I woke this morning and drew back the curtains to find it
grey and overcast outside. A drip from the gutter reinforced the fact that
there was a fine drizzle that hazed the view. Inwardly I groaned at the thought
of another dull day; the drip in the drainpipe echoing the drip of heaviness in
my heart. On the way to work a streetkid, braving the damp in his tattered
clothing, knocked at my window. Drip. I got held up at no less than three
roadblocks checking for radio licences. Drip. The headlines that I drove past screamed
of turmoil and shortage. Drip. I got to the office to find that a large order
had just been cancelled. Drip. My bank had emailed me to inform me that another
piece of paper was required in order to fulfil an external payment. Drip. The
rent was due. I could go on. The continual drip of negativity and pressure is a
slow attrition on a man’s soul.
Attrition has multiple meanings in business. At its basic
level attrition refers to loss and wearing down. Staff attrition refers to the
voluntary leaving of staff due to events like retirement or seeking greener
pastures. Client attrition refers to the loss of clients from your business and
is a metric some businesses track. Attrition of the soul, however, you are not
going to find in a list of business definitions. It is the wearing down of the
drive and desire of a person. It is subtle and lethal to businesses. Unchecked
it can lead to the tipping point where someone just throws in the towel with
their business-even if there was still a chance of the company surviving the
pressures it is under. This is the effect that leads to one last straw causing
someone to crack under pressure with an ‘I just can’t take it anymore’. Let’s
be honest-we are all under a lot of pressure these days, especially if you are doing business in Africa.
We will all have days when we wake up to find that our ‘get
up and go’ has already got up and left before we could get started with the
day. How do we survive the situation when the pressures of life and work
threaten to make this a daily occurrence?
Start with a clear and passionate vision that is stronger
than your trials. Focusing on the daily and menial can take your focus off the
vision you had when you first started the company. Cynicism replaces exuberance
as stumbling blocks come your way. Rekindle the spark. What are you passionate
about? What makes you leap inside? Focus on that. Perhaps you need to retweak
the plan or look at fulfilling the vision in a slightly different way.
Attitude matters in an attrition rich environment. Seeing
opportunities rather than failures is often a matter of perspective. That
cancelled order can free you up to take on another project. That product you
are having to import-perhaps there is an opportunity for you to manufacture it
locally. Yes, it will take effort to stay positive in the face of so much. One way
is to embrace thankfulness. Gratitude resets your internal focus. Be grateful
for the work that you do have rather than whining about how much you do not
have. Be grateful that you have staff that are loyal enough to tolerate a few
days delay in their salaries-and then pay them.
On the topic of staff, it is easier to stay positive is you
have a positive company culture. If all your managers and employees are complaining
alongside you at the unfairness of life, the economy and the universe in
general it is easy to have a ‘bitch fest’ Your vision needs your culture to survive. Reinforce those behaviours that
promote the reaching of your vision and goal.
Embrace a strong external support network. This could be your
church, your friends, and your family. We are not alone on this road through
life, nor do I think we are meant to walk it in isolation. Like-minded people with similar values and a
positive outlook on life can pick you up when you are feeling down. Every now
and again we need to ride on someone else’s faith for a short while till we are
strong enough to step out on our own. Likewise there are people around you who
may need a word of encouragement from you to help them get through their day.
The drip will probably be around for a while. There will
always be circumstances that can wear you out if you are not careful. Build
inner resilience and perseverance in order to survive.
One last tip here. There are certain health issues that can
make it harder to be positive as they sap your energy. Parasitic infections,
low vitamin levels, and a myriad of other conditions can make life very
difficult and you may not be aware that you have them. If you are not well
physically it is an extra burden that adds to the drip on your soul. Go see
your health care provider, get checked out and treated appropriately. Then with
renewed vigour take on the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment