30 Lessons learnt throughout my life

I recently celebrated my birthday – a great milestone for me. Looking back at my life, the dreams and goals I had set as a child for this auspicious date. 

I was more surprised by the lessons learnt than the ticked and unticked items on my list.

I would like to share the 30 great lessons I have learnt in as many years.

1.       Always have FAITH in GOD and the awesome ABILITIES HE has given you.

2.       “I love you” – these words were always uttered by my mother, she remains the greatest driver in my life. Love is so important in life. Now as a parent, I have learnt how selflessly one can love.

3.       “Inyathi ibuzwa kwabaphambili” (Wisdom is learnt from the elders) – I have always understood, for you to achieve anything ask those who have done it before you. I always endeavoured to look for mentors who have achieved goals similar to what I want to.

4.       Never stop dreaming – only through dreams do we ever achieve what was once considered the impossible.

5.       For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29 verse 11, this has kept me going through all the tough days as an entrepreneur.

6.       “you got to keep your head up, Even when the road is hard, never give up” the 2Pac song called: ‘Baby Don't Cry’ – I can remember reciting these words as I hustled day and night during my time in the contraction industry.

7.       Never drop your principles – in our pursuit to be successful, at times we are faced with decisions on how the route will look. Always ensure you are ethical, principled and truthful in all dealings.

8.       To lead is to serve – if you want to be a leader ensure that you have a desire to serve others.

9.       To be a good leader, ensure a willingness to assume all responsibility – again, if you wish to stand at the helm of anything, be sure to take the brunt of all the responsibility when things do not work out.

10.   To employ someone is to take on a great responsibility – the commitment you enter into when employing someone is not just limited to the individual but also their family, they serve. So make sure when you commit you commit fully.

11.   “Gird your loins” – protect yourself from all manner of influences and people. Some of the greatest people to harm you are the ones closest to you.

12.   Procrastination is the stealer of time – if you ever want to not achieve anything in life, just find excuses.

13.   A penny saved is a penny gained – an age old adage that is as true today as when it was coined. Savings are the best form of capital accumulation and cash flow management. Be conservative and save as much and as far as possible.

14.   Anything worth having will take a hard work, time and dedication – be patient, work diligently and success will come.

15.   An overnight success takes 14 years – sustainable success and business take years to grow and establish, there is no such thing as an overnight success.

16.   Say; “I am sorry” – this I have come to understand in more depth, being a husband and father. Always apologise and acknowledge when you are wrong.

17.   Marry Well – a good life partner that is loving, motivates you and supports you, can mean the difference between success and failure.

18.   Choose partners well – much like in marriage, one needs to be careful when getting into partnerships; the individual(s) need to have similar principles as what you have.

19.   Life does not work like Hollywood – all that you see on TV, from movies to music videos is all fiction, life and route to success seldom take the route that Hollywood propagates.

20.   You will always reap more than you sow, make sure you sow what is right…

21.   Giving up is not an option – if you want to be successful in business, you should never take no or opposition as a sign to give in or give up, keep on pushing.

22.   Know when to call it quits– this may seem as an oxymoron to the previous lesson, but in actual fact, some things just will not work, you need to get the point of realizing this rather sooner than later. Entrepreneurs always feel success is just around the corner, wasting valuable time on a business that will never materialize. Do not thrash a dead horse.

23.   Never stop studying – everyday learn something – read, read and read some more. Most importantly, travel.

24.   Take risks – the popular adage states: ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’ this holds true to everything in life, one needs to take the risk and try things in order to be in a position to be successful at anything.

25.   Set goals – effective goal setting and actual work on your goals is the shortest way to becoming successful.

26.   The world owes you nothing – do not sit on the sideline waiting for the world to give you what you are after, get up and go get it (within the framework of legal activities)

27.   “Just Do It” – based largely on the above two points, the Nike brand really gave us an ethos to for life. Heed the call and go for it.

28.   No (wo)man is an island – you will always need people in order to build something great, be great and have a great experience of life. Relationships are essential to man’s earthly life.

29.   “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” ― Ralph Waldo

30.   Follow you passion – though some passions cannot possibly secure you an income, when one follows with enthusiasm and open to learning, you are able to develop business models around your passion that can secure you an income and more.