Hey!! You’ve been good? I know you have. I know, i went missing for a minute without any notice. I was in a place i can only call a crucible. But, I am back, and eager to pick up from where we stopped, yes?
Now, that parable of the talents – can we talk about it for a minute?
Have you ever wondered what went through the mind of the servants who were given talents? I mean these guys here.
Imagine you’re working for a well read, well established and very successful business man who has established a very solid business in the region. Now, this your boss has decide he needs a break – very far away. He has not disclosed how long he will be away, or if he will even check in with you during his absence. All you know is that he has decided that after many long years of toil, he wants and is taking a break. You have many questions which you choose not to ask….I mean, who are you asking? and what will you even ask? As if that is not shocking enough, he calls you and your colleagues for a handover meeting just before he leaves. You walk in expecting to have a detailed discussion of the areas of responsibilities, expectations around performance and reporting, and the timelines – especially, of when he will be back. Where? (Wapi?? in Kiswahili). Shock on you my friend!
All you get on his desk are three piles of files – One has 5, the other 2 and the last 1. He walks over and hands you 5 files and to your colleagues 2 files and 1 file each. He says a few things about the files and then sets the only expectation he has – that you give him a return when he is back. Wait, when is he coming back – no one, including your boss can say for sure. How does he want this done? Figure it out? What if we fail? Stand and keep going – all He wants are results!
And with that, he dismisses the meeting and wishes you the best of luck. Before you can say “Why Me?” he is off and on his merry way.
You look down at the files and all you can ask is – where do you start? The notes in the file are detailed enough to give you only a rough idea of what they relate to, what you need to do and who to contact. The rest of the details are for you to figure out. You quickly realize that you will either win or win – so off you go to start working. Within no time, you get the hang of things and the 5 files grow and multiply in returns. Ahhh – you, you are the one. Meanwhile, you meet the guy with 2 files and he excitedly shows you his progress. You are both so excited because he too has added 2 more files to what the boss left him. Lakini wueh– Unfortunately, the enthusiasm is not shared by your other colleague – wuehh! When you ask him, he opens a drawer to show you where the unopened file lay. He has not moved an inch and from the look of things – has no intention of doing anything. Yet you can see the opportunities at his disposal – now how will this one be helped?
Anyway, as you continue to do business, things really look up for you. You realize the areas you thought you were not all that good in are suddenly easy to handle. Your boss’s customers trust you more with time resulting in more business opportunities that helped you grown the additional 5 files. Very soon – success is leading to even more success! Ahh this is the life!
Then – out of nowhere, the boss returns.
Please imagine with me: the boss rolls into the office, steps into the office and immediately calls everyone for a meeting. Agenda? Catchup and Handover. Yaani!? Remember he told no one he was coming back – so imagine the panic – some teams are ready, others are not. Some have been hard at work, others – hardly at work! Anyway, as we say in Kenya – kuende vile kutaenda – let it go the way it will go!
As soon as he is done with the pleasantries – he gets down to business. First up – you! Yes, you! Please give an account. Now, because you were well raised, organised and always prepared – you quickly compose yourself and step up to present your report. Afterall, your report has been updated daily from the day he left. Your numbers are speaking to each other, your projections have been accurate and you can confidently say you have not only delivered beyond expectations, but the future is all bright. Your colleague of 2 files – reports the same thing. And you can tell the boss is not just impressed, he is excited – wow! You have done well. Now that the bar has been set – he turns to the one handed 1 file. Yoh!?? Let me tell you?! This one steps up and says he has done nothing, zero, nada – and proceeds to hand over the file to the Boss.
Have you heard pin drop silence? Have you seen blood drain from the King’s face? Have you seen the said colleague want the earth to open and he falls through – Yoh- it issnot easy! And what’s even worse? This guy attempts to explain his dismal results and blames the boss – for being austere and reaping where he has not sowed – yaani!! The audacity! After you all recover from shock, the boss directs that the one with 1 file hands over to you – after all, you doubled the last 5! And then – he throws out the dude of 1 file! Now you don’t know whether to be shocked over the fact that you have been added more work, or over your colleague been thrown out? Surely — what just happened? And who are you even asking again?
Now – let us land this: In life, we grow and evolve as the seasons of our lives change and at each stage, we shall be handed several responsibilities, roles, assignments and challenges. Some will make sense while others will completely throw us off. Some will look crazy and some will make you question yourself. But I also know one thing- each is given according to your capacity. Each one is assigned, sent, commissioned, resourced – according to their capacity. However, results will only come when you rise to the fullness of your capacity.
The ones with 5 and 2 talents respectively obviosly stepped out and stepped up and in doing so, reaped the results. Capacity that is not exploited remains just that – capacity. But once exploited and put to work – it will yield results. The worst indictment you can give yourself is making and giving excuses for dismal results and then blaming everyone else for it. My friend, we are all accorded a chance, one shot, one sprint called LIFE– the results we get will be determined by determination, grit, resilience and anchored faith. And the uncomfortable truth we must all face is this – we cannot blame anyone. And, the bigger our results, the more we will be entrusted to do more. I mean, look around you – is there anyone who seems to multiply everything they put their hands on? Is there someone who is handed more and more opportunities, responsibilities and roles? Even when they can hardly get 5 mins to smile? Do you see how focused and resilient they are in everything they do? Yes. And guess what, they have not only grown their capacity – they have demonstrated results and keep demonstrating results.
So, as we wind up 2025 and many of us get into planning mode for 2026, i charge you to ask yourself a few questions:
- Are you a 5 talent, 2 talent or 1 talent person?
- What tangible results can be attributed to your name this year?
- What will you do different if given the same opportunities next year? (1 Talent gang)
- If you have seen tremendous growth (5 and 2 Talents gang), what have been your greatest lessons?
- And finally, what is the limit you are removing for yourself next year?
Keep increasing your capacity – therein lies your growth. I promise.
