Tue, September 01, 2009 - 9:56:55

A Can Full of Dreams

If you’re a fan of THE POWER OF SMALL, then you know how using checklists can help you revolutionize your daily routine.  By simplifying even the biggest tasks into smaller, more easily accomplished steps, you can make even the busiest of schedules feel manageable.  But, when we were writing our book, we never imagined the amazing potential that these simple lists possess.  That is, until we read the story of Tererai Trent, a young Zimbabwe woman who achieved the impossible just by thinking small.

In his stirring New York Times Magazine article, “The Women’s Crusade,” author Nicholas Kristof relates her inspiring tale, which begins in a tiny village in rural Zimbabwe.  As a young girl, Tererai tended to her family’s cattle while she watched longingly as her brother, Tinashe, set off to school each morning.  Desperate for a chance to learn, the bright Tererai completed her less-talented brother’s homework each night, teaching herself to read and write in the process.  Perplexed by the sudden shift in the quality of her otherwise indifferent student’s homework, Tinashe’s teacher did a little digging and discovered that his sister was actually completing his assignments.  Then, convinced that Tererai was a prodigy, she pleaded with the children’s father to allow her to attend school.  Eventually, he gave in, but after only a few terms, forced Tererai into marriage at the tender age of 11.

With her dreams of education dashed, Tererai settled into an unhappy marriage and was subjected to brutal beatings by a husband who despised her literacy and zest for learning, until one day, she had the conversation that would change her life. 

Jo Luck, the newly appointed president of the charitable organization Heiffer International, was visiting Tererai’s village to donate livestock to impoverished residents when she joined a group of local women in conversation.  Discussing their difficult lives and unhappy marriages, a resigned Tererai asked Luck, “If you’re a woman and you are not educated, what else?” Touched by the sadness in Tererai’s eyes, Luck tried to convince her that her life could be different and encouraged her to think about her hopes and dreams once more.

So, emboldened with a new outlook, Tererai grabbed a pencil and paper and began making a list.  Goal one:  Travel to the United States of America.  Goal two: Obtain a college degree.  Goal three: earn her PhD.  She wrapped her checklist up in a protective layer of plastic, stashed it in a tin can, and buried it under a rock.  And then, little by little, she began her formidable journey one small step at a time.

After successfully completing a correspondence course, Tererai began saving money from her position as a community organizer in her village.  And then, six years after her endeavor first began, Tererai received an invitation to attend Oklahoma State University, where she later earned her Bachelor’s degree while working full-time.  Soon after, her five children joined her in America and she completed her Master’s degree in Arkansas and is now a doctoral candidate at Western Michigan University.

Not long ago, Tererai made the trip back to her village in Africa to visit a familiar old rock.  She dug up her check list and one by one, marked off her accomplishments.

It’s just another amazing-but-true example of the many ways in which SMALL works… and it can work for you, too.  No matter where you live, what you do, who you are, or what you believe, each of us can achieve even our biggest goals, just by starting small. No matter what you dare to achieve, the secret to success resides inside of you and it’s up to you to put it to good use.  So, next time you’re feeling discouraged or overwhelmed by the obstacles you’re facing, think of Tererai’s story and put your best foot forward.  Your journey may be filled with pitfalls and setbacks, but step by step, you’ll get there.

Posted by Linda and Robin