Stop being lazy, unleash your talents to create great things
are born to build YOU great things; bigger than what you have done to date, and bigger than you have dared to dream.
YOU have great potential. Everyone has the potential to build something great. Whether it is a physical structure, a community project or innovative new software.
The ability to create is your birthright. Latent within many of us is a common enemy — laziness.
It is the little voice that tells us to start tomorrow. It is the inclination to choose the easy path and generate excuses.
Procrastination stops us from achieving greatness. Wake up the builder within and dare to conquer laziness.
Activate your talents and start building your legacy.
The enemy
The first step in overcoming laziness is understanding why it occurs.
Laziness is not a lack of energy but often the absence of motivation or a misalignment of goals. It can stem from feeling overwhelmed, fear of failure or not seeing enough value in the outcomes. Reflect on what makes you feel lazy.
You do not have the luxury of subcontracting your life to other people or to chance.
Face the person in the mirror and get some answers.
The goals
Builders thrive on vision.
Like an architect who sees a completed building before the foundation is laid, you need to visualise what you intend to build. Set clear, inspiring and achievable goals. If your goals do not excite you, laziness will creep in as your tasks begin to feel more like obligations than stepping stones to success.
Chunk your goals into small, manageable steps. Celebrate every small step forward. Make a point to enjoy both the destination and the ride.
The environment
Your environment affects your productivity. A cluttered, uninspiring and disorganised space can mirror and enhance feelings of confusion and lethargy.
It is not about money; it is all about imagination.
Make your workspace inviting and stimulating.
Personalise your workspace to reflect your goals. Make your space a spice of greatness. The energy
Everyone has certain times of the day when they feel most energetic and inspired.
Identify these peak hours and schedule your most challenging tasks for these times.
For some, what works are the early morning hours, when the world is still asleep. For others, like owls, it is late at night. This is when they feel most creative. Look within and be true to your energy bus. Use your peak hours to tackle tasks that require the most brainpower and creativity.
Value your moments of flow.
The disciple
Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. Motivation gets you started and discipline keeps you going.
Establish routines that convert your tasks into habits.
Start with consistent wake-up times and bedtimes to regulate your body clock.
Set times for deep work and renewal. Lazy-proof yourself through the power of routines. Turn productive behaviours into habits, then keep repeating. As you turn the flywheel, you will fly
The builders
Isolation can enhance feelings of laziness, especially when tasks seem daunting.
Connect with like-minded people who are also builders. Surround yourself with energetic and ambitious people.
This will boost your own energy levels. Share your goals, seek advice and collaborate on projects to keep the motivational energy flowing.
In the Shona language, they say: “Makomo anopana mhute” (Mountains give each other mist).
The stones
Fear of failure is a significant contributor to laziness. Reframe your understanding of failure. In the building process, every misstep is an opportunity to learn and grow.
Each failure is a stepping stone to success. Accept that failure is a part of the building process.
Failure is merely an event but never a person.
The learning
The world of building and creating is constantly evolving. Stay fresh and current. As Eric Hoffer once said: “In times of change learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists.” Continuous learning keeps your mind engaged and excited about your projects. Learning can be formal or informal. Consider also micro-learning opportunities as a greatness tonic. The more skilled and knowledgeable you become, the more confident and less lazy you feel about building new things.
The reward
Be kind to yourself. Reward yourself for your hard work. Building great things is no small feat. Set rewards for different milestones along your journey. Rewards make the journey enjoyable. They remind you that your efforts have tangible outcomes and you are building brick by brick. Laziness is a natural feeling that everyone experiences.
It does not have to define your output or your capabilities. Understand the root of your laziness.
Set inspiring, bold goals. Optimise your environment. Embrace a community of builders.
In this way, you liberate your talents and achieve spectacular milestones.
Start today! Start with one brick, then another.
The only thing standing between you and your ability to build great things is your willingness to take the first step.
◆ Milton Kamwendo is a leading international transformational and motivational speaker, author and an 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