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]
