In Episode 61 of The Incredible Machines podcast, hosts Jon Oliff and Luke Holden are joined by Pierre du Plessis, a strategist, keynote speaker, coach (and co-consoirator), author and founder of Be Brave, a Cape Town based Strategy Design Lab.
Pierre has spent more than two decades working across strategy, design, leadership, and human development. He is the author of four books, including Train Naked: A Guide to a Meaningful Life and Work That Matters, and the host of the Through the Fog podcast.
He also speaks openly about depression, emotional numbness, and the different forms of support that helped him continue moving forward. Through each subject, Pierre returns to the same essential questions: Who are you underneath the masks, and what do you want to do with your one wild and precious life?
Whether you're seeking greater self-knowledge, navigating leadership or searching for more meaningful work, this episode offers thoughtful guidance on showing up authentically, making braver decisions and creating a life that reflects who you truly are.
Pierre began writing his daily newsletter around 2017, inspired by Seth Godin’s ability to communicate ideas through short, concentrated pieces of writing.
Rather than treating the newsletter as a conventional marketing channel, Pierre uses it as a reflection exercise. At the end of the day, he asks himself what he learned and turns that thought into a letter for the following morning. This is something anyone can implement in their daily life.
“The warriors have audiences, but kings give audience.”
Giving audience means listening. It means understanding what people need, allowing them to speak honestly and making them feel seen.
Pierre has witnessed the power of this in his coaching work. People often don't need immediate advice. They need a space where they can say something aloud for the first time and hear themselves say it in the presence of someone paying genuine attention.
When leaders continually broadcast without listening, they risk overlooking the humanity and potential of the people around them.
Training naked means showing up as you are, being willing to look foolish and doing the work without hiding behind an image.
The practices may include meditation, prayer, exercise, reflection, healthy eating, or any discipline that helps someone become more honest and whole. The point isn't to appear complete before beginning. The point is to enter the practice with skin in the game.
Pierre’s current talk, Only the Brave, explores two of life’s most important questions: Who are you, and what do you want to do?
Only the Brave isn't designed simply to entertain. He compares it to entering a hospital rather than a spa. The process of becoming healthier may initially feel uncomfortable because it asks people to confront the lives they're living and the choices they've avoided.
At its centre is a question from poet Mary Oliver: What will you do with your one wild and precious life?
“The most important thing in the world is to figure out who you are.
And deeper than that, to learn and know that you belong,
that you are allowed to be here, that you’re allowed to exist.”
~ Pierre du Plessis
Pierre discusses a Nordic short film featuring a sled dog trainer reflecting on an imagined conversation between wolves and sled dogs. The wolves have freedom but little security, while the sled dogs have warmth, food, teamwork and purpose at the cost of some freedom.
Pierre uses the story as a metaphor for the decisions people face in their careers and lives. Neither path is inherently better. The real question is whether you currently need the independence of the wolf or the shared mission and security of the sled dog.
Pierre du Plessis doesn't offer a quick formula for finding purpose. Instead, he presents self-knowledge as a lifelong practice shaped by reflection, honesty, courage, and attention. Train Naked is an invitation to begin before the mask is perfect. Only the Brave asks what you will do once you recognise that you belong.
The destination may remain uncertain, but Pierre’s message is clear. Show up as you are. Tell the truth. Pay attention. Find your bones. Then decide what to do with your one wild and precious life.
Whether you're still finding the bones of who you are, deciding between the freedom of the wolf and the security of the sled dog, or learning to show up without a mask, this episode is a must listen!
Who is Pierre du Plessis?
Pierre du Plessis is a strategist, speaker, author and the founder of Be Brave, a Cape Town based Strategy Design Lab. He helps people and organisations gain clarity, navigate complexity and make brave decisions. He is also the author of four books and the host of the Through the Fog podcast.
What does Train Naked mean?
Train Naked is Pierre du Plessis’s metaphor for showing up without masks, pretense or the need to appear complete. It encourages people to enter meaningful practices honestly, accept the discomfort of learning, and do the work required to build a life that matters.
What is Be Brave?
Be Brave is a Cape Town based Strategy Design Lab founded by Pierre du Plessis. It helps businesses through strategy, design, leadership development, and human centred thinking.
What is Only the Brave?
Only the Brave is Pierre du Plessis’s talk and personal development framework focused on discovering who you are and deciding what you want to do with your life. It encourages people to confront difficult questions, make courageous choices, and take the first step towards more meaningful work and a more authentic life.
What is the Incredible Machines podcast?
The Incredible Machines podcast is a thought leadership series produced by Tim Africa, featuring conversations with visionary entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers from across the continent.
Where can I listen to the full episode with Pierre du Plessis?
You can listen on all major platforms including:
🎧 Spotify
🍎 Apple Podcasts
🌐 Tim Africa Podcast Hub
Pierre du Plessis Website: https://thisispierre.co/
Pierre du Plessis LinkedIn: https://za.linkedin.com/in/pierredup
Pierre du Plessis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pierreduplessis/
Pierre du Plessis YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thisispierre
Pierre du Plessis Podcast: https://thisispierre.co/podcast
Be Brave Website: https://www.be-brave.co.za/
Be Brave LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-brave-consulting/
Train Naked signed copy book: https://thisispierre.co/books