Watching the Springboks play against the Lions this weekend not only had me on the edge of my seat but also reminded me of how exciting and entertaining sport can be. Very similar to running a small business; team work, game plan, great backup system and focus, focus focus.

The never-die attitude that our boys had on the field gave them the edge and perseverance brought them home.

Running my own business and helping many others to run theirs requires the same never give up attitude. Each day we as Entrepreneurs need to have not only a world changer attitude but also one of persistence and plan to do everything possible not to just survive but to thrive. Take risks play wide and get someone on your team to take those last minute kicks on your team that will put you ahead.

The Entrepreneur Incubator offers not only great strategy, but access to great players that will build your business to and beyond its full potential.

The unfair advantage – wearing green and gold and being a member of the Entrepreneur Incubator – a winning combination for any developing business. Well done bokke!

The river story takes us from gurgling spring at the river birth to the ocean where the river meets the sea to begin the cycle once again. Our lives are similar to the river as we endure floods, growth, isolation and rapids. As we journey through life these defining moments make and mould us to who we are today.

Let the past not be an excuse for our future, but let it be a platform that we can launch ourselves from into the future we deserve.

A river will eventually reach the edge of the escarpment and begin the final run towards the ocean. This downhill gallop creates huge rapids, fast flowing water and the occasional waterfall. It is here that we begin to see the full joy of the water as it releases the energy into the air.

These WOW times in our lives are defining moments of pure joy. It could be the birth of a child, a new career or graduation or falling in love. These WOW times define who we are and what we become later in life. The sheer pleasure of being alive and able to enjoy times like these make all the others worth while.

Rivers go through some crazy period in their lives. During the journey over the flat plains the river desperate for a downhill slope begins to weave and meander across the lands. Each turn it takes creates more soil erosion resulting in greater turns and weaves. In the extreme this results in ox-bow lakes isolating whole bodies of water.

Our lives are often like these as we go through plateau periods we too begin to meander across life and begin to leave pockets of isolated moments. We begin to experience isolation and loneliness. It is only when we get reflection from an outsider do we realize what we have become and what to do to correct these. Isolation can be just as destructive as floods and result in defining moments that change our lives.

Our river journey continues this week with the last set of lessons taken from the life of a river as it makes its way from mountain spring to the ocean.

After every flood we find moments of growth appearing along the riverbanks. This has come as a result of the rich soil deposits left behind after the flood.

Our lives show similar growth after an emotional flood time. We may not see it immediately but a new way of life has begun and a change of direction is imminent. Our lives take these turns that reveal new opportunities that we could not see before. These are to be grasped and used to anchor our new way of life. Growth will at first seem as pain and change but as we gain insight and experience we can look back with hindsight and begin to see the benefit of it all.

To survive a flood and keep the flow of water moving in the right direction a river needs a good set of riverbanks that are strong enough to hold the water, even during a flood. These riverbanks create guidance and provide forward momentum for the water.

The riverbanks are likened to our values. The set of values we have as individuals will keep us focused and able to maintain our momentum in life, even during the tough times.

What are your values?

When a river floods the volume of water grows to a point too great for the banks of the river to sustain it. The water pours over the edge and creates a flood. A river will either flood through a gradual increase in volume or a flash flood that happens in a sudden rush of water.

Our live too are exposed to floods, we build up emotions over a time due to illness, financial issues or relational problems and when we are unable to bear it any longer we fall apart. Our flash floods happen often in an instant when in an accident or when we answer the phone and receive bad news. In both cases we experience emotional floods and we need assistance from others to help mop up the spillages. These are our red times that we encounter in our lives.

What red times have you had in your life?

The river once born needs to do one thing to become a sustainable river, it needs to find other streams to join forces with to become a mighty river and reach its destination. This it does by following similar ways down hill. As it finds other streams it begins to gather momentum and gain water volume.

We too need to find similar people that we can trust and share with as we go through life. We cannot expect to live alone in isolation and away from others. The more we share our lives the more we connect to others and begin to build a sustainable life. Find someone and share a fact about yourself that you have not shared before. Risk yourself a little and take a step of faith towards a new relationship, towards wholeness.

As part of our workshop at the Vineyard these past two weeks, I thought I would share with you our story that we take each day with a group of 30 participants. Our lives are similar to that of a river, starting at a gurgling spring traveling down to the ocean. As we journey, you will journey with us through your own story, you will discover, remember and share as you get to tell your story along with the river. Each river is born as a small yet insignificant spring that gurgles out of the earth and begins its journey. We too are born and though insignificant we too have great plans for our lives and a destination that we need to get to.