What really matters? 

This past weekend, along with a generous swathe of the community, my wife and I attended the funeral of a father and family man who was taken in his prime. Needlessly, this good man died in a housebreaking, in the early hours of what should have been just another weekend at home.

It was a beautiful memorial service, if one of the most difficult I’ve ever attended. Nothing helps the mind to process such senseless loss at the hands of such indiscriminate evil. 

Yet the tributes could not have been more touching. 

It’s interesting to note how we evaluate an entire human life in review, what we select and hold up to the light when all is said and done. The qualities for which he was praised - genuinely and correctly - were all centred around gentleness and care. 

Every Monday in this forum, we speak about clever career moves. But what’s it all for? Our greatest legacy is ultimately the lives we touch, and the story we share with our closest people. 

After the ceremony, all I wanted to do was hug my young son. And I hope I never forget to do that. 

- In memory of Simon Bush, and with love to his surviving family; a small grouping of some of the best people there are. Keep shining. 

Douglas Kruger is a global speaker and author of five business books with Penguin Random House SA. He has won the national championships for Public Speaking, through Toastmasters International, a record 5 times.

In 2016, in honour of excellence in his craft, Douglas was inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame, by the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa. See him in action, or sign up for his free newsletter, ‘From Amateur to Expert’ at www.douglaskruger.co.za. Email info@douglaskrugerspeaker.com