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PAT SYMCOX

atrick (Pat) Symcox is a former South African got back into world cricket with an international after the culture of his extensive business and to
cricketer and now the owner, broker, and tour on the horizon. ensure that his team members are focused.
principal of RE/MAX Coast and Country, a real
Pestate company based on the KwaZulu-Natal Pat’s success in a provincial match resulted in his “The cricket scene allowed me to understand the
south coast. Of his varied career he says, “I have selection for the South African team. However, the dynamics of a team. I understand very quickly
loved every minute.” hospital group’s managing director was adamant where you fit in because I’ve seen that over
that Pat needed to choose to either play cricket or many years. If you can’t fit into this team, you’ve
The son of middle-class hard-working parents, Pat work. He chose to take unpaid leave and joined unfortunately got to go. And I’m big on that.
grew up in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. He the South African team for the five-week Sri Lankan Nobody’s better than my team, including me, I live
completed matric at Kimberley Boys High School. tour in 1993. His success saw him resign from the and die by that. I make that very clear.”
hospital group to continue his cricketing career.
Following the mandatory army years, Pat joined In addition, hospital management taught Pat about
the mining company De Beers as a diamond Pat explained that he was fortunate that his body managing large numbers of employees in a stressful
sorter and classifier. After three years, he joined held out and he played cricket – 100 games – for environment that never closes and engrained in him
the municipality rates department as an assistant another eight years. “At 40, I’d finished playing that good communication is paramount.
accountant. international cricket, but I needed to get back into
the work space,” he explained. Pat stressed the importance of spending time
As there was no international cricket at that stage, alone to think each day, which he says is imperative
Pat played for Griqualand West. Newly married A stint as the South African cricket director, was for anyone in business. Many of his decisions, he said,
and aged 23, a further opportunity to play cricket followed as a commentator for Super Sport and have been the correct ones because he has taken
arose when he was asked to work in an admin- internationally for ESPN Star Sports. After about 12 time to think. He finds the space for this reflection
istration capacity as an assistant accountant for an years, Pat decided that his family needed to take by waking up an hour earlier than everybody else.
engineering business in Isando. “Of course, I said preference.
I’d love to,” said Pat. “That hour a day is sacrosanct and works out to
NETWORKING CAPABILITIES about 40 days a year that you spend alone thinking.
Subsequently, an advert in the newspaper for You don’t have quality time during the day where
hospital managers for a new private hospital group Although his next foray into business was as a you can make decisions or look at things from
starting in South Africa piqued Pat’s interest. He property developer, Pat realised that the real another perspective,” he explained.
successfully applied for the post, completed an estate side of property offered more in terms of his
MBA at Stellenbosch University and returned to networking capabilities, so he joined RE/MAX. “I’ve In addition, he says that he is a big believer in the
Kimberly to open the hospital. After a few years been very blessed and 15 years later we’re by far the importance of having a mentor and that he has been
he found himself overseeing four hospitals within leading real estate company on the south coast and lucky to have had one in Durban for many years.
the group. I’m very proud of our success.” “Growing in a career is finding yourself someone
with whom you can balance your ‘stuff’ because
INTERNATIONAL TOUR He is also proud of his role in developing a contract being a businessman and an entrepreneur is quite
system for South African cricketers, which was a a lonely space.”
Aged 28, Pat, transferred himself to the Pieter- defining time for South African cricket. Alongside
maritzburg hospital as the manager was struggling David Richardson, he presented the concept to Speaking of what inspires him, Pat says that he has
to get the hospital going. There he soon joined a the South African Cricket Board, which led to the reached a stage in his life where his role is to find
local cricket club. Shortly thereafter he received introduction of player contracts and a Provident ways to help others be successful. “I love seeing
a call from Mike Proctor, who asked whether he fund, securing future players’ careers. Pat served as things change for the better. I’ve been lucky over
would be interested in playing cricket in Durban. the players’ representative for seven years, and was the years to mentor a lot of people, to help people
the ‘go-to guy’ ensuring their interests were well- to grow their businesses, to change their businesses
Sadly, the travelling time and Pat’s demanding work represented. or to just give some advice.”
schedule resulted in him having to stop playing.
However, a dramatic change occurred as Mike TEAM DYNAMICS In conclusion, Patrick Symcox’s journey high-
Proctor was replaced by Graham Ford as the coach lights his adaptability and determination. Today,
of the then Natal team. His request to Pat to Pat commented that the businesses in which he he remains dedicated to mentoring others and
reconsider playing cricket, was with some pro- has been involved have benefited from the fact fostering a culture of achievement, staying true to
visions, readily accepted. In that season, South Africa that he played cricket. His current role is to look his motto: “Leave nothing to chance.”
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