Bring you Art. Somebody needs it.

From the moment we measure the progress and success of others through the bling they have, we have missed the point. Once we ignore the trials and tribulations the people we look up to have experienced to be where they are, we become the slaves of ill-fitting dreams.

Our country has many challenges. They are economic, political, social and spiritual. These challenges have for a long time conspired against a young generation. The highest unemployment rate is with the youth. If you are young and Black, you are worse off.

The economic and social system appears to be denying us job opportunities, because it does not trust us. Trust is scarce, (real human) connection is scarce and so is the element of surprise. We are too compliant; we are too similar; we are too average. We are trying not to ruffle the feathers.

The commitment to bringing something new or different to the table, the commitment to standing out, and the faith of saying at the time of meeting decision-makers, ‘I can help you with this,’ ‘I can do this for you,’ will propel us to the level of playing our A-game.

Entrepreneurs emerge from this mindset. They are not accidental success stories. They did not start businesses as a fall-back alternative after failing to secure employment. They are authentic people. They have surrendered to the life of serving, of giving something of themselves which others won’t give, or are too afraid, or lazy, to offer. They are providing something which is new, real and important in this era of connection economy. In the words of Seth Godin, ‘the connection economy rewards the leader, the initiator, and the rebel.’

If you don’t know what you are offering, and you are not willing to find out, wait your turn in the unfair and often dissipating promise of employment. But if you know what you are offering (as a leader, initiator and the rebel), step up. Why do you wait to be called in?

Oprah Winfrey used to call people to give them spotlight on her show. YouTube has changed the game. Rebels meet their important audience without asking to be given a chance. The real chance is not the moment you have asked for, but the moment which you seize. So grab your chance. Knock on the doors. Find out what the people need. Can you satisfy the need?