The Jesus Strategy: Love, Problem-Solving, and Authenticity in the Pursuit of Excellence

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

Today, we gather here to delve into a topic that resonates with the essence of Becoming Maverick—a journey of self-discovery, personal development, and the pursuit of excellence. We embark on an exploration of the renowned Jesus Strategy, as we seek to uncover the principles and strategies that have propelled the Jesus Movement throughout the ages.

Before we proceed, let it be known that this discourse is not confined to religious boundaries. Instead, we invite you to engage with an open mind, regardless of your personal beliefs. Becoming Maverick is a platform that celebrates the quest to unleash the best version of our humanity, and it is within this spirit that we examine the remarkable success and longevity of the 'Jesus Movement'.

At the heart of the Jesus Strategy lies a foundational principle that resonates deeply with Becoming Maverick: love for humanity demonstrated on the individual level. Jesus, the embodiment of this principle, exemplified unwavering compassion, empathy, and acceptance. His love transcended societal norms, reaching out to the marginalized, the forgotten, and the broken. Through his actions, he illuminated the transformative power of love and its ability to ignite positive change.

Another key aspect of the Jesus Strategy is the ability to solve problems that people may not even be aware of. Jesus possessed an unparalleled understanding of the human condition, addressing the profound needs and desires of the heart. His teachings and actions offered a path to healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation, touching lives in ways that no other individual had done before. His example reminds us to look beyond the surface and seek holistic solutions that truly address the essence of our human experience.

Crucially, the Jesus Strategy was not merely theoretical or abstract. Jesus embodied the very principles he taught, leaving no room for hypocrisy. His authenticity served as a guiding light for his followers, inspiring them to embrace his teachings and emulate his character. It was this authenticity that allowed the Jesus Movement to thrive and foster a community of individuals who, in turn, became beacons of love, kindness, and compassion.

Becoming Maverick recognizes the importance of authenticity and personal growth. It is through embodying our values and principles that we make a genuine impact on the world around us. The Jesus Strategy provides a timeless blueprint for personal transformation and self-discovery—a roadmap to unleashing the best version of ourselves.

As we reflect upon the Jesus Strategy within the context of Becoming Maverick, let us embrace its profound message of love, problem-solving, and authenticity. Let us draw inspiration from the transformative power of these principles, as we navigate our own personal journeys. Becoming Maverick is an invitation to unlock our potential, challenge societal norms, and make a lasting positive impact on the world.

In conclusion, the Jesus Strategy, though originating in a different time and context, holds valuable lessons for us on our path to Becoming Maverick. Its emphasis on love, problem-solving, and authenticity transcends religious boundaries, resonating with the very core of our humanity. May we be inspired to integrate these principles into our own lives, unleashing the best version of ourselves and creating a more compassionate, inclusive, and vibrant world.

Thank you for joining us on this exploration of the Jesus Strategy within the context of Becoming Maverick. May it ignite a sense of purpose and possibility within each of us as we continue our personal journeys of self-discovery and growth.

Remember you are Becoming Maverick!

Shalom!

The Intentional Life: Small Decisions, Lasting Impact

Intentional means acting with purpose and conscious choice rather than by accident, impulse, or external pressure. It describes behavior that is deliberate, thoughtful, and aligned with a clear goal or value.

Becoming Maverick: The Art and Discipline of Decision-Making

On the journey of Becoming Maverick, one truth keeps resurfacing: our lives move in the direction of our decisions.

Destiny is rarely dramatic. It is usually quiet. Built one choice at a time.

Every day we decide what to believe, what to pursue, what to tolerate, and what to let go of. Some decisions feel small. Others feel life-altering. But all of them compound. And over time, they form the architecture of our future.

Maverick living is not about rebellion for the sake of it. It is about intentionality. It is about choosing with clarity instead of drifting with the crowd.

1. A Well-Informed Worldview

Good decisions begin long before the decision itself.

They begin with perspective.

A Maverick cultivates a well-informed worldview — seeking diverse voices, engaging different disciplines, and staying curious about how the world really works. We challenge our assumptions instead of protecting them. We ask better questions instead of settling for easy answers.

When your worldview expands, your decisions mature.

You stop reacting.
You start responding.

2. Mindset: The Inner Environment

Knowledge alone is not enough. Two people can have access to the same information and make radically different decisions.

Why?

Mindset.

Psychologist Carol Dweck popularized the concept of the growth mindset — the belief that abilities can be developed through effort and learning. This mindset transforms decision-making. Instead of asking, “What if I fail?” we begin asking, “What can I learn?”

A Maverick understands that decisions are rarely perfect. But they can be progressive.

We become adaptable.
We adjust.
We refine.

3. Critical Thinking in an Age of Noise

We live in an information-saturated world. Algorithms amplify outrage. Opinions travel faster than facts.

Maverick decision-making requires discernment.

We evaluate sources.
We fact-check.
We distinguish between emotion and evidence.
We separate popularity from credibility.

Critical thinking is not cynicism — it is responsibility.

Before we accept an idea, we ask:

• Who benefits from this message?

• What evidence supports it?

• What assumptions is it built upon?

Clarity protects your future.

4. Understanding Motives and Consequences

Information is rarely neutral. Communicators often have motives — commercial, political, ideological, or personal.

This doesn’t mean we distrust everyone.
It means we think independently.

We also weigh consequences. Short-term comfort can create long-term regret. Immediate applause can cost long-term integrity.

Mavericks think beyond the moment.

They ask:

• What does this decision look like in five years?

• Who does it impact?

• Does it align with my values?

5. Self-Awareness: The Hidden Multiplier

Research in behavioral science shows how cognitive biases distort judgment. Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman demonstrated how we often rely on fast, automatic thinking that can lead to predictable errors.

Awareness of bias is power.

We reflect on:

• Confirmation bias (seeking what agrees with us)

• Fear-based reactions

• Ego-driven choices

The more self-aware we become, the less reactive we are — and the more intentional we become.

6. Independence Without Arrogance

A Maverick is not anti-authority. Nor is he driven by social approval.

He listens.
He evaluates.
He decides.

Independence is not stubbornness — it is thoughtful ownership.

We refuse to outsource our judgment to the loudest voice in the room. We resist social pressure when it conflicts with principle. We build decisions on logic, evidence, and values — not trends.

7. Weighing Benefit and Harm

Every meaningful decision carries trade-offs.

Opportunity always costs something — time, energy, comfort, reputation, or risk.

So we ask:

• What do I gain?

• What might I lose?

• Is this sacrifice worth the outcome?

The goal is not perfection. The goal is alignment.

Alignment between who you are becoming and the choices you are making.

Decision-Making as an Art and a Discipline

Decision-making is both science and art.

Science gives us research, psychology, and data.
Art gives us intuition, wisdom, and lived experience.

The Maverick blends both.

He does not drift.
He does not react impulsively.
He chooses deliberately.

Because in the end, it is not one grand decision that shapes your life — it is thousands of small ones made consistently over time.

Every choice is a brushstroke.

And slowly, patiently, faithfully — a life is painted.

You are not a passenger.
You are the artist.

You are Becoming Maverick.

Shalom!

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Bits & Pieces: Making Sense of Generational Culture Shifts

Generation X

Generation X in South Africa refers to those born between 1965 and 1980 who came of age during the final years of apartheid and the transition to democracy in the 1990s. Often seen as independent and skeptical, this generation witnessed massive political and social change, shaping a pragmatic, resilient, and sometimes rebellious outlook on authority and institutions.

By the time Gen X reached adulthood in the 1990s, the country was reinventing itself under leaders like Nelson Mandela and later Thabo Mbeki. This period created both optimism and uncertainty.

South African Gen X identity was shaped by:

• The political transition from apartheid to democracy

• Exposure to censorship followed by sudden media freedom

• Economic instability during the transition years

• The early impact of globalisation and international culture

• The rise of alternative and protest music, both local and global

Unlike the purely “slacker” stereotype sometimes seen in American media, South African Gen X was often more politically aware and socially alert. Many were skeptical of authority — but for deeply lived reasons. They had seen systems fail, transform, and rebrand.

Their independence wasn’t just cultural rebellion.

It was survival.

Bits & Pieces: Slippers, Generations, and the Puzzle of Progress

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Life in Fragments

Sometimes life feels like it comes in bits and pieces.

This blog is a bit like that too. Fragmented thoughts. Observations. Questions without immediate answers. But perhaps that’s how understanding begins — not with certainty, but with curiosity.

In the end, it was never really about the slippers.

It was about perspective.

Every generation rearranges the pieces of culture differently. The real maturity test is not whether we approve of the change — but whether we are willing to understand it. Because when we stop trying to understand, we don’t protect values… we protect ego.

And a true maverick knows the difference.

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A Coffee, A Courtroom, and a Cultural Moment

Let me take you back to 2018.

I was sipping a caffe latte at Mug & Bean behind the Pretoria High Court. If you know the area, you’ll understand — it has a different energy from the rest of the city centre. There’s a quiet intensity. Sharp suits. Confident strides. Conversations that sound expensive.

And that’s when I noticed her.

A young woman — likely a millennial — walked in. She wasn’t loud. She wasn’t disruptive.

But something caught my attention immediately.

Her shoes.

Or rather… what looked like bedroom slippers.

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When Shoes Meant Something

Now as a proud Gen X-er, I’m still trying to decode the younger generations. They move differently. Think differently. Challenge differently. And sometimes, I wonder if we’re even speaking the same cultural language.

But shoes? Shoes were never casual in my upbringing.

My father’s generation taught me that shoes mattered. In business, they could make or break a deal. Shoes had purpose. Runners wore running shoes. Construction workers wore boots. Soldiers wore combat boots. Businessmen and lawyers wore polished leather shoes — especially anywhere near a High Court.

Shoes signaled respect. Preparation. Intent.

And yet here she was — in what looked like slippers — in one of the most formal precincts in the capital city.

It didn’t compute.

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Not Rebellion — But Fashion

But as I looked around, I noticed something interesting.

She wasn’t alone.

It wasn’t rebellion.

It was fashion.

And that’s when the bigger question began forming in my mind:

What happens in the transition between generations that creates such dramatic shifts in culture?

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Every Generation Thinks It’s Right

Gen X thought we were radical. Baggy jeans. Punk rock. We were determined to burst our parents’ eardrums. But weren’t our parents the ones who introduced the mini skirt and the bikini? And I’m certain their parents thought the same about them.

Every generation believes it has improved society.

And every generation fears society is deteriorating.

So what is it really?

Is wearing slippers in a formal setting a sign that standards are collapsing?

Or is it a sign that confidence has shifted from external appearance to internal identity?

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Is This About Shoes — or Authority?

Perhaps the real shift isn’t about shoes at all.

Perhaps it’s about authority.

Previous generations respected systems, structures, and symbols. The younger generation often questions them. Where we saw institutions as untouchable, they see them as adaptable.

Where we saw formality as respect, they may see authenticity as strength.

And maybe that’s the piece we’re missing.

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Reconstruction, Not Ruin

Culture evolves. Symbols change. But the deeper human needs remain the same: dignity, belonging, expression, meaning.

Slippers in a courtroom district may feel like cultural fragmentation — bits and pieces of what once felt coherent.

But maybe it’s not brokenness.

Maybe it’s reconstruction.

Every generation rearranges the pieces differently.

The danger is not in cultural change.

The danger is in refusing to understand it.

Because when we stop trying to understand, we don’t preserve values — we lose connection.

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The Better Question

So perhaps the better question isn’t:

“Are we heading in the wrong direction?”

But rather:

“What value is this generation protecting that we might be overlooking?”

Maybe it’s comfort.
Maybe it’s authenticity.
Maybe it’s freedom from performance.
Or maybe it’s simply fashion.

Either way, the world will keep shifting. The pieces will keep moving.

And our task — as mavericks — is not to complain about the puzzle.

It’s to study it.
To listen.
To adapt without losing our core.

Because true maturity is knowing which pieces must remain — and which ones were never essential to begin with.

Shalom!

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