When life presents life...

Why this? Why that? Why now? Why me…?

Well, why not?

Someone asked, ‘How are things on your side?” I replied: all is well.
And I am thinking, life is actually pretty good. It is presenting me with opportunities, challenges, disappointment, laughter, death, birth, humor, joy, sadness – in fact, some moments within this presentation are quite demanding. I need to slow down – right down – right now, but life wouldn't let me! Or so I think!

In response however, I am not presenting life with a why - not anymore. Why the hell should I? I trust God, the Great Spirit, the Universe, LIFE and accept that there is a good reason for everything that is being presented, down to the smallest detail. I was not always this trusting though, but then, that is a story for another time. And just by the way, I do not believe in coincidence.

How are you responding to what life is presenting you with? Are you frustrated? Are you grateful? Are you shooting yourself in the foot by denying your own divinity, your own worth and the tremendous value you bring to this world, your family, your work environment? Because if you do, you need to stop right here, right now!

Of course, it is not always easy to embrace that which life presents. It can be pretty brutal at times. But here's the thing. Resistance to what is creates even more difficulty. However, when one embraces what is, irrespective, it becomes easier to manage and learn what needs to be learned. Consider the difficulties as being part of your advance course in those areas and just go and cum it!

I once observed a large rock in a river. It divided a single stream into two streams. The image has stayed with me till this day. This rock did not move or change from one moment to the next. In fact, it did absolutely nothing. It was just there.

But by just being there, it divided the stream – adding speed to the flow of the water – directing part of it in different direction, which brought a whole host of benefits to many. Growing on the side of this rock was a tiny fern. It was battered by the flow of the water but it was beautiful and green and definitely not going anywhere.

You see, often it is not about what you do or what you own. It is about being you. Often and at any one time, your presence at a particular time and place is all that is required for miracles to happen, for things to change and improve for everyone, including you. So yes, you really can be an agent for change by just being you, by consciously sharing and being present.

So, be mindful of the fact that you are a piece of an extremely large puzzle. It is called life and without you, this puzzle is inconclusive. Life cannot present life without you being part of it!

So again, I repeat the invite for you to share your story with the readers via this platform.

Thank you to those readers who have expressed appreciation for the previous Single Story pieces. The intention though, is for you to be the author of this column – not me. So let’s hear it. Email me at matthys@lowvelder.co.za

BE THE CHANGE ...

I attended a performance booster business breakfast recently where attendees were reminded that society and business is moving from a mechanistic management approach to a more humanistic and conscious business model. It's not just about loyalty anymore. The buzz words are engagement - commitment - cash flow meltdowns - incompetent leadership - managers versus leaders - and the disengaged attitude of managers and staff alike.

And then this question arrived in my mind: What are the most important lessons that I have learned during my varied and often completely different working environments and, different roles within these environments?

Do you want to make a difference? To make a difference you first have to make a conscious decision to do so and then apply discipline to persist with this despite all the challenges involved.

Do you want to add value over and beyond the norm? If yes, it will present a constant challenge to your creativity to come up with new ideas and approaches to the what, why and how you do things.

People do business with people not with companies. Market yourself - be authenticity - be the change.

Performance Booster (www.performancebooster.co.za) teaches and present employees and managers alike with the skills and tools to effect change in within their own lives first and then to apply the emotional intelligence gained from this, also in their work environments.

Many who completed the program, shared - and with great enthusiasm - how they and their companies have benefited from this program.

I have always maintained that the initial benefits from most sales conferences and team building events lasts for a about two weeks after the event. Then everything is back to "normal". The reason for this is that without a fundamental mind shift about self and individual purpose, most behavioural changes don't last long. Permanent changes require, first and foremost, an unconditional acceptance of the fact that each and everyone has a divine purpose.

Employers, managers and leaders need to create environments where employees will be allowed to excel within their divine purpose. If you identify talent and capacity, apply the "manage without managing" principle - guide, teach, allow - don't terrorise or police but of course - when staff step out of line, one has to be firm, fair, reasonable and above all else, respectful. Many managers management style is motivated by the power of the position rather than their emotional intelligence capacity. Terrorise and police and you will kill the human spirit and eventually your company.

Create "growth mindsets" - engage in "growth conversations" (PB) - be more everyday - apply a different approach to at least one of the many daily, and often mundane/routine tasks. Take time to engage your mind, and staff in strategic planning - allow them to set the mini goals within the big picture and vision for the company. Allow them to set their own goals within the company.

It is important to rid oneself and the company from the constant survival mode philosophies and methodologies and the negativity dictated by the external world - colleagues, politicians, the economy and the rest.

Visualise, formulate, believe, do and trust. Even if you do not understand or know your divine purpose, do the work and trust the process.

What lessons have you learnt?

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