Lack is the mother of hustle and innovation!
I have just finished doing my own hair. I spent the whole winter without a protective hairstyle for my natural hair. My hair is damaged (mainly due to stress), and mismanagement because I have run out of product. Haven't afforded a hairdresser in a while. Yes, it's been a rough couple of months. During the last church service, I went for prayer and counselling. The lady praying for me, said, "You look like a go-getter to me!" Haven't really felt like that of late, but I have in the past, made a dollar out of fifteen cents.
I remember sharing a testimony with a former manager. I told her about how I entered the employment field three and half years after giving birth. My first job was as a sales person for a new product on the market. I had no previous qualifications in sales or marketing but I had the zeal. Though I and the rest of the employees got screwed over, I held onto the CEO's words. He said to us during a meeting, "Your work ethic will determine where you will be in life," and then he continued, "I can already see entrepreneurs amongst some of you." He must have been meaning me, I thought.
I wrote a vision board in 2010, then later revised it in 2012. One of my goals was to run a restaurant. I love food! I'm still learning to perfect my culinary skills, however, my passion to bring joy and people together through sharing meals is powerful. That vision hasn't come to pass yet. The vision that did come to pass, was my dream to become editor of a prestigious magazine. Guess what? I have been editor of two prestigious, online magazines and a contributing writer to many publications.
I went on to share with my former manager, my journey to the job that she hired me for. I have no college qualifications due to several 'life' circumstances. However, with access to the internet, I have educated myself. I have practised and executed the skills learnt which over time, I have excelled. I remember during a hard time at a workplace, I would search for WiFi hotspots. I became an expect at working with minimal internet access. I would post content consistently whilst standing by a the corner of a college in the CBD. I even applied for YALI (Mandela Fellowship) program whilst standing behind a building that had open access to the internet. I didn't get the fellowship but the following year, I received a call to be editor of an online magazine. This opportunity came through the consistency of the work that I put out. My work impressed my then new boss.
Fortunately, my brother offered me workspace at his office with free Wi-Fi. Hallelujah, no more exposing myself to skin cancer by standing by street corners. Mybwork ethic impressed my brother so much that the following year, he referred me to the woman, who became my manager. I think it now makes sense what the church counselor meant by go-getter...I guess.
Ever since my father passed away, I had several limitations. Growing up we were cushioned by the perks that came from my father's job. He loved the finer things in life and refused mediocrity. His death slapped me in the face with the harsh reality - not everyone is like my dad. I learnt to perm and plait my own hair because I no longer went to the saloon. I used to save my pocket money and buy myself clothes from Edgars and Truthworths. Imagine, I was shopping from stores that civil servants and working class individuals. Imagine me, a high school kid, affording at that level. I wanted to maintain standards set by my father. Such determination showed in other areas of my life growing up. I remember when I paid my first tithes at church from the pocket money that my older sister sent me. I then started selling sweets and paid tithes on a weekly basis. I have always been faithful in my tithes, when income is streaming in that is.
There are so many stories of my determination that I could share. The biggest lesson learnt is that lack or poverty can be a blessing for your breakthrough. Lack encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and think bigger, and smarter. It pushes you to realise that you could be and have so much better. I mentioned in a review about my favourite movies that I am fascinated by the mafia. I am also intrigued by drug cartels from El Chapo, Pablo Escobar, to Griselda Blanco. Their hustles were driven by their backgrounds, often of poverty. I mentioned to a few friends that we need to have the hustle of drug cartels. Mind, I'm not here to condone illegal activities. We all know it's either jail or death if you tread on those grounds. The point is to include passion, determination and strategy as we go through this thing called 'life'.
No one will hand things on a silver platter for you. Not all of us were born with silver spoons in our mouths. Some of us have to spray silver on rusty platters to shine. I am a firm believer in doing your best and letting God do the rest. The universe rewards intention. Some things might not happen at the time that you want, but they will happen eventually. I remember that in 2013, I wanted to work at a certain radio station. I got a job at that particular radio station in 2018. That station was on my vision board. I had no idea how that was going to happen because I had tried to get my foot in the door. It eventually happened and I learnt a lot during that experience.
My major goal is to be financially emancipated! I no longer want to live a life of begging for crumbs of love or life. I desire to bake the cake and eat it - all of it. I want to break the chains of poverty from my family. I want to demystify the stereotypes about black people and their attitudes towards money. My daughter should inherit great wealth from the labour of my hands. For this reason I do whatever it takes that includes working for other people - experience and network. I collaborate with several creatives and entrepreneurs - execution of skills and support systems. And I use the little resources to create the brand that I desire - consistency and visibility.
Yes, we are living in perilous times where prices go up and the standard of living goes down. 90% of the nation is unemployed. Ironically, according to statistics, Zimbabwe has the highest literacy rate of over 90% on the continent of Africa. So we are a bunch of educated bums! Most of the graduates have become dealers of some sort on the streets. Young women have found employment as 'blessees'. The youth make up almost 75% of the country’s population yet they do not own any resources or advantageous positions of influence. The going is getting tougher but how do we return to the vision board? How do we steer ourselves towards our life purpose and goals?
By taking it one day at a time with intention. We need to do more than just survive; we need to start living. Remember that street corners aren't the end of it. Street corners are a means to an end. Don't stay stuck!
As my former radio colleagues say, "Get up and do something."
When the going gets tough, the tough has to go! Joy comes in the morning...
P.S. Always write your own love story!
Ciao!
Lady E
I have just finished doing my own hair. I spent the whole winter without a protective hairstyle for my natural hair. My hair is damaged (mainly due to stress), and mismanagement because I have run out of product. Haven't afforded a hairdresser in a while. Yes, it's been a rough couple of months. During the last church service, I went for prayer and counselling. The lady praying for me, said, "You look like a go-getter to me!" Haven't really felt like that of late, but I have in the past, made a dollar out of fifteen cents.
I remember sharing a testimony with a former manager. I told her about how I entered the employment field three and half years after giving birth. My first job was as a sales person for a new product on the market. I had no previous qualifications in sales or marketing but I had the zeal. Though I and the rest of the employees got screwed over, I held onto the CEO's words. He said to us during a meeting, "Your work ethic will determine where you will be in life," and then he continued, "I can already see entrepreneurs amongst some of you." He must have been meaning me, I thought.
I wrote a vision board in 2010, then later revised it in 2012. One of my goals was to run a restaurant. I love food! I'm still learning to perfect my culinary skills, however, my passion to bring joy and people together through sharing meals is powerful. That vision hasn't come to pass yet. The vision that did come to pass, was my dream to become editor of a prestigious magazine. Guess what? I have been editor of two prestigious, online magazines and a contributing writer to many publications.
I went on to share with my former manager, my journey to the job that she hired me for. I have no college qualifications due to several 'life' circumstances. However, with access to the internet, I have educated myself. I have practised and executed the skills learnt which over time, I have excelled. I remember during a hard time at a workplace, I would search for WiFi hotspots. I became an expect at working with minimal internet access. I would post content consistently whilst standing by a the corner of a college in the CBD. I even applied for YALI (Mandela Fellowship) program whilst standing behind a building that had open access to the internet. I didn't get the fellowship but the following year, I received a call to be editor of an online magazine. This opportunity came through the consistency of the work that I put out. My work impressed my then new boss.
Fortunately, my brother offered me workspace at his office with free Wi-Fi. Hallelujah, no more exposing myself to skin cancer by standing by street corners. Mybwork ethic impressed my brother so much that the following year, he referred me to the woman, who became my manager. I think it now makes sense what the church counselor meant by go-getter...I guess.
Ever since my father passed away, I had several limitations. Growing up we were cushioned by the perks that came from my father's job. He loved the finer things in life and refused mediocrity. His death slapped me in the face with the harsh reality - not everyone is like my dad. I learnt to perm and plait my own hair because I no longer went to the saloon. I used to save my pocket money and buy myself clothes from Edgars and Truthworths. Imagine, I was shopping from stores that civil servants and working class individuals. Imagine me, a high school kid, affording at that level. I wanted to maintain standards set by my father. Such determination showed in other areas of my life growing up. I remember when I paid my first tithes at church from the pocket money that my older sister sent me. I then started selling sweets and paid tithes on a weekly basis. I have always been faithful in my tithes, when income is streaming in that is.
There are so many stories of my determination that I could share. The biggest lesson learnt is that lack or poverty can be a blessing for your breakthrough. Lack encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and think bigger, and smarter. It pushes you to realise that you could be and have so much better. I mentioned in a review about my favourite movies that I am fascinated by the mafia. I am also intrigued by drug cartels from El Chapo, Pablo Escobar, to Griselda Blanco. Their hustles were driven by their backgrounds, often of poverty. I mentioned to a few friends that we need to have the hustle of drug cartels. Mind, I'm not here to condone illegal activities. We all know it's either jail or death if you tread on those grounds. The point is to include passion, determination and strategy as we go through this thing called 'life'.
No one will hand things on a silver platter for you. Not all of us were born with silver spoons in our mouths. Some of us have to spray silver on rusty platters to shine. I am a firm believer in doing your best and letting God do the rest. The universe rewards intention. Some things might not happen at the time that you want, but they will happen eventually. I remember that in 2013, I wanted to work at a certain radio station. I got a job at that particular radio station in 2018. That station was on my vision board. I had no idea how that was going to happen because I had tried to get my foot in the door. It eventually happened and I learnt a lot during that experience.
Not all of us were born with silver spoons in our mouths. Some of us have to spray silver on rusty platters to shine.
My major goal is to be financially emancipated! I no longer want to live a life of begging for crumbs of love or life. I desire to bake the cake and eat it - all of it. I want to break the chains of poverty from my family. I want to demystify the stereotypes about black people and their attitudes towards money. My daughter should inherit great wealth from the labour of my hands. For this reason I do whatever it takes that includes working for other people - experience and network. I collaborate with several creatives and entrepreneurs - execution of skills and support systems. And I use the little resources to create the brand that I desire - consistency and visibility.
Yes, we are living in perilous times where prices go up and the standard of living goes down. 90% of the nation is unemployed. Ironically, according to statistics, Zimbabwe has the highest literacy rate of over 90% on the continent of Africa. So we are a bunch of educated bums! Most of the graduates have become dealers of some sort on the streets. Young women have found employment as 'blessees'. The youth make up almost 75% of the country’s population yet they do not own any resources or advantageous positions of influence. The going is getting tougher but how do we return to the vision board? How do we steer ourselves towards our life purpose and goals?
By taking it one day at a time with intention. We need to do more than just survive; we need to start living. Remember that street corners aren't the end of it. Street corners are a means to an end. Don't stay stuck!
Lack is the mother of hustle and innovation!
As my former radio colleagues say, "Get up and do something."
When the going gets tough, the tough has to go! Joy comes in the morning...
P.S. Always write your own love story!
Ciao!
Lady E
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