The Sunday Mail
SOMETIMES, the choice of being a victor or victim is yours.
Changing Perspectives
Rutendo Gwatidzo
Inasmuch as we may be unable to control what happens to us, we can control what we become.
For example, we cannot choose where we are born or our families.
However, we can choose the direction we take in life to become what we desire.
Do not wait for fate to determine the direction of your life. You need to be deliberate about the path you want to take in life.
Oftentimes, things we take as being there to harm us may actually be the cornerstone of what we should become in life.
If not careful, having a victim mentality can harm us to the extent of draining out all the positive energy necessary for our growth.
Challenges are everywhere.
The world is full of challenges.
The challenges we go through in Africa, for instance, are different from those faced by people in Asia or America.
However, the bottom line is that we all have challenges to deal with. Generally, life is not easy and I believe it was never meant to be easy.
We do not always get what we think we deserve, but we get what we fight for.
All of us have a desire to make it in life.
We all want to succeed regardless of our circumstances. However, not everyone wants to fight for that success.
Good things do not come on a silver platter.
We have to be intentional, strategic and alert to achieve what we desire.
Organisational status
The challenge in many organisations is that almost everyone feels they deserve more than what they are getting.
Rarely do you come across anyone who feels they are earning more than they deserve.
Oftentimes, I have come across employees who think their performance should align with what they earn. They argue they will only enhance their performance when their remuneration packages have been improved.
The Bible says: “My people perish for lack of knowledge.”
Do not be found among such people.
It is important to seek knowledge.
One of the best and fastest ways of growing and earning more in any organisation is through excellent performance.
You are encouraged to perform beyond what is expected of you and the improved package will follow.
I found out during a recent strategy workshop I had with 20 senior executives from different local organisations that management looks for highly motivated teams that perform beyond their job descriptions.
Those are the ones they target for promotion. Most of the executives had one thing in common: they were once junior employees before being promoted.
What separated them from the rest was their outstanding performance, regardless of their salaries and benefits.
Most of them were geared to make a difference in their respective workplaces.
If you are employed at whatever level, be inspired and encouraged to have an intentional plan about your growth in that organisation. Ask yourself what you are going to do differently to make a difference.
Promotions and growth follow passion, and not the other way round
General facts
Zimbabwean author Arthur Marara’s book, titled “No one is coming”, encourages us to take charge of our own lives and be intentional about making a difference.
Whatever you wish to see happening in your life, you are responsible for making it happen. Do not wait for anyone else to bring about change in your life while you fold your hands and wait for things to take shape.
You need to rise and be the change you wish to see.Do you know that whatever you put your mind to do, you will do it?
This is because once you see it, you will be halfway there.
The most important part is to see it first.
Dream big and you will achieve big.
Look for those who have already walked a similar road and ask them for guidance.
Rutendo Gwatidzo is managing consultant at The HUB HR Consultancy. She is a multi-award-winning consultant, speaker and mentor. She is also author of the books: “Born to Fight” and “Breaking the Silence”. Contacts: +263 714 575 805/ [email protected]/ Facebook: Rutendo Gwatidzo_Official.
