FLIGHT TO SUCCESS

A FLIGHT TO SUCCESS ….by Rhoda Zulu

Forever under construction, a pilgrim’s journey, full of joys, surprises, obstacles including pitfalls. Those people you admire to have succeeded weren’t born with exceptional intelligence but have powers of dedication to their chosen chief objective. As such great people are those with an extraordinary amount of drive, determination and desire. (John Maxwell, Developing the Leaders around You). Therefore this flight to success takes you through various principles so that you too develop the right wings to fly.

 

Firstly, let’s define Success. According to the Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary, University Press 2002, to succeed is to achieve what you’ve been trying to get or do. In other words, it is to be victorious. Since the journey to success is subjective and dynamic, I may not be successful yet, but have the courage and competence to take you through a success flight. Hence with the trust of my Pilot, I humbly volunteer to be your Captain to our destination. Our Steward will be joining us shortly.

 

But before takeoff let me just warn you. Not all goals will be achieved, not every job will end successfully, not all relationships will endure, not every love will last and not every dream will be realized. Apart from this bear in mind that every individual has the potential to better their life. So your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing (Abraham Lincoln). You may now fasten your seat belts and better be steady, for I’m only carrying a pen and following the hands of the Creator.

There are several key principles which achievers encourage us to take into account. One key principle of success is to develop Positive Mental Attitudes (PMA) which attracts success. You must practice positive affirmations which appeal to the heart and encourage you to forge ahead. Do not be prisoners of negativity for Dr Stuart Grason laments that those people who are victimized by their belief structures are limited by the quality of that situation in their lives.

So you must imagine your life as a mirror which reflects to the thinker what he thinks into it (Elnest Holmes, American Writer). This entails that life challenges are not supposed to paralyse you; instead they’re supposed to help you discover who you are and what else you can do to attain your destiny. You never know that by surmounting challenges you get to new stepping grounds or horizon. Once you overcome them you may clearly see an alternative route to your next success. Dr D.D Phiri (Malawi Nation Newspaper, May 2009) alluded that the road to prosperity is bumpy such that people must accept the temporary discomforts associated with it. Alexander Graham Bell asserts that sometimes people stare so long at a door which is closing that they see too late another one that’s open. So if you’ve time to reflect you better do so on your previous successes. This is because you can’t do well in life unless you let go your past failures. As mountains crumble and life comes to a standstill you might feel your world is coming to a halt. But you should not give up for every problem has an expiry date. Hence  you better stop wasting your precious time on negatives which discourage and let you give up or do nothing where you should have acted – missing your opportunity in turn. This implies that clinging to past failures will negatively daunt you, thereby becoming key destructors against your next line of achievement.

 

Second principle of success is to be specific as you put up your vision to reality towards what you want to achieve. Some advice reads,

 

‘’Achievers are those that are self motivated and really committed in working towards their goals, dreams and vision. So you should always be compelled by the goal or desire end- your own gold medal.’’   (Chimwemwe Matonga Thought for the week, Malawi Weekend Nation 30-31 August 2008).

 

On the other hand non achievers are those that do things without any motivation, easily get distracted, get consumed with temporal pleasures then end up losing even that which they already had. Take note of late Julius Nyerere’s advice,

 

 “People cannot be developed; they can only develop themselves by what they do.”

This advice implies that the decisions you make, the charges you undertake plus your ability and persistence , all make you be whom you aspire to become.

 

Maybe that’s why Robert Louis Stevenson, a Scottish Novelist comments further,

 

“An aim in life is the only fortune worth finding; not to be found in foreign lands , but in the heart itself…“

 

So if you’re keyless in life then you are a self prisoner. It’s high time you open up your mind and look yonder. Then you must set targets and create a self reminder by jotting down your intentions, placing them where you‘ll easily be reminded. Also make your goals challenging but doable and realisable with clearly defined deadlines; it helps to focus and target in your attempts. Better get out of your cocoon and set up your life agenda towards your destiny. This is because the power of change rests within you. If you do not want to leave the nest of comfort then you’ll forever do things the way you’ve always done and will always get the same results. The Late prime Minister of India, Mahatma Gandhi once said,

 

“If you want change, you must be the change you’d want to see in the world.”

In fact Barak Obama, then president of the United States echoed to these wise sentiments. Another author, Ray Norda seemed to echo Mahatma Gandhi by this statement,

 

“Cause change and lead. Accept change and survive. Resist change and die.”

 

Listen to Harry Anderson,

 

“Though you can’t touch the stars it doesn’t stop a wise person from trying.”

 

This means that after developing a desire, you must set off action points and make the necessary sacrifice. Remember it is said that failure to plan is planning to fail. The five P’s Principle cements this fact– Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

 

A third principle of success is to maximise your efforts by concentrating on your specific purpose to remain focused with enthusiasm. Better centre your attention on what you want in life. This will assure you reflect the truth of what you’re capable of doing, otherwise you get attracted to several interests and by the time you refocus; precious resources may have been wasted. After all, although there are many interesting issues world over, not everything is meant

for you. Then why spread yourself thinly on a net of various interests? You’d better concentrate on a few so as to enable completion within a specified time. This will result in self motivation to set new focal points for more scores.

 

We are now traveling at three hundred thousand feet above sea level. Can you see the Zambezi River down there? Look at how beautifully it meanders and ends into Indian Ocean. I hope you’ve already chosen your snack and drink to freshen up. If not, you may do so now.

 

Next principle of success- develop a disciplined mindset; doing the right thing at the right time and in the right manner. This entails living a life that is well ordered through developing self control in your dealings. In addition, you must control your own behaviour even when the heart breaks, so you do not become a slave of passions. If you get down to quarrels every day, you’re devoting yourself to the devil, and time will not wait for you. Rather free yourself from hate,

mischief and jealousy. Take heed of Lee Lacocca’s advice of Ford and Chrysler Motor Company,

 

“You don’t succeed for long by kicking people around. Just know how to talk to them, plain and simple.”

You must therefore remain stable no matter the pressure or stressful encounters. In so doing you’ll ably control your tongue, keep your words soft and supple, so they do not become bitter in case you’ve to swallow them later.

 

To add on, be able to stand on your feet; avoid dependence by developing self reliance. You must also be sincere and practice integrity (purity of doing what’s right, no matter what). It’ll give you freedom of conscious. In addition you must give others chances to act. This is because no matter your intelligence quotient (High Eye Cue) – you can’t be a master of all fields. It is said that a jack of all trades is often a master of none. Yes, you may be a good entrepreneur but a poor manager. Hence no matter how you presume others to be dull, they too have their story (Desiderata). Maybe we can learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, others are pretty and some are dull. True they have different colours and brightness, but they all have to live in the same box. So you better give others a chance to perform, since John Powell, American Catholic teacher and writer advises that the spirit of acceptance grows in the soil of acceptance.

 

Taking you further, you must develop personal initiatives. Good ideas or good aims are worthwhile when implemented otherwise dreams remain mere fantasies. It seems that success is connected with action; keep on exploiting and strike head on any chance by making up your mind that it is worth venturing; no matter the risks en route. Just trust yourself and try to carry out today what you ought to and even go on to tomorrow’s work, if time permits. Otherwise if say,

 

 “I’ll do this tomorrow,”

 

How do you know the tides accompanying your tomorrow? It’s possible that the good times of today may turn out to be the bad times of tomorrow. Even Parkinson’s Law states,

 

“Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”

 

Hence, if you’re not careful you may take a week to accomplish that which with concentrated effort and devotion could only have taken two days. Moreover you also need to learn to work independently with minimum supervision, not just to please your supervisor. That’s why wise people believe that time has to be budgeted since it has monetary value. So you should take an extra mile (Kilometer nowadays) in your works; for if you always knock off when the bell rings, you may miss your next victory. But this doesn’t imply that you overload yourself to exhaustion, no. You may grow older than your age; for it is said that all work no play makes Clara a dull girl.

 

However, perform your best wherever you are, putting your energies on a service before a reward. You never know how your current endeavors will lift you towards your next achievement. Listen to Napoleon Hill,

 

“Render more service than that which you are paid; soon you will be paid more than you render.”

 

We are now turning east and about to cross the border on our way back to the warm heart of Africa. The bumps are because of the rain showers, no cause for worry.

 

Let’s now see the role faith contributes to your success. Faith, meaning conviction or belief, is a state of mind that charges your energies to act for change. Faith and persistence are thus considered as inseparable Siamese twins in the pursuit of success. By implication, if you only have faith but have no confidence and commitment, you remain a wishful thinker without produce of miracles. But where there is faith, hope and optimism, then courage develops while fear recedes. As such you must be confident in your abilities since even most inventions were made by individuals who had been underrated by others. Likewise, riches do not respond to wishes but to definite plans backed by devotion and dedication to constant acting. You well know that worthwhile objectives are often difficult to attain.

On the other hand, if you think No it can’t work, then you may not apply enough effort to realize your expectations. Truthfully speaking, great deeds and interventions start in the mind; thus by

planting the seed of success you yield success. If you always think you’ll fail, then you likewise plant a seed of failure which eventually leads you to fail as perceived. Remember that a river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence” ~ Jim Watkins.

 

Let me now take you to the importance of maintaining good health. A healthy body often develops a healthy soul and mind. So take deliberate efforts to be physically fit by nourishing your body with nutritious foods which contain all six food groups – staples, meat and meat products, vegetables, fruits, legumes, fats and oils. Add on regular body exercise plus adequate time for sleep to maintain your health.

 

To discuss further, another principle of success is that you need not carry your burdens all the time. The reason is that a problem thought over for long makes you feel very heavy due to stress and discomfort. It is said that scientifically, an object becomes heavier the more time it is held. Even stress management tells us to put down our burdens for a while. So for a moment try to switch yourself off from whatever disturbs your peace, turn your attention to something else; in addition to some deep breathing exercises (at least twenty times) and smile a bit. Your beam is worth a million dollar of good health. After relaxation, you may re pick up your challenge; trust me, you’ll appreciate how light it becomes. This is because you’ve restored more energy to counteract it. In fact, it is said that life is what you make, how do you make your life with such burdens?

 

We’ll be landing in a few minutes from now. May I therefore request that you fasten your seat belts and switch off all your electrical appliances?

Finally, listen to this “Be willing to fail temporarily, not permanently. Imagine one man had failed in business in 1831. He was defeated in politics in 1832; failed again in business in 1834, had a nervous breakdown in 1841. In 1842 he failed to receive his political party nomination for the senate in 1855; defeated again in 1858.

 

“A hopeless loser,” people conferred.

 

But he finally surprised all. He was elected president of the United States in 1860. Guess who? Abraham Lincoln (Quoted from Norman Vincent Peale).Here is another quote,

            “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” ~ Michael Jordan

 

That’s why Napoleon advises that a winner never quits, a quitter never wins. You must change the attitude of easily giving up or life of doubts. These worries are traitors and make us lose the good you could have won by further attempts (William Shakespeare). So be ambitious as you strive towards your desire. And when you achieve you’ll proudly say,

“This I have attained because I am objective, targeted, work hard with persistence and perseverance.’’

 

Finally, don’t forget that not all winners sweat to succeed, others get it on a silver platter. But then, note that what easily comes ends up in easy go. Ladies and gentlemen, remember your luggage as you disembark this plane to success. If you have enjoyed my company, I look forward to hear your next success.  Wishing you a safe flight to Success!

 

 

AFRICAN WOMAN WRITER

AFRICAN WOMAN WRITER….by Rhoda Zulu, Malawi

Anyone who is able to write is said to be a writer. But then others claim to do more writing than others such that they may be viewed as conscious writers. But to what extent are active female writers visible? Do our readers easily access the most of female writers’ products? Next, how would we compare visibility of female writers versus male writers in Malawi and Africa as a whole?

These are some questions worth brainstorming since writing is argued to be an aspect of development. May be it is one reason why it is said that leaders are supposed to be active readers; as quoted from FEMRITE Uganda Women Writers slogan, Leaders are Readers. Indeed there has been an outcry that Malawian female writers are less visible while male domination continues to outshine in literary works. In fact several people have called upon Malawian women to wake up from their slumber. Although one may choose to argue for or against the dispute, the fact remains that if one blouse through literary works then make a simple comparative analysis of who makes news and who publishes most, then male dominance is evident. But then one wonders why it is that while in Malawi female writers are viewed as not very vibrant in their literary contribution, on the other hand within our continent, Ugandan women ask where their male writers are. Actually the world is made of numerous women stories that require creation of conducive environments for these women to tell a fair tale. 

It is behind this predicament that the Rockefellers’ Foundation Centre of Frati at Bellagio in Italy generously provided scholarships to 19 females from some countries from Africa (including Rhoda Zulu from Malawi) to brainstorm the future of African female writers initiatives from 10 to 14^th November, 2014. Apart from Malawi other countries represented were South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Kenya. These women who braved the cold temperature of Bellagio (between 5 to 10 degrees Celsius) included writers, publishers, editors and organizers of literary and creative initiatives.

 

 Participants to the African Women Writers’ Workshop at Ballagio,Italy (Rhoda Zulu fifth from left)

 

                 Rhoda Zulu at Bellagio Frati

Information authored by Judith Rodin, titled Bellagio Centre, Villa Serbelloni stated that the word Bellagio is from a Latin word bi-Lacus or two lakes. The Rockefeller Bellagio Centre is along a Y shaped Lake Como. The centre is an important historical site originally owned by Lady Ella, a princess who entrusted John D Rockefeller to make renovations. When the princess observed that John D Rockefeller had made wonderful renovations she felt this was a symbol of great humanitarian and charitable activities so she transformed ownership of Bellagio to Rockefeller. This marked the beginning of a centre that is now connected with cross pollination of traditions of extensive inquiry, innovation by hosting scientists, artists, theorists and practioners of various disciplines. As such residents and conference participants envision some of the next centuries’ most innovative ideas to fulfil Rockefeller foundation philanthropic mission. This centre hosts people of different cultures, geographic regions and disciplines that aim to spark solutions to major contemporary problems across the globe.

Lake Como, its Y shape almost surrounds Bellagio Centre

Major aims of this meeting were:

• To explore ideas and strategies for new means of survival and sustainability in an environment that might not necessarily be very favourable to women writing and to the arts in general.
• To explore the possibility of establishing a strategic network of African Women Writers Initiatives that will work to advance women writing in Africa.
• To create a platform for new connections among participating individuals and the organizations that were be represented.

Discussions centered around the position of women writing in Africa through experience sharing on successes and challenges as well as their aspirations. Among constraints was lack of funds for publishing, inability to carry out female writing promotions as well as lack of a coordinating body to boost women literary activities for Africa. At national levels most representatives expressed that development agenda does not have an art and culture contribution.

The outcome of the meeting was the birth of the African Women Writers’ Network which will focus on facilitating, coordinating and lobbying towards increased visibility and blossoming of female literary groupings through regional and country structures specifically managed by female writers. The network will further pull resources together and establish new connections from which female writers across Africa would increase visibility of their literary works. Key thematic areas for this network shall among others involve capacity building, provision of residences, fundraising and sustainability, publishing, festivals and experiential learning from models etc. Hence the network will promote and develop female writers, strengthen female writers’ organizations, foster innovation and support Africa Women writing through capacity building and funding support to regional and country networks that will be members.  FEMRITE Uganda was chosen to be the secretariat because it is a model due to its success in accelerating female literary works to a point where more female writing outwits male’s writing. The task force is mandated to come up with Terms of Reference and strategic plan for a visionary takeoff.

To sum up, the birth of African Women Writers shall have one of its indicators as that of an increased number of quality literary publications by  African Women as well s increased accessibility of African women writers’ works by their readers.

 

BECAUSE YOU ARE SPECIAL

BECAUSE YOU’RE SPECIAL

 

I earnestly praise you

You are wonderfully  special

Nine months of Pregnancy

Followed by labour pains

Happily you wrapped me up

Patiently you sung a lullaby

Sleepless nights because of me

 

 I sincerely treasure  you

You’re actually so special

You labored for my success

Carefully you uplifted me

Escorted me to life’s journeys

To and back from school

Encouraged me to work hard

 

 I solemnly admire you

Because you’re special

What could life have been?

Without your comfort and soothes

You endured and toiled

Lit a torch for my pathway

Just to make me who I am

 

 I seriously commend you

Because you’re extremely special

Taught me to set life goals

Lit a torch on my pathways

Remain strong and courageous

My moonlight to success

 

 I really entrust you

Because you’re so special

You are a million worth

Nothing can I give back

To reckon your soothes

Amidst life’s bitterness

Thanks you a million times

 

 

 

 

76. BLOOD GROUP AND BEHVIOUR

 

What’s your blood group type?

Do you know whether you’re A, AB, B or O?

It’s good to know what you don’t

How far does your own behaviour

Tilt towards your blood group type

Your never know some behaviours

May originate from blood group

 

If you’re blood group A

Then you’re like Jimmy Carter

Likely to be persistent, realistic

Idealistic, methodical, order oriented

Enthusiastic, very calm, hate surprises

You might be a good team player

Else be an Accountant, Librarian

Economist, Writer, Novelist

 

In case you’re blood group B

You may honest, extremely reliable

May be even creative, classic, hard worker

You may be reliable to be confided in

How far do you delegate others?

You may not be diplomatic

Be a good soldier, a detective,

Psychiatrist, a shaver or player

 

If you are Blood group AB,

Then you are like John F Kennedy

Hope you’re so truthful, very cool hearted

May even think rationally and diplomatic

Strategic planner, ready and willing to assist

Very organized but not innovative

Difficulty to change your view point

Why not be an attorney, a Negotiator or Teacher

 

In case you’re Blood group O

I speak of you right now

You are like Ronald Reagan

You may be powerful, competitive

Else a good money maker

Enthusiastic, loving, but jealousy hearted

Else you may be greedy

Why not be a banker, a pastor or a politician?