I reflected on my ”I’m Looking Forward” blog posting and realized that I experienced ten-fold everything that I was looking forward to.  I was impressed by the level of consciousness and the corporate social responsibility that were engrained in every organization/institution that we visited.  I was heartbroken by the sights of Robben’s Island, the Apartheid Museum Tapologa and Soweto.  I was giddy from the wine tastings and amazed by Sun City.  But most profoundly I was enlightened and humbled by the spirit of the South African people.  Everyone that I encountered acknowledged the shadows of the country’s history and had high hopes for its future.  South Africa surpassed my expectations.  There are lessons to be harvested from my visit. 

Lesson number 1 – Community: we are all in this together. If we all aren’t progressing, then no one is progressing. 

Lesson 2 – Forgive: let go of the past, it’s the only way you can move forward.

Lesson number 3 – Take Advantage: utilize available resources to create opportunities. You cannot complain about not having if you don’t first use what’s there for you. 

Lastly, I think South Africa is on the brink of becoming the next global powerhouse.  They are making all the right moves to rebuild their economy and provide the stability needed in the workforce to move the country forward.  Their technological and financial sectors are particularly strong. Entrepreneurship is on the rise. And they are working hard to get ahead of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  These are all good signs. I imagine that South Africa will be a rival market in the coming years.