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COLUMN: Start today, start somewhere

───   15:10 Tue, 27 Jun 2017

COLUMN: Start today, start somewhere | News Article

Every single thing in life, including life itself, starts somewhere. Nothing in life ever happens out of the blue. There's always somewhere where it all started.


Let's face it; wouldn't we all just love to wake up one morning with a 6 figure bank balance? Oh yes! But unfortunately, that will never happen. You have to START and work towards that wish and make it come true.

I remember, growing up in the beautiful mountainous area of the Free State, in Qwaqwa, how every day we would see foreign nationals, mostly Indians, Ethiopians, and Somalians going up and down selling beautiful curtains and blankets, to mention a few. Only a few of them were privileged enough to go about this business using a car; most of them walked. Fast-forward to 20 years later, none of those foreign nationals is busy going up and down the dusty streets of Qwaqwa, or any place in South Africa, on foot or driving while selling those blankets and curtains. We are the ones who are now going up and down and in and out of their successful shops. Today, they are selling from their shops. But where did they start? They started somewhere! They arrived in South Africa with big ambitions and dreams and in order to fulfil some; they knew for a fact that they would have to start and start somewhere. And start they did; hence today, and for centuries to come, we are going to continuously experience their growth in taking over the industry.

Not long ago, I read a thought-provoking quote, and I quote: "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great"! This quote had me thinking about how we all want to be great, successful, rich and wealthy and how we all wish it could just happen overnight. Every great man and woman; every successful business you see today, started somewhere. They knew that they had to START TODAY and START SOMEWHERE for them to be where they are today.

And I'm here to tell you; for as long as you're not willing to start and start somewhere, you're going to end up nowhere. You need to start where you are with what you have. Forget about the miracle of waking up with millions of rands because it's never going to happen but rather start somewhere to get to those millions. You alone are the master of your own destiny. Take charge. Take control. Hello? Hey? Listen, it doesn't matter where you start and the circumstances under which you start; all that matters is you starting somewhere to work your way into the bright glorious future you desire and deserve in life. Tell you what: ten years from now, when some of us will be taking off in a private jet and pulling up in a Rolls Royce, you will wish you had started. As the quote above states; all you need to do is START in order for you to be anything and everything you desire. Every single day; take baby steps towards your goals.

You might not have the money to start your business or to study but have a mind you can use to start looking for funding so that you can live your dreams.  Don't let what you don't have; hold you back from starting; from taking a step closer to your destiny. Every single thing you want in life; is a START away. In order for a car to take you where you want to go; it needs to START. Just like a car, you also need to start. And the sooner you do; the better it will be. You can't keep on crying yourself to sleep; waking up every morning and going to bed every night with anger, frustration and hurt in your heart all because things aren't going your way... you need to start being happy; right in that pain, confusion, and sorrow; start moving towards better days. You're not meant to and you don't have to die in the very same poverty you were born out of; simply get up and start today to get yourself out of it.

A good Chinese friend of mine shared this powerful Chinese proverb with me and I quote: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."

My friend; with or without you, the ship of life is sailing forward! Don't get left behind! THE TIME IS NOW! START TODAY!


- Fannie Zim

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