Having never celebrated a birthday in my life, I don't attach much significance to my age. It has always been just a number, a score keeper whose best value has been a reference point on how far I am in achieving my goals. But now that I am a few months away from 40, I find myself thinking a lot about age. I hope that it will come with wisdom and more clarity, and "life will truly begin at 40". However, every once in a while, an older person I hold in high regard will do or say something that makes me wonder: "What in the world was he thinking?" A few weeks ago, Koos Bekker, 64, chaired the AGM of Naspers, and, responding to the role of corporate governance in the company, especially in the wake of recent governance shareholders have expressed on executive remuneration, he said: "It [corporate governance] sounds wonderful. If you want to be the best soccer team in the world it is important to wash your hands after using the bathroom. But will you win? Not unless you train the hardes...
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