#14 The Secrets of the Springboks' Winning Culture. Lessons from 'The Bok Way' with PJ Claasen

#14 The Secrets of the Springboks' Winning Culture. Lessons from 'The Bok Way' with PJ Claasen

PJ Claasen, leadership coach and author of The Bok Way, reveals the methods that built the culture behind the Springboks' remarkable success and how any organisation can apply them. Drawing on interviews with players, coaches, and key strategists, he explores how trust, shared purpose, accountability, and continuous self-improvement create teams that consistently perform under pressure. In this conversation, we unpack the deliberate culture behind the Springboks. From brutal honesty and clear standards to powerful shared narratives and personal responsibility, PJ shows how culture is built by design, not by chance. Whether you're a founder, CEO, HR leader, or team builder, this episode offers practical insights into creating a high-performance environment built on trust, resilience, and purpose. If you want to build a team that executes exceptionally while adapting to change, this conversation is for you. #Springboks, #team #culture, #leadership, #trust, #purpose, #rugby, #businessculture, #mentalmodels, #transformation Sound bites: "Brutal transparency builds trust" "Share the responsibility, share the success" "Create a culture of growth and continuous learning" Chapters 00:00 Walking Together: The Importance of Presence 04:48 Understanding PJ: A Journey into Psychology and People 07:38 Creating a Culture of Connection in the Workplace 10:27 The Bok Way: Insights from the Springbok Rugby Team 13:20 The Process of Writing a Book: From Idea to Publication 16:03 The Central Thesis of The Bok Way 18:55 Lessons from the Springboks: Responsibility and Self-Development 21:24 Translating Sports Lessons to Business 24:26 The Meaning Crisis: Work, Purpose, and Action 27:13 Shared Purpose: The Heart of the Springbok Team 29:03 Transforming South African Rugby 31:21 The Power of Representation in Sports 32:42 Finding Purpose in Business 35:05 Aligning Values and Behaviors in Teams 39:02 Building Trust in High-Performance Teams 48:04 Cultivating a Culture of Growth 54:58 The Art of Mistake Management 57:35 Leadership and Responsibility 01:00:40 Building Brotherhood and Team Culture 01:06:07 Tradition vs. Innovation in Rugby 01:13:51 The Writing Journey and Personal Growth 01:20:39 Newsletter Outro.mp4 Resources The Human Condition, Hannah Arendt - https://www.takealot.com/the-human-condition-second-edition/PLID49453017 The Bok Way by PJ - https://www.takealot.com/the-bok-way/PLID100225695?srsltid=AfmBOorUtWjTBARjOUp-XMay--p-Awc9_cI-FwqhvGmcrrkEXSO3Xb7L Guest links: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pj-claasen-b9530553/ Website - https://purposeworks.co.za The Bok Way - https://thebokway.co.za More about Through the Fog and Pierre on https://thisispierre.co

AI Myths and legends, Success Lies, and the Burnout Rebellion with Nic Haralambous

Join Pierre du Plessis and Nic as they explore sensory seeking, burnout, success, AI's impact on work, and the art of being uniquely you. This episode offers deep insights into personal growth, entrepreneurship, and redefining success in a rapidly changing world. In this engaging conversation, Nic and Pierre explore the evolving landscape of AI, entrepreneurship, and the importance of building authentic, user-centered products. They discuss the shift from traditional creation to leveraging AI tools, the value of doing what you love, and how to navigate the future of technology with a focus on human experience. Chapters 00:00 Exploring Sensory Intelligence 09:31 Navigating Burnout and Identity 15:36 Redefining Success in Entrepreneurship 23:52 The Future of Work and AI's Impact 30:31 Challenging Identity in the Age of AI 31:27 The Concept of Improbable Lives 33:05 Strategy: Being Different in a Competitive World 36:26 Embracing Individuality and Unpredictability 37:55 The Role of AI in Business Efficiency 39:44 Art vs. Efficiency in the Age of AI 42:35 Creating for Yourself vs. Creating for Others 47:27 The Balance of Personal Passion and Market Needs 51:15 Building Apps in the Age of AI 55:20 Flounder Mode: Embracing Multiple Projects 58:57 Building the First Version of Your App 01:00:20 The Shift from Consumption to Creation 01:01:26 AI's Impact on Art and Software 01:03:13 The Value of Human Connection in Creativity 01:04:59 The Evolution of Technology and Its Acceptance 01:08:14 Understanding AI's Role in Creativity 01:10:58 The Nature of Writing and Thinking 01:13:19 The Limitations of AI in Creative Processes 01:16:55 The Misconceptions of AI Intelligence 01:19:42 The Human Element in Writing and Creativity Resources Sensory Intelligence: https://sensoryintelligence.com/ Rick Rubin's Creative Habit - https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Habit-Train-Your-Artist/dp/0316252974 Kevin Kelly's Thousand True Fans - https://kk.org/thetechnium/ Kevin Kelly's Flounder Mode - https://kk.org/thetechnium/kelly-flounder-mode/ Rick Rubin's Approach to Music Production - https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/rick-rubin-approach-to-music-122679/ Basecamp Software - https://basecamp.com/ Replit - https://replit.com/ Good Good Weeds App - https://goodgoodweeds.com/ Guest links Nic Haralambous: https://www.nicharalambous.com/ Nic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nic-haralambous/ No Bull Ship Academy: https://nobullship.co/

Ep 12/12 True Wealth, Stories and Soup with Nathan Mersereau.

In this season finale of Through the Fog, host Pierre du Plessis dives deep with financial planner, entrepreneur, and thinker Nathan Mersereau. Broadcasting from opposite ends of the globe, Pierre and Nathan explore how our stories around money shape our lives, the pitfalls of measuring success purely through wealth, and the transformative power of introspection. From soup kitchens to billionaire compounds, Nathan's story challenges listeners to reconsider what it means to be truly wealthy. Links: - True Wealth Assessment” and “Money Personality Quiz” https://planningalt.com/quiz-assessment-landing-page - Book: The Untethered Soul, Michael A. Singer https://amzn.eu/d/eQdrl7Y - Find Nathan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-mersereau-cfp%C2%AE-a984761/ Timestamps: 00:00 - Where do you find yourself today? 01:48 - Tell us a bit about Nathan. Who are you? 04:40 - What is Nathan's craziest idea? 05:34 - What did you want to be when you were growing up? 08:22 - Did you think money was the ultimate marker of success? 10:38 - When did you realise what life is really about? 13:40 - Did you ever feel like money was tainted or wrong? 17:06 - Why do you think people are so obsessed with money? 20:08 - Why is money the marker that we use? 23:12 - When is enough, enough? 29:02 - Have you encountered wealthy people who aren’t lonely? 32:25 - How did you get to that point of seeing wealth differently? 36:34 - How do the habits that create success become imprisoning? 43:35 - What are some practical steps to self-reflect and start a new path? 47:58 - Are those communities you described the wealthiest people on the planet? 50:19 - Is money objectively scarce or abundant? 54:55 - What’s the soup story Miranda told me to ask about? 58:09 - How do you make big life decisions? 01:12:46 - What’s one of the worst decisions you’ve ever made? 01:14:42 - Have you had the chance to speak to your father about that? 01:16:55 - What lies ahead for you? 01:24:09 - What is a quote that you live by? 01:25:47 - Where can people find you online if they want to connect or follow you? “True Wealth Assessment” and “Money Personality Quiz” [https://planningalt.com/quiz-assessment-landing-page] · Book: The Untethered Soul, Michael A. Singer [https://amzn.eu/d/eQdrl7Y] · Find Nathan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-mersereau-cfp%C2%AE-a984761/]

Ep 11/12 - Negotiating, luck, and boardrooms with Guy Ellis

In this episode of Through the Fog, Pierre sits down with Guy Ellis, global entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of the Lekker Network. With over 60 board, advisory, and founder roles, Guy shares a wealth of insight into entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, and the power of helping others. From his roots as a wannabe “Dr. Farmer” to his groundbreaking work at Harvard and across global markets, Guy explores how authentic connection can unlock transformative opportunities. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about patriotism, privilege, purpose, and how South Africans can—and are—changing the world. Links: Guy Ellis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-ellis/ Guy's first book is out soon: The Negotiation Code Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and quick banter 01:00 - Meet Guy Ellis: Global entrepreneur & Harvard instructor 02:25 - The origin of a “Dr. Farmer” dream 04:50 - Helping others and early signs of a mission 06:00 - Defining “Expansion through Connection” 07:30 - Is the self-made man a myth? 09:30 - A pivotal moment: reshaping a business from scratch 13:50 - The origin story of the Lekker Network 17:30 - Building intentional, impactful networks 20:50 - The importance of helping without agenda 23:30 - Living abroad but loving South Africa 27:00 - What it means to be South African 30:00 - Fixing South Africa: Right person, right seat 34:00 - South African talent and the Springboks metaphor 36:00 - Challenges in government and business alignment 39:00 - How small business owners can make change 41:00 - What gives Guy hope for the country 44:00 - South Africans abroad: Not traitors, just dispersed impact 46:00 - The uniquely South African spirit of friendliness and resilience 49:00 - The cultural magic of meeting South Africans abroad 51:30 - Emotional connection and nostalgia for home 54:00 - The role of adversity in creating grit and talent 56:00 - Overcoming scarcity mindsets 58:00 - Celebrating informal connections and spontaneous chats 1:00:00 - Picking South Africa’s “one thing” to rally around 1:02:00 - The challenge of focus in national strategy 1:04:00 - Harnessing the power of South Africans globally 1:07:00 - Reclaiming civic agency: citizens should direct the government 1:10:00 - Breaking free from limiting narratives and perceived disloyalty 1:13:00 - Creating the bridge from now to a brighter future 1:16:00 - Humility vs. self-deprecation among South Africans 1:18:00 - Closing thoughts: freedom, connection, and what comes next

Ep 10/12: On Equality, code, and rugby with Justinus Adriaanse

In this deeply personal and visionary episode, Pierre speaks with Justinus, a passionate entrepreneur and co-founder of WeThinkCode_, about building a more equitable South Africa. They dive into Justinus’s background, his love for rugby, and the transformative power of access to education and opportunity. From developing world-class coders from underserved communities to launching a bold new initiative inspired by South Africa’s Rugby World Cup victories, Justinus shares a blueprint for national renewal rooted in inclusivity and grit. Justinus is a serial entrepreneur, having been co-founder at Private Property Holdings and WeThinkCode_ in South Africa, Entabeni Systems and Umgundi Holdings in Canada. He has been in the Entrepreneurs' Organization for 14 years, and has been part of 5 chapters over that period.Today Justinus and his wife are building a business focussed on optimizing for impact not just value. An avid sports fan and traveller he loves visiting live sports events all over the world with his family and spends many hours next to sport fields supporting his two teenage kids.When you meet him, be sure to ask if he enjoys Nando’s. Links and books: Hidden Potential by Adam Grant 👉 https://exclusivebooks.co.za/products/9780753560051 Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth 👉 https://exclusivebooks.co.za/products/9781785040207 Time to Think by Nancy Kline 👉 https://exclusivebooks.co.za/products/9780706377453 The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander & Benjamin Zander 👉 https://www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/book/art-possibility-practices-leadership-relationship-and-passion/9780142001103 https://wethinkcode.co.za/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse Timestamps: [00:01:00] Justinus on Lowveld living and escaping Cape Town winters. [00:03:44] Pretoria roots, rugby dreams, and school memories. [00:06:39] The spark for WeThinkCode_: bridging access and building coders. [00:08:01] From 50,000 applicants to 500 students: creating a scalable tech pipeline. [00:09:54] Gender parity and diversity in tech education. [00:10:54] Graduation day: joy, family pride, and life-changing milestones. [00:12:00] A new mission: Project 95 and the dream of five more World Cup wins. [00:15:43] Rugby development lessons from Ireland and South Africa’s Eastern Cape. [00:17:00] Sunday rugby in small towns: discovering forgotten fields and fanatical culture. [00:20:05] The impact of malnutrition on athletic potential. [00:24:24] Why “95” is more than a number—it’s a national memory. [00:26:00] Access vs. outcomes: the quota question and educational inequality. [00:30:50] Screening for grit and agency at WeThinkCode_. [00:33:00] Holding standards high while removing financial barriers. [00:36:44] Why success requires stability over decades—not just talent. [00:39:12] Comparing school funding models in the US and Canada. [00:42:00] Recreating high-performing public schools across the nation. [00:43:29] Why rugby is more than a game: a symbol of belonging and memory. [00:45:51] Settling in Ontario, Canada: skiing, seasons, and new routines. [00:46:58] How skiing became a lifelong passion—and the excuse to move abroad. [00:49:40] Life lessons from the slopes: discomfort, growth, and persistence. [00:52:00] Teaching kids courage, taking calculated risks, and embracing adventure. [00:56:00] The rhythm of family life, travel, and the search for balance. [01:00:00] The link between nostalgia, passion, and purpose. [01:05:00] Building identity through shared rituals and cultural storytelling. [01:10:00] Creating community in diaspora—keeping South Africa close while living abroad. [01:15:00] Future plans: nomadic living, giving back, and staying connected. [01:20:00] Justinus’s vision for legacy, leadership, and long-term impact. [01:25:00] Final reflections: leaning into the discomfort and doing the hard things.