Preparation meets opportunity — Lionesses of Africa

by Phindile Ndlovu-Tapula

Yes, I know you are probably wondering why I am writing again. I have asked that question myself several times too. You see I haven’t been able to write, felt like I have nothing to say and that no one is listening anyway. But something kept pushing to write, so I am here again.

Perhaps before I took the responsibility of promising a blog every 2 weeks, I should have prepared for the next 2 months in advance. So many questions in my mind on why I let myself fall off the wagon for so long and it all boils down to preparation. I almost forgot how great it feels to just put thoughts to paper and let them flow. Funny how when you stop for a while, going back is daunting. Pretty much like most things in life, especially talent – you don’t use it and you will eventually lose it.

So how do we hold on to our dreams, keep them alive, even when we scramble for more time as working moms? How do we ensure we don’t lose momentum working on our businesses and not let them die a slow death? I have experience of this by the way – I launched a t-shirt line and a cup collection but haven’t made much profit. Sure, I haven’t made a significant loss and managed to share my business idea with a few prominent people, but I am not happy with my bottom line and that is all thanks to the level of hard work I have put in it. I could do better, been more consistent, been accountable. For crying out loud, the last Instagram post was 4 days ago!

Surely, I don’t want my business to thrive, you would say, but wrong – I love my idea and products but I just didn’t prepare enough. I had an idea and immediately jumped to launch. I didn’t invest capital and equipment. I had a great idea, marketed my samples, and ran out of steam and now I must pivot, think differently. If I had prepared for dry seasons, times when I would just not have the energy to be creative and whip together an awesome post on Instagram. If only I could have been prepared to get the marketing going, even when no one was buying or following.

Preparation is what it boils down to. Because truth is, no matter how many people give you an opportunity, platform, and space. if you are unsure, unprepared, you will waste the opportunity. Someone once said, “it is better to be prepared and not given the opportunity than given the opportunity yet not prepared.”

How I wish it was easy to prepare – I mean really prepare – like deciding the outfit for the next day the night before, or meal prep and sticking to a diet, or preparing for my week with a weekly planner. Truth is, preparing is boring, it takes away our free time, often seems insignificant, but believe me it is the magic trick.

Practically, it is as easy as investing in a supportive structure. My friend shared this with me and it changed the game. Yes, get that full time helper! And no you’re not a bad mom or bad wife – you’re a working mom, a businesswoman!

The second thing I would suggest is doing the hard, not so feel-good things like denying your kids that extra hour of screen time but encouraging them to read a book. Good habits, unlike the bad ones, are so difficult to cultivate into our lifestyle. But do the boring, not so fun things, be a fair but disciplined parent, be accountable to the things you said you would do. Do the right thing, yes that means waking up early too, sorry but it just must happen. That includes exercising too…Okay, I am done but I can go on and on about which good habits can set us up for success in the long run. Let’s get uncomfortable and working.

I am preparing myself for something big, my hope is that, when it comes, it needs to find me ready. Sometimes big things come when you have nothing more to give, when there is no motivation. When that something big makes it way to you, don’t let it find you unprepared, complaining, procrastinating, living in your head. Let it find you making the most of what you have and what you have been given. Let it find you disciplined, committed. Opportunity must find you prepared! So, prepare! Get ready!