If you put on a dark shade, everything would likely appear dark to you regardless of how bright they are.
While people don’t always wear physical shades, no mind is without a shade. Therefore, as humans, we always interpret life with a psychological pair of lenses (otherwise known as our mind map or mental frame or mindset).
According to Stanford Mind & Body Lab, a mindset is “a mental frame or lens that selectively organizes and encodes information, thereby orienting an individual toward a unique way of understanding an experience and guiding one toward corresponding actions and responses.”
Because our mindsets are formed by information that we acquire over time from stories we are told as well as our education and experiences, memoirist Anais Nin was right when she said, “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
When lazy people ponder Solomon’s ancient muse, “Favour is not to men of skill,” they interpret it to suit their lazy disposition to life. They say things like “Favour does not come by labour” “You don’t need to be so skilful; once it’s your time, it’s your time.” They end up with an entitled mentality, telling you to “You better help me now, else, when it is my time, I will not look at your side.”
Guess what? It is never their time. In fact, at best, they experience near-successes and stay stuck for a long time. When they eventually begin to realise what they have missed, time is no longer on their side.
I have always told people, “The race is not to the swift but it is good to be swift! Favour is not to men of skill but it is very important to be skilful.” I hardly relax from honing my skills and acquiring new ones.
The first error that people who misinterpret Solomon’s proverb commit is that they don’t complete it when they quote it. They simply say, “The race is not to the swift, favour is not to men of skill.”
Here is the complete proverb: “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favour to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all.”
The second error is that lazy people do not understand the concept of time and chance. They merely settle for simplistic conclusions.
Everyone is born with talents which are God-given but we have to cultivate them through intentional personal development. So, while you might be skilful by grace, the real question is, can you be consistent enough to be prepared and remain at the top of your game when your time and chance come?
It is not enough to be swift – add consistency: Are you still practising?
It is not enough to be strong – add consistency: Are you still exercising?
It is not enough to be wise – add consistency: Are you still studying?
It is not enough to be skilful – add consistency: Are you still honing your skills?
In the game of life, commitment and consistency always make the difference and they are better predictors of success than talents. This is what Solomon was pointing out.
Joseph started as a dreamer and dream interpreter in his father’s house. When Pharaoh needed one in the palace, he was still fresh and even better because he stayed consistent. Favour is to men of skill!
David started as a shepherd protecting his father’s sheep from wild animals. When the wild Goliath showed up, David was more than ready. Goliath was David’s opportunity, not his opposition to greatness. Favour is to men of skill!
What of Cristiano Ronaldo? What of Messi? Talk about consistency!
See how many times people have predicted Ronaldo to fade away like his predecessors. He keeps proving them wrong despite his age. Why? He worked on himself intentionally and consistently for his time. Favour is to men of skill!
What is the conclusion of the whole matter? Skilful men who are consistent at their craft eventually attract powerful men into their lives.
Only skilful and trustworthy men are useful to those in power; others are dependent and easily dispensable. So, when your skilfulness is in place, it is just a matter of time, powerful men will look out for you. That is what it means for kings to come to the brightness of your rising.
Can you just stay consistent and keep being your best at what you do? You might not be getting the gigs now, but isn’t that a test of consistency?
Don’t just wait for your time, work for your time!
BRIGHT UKWENGA
Ukwenga is an esteemed Author, Conference Speaker, Leadership Development Consultant, and the CEO, ScribeTribe an innovative media and publishing enterprise helping individual and corporate brands to express their ideas creatively and effectively.
