*BORN ON A MONDAY*
*EPISODE VII*

*GROWING EVERY NEW MONDAY*

It was Vusi Thembekwayo (Venture capitalist, Global speaker) that once said that *when facing adverse situations, you can either focus on the emotions that pervades you at that time or you can focus on making progress. But you usually can’t have both.*

An interesting story was told about a little black American woman who moved into a white neighbourhood during the period when segregation laws were repealed in the US and black & white neighbourhoods, schools, hospitals etc were being integrated for equality.

So she understandably faced hostility by the white community for moving into their neighbourhood but there was a particular older white lady *who made it a duty to express her displeasure of this woman’s presence by throwing feces (poop) into the black woman’s compound on a daily basis.*

She did this for months but got no response from the black woman. Until this particular old white lady had a heart attack & the first person to visit her was this little black lady with a bushel of sweet smelling roses as a gift.

The story goes that old woman got emotional & asked her guest if she knew that she was the one that had been throwing feces into her yard all these months. The little black lady admitted that she knew but had forgiven her.

Incredible!

She then tearfully commented on the roses that the black woman had brought to her & noted how beautiful they were & then proceeded to ask if the woman had obtained it from the local florist or ordered it over the telephone. The little black lady said no. *She had actually harvested these roses from the rose garden in her yard which she had fertilised with the feces the woman had been throwing into her compound all these months.*

One woman’s poop can be another woman’s fertiliser!

While most of us may truthfully admit that we may not have the same reaction as the little black lady in this story, we however can admit that even though the anger, disregard, disrespect & despicable action of her neighbour could have been her focus, she instead used the same tools that could have been used to hurt her to grow her garden & sweet smelling roses.

*What are you growing every new Monday?* You can focus on the pain, the betrayal, the stress or the injustice of the work place or business terrain or you can focus on growth (progress). You usually cannot have both.

The best of humanity isn’t in our propensity to quickly react to irritating circumstances but our best is seen in our ability to anticipate & create.

Remember:

1. *Pain & discomfort are proofs of growth & progress.* When pain begins, work starts so do not be afraid of discomfort.

2. *Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.* This is what guarantees progress at every stages & prevents nonchalance.

3. *Focus on progress not on the negative emotions or the euphoria of any moment.* These feelings will pass but the challenges or stagnation will remain if you don’t focus on making progress.

4. *Have a growth mindset & not a fixed mindset.* Believe that you can improve. See difficult places as junctions & not bus stops and believe that you can gradually surmount them.

5. *Learn from & be inspired by the progress of others.* If any body else can, you can too! If they surmounted their challenges. So can you.

So what are you building? Ask this of yourself constantly. Are you building anger, resentment, confusion & disorder or are growing a garden that can make you soon smell better than your experiences?

Every new Monday can be a new Monday to grow the career & business that you desire or a new Monday to fret over the woes of the work place.

Make your choice.

Build!

Grow & come out smelling better.

Happy New Year and Cheers to better Mondays!

Have a great week & see you next Monday.

Dr Ben Wayo

DrBenWayo@aol.com

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