By ALEX OGUNDADEGBE
In the whole world today we are in a flux. Never before now has living on planet earth been so unpredictable and volatile. In the middle of a pandemic which keeps mutating into new strains requiring vaccines and protection, we have more information and tools at our finger tips than we’ve ever known. Quantum computerizing, robotics, automation and artificial intelligence have made the pace of production and processing of information almost at the speed of thought. Anyone who remains ignorant and unconcerned about developing himself by increasing and improving his skills does so by choice because the tools are immense and the access is unfettered. Changes in the world today require that we change too so as to cope with our environment. As we move into a new year make sure to try to be a better you in 2022!
There are certain rudimentary steps you can take that will ensure that you inspire yourself to become more refined and to get better at what you do as the season unfolds: First you have to make a prompt decision about key things in your life. What do you want to do? Where do you want to go? What do you want to be? Making a decision can set you on a brand new journey. It can stop you from postponing what you need to do. A total refinement of philosophy is necessary because old thinking and behaviour might not be able to get you to where you want to go. Once you get the monkey of hesitation and procrastination off your back, things begin to look different. All of a sudden, you might see a new day. The sky seems blue; you hear and see things that you normally would ignore or not fathom. You begin to ask yourself: Why have I postponed this for so long?
Beginning means getting started. Actually turning thoughts that are on paper into action can be an incredible source of inspiration. You need to keep at it, find a way through.
It is important that we follow decisions up with planning. What’s on your mind to do must be documented. So, get a journal, a hand top or a lap top and write it down. Writing it down is important. It gives your idea more life and etches it on your subconscious so that you find it difficult to forget. So, write as many plans as possible. The number and the sequence do not really matter unless of course you have a preference for doing one before the other. Writing it down can only serve as a source of inspiration for a while. You must take a step further and begin!
Beginning means getting started. Actually turning thoughts that are on paper into action can be an incredible source of inspiration. You need to keep at it, find a way through. Don’t let yourself, friends, neighbours associates or observers make excuses that will discourage you. Once you begin something new based on the big plans you have, resistance will arise. A thousand and one reasons will look you in the face, trying to convince you that it cannot be done. That is the time you must hanker down and be committed to pushing through. You have carved out a new track for yourself! Take exercising and getting in shape for instance, it takes discipline and a lot of commitment to do those push ups, take a walk around the block or jog the first kilometre. Perhaps you wish to be more informed and surrounded by useful information and intelligence, so you want to read more and study so that you improve your intellectual ability. Getting the first book and making a commitment to read it is an important beginning. After the first, you get the second and third and keep going on and on. You find that once you have begun and established a rhythm, it gets easier. One philosopher said habit will take you further than desire. We are creatures of habit, so we must make an effort to start and maintain good habits. Such habits will lead us to our desired destination. To build the habit we must make progress.
Perseverance can be learnt like playing an instrument or driving a car. In a long distance race it is the athlete with an outstanding amount of perseverance that stands out and often wins.
Progress can only be achieved by commitment to the new journey. Suppose you say, “I want to stop being shy, so I can be a better public speaker and marketer”. You must begin to speak to people. You cannot get better if you are not willing to speak to all manner of people. Start with one. Move on to the next one. I guarantee that it will get easier at a certain time. After a lot of activity along that line you want to develop, you will find that it gets a lot easier than when you began. Volumes will enable you gain skill and expertise. So, for those who want to attain skill, it’s important that you begin with learning and practice. Raise your numbers and at a point in time your learning curve will adjust to the activity and you will begin to make progress. One description of unhappiness is: “a lack of progress towards a desired or preset goal”. You do not have to arrive at that goal at once, but you need to move closer to it. That is progress. A time marker is usually involved because you tell yourself that, for instance, in the next thirty days I want to be able to do this!” Time is in essence a measure of progress. One ingredient we may need along the way is perseverance. We need to be able to hang in there and get past the period of pain that features in a new course or journey that we are travelling. Unfamiliar terrain can be rather exasperating, especially if we find we are not making progress as fast as we would wish to. How can we develop perseverance? Race horses and camels seem to have it in their genes. They will go on for as long and as far as the rider pushes them, sometimes even to the point of death. Perseverance is not a death knell, even though another philosopher did say there has to be something you are doing that you are willing to die for. Perseverance is the opposite of procrastination.
In the New Year, make a commitment. Tell yourself, “I shall press on until I get it done!” Perseverance can be learnt like playing an instrument or driving a car. In a long distance race it is the athlete with an outstanding amount of perseverance that stands out and often wins. So start today. Make a list of personal challenging realistic well defined and highly rewarding goals and begin to act on them. You cannot be a successful person without them. Have a great year ahead!
*Ogundadegbe is a renowned management consultant. He trains managers and executives in the arts of Customer Service, Human Resources Management and Management strategy ([email protected]).
