The Launch for Alan Knott-Craig’s Second is Nothing at Exclusive Books Hyde Park was a lively event complete with Moet, sushi and a guestlist – which included two former Miss South Africas – fit for a book that is primarily a story of success.
Knott-Craig, former CEO of Vodacom, was commissioned, post-retirement, by Pan Macmillan’s Terry Morris to write a book about his life and work for the cellular company that changed the face of communication in Africa. He worked closely with co-author Eunice Afonso; together, they created a biography that traces his life from a challenging childhood in Oudtshoorn to his journey with a seedling project with 40 employees that is now the 13th most valuable company in SA, worth 80 billion rand.
Ravi Naidoo, founder of Design Indaba and MD of Interactive Africa spoke highly of Knott-Craig, saying, “His word is better rated than a treasury, he would do a deal on a handshake and give you security of tenure.”
Naidoo told guests that Knott-Craig was a “detail maverick” who used a “strategy of taking a helicopter view of a company, seeing anything that could go wrong.” He spoke about how Knott-Craig “cherry picked amazing entrepreneurs [many of whom he saw in the front row at the launch] who all became external engines of growth for Vodacom. Alan constantly acknowledges and celebrates success.”
“Everything that he does is about innovation. Vodacom is not about being the biggest but being the best. He taught me an invaluable lesson in business: Lead with passion and money will take care of itself.”
Knott-Craig then took the mic and began, “I Left Vodacom at a great time, before it was listed, I never had to worry about share price, I have never owned shares in the company.” Money has never been his main motivation; paradoxically now he is paid more not to work than when he was working, just so he wont go work for anybody else!
Alec Hogg, business and financial journalist and broadcaster, and founder of Moneyweb, spoke about how Knott-Craig’s rendition of a near death experience, as described in the book, gave him the courage to deal with the recent death of his 21 year old son. The book is “a riveting read,” he said.
Knott-Craig said, “I wanted to write an easy to read book, I wanted it to be short and not serious, I wanted people who were aspiring to get ahead to understand how I had in the end, at the age of 57. achieved my dream. It is not something that just happens, it takes tenacity, it take patience and hard work. It becomes your whole life if you’re lucky.”
Gallery of guests
Book details
Macmillan, Rollerbird Press and Exclusive Books are delighted to invite you to the launch of Alan Knott-Craig’s business memoir, Second is Nothing.
The book reveals Knott-Craig as an uncompromising business genius with no tolerance of failure. Inspired by his father’s words, “first is first and second is nothing”, the author leaves behind a magnificent legacy.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Event Details
About the book
‘Few business leaders have shown the commitment demonstrated by Alan Knott-Craig … his unselfish approach, eagerness and readiness to help have improved millions of lives.’
Nelson Mandela
In a spontaneous tribute, the entire audience listening to Vodacom’s annual financial results in June 2008 rose to its feet to acknowledge the man regarded as the father of cellular in Africa and the architect of a multi-billion rand industry – a standing ovation that left retiring CEO of Vodacom, Alan Knott-Craig, momentarily speechless.
A maverick civil servant from the government telephone operator, Telkom, Alan masterfully steered a fledgling cellular company to unparalleled financial success, shaping a revolutionary concept into one of the most powerful brands in southern Africa – Vodacom.
On Alan’s retirement in 2008, Vodacom, valued at R150 billion, had realised fourteen consecutive years of double-digit growth, an operating profit for that year of R12.5 billion, an income of R48 billion and 33 million customers in five African countries. It was an exceptional achievement for a man whose priority was not to build a financial empire, but to empower people through communication.
Second is Nothing tells the story of Alan Knott-Craig, moving from his unique childhood challenges to his incredible journey to bring cellular to Africa – continually motivated by his father’s words, ‘First
is first and second is nothing’. Bold and courageous – sometimes outrageous – Alan’s visionary leadership, foresight and persistence put Vodacom and South Africa on the map of world firsts, ultimately
making his dream of a connected Africa come true. But it was a dream for which he came close to paying the ultimate price.
Book details
During times of economic downturn and upheaval, people express heightened interest in the stock market and there is a greater need for sound advice. For aspiring private investors, the stock market can often be intimidating, so valuable information is of the utmost importance. But even professional investors require insights into the stock market that are unbiased and clinical.
The Effective Investor written by Franco Busetti is a valuable source of information in that it supplies concise and insightful answers to questions such as “What drives returns?”; What does risk really mean and how can one reduce it?”; “How much should one invest offshore?” and “What traps are avoidable?”. The book explains how the stock market works, the key that drive it and how to improve investment performance whilst meeting short term and long term objectives.
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