Many a book shares the steps to success, going into great detail when describing the type of habits one ought to have in order to be successful. We go to many motivational and leadership seminars that teach us to have self believe, confidence and a great attitude towards life. We are told that what is important in life is how we respond to the curve balls life directs our way... That if life serves us lemons then we should make lemonade.
While I value and appreciate these teachings; continually applying the principles in my own life and teaching other people to do the same- I somehow find myself questioning my own abilities today. I understand and acknowledge that life does not owe us a thing, nor does anyone we meet or work for. However, what I do know is that being good at what you do may not always be good enough to the next person. This sadly, is the raw truth.
I stand in front of the mirror every morning, reminding myself that greatness requires hard work and drive. I set daily targets, putting plans and strategies in place in order to achieve the targets. I exercise regularly to keep my energy levels high. I read books that uplift me and engage with people who are a positive influence, but today I sit in the parking lot of the local mall asking myself if I am good enough. I do not make it a habit of playing the victim nor do I enjoy wallowing in self pity. However, the more I thought about this question, the more confused I got.
So I ask you my friends, what does it take for someone to feel like they are good enough? To what extend must one go in order to prove they have what it takes , in order for others to acknowledge their efforts? How much more should one invest and sacrifice to convince himself/herself that they are in fact great?
I sit in this parking, with many thoughts and questions going through my mind. The more I try to rationalize based on my reality, the deeper I sink into the darkness.
I ask you again my friends... When is good, good enough?
To smile brings you happiness. To laugh makes you feel better. To live makes life worthwhile.
Thursday 11 December 2014
Thursday 27 November 2014
PILLAR OF STRENGTH
With less than 5 weeks left of what can generally be classified as a tough year, 2014 has been a year where a great deal of things happened-both pleasant and unpleasant. We lost the lives of many people we loved dearly; our colleagues suffered the loss of their jobs; our economy experienced slow growth while the political instability of many countries made headline news. Whilst it's easy to fall in the pattern of feeling sorry for ourselves and focusing our energies only on the bad things; I look back and I realize that many of us have survived despite the negativity and hard aches of 2014.
I look at my own person life for reference and I acknowledge that always staying motivated and positive is generally a daunting task. It becomes increasingly harder when plans are derailed, opportunities missed or deals cancelled. More often than not, playing the victim seems more rewarding because then you get to blame other people for the things that are wrong in your life. It is also easier to get sympathy from people who take stock of your pain, your anger and the reasons you feed them to justify why you are the victim. And yes, for a greater part of 2014, I played the victim too.
It seemed justifiable to play the victim because in more cases than not, someone played a role in derailing my plans. It seemed okay to feel sorry for myself when I didn't seal that deal because I convinced myself that I had given it my all, when in fact I hadn't. I allowed myself to be depressed because I had no control over the situation (or at least I thought) and I was happy to share all the bad in my life with anyone willing to listen, forgetting the great things that were also happening in my life.
I was talking to a dear friend who also (strangely) was complaining about the bad in her life too. It was at this point that I realized that in life we need pillars of strength that will help us get through the challenges of life ( let's face it, we cannot avoid them). And these pillars come in obvious and indirect ways. Reading has always been a hobby I thoroughly enjoyed doing because it allowed me to reconnect and refocus. It opened up my world to different ideologies and perspectives that taught me many lessons. Catching up with motivated and positive friends also empowered me to work harder at my own goals. These are things that I neglected to do during the year, sadly. And I believe they could have provided me with the strength to deal with my complications.
We often expect that to find strength, one must sacrifice something ;when we can find the strength in the things we love such as church, reading, talking to friends, traveling, or sports. The fact is we cannot avoid the unpleasant things in our lives nor control everything bad that happens to us. However we can learn to accept them and find pillars of strength that will pull us out of our dampened moods towards making our dreams a reality. I know for a fact that so many of us wanted to give up during the year because the pain and the disappointed seemed unbearable. I encourage you to stay strong and find your own pillar of strength. I encourage you to find that source of positive energy that will make the last 5 weeks of 2014 better. Stay strong and focus on a greater and better 2015.
Smile. Love. Live
I look at my own person life for reference and I acknowledge that always staying motivated and positive is generally a daunting task. It becomes increasingly harder when plans are derailed, opportunities missed or deals cancelled. More often than not, playing the victim seems more rewarding because then you get to blame other people for the things that are wrong in your life. It is also easier to get sympathy from people who take stock of your pain, your anger and the reasons you feed them to justify why you are the victim. And yes, for a greater part of 2014, I played the victim too.
It seemed justifiable to play the victim because in more cases than not, someone played a role in derailing my plans. It seemed okay to feel sorry for myself when I didn't seal that deal because I convinced myself that I had given it my all, when in fact I hadn't. I allowed myself to be depressed because I had no control over the situation (or at least I thought) and I was happy to share all the bad in my life with anyone willing to listen, forgetting the great things that were also happening in my life.
I was talking to a dear friend who also (strangely) was complaining about the bad in her life too. It was at this point that I realized that in life we need pillars of strength that will help us get through the challenges of life ( let's face it, we cannot avoid them). And these pillars come in obvious and indirect ways. Reading has always been a hobby I thoroughly enjoyed doing because it allowed me to reconnect and refocus. It opened up my world to different ideologies and perspectives that taught me many lessons. Catching up with motivated and positive friends also empowered me to work harder at my own goals. These are things that I neglected to do during the year, sadly. And I believe they could have provided me with the strength to deal with my complications.
We often expect that to find strength, one must sacrifice something ;when we can find the strength in the things we love such as church, reading, talking to friends, traveling, or sports. The fact is we cannot avoid the unpleasant things in our lives nor control everything bad that happens to us. However we can learn to accept them and find pillars of strength that will pull us out of our dampened moods towards making our dreams a reality. I know for a fact that so many of us wanted to give up during the year because the pain and the disappointed seemed unbearable. I encourage you to stay strong and find your own pillar of strength. I encourage you to find that source of positive energy that will make the last 5 weeks of 2014 better. Stay strong and focus on a greater and better 2015.
Smile. Love. Live
Tuesday 10 June 2014
VICTIMS OF WORDS
It is every young graduates dream to complete their qualification and start their careers in the different fields. More often than not, many of us had to prove ourselves to a panel of interviewers that grilled us with many tough and often confusing questions. One would think our university professors had already done a great job in that regard, but I had since learnt that the corporate sector was a totally different experience all together.
It is common knowledge that work experience forms the bulk of the weight in the corporate sector, or at least this is what we are told. It is also a well known fact that the more senior colleagues often brag about how hard they had to work to get to where they are,sometimes reminding us of how little we know and how far we still need to go. Well this maybe a bit of stereotype because not everyone does this, but I am sure many can relate.
I start my mornings with three things in mind- to offer value and quality to my client's business, to add value to the lives of the people I work with and lastly to add value to the business and the bottom Line. I regard these my 3 rules of value adding, hoping they will generate me long term benefits. I know I do not have enough experience to be as efficient as I'd hope to be , but I have drive that keeps me motivated to learn and improve my skills.
However there seems to be a trend in many organizations across different industries where more experienced colleagues continually make it their core business to break younger colleagues with words. Having met many young people working within different industries- Mining, Consultancy, Insurance and Retail to name a few; I was sadden by some of the things people say to young people.
I've been told that words can shatter dreams and inhibit growth. I've also been told that these hurtful and negative words can destroy ambition and drive, especially if they come from a person you looked up to.
We have all been victims of this situation- yes I know that the corporate sector is no place for a baby; but it was until I fell victim that I realized that words could destroy ones career, their drive and growth. I was a victim for a while because I allowed the bitter words of other people become relevant in my own life; I was a victim for a while because I allowed their perception of me over shallow my ambition and hunger to succeed. Yes I played victim because I allowed someone's insecurities become my own insecurities, not realizing the damage this was doing in my life.
I woke up today, and I took charge of my own future. I woke up today and remembered my 3 rules of value adding. I woke up today and remembered how badly I have been grilled to get to where I am today, and I embraced the opportunities that lie ahead within the industry I work within. Yes, I may lack the experience (for now), but I have dreams and ambitions that cannot be stopped by anyone but myself. So I am done playing the victim.
Are you still playing the victim in your own life? If yes, the time to take charge is now.
Smile. Laugh. Live
It is common knowledge that work experience forms the bulk of the weight in the corporate sector, or at least this is what we are told. It is also a well known fact that the more senior colleagues often brag about how hard they had to work to get to where they are,sometimes reminding us of how little we know and how far we still need to go. Well this maybe a bit of stereotype because not everyone does this, but I am sure many can relate.
I start my mornings with three things in mind- to offer value and quality to my client's business, to add value to the lives of the people I work with and lastly to add value to the business and the bottom Line. I regard these my 3 rules of value adding, hoping they will generate me long term benefits. I know I do not have enough experience to be as efficient as I'd hope to be , but I have drive that keeps me motivated to learn and improve my skills.
However there seems to be a trend in many organizations across different industries where more experienced colleagues continually make it their core business to break younger colleagues with words. Having met many young people working within different industries- Mining, Consultancy, Insurance and Retail to name a few; I was sadden by some of the things people say to young people.
I've been told that words can shatter dreams and inhibit growth. I've also been told that these hurtful and negative words can destroy ambition and drive, especially if they come from a person you looked up to.
We have all been victims of this situation- yes I know that the corporate sector is no place for a baby; but it was until I fell victim that I realized that words could destroy ones career, their drive and growth. I was a victim for a while because I allowed the bitter words of other people become relevant in my own life; I was a victim for a while because I allowed their perception of me over shallow my ambition and hunger to succeed. Yes I played victim because I allowed someone's insecurities become my own insecurities, not realizing the damage this was doing in my life.
I woke up today, and I took charge of my own future. I woke up today and remembered my 3 rules of value adding. I woke up today and remembered how badly I have been grilled to get to where I am today, and I embraced the opportunities that lie ahead within the industry I work within. Yes, I may lack the experience (for now), but I have dreams and ambitions that cannot be stopped by anyone but myself. So I am done playing the victim.
Are you still playing the victim in your own life? If yes, the time to take charge is now.
Smile. Laugh. Live
Sunday 4 May 2014
FINISH WHAT YOU START
Young people are usually too quick to embark on new and different projects, believing that it would generate multiple benefits. In more cases than not, these so called projects do not last long enough to see the claimed benefits, except for the few that really put in the hours and effort to see these projects through. Success is often associated with setting goals that will lead you to achieving the things you dream about; however it often requires a lot of hard work and determination to see this happen.
As my new cycling "career" slowly but surely picks up momentum, I challenged myself to cycle a few kilometers over the set target. I knew my fitness level wasn't up to standard but I decided to cycle further anyway. I had many doubts and I came up with excuses as to why I should abort this mission that I was clearly not prepared for, but I went ahead anyway. As the pain in my chest became worse and unbearable; every muscle in my legs pleading with me to stop, I realized that if one is determined to achieve a goal it truly was possible.
In life we often start something and we are excited by the prospects that we can achieve. In many cases, we often just focus on the end product, neglecting the amount of work required to see the project through. When faced with challenges and obstacles along the way, we give up and move on; we make excuses to justify why we cannot see the project through to the end or we blame our "failures" on our circumstances.
I am not a professional cyclist yet, but I am learning valuable life lessons through each cycling session I have. It is not easy staying motivated to see a goal through to the end but on that Thursday morning of Workes day, I learnt that it is rewarding to finish what you start. The energy and enthusiasm I felt when reaching my destination on the bicycle was amazing.
If something as small as cycling all the way to a goal I had set generates such positive feelings; how happy and motivated would we feel if we finished the tasks we have at work? At home? At school? In our lives?
"Failure will never overtake you if your determination to succeed is strong enough" OG Mandino
As my new cycling "career" slowly but surely picks up momentum, I challenged myself to cycle a few kilometers over the set target. I knew my fitness level wasn't up to standard but I decided to cycle further anyway. I had many doubts and I came up with excuses as to why I should abort this mission that I was clearly not prepared for, but I went ahead anyway. As the pain in my chest became worse and unbearable; every muscle in my legs pleading with me to stop, I realized that if one is determined to achieve a goal it truly was possible.
In life we often start something and we are excited by the prospects that we can achieve. In many cases, we often just focus on the end product, neglecting the amount of work required to see the project through. When faced with challenges and obstacles along the way, we give up and move on; we make excuses to justify why we cannot see the project through to the end or we blame our "failures" on our circumstances.
I am not a professional cyclist yet, but I am learning valuable life lessons through each cycling session I have. It is not easy staying motivated to see a goal through to the end but on that Thursday morning of Workes day, I learnt that it is rewarding to finish what you start. The energy and enthusiasm I felt when reaching my destination on the bicycle was amazing.
If something as small as cycling all the way to a goal I had set generates such positive feelings; how happy and motivated would we feel if we finished the tasks we have at work? At home? At school? In our lives?
"Failure will never overtake you if your determination to succeed is strong enough" OG Mandino
Tuesday 22 April 2014
WHAT GETS YOU EXCITED?
It is so easy to fall into a pattern that is comfortable and very secure- doing the things we know we can do well or visiting the same places each time. Many of us find trying new things so daunting that we are terrified by just the thought. We become so comfort with what we are used to, that sometimes we get stuck in the same place, doing the same thing for a long time.
I began 2014, hungry with passion to try new things- something that would challenge my regular and safe routine. Well off course I had my doubts: in fact I still do-but I decided to take a leap of faith and try it. "What's the worst that could happen? " I keep asking myself. So I went ahead and took that step.
I decided to start cycling( commencement date 1st May 2014). I then went out and bought an affordable beginners bicycle- we all have to start somewhere right? As I rushed to the car, eager to get home to assemble my new acquisition, I felt a new sense of life rise within me- a new level of energy propelling me to go out and try something new. I spent my Sunday putting the bicycle together, calling people who I thought would be interested to join me- eager to test drive the bike.
So often in life we forget how something a little different from our norm can awaken a renewed spirit within our lives. How this can release the kind of energy that we so desperately need to change our situations at work and home. It is often so interesting to see people transform their lives by simply trying something a little different-be it cycling, running or joining the gym and how this improves their lives.
I constantly challenge myself to do one thing that unleashes the "Tk craziness" in hope of maintaining my levels of self motivations high. And it's truly amazing to see how something as minor as deciding to start cycling can get me so excited- so driven to make it a success.
That being said, I cannot help but wonder: If we all found something this small to get excited about, wouldn't it ultimately get us excited about making our careers and personal lives that more successful?
My question to you is, what gets you EXCITED about your life?
I began 2014, hungry with passion to try new things- something that would challenge my regular and safe routine. Well off course I had my doubts: in fact I still do-but I decided to take a leap of faith and try it. "What's the worst that could happen? " I keep asking myself. So I went ahead and took that step.
I decided to start cycling( commencement date 1st May 2014). I then went out and bought an affordable beginners bicycle- we all have to start somewhere right? As I rushed to the car, eager to get home to assemble my new acquisition, I felt a new sense of life rise within me- a new level of energy propelling me to go out and try something new. I spent my Sunday putting the bicycle together, calling people who I thought would be interested to join me- eager to test drive the bike.
So often in life we forget how something a little different from our norm can awaken a renewed spirit within our lives. How this can release the kind of energy that we so desperately need to change our situations at work and home. It is often so interesting to see people transform their lives by simply trying something a little different-be it cycling, running or joining the gym and how this improves their lives.
I constantly challenge myself to do one thing that unleashes the "Tk craziness" in hope of maintaining my levels of self motivations high. And it's truly amazing to see how something as minor as deciding to start cycling can get me so excited- so driven to make it a success.
That being said, I cannot help but wonder: If we all found something this small to get excited about, wouldn't it ultimately get us excited about making our careers and personal lives that more successful?
My question to you is, what gets you EXCITED about your life?
Monday 21 April 2014
THE POWER OF ASSOCIATION
For as long as I can remember, I've been told that the friends you keep and associate with influence who you become. So it became increasingly important to look beyond what common characteristics you shared with the people you met, but to also appreciate their attitude to become successful, their drive to achieve their dreams and how much they were willing to sacrifice to become better people.
At first, I thought this criteria of selecting friends was very shallow and pathetic. Friendship was supposed to be about the good times and the laughter; the short trips and Instagram pictures. It was only recently when I took a hard look at who I was becoming and some of the friends I associated with, that I realized there maybe some truth to this.
I had breakfast with a dear friend I hadn't seen in a while,when I realized that the power of association was a reality. The passion and determination she had to achieving her dreams; the drive she illustrated in going after what she wants inspired me. I asked her about the people she associated with and it confirmed what I am writing about. As a result I find myself asking a lot questions.
" Are my friends a positive influence in my life ? Am I a positive influence in the lives of the people I associate with? " Do I play a role in helping people achieving their goals?" " Am I a change agent?
These are some of the questions I am facing since the breakfast session with my friend.
I have taken the truth for granted, denying that the people I associate with either influence me positively or negatively. I don't deny that I am ultimately responsible for the choices I make. I am responsible for who I become and not my friends. However the people we hang with; their mentality; their attitude rubs off on us. It is their drive or lack there off that triggers our drive. It is their attitude- positive or negative that determines how sustainable our attitudes are.
The truth is, who we associate with influences how our lives roll out ;although it's to a certain extent. We have a duty to associated with friends that help us become better people. Friends who will encourage us to go after our dreams. Friends that constantly tell us it's possible and you can do it.
My question is...
Are you that friend?
At first, I thought this criteria of selecting friends was very shallow and pathetic. Friendship was supposed to be about the good times and the laughter; the short trips and Instagram pictures. It was only recently when I took a hard look at who I was becoming and some of the friends I associated with, that I realized there maybe some truth to this.
I had breakfast with a dear friend I hadn't seen in a while,when I realized that the power of association was a reality. The passion and determination she had to achieving her dreams; the drive she illustrated in going after what she wants inspired me. I asked her about the people she associated with and it confirmed what I am writing about. As a result I find myself asking a lot questions.
" Are my friends a positive influence in my life ? Am I a positive influence in the lives of the people I associate with? " Do I play a role in helping people achieving their goals?" " Am I a change agent?
These are some of the questions I am facing since the breakfast session with my friend.
I have taken the truth for granted, denying that the people I associate with either influence me positively or negatively. I don't deny that I am ultimately responsible for the choices I make. I am responsible for who I become and not my friends. However the people we hang with; their mentality; their attitude rubs off on us. It is their drive or lack there off that triggers our drive. It is their attitude- positive or negative that determines how sustainable our attitudes are.
The truth is, who we associate with influences how our lives roll out ;although it's to a certain extent. We have a duty to associated with friends that help us become better people. Friends who will encourage us to go after our dreams. Friends that constantly tell us it's possible and you can do it.
My question is...
Are you that friend?
Thursday 30 January 2014
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
The corporate society has for many years been obsessed with the details that go into your resume-curious about your personal details, educational background and off course work experience. And what usually surprises me about preparing my resume is how meticulously the follow of information must be represented-there MUST be a sort of pattern illustrating your growth. What I am referring to here is a pattern that goes something like this...
You start working as a intern doing filling and admin;you work very hard and get promoted to junior clerk. Inspired by this promotion,you work harder to be Supervisor with 4 people reporting to you. Off course the quest to become manager and eventually a partner consumes you and this is great. This shows ambition,determination and growth. A similar pattern is seen across many industries and is considered the rule of thumb, what is referred to as "climbing the corporate ladder"
However what happens when you decide to abandon the ladder you've spent years climbing to start a fresh journey where up you are required to start at the very bottom? How best does an individual give up everything(position, benefits, relationships) they have spent time working on to follow a dream that has no guarantees?
We are often told to take a risk and to pursue the dreams that burn us with passion, but many of the philosophers forgot to mention how hard giving up everything is. Many of the them did not tell us how scary this process is or how terrifying the uncertainty can be.
Developing a career that you can be proud of, comes with tough decisions I believe. The pressure we place ourselves under, trying to develop impressive resumes can also ruin the dreams many young people have. Some of us are so scared of making a fresh start within different industries, because we are worried of losing the comfort we have established. We are so scare of losing the benefits we are currently enjoying because we want to follow the corporate pattern described above.
Shouldn't this year be about what you think is best for you and your development? Shouldn't our career development be our responsibility? Shouldn't we follow our dreams against all odds?
What is your take on career development?
Smile.laugh.live
You start working as a intern doing filling and admin;you work very hard and get promoted to junior clerk. Inspired by this promotion,you work harder to be Supervisor with 4 people reporting to you. Off course the quest to become manager and eventually a partner consumes you and this is great. This shows ambition,determination and growth. A similar pattern is seen across many industries and is considered the rule of thumb, what is referred to as "climbing the corporate ladder"
However what happens when you decide to abandon the ladder you've spent years climbing to start a fresh journey where up you are required to start at the very bottom? How best does an individual give up everything(position, benefits, relationships) they have spent time working on to follow a dream that has no guarantees?
We are often told to take a risk and to pursue the dreams that burn us with passion, but many of the philosophers forgot to mention how hard giving up everything is. Many of the them did not tell us how scary this process is or how terrifying the uncertainty can be.
Developing a career that you can be proud of, comes with tough decisions I believe. The pressure we place ourselves under, trying to develop impressive resumes can also ruin the dreams many young people have. Some of us are so scared of making a fresh start within different industries, because we are worried of losing the comfort we have established. We are so scare of losing the benefits we are currently enjoying because we want to follow the corporate pattern described above.
Shouldn't this year be about what you think is best for you and your development? Shouldn't our career development be our responsibility? Shouldn't we follow our dreams against all odds?
What is your take on career development?
Smile.laugh.live
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