Most people I meet would like to do something.
Move mountains.
Create a change that will outlast them.
There are some who manage to achieve this.
There are those who reach the mountain top-but how do they do it?
Tshepiso Maruping; for instance.
She has established Dream Alive Arts Club which is growing in leaps and bounds.
This young lady has brought big names to a country of just a little over 2 million population.
Hollywood big shots.
Tasha Smith.
Morocco Omari.
Reyna Joy Banks.
Brely Evans.
Batswana artists have enjoyed interaction, through training and workshops, with the finest in the art industry something that they would not have otherwise known.
Because of one girl’s dream the landscape of art in Botswana is changing and youth are seeing possibilities open before them.
I applaud people like her who want to take others with them on this journey.
It is through her life that the lives of others are lifted.
I was also privileged to attend one of the events recently at Molapo Crossing where Tasha and Morocco spoke boldly about harnessing into the power of our dreams.
I am not the one to want to miss such events because they are life changing opportunities.
I believe that being around people who play big should not have to be a point of intimidation but should be a point of encouragement.
I grew in folds from that 2 hours event.
I will share someday on the life lessons I learned but today it isn’t about Tasha it is about Tshepiso.
Such people make me real proud to be a Motswana.
What do girls like Tshepiso have that others do not have?
How do they reach the mountain top?
Yes a good network is essential, support and resources are essential.
But to be able to move things and bring giants to a country that very few television stations takes more than these.
It takes grit.
It taking coming across people who mock your dreams; who don’t believe girls like her could call women like Tasha to Botswana but still do it anyway.
In the month where my country celebrate 50 years I celebrate the “gritful” ones.
The ones who keep trying with faith that something will come up, that a breakthrough will come their way.
Grit means wanting it so bad you have no desire to quit.
Grit is not found in cry babies, the ones who chicken out at the very first resistance.
It is in those who have real commitment to their dreams.
I think the reason why we have increased failure in school, many failed projects is because of no real commitment to our dreams.
You have to be able to follow through on your commitments.
The gritty ones are like a lion waiting for its meal.
They got no time to joke.
They move their dreams from ideas into execution.
The gritty ones face resistance and keep trying.
They may cry while they are at it, but they keep trying, they go after their dreams.
They get the Tashas and Omaris of this world to pay attention.
They knock on hundred doors and understand that one of them will open.
They gritty are not afraid to ask and are not afraid to be turned down.
The gritty ones are like Samson.
The Israelite boy who had super powers and was never to cut his hair.
His enemies plot against him cut the dude’s hair, they take away his eye sight, strip him all of his power points yet the guy looks for areas he can access his enemies.
His stands between the pillars of the temple and believes even after everything he has lost there is still the power left somewhere to kill his enemies.
He knew they is still some strength that can be tapped from the inside.
He trusted God to be on his side again.
That is grit and that is how the gritty behave, their power points are taken but they keep going.
They have faith and are strong believers in that little bit of strength that’s still left.
The gritty don’t do the things because they feel like it.
Sometimes they push through in the absence of inspiration.
Oh this environment does not inspire me? I am so uninspired today. They don’t bank their lives on applause.
They are like Edison who after failure said I have learned 10000 ways that don’t work.
Without grit Edison would have stopped at 5 or 20.
This country need more like Tshepiso.
Conclusion
Don’t be one of those who give up to soon- who have no backbone to withstand tough times when everything goes against their dream.
Don’t be like the ‘ungritty” ones who believe on the sunshine only when it is shining.
“Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day-in, day-out. Not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years. And working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” Dr. Angela Lee Duckworth