Much like the newly appointed Members of Parliament having made their maiden speeches this past week, I’m making my debut on the Genius Level blog.

Application of intellect!

See the exclamation mark. It says firmly that this is real and this is now!!!

Why did we go through school and varsity? Just so we could be told what to do our whole lives till our 50’s when we are let known to be good enough to become top executives like CEOs?

Why do we have to step up so late in our lives? This is because we do not apply what we’ve learnt. We are taught to take instructions just so we can survive throughout our lives.

We entertain being passive so much that we apply passive behaviour and attitude to our daily tasks and lives. We seldom get assertive when it comes to doing something right and confronting the challenges and obstacles that prevent us from doing so. That is part of the reason we don’t apply ourselves through the lessons we’ve learnt in our lives.

These lessons range from life experiences as well as educational studies.

Many a men go to varsity, get a degree and honours with top marks at that. However, (and here’s the crux of this article) there has to be someone who leads the way for them. This is via employment and then on a leadership basis. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying a varsity qualification automatically enables one to start a business of sorts. However, why can’t we apply that education or life experience to improve our lives, business-wise or not? All we do is survive survive survive!

There’s always an excuse as to why we can’t apply what we’ve learnt to take the big step of creating our own path.

A guy with an honours degree these days simply can’t apply what they’ve learnt to the point of establishing a worthwhile entity or service, no matter how small.

What education is this that won’t help us apply that which we are taught to improve our lives and the lives of others?

Application!
I had one of my boys from Alex who was also studying accounting. We’d go on a taxi together to Pretoria when we did our internship at the Competition Tribunal. Each and everyday he’d avoid seating at the front seat just so he wouldn’t be the one counting the change. But I reminded him that he wants to be a CA who’s going to be handling millions, yet he won’t apply himself to count a few rands and cents???

Back in res (The Blue Mansion) I met a guy who was studying Finance. We had a debate about making it in life. He echoed the sound of hopelessness when I asked him if he wanted to be a businessman and he said “I wish, you know these things are not easy”. Not easy yes, but why not apply yourself, you knowledge and experience to overcome the challenges that prevent you from making it?

These are just 2 examples of people being afraid to apply themselves to overcome the smallest to the biggest of obstacles in daily life. Think about this, the major reason why certain businesses thrive even in the face of tough economic times is due to foxy intellects (CEOs) who apply their knowledge, experience and wits to deal with the issues that might prevent the entity from continuing as a going concern.

You studied accounting? Why don’t you apply your accounting skills and knowledge as a service in your community (businesses or schools) to teach others kids or as a business?

You studied law? Why not apply those legal skills to look at legislature that promotes red tape and prevents young entrepreneurs from emerging and thriving?

You into art? Why not apply your artistic skills to raise awareness about an issue that might be affecting the youth or your community in general?

Remember that challenges are always to be expected, however failure is optional. On the one hand, giving up is not an option. Let’s stop trying to survive in the name of “it’s not easy” and STEP UP to live by the motto of:
Application! Application! Application!

Let’s go out there and apply! From that new job to your intellect! Just apply!

If it’s to be, it’s up to me!

(Whilst currently working at Momentum, on certain weekends I do accounting work for a lady in Morningside who has a HIV-book selling business and teaches grade 6 & 7 kids English and Mathematics at my old primary school Carter Primary in Alex)

 

And oh Hi, I’m Martin and I encourage consistent application.

Article by Martin Motlhamme

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