eBusiness Weekly
New Year Changes Nothing! Wow! What a title to an article especially during the early days of the year when everyone seems to be in the mood of wishing people all sorts of good things. This is also the time when many people in the religious circles will be fasting for 7, 10, 14, 30 and others even 40 days to replicate what Jesus did in the wilderness as documented in the gospels. What you will also note is that for many people, it is not their first time celebrating a New Year.
How has a “New Year” changed your life? I would love to hear that. A new year changes nothing, but decisions, new mindset, and actions change everything.
Wishes Change Nothing
Your phone may have been busy as mine with forwards from people wishing you a “prosperous year” on New Year’s Eve. This is a very kind gesture. In reality, wishes do not change anything but action does. Success runs on principles, and if you understand these principles whether you are in which year you will be successful. Whilst it is great to wish each other a great year and so forth, it is equally important for us to normalise a culture of real conversations, and encourage each other to take action in 2022.
Do something about your life
This is something most Zimbabweans do not want to hear at all. In fact, there is a culture amongst many of us of just waking up to complain about what is not working, and we blame politicians all day on social media. In 2022, do something about your life. Enough of talking, and complaining, do something. Blaming people will not change your life. Noone is coming to change your life. One of my latest books is called, “No one is Coming”, I encourage you to read it.
A story is told about a young boy who went to a Sangoma to inquire about the hope of his future. Right before his eyes, the Sangoma drew two circles, one in white and the other in black.
He then put a millipede in between the circles, and said: “if the millipede crawls into the white circle, your future will be bright and very great, but if it crawls into the black circle, then you are finished and doomed! No future at all!”. As soon as the insect was dropped in between the circles, it began crawling towards the white circle.
The boy was super-excited
But suddenly, as it got to the edge of the circle, it turned back and began crawling away from the white circle towards the black one.
The boy watched as the insect progressively moved farther away from his desire . . . to his doom. Then, just as the insect got to the edge of the black circle, the boy stretched his hands, picked it up and quickly but carefully dropped it in the white circle.
The sangoma was in shock; he had never seen anyone intervene in his own matter! Watching all the while, he asked the boy why he did what he did.
The boy smiled and simply replied: “I cannot sit and watch an insect determine and allow my destiny go down the gloom doom! While I can still do something about it, to change its course. My destiny is in my hands”.
He got up and left.
2022 is in your hands
I may sound offensive to some religious circles, but I believe in the old adage that we are masters of our destiny.
Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. When you wake up every day you have an option to complain about how things are, or you have the responsibility to change them. Do not wait on the future, create the future.
No wonder why the best way to predict the future is to create it. Get to a point where you make it clear that 2022 is in your hands. Like the boy in the earlier story, do not wait and look up to fate for what 2022 will be. Do not watch your life go down, pick it, and take it to the direction you want. Life owes you nothing, and no one owes you a thing. Take charge and responsibility of your life.
Work, Work!!
In a microwave generation, this is one of the pieces of advice that is unpopular. The work ethic amongst many people leaves a lot to be desired. There is no shortcut to success, you have to be willing to work both smart and hard.
What do you want in 2022? Rather than wishes, I have some piece of advice for you.
For HEALTH: see your doctor regularly, eat well, work out and worry less. There are several things that are within your control when it comes to your health. Be proactive about your wellbeing. Take out medical cover, and use it for routine checkups. Go for dental checkups using your cover.
For MONEY: Do not sleep like you are competing with the dead, and expect to compete in the land of the living. Moderate your sleep if you have been sleeping for extended hours. Do not watch several amounts of television, invest that time on working on yourself and your goals. Leave wrong associations that do not aid your financial goals. Join associations of people who help you become better in every area of your life. Increase your work time and if you share my faith I would also encourage you to pray for guidance. Deuteronomy 18:8 remind us to, “Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfil the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.”
For LOVE: Be more honest and sincere in your relationships. Invest in your relationships. You cannot reap where you did not sow.
For HAPPINESS: Seek peace with all men and love your neighbour as yourself. Make more friends than enemies. Be grateful for where you and what you have.
For FINANCES: Increase your streams of income. Have a budget for everything you want to do. Budgeting is telling your money where to go rather than wonder where it has gone. Stay away from unhealthy debt should you be inclined to borrow. Don’t try to impress anybody while depressing yourself in the process. If you live to impress people you will always be depressed. Be real in terms of your income and expenditure. Choose a lifestyle that you can sustain. Choose schools you can afford to pay for your children. The same applies to your accommodation. Prioritise financial freedom over status.
Be more proactive with your life, do not just sit, wait and hope things will change. Hope is not a strategy, and nothing was ever changed by merely hoping.
Arthur Marara is a corporate law attorney, keynote speaker, corporate and personal branding speaker commanding the stage with his delightful humour, raw energy, and wealth of life experiences. He is a financial wellness expert and is passionate about addressing the issues of wellness, strategy and personal and professional development. Arthur is the author of “Toys for Adults” a thought provoking book on entrepreneurship, and “No one is Coming” a book that seeks to equip leaders to take charge. Send your feedback to [email protected] or Visit his website www.arthurmarara.com or contact him on WhatsApp: +263780055152.
