What’s holding us back from success?

I finally went for that overdue haircut I have been procrastinating. On the entrance of the barbershop the price board says brush and shave cost R25, and as the barber finished cutting my hair, he charged me R20. I asked him if he did not want the extra R5 and he thought for a few seconds and said no. What held him back from saying “Yes I want the extra R5”?

Do you know that fear, when you don’t know where you’re going while in a taxi or any public transport and have to ask someone? What is it about us that we struggle to ask? Why do we hold ourselves up at improving and prospering in life? The thing is, I have questions more than I have answers, so I asked my friends and the communities that I am a part of, namely 'Black Entrepreneurship South Africa (BESA)' and 'Independent Thinkers of South Africa (ITSA)' on Facebook.

Pretty, an old friend says is the fear of risk that is holding us back. Lizwi, also an old friend says, "We are sitting on million dollar talents making R300/hr. Paying us to forget our dreams." So without further ado here are the top 10 shared answers that were given to me on comments.

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1. Complaining

Indulge in this one, and you will have a primitive future - in fact, you can kiss your future goodbye. They say people often complain and blame the system, the government, and religion. They complain about not finding employment while they could be creating jobs.

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2. Fear

Of taking risks, of the unknown, of failure. The best one I have heard is the fear of success it's true, we are more afraid of succeeding than we actually are of failing. If you can foresee a situation then you can emotionally prepare yourself to deal with it, and most of us spend more time for-seeing and visualizing failure, and we are always prepared to emotionally accept and deal with it. Success, on the other hand, is something that we can’t imagine very well. The main point here is that you and I are standing in the way of our success. No one else but us. ​

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3. Pride

A wise rapper of our generation once said, “love is gonna get you killed, but pride is gonna be the death of you and me.” Jobe from BESA says every man for himself but Bridget commented a solid point and said we are not working as a team just because people want to succeed alone. ​

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4. Failure

"To collaborate, to communicate, to read, to support each other," commented Shai. Failure to persevere, thinking the idea/goal is impossible. "We see ourselves living in posh suburbs, but we do not want to go through the process of blood, sweat, and tears to achieve our dreams," commented Kableshnikopotov, what a name Mr. Mofekeng.

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5. Mindset

Poverty is a mindset. According to Nkosinathi from BESA community, "People have 'big' ideas, but they don't want to start small." Dee Real asked why is it that as a Black community, we summon millions of questions when someone who looks like us is either selling something or want to create something, but spend money freely with others?

Vuyusani says we are not united, and I agree entirely.

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6. Ethics

Simpaul Princie says, "I have a lot of clients, mostly are start-ups, I give them mentorship and training. I always tell them planning in business is a must, once you had to do so you never go wrong. Well being financially responsible is another story." While others advice that you have to act and follow up. Hard work, preparation, and dedication are essential.

Invest your profits instead of eating or drinking them.

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7. Land

"Well, see one thing that we'll ever and always need is #land and #literacy to our people," comments Thabang, not me, there are many of us in the wild with that name. Proof of residence is holding us from succeeding, plus the system is offline according to Evanz.

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8. Education

Face challenges, get out of your comfort zone and seek information is the advice most are providing when it comes to learning being a factor in holding us back.

9. Witchcraft

"Umona and we don't trust one another," comments Mondli. Witchcraft can mean anything, and I personally think is people waiting for you to fail, talking behind your back, and being jealous. "The great Mdu said it himself, that 'Umuntu omnyama akafuni ukubona umuntu omnyama ayaphambili,'" quotes Chidi.

It is also witchcraft to make it and forget where you come from and try to pass on the opportunity to others with the potential.

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10. Lack of something

Knowledge, information, research, discipline, skills, funding, support, ubuntu, originality, marketing, trust, resources, patience, planning, commitment, and creativity. "Sithanda Izinto Ezi Lula (we like easy things)," comments Neliswa. Paulina says lack of response can also hold us back, "when one applies for funding or learnerships only to not receive any response whether approved or rejected."

Lacking speed of implementation.

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So what are your thoughts on all of these? Do you have ideas on how we can solve some of them or do you want to add on? Feel free on the comment section below. ​