Run Your Race

Solitude

So now you're sitting here understanding more that right now, who you THINK you are could be an illusion painted by good grades at school, or aspirations to make your parents proud, or to impress your friends or whatever.

So you're probably wondering how do you take the first step towards self-identification? Lord knows I'm taking this journey with you guys so I'm still learning myself.

But the first step is pretty obvious. Solitude.

What do you do when alone, where does your mind turn to when cut off from the outside world. That means all forms of interaction, including digital interaction, social media etc.

It was in this solitude I was able to identify one of my passions, business.

From young the concept of putting in 10 and getting out 100 was amazing to me. This was sparked by what I call the snack shop era. Right after Jamie Oliver had brought his hammer of broccoli down on secondary schools and our daily diet of junk food and vending machines was removed. This left a gap in the market, a gap that a lot of kids decided to fill themselves by buying multipack snacks and selling them. I was one of those boys.

But it got to a stage where the market was too saturated. So in solitude I had a brainstorm. I analysed the products I was selling 12 pack of Pepsi, multipack hula hoops and penguins, analysed my customers, but most importantly analysed my competition.

"How can i put myself above the rest". Then it hit me like a brick.

Every day at 4am I would wake up to put the 12 cans in the freezer. When I was ready to leave for school at 8.30 the drinks were at prime temperature. Cold enough to remain cold most of the day, but not too cold for it to freeze.

That simple difference had me selling out all my products before break time (10.50 am) because if you think about it, if you want to buy drink and chocolate. There are 3 shops on your road that sell the chocolate, but only one shop has the drink, are you not going to buy both products from the same shop ?.

So in less than 2 hours of school I'm selling out, kids are leaving their lessons to catch me because they know by break time I'll be sold out. I remember one old friend, who would religiously buy two cans of Pepsi before school even started. Bless his soul I hope he doesn't have diabetes because of me (lol).

In solitude I also realised that my shy nature would not help me excel as a businessman. You might have the idea of the century but if you are not able to speak up and pitch your idea nobody will know. History remembers the doers, not the thinkers.

So more times than I can count I often put myself in positions I found uncomfortable to gain confidence in myself and how I present myself to other people, especially those in power.

Point is I was able to learn two vital lessons that I still hold close to my heart even up to today, in an environment where the only person I had to analyse, criticise and encourage was I.

So when I say solitude I don't mean lock yourself in all night with your PS4, or Netflix. These are all distractions that don't add to your greatness.

What do you do to expand and increase as a person, where does your mind wander?

Please understand that this is a gradual process. The human mind is fickle. The thing you think will be your passion will be tossed aside in a heartbeat.

Well I hope my experience and insight on the world we live in holds value to you now or someday soon. Hopefully with God's strength and your support I'll be able to continue this work as you all Run your Race.