Online Reporter
Amos Mpofu, [email protected]
IN the mind and heart of Cygnet Investments managing director, Mr Ladious Chambalama — who also serves as Associate Pastor in the North Zimbabwe Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church — lies a deep concern for graduates stepping into the professional world. His message to them is simple yet sobering: learn to “jettison” availability, comfort and talking before the time.
Pastor Chambalama delivered the keynote address at Solusi University during the recent consecration service that preceded the institution’s 29th graduation ceremony. He titled his message Jettison, borrowing the maritime term for throwing cargo overboard to save a vessel. More broadly, he explained, it refers to discarding something of lesser value to protect something greater.
His eloquent and commanding delivery resonated strongly with the audience, with many saying the theme captured the realities graduates now face. Pastor Chambalama described graduation itself as a “jettison level” — a moment requiring urgency and decisive action.
“The jettison level is that hour when all else has been tried and it is now inevitable to throw some items overboard. At this stage, a quick decision is made to separate between assets and liabilities… Those items considered to be liabilities are sacrificed first,” he said.
Quoting Jonah 1:5, 14–15, he illustrated how even valuable cargo — or people — may be jettisoned in moments of crisis. He emphasised that jettison is a strategic, sacrificial act.
“Whenever jettison occurs, the owner of the vessel is entitled to General Average . . . The loss is considered mutual,” he said.
Pastor Chambalama urged graduates to enter the workplace with the same mindset.
“The chances of any graduate making it in the corporate or professional world are close to none. Their only chances are hinged on a realisation that they are now at jettison level,” he said.
He said that graduates must discard three things. First, they must jettison availability.
“Your time is not a limitless resource that anybody can squander . . . Giving your time without limit does not make you more loved; it instead makes you more used.”
He added that respecting one’s time invites respect from others.
“If you always answer at 2AM, they will always call at 2AM.”
Second, they must jettison comfort. He warned that comfort is one of ambition’s biggest enemies.
“Playing safe is the most expensive thing in this world… Jack Ma once said that we shrink our dreams to feed our comfort. Yet comfort today becomes pain tomorrow.”
Pastor Chambalama urged graduates to avoid stagnation.
“Do not just be busy, move forward . . . Say no to parties, say no to distractions, and say no to easy things. Be addicted to growth.”
Finally, they must jettison talking before the time. He encouraged graduates to guard their speech.
“Focus is destroyed the moment we open our mouths . . . Your goals are like seeds and seeds grow best in darkness. Work in the shadows.”
He stressed that history is shaped by doers, not talkers.
“Do not waste the fire of your ambition in meaningless conversation.”
He ended with a light-hearted story about how he met his wife, crediting his friends’ constant conversations for planting ambition in his mind.
“My friends, jettison availability, comfort and talking before the time, and your story will never be the same,” he said.
