[rank_math_breadcrumb]

John Smit TLP

Rugby Legend

About

John Smit TLP was one of Rugby’s most successful players of all time. He was the captain of the South African Rugby team (with an astonishing 111 caps), leading the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007 and was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011. He is currently the CEO of Sharks Rugby showing he is just as good of the field as he was on it.

John Smit TLP

John Smit’s illustrious career in rugby is a saga of unparalleled success, marked by exceptional leadership, unwavering determination, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Hailing from South Africa, Smit emerged as a prodigious talent on the rugby fields of Durban before making his debut for the Springboks in 2000.

As captain of the national team, he led the Springboks to unprecedented heights, most notably guiding them to victory at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, a triumph that etched his name in the annals of sporting history. Smit’s leadership on and off the field epitomized resilience, strategic acumen, and a selfless commitment to team success, earning him the admiration and respect of fans, peers, and opponents worldwide.

Beyond his achievements as a player, John Smit TLP’s enduring legacy lies in his seamless transition to executive leadership, exemplified by his tenure as CEO of Sharks Rugby. Leveraging his experience and insights from the rugby arena, Smit proved equally adept at navigating the complexities of sports management, driving organizational growth, and fostering a culture of excellence. His strategic vision, coupled with a profound understanding of team dynamics, propelled Sharks Rugby to new heights, underscoring his versatility and impact beyond the confines of the rugby pitch.

As a rugby legend, John Smit TLP’s influence transcends the boundaries of the sport, serving as a source of inspiration and guidance for aspiring athletes, leaders, and fans alike. His remarkable journey from humble beginnings to global acclaim embodies the values of perseverance, integrity, and leadership, resonating with audiences far beyond the realm of rugby. Whether as a player, captain, or executive, Smit’s indelible imprint on the sport and his enduring legacy as a true ambassador of rugby excellence ensure his place among the pantheon of rugby legends for generations to come.

Contact Us at WeSpeak Global and follow us on Facebook

Interview Questions

Success is a highlight, something that you can draw as a picture on a whiteboard. Success is something you measure in time as you go along.

My life was measured by success every weekend on a Saturday after every match, John Smit knew whether I was successful or not because of the result of the team.

Now in this environment it’s very much unlike that although the measurement of success is similar because you try and look at how the company is performing, how the team is going, how the ticket sales are going but your performance is not something that you can actually gauge on a weekly basis purely from a result that is adjudicated by one man.

Success is how close and how fast it takes you to get to achieving the goal that you’ve set. In a week as a rugby player, it’s very easy, your goal is to win the game and if you accomplish that then the result is easy to assess.

In business, it’s far more difficult, you’ve got to set goals, you’ve got set a process to get there, you’ve got to try make sure that you do not waste time because it’s not something that is judged every single week, so you got to create times where you judge yourself.

John Smit is Driven by Success:  Whatever I do, I want to leave it in a better state than how I found it. If I’m a part of a team, I want to know that when I leave, the team is in a better position than when I got there.

What drives me now is that my time here, when it comes to an end, people can say, “Sherbet, there was a huge amount that happened in this business” and John Smit can leave a positive legacy. Every one of us is driven by the fact that we would like to leave a legacy.

Success is a highlight, something that you can draw as a picture on a whiteboard. Success is something you measure in time as you go along.

My life was measured by success every weekend on a Saturday after every match, John Smit knew whether I was successful or not because of the result of the team.

Now in this environment it’s very much unlike that although the measurement of success is similar because you try and look at how the company is performing, how the team is going, how the ticket sales are going but your performance is not something that you can actually gauge on a weekly basis purely from a result that is adjudicated by one man.

Success is how close and how fast it takes you to get to achieving the goal that you’ve set. In a week as a rugby player, it’s very easy, your goal is to win the game and if you accomplish that then the result is easy to assess.

In business, it’s far more difficult, you’ve got to set goals, you’ve got set a process to get there, you’ve got to try make sure that you do not waste time because it’s not something that is judged every single week, so you got to create times where you judge yourself.

John Smit is Driven by Success:  Whatever I do, I want to leave it in a better state than how I found it. If I’m a part of a team, I want to know that when I leave, the team is in a better position than when I got there.

What drives me now is that my time here, when it comes to an end, people can say, “Sherbet, there was a huge amount that happened in this business” and John Smit can leave a positive legacy. Every one of us is driven by the fact that we would like to leave a legacy.

Success is a highlight, something that you can draw as a picture on a whiteboard. Success is something you measure in time as you go along.

My life was measured by success every weekend on a Saturday after every match, John Smit knew whether I was successful or not because of the result of the team.

Now in this environment it’s very much unlike that although the measurement of success is similar because you try and look at how the company is performing, how the team is going, how the ticket sales are going but your performance is not something that you can actually gauge on a weekly basis purely from a result that is adjudicated by one man.

Success is how close and how fast it takes you to get to achieving the goal that you’ve set. In a week as a rugby player, it’s very easy, your goal is to win the game and if you accomplish that then the result is easy to assess.

In business, it’s far more difficult, you’ve got to set goals, you’ve got set a process to get there, you’ve got to try make sure that you do not waste time because it’s not something that is judged every single week, so you got to create times where you judge yourself.

John Smit is Driven by Success:  Whatever I do, I want to leave it in a better state than how I found it. If I’m a part of a team, I want to know that when I leave, the team is in a better position than when I got there.

What drives me now is that my time here, when it comes to an end, people can say, “Sherbet, there was a huge amount that happened in this business” and John Smit can leave a positive legacy. Every one of us is driven by the fact that we would like to leave a legacy.

Success is a highlight, something that you can draw as a picture on a whiteboard. Success is something you measure in time as you go along.

My life was measured by success every weekend on a Saturday after every match, John Smit knew whether I was successful or not because of the result of the team.

Now in this environment it’s very much unlike that although the measurement of success is similar because you try and look at how the company is performing, how the team is going, how the ticket sales are going but your performance is not something that you can actually gauge on a weekly basis purely from a result that is adjudicated by one man.

Success is how close and how fast it takes you to get to achieving the goal that you’ve set. In a week as a rugby player, it’s very easy, your goal is to win the game and if you accomplish that then the result is easy to assess.

In business, it’s far more difficult, you’ve got to set goals, you’ve got set a process to get there, you’ve got to try make sure that you do not waste time because it’s not something that is judged every single week, so you got to create times where you judge yourself.

John Smit is Driven by Success:  Whatever I do, I want to leave it in a better state than how I found it. If I’m a part of a team, I want to know that when I leave, the team is in a better position than when I got there.

What drives me now is that my time here, when it comes to an end, people can say, “Sherbet, there was a huge amount that happened in this business” and John Smit can leave a positive legacy. Every one of us is driven by the fact that we would like to leave a legacy.

Success is a highlight, something that you can draw as a picture on a whiteboard. Success is something you measure in time as you go along.

My life was measured by success every weekend on a Saturday after every match, John Smit knew whether I was successful or not because of the result of the team.

Now in this environment it’s very much unlike that although the measurement of success is similar because you try and look at how the company is performing, how the team is going, how the ticket sales are going but your performance is not something that you can actually gauge on a weekly basis purely from a result that is adjudicated by one man.

Success is how close and how fast it takes you to get to achieving the goal that you’ve set. In a week as a rugby player, it’s very easy, your goal is to win the game and if you accomplish that then the result is easy to assess.

In business, it’s far more difficult, you’ve got to set goals, you’ve got set a process to get there, you’ve got to try make sure that you do not waste time because it’s not something that is judged every single week, so you got to create times where you judge yourself.

John Smit is Driven by Success:  Whatever I do, I want to leave it in a better state than how I found it. If I’m a part of a team, I want to know that when I leave, the team is in a better position than when I got there.

What drives me now is that my time here, when it comes to an end, people can say, “Sherbet, there was a huge amount that happened in this business” and John Smit can leave a positive legacy. Every one of us is driven by the fact that we would like to leave a legacy.

Success is a highlight, something that you can draw as a picture on a whiteboard. Success is something you measure in time as you go along.

My life was measured by success every weekend on a Saturday after every match, John Smit knew whether I was successful or not because of the result of the team.

Now in this environment it’s very much unlike that although the measurement of success is similar because you try and look at how the company is performing, how the team is going, how the ticket sales are going but your performance is not something that you can actually gauge on a weekly basis purely from a result that is adjudicated by one man.

Success is how close and how fast it takes you to get to achieving the goal that you’ve set. In a week as a rugby player, it’s very easy, your goal is to win the game and if you accomplish that then the result is easy to assess.

In business, it’s far more difficult, you’ve got to set goals, you’ve got set a process to get there, you’ve got to try make sure that you do not waste time because it’s not something that is judged every single week, so you got to create times where you judge yourself.

John Smit is Driven by Success:  Whatever I do, I want to leave it in a better state than how I found it. If I’m a part of a team, I want to know that when I leave, the team is in a better position than when I got there.

What drives me now is that my time here, when it comes to an end, people can say, “Sherbet, there was a huge amount that happened in this business” and John Smit can leave a positive legacy. Every one of us is driven by the fact that we would like to leave a legacy.

Success is a highlight, something that you can draw as a picture on a whiteboard. Success is something you measure in time as you go along.

My life was measured by success every weekend on a Saturday after every match, John Smit knew whether I was successful or not because of the result of the team.

Now in this environment it’s very much unlike that although the measurement of success is similar because you try and look at how the company is performing, how the team is going, how the ticket sales are going but your performance is not something that you can actually gauge on a weekly basis purely from a result that is adjudicated by one man.

Success is how close and how fast it takes you to get to achieving the goal that you’ve set. In a week as a rugby player, it’s very easy, your goal is to win the game and if you accomplish that then the result is easy to assess.

In business, it’s far more difficult, you’ve got to set goals, you’ve got set a process to get there, you’ve got to try make sure that you do not waste time because it’s not something that is judged every single week, so you got to create times where you judge yourself.

John Smit is Driven by Success:  Whatever I do, I want to leave it in a better state than how I found it. If I’m a part of a team, I want to know that when I leave, the team is in a better position than when I got there.

What drives me now is that my time here, when it comes to an end, people can say, “Sherbet, there was a huge amount that happened in this business” and John Smit can leave a positive legacy. Every one of us is driven by the fact that we would like to leave a legacy.

Success is a highlight, something that you can draw as a picture on a whiteboard. Success is something you measure in time as you go along.

My life was measured by success every weekend on a Saturday after every match, John Smit knew whether I was successful or not because of the result of the team.

Now in this environment it’s very much unlike that although the measurement of success is similar because you try and look at how the company is performing, how the team is going, how the ticket sales are going but your performance is not something that you can actually gauge on a weekly basis purely from a result that is adjudicated by one man.

Success is how close and how fast it takes you to get to achieving the goal that you’ve set. In a week as a rugby player, it’s very easy, your goal is to win the game and if you accomplish that then the result is easy to assess.

In business, it’s far more difficult, you’ve got to set goals, you’ve got set a process to get there, you’ve got to try make sure that you do not waste time because it’s not something that is judged every single week, so you got to create times where you judge yourself.

John Smit is Driven by Success:  Whatever I do, I want to leave it in a better state than how I found it. If I’m a part of a team, I want to know that when I leave, the team is in a better position than when I got there.

What drives me now is that my time here, when it comes to an end, people can say, “Sherbet, there was a huge amount that happened in this business” and John Smit can leave a positive legacy. Every one of us is driven by the fact that we would like to leave a legacy.

Interview Date

  • 2020-02-20

Country

  • South Africa

Gallery

[everest_form id="26923"]

View further interviews.

The Legacy Project

Andy Fenner is the co founder of Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants which is responsible for starting a conversation that can now be heard at butchers, restaurants and dinner tables across the country. The meat merchants are getting in touch with the origins of our food, asking questions about the farmers and the animals, and eating […]

The Legacy Project

Mr. Sam Pitroda is an internationally respected telecom inventor, entrepreneur, development thinker, and policy maker who has spent 49 years in information and communications technology (ICT) and related global and national developments. Credited with having laid the foundation for India’s telecommunications and technology revolution of the 1980s, Mr. Pitroda has been a leading campaigner to […]

The Legacy Project

Dee Poon is the creative force behind the bespoke men’s shirt brand PYE, creating the men’s equivalent to the little black dress: the perfectly tailored crisp white dress shirt. A frequent presence on best-dressed lists in Asia and around the world, Poon is Hong Kong fashion royalty, the daughter of Dickson Poon, the owner of […]

The Legacy Project

Eileen McDargh Legacy Project is founder and CEO of the consulting firm, The Resilient Spirit. She teaches organizations like Cisco, Novartis, Oracle, and Procter & Gamble ways of building resilient leadership teams and workplaces. Eileen McDargh Legacy Project Novartis’s Dr. Rob Kowlaski, Senior VP and Global Head of Drug Regulatory Affairs and U.S. Head of […]

  • United States
  • Keynote Speaker
The Legacy Project

Jhonathan Florez is a Colombian air athlete who has specialises in the disciplines of Skydiving, Base Jumping and wingsuit flying. In 2012 Jhonathan impressed the world when he broke 4 Guinness World Records, by making the longest jump in human history in both time and distance. Jhonathan passed away in Swtizerland in 2015 after he […]

The Legacy Project

Fred Roed is the Founder and CEO of Heavy Chef Pty Ltd, which is a community platform for entrepreneurs. The name ‘Heavy Chef’ comes from the saying never trust a skinny chef and aims to celebrate the ‘people that eat their own food’. Heavy Chef is a learning platform for entrepreneurs, offering regular learning experiences […]

The Legacy Project

Mavericks is a surfing location in Northern California where storm-waves can top out at over 60 feet with many actually being recorded on the Richter Scale!! It is also the home of the Mavericks Big Wave International Surf Contest for a select few of the world’s best big wave surfers. Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker has won […]

The Legacy Project

Alison Killing | The Legacy Project became an architect because she likes making things. She read architecture at King’s College, Cambridge and Oxford Brookes and on graduating was shortlisted for the RIBA Silver Medal. She then went to work for a number of international design offices, including Buro Happold and Kees Christiaanse, on architecture, public […]

  • United Kingdom
  • Keynote Speaker
Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various interviews conducted by The Legacy Project.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.

Our Mission

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME