MOTIVATION: See further, don’t stop now!

Hunt for Greatness

MANY years ago I wanted to take a driver’s licence. This was my big goal then and it was a mountain to climb.

I took all the oral and practical lessons that I could. Being a junior employee then, money was tight and every cent counted. In pursuit of my goal I then registered to take my practical driving test.

The first time I went for the test, I hit a drum in an effort to negotiate my way in reverse. It was a harrowing moment because I had to quickly stop and leave the car and the instructor would then move the car out for you.

I then took a few more lessons then took the test again. I wanted the licence so much and I had to keep going. There was no way out, except forward.

This time I managed the drums hurdle and it was at the hill start test that I stumbled. I had to go home disappointed, everything had happened so fast.

The next time I was able to go through the on-yard activities and then drive into town with the examiner barking, “Next turn right, turn left, take the next parking, stop and reverse into parking.”

It is one of those stiffening moments and I tightly held the steering wheel as though it would fly. After what seemed like eternity, I had to drive back with the examiner sitting next to me with a poker face.

He would glance at me, the road ahead and his clip. It was a piercing experience.

I felt an uneasy but fearful excitement and just hoped I had made the grade to be awarded a licence. When I got into the office to receive my verdict, my examiner thanked me and started pointing out the various errors I had made.

He then abruptly paused, looked up and bellowed, “better luck next time!” It was as though he had stabbed me.

In slow, unbelieving motion, I stepped out of the office, disheartened and sore. It took another 10 or 11 such visits until one day I heard the sweet news, “Congratulations, you can now drive on Zimbabwean roads!”

At that point I knew, persistence pays; you do not stop because of disappointment. Persistence pays in the end. Whatever is worth having is worth fighting to the end to get.

Believe you can

Sometimes the going is so tough that you are tempted to doubt your calling, deny your convictions, throw in the towel and resign to fate. You may be tempted to run, but stand and face the music until you can dance to the podium.

Believe you can, because you can. Whatever you dream and desire is possible. Stand in the ring and fight to the logical end called success. You may be knocked down, but don’t you lie down counting your miseries. Rise up and challenge your challenges.

In trying to get a driver’s licence, I was tempted to feel that I might never drive. The voice of doubt can be tormenting but decide that your goal is more important that your fears. Your destiny is more enticing than your fears.

Every time you fail, you just inch closer to succeed. Yours may be a tough walk through burning coals but believe you can and keep going. Refuse to give up or stop trying. Trying times are not the times to stop trying. Do not stop now.

Revise and redo

Every time that I took the driving test and would fail, I would listen carefully to all the issues the instructor would point out. It was painful emotionally and financially but in the end all the efforts paid off and I was moulded into a better driver.

When you fail, do not despair. Never waste the lessons from a failed attempt. Accept your defeat as a temporary signal that you have to do something differently.

Revise your action steps and then take the test again. Never waste a crisis. Never let any disappointment stop you from trying one more time. No obstacle should ever be allowed to snuff away from your heart the flame of passion.

Revise and redo. Take another go. Rise from the ashes of despair and take massive action. Go again. Attempt again. Charge forward more then you shrink back. Take the examination again. Refuse to stop trying until you stand in the winner’s circle.

Do not give up now.

Take massive action

Stumbling is not evidence of defeat, but of motion. You can never stumble while lying down in despair or sitting placidly doing nothing. Keep going and do not give up.

Trying times are not the times to stop trying. Stumbling and falling does not mean you are defeated and finished.

You cannot expire so early or despair so fast. Do you remember the last person who gave up in despair and quit the race? I bet you do not and no one else remembers the quitter either.

No one is interested in hearing the quitter’s story or his fearful reasons.

Quitting is not bravery. Take massive action. Challenge yourself to dare something big and bold. Many people will talk, while others will laugh. Be content to leave others to talk while you focus on what matters – massive and determined action.

Do not worry about the prating fools, just take action. Action will delineate you and mark you out for the honours.

In the end, action will speak louder and silence naysayers. Do not stop now.

Perfect circumstances

In my efforts to get my driver’s licence I met other seekers and pilgrims who were on the same journey.

We shared stories of possibilities and other conspiracy theories. The popular lore revolved around the perfect circumstances for taking a licence.

Some would suggest that you should take the test in the afternoon, soon after lunch when the examiner has just eaten.

Some would suggest that you should take your licence in a small town. Others would suggest this and the other circumstance or possibility.

What was true was that those who had the luxury of engaging in these debates were still seekers. I learnt one key thing at the time – there are no perfect circumstances.

Waiting for perfect circumstances in an imperfect world is self-deception. Perfect circumstances are a myth.

Great things happen when you roll up your sleeves and just decide to take massive and determined action towards your goals.

The pain you face today, is the energy you will feel tomorrow when you now have a testimony. Never let the feelings of discouragement and despair prey on you. In the end you will prevail. You may be delayed but you will not be denied. You may stumble, but you will arrive. Do not give up now.

Commit to excellence

When things are tough, it is easy to submit to temptation and yield to mediocrity. It is easy to start cutting corners and preferring the convenience of the mediocre aspirations. It is easy to begin to think you were destined to be a pedestrian.

Life may kick you in the teeth, but do not stop dreaming, thinking and demanding the best.

Martin Luther King Jnr once said: “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of Heaven and Earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well’.”

That is commitment to excellence.

Do what is in front of you with excellence and full commitment. Never let the pain barrier or emotional torment stop you.

Push beyond the limits and obstacles. Stretch beyond the pain point. The pain of today will not matter much in the next few years. What will matter are the results and the achievement. Do not fear and flee in despair.

The quality of your life and the speed of your progression is determined by your commitment to excellence.

Don’t stop now

Pick up the pieces, commit to excellence and do great things. There is greatness everywhere looking for suitors. Dare to believe and challenge your limits. Refuse to die in the winter before you have bloomed.

There is more opportunity ahead of you and around you than you think.

Milton Kamwendo is a cutting-edge international transformational and inspirational speaker, author and coach. He is a strategy and innovation consultant and leadership coach. His life purpose is to inspire people to release the greatness trapped in them. He can be reached at [email protected] and his Twitter handle is @MiltonKamwendo.