2024/5

Like billions of people around the world, CN&COs Carel Nolte used the end of one year and the start of another to reflect on life. Maybe some of these will help you as you work at 2025 being your best year yet.

I turned 50 in 2024 and if there are two words I would pick to summarise my feelings of the year it would be “thanks” and “sorry”. Thanks for all the very many people and experiences I have in my life, and continue to have. Sorry for everything I do and say that I shouldn’t and sorry for not speaking out and doing more when I should. And so, in reflecting on the past and thinking about what I want to make of 2025, a lot of gratitude with a strong dose of humility mixed in is what I am aiming for.

Shortly after turning 50 (in fact two days and just after my Cape Town party) we had massive storms in Stellenbosch which caused a lot of damage on our farm KleinBlouKlip. In addition, our neighbours, Blauwklippen experienced a massive fire which caused extensive damage and jumped onto our property, causing more damage. All of this would have been way, way worse without the Herculean efforts of Rikus, Kurt, Ramon and Edwin. A fiery, hectic start to my 50s and one that reminded me:

1. Things can change in an instant – so don’t be too cocky when things are going well, or too depressed when they aren’t;
2. Friends are the most valuable thing you can collect – choose wisely, nurture with care and give your time to be there for others;
3. Insurance is the bedrock of our economy – within ten days, Barkers had processed my claim and most of the cleanup and repairs were done.

2024 was also the year on which I revisited my Christian faith and engaged more deeply with organised religion. This was in no small part due to Ds Dewald Niemandt, the dominee at NG Kerk Bryanston where my family worshipped when I was a little kid, who was preaching when I went there on the 1st Sunday in 2024. Just like my mate Andre Serfontein, the dominee at Stellenbosch Gemeente which I attend when in the Cape, Dewald is super bright. I have loved the intellectual rigour which both Dewald and Andre bring to their work, as well as their humour and humanity. I have gotten a lot of food for thought from them – and some great whisky tips from Dewald! My role with the Jesuits (thanks to my friends Father Isaac and Father Matthew) has also given me some wonderful exposure to highly intelligent and challenging religious views. All of which has enabled me to grow within my faith and I am most excited to continue on this journey in 2025.

Trump’s win, the rise of the MK party in SA, ongoing world-wide wars and the disaster that is the Middle East, often had me in fits of rage or despair. I sometimes just wanted to disengage. But I think that is what the people who benefit most from a chaotic misogynist, aggressive, winner-takes-all world want – for us ordinary people to stick our heads in the sand. And so, I daily, try hard to see differing points of view, to find better ways to share my strongly held belief that diversity is a wonderful gift and necessary strength. The “other” can and does contribute in making society better. We just need to find our common purpose – and for me that is simply being able to, in safety, have the space to grow into your best self. I am going to continue volunteering, learning and getting involved in my community and I hope more of us do. The creation of a positive future is our responsibility and opportunity.

I post a lot about EasyEquities, my full-time job and where I spend most of my time and head-space. Suffice to say, our 10th anniversary was a good time to reflect on what we have achieved from scratch – over 2 million registered clients, nearly R60 billion in assets on the platform, a household name in financial services and a community that is changing what is possible in terms of growing and protecting your wealth. It was also a good time to, critically, evaluate what has to chance for us to achieve the success all our shareholders (of which I am one) deserve. I am extremely excited by what 2025 holds and what we plan to deliver on.

The Sparky’s team opened our first proper sit-down store in Bryanston, while ensuring the original take-away operations continued to thrive. As a minority shareholder and silent partner, it is extremely exciting and gratifying to see what the passion of two young entrepreneurs can achieve. Sparky’s continues to remind me how simplicty and consistency in brands are vital ingredients for success.

CN&CO Recruitment with Janet and CN&CO Events is where I mainly contribute and I love the creativity of those roles and the ideas and contacts it brings for my Easy work.

My time with Ami came to an end and I am grateful to majority shareholder and founder Christelle as well as the Lombard team for the opportunity to have played a role in the start up. I learnt a lot and am rooting loudly for this team to achieve their ambitions.

Alongside many phenomenal people, I continue to be on numerous committees, board and trusts – and while all of these are volunteer roles, the privilege to be able to contribute and the lessons learnt from other servant leaders is worth more than tons of gold. In 2025 I am particularly excited by working with the Comrades board and executive team to take this South African iconic event to even greater heights. In the next few years think I am going to exit many of these roles and get myself a paying gig or two!

2024 was the 10th anniversary of my mum’s death. My dear friend Elbe died unexpectedly. Many other friends and family of close friends had major medical challenges and also experienced the death of loved ones. Death happens to us all – an obvious point that some people seem to forget at times. I think the trick is not to bury your emotions. Nor to wallow in them. Each one of us deals differently with tragedy and death and there is no “right” way. Personally, I like to acknowledge the impact the person who has died has had on me. To remember all the good times. To treasure the lessons learnt and insights gained. To take all of that and to use it to make my life more meaningful, in honour and celebration of those who have passed. And each one of the people who have died that I have loved, I think of – often. WIth a huge smile on my face and appreciation in my heart. And renewed vigour to do more for more people before my time comes. While I am adamant that I want to live to be a 100, at least, that is of course not my call. But whether I die in the next day or live for another 50 years, I continue to work hard to not waste a second of my one, wild and precious life. And to try hard to not do things I will regret.

Davey was a major highlight of 2024. A gorgeous 30 month old Italian Greyhound which I got from a friend has become a big part of my life. And the life of KleinBlouKlip where Rikus is looking after Davey for chunks of time when I am in Johannesburg. Prince Davey runs super fast on the farm lawns. And gives himself grass massages. He loves his walks around the farm. He cannot stand the squirrels. He sleeps, a lot. He eats very little. He has brought a lot of love and reminded me why owning an animal and caring for it is an honour.

Springboks champions, Olympic heroes, Dricus, Brandon, our rowers and so many other sporting moments this year made me cry with proud patriotism. As did Spring Awakening, FEDA, the Dukes in London, Charles Greig’s birthday bash, the JPO, Woordfees, RMB Starlight Classics and the many other cultural feast I was lucky enough to enjoy. Sport and art go hand in hand in building a society and in South Africa we have AMAZING building blocks.

Travel included Eurovision, amazingly special times with the Williams family in the UK, the Wrights and Milmine Kobis in Canada and surprising Mishybelle for her 50th in Perth (added bonus was a wonderful time staying with Paul and Sue Reuvers) – all again proving how the privilege of travel really is a major part of who I am and something for which I am immensely grateful.

I have loved CResults when in Joburg (hurry up and open more Alan!) and while I am fatter, less flexible and less fit than I want/should be, I am conscious of the ability and privilege to choose to exercise and to use my body. I am making proper time in 2025 to focus on my physical health. After all, despite my blood pressure, cholesterol and other markers all being perfect, my BMI makes me obese according to Discovery Vitality!

I reconnected with old, special friends like Joan in London, Judi and Michael in Riebeeck-Kasteel and Piet in Muizenberg. I made some new friends like Yaakov, whose wedding was a moment of pure beauty in 2024. Some friends turned 80 like Tannie Johanni and had a birthday weekend for us. Others like Kate turned 90 and threw a wondrous dress-up bash. Many of you had me over for superb meals, padel games, hikes and special chats. And while this reflection is not about naming all the moments, please know that I think, a lot and often, of all who contribute to my life. THANK YOU.

For 2025, I am going to be laser focused on less is more – which does not mean that my life will be any less diverse, but rather that I will be ruthless with not wasting time or energy on people and experiences which do not contribute positively to my life and my goals to improve the world.

Life is grey. Many shades of grey in fact. Things change. Mistakes are made. Nobody is perfect. Be kind to yourself and to others within the grey. As always, just try to not be a doos. I am going to laugh more. Collaborate more. Forgive more. Learn more. Love more. Contribute more. Drink more water. Move more. Revel in consistency. Shun “no” and negativity. And if I can do just some of that, we’ll the year will be a goodie.

Wishing you all a superb 2025. And if you want some added inspiration, maybe take a listen to my 50th birthday Spotify playlist as you suck the marrow from life and give it your best.