Are you a Gazelle or a Lion?

By Sandra idossou

“Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle - when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

I received this quote from a motivational website and I found it extremely interesting and worthy to share with you. Forgive me if I feel like adding my own words to the last part of the quote: “It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle - when the sun comes up, you’d better be running, and taking into your hands your own destiny.”

I wish many Africans could understand that they hold their destiny in their own hands because their future doesn’t depend on others. Running, in my opinion, implies that we take responsibility and go for what we believe in. It also refers to working hard towards a brighter future.

Many live from one day to the next, and do not always feel responsible for their destiny. They blame almost everything on others or on circumstances. They have excuses for everything. If their businesses collapse for instance, they blame it on jealousy, hatred, the huge taxes, the challenging economic environment, the weather, even their spouses or parents.

Your columnist often meets young people who just wait for miracles to happen. Most of these job seekers sit patiently at home, waiting for their phones to ring.

Even though I believe in God, I do not think (the biblical) manna falls down from heaven anymore. God never encouraged laziness but rather endorsed hard work. I strongly believe that somehow, good things happen to those who work for them.

There is a quotation from a Roman philosopher that has inspired me so much; “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”. So while we wait for greater opportunities or doors to open for our businesses, our nations, our personal lives, let’s be prepared. Let’s improve on the way we do things. Let’s make ourselves ready because diligence is the mother of luck.

Pride, laziness, not going the extra mile, not upgrading one’s knowledge and skills, accepting mediocrity, being satisfied with the minimum, being irresponsible, etc., are some of the many reasons why many are not able to rise to great heights.

So people of and in Rwanda, our destiny depends on what we actually do today. Our daily personal actions and attitude will determine our achievements as a nation. It is as simple as that.

If you want to be a prosperous business person tomorrow, work towards it today. Adopt positive attitudes today. Do not accept mediocrity even if everyone else does. Accept to differ. If, for instance, everyone comes late to work or to appointments because it is a common practice, decide to be the exception.

Today, many of us are so happy with what is happening in Rwanda and I trust the future will be even brighter…but again this depends on how we all decide to begin our days; either as a gazelle or a lion. However, regardless of our business or activity, we all have something to run for. Let’s not waste time. Time is precious and every hour that is wasted can never be regained.

Let us wake up early, prepare, work hard, read, research, practice, improve and upgrade our skills and attitudes.

sidossou@theservicemag.com