Steer your life forward

I just been offered a job in Harare. It was my first job after university. Now, I had to make the long journey from my hometown.

HAVING little resources but thrilled by this great opportunity, I got a lift in one of the inter-city trucks. It was a trip like no one. I discovered how expandable cabin space is on that night. The trip took almost nine hours, with the truck finally worming into Harare in the early hours of the morning.

Rolling into Harare along Simon Mazorodze Road, I was hit by the smell of fresh bread that seemed to fill the whole area near the then popular Nazareth Hospital. While enveloped in this hunger-inducing aroma, I saw a big bill board written: “Take a fresh look at bread”.

A thought hit my mind: It was time to take a fresh look at life. I was motivated. I was hungry for greatness.

Hunger is a driver and key to achieving worthy goals.

Stay hungry and be driven. It is this drive for greatness that will keep you going, even when things are tough. Hunger, if well channelled, is fuel. It is the fire that burns within you. It propels you forward towards your dreams.

Why do you do what you do? A big “Why” gives you clarity and motivation.

What do you want to achieve in life? What are your passions and dreams? Why do you want the goals that you have? It is the “Why” that inspires the “What” and the “How”.

Let purpose keep you inspired. The person who knows “Why” will always direct the mindless doer. Purpose stirs inner motivation.

It fires you up to keep going when all about you looks dark and dry.

It is not enough to know the purpose. You need to go further and take an aim. Clarify and prioritise your

1. Know your why: 2. Take an aim:

actions and goals. Set goals that you own and that speak to you. Make sure the goals have a “trade” factor in them.

Once you have set the goals, you need to take action. Put action behind your goals. Do not just take chameleon actions. Start running towards your goals. Your actions must show that you believe in your goals. Wake up every day to run. Run like you are crazy. Do not just run alone, find others to run with you.

Once you have secured one goal, do not relax and lose steam. Find another. Keep adding a new dimension and moving forward.

In your journey to greatness, you will always find some “Ds” along the way. When DISCOURAGEMENT comes, plough through it. When DELAY comes, keep running. When DEFEAT happens, do not linger long at the scene.

Reboot and run again.

To achieve your goals, you are trading your energy always. Decide where you will direct your energy.

Focus your efforts. Some things are not worth your energy.

3. Take small bites:

Anything you face looks large and impossible until you break it down into small components. Large goals can be daunting and overwhelming. Do not let this stop you.

Break the 10-year goal into annual goals. Break the annual goal into monthly pieces. Break the monthly goal into weekly and daily steps.

Small steps compound. Small drops of rain create floods. Small grains of sand silt a river. Do not be discouraged because all you can take is a small step. Keep moving.

If you cannot walk, just crawl. If you cannot run, walk. If you cannot fly, then run. What is important is to take action. Take small steps and keep moving. Keep hope alive.

4. Fresh look:

Take a fresh look at everything in you and around you. Stop complaining and take a fresh look at how you can make a difference.

Stop banging your head about problems and start looking for solutions. You do not have the luxury of being in a rut. Take a fresh look at your life.

If your goals do not have motivational power, dump them. You do not have the luxury to live in expired mode.

Find goals that inspire you to tap into your well of motivation.

If you are blind to the opportunities around you, just take a fresh look. Do not look with a lens of fear.

Take a fresh look of faith and a leap of hope.

Great things require a fresh look. You may have failed at some point. Take a fresh look and change your approach. Do not let failure stop you from dreaming. Dream again something fresh and inspiring.

Take a fresh look at life. Stop running in the negative lane. Take a fresh look at life and join the army of doers, possibility thinkers and dreamers.

Committed to your greatness.