched his backyard fights on YouTube. Even though they were pretty intense fights, as a kid I thought they were awesome. Don’t get me wrong – I wasn’t a troubled kid or anything; but I did get a thrill out of watching him fight.

He was known as the internet’s biggest brawler – he had people watching for hours and hours, and some of his fights actually seemed near impossible in their execution. Somehow, even when he lost, he still was the bigger man.

Kimbo later joined the MMA, where he was successful as well. Watching a few of his fights in his MMA career made me see another side to Kimbo – the more trained and disciplined side. His online videos made him out to be a backyard brawler, but in the ring, he was focused, even though he still had a street edge to him.

Kimbo’s history may not always be the best, but it’s inspirational to see where he ended up, as a professional fighter landing massive contracts and winning titles. If there is one thing I’ve learnt from Kimbo, it’s that discipline is key.

Kimbo Slice died at age 42 – a big shock to the world of MMA and all his fans. He will forever be remembered as “The king of the web brawlers.”

Godspeed.

When friends become family

Joshua Govender

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June 8, 2016

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If there’s one thing I’ve learnt over the past few days it’s that doing things with friends makes every situation better. It’s weird but it works – no matter where you find yourself, if you have a few mates around you, then you have no worries! This week truly did show me that.

Last week we had a few worship leaders visit from the UK. They came down to lead worship at our church, but they did not have a band for the weekend. So we used our own band, and I was amongst the musicians that played alongside them. To be honest, it was an honour just to be asked to play.

The only thing is, the type of music they played was a little different to what we are used to as a worship team. Nevertheless, we gave it a go. At first it was really strange because we have never played with them before and most of the songs they requested we have never heard of – but we gave it a go.

We played Friday night and the whole of Sunday with them. I’m not going to lie, there were some frustrating moments – but there were also great moment and memories we shared as friends. Friends that turned to family.

No matter what situation you find yourself in, find a few friends to experience it with – I guarantee it will make the experience a memorable one!

Godspeed.

What are you leaving behind?

Joshua Govender

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June 6, 2016

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I was thinking about this question the other day: What am I leaving behind?

When you leave this world, obviously you don’t get to take all the riches and things that you’ve collected over the years.

If I can’t take my money or possessions, I guess the only thing left is my influence on other people. We all sometimes forget that when we leave, the only thing that stays behind is who or what we’ve influenced. Hear me out – some people may hear that and think I’m saying it’s all about them, but in fact it’s all about others.

When was the last time you encouraged someone or listened to someone? Influence is about more than just trying to be the best and making a name for yourself – most of the time it’s actually working behind the scenes and watching other people succeed.

What are you leaving behind? If you aren’t taking your money or possessions, what’s the one thing you want people to remember you by? I sat down the other day and gave it some thought and I came up with one word to describe what my legacy should look like: The word was “others”.

Everything we do should influence others. We are made to love and protect others. The way God loves us should be reflected in how we love others. Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t mean you aren’t allowed to do anything for yourself. Sometimes it’s nice to think of yourself. But your focus should ultimately be on others.

Don’t get caught up with stuff or possessions or even wealth, let your life continue to be an example for everyone to follow.

Godspeed.

Why Drake is going nowhere

Culture

Joshua Govender

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June 3, 2016

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Love him or hate him, you have to admit Drake is a pioneer in the music industry. Even though he sometimes appears in memes and strange remix videos, he is still one of the most famous rappers in the world today. He probably understands the meaning of the phrase “any publicity is good publicity” very well – and somehow he always seems to end up on top.

His album Views has been number one for four straight weeks on the Billboard Top 200 chart, selling roughly 189 000 copies – so he’s doing it again, proving that he’s a true pioneer of the current generation of hip-hop artists.

Looking back on how Drake’s appearance has evolved it’s no wonder people want to be like him, wearing shoes, jackets and gear that mimics his style. Even youngsters who were barely walking when Drake had his breakthrough, are starting to follow him.

Whether through collab or diss verse, everybody seems to want a piece of him – from touring with Future after Mayweather’s daughter’s 16th birthday, to having to listen to Meek Mills disses.

Drake has been and will always be a pioneering rapper. His style may be different, and his lyrics may be different, but one thing I can say is that he’s ahead of the game. Love him or hate him, we all have to admit he’s got some talent!

Godspeed.

Joshua Govender

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