What my 20s is Teaching Me About Patience

When you are in your 20s, the energy is often there. You try a lot of things, and work with people but the impact looks minimal, compared to the time and energy spent on the hustles and projects.

And in this present age of cybercrimes and increasing display of wealth, it is easy to sway from the right path.

Let me explain this with a few real life scenarios:

1. You just started your business. You sell cakes. Or probably shirts. Your cakes are sweet and amazing. Your shirts are top-quality and fitted. But the customer patronage is low. The sales are coming as you expect.

Then you ask yourself, Why do I have Few customers?

The keyword is PATIENCE.

2. You wrote your first book. You spend a lot of energy and time on it. You are excited. You are hyped up. You finally launch the book. You get a lot of congratulations, but the sales are few. It’s nothing compared to the resources spent.

Then you ask yourself, why is my book not a bestseller?

My dear, the keyword is PATIENCE.

3. You organise an event. You design flyers and publicise on social media. The venue is set. You even bought light refreshments for your guests. You tell your friends, family and even enemies.

Most of them promise to come. You are already imagining a fully packed event. Then the D-day comes. Only ten people attended. And three of them only came because they heard there will be light refreshment.

Then you ask yourself, am I missing something here?

The keyword is PATIENCE.

In these situations, you have two options. You can either wait for your friends to make money and then buy your products. Or you can search for clients who are willing to pay for your services.

Both choices will still take time. It will still require PATIENCE.

Does this mean, you should stop trying? Of course not.

In my 20s, I am realising patience is one of the most underrated virtues. When climbing the ladder of success, it takes patience to stop making rash or stupid decisions. It takes patience to analyse a situation and make the right decision.

My 20s are integral in building my future and it’s teaching me to trust patience. To trust patience for today’s activities. And to trust patience for tomorrow’s expectations.

It’s only a patient man that can work today when he knows his end goal will come tomorrow. It’s only a patient lady who shows up every day for the future’s rewards.

You can always SPEED UP the process through direct mentorship, deliberate practice and careful observation of the greats. But you should NEVER SKIP the process altogether.

TRUST the PROCESS. ENJOY every MOMENT you spend TODAY in improving yourself and your craft.

So as time unfolds, remember this:

“Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.”

The light cannot stay hidden for long. Things will always work out. Always SHOW UP. Your time will surely come.

BE PATIENT.

What my 20s is Teaching Me About Rejection

Dear Creative,

Sometimes Creativity involves the process of rejection. Some days, you have to reject your right to be right all the time. You have to reject instant perfection if you wish to constantly improve.

For you to create works continuously admired by true fans, you have to reject the fact that everyone will truly appreciate your work.

For you to create true success, you have to reject failure as an end, but see it as a means to a victorious end.

So, keep praying for clarity and fulfillment of purpose. Keep applying for opportunities. Look and learn from mentors to guide you on the right steps.

Read Also: For you To Create: You must reject.

And when you win, celebrate. Rejoice in the small wins. Revel in the big wins. Tell yourself you deserve it. Tell yourself God’s grace brought it to your doorsteps.

Then humble yourself once more and continue the process.

In Johnny Drille’s words,

“Keep your heart my friend, don’t lose yourself. In the morning time, the sun go shine.”

What My 20s is Teaching Me About Talent

There’s always the argument whether talent is the only requirement for success. Or if you need other attributes apart from talent to be successful.

Your doubts will be cleared with the famous parable of the Talents. But I will give you a perspective you have never noticed before.

Just read on till the end. The parable started like this:

A man traveling to a far country, called his servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave FIVE TALENTS, to another TWO, and to another ONE, to each ACCORDING TO HIS OWN ABILITY.

In those days, talents were units of weight and money. Both now, a talent is a natural ability or skill.

But both serve the same purpose: GENERATION OF IMPACT and INFLUENCE.

Now let’s continue the story with this context in mind.

The one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and DUG in the GROUND, and HID his Lord’s money.

At one time of our lives, our talent can be buried in the ground. Buried by ideologies, fears, past experiences and loss of interest in developing our talent. It takes a conscious effort to remove the talent from the ground and try to trade with it.

At this moment, this talent is no longer the problem.

As the story unfolded, we discover that RESPONSIBILITIES were rated and rewarded over ABILITIES. It was their capacity to grow and “trade” that earned them their accolades.

But what about the man with the one talent? What is the lesson you can learn from him.

Now this is his statement that will blow your mind.

“…. And I was AFRAID, and went and hid YOUR TALENT. Look, there you have what is yours.”

So these were his reasons. And it can affect us in our daily activities:

1. He was AFRAID. Today, this fear comes in different forms. Fear of rejection, fear of ridicule, fear of failure, and fear of being seen. These fears often push us to bury our own talents in the ground too.

2. He never acknowledged it was his talent. Sometimes, we never accept full responsibilities of our life. We don’t claim the risks and rewards of our decisions and choices. This could be another reason why our talents are still buried.

We also have to guard our talents from dream thieves, vision killers and anybody with a negative approach to our life. These are people who have disregarded their own talent (unless they change) and they want the same for you too.

Now, This is how the parable of the Talents ended:

“For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away…”

Today, there is a version of this,

THE RICH KEEP GETTING RICHER and the POOR GET POORER.

It is why 1% rule over the majority. It is the reason the top .01 talented are constantly embarrassed with success.

In my 20s, this is what I am learning to apply to my own Talents; It’s from John C. Maxwell’s Talent is never enough:

Use Belief to lift your talent,
Use Passion to energize your talent,
Use Initiative to activate your talent,
Use Focus to direct your talent,
Use Preparation to position your talent,
Use Practice to sharpen your talent,
Use Perseverance to sustain your talent,
Use Courage to test your talent,
Use Teachability to expand your talent,
Use Character to protect your talent,
Use Relationships to influence your talent,
Use Responsibility to strengthen your talent,
Use Teamwork to multiply your talent.

My 20s is teaching me to keep improving my talent, gaining relevant experience, and meeting people of high networth and network.

So that’s it.

Don’t BURY your TALENT in the ground. Make sure your light shine before men and the desired impact and influence will surely come.

To your continued Creativity,
Zamai Banje.