WHY SOCIETY SOMETIMES REWARDS THE "UNDERSEVING" - BE FRANK WITH YOURSELF

(WARNING : PLEASE DON'T READ IF SATISFIED WITH YOUR LEVEL)

Disclaimer : I wrote this for my Zambian audience and thus I have some instances where I use local languages. The style of communication would be diluted if I changed that so my International audience may bear with me.

One of the principles which made me resolve to give my opportunity in life the best shot is THE PARADOX OF VALUE as extrapolated by the great economist Adam Smith. please don't remind me that he was criticized for not considering the marginal utility of money in what I am about to say. Let us stick to his theory which has helped me over the years.

Okay muntu wandi don't stop reading. I know when we start using big words people can lose what we are saying. Utayowi pe mulongwaangu. Its semantics just to get your attention so let me explain this thing in simple terms.

In simple terms, Adam Smith was saying the more rare a commodity and the more rare the class of needs it meets, the more value society places on it and the higher the price they are willing to pay for it even if the needs the good meets may not necessarily be critical.

This principle will help you not to be frustrated in case you feel your qualification and role in that team is so critical and yet you are paid lower than some people whose roles may not even be critical. This actually helped me stop unfairly criticizing those who make it big in their career and assume I think I am better than person X and Y but why are they being promoted or progressing faster than me. Well not all cases of people rising on the ladder are products of unfair practice somewhere.

To help you understand, let me use water and diamonds as an example:

The role of water is very critical in life. water is life and yet it is abundant. As a result very little monetary value goes towards it and the price thereof is not so high. It is rare that you ever hear war because people are fighting for water.

Diamonds on the other side are not critical to survival and yet they meet sentimental and other needs to do with prestige and status. But because they are rare, more value is placed on them and they fetch a very high price. We have never heard as many wars if any over water than we have heard of wars over diamonds and even hence the term "blood diamonds"

So ba graduate we know your qualification and role is key but mulibengi. There are so many of you who hold the same qualification and so less value is placed on you. It is the one who is rare in terms of performance and competencies who will get the highest attention and income. Okay so let me talk as a Pastor.....The bible says :

" Observe people who are good at their work; skillful people are always in demand. They never take a backseat to anyone" Proverbs 22:29 MSG

This applies in all areas of life. I was telling some young people at a mentorship event that "don't assume that everyone gets employed in interview rooms. Others are employed over dinner. While some chase after every advert, others are pursued by employers. How rare are you?" I remember having to follow a head hunt candidate that one of my clients wanted to be part of their team at his home on a Saturday. Imagine chasing after someone to his house because of how rare he is and how much this company wanted him. My mission was to make a better offer to him than he was getting elsewhere and convince him to move. Was he such a lucky guy? A thousand times no. He was rare.

It was in an economics lecture that I resolved that I will be an excellent and hardworking Pastor and Consultant who produces rare results. That is why I try my best to be up to date and be rare in terms of qualification, rare in terms of quality of content and delivery, rare in terms of all I do. I wont say so much about me because this is not about rooting for me.

You want to leave your current level? Do things with rare seriousness, rare excellence and you will remember this article in no time.

Okay I still feel some Pastor mode in me so let me bring one more bible story in. Joseph did not ascend to the throne by luck. He woke up wearing the same prison clothes with everyone but was prime minister by end of the day. The reason is because he was rare. Pharaoh said " can we find any other man like you in whom the Spirit of the gods is?". You see this is being rare. Many could interpret dreams but he was a rare type.

There maybe many in your career field but be rare. I really hope this has added a few pins on your chair to help you resolve to rise to a higher level BY BEING RARE.