What they don't tell you about success

We have often heard accounts of success stories of how people or those we look up to rose from zero to being celebrated and you wonder how the journey from that point to getting there was achieved. Not everyone is keen on sharing their success journey because of fear of putting their life on the line; it might involve digging out a can of worms one would have preferred buried.

In this generation we are in, process and being industrial is a secondary issue; social media has brought a packaged idea that success is instantaneous thus engraving a narrative that makes it as simple as throwing an idea in the microwave and getting millions in an instant. Life does not work like that. You wonder why there are so many cases of ritualists, uncommon deals that put the lives of those involved at risk; why enjoy millions with a guilty conscience when there is a proven way to attain the life you want?

My parents had an unconventional view of making it in life; being a doctor, lawyer, and teacher the security it posed however I had a different view. You may have a vision of wanting to be a YouTuber or blogger or take an unconventional career path but because of the fear you have of your parents and having no idea of a proven track period of success. You remain defeated ending up settling up for less. It is not politically correct to let go of that idea you believe in because no one believes in you. Success is not a straight line, sometimes you will not bump into an idea at first hand but through the experience and challenges you are confronted with; you might suddenly have a light bulb moment. Many want instant success not knowing for one to suddenly have what they call these days, “an overnight success”, it is a culmination of sleepless nights and years spent working on one thing till it succeeded. How do you get there?

The first thing you have to know is rejection; I have had some processes and ideas I badly wanted to succeed in though it did not work that way. I remember applying for the United States of America Mandela Washington Fellowship program and l was rejected. It did not mean the skills I had were redundant. I simply took the rejection as a redirection, sometimes as you strive to have an experience to enhance your skills and capabilities some things will not just work. That is the journey we all go through. Do not allow it to deter you or make you think you are of no good. Learn from it and find ways to improve.

Soldiering on with success is not an easy tale, working on your idea or job means being isolated many a time. Family and friends will not understand; a lot of time will be spent advancing your ideas. Sacrifices and sweat have to be shed. It is not everyone who will tell you such information. A lot of family members will be happy seeing you in your comfortable position. The decision to make your life better lies on you. Not anyone else but you. Looking at the most successful enterprises we have; if you ask you will be told of the many family meetings missed. Not to say, that should be an excuse for you to abscond family meetings; find your balance.

Once an idea or job pops into your head; having clear goals and vision matters – not being carried by the wind every time something happens. You have not attained the position you want in life because everything that emerges you want to be part of it. When the E-Creator business started you took your chances; not to say, you should not take risks. Take risks on an idea or path you have a passion for and want to be known for. If someone calls you to do a job or show prowess on your skill would you do it for free? If you have the focus to see it to completion what you dreamed or desired to do success will come knocking on your door. You might have setbacks but eventually, your light bulb moment will come.

Success means working on one thing till it succeeds; I remember when I started writing articles it was not looking like I would eventually land a big role in a media house. I kept at it even when I did not receive any feedback. It can be stressful seeing what you are working on, is not giving the returns that you expect; the unsettling feeling that comes with it might be discouraging knowing you are heavily engrossed in debt. Every day just believing in your enterprise is just like a parent believing in his or her child to be successful despite the thorns and thistles life throws.

My story is one of resilience, self-belief, and advancement; when I initially started as a life coach no one knew me; I had people criticizing me wondering if I could deliver. At some point, my family was worried about me because of an unconventional path I had decided to take. I did not settle, I remained steadfast on that and ensured I developed myself. What kills us most of the time is that we do not have mentors (people to look up to) in our chosen career fields or idea and accountability partners – people who will ask us the most difficult questions concerning our enterprise and empower our minds with the necessary information needed for us to be successful.

It is in our human nature to fall; we have strengths and weaknesses in us that sometimes get the better of us. We need someone to tell us how to leverage those strengths and weaknesses. If you are that person who believes in spirituality let Pastors, Prophets, and God guide you in your chosen path. Deal with your insecurities before they get the better of you. We have footballers who amassed millions in their lifetime but once that career ended they landed back in poverty. Where did they go wrong? “women and luxuries”, forgetting to develop the homes they came from? No one tells you of the ditches you will encounter that is the need for you to always know there are life coaches who will guide you.

No one should impede your way to success, with these insights you are just a step ahead.

Carl Tanyaradzwa Maswoswa is the Founder of a Coaching and Mentoring Club at the National University of Science and Technology in partnership with International Coaching and Mentoring Foundation. Carl also has a slot on Skyz Metro FM Radio in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe as a resource person delivering presentations every Tuesday (Drive-Time) between 16.00 to 17.00 Central African Time (CAT) touching on all things self-development.