If we look back on what we view as our successes in life, we know from own experience how true Mandino’s statement is. The more satisfying, the more significant, the more life changing our efforts in life, the deeper we had to dig for that little extra endurance, determination, ‘vasbyt’ or inner strength to come through with success. If I could listen to your story of the most significant challenges you had to overcome, I know that it will have a unique quality about it. Even though there might be similar stories, the uniqueness of being you comes through precisely in those times when it seems as though the whole universe has turned it’s back on you. Success, therefore, should be seen more as a state of mind than the external criteria that we sometimes use to describe success: wealth, qualifications, power, influence etc. We will find much more direction by remembering how we worked our own way through tough challenges than by trying to follow others’ definitions of success.
I think the same applies to becoming a ‘successful’ nation. Failure will never overtake us if our determination to succeed is strong enough! Imagine the sum total of the stories of determination of the different peoples in our nation. As is the case with individuals, the different groups of people in our rainbow nation had unique challenges at different times in their past. Together, since 1994, we had unique challenges. There are many reasons to believe that we can work through our current ones. However, the determination to succeed has to be a collective one.
If we are success driven by the rules of external popular criteria, it will inevitably lead to more competition amongst ourselves for more status, more wealth, more recognition and more power. We will only be effective in dividing our nation into winners and losers, have’s and have not’s. Failure, says Mandino, is man's inability to reach his goals in whatever they may be. As a nation, we no doubt would want to work towards the goals of higher standards of living for every citizen, respect for all people irrespective of race, gender or social status, increasing opportunities for previously disadvantaged people, increasing constructive influence in the world and particularly African affairs, decrease in all violence, crime and corruption, and a general environment of harmony, peace and prosperity for all. A strong economy will help, foreign investment will help, good governance, democracy and economic stability in our neigbouring countries will help, but ultimately success will be determined only by our collective determination to be successful and our commitment to the attitude and habits needed to get closer to our goals.
Does the last part sound easier said than done? Indeed. Even when we have all the commitment and determination we need, we sometimes feel at a loss when there are so many different perspectives on how to solve the problems we encounter. This is where success as an individual can be easier than success as a society - I know what I think and what motivates me but how can I know what others think and what motivates them? We then need exceptional quality leadership. Michael Armour and Don Browning wrote a book Systems Sensitive Leadership. Based on the theories of Clare Graves they explain how the "systems within us" have an immense bearing on the "systems between us." Differentiating eight different systems of thinking they give insight into much of the dynamics we experience daily and see the sometimes tragic, sometimes frustrating and often confusing results of in our newspapers. Where for some the quest in life is mostly about safety (systems 1 and 2) and the most elementary needs of a human being, for others it is about power (system 3), for others about truth (system 4), others achievement (system 5), others intimacy (system 6), and others holistic solutions (systems 7 & 8). Imagine the conflict of opinions between system 3 thinkers and system 6 thinkers.
Two key things emerge from the above. We can never stop sharing our determination to succeed as a nation and secondly, we can never stop learning (in the business organisation as much as in other types of organisations) the sensitivity and skill to lead well in diversity.
Warm regards and nights in front of the fireplace.
Gerhard
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