From the valley of despair to the Harbour City: Lessons from my journey

Last month I was highly honoured to be awarded ISACA Sydney' first ever Best Governance Professional 2016 in front of distinguished professionals, executives, and those who founded the chapter in 1976 (4 years before I was born). The award was recognition from my industry peers for the thought leadership I have been contributing to the profession.

For an immigrant who arrived in this great country with less than USD300.00 nine years ago, this was a momentous achievement. I have always strived to be the best that I can be. I was overjoyed and decided to share my joy via social media, including a snippet of my troubled past. But little did I know that the same poverty that brought me so much contempt as I grew up would connect me with so many gracious people, most of whom I have never met. Thousands of people affectionately shared their delight in my success and some messages brought tears to my eyes. Hundreds wished me well as I pursue my higher calling, some shared my story with their children, some called me a great person, whilst some said my story had inspired them. Some even promised me new shoes :-) Consistent with the values instilled in me from a young age, I wanted to thank each of them, but I couldn’t keep up, so I decided to pen this article, which I dedicate to all those who shared their joy in my success.

Make most of opportunities presented before you

Growing up in a remote village in central Zimbabwe I clearly knew that my only escape route was education. I desperately yearned for a day I could afford to buy my own shoes and a pair of white socks. If I screwed up I would be screwed for my entire life. It was so easy to blame the dysfunctional systems. In fact, most systems never worked and are even worse today. On the contrary, I chose to toughen up and make do with whatever was available. I tilled tracts of people's fields over school holidays in exchange of little cash to buy a school uniform. I strolled across the township looking for empty Coca-Cola bottles to sell and buy vegetables. I passed my exams with outstanding marks living in a room with no electricity, making most of daylight and sacrificing my weekends.

Which brings me to the little, dingy room I shared with Tich, a fellow 14-year old. The tiny room was part of a 3 roomed desolate structure. It had no windows, no water, and had a makeshift unlockable door. The neglected structure had no bathrooms, meaning we had to rely on nearby pubs (they were actually beerhalls; the word pub kind of glorifies them). Further complicating matters, the other 2 rooms were occupied by two prominent sex workers, who brought in so many strange men, and more often their short-term relationships ended in vicious arguments and scuffles, sometimes in the middle of the night or very early mornings, when the clients had to check out and settle their bills. Those brawls scared us to death (we were only 14) and disturbed our already troubled sleep. But the ladies were also kind, often sending us to buy cigarettes and alcohol in exchange of some little cash, which we desperately needed for food.

But all these difficulties didn’t faze me; I never made excuses or felt sorry for myself. I made do with what was available. I refused to sit back and wait for circumstances to change (they never changed and are unlikely to change anytime soon). I didn’t allow my situation to push me down and hold me under. My father bought me my first pair of shoes when I was 12, meaning I spent almost my entire primary school life bare-footed, enduring so many cold winters. Yet I finished with highest grades across the whole school.

My first pair of shoes was the ankle-high Tenderfoot. Quite ironic, because talking of tenderness, my feet were anything but. In fact, they might have been as rough as a rhino skin. That pair of shoes brought so much joy to my life, but not without a challenge. They felt weird, and adjusting my step was a delicate act that took months to master. As soon as my first pay cheque hit the bank (13 years later), I blessed myself with a nice pair of Reeboks.

Most Friday evenings I would run back home, 23kms away, and run back Monday mornings. No wonder that I became a long distance runner at school. I ran fast so I would get home before dark, having been told countless but unproven tales of thugs hired by local businessmen to waylay for pedestrians and dismember special body parts to boost sales. A friend recently asked how long it took me to run those 23kms, to which I just laughed; “If I got my first pair of shoes at 12, how could I afford a watch? It was just quick”.

When-ever I ran home, I borrowed a novel from the school library to read while herding cattle, a trick that greatly improved my English. I developed a habitual devotion to reading whatever material I came across to improve myself. My cousin Shonhiwa used to collect old newspapers from a local primary school where he worked as a guard. But unlike me, Shons (as we called him) wasn’t interested in reading the content, rather, stuffing tobacco and coiling very long cigars. But he was very considerate; he would let me read a potion first, and once I was done, he would coil his cigar. He taught me to share.

I come across so many people in this prosperous country trapped in self-doubt or habitually complaining about governments or parents not doing enough for them. I am no judge, I know so many people are having it tough, but I would suggest taking heed to Bertrand Russell, “It’s a healthy idea, now and then to hang a question mark on things you have long taken for granted.” I personally never took anything for granted. For instance, some Tuesdays, Tich and I were granted 30 minutes access to a nearby house, where we could watch wrestling sitting on the floor while everyone was sitting on comfy couches.  Being relegated to the cold floor never bothered us; we were extremely gracious about the rare window of entertainment they afforded us. After all not everyone would allow two scruffy boys in their house anyway, so why bother sitting on a couch. This chapter is also closed, as I am now a proud owner of two large black sofas :-)

I always made conscious effort to hide my shameful residence from my friends for as long as I could, often walking them to their residences before I sneaked into our little room. Then, it was important to veil my circumstances, as I knew for certain that once my squalid conditions were exposed, I would be bullied, which would be detrimental to my academic performance.

Don’t let your circumstances define you

Poverty can degrade us, confine us, or often force us to settle for much less than our capabilities would permit. Growing up I have had to actively repel the negative stereotypes associated with rural folks: unpolished, ignorant, timid, or severely lacking common etiquettes. These human defined labels can cut deep into our souls, precipitate insidious decay of self-hate, force us to throwaway our own identities and pretend to be who we are not, or cast dark shadows of self-doubt. But for me, it evoked a different response. It instilled a strong sense of focus and a stubborn desire to break the endless cycle of poverty that had haunted my family for generations. Throughout the years, even when life felt like it was all uphill, my dreams never faltered.

I had no patience with anyone who tried to confine my potential or give me names. When I passed my ordinary levels with distinctive marks my family encouraged me to apply for a teaching job, but I wanted walk a different path. My resolve meant I had to wait seven years before earning any income, but settling for this “reasonable proposition” would have greatly undermined whatever I envisioned to be. Today I look back with no regrets; I have more capacity to help my family.

But beliefs don’t in themselves help you shake off self-doubt. I always reinforced my convictions with action. Knowing very well that I was a country boy, I applied for jobs at big four consulting firms, normally associated with grammar school kids. I borrowed a black suit from my friend Oscar when I secured my first interview at Deloitte. I didn’t want to jeopardise this great opportunity by rocking up in my olive green, double breasted suit. My Deloitte experience would later on open up endless opportunities, connect me with very ambitious colleagues and teach me the ways of the world (including how to fold pocket squares).

Challenging our comfort zones unlock new possibilities, as well as boost our self-belief. I grew up playing soccer barefooted in the dusty streets of Mhondoro. But four years ago I tried something new, and took up golf. I have since gone to win dozens of club competitions including multiple monthly medals, played at some of the most exclusive courses in Australia. But most importantly, through golf I met hundreds of highly accomplished and great human beings and furthered my self-efficacy.

I have had to work hard unlearning the bad habits I accumulated over the years, adapt and learn from others. But I also strive to remain true to the core and be proud of my unique journey. After all, our diversities make the world beautiful and stronger, as long as we harness them correctly.

Associate with like-minded folks

I walked this torturous journey with so many bright young minds, but I selected my friends wisely, preferring those who shared a common vision. We competed fiercely in school, stayed away from drugs or other adolescent enticements that could have easily derailed our dreams. We were living by ourselves in a township with absolutely no supervision, and could have easily engaged in mischief with impunity.

Importantly, I was very lucky to have individuals who believed in me and strongly advocated for my success. First, it was my father, a peasant farmer who doubled up as a traditional chief’s aid. He was paid 70 Zimbabwean Dollars a month for executing the chief’s errands. Despite the meagreness of his income, he consistently paid my rent ($40.00) and gave me about $5.00 for food every month. That was a huge bet on my success, considering I was one of nine kids and everyone had to make do with the remainder.

Second, it was Kristin Diehl, a benevolent German citizen who worked tirelessly over 2 decades to rally well-wishers and raise fees for disadvantaged but bright kids from my community. I was very fortunate to be a recipient of Kristin’s scholarship at age of 15, which took care of my fees through high school, meaning I was left to hustle for food, clothing and accommodation. Without Kristin, no amount of heroism or hustling could have gotten me here. As I walked through the filthy township streets, I knew one thing for certain: I would never let my father or Kristin down. I recently shared my achievement with Kristin and she was absolutely thrilled. My father - unclear about the concept of technology governance - just said, “Congratulations my son”.I met Kristin and her friend Helga in December 2010 back in Zimbabwe (16 years after Kristin picked me up and started sponsoring my fees. During this event my wife and I paid fees for 23 underprivileged kids.

On the contrary, so many of my highly gifted peers were found at wrong places at the wrong time. Some never recovered from unexpected pregnancies, fell victim to alcoholism, while some are still trapped in poverty and hopelessness. As Edward Lee put it, “Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all; surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself.” If you have parents who advocate for you, never let them down. But if no one advocates for you, believe in yourself and chase after your higher calling.

Be fixated on clear, long term goals

Life challenges are inevitable, and some of them can be overwhelming. But clarity of goals reinforces your focus, and nurtures the resolve to keep working in the absence of instant or sometimes even distant rewards. I lived in poverty for well over two decades, but I clearly knew education was my only chance to escape the jaws of poverty. But not a day passed over the course of 20+ years where I didn't reflect on my ultimate goal. Life was frustrating and monotonous, but had I settled for short term gains, I would never be here today. But I was not alone; I shared this torturous journey with so many people, some of whom went on to achieve great success. They did so by refusing to lament their lack of resources, defying the negative stigmas associated with rural folks, and more importantly, setting their eyes on long term goals. As one wise man once said, "A river cuts through a rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence." There is no limit to what we can achieve, as long as we set our

Towards my higher calling

By cultivating a positive attitude I have received numerous awards for exceptional performance at work. My ISACA thought leadership has been published to hundreds of thousands of professionals and business executives in more than 180 countries. But that’s just a start, I want to write for the Harvard Business Review and Wall Street Journal and publish best-selling books. And these are not distant dreams. I can’t pretend to be any tougher than I am. But I am certain that most of the challenges I will unavoidably face in pursuit of my higher calling shall pale in comparison to the jeopardies I have already gone through. I have had unpleasant experiences, but over the years I have often found myself dipping into the lessons they brought to my life. I look back with absolutely no resentment.

I am also mindful of thousands of bright kids from my community still trapped in the same difficulties. And I am not sitting down and hoping strangers from a faraway land will eventually bring them salvation. I am doing what I can to help. My wife and I sponsor two orphans via Aid For Africa Down Under, a charity organisation that runs an orphanage in south east Zimbabwe. I am very pleased that one of our lovely kids is now in University. We have worked with friends and paid fees for dozens of kids at my old school; as well as replace shattered infrastructure.

Whilst it is easy to begrudge my childhood experience, it is these defining moments and the lessons I have learnt from others along the journey that have moulded me into the person that I am. And If I can expose small clips of my life and it can help, inspire, develop or possibly save others facing so many life challenges, then I feel even more privileged for sharing my journey. I feel the same and will always feel the same. I am that 36 year old village boy who has only been wearing shoes for 24 years and chasing after very big goals - :) May God bless you all.