Paseka Lesolang and team WHC
Fellow readers it is with great delight and relief that I compose this long overdue article to let you know that the young, humble, inquisitive, enthusiastic and innovative visionary that was on the quest to raise US$10000, in order to attend the Third Annual Unreasonable Institute, has made it. We take this opportunity to appreciate your participation in the quest and respectfully request you to extend our gratitude to everyone that you have engaged to that regard. Your initiatives are highly appreciated. He recently also won the Junior Chamber International Best Business Plan competition. He is committed to his vision and takes the necessary action to achieving his mission.
Should you wish to receive some of his insight to making a change in the world; without further ado, bellow is a speech he was requested to deliver at the University of Johannesburg, after his award ceremony. Needless to say, the way he delivered the speech was articulate, compelling and sensational, as per the well-deserved standing ovation – so I am told. The speech is titled
HOW ONE MAN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD WE LIVE IN
Greetings to the JCI president, JCI delegates all our honourable guests, compatriots and fellow leaders among us
My name is Paseka Lesolang. I am the founder of an entity called WHC. WHC stands for Water, Hygiene, Convenience. Water is our substance focus, Hygiene represents the Green Economy we serve and Convenience represents the innovative technology and services we provide to that regard. We are based at The Innovation Hub. I would like to share what life has taught me during my short conscious existence here on earth and in the quest of making the world a better place to be in.
Contributing to humanity and the environment is one of the greatest virtues of mankind. Upon the same breath, it has occurred to me that this route is not for the faint hearted; you need to prepare yourself spiritually, mentally, emotionally, financially, materially and socially. All these aspects should be upon good foundations. Many are called, but few are chosen. The best way to be among the chosen is to find a way to serve the many. It is service to many that leads to greatness.
There are a lot of problems that need attention in the world and they cannot be resolved by one person. It is for the same reason that we are all alive today and the reason why we should conduct an introspection and due diligence based upon 2 questions; Who Am I and What Am I doing here? We need to find our purpose to life and not just conform to the standards of society. If you choose a job that you love, you will not have to work a day in your life. That is how blissful it should be doing what you want to do during your quest of making the world a better place for you, for me and the entire human race. Life, is the period you need to be willing to dedicate to this quest.
We all define success differently. My opinion is that success is based upon accomplishment of the vision and intentions one has to the betterment of humanity and the environment. That being said, this quest starts with an intention then followed by the vision and it is the vision that fuels the passion to archive the intentions. It all starts with an intention. How do you derive to an intention? You derive to an intention by being a problem solver, by being proactive and not reactive, by being an active citizen. Do not ask what the country can do for you, but rather what you can do for the country, your people and how that can be translated to the world. Then you need to have a clear Vision of how the end result of your intentions should unfold. Vision is also an acronym for Virtually Impossible Scenarios In Operation Now. If your vision and intentions are based upon a year, then plant a tree. If your vision and intentions are based upon ten years then plant trees. However, if your vision and intentions are based upon hundred’s of years, you need to teach others how to replicate the process as your successors – that is how you create a legacy.
Yes, the barrier of entry into certain environments you intend to influence might be daunting, but one has to take the first step. The argument might be that the haves have a greater advantage over the have nots in doing so. Although that might be true; 2 of the only things that the haves and have nots have in common is desire and time. How both utilize these 2 commodities determines the outcome of the success of their initiatives within their capacity. Therefore, do not procrastinate! You need to take the first step. Do the hard jobs first the easy jobs will take care of themselves. If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. Do not be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you much stronger. If you do the small jobs well, collectively they become the big job you accomplished.
According to Mr. George Bernard Shaw: “The reasonable person adapts to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to him/her. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable person”. For every progress in the world there is resistance and many who have the potential to better the world in a great way, are stumbled by this resistance and some even before they take the first step. Many people are concerned about what THEY will say. Do not worry about what THEY will say. One thing I have picked up about THEY is that, if you do bad things THEY will talk, if you do good things THEY will talk, If you do nothing THEY will talk. THEY are mostly sceptics and I do not know of a monument on earth that is erected for a sceptic. No Universities, Hospitals, Streets or statues, all are located for men and women who did not care about what THEY thought or said about them. THEY create fear, because THEY cannot develop the bravado to attempt such worthy causes. Remember, Fear is an acronym that stands for False Evidence Appearing Real.
Don’t be concerned about others not appreciating you. Be concerned about you not appreciating others. People learn from each other like iron sharpens iron and many hands make light work. Therefore, it is very vital for you to develop a TEAM when going for such historic attempts and also do not be concerned about who gets the credit, because Together Each Achieves More, that is the acronym definition of TEAM. The less you concern yourself about who gets the credit, the more work could be done.
The more you meditate upon good thoughts the better will be your world and the world at large; as within so without. The real test of character is when you can maintain these thoughts when the reality before you is totally different to the Utopia you deem within. It is those that maintain it that make it. This journey is a constant battle of vision versus sight. If you are employed in whatever you do, do not worry about holding high positions; rather be concerned about playing your proper role, while aspiring to the high positions. At the same time, do not be indispensable; because once you are indispensable upon the current possession, you hinder your own progress.
These are the things I have learnt in the quest of making the world a better place. Most importantly, I learnt that no matter how things seem I have to keep on keeping on. We are all here for a purpose. If you are not growing you are dying. As Mr. Gandhi stated; be the change you want to see. I urge you to be a better person, a better citizen and a better leader. That is how we will make the world a better place.
Thank you.
How One Man Can Change The World We Live In,
