# The Comeback Code | Rael Levitt | TEDxSomerset West

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R2hNDYjoB8
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/7R2hNDYjoB8
Generated: 2025-11-25T18:13:21.276+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Rael Levitt recounts his personal and professional "tsunami" experience following the collapse of his property empire in 2008, detailing how he rebuilt his career by becoming an auctioneer and eventually starting a new successful business, InnerSpace, emphasizing that personal setbacks are not failures if you choose to run toward them and learn from the story.

**Key Points:**
- Rael Levitt recounted being on holiday in Phuket, Thailand, when the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami occurred, noting he was unaware of what a tsunami was at the time.
- His personal and business 'tsunami' happened later, when his property empire collapsed overnight around December 10th/11th, 2011, leading to him being accused of fraud and being in crisis.
- Despite the collapse, he states he never went bankrupt and no one lost money, but it became a massive media scandal, causing him to be investigated by the South African Revenue Service.
- Following the collapse, he returned to studying at age 42, obtaining an MBA in Singapore, and then began rebuilding his career by becoming an auctioneer.
- He started a new business, InnerSpace, which initially struggled but eventually grew to be worth 3 billion Rand, conducting 60% of South Africa's auction transactions.
- The key lesson learned from the tsunami experience is that when a big wave comes, you must run toward it, as personal setbacks or business collapses are not failures if you learn from the story.

![Screenshot at 00:14: Rael Levitt stands on the TEDx stage at TEDxSomerset West, beginning his story about surviving a personal and professional 'tsunami' and learning 'The Comeback Code'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/7R2hNDYjoB8/00-00-14.png)

**Context:** The video features Rael Levitt delivering a TEDx talk titled 'The Comeback Code: How to Survive a Tsunami' at TEDxSomerset West. Levitt shares a deeply personal story about experiencing two major life-altering events he terms 'tsunamis': the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami while on holiday in Thailand, and a catastrophic business collapse in 2011 that led to media scrutiny and legal investigations. He uses these crises as metaphors for overcoming massive setbacks in life and business.

## Detailed Analysis

Rael Levitt recounts two major 'tsunami' events. The first was the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami while he was on holiday in Phuket, Thailand; he admits he did not know what a tsunami was then and was simply enjoying a holiday. The second, more impactful 'tsunami,' was the collapse of his property empire in late 2011, which happened quickly and resulted in him being accused of fraud and facing investigations by SARS. He emphasizes that the collapse was a media scandal, but he never personally went bankrupt, and no one lost money. He realized the failure was personal, not purely financial. In response, he decided to go back to studies at age 42, completing an MBA in Singapore. He then restarted his career by becoming an auctioneer, a role he found deeply ingrained in his personality. He founded a new company, InnerSpace, which grew significantly, handling 60% of South Africa's auction transactions and eventually being worth 3 billion Rand. The central takeaway, his 'Comeback Code,' is that when a major wave hits, one must run toward it, learn from the story, and not let fear dictate actions, contrasting his response with the previous speaker who ran away from the wave.

### Tsunami Experiences

- 2004 Thailand holiday tsunami
- 2011 property empire collapse and media scandal
- Personal realization that setbacks are temporary crises

### The Comeback Strategy

- Returned to studies at age 42 to complete an MBA in Singapore
- Rebuilt career by becoming an auctioneer, which suited his personality
- Started new business, InnerSpace, which grew significantly despite initial struggles

### Business Growth and Resolution

- InnerSpace grew to be worth 3 billion Rand, conducting 60% of South African auction transactions
- Sold the company after 10 years
- The ultimate lesson is that when a crisis hits, run toward it and learn, rather than running away

![Screenshot at 00:08: The TEDx Somerset West event branding is displayed during the transition to the speaker introduction.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/7R2hNDYjoB8/00-00-08.png)
![Screenshot at 00:19: Rael Levitt, wearing a dark blue V-neck sweater, is introduced on stage with his title slide visible on dual screens: 'The Comeback Code: How to Survive a Tsunami'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/7R2hNDYjoB8/00-00-19.png)
![Screenshot at 01:36: Levitt gestures widely while recounting his experience during the 2004 tsunami in Thailand.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/7R2hNDYjoB8/00-01-36.png)
![Screenshot at 02:24: Levitt enthusiastically describes his decision to run towards the breakfast buffet rather than away from the perceived danger during the tsunami event.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/7R2hNDYjoB8/00-02-24.png)
![Screenshot at 09:56: Levitt recounts the intense media scrutiny following his company's collapse, noting the story was in the Sunday Times.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/7R2hNDYjoB8/00-09-56.png)