Thoughts from Christmas 2021
Writing this from the sleepy environs of Bulawayo where cars overtake each other at 60km/h, it’s the perfect setting for some short reflections on this year which is swiftly coming to a close.
What’s been working for me?
Consistent execution on all things big and small that I have committed to. Blogging on a regular basis has been a pleasant surprise for me over the past year: turns out I enjoy it thoroughly! I threw myself into the deep end as someone who used to be completely offline and dove into starting two blogs at the same time AND getting back into social media in order to share my writing. I knew I could start something, but would I continue? I don’t like getting stuck in that messy middle of aimless persistence. I’ve been greatly encouraged by the offline conversations and introductions generated through the two platforms that I now have a self-reinforcing loop of motivation.
I established a few simple guidelines to make this blogger life less intimidating:
I aim for circa 1,000 words with each blog, knowing that less is more;
I write at least once a month or 12 times a year, whichever comes first!
I invest in tools that make it easier to create polished work (SquareSpace, Canva, Shutterstock, Otter.ai);
I directly send each article to at least 10 people in addition to my social media blasts. This is most likely to generate the feedback I need to improve or spark some challenging engagement. I welcome both!
Looking at this simple approach to blogging, I get confident that I can allocate a few hours once a month to do this. I respond well to frameworks that define what consistent execution looks like. Add in an accountability partner for a few months and after that I have the excitement of a kid who graduates from a tricycle to a bicycle. I will be ready to let it rip!
Up early and caffeinated to write this blog!
Vision-setting has been a steadier guiding principle than goal-setting. It took me a while to over-ride my factory settings that say a new year = new goals. The vision I started framing in 2020 requires several audacious goals, many of which take more than a year to accomplish. I’m now deeper into the habit of assessing whether I’m making suitable progress in light of challenges faced rather than pressuring myself about goal completion. I want to stretch myself but not bend or break along the way.
Vision-led living has clarified my approach to the many decisions I continually have to make (e.g. where is my career capital best deployed) and to pivot goals accordingly. Achieving some thing is ‘easy’ and generates quick gratification, but achieving the right thing takes discernment and time. What’s been keeping me straight is regular check-ins with a trusted squad to stress-test ideas with open-mindedness and flexibility. When I ask questions, I’m ready to hear honest responses. I’m also practising to not hang onto my ideas too tightly before engaging in some iterative testing. Thanks to my patient friends and family who put up with my regular requests for feedback - there is some method to my madness and it’s all adding up nicely. This is how I got my websites and e-book going and it will serve me well as I launch new digital and media projects in 2022.
Every year, I pick two themes I want work on personally and/or professionally. The key words I chose to live by in 2021 were OBEDIENCE and SIMPLICITY. Obedience was in respect to submitting to God’s will for my life and positioning myself to hear it. I believe I did this well for the first time in a long time - now the mandate is to maintain #consistentexecution. Simplicity was about adjusting my lifestyle and finances into less busy-ness and hassle. I implemented efficiencies and delegated more. Case in point being the great fun I’m having working with two bright interns for my GenZim Connection platform. There’s always something to learn from social media tactics or direct insights into the everyday struggles of teen life in Zimbabwe - the very thing I want to positively impact and needed help tapping into.
Being Me, the pursuit of simplicity has morphed into a very high avoidance of low value preoccupations in exchange for more high value pursuits. Alas, I’m still busy but now it doesn’t feel like much hassle 😉
Who’s been instrumental?
Recently, a friend mentioned me in her blog as being someone who made a positive impact in her career this year. I’ve received that kind of feedback a few times this year - I’m delighted and humbled to hear it! Acknowledgement is something I need to get better at so here I am #payingitforward, thanks to my friend’s example. Life is short - let’s celebrate each other and leave no doubt that the investments we are making into each other’s lives are well-placed. I’m sending a big shout-out and thanks to the following people who have been influential to my professional growth and choices this year:
Licia Dewing
Ming Allen
Gidion Munyaradzi
Tichati Munyaradzi
Darlington Mandivenga
Parting Shots
That’s enough about me. I did explain in my previous blog that December is a month dedicated to resetting, reflecting and refreshing 😅 This is what came to mind as a result.
As for you, I hope you are proud of how 2021 has turned out. If not - don’t lose sight of the potential everything has for improvement, and that every day we wake up presents the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments.
Wishing you success, fulfilment and focus for a life you’re excited to pursue in 2022.
What’s next? Let’s get it!
