I don’t know if it comes from watching too many movies or just being a little bit too ambitious, but most of us have unrealistic expectations in the quest for success. Allow me to start with a little blame game before I get to my point.
When we are growing up, the constant chant from parents and teachers is for children to go to school so they can be “rich” and successful. When we get to secondary school, a university degree is glorified as the ultimate ticket to hit a jackpot. By the time one gets to university, pupils are under the assumption they are about to get to the light at end of the tunnel.
In college, the goal is to nail that degree and become the next big executive, engineer, accountant and the list is endless. By fourth year, students can hardly contain their excitement. They simply cannot wait for the big graduation day so that they can officially be called a graduate. Their immediate expectation is to instantly get a career or business and hit the blissful success jackpot.
Then the disappointment strikes. It starts with a stable job not being an immediate hit. And when the job is finally landed, the expectations do not even come close to the initial hopes. For those that dream of running their own business, the hustle of sourcing capital, assets and infrastructure begins.
Reality strikes hard. The much awaited degree seems like such a useless paper at this point. People become lost; they feel like they are constantly chasing their own tails. This is when most start to execute Plan B, because the ideal goal remains hitting the jackpot.
Unfortunately this goal ends up leading people in all the wrong directions and most end up in a mess they will regret for the rest of their lives. Some get unnecessary loans to meet the standards they want to achieve, to buy cars and fancy clothes and end up bankrupt. They end up going around town ducking corners and hiding in other people’s shadows.
Next we have the idea of females having clients that they service on a regular basis in return for cash. As long as the client provides all the necessary luxuries and pays the bills, life goes on. Currently the trend has been extended to young men as well who have older women as clients; they service the women whenever they need to and the young men are offered cash, gadgets and cars in return for being an efficient service provider.
Most f o rget the other consequences such behaviour follows; fatherless and abandoned children, sexually transmitted diseases, a chronically ruined reputation and half the time the cash and gift never amount to anything tangible.
And then we have shady deals left, right and centre in our companies and organisations. People just scooping a little cream from the cake to feed sweethearts and pamper their pockets. They blow one or two budgets a little out of proportion and keep the change. In some places we even hear of ghost employees who are somehow getting paid for being non-existent.
All is done in the name of hitting the jackpot and hitting it really fast. This is complemented by the idea of wanting everything here and now. What we forget or choose to ignore is the fact that nothing good comes easy. A house can never be built in a day. It starts with the thought of building a house, then research into available plots, comes sourcing capital for the plot and project, and next is making plans for the house. Once the plans are finalised, the construction starts with foundation, then erecting the walls up to roofing level, then comes installations, painting, furnishing and the works. At the end of the day, one has a fully built house but it didn’t happen in one swipe. This is just the same as achieving anything worthwhile in life, especially when it relates to issues of success and making it to the top.
At the end of the day, a jackpot does not actually exist. What exists is hard work and dedication. Then more hard work. And more dedication. There are no shortcuts when it comes to this part of life. Having the idea that the universe will just work wonders and things will fall into place just like that is a dangerous recipe for disaster. Take the time to build up to that ultimate goal.
I rest my case
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