NightTalk withAubrey Masango

I usually tell people I’m unemployed… I think I’m in the entertainment business… it’s a bit risky, the acts I perform… I’d say I’m a professional speaker… What scares me now; we’re going to have life and death moments… but that’s what’s going to pay the bills!

— Riaan Manser

You’re mad!

— Bruce Whitfield, The Money Show

Every week The Money Show’s Bruce Whitfield interviews a famous person about her or his attitude to money (hopes and fears, successes and failures, etc.) as part of his weekly “Make Money Mondays, Personal Edition” feature.

This week he interviewed world-famous solo adventurer Riaan Manser.

Manser firsts:

• First to circumnavigate the coast of Africa by bicycle.

• First to kayak around Madagascar, alone and unaided.

• First to circumnavigate Iceland in a two-person kayak (with Dan Skinstad).

• First to row from Morocco to New York City (with girlfriend Vasti Geldenhuys), alone and unaided.

Manser is the founder of the “NO FOOD FOR LAZY MAN” initiative.

It provides sporting equipment to schools that don’t have access to any.

Manser once raised funds for “NO FOOD FOR LAZY MAN” (while preparing for his Iceland adventure) by spending eight days in a container freezer.

• What does Manser believe about money?

• Does it keep him up at night?

• Does he spend like crazy or save compulsively?

• How did his childhood experiences shape his views?

Listen to the interview in the audio below (and scroll down for more quotes from it).

It looks as though I was brave… but I was just naïve!

— Riaan Manser

I don’t want to be in these risky scenarios for the rest of my life.

— Riaan Manser

I’m able to make a decent living… the money goes back into the next big thing.

— Riaan Manser

I bought gold coins at one stage… I sit with a pile of these things. I don’t think I could sell them all and get half my money back… it’s OK. Gold will come back.

— Riaan Manser

We’ve got policies that cover us, but with exclusions…

— Riaan Manser

My best friend owns 30 London properties… he started [by saving R100 each month]…

— Riaan Manser

To buy the land [was his best money decision]…

— Riaan Manser

We bought some expensive cars… you don’t need to buy a R1.2 million car!

— Riaan Manser

I need to hang up my boots sometime… I’ve got a few years left in me…

— Riaan Manser

We’ve got so many beautiful people in this country. We’ve got so many people that want to get on. Politicians tell us we don’t want to; we do! Every single person in this country wants to make South Africa great, except the politicians.

— Riaan Manser

Enjoy The Money Show, but miss it sometimes?

Get the best bits emailed to you daily, right after it ends: