Be proud of who you are

GUESS who I am.

I am unique, fearfully and wonderfully made. I am clothed with beauty, though others may not see it.

Changing Perspectives

Rutendo Gwatidzo

Many people fought and some still fight for me but I do not forget to whom I belong, so I protect myself.

I am brave, resilient and uneasily broken. Many have tried to destroy me but I know how to fight back.

When the going gets tough, I get tougher and I get going.

Though others run way from me, some rush towards me because I have hidden treasure. Once you tap into my beauty, you will never want to leave me. If you did not know me, try me and you will never be disappointed.

I am Africa!

Happy belated Africa Day to you all. It is my hope that we all managed to find the meaning of what it means to be an African.

It is my desire that we all get to appreciate and be proud of who we are, as Africans. The month of May is gone and June is upon us. I encourage you all to keep warm to avoid unnecessary sickness.

To all learners who are going to sit exams in June, I wish you the best.

Remember, good results are an outcome of hard work, so be encouraged to study more.

Did you know?

There is only one you, and that alone is reason enough to celebrate yourself. A good number of us are not proud of who we are; we envy other people and wish to be like them.

If you find yourself among those who envy other people most of the time, if not all the time, then you need to begin to do something about yourself.

Take a deeper look at things you envy and work towards achieving them bit by bit.

Consider the saying “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride”.

This simply means that, unless action is taken towards achieving something, wishes will forever remain just that.

What is it that is unique about you? What is it that you excel in? Use your unique strengths to become a brand that you are proud of, even before other people become proud of you.

For instance, Africa has many challenges.

However, it is rich in minerals that have and still do give us a competitive advantage. I believe that, as individuals, we all have a competitive advantage in one way or the other that we can use to blossom.

Organisational status

Many organisations have suffered brain drain over the years, especially in the past two.

Covid-19 hit us all hard and left wounds that will take time to heal or never heal.

Among the many effects of Covid-19 has been the loss of revenue by a significant number of organisations. Some organisations downsized and others reduced salaries and benefits. There are some that are still operating but at a loss. Others have even closed.

A good number of workers still employed by the organisations feel helpless.

Most are more worried about losing their jobs every day to the extent that, instead of focusing on working to make a difference, they look for jobs elsewhere. There is nothing wrong about looking for greener pastures.

However, sometimes greener pastures lie right where you are.

If you focus on making a difference where you are, it is probably a matter of time before it pays off. Moving away is not always the solution.

In my HR consultancy, I have engaged with many who moved to other countries in search of better opportunities but sadly, they came across worse things. It appears there is a misconception that good life can only be achieved when you go out of the country.

Be informed that it is neither here nor there; it is not always a matter of place; it is mainly about who you are and what you do with what you have.

What do you have and what can you give? Try your best to use your unique skills wherever you are and they will open doors for you.

So, before you consider going elsewhere, be encouraged to think about giving your all where you are. I understand that we sometimes come across limiting factors that stop us from reaching our potential.

General facts

We all need to be celebrated in one way or the other. Start by celebrating yourself. If you struggle to find something to celebrate about yourself, then you should know that others are probably experiencing the same.

What do you tell yourself when you look in the mirror? What is it that you would point out if you were someone else?

The moment you find that unique thing about you, be proud of who you are and focus on growing that unique skill. Failure to realise your competitive advantage can give room to others who may take advantage of you.

Accept your unique features and enjoy them.

For instance, accept being African and the way you look. You do not necessarily need to bleach your skin to look like those you envy.

You probably need to focus on nourishing your skin so that it becomes flawless the way it is. People who bleach their skins can actually begin to envy you.

Allow yourself to reach maximum potential before you take a different direction. Be proud of yourself not necessarily for being a champion only, but for being able to make it under the circumstances you find yourself.

Be challenged, encouraged and inspired to make a difference where you are before moving to another place.

Rutendo Gwatidzo is the managing consultant at The HUB HR Consultancy — a culture and change management organisation. She is a multi-award-winning leader as a consultant, speaker and mentor. She is also an author of the books “Born to Fight” and “Breaking the Silence”. Contact detail: 0714575805/ [email protected] / Rutendo Gwatidzo official fb public page.