The Force behind Compu Cable Projects and Palm Valley Inn

Johan, tell us about yourself – who you are at home and at work – in a nutshell…  

“I enjoy the company of others and I believe that they enjoy mine. People are what makes life interesting. In my home everything has its place. At work, my filing system consists of a single file with no dividers – I know the document is there somewhere, and that’s just fine with me!

I am creative in that I have solved many problems over many projects in unique ways that have required out of the box thinking.

I believe in mutually beneficial relationships – if you treat your customers well, they will treat you well. I am passionate about property development, and I find it satisfying to breathe life into an idea. To see an idea, like a building, be raised from the ground, is one of the things that I will never grow tired of!

Boating is another of the things I have enjoyed for as long as I can remember. I find myself drawn to water. Open water has a freeing, calming, almost meditative effect on me. I am also a 4×4 off-road enthusiast.”

What was the idea behind the development of Palm Valley Inn?

“Palm Valley Inn evolved from a previous project. I was considering erecting a small shopping center on the property but with the 2010 World Cup on the horizon and a growing interest in tourism in and around the Hartbeespoort area, I decided that self-catering accommodation was an under-served niche. My idea was to run the business on a hotel model and see how far we could get. I had every confidence in its success, but I also realised that if our plans for an accommodation business did not take off, the units could be sold as individual residential apartments.”

Do you have other business interests?

“I have had several businesses ranging from flower shops to night clubs and quite a few others in between! I found real success with my network cabling company Compu Cable Projects. The company turns 38 this year and is one of my greatest achievements.”

Give us a bird’s eye view of your daily responsibilities?

“My responsibilities lie in managing multiple areas of operation within each of my businesses. I review the operations of each company on an ongoing basis to ensure both short-term and long-term targets are met. I approve proposals for things such as staff promotions and changes to our services or additions and changes our facilities. Financial planning tends to take up the bulk of my time.“

How did you start out?

“I have faced many challenges in my life, but I will never forget how hard it was to grow from my beginnings to where I am today. I came from a poor family and started out in life with nothing but the shoes on my feet and the clothes on my back. After leaving the army at 18 I took every opportunity that came my way.

I have tried and failed many times over the years. I kept my head high and made sure to learn from each failure and to build a little further in my next attempt.”

Any advice to aspiring young entrepreneurs that want to enter the hospitality industry?

“Never give up. And always know that the world’s opinion of you doesn’t define your character. Make sure that every move you make is a productive one. Even if the direction is uncertain, keep going forward and do not stagnate. Rise early and make sure to fit exercise into your day to increase your overall focus. Know before you start in this industry that it is going to be ten times harder than you think.”