blackswan DIARIES

In Episode 4 of blackswan DIARIES, I sit down with my good friend Ross Campbell for a conversation about consistency, friendship, relationships and the lessons we learn along the way.

Ross and I have known each other for nearly 10 years, having first met during our university days at Stellenbosch. After almost six years of living on opposite sides of the world, reconnecting with him reminded me of something special about this podcast. It is not just about meeting new people, but also about getting to know the people already in my life on a deeper level.

Ross moved to Australia just before COVID changed the world. We reflect on his experience of starting a new life abroad, navigating difficult periods, making new friends and developing the habits and mindset that have shaped the person he is today.

We talk about emotional intelligence, heartbreak, what we look for in a partner, the importance of showing up for your friends and, of course, our shared love for tennis and Roger Federer.

One thing I have always admired about Ross is his consistency. Whether it is maintaining friendships, looking after himself or simply following through on his word, he has shown me that the smallest actions, repeated over time, can make the biggest difference.

This episode is an honest conversation between two old friends, filled with humour, memories and a few lessons along the way.

Sometimes, it really is all about consistency, bro.

I hope you enjoy the conversation.

Every guest has a Black Swan story.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Behind the Scenes and Getting Started

01:00 Reconnecting After Six Years

02:02 Moving to Australia During COVID

04:18 Getting Through the Tough Times

06:24 The Art of Making Friends Anywhere

09:49 People Pleasing, Trust and Reliability

12:25 Navigating Your Late Twenties

16:14 Tennis, Roger Federer and Our Friendship

20:45 Coming Home to South Africa

21:19 The Let Them Mindset

23:28 Growing Up and Emotional Maturity

25:03 Ross's Turning Point26:52 It's All About Consistency, Bro

29:14 What Really Matters in a Relationship

32:33 Type A vs Type B Personalities

35:48 Final Tennis Talk and Wrapping UpPERSONAL

📸 @clickonkimon[https://www.instagram.com/clickonkimon]

🌐 [https://www.kimonaylett.com/]blackswan DIARIES

📸 @black.swandiaries[https://www.instagram.com/black.swandiaries/]

🎙️ Listen to Black Swan Diaries🌐 blackswan Website[https://www.blackswanco-digital.com/blackswan-diaries]

If you've got a blackswan STORY, or know someone who does, I'd love to hear it.My DMs are always open.

🎧 Spotify[https://open.spotify.com/show/033nsSDfAx7XSlOxHe25X8]

🍎 Apple Podcasts[https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blackswan-diaries/id6783377413]

#BlackSwanDiaries #RossCampbell #Consistency #Friendship #Podcast

For the third episode of Black Swan Diaries, I’m joined by Johnny Garcia—American entrepreneur, digital nomad and founder of Virtue.

I met Johnny through Zack Allen, my very first guest on Black Swan Diaries. That connection eventually led to Johnny and me sitting down in Cape Town for this conversation.

Johnny started his first business at just 16, while teaching himself about websites, software and technology. Today, his work is increasingly focused on Artificial Intelligence and how businesses can use it to solve problems, automate work and build more efficiently.

We talk about Johnny’s experience of South Africa, entrepreneurship, digital nomadism and technology before arriving at the big question:

Is Artificial Intelligence actually a good thing?

We discuss whether AI will replace jobs, how it could change the way we work and why, as technology evolves, we need to evolve with it.

I’d end it with something that ties directly into the Black Swan idea rather than “hope you enjoy”:

I really enjoyed this conversation—not just for Johnny’s perspective on AI and entrepreneurship, but for his take on living differently, building a business while travelling, and embracing the freedom and uncertainty that come with a digital nomad lifestyle.

There’s a lot in here about technology and the future, but also about curiosity, adaptability and choosing a less conventional path through life.

Maybe that’s the real Black Swan lesson in this one: you don’t need to have the whole path mapped out—you just need to be willing to explore where it takes you.

00:00 Johnny comes to South Africa
01:00 South Africa’s brain drain
02:49 Entrepreneurship in America
04:00 Starting a business at 16
06:02 Life as a digital nomad
07:16 Building Virtue
08:49 Johnny’s technology journey
10:00 Building an AI-forward company
12:00 How AI is changing work
13:40 Is AI actually a good thing?
14:27 Will AI take our jobs?
15:04 Technology forces us to evolve
16:22 AI in the workplace

Johnny Garcia
📸 @johnnygarc.ai
https://www.instagram.com/johnnygarc.ai/?hl=en

Virtue
🌐 https://www.virtue.company/

🎙️ Episode 1 with Zack Allen
https://youtu.be/-xEnX4B6aSA

Personal
📸 @clickonkimon
https://www.instagram.com/clickonkimon

Black Swan Creative
📸 @blackswan_creative_
https://www.instagram.com/blackswan_creative_

🌐 https://www.kimonaylett.com/

If you’ve got a Black Swan story—or know someone who does—I’d love to hear it.

🎙️ Listen to Black Swan Diaries

🌐 https://www.kimonaylett.com/blackswan-diaries

🎧 Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/033nsSDfAx7XSlOxHe25X8?si=107a573d763b4c28

🍎 Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blackswan-diaries/id6783377413

For the second episode of Black Swan Diaries, I'm joined by Gavin Crookes—President of Tennis South Africa, entrepreneur, accountant, commercial sugarcane farmer, and lifelong advocate for the game of tennis.

Our conversation began in the most unexpected way.

After a late night watching tennis at Roland-Garros, I headed downstairs for a coffee wearing my tennis T-shirt. In the hotel lift, a gentleman struck up a conversation about the tournament.

By breakfast, I realised I was speaking to none other than Gavin Crookes, President of Tennis South Africa.

A few days later, before heading off to the Roland-Garros men's final, Gavin generously gave me nearly two hours of his time. We spoke about tennis, leadership, business, entrepreneurship, and the realities of growing a sport.

Based in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Gavin is a commercial sugarcane farmer, runs an accounting and tax practice, has interests in a retail fuel business, and has served in leadership positions within South Africa's sugar industry.

His journey into tennis administration began in 1997 when, as an accountant attending a local tennis meeting, he was asked to become treasurer. That decision eventually led to him becoming President of Tennis South Africa—a role he has held for approximately 15 years.

As a passionate tennis player myself, recording this episode during Roland-Garros made it particularly special.

In this episode we discuss:

• Running Tennis South Africa
• The realities of becoming a professional tennis player
• Whether players can earn a sustainable living on tour
• The financial sacrifices families make
• Bringing an ATP Tour event back to South Africa
• Tennis infrastructure and facilities
• The rise of padel
• Sponsorship, player development and participation
• Mental resilience and high performance
• What business and tennis can teach one another

Gavin also shares stories from courtside, including Kevin Anderson's Wimbledon run, Nick Kyrgios defeating Rafael Nadal, and the unforgettable 2019 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Above all, we explore Gavin's unconventional path through business and tennis, and why refusing to simply follow the herd has shaped his career.

Whether you're passionate about tennis, business, leadership, entrepreneurship, or simply want to understand what happens behind the scenes of professional sport, I hope you enjoy this conversation.

See you on the court.

00:00 Meeting Gavin Crookes at Roland-Garros
01:41 Gavin's Black Swan Mindset
02:08 Business, Farming & Entrepreneurship
04:17 Entering Tennis Administration
05:56 Running Tennis South Africa
09:42 Growing Tennis in South Africa
13:08 The Rise of Padel
15:01 Challenges Facing South African Tennis
21:49 Becoming a Professional Player
24:00 Can Players Earn a Living?
28:30 Bringing an ATP Tour Event Back to South Africa
30:22 Tennis Infrastructure
34:45 Life on the Professional Tour
36:20 Talent, Fitness & Mental Strength
41:39 Roger Federer's 2019 Wimbledon Heartbreak
46:10 Leading a National Federation
51:02 Does South Africa Have Enough Talent?
57:54 The Financial Burden on Families
1:00:28 The American College Tennis Pathway
1:02:42 Gavin's Greatest Tennis Memories
1:06:13 Favourite Grand Slam
1:09:53 What Makes Gavin a Black Swan?
1:12:00 Growing Tennis in South African Schools
1:18:08 The Business of Tennis
1:20:15 What Separates the World's Best Players?
1:25:00 Final Reflections

🎾 Tennis South Africa
https://tennissa.co.za/

🎙️ Listen to Black Swan Diaries
🌐 https://www.kimonaylett.com/blackswan-diaries

📸 Personal
https://www.instagram.com/clickonkimon

🎥 Black Swan Creative
https://www.instagram.com/blackswan_creative_

If you've got a Black Swan story—or know someone who does—I'd love to hear it. My DMs are always open.

Episode 1: Zack Allen — Building a Life of Freedom, Travel & Entrepreneurship

For the very first episode of Black Swan Diaries, I'm joined by my friend Zack Allen—someone I've come to see as a fellow Black Swan.

He's pushed me to leave my comfort zone, think bigger, and embrace opportunities beyond the conventional path.

Zack and I first met through Bumbuntu, a global community of entrepreneurs, creatives, and digital nomads founded in Cape Town, South Africa, by our friend Emily. What started as a chance conversation about Colorado quickly turned into a friendship that has spanned continents, from South Africa to Portugal and beyond.

Zack is the founder of Talented, where he helps entrepreneurs build high-performing international teams. But beyond business, he's intentionally designed a life centred around freedom, travel, discipline, and personal growth.

In this episode, we explore what it really looks like to build a business while travelling the world, create a life on your own terms, and pursue unconventional paths that lead to extraordinary outcomes.

We dive into the habits, mindset, and disciplines that make this lifestyle sustainable, the lessons Zack has learned from years of entrepreneurship and travel, and what it takes to bet on yourself when there isn't a clear roadmap to follow.

Zack has also played a meaningful role in helping me turn bark into bite—encouraging me to back myself, take bigger swings, and build my travel muscle. It felt fitting to have him as the very first guest on Black Swan Diaries—not only because of the life he's built, but because of the impact he's had on my own journey.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, aspiring digital nomad, or simply someone curious about designing a more intentional life, this conversation offers practical insights and perspectives on building a life that prioritises freedom, growth, and adventure.

📸 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/zackallenbiz/⁠

🌐 Talented: ⁠https://hire.scouttalented.com/⁠

Personal📸 @clickonkimon⁠https://www.instagram.com/clickonkimon⁠

Black Swan Creative📸 @blackswan_creative_⁠https://www.instagram.com/blackswan_creative⁠_

Website🌐 ⁠https://www.kimonaylett.com/⁠

If you've got a Black Swan story—or know someone who does—I'd love to hear it.

My DMs are always open.

Welcome to blackswan DIARIES

I've always barked, but there's never been a bite.

The inspiration for the podcast originated from the philosophy that Black Swan & Co. Digital was built on—the belief that the people who make the greatest impact are often the ones willing to see the world differently, embrace their individuality, and forge their own path.

Every guest has a Black Swan story. Not just a defining moment, but a unique perspective, mindset, or approach that sets them apart from the crowd and shapes who they are today.

I've always wanted to do something like this. A space where I can blend my creativity with my strategic mind, have meaningful conversations, and learn from people whose journeys have been shaped by unexpected moments.

Through conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, friends, founders, athletes, artists, and everyday people, I want to uncover those stories and the lessons hidden within them.

Every person has a Black Swan story.

Thanks for listening.

You can follow the journey here:

Personal:@clickonkimon⁠https://www.instagram.com/clickonkimon⁠

Black Swan Creative:@blackswan_creative_⁠https://www.instagram.com/blackswan_creative_⁠

Website:⁠https://www.kimonaylett.com/⁠

If you've got a Black Swan story—or know someone who does—I'd love to hear it.

My DMs are always open.