Yesterday, my family and I learned many unintended lessons.

 

When the Nationwide strike was announced, we anticipated an increase in commodities that usually happens when people begin to panic.

 

I must confess that since there have been previous rumours of strikes that did not materialise, I gave very little attention to this warning and went about my life as usual.

 

When power went off, I assumed it was per usual until I heard it was turned off at the national grid.

 

I started to worry because the fuel we had in our generator would last us for just a few hours.

 

I was with my kids when I made the decision to search for petrol. The situation was so dire that we couldn’t even get our car inside the station to refuel. I parked a distance away from the station and joined the very long queue. Ultimately, we spent nearly four hours at the petrol station, only to secure 30 litres of fuel in my kegs.

 

Taking my children along was a new experience for all of us.

 

Initially, I wished they didn’t have to endure such a long and tedious evening, but as the hours passed, I began to see the silver lining in the situation.  Our fuel “hunting” resulted in some gems.

 

This experience was a powerful eye-opener for my children. It provided them with a firsthand understanding of the economic realities we face in our country. They witnessed the struggle and the patience required to secure such basic necessities, helping them appreciate the liberties they often take for granted.

 

As we drove home, they chatted about their experience and the various things they witnessed.

 

They asked me not to cook and opted to eat bread and eggs for dinner, which they made themselves.

 

From a leadership perspective, this experience reinforced several important lessons for me.

Leadership often involves navigating challenging situations with grace and determination. When faced with the consequences of your previous actions or inactions, do you cower or forge on, with a determination to find a legitimate solution?

 

As for my children, yesterday taught them to understand and appreciate the struggles countless others go through.

 

I apologized to them for not planning properly and for my lack of preparedness despite the warning to strike which cost me so much time and other resources.

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I was reminded that leadership means I am accountable.

 

We need to occasionally involve children in such real-life scenarios so we can equip them with valuable life lessons that extend beyond the classroom.