Be determined to overcome challenges
I would like to start by responding to the question I was asked the most in the past week.
Is there a season in life where one can say I do not have troubles? I strongly believe there is no such season in life. Every period comes with challenges. The only difference is that challenges vary in nature and size, hence their effect on us varies. Even when everything seems to be going well on the surface, there may be issues requiring attention on the underground.
Thus, some challenges are directly related to us while other encounters are indirect. For instance, the fact that the economic conditions are harsh affects everyone in one way or the other.
If you are a business person, for example, challenges faced by your employees are indirectly or directly yours as well. If you come from extended families, challenges faced by your cousins and other relatives are yours in some way.
Life is generally full of ups and downs. One day you may feel you are mastering the game of eliminating challenges but before you realise it, you may find yourself in the thick of things.
Life has a way of humbling people, even when they least expect it.
Look at the Covid-19 era, for instance. The pandemic humbled many people in many different ways.
The good thing, though, is that with determination, anyone can still achieve success regardless of the size of the challenge.
There are many winning strategies that can be applied when addressing challenges. Kindly note that winning strategies are not fixed but vary from time to time. All you need is wisdom to know which one to apply at a given point.
Organisational status
Targets and deadlines will always be part of any business or employment. Organisations have goals and obligations to meet on a monthly basis.
To wish targets away is like chasing wind; your chances of succeeding are as good as non-existent.
Instead of hating targets, I would like to encourage managers and subordinates to embrace them with positivity and strategise on how to meet them.
A significant number of teams lack determination; they are quick to give up, especially when they feel nothing is moving.
Lessons from farmers
I grew up in rural areas where farming was key as livelihoods of many people depended on it.
I watched many farmers getting ready for the rainy season and they would put seeds in the ground with hope. Some seeds took long and some did not germinate.
Some seasons were better than others. But in all the ups and downs, I have rarely seen farmers who gave up. I believe the same is still happening to this day. Each and every rainy season, you find farmers preparing for a bumper harvest. If such determination can be brought into different organisations, I believe many institutions will stand the test of time.
The challenge with different teams within organisations is that many of them have multiple options. This causes many of them to fail to focus and stabilise because they are quick to touch on a project and be quick to let go, before it produces results. I have witnessed many employees who change organisations like clothes.
They join one and at the end of the probation period, they leave to join another and keep on doing it.
Many employees are very fragile; the moment management pushes them for results, they are quick to let go.
The reason some of them hop from one job to another is they want stress-free things. I believe there is no easy job. Every job requires excellence in order to pay well.
Achieving excellence comes with dedication, attention to detail, consistency and commitment. Anything called excellence requires determination because it cannot be attained easily. I encourage all teams and managers to focus on excellence in what they do and determination will become part of who they are.
General facts
The fact that it is hard does not mean it is impossible. Determination is a key success factor. Refuse to be someone who quickly gives up.
When someone tells you that it cannot be done, it simply means you can do it without that person.
Challenges in life are inevitable; they will always be part of life.
The ability to deal with challenges is what makes life workable.
Find friends and associates who are likeminded in terms of having determination to overcome challenges.
You can never run away from challenges, no matter how much you try. Be challenged, encouraged and inspired to deal with challenges one by one.
Life is lived in levels, but arrived at in stages.
Continue to climb up the ladder while you endure to overcome challenges step by step.