Be unstoppable

WHAT does it really take to stop you from pursuing something? What failure have you accepted? Who are you really at the core? What have you allowed to steal your momentum? In you lies something very strong. You are not a coward.

YOU do not escape from the heat of greatness.

Use your towel to wipe off the sweat, and keep going. In the rain, sweat is invisible, but you are willing to keep going and doing your best. You do not throw in the towel. You are unstoppable.

Michael Jordan is a legend in the world of sport. He is a hero in basketball circles. Given his record and shooting prowess, one would think he got everything right most of the time. He did not, but was unstoppable.

Jordan once said: “I’ve missed more than 9 000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” What?

He says he succeeded because he failed, but did not let the setback get him down. Every impediment you face is a setup for a comeback.

If you can keep moving despite any obstacles and challenges, you will be great.

Make failure an event but never a terminal station. Stick to the fight when you are hardest hit. Every boxer knows that a knockdown is not always a knockout.

You may experience a setback or many hurdles. No mountain of setbacks is reason enough for you to retire to a life of misery, regret and purposelessness. Stage your comeback. There is something very strong in you. Your spirit is stronger than your body. Your determination and resolve to win are stronger than any obstacle that stands in your way. That obstacle in your path is your stepping stone to greatness. Your future is more exciting than your past. There are inexhaustible possibilities that lie ahead.

The second coming

Never let past failure stop you from trying and making another bold attempt. Come back to the ring, and do not die in your winter. Do not wilt in your wilderness moments. Do not deify your challenges and think your world has ended. The challenges you face are not unique, and you are not the only one who encounters such difficulties.

It takes time, effort and indefatigable focus to achieve true greatness. Never let other people’s unwarranted complaints and negativity become an epidemic you suffer from and pass on to others.

Spread hope and not despair. Spread vision and not division.

There was this man you probably have heard about. His fledgling company was incorporated in 1976. Its dream was to revolutionise the world of personal computing. With his friend, they initially worked from a garage.

The man, adopted at birth, worked hard. He made good money and a great name. He could easily have retired to a life of idleness without having to worry about money. However, his dream was bigger than lazy retirement and purposeless pampering. He was on a mission. He animated his teams and his work became well-known around the world. That was not the end of the story.

By the mid-1980s, he sensed his business now needed competent management. He had the drive but needed capable management. He brought in a tested corporate manager. They soon were at loggerheads. In 1985, he was dismissed from the company he started. He walked away in deep pain. His dream seemed painfully lost.

Pain is too precious an asset to squander, feeling pity for yourself. He did not spend too long a time in unending grief and personal horror stories. He opened the next chapter of his life. He called it “NeXT”. There are next opportunities lurking beyond despair.

He stuck to his passion and kept surveying around him.

When you cannot work on the centre, work on the boundaries. He developed a new operating system. He created an advanced computer that was ahead of its time but did not sell much, at least then. The seeds of success are hidden in every failure you face.

He bought into Disney. He made animated movies that broke the charts. He matured as a leader and manager. He took to new interests and adventures that broadened his mind and perspective.

Do not spend your wilderness moments in “sleep mode”. Keep sharpening the edges of your pencils.

The late Steve Jobs spent 10 years in the computing wilderness (1986-1996). He proved that the wilderness is not a barren place but an opportunity for growth. In 1997, he was invited back to the company he started and loved. The firm was losing its soul. He brought back a new operating system, clarity of vision, passion and a mature but ferocious focus.

What does it take to stop you? The rest of Jobs’ story is that I am writing this article using a MacBook, and have my iPhone close by.

Committed to your greatness.

◆ Milton Kamwendo is a leading international transformational and motivational speaker, author and accomplished workshop facilitator. He is a cutting-edge strategy, team-building and organisation development facilitator and consultant. His life purpose is to inspire and promote greatness. He can be reached at: mkamwendo@gmail.com