TIME AND CHANCE
Inspired by Bishop Matthew Addae Mensah
Time is money! Make hay while the sun shines! Procrastination is the thief of time!Those were a few proverbs regarding time and chance of which we were quiet familiar with during childhood. I personally remember that for me, knowing all those things was a big deal for me as a growing child. That was when I could flaunt those sayings in the faces of peers who were not familiar with it. At a very tender age, there were many things I had at my fingertips because of the family I was raised in; it was one filled with intellectuals and I was glad to be the last child. I remember that my class one English teacher would for instance, shout: ‘procrastination is …’hoping that at least one student would know. My face would be all smiles when my voice was the only one heard completing the proverb. That was all about being a child but now I have come to realize that time and chance go beyond reciting proverbs or mere speech and affirmations. It’s all about walking the talk.
Time though it may be a highly invaluable asset is often misused be it consciously or unconsciously. Time and chance are however two values that go hand in hand. If you are someone who usually wastes time, you are sure to miss your chances.
In our daily lives, there are key things we could do that would lead to missing our chances. One of them, I firmly believe is thinking that we are above certain tasks. There are many professionals who would complain of unemployment. It is true that this issue is indisputably pertinent in modern day Ghana and the rest of the world but are there really no jobs? I daily find people with two solid Master’s degrees and yet, with no job. If you are to question some of these people, they would give interesting responses as to why they do not have jobs. One man impressively said that so far, no company has offered him an impressive salary.
We are in a world were only the tough and smart can survive! It is true that the salary may not be impressive but does it hurt to take the job offer?
While you are on that job, you could be scanning for better options. If you fail to do so, you will live your life jobless and hungry, your two Masters degrees will not feed you. Remember that people are even competing with you for that salary you claim was unimpressive. The world is full of graduates now so it takes more than just a graduate to secure a dream job.
One second thing we overlook is our inability to explore and exploit our potentials. I remember Bishop Matt. Personally saying that he was shocked about the way an unknown man described his father’s football talent. The man stated that his father (that of Bishop Matt.) was even more talented than the famous Baba Yara. He could dribble every single player on the field and score a goal. He simply made all other players feel like rookies. That could have been unarguably true but the point is, the father of Bishop Matt. did not exploit his football talent like Baba Yara did and now he has a whole stadium named after him. He simply missed an opportunity that could have been his. Usain Bolt might not be the fastest man alive but till you are discovered, it remains so. Do not waste your talent! Go for it!
The last thing we must learn to do is to let go and stop blaming others. Many people often waste time by nagging and complaining. They would blame everyone from their school teachers to their parents except themselves! We forget that people have had pour same problems but have sailed through. What makes them special than us? They are actually not special. The only difference is that, they moved on and took their chances. Stop blaming the government for not providing jobs. Stop blaming your parents for giving your siblings a better education. Stop blaming your employers for being mean to you. Look at you current situation and make things work! Use your high points! Your GPA 4.0 is very important but it is not the only thing that would guarantee you opportunities. If there happen to be 10 other people with GPA 4.0 competing with you, what will you do? Think about things that will make you unique. Do things to build yourself up: volunteer, take up roles and tasks, take your internships seriously, network; go all out but have your studies in mind too because in the end, you still need your grades! If you’re someone who likes complaining and often gets angry, take a cue from this story.
Mohammed Ali, when he was 12, had his bicycle stolen. He was directed to a police officer in the basement. Joe Martin, the police officer was a boxing enthusiast with his own gym. After listening Ali’s (then called Cassius Clay) volley of threats against whoever had stolen the bike, he invited him to come around and learn something about boxing. Mohammed Ali honoured the invite and trained to become the all-time best boxer in the world. Ali turned his anger into talent and money. You too can do same!
What makes you different are how you use your time, the decisions you make and how you handle your opportunities. Look sharp! Do not let good things pass you by. Take the step to make things happen.