AN OVERVIEW of Sam Tsima’s Book: Holistic CAREER Development COACHING and MENTORSHIP Perspective!

By Sam Tsima

Hello readers! I am thrilled to share insights into my book, Holistic Career Development Coaching and Mentorship Perspective, a unique workbook designed as a guide and companion for individuals embarking on their personal and professional development journey. I created this book with my proteges in mind, aiming to support them as they grow and transform. Through this journey, I believe in the power of sharing our life stories—each story has the potential to impact and inspire others profoundly. For me, the act of sharing is a call to be vulnerable, to open up, and to embrace the notion that our experiences can be powerful agents of change.

In this book, I emphasise the three pillars of coaching and mentorship: perspective, purpose, and process. This first publication is only the beginning, setting the foundation for future works that will expand on these core ideas. Let me take you through the essence of this journey in my life and the value I aim to bring to the world through this book.

Meet Executive Coach, Sam Tsima

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Authorship and Legacy

Writing this book also marks my official entry into the world of authorship and executive education. It’s a personal milestone, not just as a writer, but as a preserver of my legacy. In my culture, we say, “Rutang bana ditaola le se ke la ya le tsona badimong,” a phrase that speaks to the importance of passing down knowledge and wisdom to those who come after us. This saying underscores the heart of this book: my commitment to not only sharing knowledge but also to fulfilling my life’s purpose. Through these pages, I offer a piece of myself to future generations, ensuring that my experiences and insights are there to support others in their own growth.

African Perspective in Coaching and Mentorship

One of the unique aspects of this book is its grounding in African perspectives. Many resources in the coaching and mentorship fields tend to lean heavily on Western viewpoints. However, I believe there is profound value in African philosophies, traditions, and ways of understanding the self. By starting with a strong sense of origin, identity, culture, and self-knowledge, I guide readers to connect with their roots as they look forward. This African context, which includes connecting with one’s history, beliefs, and values, isn’t just an optional perspective but the foundation for true, holistic development. My hope is that by weaving these elements into the narrative, readers will find a sense of belonging and purpose as they craft their futures.

Distinguishing Coaching from Mentorship

Another crucial part of this book is the clear distinction I draw between coaching and mentorship. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they each have distinct purposes and benefits. Chapters 2 and 3 explore this difference in depth, explaining how coaching and mentorship serve different needs without suggesting that one is superior to the other. By helping readers understand this distinction, I aim to empower them to seek the right kind of support for their unique needs. This understanding is fundamental to personal development, allowing individuals to be intentional about the kind of guidance they seek.

A Holistic Approach to Development

The word holistic in the title of this book is not just a buzzword; it’s a philosophy that underpins everything I’ve written. From the moment we are born, our development is a continuous journey that encompasses all aspects of our being—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. This holistic approach is a reminder that career growth cannot be separated from our overall personal growth. The book is filled with reflection questions at the end of each chapter, inviting readers to take a deeper look at themselves and assess their progress on multiple levels. My personal and professional experiences serve as a source of reflection, encouraging readers to use their own lives as mirrors for self-understanding.

Reflections and Looking Back

This book is not just about forward movement; it’s also about the importance of reflection. I am inspired by the idea that “the penguin flies backward because he doesn’t care to see where he’s going but wants to see where he’s been,” as quoted from The Pocket Book of Quotations by Fred Allen. This perspective underpins the backward view I encourage in my readers: sometimes, looking back provides clarity for the present and the future. This book, therefore, is an invitation to use past experiences as a source of insight and growth.

Dedication and Foreword

Finally, the book begins with a dedication to my beloved late mother, Mme Johannah Lebea “Modipadi” Tsima, who passed away on the 15th of September 2020. She meant everything to me, and her influence remains a driving force in my life. Additionally, the Foreword, written by Ms Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, Chief Operations Officer of the City Lodge Hotel Group, adds a layer of insight and depth. Ms Sangweni-Siddo’s experience with my manuscript and our executive coaching relationship allows her to offer a unique perspective that enriches the reader’s journey into the book.

Chapter-by-chapter analysis of Holistic Career Development Coaching and Mentorship Perspective.

Here’s my chapter-by-chapter analysis of Holistic Career Development Coaching and Mentorship Perspective. Each chapter reflects parts of my journey, sharing personal experiences and lessons that I hope will serve as guidance for readers navigating their own paths.

Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview

In the first chapter, I open up about my life’s transitions, both personal and professional. This book is a reflection of the steps I took, often without guidance, moving from one stage to another. I made critical decisions without the luxury of having dedicated coaches or mentors. My goal with this book is to provide the kind of support I never had, to help others grow and develop as coaches, mentors, coachees, and mentees. I welcome feedback from readers, as my journey is about continuous learning and sharing.

Chapter 2: Coaching in Context

This chapter allowed me to explore coaching from a personal angle. I draw on my own experiences to explain how coaching is different from mentorship. Coaching, as I see it, is a structured relationship focused on helping clients achieve specific goals. Through this chapter, I wanted to make it clear why coaching is a necessary tool for personal and professional growth, grounding readers in the context that I lacked at the beginning of my journey.

Chapter 3: Professional Mentorship

Here, I shift gears to discuss mentorship, something that has also played a significant role in my life. Mentorship, unlike coaching, is about sharing experiences, wisdom, and guidance. I reflect on the impact mentorship could have had on my early decisions and transitions, and I discuss how mentorship offers a different kind of support, one that helps individuals grow by drawing from the mentor’s lived experiences.

Chapter 4: The Beginning

In this chapter, I go back to my roots, my life in the small rural village of Moripane, near Jane Furse in Limpopo’s Sekhukhune District. This village is where my journey truly began, shaping me in ways I couldn’t understand at the time. It was the stage of my childhood, where my values, resilience, and identity were forged, and those lessons have stayed with me throughout my life.

Chapter 5: Child of the Village

I reflect on the African philosophy that children are raised by a community. Growing up, I was a “child of the village,” with mothers, fathers, and elders all playing a role in my upbringing. This collective responsibility taught me the importance of community, connection, and shared responsibility—values that continue to guide me, both personally and professionally.

Chapter 6: Foundational Education

There’s a Sepedi saying, “Tioga tloga e tloga kgale, modishi wa kgomo o tswa le yona leshakeng,” which means that to succeed, one must start well or work hard from the beginning. This chapter is about how the foundation of my education was laid. I look back on the importance of starting strong and working hard, lessons that formed the backbone of my life philosophy.

Chapter 7: You Are Your Culture

In this chapter, I explore the role culture plays in shaping who we are. I come from a unique cultural background that has influenced my growth, and I’ve realised that while we might adapt to new circumstances, our core selves remain rooted in our cultural heritage. This understanding has helped me embrace my identity and make sense of my place in the world.

Chapter 8: Inspired by Village Football

Village football wasn’t just a hobby for me; it was a pivotal part of my development. Playing football helped me develop motor skills, cognitive abilities, and physical strength. More than that, it protected me from destructive behaviours like drinking and smoking. Through football, I learned about discipline, teamwork, and resilience—qualities that would later prove essential in my career and personal growth.

Chapter 9: Self-Discovery

Self-discovery, I believe, is something everyone should pursue, yet not everyone consciously undertakes it. For me, self-knowledge is the foundation of any successful coaching or mentorship relationship. This chapter is about understanding yourself—your values, strengths, and weaknesses—as the first step towards growth. In my experience, only by knowing ourselves can we truly begin to develop.

Chapter 10: Crunch Time

“Crunch time” refers to those moments when decisive action is required. In this chapter, I discuss the pressure points in my life when I was forced to make critical decisions. These periods are often intense, and they test our will and resilience. I reflect on what these moments taught me about perseverance and adaptability.

Chapter 11: Life on Campus in 1984

I reflect on my time at university, where I initially pursued a Bachelor of Pharmacy. It was an ill-advised choice, a result of not having a transition coach or mentor to guide me. This chapter is about the lessons I learned from stepping into the world of higher education without clear direction, and how it ultimately helped me realise the importance of intentional decision-making.

Chapter 12: Vocational Training

My transition from university to vocational training was one of the most dramatic shifts in my life. During the December holidays, I started working at Barclays Bank in downtown Johannesburg, marking a definitive end to my university days. This chapter highlights how that unexpected turn shaped my future path.

Chapter 13: Further Training Abroad (Germany)

Through a scholarship from Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft, I had the chance to study in Germany. For me, this was the most enjoyable and stabilising experience in my career development. This chapter recounts my time abroad, a period that made me feel like my journey was back on track and that my professional future was taking shape.

Chapter 14: Homecoming Dilemma

Returning home was a challenging transition. While I was happy to be back, I also felt a sense of selfishness as I hadn’t fully considered the impact on my family and friends. In this chapter, I grapple with the complexity of coming home and the mixed emotions that come with it.

Chapter 15: Corporate Training (Germany)

“International Experience is an Investment in the Future.” This slogan from Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft resonated with me during my corporate training in Germany. Here, I share how my international experience became an invaluable part of my growth, teaching me lessons that would benefit me for years to come.

Chapter 16: Mission Accomplished

Returning to South Africa for the second time felt like a milestone. I was now fully engaged with pursuing my life purpose. This chapter is about the satisfaction that comes from feeling aligned with one’s goals and the sense of fulfilment that comes from meaningful work.

Chapter 17: The Ground Shifted

The eighties and nineties in South Africa were periods of significant political and economic change. In this chapter, I reflect on how these shifts affected my life and career, and the slow realisation that freedom was indeed within reach. Living through these times influenced how I view resilience and adaptability in the face of change.

Chapter 18: Drive and Willpower

I define drive and willpower as the combination of intention, commitment, strength, and hard work that helps us stay focused on our goals. In this chapter, I discuss how these qualities have been essential to my personal and professional development, allowing me to overcome obstacles and remain motivated.

Chapter 19: The Broken Glass

Life is full of setbacks, and this chapter is about those moments when you think you’ve overcome everything, only to face another challenge. I reflect on how unexpected obstacles taught me resilience and the importance of staying grounded.

Chapter 20: The Lekgotla Way

In Sepedi, “lekgotla” refers to a traditional council meeting. This chapter discusses how I developed a facilitation model inspired by this concept to conduct team and group coaching sessions, facilitate strategy development, and lead management meetings. The Lekgotla way, for me, is a philosophy that promotes collaborative problem-solving and shared wisdom.

Chapter 21: I’m Born to Serve

This book is my way of giving back, a celebration of the life I’ve led. I call it “Hapinjalo” because it’s about celebrating a journey full of ups and downs, undertaken without the support structures I write about. In this final chapter, I reaffirm my commitment to serving others, hoping that my story will inspire, uplift, and guide future generations.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, Holistic Career Development Coaching and Mentorship Perspective is my way of sharing the ups and downs of my journey, hoping it will resonate with anyone looking to grow in life and career. Through each chapter, I’ve opened up about my roots, the lessons I’ve learned, and the challenges I faced without a roadmap. This book is for anyone—whether you’re a coach, mentor, or simply someone wanting more out of life—who believes in the power of self-discovery, resilience, and staying true to where you come from.

If you’re ready to dive into these reflections and take this journey with me, you can find the book on Amazon here. I hope it becomes a meaningful guide for you, just as writing it was for me.