This is a strange motivtional story. I challenge you to find the truth in it.

The following story was broadcast on TV many-many years ago and it stuck with me. The storyteller related an anecdote filled with the typical imagery of the African Bush and a fair bit of the African humour that is hotwired into our genetics. There was a game farm bordering a commercial potato farm. Of necessity a high voltage game fence ran between the two, to keep animals in or animals out depending if you are farming game or farming potatoes. A warthog on the game farm had developed a taste for potatoes but faced a rather painful problem to overcome. From experience it new that the fence was an unforgiving opponent and dished out agony to any unwary or foolish creatures venturing too close. The observer watched this particular potato loving piggy on many occasions; it would stand far back from the fence, its focus would shift and be firmly on the potato plants, it would then start squealing horribly, charge the fence at high speed squeals still echoing through the bush and go straight through. I imagine this would be followed by gleeful rooting around and satisfied grunting as the next tasty tuber was uprooted and eaten. It became a ritual and a lovely story (except of course for the farmer and whoever had to fix the fence afterwards).

The best humour is always when the story is relatable, which is probably why it stuck with me. As humans we are constantly faced with hardship and pain often not of our choosing. But then there are the moments when we can see possibility, we can see success and we can almost taste it, but we know we have to go through pain to get there. The choice is then if you accept the pain and achieve your goals or if you choose to stay on the other side of the fence in relative comfort but not eating life’s tasty potatoes!

Do you recall the muscle aches after doing heavy exercise, you know, the kind where you pushed your boundaries and possibly did just a bit more than you thought you were capable of? Modern science has picked this as the way that muscles grow. The exercise induce countless micro tears in the muscle fibre, and in the rest phase after, the magic happens. The fibres heal, making more fibres and building bigger and stronger muscles. The next time you do the same exercise, it is just that little bit easier.

It should not be surprising that our brains work in a similar way. There are neural rewiring processes happening when we challenge our abilities, embrace new and difficult routines and face new challenges head on. It is hard and then it becomes less hard until it is part of who we are.

My challenge to you in life and in business is to dream your dreams, set your goals, aim a bit higher than you think you can achieve, know and accept that it will be hard and painful and then, well … START SQUEALLING! …. and afterwards please let me know when you are eating the delicious potatoes of success.

Morné Brits (PS if this is your story orginally or you remember who told it, please let me know. I am grateful and would like to give credit)