The Sunday Mail
Changing Perspectives
Rutendo Gwatidzo
MERRY Christmas to you all. Today is a celebration day for most of us, as we remember the good things that our Lord God did for us.
I know we all have different beliefs and belong to different religions, but today being an international public holiday, it is a day to sit back, relax and enjoy.
For those in the body of Christ, today resembles the day our Lord Jesus Christ was born, even though it is not the actual day. For others who are not in the body of Christ category, inasmuch as they choose to celebrate today or not, the bottom line of what this day resembles still remains the same. With this in mind, I would like to challenge someone to remember something.
If you believe in Jesus Christ, remember that it is by grace that you are still alive today. Be grateful for the gift of life. If you have family, friends or associates to celebrate this day with, remember to appreciate them for being there for you and for completing the missing link in the equation of your life.
If you can afford good food, leisure and the ability to buy new things as you celebrate, remember that the difference between you and the next person failing to afford those things is probably an inch or a few inches. Be humble and wise as you spend. Life can humble anyone due to forces beyond our control. Even those forces within our control can sometimes take us by surprise in the twinkling of an eye and leave you wondering how you got there. Therefore, remember that sharing is caring.
You are blessed to be a blessing to others. In most cases, the true joy of our abundance or our blessings comes when we share what we have with others. Being able to transform someone’s life positively can be fulfilling in a way that money can never buy. Be encouraged to remember those on the streets and those who are underprivileged in many different ways.
Consider giving someone a smile by sharing the blessings you have. You can share anything, and it can go a long way in making someone smile and in impacting that person’s life positively. Small acts of kindness can make a lifetime difference.
Did you know?
As I was following the story of one of the world’s best ever footballers, Lionel Messi, who many believe to be the greatest of all time, I was very encouraged to be in the habit of helping others, after I realised that it took the decision of one man who decided to sign him up with FC Barcelona. Back then, it was for the purpose of helping Messi to cater for his medical bills. In the process of his treatment and engagement with the football club, one thing led to another, and the rest is history. Did you know that Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, was an adopted child? The same applied to Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa? I could have listed many similar Zimbabwean examples, but I just want to show someone that acts of kindness can go global and can further transform and impact your life positively. Be inspired to extend a helping hand in this festive season, and make a difference in someone’s life, including yours as well. It is a good thing to remember the needy during this time.
Spend with focus
There is still life after the festive season. Spend with focus; do not forget tomorrow. For some, you probably need to put school fees for your children aside first, before you start spending. Remember, as children start a new year and probably a new chapter of education, schools may require full fees at once. Also remember that sometimes the new year calls for new uniforms and stationery, plus a number of other items. Do not allow the pressure of seeing those without schoolchildren spending in a certain way prompt you to squander cash meant for fees. This is just one example that represents many other aspects of life.
Organisational status
It is not every organisation that needs to close business. Some people, for instance, those in the clothing and food industry, should be operating because this is the time when customers buy the most. There are managers who do not really understand the nature of their business and they operate according to how other enterprises do, not necessarily how they should be operating.
Managers represent owners of the business and should act accordingly. Sadly, there are managers who are just after making employees happy and they give in to demands of workers without thinking about the effects of their decisions. For instance, employees will always push for off days for as long as they can, because most of them know that their salaries will still hit their accounts.
But for managers and owners, it is a different scenario; they are the ones who should make sure that there is enough for everyone’s salaries. For this reason, they should implement strategies that are effective and efficient. Employees may not like some of the strategies but the moment they see positive results, they buy into the idea.
If you are a manager who separates himself or herself from the owners of the business, then you probably should remain a subordinate until you fully understand your role. Remember the organisational liabilities waiting to be settled by the end of month. If the business should be open during this festive season, let it be operational and compensate the employees later. All you need is to probably effectively communicate this.
General facts of life
The brain is created in such a way that it remembers moments more than days lived. Create lasting moments during this festive season that will be remembered in generations to come. Visit someone in hospital, share food with someone lacking or visit someone in prison; just do something that extends a helping hand this festive season.
For organisations, as part of giving back to the community, do something that will make the community smile. It can be a cleaning campaign, giveaways or educational support. Remember, it is only a week away into the following year. What is it that you want to be remembered for in the remaining part of this year?
For some of us, we failed to reach our targets and goals, and the only chance we have that can bring us fulfilment is making a difference in someone else’s life in the best way we can. Come on now, think about it and extend a helping hand before the year ends. Merry Christmas to you all once again.
Rutendo Gwatidzo is a culture and change management strategist. She is as an HR consultant, speaker, mentor and author of the books “Born to Fight” and “Breaking the Silence”. She was on the Institute of Corporate Directors Zimbabwe (IoCDZ) List of 40 Influential Leaders in Zimbabwe 2022. Contact detail: 0714575805/ [email protected] / Rutendo Gwatidzo official fb public page.
