BE DRIVEN BY YOUR VISION NOT YOUR FEARS

 As a Personal Finance Coach Iam privileged to interact with countless people and I appreciate the lessons that I have learnt from them over the years. The role of a coach is to challenge a person's beliefs about a certain topic. I should say that most of our limiting beliefs start in the mind. I have met people who even fear to enter the bank. I have met people who fear to come to Kampala. They prefer to stay in the same environment in which they were born. I have met people who dread reading personal development books yet there are a lot tips in such books that can transform their lives. The essence of these observations is not to castigate people because no one is perfect but Iam sharing my perspectives as a coach on what can inhibit personal progress( the truth always sets us free).

I have a passion for mentoring youths into agents of positive transformation and I have interacted with so many university students. What I have found out is that many graduates are driven by their "fears" more than their potential. They have  fear for the unknown world. They fear that they will not get jobs after graduation. They fear that they might not pass that interview. They fear that they will be judged by society. So these fears end up destroying their dreams. But history is full of leaders who had an unfavorable background but they ended up leaving a mark on the world. These include Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned for 27 years but never backed down on his dream. What about Mother Teresa who used her gift of compassion to make a difference in the lives of the poor people in Calcutta India. What about Thomas Edison who failed several times while inventing the electric bulb.

Today's society that is majorly used to instant success (not every one) should be reminded that great things take time and preparation. In a nation that is full of youths there is a tendency to prefer instant achievements. This is worsened by technology that is always appealing to the youths to achieve more in a short time. This is not bad but it has to be attempted with precaution. So many youths have a lot of potential but are driven by their fears. When criticized at the first attempt they give up. But no great success can be achieved overnight. A number of graduates despite graduating with good degrees do not believe that they can make a difference with the knowledge acquired at university. In his book After University What Next, Ambrose Kibuuka points out how Music Dance And Drama was one of the most undermined courses at university. On the contrary this same course was producing billionaires in the entertainment industry in United States. Today some musicians are so influential in Uganda yet they do not have academic degrees. It seems the notion that the world does not care about who you are but what you have accomplished seems to be true. 

Professor Muhammad Yunus started the Grameen Bank as a pilot project in Bangladesh after realizing that the poor were financially excluded . Today Grameen Bank is a case study in the Microfinance industry in the world. Equity Bank started as a small building society in Kenya but today it is a financial conglomerate in Africa. This should inspire the dear reader that nothing is too difficult for a person with a vision. We should not allow our fears to define us in a world of possibilities.

HOW TO SET A BIG VISION

1.It starts with God

2. Write down your thoughts

3.Identify role models

4.Start small

5.Address social problems

6.Focus on your potential

7.Learn from mistakes

8.Read widely\

9.Travel widely


Human beings are visual. In fact Stephen Covey noted in his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People that every thing starts in the mind. and it is them created in reality. As a coach i have seen many people who undermine the process of visualization yet it is very important. The fast paced nature of life should not prevent us from making our lives count. Let us be driven by our potential but not our fears.

Phillip Kiryowa

Personal Finance Coach

Advanced Empowerment Link

+256752615916

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