Eric Bloch: The man speaks to generations

I AM not so sure whether it was a matter of serendipity or synchronicity, but whatever it was; I am one such privileged man to have met Eric Bloch in person and learnt a lot.

I AM not so sure whether it was a matter of serendipity or synchronicity, but whatever it was; I am one such privileged man to have met Eric Bloch in person and learnt a lot.

Surely, he shall be missed both in personal and professional business cycles. If ever there was a man who has had so much say and contributed significantly, about the economy, policies of our dear country, it should be Bloch.

He valued time The first time I met Bloch, four years back, he taught me something unique about time. He said “if you arrive too early for a meeting its either you have nothing else to do other than the meeting. If you arrive late, you are simply saying the meeting might not be that important to you”.

He valued time as a businessman, and if I had made an appointment to meet him, his personal assistant would call an hour before or so, to confirm whether I was still up to it.

He took his time Bloch was a thorough man in doing a project. I requested him to endorse my book and he read it cover to cover.

It’s a book of 135 pages. He was really a busy man. I still remember him saying he flew almost every week then from Bulawayo to Harare to do business, but he took time to look into my script.

He did not only endorse my book, but he advised me on how to correct some things that would make it a great seller. He pencilled his corrections on my script, whether it was a spelling mistake or grammar.

Opened opportunities As an aspiring young person with little or nothing much to show for it other than passion and a dream, it’s hard for some already successful people to accommodate you.

I still remember as if it happened yesterday, a prominent businessman, I will not mention here, could not endorse my book, worse still, he did not even give me time to talk to him, but Bloch did endorse my book and he offered to talk in my seminar without me paying him.

He was true to self and the country A prominent author, success coach and corporate speaker, Rabison Shumba said: “Eric Bloch is a national icon whose name is synonymous with contribution to a nation than a mere consumer.

He has served Zimbabwe with the gifts, talents and abilities that he was endowed with. His name shall resonate for generations because his legacy of selflessness will continue to speak for him. I will remember him for his candid talk.

He was not a man that would mince his words; called a spade what it really was. Many become uncomfortable in the face of person of that nature as we would rather live a lie than come face to face with reality.

I salute him for his efforts and for sharing wisdom with us. Of course, his role as quiz master rings a bell in my mind and I am sure the same goes for most people who heard him. May his legacy transcend several generations.

Informative and constructive Some years back I featured in a radio show with Bloch. I should be frank; I learnt more from him than I was able to contribute to the debate.

As the former Education minister David Coltart said in the Southern Eye on Monday, “He would speak up steady and in a balanced way and could compliment other people.

“He didn’t criticise other people, but policies. To that extent, he was non-partisan and was a person you would trust as he had no political interests. He was a man of integrity, humble and exemplary. He lived a modest and truthful life. He had one wife and drove a modest vehicle.”

He was influential Lawton Hikwa, dean of Information and Communication at the National University of Science and Technology, captured well the influence that Bloch had.

He said: “We are all so saddened about the passing on of this great man. He influenced a lot of people in their lives and he surely shall continue to live on through the good works he has left behind.

“My sincere condolences to his children, relatives, many friends and colleagues. May his departed soul rest in eternal peace”

Parting point: The Eric-Bloch-Factor in business lives on! He has passed on to another dimension of life, but his words, worth and works affect our physical reality. As Steve Maraboli once said: “I am always saddened by the death of a good person. It is from this sadness that a feeling of gratitude emerges.

“I feel honoured to have known them and blessed that their passing serves as a reminder to me that my time on this beautiful earth is limited and that I should seize the opportunity I have to forgive, share, explore, and love. I can think of no greater way to honour the deceased than to live this way.”

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Jonah Nyoni is an author, success coach and motivational speaker.