Pat Symcox

Patrick (Pat) Symcox is a former South African cricketer and now the owner, broker, and principal of RE/MAX Coast and Country, a real estate company based on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. Of his varied career he says, “I have loved every minute.”

The son of middle-class hard-working parents, Pat grew up in Kimberley in the Northern Cape. He completed matric at Kimberley Boys High School.

Following the mandatory army years, Pat joined the mining company De Beers as a diamond sorter and classifier. After three years, he joined the municipality rates department as an assistant accountant.

As there was no international cricket at that stage, Pat played for Griqualand West. Newly married and aged 23, a further opportunity to play cricket arose when he was asked to work in an administration capacity as an assistant accountant for an engineering business in Isando. “Of course, I said I’d love to,” said Pat.

Subsequently, an advert in the newspaper for hospital managers for a new private hospital group starting in South Africa piqued Pat’s interest. He successfully applied for the post, completed an MBA at Stellenbosch University and returned to Kimberly to open the hospital. After a few years he found himself overseeing four hospitals within the group.

INTERNATIONAL TOUR
Aged 28, Pat, transferred himself to the Pietermaritzburg hospital as the manager was struggling to get the hospital going. There he soon joined a local cricket club. Shortly thereafter he received a call from Mike Proctor, who asked whether he would be interested in playing cricket in Durban.

Sadly, the travelling time and Pat’s demanding work schedule resulted in him having to stop playing. However, a dramatic change occurred as Mike Proctor was replaced by Graham Ford as the coach of the then Natal team. His request to Pat to reconsider playing cricket, was with some pro- visions, readily accepted. In that season, South Africa got back into world cricket with an international tour on the horizon.

Pat’s success in a provincial match resulted in his selection for the South African team. However, the hospital group’s managing director was adamant that Pat needed to choose to either play cricket or work. He chose to take unpaid leave and joined the South African team for the five-week Sri Lankan tour in 1993. His success saw him resign from the hospital group to continue his cricketing career.

Pat explained that he was fortunate that his body held out and he played cricket – 100 games – for another eight years. “At 40, I’d finished playing international cricket, but I needed to get back into the work space,” he explained.

A stint as the South African cricket director, was followed as a commentator for Super Sport and internationally for ESPN Star Sports. After about 12 years, Pat decided that his family needed to take preference.

NETWORKING CAPABILITIES
Although his next foray into business was as a property developer, Pat realised that the real estate side of property offered more in terms of his networking capabilities, so he joined RE/MAX. “I’ve been very blessed and 15 years later we’re by far the leading real estate company on the south coast and I’m very proud of our success.”

He is also proud of his role in developing a contract system for South African cricketers, which was a defining time for South African cricket. Alongside David Richardson, he presented the concept to the South African Cricket Board, which led to the introduction of player contracts and a Provident fund, securing future players’ careers. Pat served as the players’ representative for seven years, and was the ‘go-to guy’ ensuring their interests were well- represented.

TEAM DYNAMICS
Pat commented that the businesses in which he has been involved have benefited from the fact that he played cricket. His current role is to look after the culture of his extensive business and to ensure that his team members are focused.

“The cricket scene allowed me to understand the dynamics of a team. I understand very quickly where you fit in because I’ve seen that over many years. If you can’t fit into this team, you’ve unfortunately got to go. And I’m big on that. Nobody’s better than my team, including me, I live and die by that. I make that very clear.”

In addition, hospital management taught Pat about managing large numbers of employees in a stressful environment that never closes and engrained in him that good communication is paramount.

Pat stressed the importance of spending time alone to think each day, which he says is imperative for anyone in business. Many of his decisions, he said, have been the correct ones because he has taken time to think. He finds the space for this reflection by waking up an hour earlier than everybody else.
“That hour a day is sacrosanct and works out to about 40 days a year that you spend alone thinking. You don’t have quality time during the day where you can make decisions or look at things from another perspective,” he explained.

In addition, he says that he is a big believer in the importance of having a mentor and that he has been lucky to have had one in Durban for many years. “Growing in a career is finding yourself someone with whom you can balance your ‘stuff’ because being a businessman and an entrepreneur is quite a lonely space.”

Speaking of what inspires him, Pat says that he has reached a stage in his life where his role is to find ways to help others be successful. “I love seeing things change for the better. I’ve been lucky over the years to mentor a lot of people, to help people to grow their businesses, to change their businesses or to just give some advice.”

In conclusion, Patrick Symcox’s journey high- lights his adaptability and determination. Today, he remains dedicated to mentoring others and fostering a culture of achievement, staying true to his motto: “Leave nothing to chance.”