adminZachary Aldwin Milkshake in the Boardroom
“Zimbabweans are passive” is an accusation I hear levelled against us again and again by those visiting the country. “You are very friendly” I get told, “but too many people wait to be told what to do”. It is a generalisation, and like so many sweeping statements does apply to everyone.
I do not think Zimbabweans have a sole monopoly on passivity in the world, but I do think it is a character trait that we should all look out for and avoid.
Being passive is easy. The world has become a much easier place to be passive. Want to be entertained?
Turn on the television and let it fill your passive mind with thoughts. Want to find out what your friends are up to?
Log onto Facebook, scroll down and get lulled into thinking you have a meaningful relationship.
Instant dinners and fast food become a symptom of a passive culture. Passive is our default setting to avoid spending energy. We cannot afford to be passive.
Fear is a great fermenting ground for passivity. We do not start the business because we are afraid of failure or getting it wrong. Sometimes there is no wrong. I went to an arts festival this weekend. There were two types of people buying art; those who were buying because they liked the piece and wanted to display it, and those who were buying for investment and resale at a later date.
Neither of these behaviours is wrong. One may be more profitable in the long run; it does not denigrate the other.
This season is the time for shopping promotions in our major supermarkets. Compare two recent ones.
One is a popular event with discounts that culminates in a race meeting with chances to win big prizes the more you spend. The other a sticker collection promo with a tiered choice of rewards should you wish to claim them.
In the one there are a few big winners, some smaller ones and a ton of excitement over an event. In the other everyone can walk away with something, it is a smaller something (a knife as compared to a car), but there is a sense that everyone wins.
Neither is wrong. Both are successful. The big thing is that the stores are being active in doing something rather than watch their clients walk into their competitors’ store.
Being wrong may not be that big a deal. Stop waiting for permission to do your best work. Doing your best work is not going to happen if you are passive.
Stop waiting for circumstances to change before releasing yourself to the world. Break free of the conditioning that says you need to put your hand up before leaving the classroom. Stop waiting for the economy to improve; be the person who improves the economy.
Practice stepping out, practice exposing yourself and your work to others. Writing is a great tool for this. You do not need a literature degree to write. You can start a blog with minimal effort and commit to posting twice a week on it.
That means on a regular basis you get to put your work out in the world; open, raw, free of anyone. There is, however, a risk that no one will read it or that people may hate it or reject it. But that is okay.
There is also the chance that someone will love it, engage in it and embrace it. The skill you are aiming for here is not to be a better writer (though that will not hurt) but to be a better person, actively putting your best forward.
Then you can translate that into other areas of your life. Suddenly approaching new clients is not that daunting.
Make being active a part of your life. Turn off the television for a month and decide that you will do more in the evening than sit on the couch and wait for your spouse to bring you a beer. Use the time to engage with your family.
Look up games on the internet, read an author you would not usually do, take your wife out for dinner.
It may be tiring at first, it will take effort. Watch the dynamic change in your family. After a month decide which life you prefer. Let the excitement and creativity bleed into your business.
Your business is not going to build itself. Engaging your clients requires action. Maintaining relationships with you customers takes effort. Passivity is not an option if you are going to succeed.
Online Reporter