By Nompumelelo Khanyile
Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: the potential for greatness lives within each of us- Wilma Rudolph.
This powerful quote reminds
us that greatness resides within everyone. By nurturing our dreams and the
human spirit, we each have the capacity to achieve extraordinary things.
This
is the tagline for the University of KwaZulu Natal. UKZN
stands as a leading institution of higher learning on the African continent and
is proudly recognised as the premier university of African scholarship. UKZN is
the premier university of African scholarship. If you want an internationally
recognised qualification, you need to study at this UKZN.
What it means to inspire greatness?
The way one does this may
differ from person to person, but the impact is the same — empowering others.
It is something that defines you as an individual. When you inspire greatness,
you touch the people next to you. It is not something that lives and dies with
one person, it has to impact other people.
The late Mr Kline Smith who
won the competition on the UKZN tagline came up with the “inspiring greatness”
it was the tagline that was most voted in by the UKZN community. His
explanation of the tagline was inspired by greatness and he felt that it was
his responsibility to take that greatness and inspire others in the same way he
had been inspired.
As it is UKZN inspires
greatness, the evidence are the graduation ceremonies. These ceremonies celebrate
years of personal sacrifice and dedication, serving as a testament to the
inspiring academic journey of UKZN graduates. Performances by the graduates
that are full of inspirational performances and it has led to other
institutions to doing these performances. It started at UKZN. The graduation
season marks the culmination of many years of personal sacrifice and hard work
that have laid the foundation for successful and inspiring careers.
Inspiring greatness is about
seeing the potential in others and helping them unlock it.
Inspiring greatness is a key
driver of motivation and engagement, leading to higher productivity and
creativity.
It's about creating a
positive and supportive environment where individuals feel motivated to excel.
This is the effective way to inspire team members, is through recognition and
encouragement. Acknowledging individual achievements and strengths makes team
members feel valued and appreciated.
Inspiring
Greatness is also the tagline of Rolls-Royce, one of the world’s most luxurious
and prestigious car brands. Thus, this displays how remarkable and enormous
this institution is in terms of the quality of research it produces.
Furthermore, this is also witnessed through the participation of international
students that this institution encompasses.
Everyone
is great at something in the workplace or in the society. Inspiring greatness within
the university of KwaZulu-Natal is treated as one of the most prominent
principle. Furthermore, this gives the necessity that this institution is
amongst the best in a global perspective. Greatness is a cocktail of qualities
that include non-other than the core values of the university namely: Respect, Excellence,
Accountability, Client Orientation, Honesty,
and Trust.
What is your inspiration?
Inspiration
can be challenging to understand and describe because what inspires one person
may not have any relevance for another, however inspiration is the process of
being mentally stimulated to do or feel something (especially creative). Being
courageous to execute something. When you are inspired, you are passionate and
curious about something. When you are inspired for greatness you are hungry for
more and can become anything you aspire to be for example: an artist, designer,
or an Athlete. Moreover, being inspired, also helps one to be able to reconnect
with their inner self and discover their full potential and purpose in life.
What is greatness?
Greatness
can be viewed as a journey that has no shortcut. Success is an outcome of hard
work and determination. Greatness is the ability to learn and ask questions and
it is beyond understanding as in the bible (Psalms 145:3). Greatness is the
desire to do beyond your means, to do extraordinary, to push beyond your
limits, and to chase your dreams.
In
conclusion inspiring greatness is to keep fulfilling the values, setting the
bar high, and staying on top of the game. It involves challenging individuals
to push their boundaries and achieve things they didn't think were possible.
References
Rolls
Royce Motor Cars.Changing the game: Adam and Ryan Goldston | Rolls-Royce
Inspiring Greatness. [video online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahqz61Dtaio
[Access 26 October 2023]
Rappaport,
Alfred. Ten ways to create shareholder value. Harvard Business Review.
Available: https://hbr.org/2006/09/ten-ways-to-create-shareholder-value
[Accessed 20 October 2023]