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ESTATE NEWS
ADVERTORIAL
STRIVING FOR

EXCELLENCE

BY RUI MORAIS, HEADMASTER OF ST PETER’S COLLEGE

young people, both academically
Adding value to empower and personally. We are about
academic excellence and personal
our students and prepare development as we “Empower
them for their futures Students for Life”.
Today, my words are not enough
to express the gratitude I feel
s the Headmaster towards the staff of this wonderful

of this outstanding institution. Teaching is one of the
Independent most important roles in society,
Anglican Day School and although teachers don’t get
Athat is celebrating its the recognition they deserve most
21st Anniversary this year, I strongly of the time, the dedication, caring,
and passionately believe that and expertise of the St Peter’s
St Peter’s College is the best College staff will leave life-affirming

school for your children. Our legacies in the lives of the students
aim is to stretch and inspire our they have touched at the College.
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that
the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to
live by them.” John F. Kennedy

f the CEO of a company had no vision for the direction of
f the CEO of a c ompan y had no vision f or the dir ec tion of
the business, and had no grasp on the resources at hand I realised that I needed to completely rewrite my story. And
the business, and had no grasp on the resources at hand
I realised that I needed to completely rewrite my story. And
to achieve that vision, the business wouldn’t go very far,
once I could rewrite my story for myself, and for my career, I
to achieve that vision, the business wouldn’t go very far, once I could rewrite my story for myself, and for my career, I
would be able to reposition myself for work that I wanted to be
would it? It might manage for a while, but at some point would be able to reposition myself for work that I wanted to be
would it? It might manage for a while, but at some point
it would probably come to a grinding halt, with the CEO
it would probably come to a grinding halt, with the CEO doing, rather than the work I felt I was
doing, rather than the work I felt I was
Ipossibly taken by surprise. limited to doing.
Ipossibly taken by surprise.
limited to doing.
A few years later, and in the midst of an entirely new career
A few years later, and in the midst of an entirely new career
Yet I see so many of us treating our careers that way – including
Yet I see so many of us treating our careers that way – including story, I fi nd myself surrounded by people who are also eager
story, I find myself surrounded by people who are also eager
to make career changes but haven’t a clue in what direction.
myself a few years back. I recall believing that, because I
myself a few years back. I recall believing that, because I to make career changes but haven’t a clue in what direction.
worked hard and had been fairly successful in moving upwards
worked hard and had been fairly successful in moving upwards These people are my clients. Many of them come to me
These people are my clients. Many of them come to me
in my career, this would continue and that I would feel fulfilled.
wanting assistance in writing their CVs and updating their
in my career, this would continue and that I would feel fulfi lled. wanting assistance in writing their CVs and updating their
les – the trouble is, in so many instances, they
LinkedIn profi

I took opportunities where they presented themselves (in
I took opportunities where they presented themselves (in LinkedIn profiles – the trouble is, in so many instances, they
retrospect largely when no one else wanted the opportunity), have no idea how or where to position themselves. They have
retrospect largely when no one else wanted the opportunity),
have no idea how or where to position themselves. They have
no idea what they want their next move to be.
but with no particular strategic vision of where my career was
but with no particular strategic vision of where my career was no idea what they want their next move to be.
headed. And at some point I started to feel really stuck.
headed. And at some point I started to feel really stuck.
So often they say: “I don’t want to be an XYZ any more, but
So often they say: “I don’t want to be an XYZ any more, but

I am only qualifi
It was in a moment of feeling particularly disgruntled that I I am only qualified to be an XYZ.” Yes, old me would have
It was in a moment of feeling particularly disgruntled that I
ed to be an XYZ.” Yes, old me would have
had an enlightening conversation with a very wise friend. The related to that! In most instances, long before we work on
had an enlightening conversation with a very wise friend. The
related to that! In most instances, long before we work on
with how I was feeling so stuck and

conversation started off
conversation started off with how I was feeling so stuck and their CVs we start having a conversation that helps them to
their CVs we start having a conversation that helps them to
feeling like I had no options. My assumption was that I was see the richness of their experiences and competencies rather
feeling like I had no options. My assumption was that I was
see the richness of their experiences and competencies rather
stuck in a silo, where I could continue upwards, but couldn’t
stuck in a silo, where I could continue upwards, but couldn’t than the history of all the positions they have held.
than the history of all the positions they have held.
branch out, that I would do what I was doing, where I was
branch out, that I would do what I was doing, where I was
In Up is not the Only Way: Rethinking Career Mobility, the
doing it, forever.
doing it, forever. In Up is not the Only Way: Rethinking Career Mobility, the
authors (Beverly Kaye, Lindy Williams and Lynn Cowart) suggest
authors (Beverly Kaye, Lindy Williams and Lynn Cowart) suggest

looking at our careers through a kaleidoscope rather than a
erently though. At the end of
My friend saw things quite differently though. At the end of looking at our careers through a kaleidoscope rather than a
My friend saw things quite diff
telescope – in other words, seeing an array of options where
my rambling she identified a number of different directions telescope – in other words, seeing an array of options where
my rambling she identifi

ed a number of diff erent directions
previously we saw a linear view. They
she thought I could go in, and they had nothing to do with
she thought I could go in, and they had nothing to do with previously we saw a linear view. They
proceed to mention that when looking
my qualifi cations. It was the start of a process for me that was proceed to mention that when looking
my qualifications. It was the start of a process for me that was
mind-shifting and ultimately led to my taking control of my through a kaleidoscope (in which only
mind-shifting and ultimately led to my taking control of my
through a kaleidoscope (in which only
career as my business again. The mind-set shift had a lot to
career as my business again. The mind-set shift had a lot to three mirrors create the myriad of
three mirrors create the myriad of
do with seeing my career as a collection of experiences that patterns), what we are seeing are the
do with seeing my career as a collection of experiences that
patterns), what we are seeing are the
had been building on each other, rather than a chronology of varying combinations of career options
had been building on each other, rather than a chronology of
varying combinations of career options
upward progressions. created by the intersect between our
upward progressions.
created by the intersect between our
Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 2 • 2019 35