The Story Behind the Story…

“We’ve spent three years building on the narrative that professionals are the cornerstone of society. They are the thinkers, shapers, innovators and doers who make our society possible,” says Craig Comrie, Profmed Principal Officer and Chief Executive. We’ve shared their personal journeys, spoken to gamechangers in their field, and last year, the Mind & Field docuseries that also aired on SuperSport was a testament to the mental aspects of success and that anything great is achieved through team-work, collaboration and the transfer of skills and knowledge. We focused on the professionals behind the professionals.

We watched some truly remarkable stories, but what shone through, and what has really influenced what we are doing this year, is that each of these incredible athletes who had overcome so much were just ordinary South Africans. What other stories could we find and share? That was the question.

The Profmed team started calling on Profmed members to share their proudly South African stories. Three individuals were selected, and Profmed partnered with The Good Things Guy himself, Brent Lindeque, to help tell their story.

“There is a narrative construct called the Hero’s Journey,” says Comrie. “It is typically structured in three main phases: the Departure, where the hero leaves their familiar world after receiving a call to adventure; the Initiation, where they face trials and tribulations, often gaining allies and encountering enemies; and the Return, in which the hero comes back to their ordinary world, fundamentally changed by their experiences.”

At the heart of the We Are South African series is the idea that we are all heroes. We are surrounded by heroes. Sharing insights from some of the most inspiring innovators, idea shapers, professionals and athletes that South Africa has to offer has been a remarkable journey. But South Africa isn’t built and moved forward by the few.

Every single day, South Africans from all walks of life are striving to make South Africa a better place.

Their story is our story. It is the story of South Africa, and more importantly, South Africans. It is also the story of Profmed, and everything we do to support our members, who in turn support their fellow South Africans.