The reasons we come up with for not getting things done are pretty lame sometimes.
We set ourselves a task or a goal, and get started.
Then we find our goal is not as easy to achieve as we first thought.
Then we pause. We get distracted. We decide we need to do some more research.
Then we find reasons why the whole plan might not work. We lose confidence.
Then we find that some elements or components to our plan are not easy to find or develop.
Then we get scared of failing. We lose faith.
Then we abandon the plan.
Then we blame all kinds of outside circumstances for the failure of the plan.
Like I said, pretty lame.
Contrast this with the approach of William Kamkwamba of Malawi, Africa.
His goal? To get some electricity into his family’s home because they had no lights, and they needed to pump water to irrigate the land.
He went to the library and found some books about electricity. He even found one about wind power.
Then he had to find all the components that go into building a windmill and using it to generate electricity. His family had no money to buy anything. This all happened during a severe drought and famine. William, his sisters and his parents were each getting by on 3 mouthfuls of food a day.
So he goes to a garbage dump, and slowly puts together a collection of materials from junked cars and other discarded items.
Then he goes home and builds his first windmill. All from junk, working from the books he found in the library.
His first windmill provided enough power for 4 light bulbs.
Then he built another one for his family. Then one for his village.
BTW – at the time he did all this William was 14 years old and half starved.
So tell me, if William can do all that at the age of 14, what’s your excuse for not getting things done and achieving your own goals?
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About the author: Nick Usborne is an online writer, copywriter, author and coach. Read more…
Brilliant. Thanks for sharing. We occasionally work with an organization in South Africa- Living Hope and have a passion and deep love for Africa and Africans. It’s amazing to see what one 14 year old boy can do on his own.
Beautiful start to the week. Thanks, Nick.