Tendayi Viki is a reformed former academic turned innovation consultant. His passion is innovation. Tendayi spends his time with large companies and start-ups helping them crack the code of innovation. He has always had a fascination with the creative process and of-course trying to do that within companies as a repeatable process at scale is fascinating for him.
1. Humble Beginnings
Q: How did you get started and what or who inspired and empowered you to?
I was born and raised in Zimbabwe. Very humble beginnings that informed a lot of my passion and sticktoitiveness. I was inspired by my parents, hard working people who valued education. I was also inspired by the struggle. I have found that struggle gives more meaning to accomplishments.
Q: What unique and creative strategies if any did you use when you were first getting started?
I just read and read and read. And then read again. I took an early interest in the lives of great people and their habits and practices. Overtime, I have co-opted those in my life. One strategy that I use is rising early. I find that if you are up before the sun, you get a lot more done before the noise of life gets in the way. My two upcoming books have been written in the wee hours of the morning when my whole family is sleeping.
2. Mindset
Q: What mindset distinguished you from others who were doing the same thing? How did you develop it?
There is no secret or distinguishing thing about me. I am NOT special at all. I just work real hard and then God does everything else for me. I am very fortunate in terms of the opportunities I have been given; which for the most part I have played little part in creating. In that sense, I have been blessed in ways I could not have imagined growing up.
3. What is your definition of success?
One of my favorite quotes, and I don’t know who said it, goes something like,
“don’t measure people by what they have today but by the distance they have traveled.” That is my definition of success.”
4. Failure
Q: What do you think is the main reason why some people face failure when going after their vision?
When you go for something big, you will feel like you are failing everyday! It is part of picking a path less travelled. People should not pray to avoid failure. Instead, they should pray for the strength to pick themselves up and keep going.
5. What is the best piece of advice you have received or came across and would like to share with everyone?
I have heard so much good stuff that it’s hard to pick one. All I would say is that people should try as much as they can to live a life that is a reflection of their values.
To view Tendayi’s amazing work, visit www.tendayiviki.com
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Originally published at medium.com