The Queen of Hearts: The Confessions of An ‘Accidental’ Leader

The Beauty Of Failure

I didn’t purpose to be in the space that I find myself in – Founder & CEO, Passionate Entrepreneur, EQ Fanatic and OWIT Nairobi President.  God plucked me from the path that I had set out for myself & set me on an alternative journey. At the start it all appeared somewhat ‘accidental’ but I know now that it was no accident, rather His design, His purpose for my life…

So now that I am here, these are my confessions…the lessons I am learning about being a woman in business, building an empire, one brick at a time…

Blast through it

“If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

~ Michael Jordan

In his children’s classic, “We Are Going On A Bear Hunt,” author Michael Rosen tells on a family who bravely set out to hunt a bear;

“We’re going on a bear hunt

Gonna catch a big one. I’m not afraid

What’s that up ahead?

Oh no! Tall grass

Can’t go over it

Can’t go under it

Gotta go through it…”

The story continues with the family encountering several other obstacles – a wide river, yucky mud, a dark forest, a blizzard and a dark cave. In each case, their refrain is the same – “can’t go over it, can’t go under it, gotta go through it…” Unfortunately, once they actually find the bear, their courage deserts them and the family hurriedly retraces their steps back home.

Despite failing to actually catch the bear, this children’s book teaches a valuable lesson. When faced with an obstacle you can do one of two things. You can either give up and quit, or you can push forward toward success and overcome the very thing that stands between you and your goal.

I have learned that the reality of leadership, is that obstacles will arise that seem to push your goals beyond your reach. The bigger and grander your goals, the greater the obstacles that will appear. Some obstacles will be external, others, internal in nature that come about as a result of your choices and/or actions. Internal or external, unless you live in a vacuum, obstacles are unavoidable. The key to success therefore, is how to handle the obstacles that come your way, how to charge forward determined to reach your goal regardless of what stands in your way.  

An integral part of being emotionally intelligent is having a clear idea of where you are going.  Your ‘reason why’ gives you the energy & motivation to navigate the challenging times. And sometimes that just means keeping your eye on the prize & taking one more step forward.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

~ Joshua 1:9

Whatever obstacle you may currently be facing, hear me when I say that it can be overcome.  You hold the key to your success and there is nothing that can stand in your way unless you allow it. Whether internal or external, inflicted by others or self-inflicted, you can overcome. Success begins in the mind.  Successful leaders leverage their internal emotional muscle, knowing that if ‘you can’t go over it and you can’t go under it, just blast through it…’

With Love,

The Queen Of Hearts

Mucha Mlingo

| Six Seconds EQ Practitioner | Master Trainer & Facilitator |

| Award Winning International Keynote Speaker |