“Brevity of time is not the lack of time. Untapped resources are not the absence of resources. Uncelebrated efforts are not wasted efforts.”
The first time I heard these statements was at the graduation ceremony of the Cohort 5 fellows of the Emerging Public Leaders of Ghana (EPL Ghana). If I remember correctly, they were uttered by the representative of the Central Leadership Program. I noted them down because they resonated beautifully with me. I didn’t know they would mean so much to me until I found myself reflecting upon these powerful statements often.
Brevity of time is not the lack of time: Even if it’s just a minute, you can use it to make a difference. We all have time, but unfortunately, we don’t know how to utilize it effectively. In the end, we blame a lack of time. Did you just read a minute?… Even a second can make a difference.
Untapped resources are not the absence of resources: We often overlook what's right in front of us. Let me relate this to my country, Ghana, where we have abundant resources but don’t know how to harness them. Even when we do, we don’t always know how to utilize them effectively. There are so many untapped resources at our disposal, especially in this technological age, yet we’re not taking full advantage of them… Now, replace Ghana in the above statements with yourself or your community, make the necessary pronoun adjustments and read it them again.
Uncelebrated efforts are not wasted efforts: Just because your name isn’t called during meetings or at the high table doesn’t mean your efforts aren’t recognized. Just because your idea wasn’t adopted doesn’t mean it’s worthless. Just because you weren’t an award recipient doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Every contribution, big or small, matters. Remember, the little efforts we put together shape who we are today.
These words have resonated with me deeply. They remind me that I all have the power to make a difference, no matter how small the time or resources may seem.
Let’s embrace every opportunity, unlock our potential, and make the most of our time, resources and efforts.
#inspiration #motivation #leadership #publicservice #ghana #emergingleaders
