Lessons from a CEO#The memoir

Chapter 1#The vision

In the heart of a small rural town of Dlibona, Lusikisiki, nestled amidst vast fields and rolling hills, stood our Grandfather's farmhouse that had been in the family for generations. This quaint homestead had witnessed the toil and sweat of a hardworking farmer who had cultivated the land with love and dedication. But as time passed, the younger generation found themselves drawn to different career pursuits, leaving the farm and its legacy to fade away into the annals of history.

I also tried finding my career in different technical vocations and entrepreneurship ventures however nothing aligned to my sense of freedom, control and creativity. I mean I come from a learned family, a son of a respected teacher, "Aunt Zoe", so it was only normal for me to find space in clerical or administrative roles. One can add the fact that I was part of two eras in the South African history namely apartheid era and the democracy era which purported different outcomes for the work world and the education system preparing one for such.

I always had "green fingers" as one would say, and I always found pleasure in gardening and landscaping but it was not anything that caught my attention but my mother noticed it. I mean I had dreams that extended far beyond the borders of our rural community of Dlibona. Even though I did not articulate clearly what my dreams were, I just knew I never wanted to be controlled in my creativity at any work environment in my adult life. Sure there were fears of me ending up poor if I did not keep a job by my parents, but I was already a minimalist, and my sense of poverty was the reality of spending all your life in a wrong career just to pay the bond and feed my family. One thing that pulled me back to my sense of purpose is that I really love rural life more than city life. I loved the simplicity, sense of control and the creativity that the space afforded it's citizens.

When my grandfather Mlimi passed away, the fate of the farm hung precariously in the balance. Well to be honest, it was like that long before since he had no strength at old age to continue farming operations. Other family members were reluctant to take on the responsibility, and it seemed the homestead would be left to crumble into disrepair. But I couldn't bear the thought of letting our grandfather's hard work and legacy go to waste. I felt there must be a way to honour the Magazi family's legacy. It was after many failed entrepreneurial pursuit that the thought of green fingers came back. I suddenly spent months researching and studying sustainable farming practices, modern agricultural techniques, and the potential for innovation in the agricultural sector.

I networked with successful farmers across races and backgrounds and started soaking up knowledge like a sponge. Driven by a desire to create a farm that would thrive in the 21st century, I devised a plan that combined the wisdom of the past with the possibilities of the future. I envisioned transforming the farm into a model of sustainable and profitable agriculture and a botanical wedding or conference facility.