Why do you do what you do?

Zachary Aldwin
Well it looks like “suicide month” has arrived early this year as we all swelter on our way to work.  Talking of sweltering, have you ever wondered why we wear suits designed for a European climate in the middle of an African summer? Have you also ever wondered what they do with the sign-in register at many security checkpoints? Does anyone ever really check that your name and ID match? For those of you who remember the movie, “The Bodyguard” there is a great moment in the first few minutes where Kevin Costner passes through a checkpoint as “Peter Pan”.

I am tempted to try signing in as Mr I D Iot and see if anyone notices. Sometimes we do stuff without a second thought.
We carry on through the seas of life engaging in menials and never question or challenge them. So here is a question worth answering; why do you do what you do anyway?

One of the reasons for asking is that many Zimbabweans have forgotten a key ingredient in our lives – the community. During the traumatic pre-dollarisation period so many people were simply focused on survival – their survival – that they forgot how to relate.

With families and relationships shattered across the Diaspora we forgot how to relate.  Relationships died as selfishness and covetousness crept in. And as our ability to build lasting relationships faded so did our ability to build and sustain communities.

We are in a different era now but we are still not sure how to interact on a community level. Not everyone is like this though, but enough people are still going all out for themselves that it cripples us.

Why you do what you do has to go beyond just serving your needs to serving the needs of a larger community.  Whether it just be your product’s direct impact on the lives of people (a cellphone company helping people communicate) or the use of your profit and expertise being brought to bear in social enhancement (donating to a local school building project) your community should benefit from you.

The term community can be large (think of the number of people using Apple products) or smaller (local professional association size). It could be your workplace or your neighbourhood, your regular golfing school or fellow parents in your child’s class.

As much as there is a multitude of communities you can impact there are dozens of ways you can help make an impact on them.
One of my favourite community efforts is the weekly Market in Maarsdorp Avenue on a Wednesday morning. A bunch of people who come together to sell fresh and homemade produce and fill a niche in the market for organic and free-range goods.

I guess the best part for me is that you get to have a relationship with the sellers themselves week after week. The experience transcends the mere financial transaction because if you miss a stall owner you can ask after them, check up on them the following week and if you are a regular they will do the same for you.

It is time that we started thinking beyond just ourselves. It is time that we stopped being leeches to society and give back, not in the “you owe me a favour” type of giving but in the spirit of true generosity.

Here are a few ways to build better communities. Learn the names of the “hidden people” and treat them with extra respect, security guards, waiters, doormen, cab drivers, bathroom attendants, the lady you have passed cleaning the floor for the last 37 years on your way to your office.

Realise that everything we do has an effect on something else, usually someone else.  Your sudden decision to hold an emergency weekend brainstorming session cost someone their son’s first soccer match.

Look for ways to make the world a better place. Be friendly. Rather than looking for friends start by being the sort of person others want to spend time with.

Express gratitude daily. Give. Get involved. There is too much going on to get involved in everything, but you should be involved in at least one thing that builds up things other than your personal empire.

Pick something you love and have a passion for. Realise that working with people is messy sooner or later one of them is going to tick you off. Learn to be the bigger man.

Stop screwing people over, look for a win-win. Look to preserve relationship. Care for people. Learn the birthdays of your workmates because while you may not care if others forget yours I can bet you it means a lot to them. If you notice a regular person in your circle is missing in action then call them, and help out where you can.

Basically, treat others the way you want to be treated, it doesn’t come much simpler than this.

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