It’s been 2 weeks in the US and the Mandela Washington Fellowship at Nevada, Reno has been an answered prayer. Ever felt like God took your thoughts, desires and silent prayers and planted them in somebody’s hands for execution? That’s my experience so far!
I had 5 goals in mind as I prepared for this program. To learn how to make the renewable energy projects we are working on scalable and sustainable, to address the unemployment that is rapidly growing in my country and continent by accelerating businesses, to have all the fun a human being can have in 7 weeks, to make new friends because relationships open doors and to soul search on what I truly want in life over the next 5 years.
The first 2 weeks have taught me a few life lessons that I intend to hold on to for ever!
- Relationships are everything!
They call it ‘speed-dating’ here. Where you meet so many people, present your elevator speech and connect in less than 4 minutes. My ice breaker is my bungee jumping experience, it makes people open up so easily and let their guard down, I think people easily identify with crazy humans who are not afraid of death … I kid. People give money to people not causes, people give business to those they trust, relationships open doors. And I have made some amazing friends these past weeks.
- Failure should be celebrated not avoided!
Americans have a low risk avoidance culture that I admire. They are not afraid of failure. To them, it’s an inevitable part of the growth process that they celebrate and make provisions for. Some of my favourite failure punch lines so far are ‘ Err, fail and persist – Failure is a badge of honour!’ – Doug Erwin. ‘Be worried about failure only when you spend a lot of money, but never spend your own money on a business’ – Matt Westfield. Then Paul Jarley wraps it up by saying that failure should be celebrated because nothing great happens without it. Only through it can you find great success, that it is indeed the doorway to greatness!
- Always be present!
It’s easy to get caught up in the past or in a future that you hope will be someday and forget to be present for today and its happenings. These past weeks, I have enjoyed being present. Present in conversations with new friends, present in sessions with amazing speakers, present for dance and music like there is no tomorrow and even present in my quiet time when I need to cool my engines. My new mantra is ‘when there, be there!
- Create hard, work smart and play harder!
I have had so much fun in the past 2 weeks, it’s simply unbelievable. Meeting new people and taking in every moment with a big spoon has been such great soul food. I have met creatives who build without a plan and only decide what they want to build when they are halfway through, they call it creating. Met strangers in Reno who will have a deep conversation on entrepreneurship by the road side and leave you thinking hard. Shared the heartiest laughs with 24 brilliant, beautiful souls from 17 countries across Africa. Laughed to tears the 1st day we had to take the bus alone back to the hotel and had no idea what was happening. Got interviewed on TV for the 1st time in my life, created some great business models and plans and still managed to keep my work emails at zero.
To think that we haven’t even met President Obama yet, or gone to Lake Tahoe, or gone to San Francisco or even gone through half the program! I will be something else by the end of these 7 weeks! Kisses to the heavens for the best time of my life! #YALI2015 #WolfPack #UniversityOfNevadaReno
African Girl 