Focus on Known Strengths to Avoid Losses

Have you heard of news on suicide cases resulting from sour betting experiences, in the recent past? Needless to revisit the exact details, all the cases were associated with failed attempts of making quick money, from what was meant for other purposes. Unable to live with the impact of their losses, the victims found it opportune to cut short their youthful lives. A sad turn of events indeed.

Personally, I was recently attracted to betting though for very different, but amazing reasons, which may eventually lead to some lessons worth learning. But first, it’s prudent to indicate that I am an ardent swimmer and jogging enthusiast of many years. In fact, I started swimming while still in primary school, through a fast flowing river, back in our rural areas. Ironically, the then swimming style in the river was kienyenji, compared to today’s universal standards.

Upon becoming a city resident nevertheless, I picked up the swimming hobby once more, whilst in my early adulthood. Initially, I used to swim at the Nyayo National Stadium, which is endowed with a swimming pool of Olympic standards. It is here that I perfected my swimming styles and was eventually able to complete at least 20 lengths, any day that I was in action. Twenty lengths of 50 meters meant covering at least one km every session.

Based on personal conveniences, I couldn’t continue at the Nyayo National Stadium swimming pool for long. I therefore shifted base and ended up joining a private members club, about 20 years ago, aiming to ensure continuity of the swimming sessions. Later, I combined the swimming exploits with jogging sessions in the club’s playground, making the workouts even more interesting. One day, these fetes attracted my wazee club mates towards wanting to know how I fare in the pool.

“I complete at least 40 lengths of 25 meters non-stop, any time I venture into swimming. Finally, I jog for a few laps, aiming to warm myself up,” I volunteered. “What? Your age and weight can’t allow you to achieve such feats,” expressed one of the members. He was later joined by others in disputing my assertions. As a re-assurance of my seriousness, I decided to place a bet of 5K with anyone who was in disagreement. Nobody took interest on that day, and I forgot the matter altogether. A few days later, the bet challenge was amazingly revived and taken up by the first member to dispute my assertions.

Upon agreement with my fellow betting companion who is a doctor, the funds now totaling 10 k, though later reduced by half, were handed over to another member, who happens to be an accountant. Meanwhile, other members who included an engineer and a lawyer joined the betting discussions. The latter volunteered to be the convener and was to be assisted by the swimming pool attendant, who was to act as the referee. The date and time of execution as well as the terms of the bet were all agreed upon. Interestingly, arrangements were to be made for a standby ambulance, just in case things went awry.

On Tuesday evening, three days later, I was supposed to present myself for the swimming session between 5.00 pm – 5.30 pm, failure of which my bet would be forfeited. I agreed to the challenge even though, I was ready for action immediately after the bet. On the agreed Tuesday nonetheless, I arrived at 5.05 pm and quickly adorned my swimming costume, ready for immediate action. The doctor had already arrived and was soon joined by the convener and the engineer. Thereafter, the referee beckoned me to commence the swimming session, with clear instructions that I should only use the freestyle stroke, during the whole time.

As usual, I dived into the clear pool waters ready to not only enjoy myself, but also ensure that I earn the free money gift, presented as a bet. As I continued conquering and counting the lengths, I could observe the session members come to the pool side, watch the action for a while and get back to their seats under a tent. The swimming went on and on, until I felt that I had completed at least 45 lengths, when I stopped.

Sadly, I was informed that I had lost count and was urged to continue for 5 more lengths, else earn a disqualification. The threat inspired me to continue swimming on and on until the whole team was satisfied with the performance. After 7 more lengths, the convener signified completion of the session, while at the same time extending hearty congratulations for the unexpected feat.

Amazingly, there was more to ponder on, as I headed straight to the jogging field for my usual warm ups. Later on, the accountant who was not present during the swimming session was advised to directly transmit the bet monies to me, through mobile money transfer. Why am I sharing this experience?

Whatever our circumstances in life, we are most of the times embracing trial and error methods of achieving our desires. Business should never be driven by trial and error techniques, such as betting scenarios. We always need to be sure of our strengths and weaknesses as we join the competitive forces. We need to continually build on our strengths, so that we are able to consistently exploit opportunities, while at the same time avoiding the threats presented by the forces of change. Why should we for example, allow ourselves to be victims of pyramid schemes, which keep sprouting now and then?

Like the eagle, which identifies its prey from 10 km away, we should all be strategic and guided by our strengths. Most importantly, we each need to understand our competitive advantages that are likely to propel our continued success.

We may also need to keep remembering to balance the four intelligences that guide our successes in life. They include the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual intelligences, the balance of which enables us to routinely and successfully conduct our business affairs, during both the good as well as tough times. The physical aspect particularly ensures continued regeneration of our body cells, thus consistently refreshing entire mechanisms. Moreover, the continued balance of all the intelligences facilitates building of resilience, as well as a positive approach to issues at all times, doesn’t it?

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