Christél Rosslee-Venter is the perfect example that one is never too old to add a new twist to your story and living proof that every negative has a positive.
During our catch-up with Christél, one thing stood out like a pole above water – this woman simply won’t give up. She’ll bounce back stronger whenever life throws a curve ball at her.
And this one-liner from our interview, ‘I cannot change the past and I cannot predict the future, but I can give it my all today,’ summed it up perfectly.
This hometown girl was born next to the Meyer Farm in Grey Street, Alberante. As she says, ‘Many moons before the R59 highway was built. I remember when the cows on the Meyer Farm came past our house late in the afternoon; with lazy Sundays next to the pool at the old Reading Country Club Clubhouse.
‘A vivid memory from my childhood was my dad, who would come home late in the afternoon, only to return to either his office, meetings with clients or to serve in local community organisations like the Alberton Business Chamber.’
Her schooling started at General Alberts Primary School. Her family then moved to Vanderbijlpark where she matriculated. She describes herself as fairly average only rising to the occasion in high school where she was head of pretty much everything she got involved in. This included the Junior Town Council, editor of the school newspaper and head girl in matric.
After matriculating, she enrolled for BCom Accounting at RAU (now the University of Johannesburg).
‘The CA route, however, made a dramatic turn to marketing after Prof Zack Nel, advised that adding up numbers all day might frustrate me down the line.’
Falling pregnant in 1999, she held a position filled with functions from before dawn to midnight on many weekdays. ‘I loved the work but I couldn’t see myself raising a child working those hours. So, I did what my mom did and became a stay-at-home mom. For a while.’
From burnout to running flat-out
Fast forward a couple of years she found herself being a single mom to three amazing children. Her eldest two just started working and her youngest is in his third year at Tuks.
‘Things had been hectic when they were at school. You try to fit in being a full-time mom while running an advertising agency. I was also in charge of the Alberton Business Forum, helping out at church and Tutela. It was all a bit hectic, to say the least.
‘Most mornings I got up at 2am to ensure that I fit everything into my schedule. It did, however, lead to burnout somewhere during 2017. I sold my advertising agency and joined the family business at Rosslee.’
When asked about me-time she replied: ‘What is the definition of that? Having time to sit next to the hockey field or attend yet another Eisteddfod competition or write another speech for my kids? I can host workshops on how to chill on the be-everything-to-everyone-else-except-yourself front.
‘Thanks to the Covid timeout, I had time to reflect and realised it is time to get out of my comfort zone and back into helping entrepreneurs reach their full potential. That was the birth of addVentures Business Club.’
Flipping the switch
One can say that Christél’s saving grace was discovering trail running. Her latest victory is completing the 42km Otter Race in October 2024.
‘Definitely one of the highlights thus far. I finished in nine hours and seven minutes with two hours to spare. Being out on the trails is the very best me-time I could ask for!
‘My story to running the Otter has a very long lead-up. I love sharing it in my keynote addresses and when I do business coaching. I believe we have to be constantly reminded that one small change in our lives can have an exponential effect on our future.
‘I have always been running. I have never been a sprinter, but I could always get myself into the athletic team as the last girl for the middle distances. I have always gone to gym. However, as time progressed with my children and my business taking up more of my time, I got lazy.’
In 2017 she started a group called Aktief at NG Alberton-Suid and soon realised if she wanted to inspire others to join, she needed to be fitter.
‘This was a slowish process. We joined the Alberton LewenSentrum Athletic Club. But running on tar does not excite me. I love the outdoors and with us being spoilt with the most amazing trails around Alberton, I started spending more time in the koppies.’
Christél also found a trail running coach, Anja Louw from Mindful Runners. ‘She understands that I have a life while trying to give me the best possible guidance. Without her, none of my trail adventures would have been possible.’
Being committed to Aktief, she and a group of friends booked to hike the Otter Trail in September 2023. ‘While on our hike, the organisers from the Otter Race came past us on their recce run and we started chatting. I invited Mark Collins, founder of the Otter Race to be a guest on my podcast Expedition Business a month later. I was so inspired by his message, that I decided I just had to run the Otter in 2024.’
Mastering moving forward
When asked if she thinks anybody can make these positive changes to life she said, ‘No progress is ever on a linear upward curve. Or at least not with me. I am the master of ups and downs.
I can have major successes, but then in the same token have those days when it feels like I am on a drive on a very rocky road.’
And she remembers one of those nights clearly. Sitting on her kitchen floor with a glass of wine, feeling sorry for herself. She was simply not progressing.
But in the back of her mind, she knew that entries for this life-changing race in 2024 opened the next morning and that she had to grab the opportunity.
‘Then reality sets in. Entering the Otter does not equate to running it. It took months of solid training, with a good diet to lose a bit more than 10kg.
‘Yes, I had fun training for the Otter. Not that having fun is equal to it being easy. Getting up before 5am on Saturdays for my hill repeats at Klippies is not always the epitome of what people would see as fun.
‘I believe with my whole heart that we can achieve anything that we believe we can achieve if we have the right strategy and understand that nothing worthwhile comes without sacrifices. I had to get out of bed before sunrise when I felt like lying in, trained a total of 291 hours with 25 430m elevation gain between January and September.’
‘Marriane Williamson once said: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us”.’
Another positive to this is that her preparation inspired her eldest son to get into trail running.
‘We have had a couple of amazing runs together, including the NumNum Challenge which was one of the highlights of my Otter prep.’
Never too old
When asked if making a change in your life has an age restriction she just laughed.
‘What a question! The entire journey to the race and afterwards has given me a brand-new energy to take on more adventures coming my way. It is never too late to give your story a brand-new twist. If I can do it at the age of 54, anyone else can.
‘I have converted my youngest son’s room into my podcast recording studio, when he left for varsity, and joined the Professional Speakers Association of South Africa when my last son moved out of the house.
For Christél the change has left nothing but positive things in her life.
‘I can write a book on this subject. I am currently busy writing The Roadmap to Rediscover Your Business Adventures which is largely influenced by my trail running experiences. My focus is to inspire entrepreneurs who know the feeling of ‘oh my, I have screwed up’, to rediscover the adventure in their business.’
She’s always loved writing and this shines through from her days as being editor of the school paper, part of managing her church’s monthly magazine, copywriting for clients and her blogs and podcast series.
‘I am the co-author of Messages of Hope for South Africa which has just been published.’
Looking to the future
Where do you see yourself and your business say in five to 10 years from now?
‘We are busy building on the benefits that we provide our members at addVentures Business Club. I aim to provide solid support and inspiration at a fraction of the price of traditional business coaching. Our brand-building workshops are built on over 30 years of experience in the marketing communication industry, helping entrepreneurs craft the best possible story.
‘You are never too old to give your life story a new lease on life! I do believe that you are placed on this earth to fulfil a destiny, and you are kept on earth because you still need to make a difference in someone else’s life.’
Any advice for those thinking ‘I can do this’, and then a week later still think ‘I should change my life around.’?
‘The number one question to ask yourself is how disappointed you will be in yourself five to 10 years from now if you decide to back out of your commitment. We can do anything that we set our minds to. The easy way out is to find an excuse. The difficult part is sticking to your guns and getting the job done.’
OFF THE CUFF
- Do you prefer sunshine or rain?
Sunshine
- Your favourite holiday destinations.
Anywhere in nature where there is peace and harmony and hopefully a trail to run.
- Do you prefer food, travel or art?
One-third of each, please.
- Currently on your playlist?
Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys
- If you could have a round table discussion with five celebs, who would that be?
Gary Player, Malcolm Gladwell, Magda Wierzycka, Richard Branson, Gordon Ramsay.
- What is the one thing in the world you’d change if you could?
Help more entrepreneurs step out of their comfort zone and onto the trail of adding venture to their lives.
- Your pet peeves?
People who complain about their situation but are not prepared to change it.
- If you have, let’s say R10m in cash, what would you do with that money?
Probably buy myself and everyone around me, new trail tekkies and invest what is left over in property. I know it is pretty boring, but at least you will have a run for your money.
Text: CARINA VAN DER WALT. Photo: MARAIS WESSELS, VISION BY LIGHT PRODUCTIONS. Hair: MONÉ SCHWAB. Make up: ZAKIYYA BHAM
