Notes on Building (Better) In Public, Together
A few lessons I've learnt so far, and what’s coming next
When I set out to write this newsletter, I had a few fundamental objectives. One of them was to explain governance processes and issues in a way that was accessible. Thus, I would rely on my professional experience to help us make sense of what is going on around us. Call it “civic education.”
However, the overarching goal was not about civic education for its own sake. Rather, it was to help ignite in us the realisation that whilst there is much to be concerned about, we are not without remedies. We are not hopeless, and it is we who have the power and capacity to do something, to change our perilous situation.
I was also clear, in my very first edition, that this was my way of contributing differently to the life of our country. The difference is a departure from narrow partisan politics to a broader, non-partisan and citizen-focused intent. Consequently, this newsletter has been as much about analysis and explainers as it has been about learning and experimenting.
Building in public means sharing not just the stories, but the process behind them – the wins, the missteps, and the surprising moments along the way. In this note, I want to reflect on a few lessons so far and share some of what’s coming next, as we continue shaping this space together.
Let’s indulge.
1. Start With Why
Finding the purpose, the reason for doing something, anything, is infinitely more important than the how, the when. A strong enough purpose will keep you going when things are not going the way you thought they would.
I have found that both in times when I have struggled for motivation to write and when I have had a desire to stray from the types of topics I’d resolved to explore, reminding myself of why I started this newsletter has helped me get back on the mission and guide me back on the right path.
Those who joined our community in more recent times may not know this, but when I started out, I gave myself a target of reaching 1000 subscribers within 6 months of going live. Today, we’re sitting on just shy of a quarter of that. To be completely honest, I cannot tell you what the main reason was for that target, other than, well, vanity. The idea of being able to say “I started my newsletter 6 months ago, and now I have 1000 subscribers” was rather attractive.
Over the months, that target faded away. It paled in significance as I became more engrossed with the substance of this work. Would it be nice to reach that number? Of course, it would, and I intend for us to get there (and further) before long, but it is not the reason I am doing this. Growing this platform’s influence is a by-product of the quality of the content and the impact it has on subscribers and readers. That is the most important thing. That is where purpose comes in. That is where the “why” becomes critical. Deliver value, and support and influence naturally increase. It’s an effort stat.
2. Consistency >>> Intensity
In the first three weeks to a month of writing on this platform, I think I released an edition every other day. These drafts were coming out like a stream of consciousness. Lol.
Whilst it was exciting, with serious dopamine highs as I saw the readership increase daily, and as the subscriber numbers did the same, it was exhausting. Exciting, but exhausting.
I remember asking early readers how frequently they wanted to receive content. The answers were a mixed bag, but we eventually found a flow that works best. 2-3 editions in a week is the sweet spot for this content, with a few days in between. That allows both the reader and me to be sufficiently satiated without becoming overwhelmed.
Mind you, I don’t suggest that doing something you love, which also takes a lot out of you, is wrong in any way. Quite the contrary, I’ve read a quote that goes something like “how lovely it is to be tired doing something you love.” That, dear reader, I can confirm is true. There is a different kind of joy in that. I have certainly experienced it and I wish it for you, too.
3. Equal Parts Personal and Not
This project has been as much about my own calling as it is about our country, our place in it, and our role and responsibility in helping to make it better. So, in that way, it is about more than myself. In that sense, this platform and I are merely vessels.
Just this last week, I’ve had the pleasure of talking to a few of our community members who I’ll tell you more about in coming editions. The sense I got, over and over, was that more and more of us are moved to “do something” and that it is not enough to simply notice the collapse and dysfunction and hope that it will be attended to by others. Who are these “others”?
At least one of the lovely people said, and I paraphrase, “Sabelo, I really just want to play my part in something bigger than me. Something that will outlive me. I want to use what I know to ensure that I leave this world a better place.”
And so, I get to thinking that one of the things that makes building in public bearable is an intention that must necessarily include a driving force that begins internally, but extends outside. It’s got to be about more than just yourself and your narrow interests. It must be about others, too. The community outside of yourself.
4. Let it Be A Labour of Love
I love writing this newsletter. Absolutely love it. I get joy from many things, writing is one, about anything. But writing this newsletter, my baby, my brainchild, gives me immeasurable joy. Realising that it also gives value to people such as you, too, makes me immeasurably happy. I definitely would not keep doing it if I did not love it.
I think of this when I think about how daunting it is to build in public. It is the single most exciting and scary thing I have ever done, but who will reach for my dreams, if not me? Thus, battered, bruised and humbled as I have been, we’ve kept rocking. We’ve kept learning and growing every day and every step of the way.
Along the way, I’ve made (digital) friends, I’ve built an engaged community of South Africans who care deeply about the same things I care about, and more. These are fighting to ensure that we get better leadership and better out of our leadership, that we participate in the life of our democracy, and that we help our fellow countrymen (and women) better understand not only what is going on around them, but also the power that we have to change our circumstances and, critically, how to do that.
That is, for me, the highest love we can demonstrate to ourselves and, by extension, our country – to play our part in helping make it better. I am honoured that you have come along with me on this journey and continue to allow me to contribute with you.
5. So What’s Next?
It’s deceptively simple; We. Are. Growing!
Since starting the newsletter in March, we’ve now built a solid community that is growing. After speaking about “doing something” for months, I went ahead and did that with the Survey on Fixing Municipalities. With the newsletter, we’re less than a handful of subs to breaching 250.
With the survey, we reached thousands of people across platforms. For example, on TikTok alone, we reached 44 thousand viewers. I also did a few interviews on SAFM and YFM promoting the survey and explaining governance processes. We also got 347 South Africans from across the country to participate, with 217 asking to be kept updated. I reached out to each one of those 217 and am meeting every single person who said they want to help. By the end of next week, I will finish the first round of onboarding.
These people are, and I do not hyperbolise, amazing. They have experience and hard skills in civic education, activism, research, finance, media, graphics, and stakeholder management. What is most exciting for me is their eagerness to contribute to this platform and the rest of the work I’ve set out to do.
Going forward, our content will reflect this richness of contributions and backgrounds. As capacity and resources expand to enable it, we will also segment the content and branch into other platforms.
We have begun, and we cannot stop now. We will not stop now. Indeed, we must take it to the next level. And for those of you who are still thinking about coming along and playing your part as well, the door remains open.
Care about building a Better country, Educating Citizens and Advocating for Better? Join us.
Since launching this newsletter several months ago and recently running the Public Survey on Fixing Municipalities, many of you have repeatedly said “We need more of this,” “Thank you for doing it,” or even, “How can I help?” So that’s what I’m doing.
Over the next few weeks and months, I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure the government hears what you’ve said and acts. I’ll also be looking for ways to keep you, and others like you, more closely looped in.
If that’s you, if you care deeply about fixing things and want to stay in the loop, lend your voice, or help in any way (big or small), I’d love to know. Click here to stay in touch specifically about that. Naturally, my focus has been on municipalities. However, government in general (and society broadly) also needs our attention. Engagement on this is welcome and invited, too.
It should take you less than a minute. No commitment. No pressure. Just a hand raised.
As I’ve said before, I have personally reached out to the hundreds of South Africans who had previously indicated in the Survey that they wanted to be kept in the loop. People across the country are responding positively – from Ekurhuleni, to Cape Town, to Msunduzi. If you had, check your mailbox. You would have received an email from me (through fightingforbetterza@gmail.com). I am now actively engaging those who said they want to lend a hand.
Bahlali, change will not happen until we make it happen. So let’s do it.
Alright, that’s it for today. Be back soon and, if no one else has told you, I love you.
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