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The Hidden Strengths of Learning and Succeeding at Your Own Pace

July 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken
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by Mbali Ndaba

A groundbreaking exploration of what it means to be a late bloomer in a culture obsessed with instant gratification, early success, and how finding one’s way later in life can be an advantage to long-term achievement and happiness. 

Comparison is no measure of success, society at large places great comparison. From products to services to brands and to people, for late bloomers true success comes from operating in the fullness of their talents, abilities, and genuinely honed given gifts. It’s in the stretching, risking, and living in their own potential that comparison loses any and all meaning, and that their potential trumps their need to use other as the determining factor of their worth, and that means everything compared to.

If you want to fast-track your progress, stay perfectly still. The discipline of stillness can be rocket fuel to growth. It’s ironic that we start our life waiting in one place for nine months, only to be in a frantic hurry for the rest of our lives. We think that moving faster, thinking faster, acting faster, and being faster, things will happen faster. For today’s sojourner, slow is the new fast, calm is the new force, and peace is the new profitability. 

In contrast to a twisted worldview, late blooming doesn’t mean stuckness - it actually means progress. Taking time to cultivate skill, and think through things thoroughly will create speed, efficiency, and better outcomes in all areas of life. 


Mbali Ndaba .jpg

Mbalenhle Ndaba is a freelancing creative, storyteller, self-taught writer, entrepreneur, and human rights activists. Her writing is called, Expressive writing. It is a brief writing technique that has helped her deal with emotional upheavals. It is like a self-help therapy without outlandish claims. It is all about taking risks and moving beyond secure comfort zones. Reading her articles can be a cathartic way to work through emotions like loneliness, confront your fears and be mindful of what one is currently happy about as well as what they wish and want for the future. Her articles aim to inspire, to stimulate the reader to think or provoke a plan of action. The titles aim to charm, amuse, intrigue, or buttonhole the reader in some way through the specification of one’s experiences linked up with hers. Mbalenhle is also the Founder of House Minder 4U, a cleaning service. Its name is derived from the unity of keeping spaces homely and clean. A woman owned company, it has the aspiration to satisfy both commercial and residential sectors. The company is optimistically thriving.

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL mbaly.ndaba@gmail.com 

More articles by Mbalenhle

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Maximize Present Circumstances And See What is Possible Today
Sep 18, 2021
Maximize Present Circumstances And See What is Possible Today
Sep 18, 2021
Sep 18, 2021
The Hidden Strengths of Learning and Succeeding at Your Own Pace
Jul 4, 2021
The Hidden Strengths of Learning and Succeeding at Your Own Pace
Jul 4, 2021
Jul 4, 2021
Keep the beat, keep your passion, keep your vision in the groove!
Jan 30, 2021
Keep the beat, keep your passion, keep your vision in the groove!
Jan 30, 2021
Jan 30, 2021
Harness the power of your positive aggression journey
Aug 8, 2020
Harness the power of your positive aggression journey
Aug 8, 2020
Aug 8, 2020
In Guest Blog Tags Mbalenhle Ndaba, Self-development
← Emotion-Based Decisions: Good or Bad?Harnessing ADHD, OCD and Anxiety for Career Success →

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Sustainable skincare…We love to see natural cosmetics companies with a sustainable approach to business succeeding in Africa, and Nokware Skincare, founded by Tutuwa Ahwoi in Ghana is a great example. She f Image of the Day / Marabou Essentials

African print accessories…We love the celebration of African printed cloth in these handmade fashion accessories created by South African brand Marabou Essentials, founded by Fentse Mokale. This passion-f Image of the Day / Oryx Desert Salt

Sustainable salt and pepper…At Lionesses of Africa, we are passionate about supporting  sustainable brands, and a great example is Oryx Desert Salt, founded by Samantha Skyring in South Africa. This growing Image of the Day / Reform Studio

Sustainable fashion accessories…We love showcasing women business innovators, so this morning we are featuring the work of sustainable lifestyle brand, Reform Studio, an inspirational eco-focused manufacturing Image of the Day /Femi Handbags

Full Bloom Style…Add a touch of summer florals to your wardrobe with one of the beautiful new Bloom handbags from Femi Handbags in Nigeria, founded by Femi Olayebi. With their eclectic pops of colour, there&rsq Image of the Day / Melvins Teas

Time for tea…If you love tea, then this Cool Chamomile tea from the Melvins Tea brand, founded by Flora Mutahi in Kenya is just what you need. The brand is part of Melvin Marsh International, the Kenyan-based f Image of the Day / Afropian

Storytelling through accessories…Afropian, the Pan-african lifestyle brand founded by Ethiopean entrepreneur Hortense Mbea, is a rare, fully hand-made in Africa brand. It uses traditional know-how in a modern way t Image of the Day / AAKS

Vibrant Ghanaian craftsmanship,…We just have to share one of our favourite accessories of the year, this beautiful hand-woven bag created by award-winning designer Akosua Afriyie-Kumi and her AAKS brand in Ghana. We lo Image of the Day / Ledikana

Contemporary South African Chic…Knowing exactly how to spot a gap in the marketplace is key to the success of any fashion brand, and Mapholo Ratau, founder of Ledikana in South Africa, has achieved that goal. For h

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