In 2012, I was privileged to attend a two-month business symposium organized by Florida Southern College as part of the Africa-USA leadership exchange program. One of the memorable highlights of the study tour was a business exposition delivered by Warren Buffett at the offices of his insurance company, GEICO, in Florida. His talk was on ‘nurturing one’s talent.’ This is the conversation I wish someone had with me many years ago. Yes, that one discourse changed a lot. Why? Because it moved me emotionally. I will explain.
Buffett shared with us some leadership principles that he has lived by for decades in business and life. I vividly remember the business maestro reminding us that leadership improves when learning is converted into action. An insight that stays too long without application loses its essence. Even the right idea, when delayed in application, loses its zeal and appeal. Action delayed is greatness betrayed. The mogul laid it bare that no matter where the invisible hand of the High Power positions us, each one of us has a special gift. The drawback is that the gift remains subtle within us like a marooned mustard seed in a fallow field, which springs into a healthy seedling shoot when adequately watered.
Every year in January, you and I set new goals for personal growth, leadership, career, family, business, adventure, spiritual development, et cetera. We fix targets we want to move towards, which would put us on a trajectory of success. A few months later, we find ourselves in the same place that we were the previous year. One piece of wisdom I learned from Buffett’s talk is that the hardest part of growth is not the work that is required to set us on the right course, but the decision to start.
Domino’s Pizza is one of the top brands in the fast-food service industry. The brain behind this iconic brand is none other than Thomas Monaghan. Monaghan founded Domino’s Pizza in 1960. There is a remarkable leadership backstory that you and I can learn from Domino’s Pizza vis-à-vis personal growth.
One day, Monaghan visited his friend Ray Kroc, the man who made McDonald’s the world’s largest restaurant chain. Then, Kroc was regarded as the entrepreneurial genius of the fast-food service industry. He was highly revered. Monaghan, too, looked at Kroc as his personal mentor and model. While the two great friends sat down to exchange notes about their businesses, Kroc offered an impromptu piece of advice to Monaghan, “... Tom, you have got it made now. From now onwards, play it safe. Open a few restaurants every year.” He paused, looked at his friend, and continued, “... don’t make any deals that could land you in trouble.”
Monaghan was shocked by Kroc’s advice. He could not believe that such a statement could come from the man whom he so revered as a business titan. The statement defied what he thought of his mentor and model. Thus, unable to hold himself back, Monaghan replied, “... thanks, Ray. But that would not be any fun!” A long silence followed, enveloping the room. You could literally hear the sound of a pin drop. Then, suddenly, a big grin appeared on Kroc’s face. He stood up from his chair and walked around the giant wooden oak desk. He extended his right hand and shook his friend, saying, “... that is just what I hoped you would say.”
Reid Adair, the firefighter famous for extinguishing the oil fire blazes during the Iraq-Kuwait war, put it better than I could when he said, “... life is not having it, but it’s getting it made. Each necessary task requires an effort of will, and with each act, something in you grows and is strengthened.” What a profound point. If all you have is one song, sing it. Do not relent. Raise the volume. It has the power to grow your influence.
Transformation occurs when we are not only intentional in materializing our incendiary innate gifts, but when we dare, roll up our sleeves, and take action on our plan. Too many people think good thoughts but lack the audacity to execute them. They would rather play it safe than risk it. Too many people know what to do but hesitate to apply the knowledge. They would rather perish hugging the goddess of familiarity in the comfort zone than venture into unfamiliar territory. Too many people prod in their actions. They would rather wait for the right time when butterflies glide, puppies dance, rainbows stream into the windowpanes, and stars line up in the galaxy sky than take immediate action. Unfortunately, the right time never comes. Too many people live in their heads. They are good at dreaming in colors. Regrettably, they forget that if wishes were horses, the poor would ride them. Too many people, admittedly, know that the best quality fruits on a tree are found on the limbs of the tree. But only a few reach them. Why? Because it is the edge and very risky. They are afraid to develop the audacity to play on the edge of their power. What they do not know is that as they visit the limit of their influence, the limit expands, outgrowing the person they were yesterday.
The famed leadership guru, Robin Sharma, said, “... a boat that stays in the safe harbor of the known is never banged up by rough seas. But that is not what boats are made for.” Be daring. Use the talent and skill that the high power endowed you with. There is no fun in being the wisest person in the graveyard. It does not make sense to be the richest person in the intensive care unit of a hospital. It is worthless to be a shark in a small ornamental garden pond. Sharks swim in the ocean. Is it not heartbreaking to reach the end of your life only to find out that you never materialized and scaled your potential? Take pleasure in your innate gifts while you are living and healthy. Your generation craves the service of your gift.
For the past decade and a half, I have dedicated a great part of my wake-up time studying, discussing, debating, ruminating, coaching, teaching, and writing about leadership and personal mastery: learning, unlearning, and re-learning concepts at a granular level. I find bliss in poring over the topic. Since leadership is about influence, I studied people of prominence in business, sports, academia, military, creative arts, politics, religious affairs, psychology, and science. Above all, I sat under the tutelage of, and read autobiographies of illustrious humanitarians. I probed to learn the values that these great sons and daughters of Mother Earth lived by; what they did to reach the top; how they dealt with life’s challenges and curved balls. I wanted to know how these people became successful.
What emerged from my inquiry surprised me. Initially. The study revealed a definitive pattern. The examined leaders had one thing in common. Each one of them had one song, which they sang loud. None scattered his or her brilliance in multiple fields. They concentrated on one area that brought them the largest returns. The most sustained happiness. They devoted their energy to doing one thing. Yes, the thing that they were good at. They did it fanatically and fantastically so that people in and outside their orbits celebrated and called them industry icons. You and I, too, can be idolized likewise if we stay in our own lane. For at least 10,000 hours of deliberate action, as posited by the celebrated psychologist Anders Ericsson.
There are just a few important principles that account for most of the progress that we make in life. These principles have the greatest impact on our happiness. No matter how agile you may be, you will never be able to master every aspect of life. If you try to be a jack of all trades, you will end up being a master of none. You will only court frustration. Instead, be a minimalist. Target a few areas that have the greatest impact on determining the best quality of your life in terms of health, bank account, and happiness. Master one skill and dedicate all your wake-up time, effort, and resources to materialize its maximum potential. The rest will fall in place on their own. Would that not be beautiful?
Views from the top are that if you are reading this article, it means that you are alive. The High Power is keeping you for a reason. Do not sit on your talent. Do not sleep at the wheel of your life. You were meant to soar like an eagle. Gauge your winning by the extent of your action, not intention. It is not the movement of the clock that produces the newness of life, but the movement of your mind through action. Verily, action delayed is greatness betrayed. I dare you - if all you have is one song, sing it passionately and loud. Watch the results thereof.
Lester Chinyang’anya | General Manager – Operations | Minet Malawi
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