There is a lesson we must all learn: life is nothing if you don’t commit to it.
In love, in business, in your career: you can’t ‘succeed big’ if you don’t ‘commit big’. If you want to be a winner, you have to decide what you want and how you’re going to get it. And then you have to go for it, heart, soul, lock, stock and barrel. If you play small, you will always be a bit player, an incrementalist, a safe pair of hands. The highs and lows of life may pass you by. You will spend your life on the slopes; you will neither peaks nor valleys know.
If you are courting, for example, sooner or later you must take your life in your hands and declare your interest to the object of your love. There is nothing to be had from timidity in love. Nor will you gain anything much by making a series of small investments in a large number of targets. If you want to love big, you have to throw yourself into one person. You may be rejected, you may be thwarted, you may regret your decision. You may face heartbreak, ignominy, emotional disarray. But do it you must. Alfred Lord Tennyson was entirely right: “I hold it true, whate’er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; ‘Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.”
If you are ambitious and have dreams of a glittering career, the same applies. I am often asked for career advice by young Kenyans, and the advice I give never changes. First, follow your heart, not your head. Try to understand what your passion is in your working life. Once you know you have found something to do where you are willing to every flex every sinew and exercise every brain cell, go for it. Don’t play safe; don’t listen to too much well-meant advice. Follow the voice in your head. The world has room for all occupations and professions. The point is to do whatever you do to your fullest ability.
Of course, the commitment is not confined to just making the choice. Once you have selected your partner or your career, the hard work begins. You have to plunge into the deep end, make many mistakes, learn the ins and outs of making your relationship or your career work. Again, you cannot afford to be distracted by too many alternatives. Otherwise you will never give full attention to the task at hand.
The best relationships and the best careers I have observed have this in common: they involve big commitments. And this perhaps explains why we have so much trouble hitting the heights in this country. Too many Kenyans are serial adulterers; they keep a flock of illicit lovers hidden in many corners; and they are never content to dig deep in one job or career. The successful executive will always be on the lookout for better prospects (a bit more salary is usually all it takes); and will keep a number of small (but inconsequential) businesses running on the side.
The story of Sam Walton is instructive in this regard. Sam, as we all know, was the founder of Wal-Mart, which eventually became the world’s biggest retailer and made him the world’s richest man. But did you know that Sam started off as the proud owner of a single dime store more than half a century ago? And that he sat in that single store, this hugely ambitious man, for seven long years before he opened another store? That it was not until the 1970s that Sam had a chain of 40 stores?
Today, Wal-Mart clocks $375 billion in sales, employs 1.9 million people, has 6,800 locations (many of which are outside the US), and serves 180 million customers every week. Take some time to reflect on those numbers; they are mind-boggling.
Would a Kenyan have achieved this? No, because the Kenyan, having had a successful year or two in his corner shop, would have started thinking of buying a matatu, investing in a small insurance company, and putting a down-payment on a coffee farm. And finally been distracted by the returns available at the NSE.
Great businesses are not built like this. Great businesses demand commitment. Cemex was a small cement producer founded a century ago in Mexico. Today it is a world leader in building materials, present in 50 countries across 5 continents. That is due to a visionary chap called Lorenzo, who is a scion of the company’s ruling family, the Zambranos. But Lorenzo did not just take the reins on coming of age; he worked his butt off for 17 years before becoming CEO. What was he doing? Learning the business, from top to bottom, before he launched his bold global strategy.
In life, love, career, business: big, long-term commitments are what yield reward. Pick your spot, then dig hard, dig deep and keep digging.
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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Great article and so true especially about the Kenyan habit of having a million little things on the side. Great inspiration, keep up the good work
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The article is spot on.What with the multi-tasking craze.We have become jacks of all trades but masters of none wearing ourselves out with nothing to show for it.Keep it up Sunny.We love your amazing insights.
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Hello Sunny,
I love reading your articles on, but always forget to check your websites,as its not always that I buy the sunday nation, its because of this that I’ve added you on my blogroll.
I’d like to say that you’ve inspired me to find and create one and at most two wealth generating(:-)) business, as I had an idea that too many little businesses will generate too much…
i now know better….
Many thanks…
Have a kingdom filled day!
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I have told every one I know to read this article. It descibes Kenyans in the work pleace today! I don’t know where we learnt that doing several businesses at a time makes us more money! We only have one mind, body and energy, it cannot be split! Excellent article
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Made my Sunday!!, finding a purpose in life and staying committed to it is something that every person need to do.Most think it is about amassing wealth, that why they are in so many ventures.Unfortunately, they become Jacks of all trades and do not have time to improve on what they are good at-which kind of reminds of the Toyota (and the Japanese in general) and the Kaizen principle. The US as a nation has its purpose is enshrined in the constitution, I hope we can do the same in Kenya
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Hi All
If you want to see more on this theme, see the Business Daily piece on coffee preceding this article, and an earlier one here:
http://www.sunwords.com/2008/01/25/want-to-do-more-do-it-one-thing-at-a-time/
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Hey Sunny,
This article really stands out because it reflects the lives of so many of my friends, relatives and colleagues at work..in short lives of many Kenyans. Me included!
Your idea on advising young people to find their passion is just great! Whenever most people ask for career guidance especially when they already have a job they are told that they are lucky to have a job so they should get busy working t instead of complaining. The problem with this is that its way easier to experience burn out if you are just doing the motions of the job.
Great article and lovely week!
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Sunday is not a Sunday without your articles. And the one on commitment articulated something in my heart that I have known for a long time. And yes I have bought Safaricom shares because all people expect me to. But your article reminded me of the stuff I am made of. Commitment!
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I wish the newspaper was filled with information as indispensable as yours, that was the best one yet! Kenyans have become ‘jacks’ and they want to throw their weight all over. Tell smone u’re focused on one dream& they tell u that the ‘job market’ is looking for a ‘jack’. Thanx for setting the record straight, the whole of Africa needs to see that article!
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It’s really amazing how the writer lays the facts detrimental to Africa’s development, openly before our eyes. But we are Kenyans and want to be `masters of all, and good to none`. What a nice article. Keep up please.
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What a lovely and edifying article coming from a fellow kenyan. May God bless you!!!!!!!!!
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Brilliant Article Sunny. Right on!
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I think we Kenyans get dazzled by our politicians and sports stars. These two groups of people are well know to own many businesses and seem to be doing well.
The real truth comes out later when you hear of these famous people loosing millions to conmen, or just general business failure.
The other problem we have is we love doing what our forefathers did. I still remember trying to run a transport business many years ago. This is because of the fact that my father and grandfather were in the same business. I had to stop and analyse the current situation and realise that to make a profit in transport you have to be very big or find that niche market. Here I was trying to compete with all the trucks that you used to see on Gikomba round about.
I very quick got out and promised to do what I do best and be the accountant that I trained to be.
Our other problem is this amazing fascination with land. Everyone wants to own land grow maize, potatoes etc. Even MDs, Financial Controllers, Managers. This means that one of the businesses has to involve land back in “shaggs” and my brother or sister will look after it.
This kind of behaviour is also prevalent with our athletes. Chase the few dollars in small events through out the year. When they participate in the Olympics or the World Championship they get thrashed by the Ethiopians. This is where the tragedy lies. The one athlete who deserves special praise is Paul Tergat. He is always focused on the big race and does a sterling job. He is the true Hero of Kenyan Athletics. Winning the World Cross Championship 5 times is no easy task
In your article you have mentioned Cemex and Wal-Mart but did not give any Kenyan examples. A Kenyan example would include the late Mr Manji of “House of Manji” biscuits.
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Kim
House of Manji was a great story but did not end well. The company ran into deep financial trouble and had to be rescued by a rival.
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hey sunny,
the commitment article is the kind that i reread,forward,photocopy and literally force those i care about to read.very well writen
thanks
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Sunny,
Thanks for bringing that home truth back. God bless you sana.
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I read it at the right time. The pressure to invest is so high in this country. Its not a bad thing but i’ve learnt to do what my heart tells me and listening to my inner being more than ever. Thought i was lost but after reading this i’m found!!
Thanks Sunny
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We like to spread our selves thin. Instead of building on our success and competency, we want to delve into every money making scheme.
BTW, I’m a big fan of Walmartonomics.
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Am so ashamed I hadn’t read this article.Thanks to the fact that I never delete your postings from my in box,am able to read it.It is a gem,the best ever since you wrote “Why Kenyans Never Read Books”,and l am going to it justice;save it,print it,pass it around and make sure that Charles Hillary and Regina(small brother and small sister) read it.Kudos.
Well done for allowing your photo to appear alongside the article.
Regards.
Urban.
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great article, from a great writer. u inspire me.
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I Have been reading your Sunday Article and I have to say this was my best. As kenyans we need to find something we love and be best at it. The prevalent mentality of, the grass is greener on the other side, is a waster of time, energy and money
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Just recently a friend and I began on a journey we are calling “committing to commitment”… this article has just stoked the fire!
Thanks Bindra.
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