The Sunday Mail
Changing Perspectives
Rutendo Gwatidzo
BEING aware of who you are and what you like is good enough to get you started.
Once you know your identity and purpose, what will be required next is action.
The action part is where many get left behind.
January is generally challenging because many would have overspent during the holidays.
However, getting started regardless of current circumstances is very important. Plans without action are futile.
By now, a good number of us have thought, strategised and planned for the year. This is critical because now is the time to get started.
Secret to success
Many schools and organisations opened in the past week, and business is now running as usual.
So, have you started working towards that goal or dream you have probably been talking about for long?
You will never accomplish anything if you procrastinate.
Getting started is the first secret to making dreams come true.
You probably took time to study yourself and now know your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
What then are you still waiting for?
There can never be a perfect time.
Gather courage and simply do it.
Also, do not overthink.
There is a difference between thinking and overthinking.
Thinking will help you plan and strategise, but overthinking may only waste time. Almost everyone has great ideas, but not all of them act on them.
Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
Indeed, getting started can be daunting.
However, you must keep on chasing the dream bit by bit until you arrive.
Yes, you can, and, yes, it is possible.
All you need is to just get started and you will figure it out along the way.
Start from wherever you are and with whatever you have.
Stop talking and act
Zig Ziglar, an American author, once said you do not have to be great to start something but you have to start to be great.
Evangelist Myles Munroe once mentioned how the grave is the richest place because of people who died with great ideas that were never put into action.
It is time to stop talking and begin acting.
Just start by doing what is necessary, then move on to doing what is possible, and, before you realise it, you will be doing the seemingly impossible.
It is better to waste time trying and failing than to waste time not getting started.
In trying, you get to learn what works, and this is how you get to proceed.
This past week, I read a book by Robert T. Kiyosaki titled “Rich Dad Poor Dad”.
What caught my attention was something to do with action and getting started.
There is a part in the book where he mentions that if you think like the rich, you will begin to behave and act like them. Do you realise that behaving and acting is another way of getting started because you align yourself to that which you want to become?
It is okay to change direction
You can always change direction when you realise that you really do not like the path you chose.
If you are not careful, you might spend your whole life trying to define yourself and understand who you are.
It is all right to allow others to help you define yourself.
It is also fine to follow other people’s visions and then find yourself in the process.
Organisational status
Many organisations have strategies piled up every year and all they need now is to begin to implement them.
Remember, strategy without action is like a seed in the ground without water — nothing will come out.
Many organisations have invested huge amounts in planning and strategising, so now is the time to invest in taking action.
Finding the right people can be a challenge, but you can get started with the team available, then align and realign as you go.
You may be pleasantly surprised to discover that the team is even more capable than you initially thought.
It is much easier and exciting when we embark on a journey as a team.
Be encouraged and inspired to embark on the journey of getting started.
All the best!
Rutendo Gwatidzo is a culture and change management strategist. She is an HR consultant, speaker, mentor and author. Contact detail — 0714575805/ [email protected] / Rutendo Gwatidzo official fb public page.
