Nkiruka – the best is yet to come!

The writer and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, “Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come.” I could not agree more.

Across all my work as an executive coach and leadership catalyst, I have consistently found that the individuals and organisations that succeeded in the change they were seeking, all had one thing in common. An unshakeable belief that the future was better than the present and that the best was yet to come. And they were prepared to put in the work needed to make this happen.

Take a UK funder who asked us to work with them to increase their funding to organisations led by and working for people from black and minority ethnic communities. The Board and Leadership Team developed a clear ambition based on their own data that showed that these communities were currently not receiving the same level of funding as other organisations. This ambition was shared with staff who were also passionate about the belief in a better future. They opened up all their processes and systems to scrutiny, were open to feedback and were prepared to make the changes necessary even when the inevitable challenges appeared. Their tenacity and belief paid off – they did not hit the target they put in place, they absolutely smashed past it!

The point about inevitable challenges is well worth thinking about. Things often go wrong during the course of any journey. Take Lego which has earned high praise for its toys, which encourage creative play for both kids and adults. Around 10 years ago, the Danish company’s foundation was decidedly dicey. Their business model was no longer working, some products were being sold at a loss and some were failing to land with fans. So they went to work. Believing that the best was yet to come, Lego streamlined their operations and recruited new, more passionate designers. Soon the brighter future arrived - new products flew off the shelves and helped by a blockbuster movie, Lego is now a successful brand struggling to cope with demand. Read more about this https://hbr.org/2009/09/innovating-a-turnaround-at-lego

Failure is an important step towards a brighter future. It is to be embraced not feared.

“Without failing at one thing, there won’t be an opportunity to try again, learn and grow. Life isn’t static but dynamic. Learn to embrace whatever situation you may face and strive to overcome. Believe in yourself, knowing your best is yet to come.” – Kemi Sogunle.

Is it always the case that the future is brighter? Of course there are several organisations that did not make it back from the brink. Think Blockbuster, think Polaroid, think Woolworths UK. Was this due to a lack of belief in a brighter future? Possibly not. Did they embrace the future? Possibly not. Had they already reached their final destination? Who knows? Would an unshakeable belief have helped? Possibly.

So what about you? What three things can you do today to improve your chances to succeed by developing your belief that your best (for you personally or for your organisation) is yet to come?’

Nkiruka is an Ibo name that means ‘the best is yet to come’. Nkiruka was also the name of my beloved sister, pictured, who left this world in 2016. Her star still shines and she lives on in my heart and in the hearts of everyone who loved her.

Nkiruka is also a philosophy that I take with me into every single piece of the work that we do with individuals and organisations.

Wishing you continued happiness and success.

Ngozi