One's ability can build a better world.

“With realization of one’s own potential & self confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.” For the vast majority of my life I didn't believe I could do most of the things I wanted to do.I knew I wanted to be in a relationship, but I feared that if I got into one I’d do something to mess it up.I wanted to perform on Broadway, but even moving to DAR es salaam didn't give me the courage to audition.

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I wanted to be a lawyer, but I thought it was far too difficult to get published, and therefore didn't even try until I turned 20 then decided to take bachelor of Accounting and finance.Maybe you've never been as unsure of yourself as I used to be, but you can likely relate to that feeling of wanting to do something but feeling terrified to start. This not only limits your potential in life; it also minimizes your ability to make a positive impact on the world around you.

There’s a lot that goes into overcoming those fears. You may need to challenge limiting beliefs formed years ago, or take yourself out of a situation where other people undermine your abilities. One thing that will definitely help is working on your confidence.Not sure if confidence can be learned? I asked this question on my blog page to see what readers had to say and then used some of their responses to shape these 8 steps outlined below:

1. Tap into the confidence you were born with.

I feel it’s something that is always there, something you’re born with that gets lost along the way, or stolen by others. Sometimes you have to dig deep to find it again. 

You didn't come out of the womb unsure of your cry or insecure about your large umbilical cord. You came out blissfully unaware of external judgment, concerned only with your own experience and needs. I’m not suggesting that you should be oblivious to other people. It’s just that it may help to remember confidence was your original nature before time started chiseling away at it.Once you developed a sense of self-awareness, you started forming doubts and insecurities about how other people saw you. You learned to crave praise and avoid criticism and maybe you started getting down on yourself if you got more of the latter than the former.

When you start feeling unsure of yourself remember: we were all born with confidence, and we can all get it back if we learn to silence the thoughts that threaten it.

2. Know your strengths and weaknesses.

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As you learn who you are, you gain confidence in your strengths and also learn your weaknesses. Learning who you are doesn't happen overnight. For one thing, it can be hard to know which parts of you are you, and which parts are who you think you should be.A good start is to identify your strengths and weaknesses and then weigh those against what you enjoy. (If you’re great in sales, but you actually can’t stand sales jobs, then it doesn't really matter if you have confidence there. Unless it’s all about ego—but does that really make you happy?

It might help to list five things you do well that you enjoy and five things you’d like to do well. Make an effort to utilize some of the first list and work on some of the second every day. As you use your strengths and improve where there’s room to grow, you’ll develop both confidence and fulfillment simultaneously.

3. Expect success.

Confidence comes from success…But confidence also combines another quality because you can be successful, yet lack confidence. It requires a mental attitude shift to an expectation of success. And this alone, can bring about more success, reinforcing the confidence. It spirals from there.It might seem strange to say expect success since you can’t predict the future, but don’t we do the alternative all the time? Have you ever gone into a stressful situation assuming the worst—that something would go wrong?

Conventional wisdom suggests it’s smart to expect the worst because you won’t be disappointed if you fail and you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you succeed. But research suggests this isn't universally true. Pessimism can undermine your performance creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.Find the successes in every day and you’ll notice over time that they increase.

4. Trust your capabilities.

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Confidence comes not from knowing you know everything, but from knowing you can handle what comes up.No one in the world knows everything. Everyone is good at some things and not so good at others. Don’t weigh your security against what you know or can do; weigh it against your willingness and capacity to learn.If someone criticizes you, take it is an opportunity to improve. If someone does better than you, see it as an opportunity to learn from them. If you fall short at something, realize you can get closer next time. Don’t worry if you’re not confident in what you can do now—be confident in your potential.

5. Embrace the unknown.

Confidence comes from a space of humility. It is spawned when we dare to see the world through an alternate lens. It grows when we have the courage to embrace the experience of the unknown and the unknowable. People often think confidence means knowing you can create the outcome you desire. To some extent it does, but this idea isn't universally true for anyone. No matter how talented, smart, or capable you are, you cannot predict or control everything that happens in your life.

Even confident people lose jobs, relationships, and sometimes, their health.Confidence comes from knowing your competence but acknowledging it’s not solely responsible for creating your world. When you take that weight off your shoulders and realize that sometimes the twists and turns have nothing to do with what you did or should have done, it’s easier to feel confident in what you bring to the table.

6. Take risks.

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Confidence is a funny thing. You go out and do the thing you’re most terrified of, and the confidence comes afterwards.If you always do things as you've always done them of course you won’t feel confident.

When I first moved to San Francisco, I was highly insecure with relationships. I’d moved a lot, and spent years hopping around the country partly to avoid getting close to anyone. Eventually I realized the only way out was through. I’d never be good at relationships if I didn't jump in, get messy, and learn what to do and not to do.I had to crawl, walk, fall, and repeat to get comfortable with vulnerability and conflict. I made tons of mistakes, and a lot of it hurt. But I live a peopled life now, and it’s worth all the discomfort it took to get here.

7. Learn to receive praise.

Confidence is earned through positive recognition and reinforcement.It’s amazing how easy it is to believe all the negative things people say and yet discredit the positive. Taking a compliment is an art. Sometimes, it’s instinctive to assume they’re just being nice or that maybe you aren't really skilled—you just got lucky.

Occasionally, this may be true, but for the most part you earn the praise you receive. Don’t talk yourself out of believing it. Instead, recycle it into confidence. You did a fantastic job on your project at work—that means you can do it again. You had an amazing performance—that means you can trust you’re talented.Other people want you to succeed; now you just have to believe them when they show you you’re worthy.

8. Practice confidence.

It can be practiced—and with that practice you will get better.

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Like anything else in life, your confidence will improve with practice. A great opportunity to do this is when you meet new people. Just like if you were the new kid in school, they have no idea who you are—meaning you have an opportunity to show them.As you shake their hand, introduce yourself, and listen to them speak, watch your internal monologue. If you start doubting yourself in your head, replace your thoughts with more confident ones. Ask yourself what a confident person would do, and then try to emulate that.Watch your posture and your tone. Hunching and mumbling will make you feel and look less confident, so stand up and speak slowly and clearly.

People are more apt to see you how you want to be seen if they suspect you see yourself that way.You may have confidence in some areas and not in others; that’s how it works for most of us. Draw from those areas where you’re self assured.

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If you feel inadequate in professional situations, recall how it feels physically when you’re confident in relationships. If you’re insecure in love, access what you feel when you’re comfortable around friends.Above all, remember you are capable and worthy—just as much as anyone else, regardless of what you've achieved, regardless of what mistakes you've made. Knowing that intellectually is the first step to believing it in your heart. Believing it is the key to living it. And living it is the key to reaching your potential. Have your at the e-mail belo

We are given the last chance.

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     Understand that responsibility is earned. It's not something you're entitled to. If someone is hesitant to give you additional responsibility, it's probably because you've been nonchalant with the responsibilities you already have. You might think, "But the responsibilities I have now are so petty/boring/stupid/etc., and if I'm given more of a challenge, I will take it more seriously," but that's a characteristic of irresponsible people;

    Deal with issues that are forced upon you Good examples of this could include dealing with an unplanned pregnancy; caring for a disabled child; or helping family members when they need help. Succinctly put when life gives you lemons you juice-'em and make lemonade. 

    whatever is in front of you. A responsible person does what they said they'd do because they said they would. Period. If you want to be seen as more responsible, think about the responsibilities you already have and take them more seriously, no matter how pointless they might seem. Consider it a way to pay your dues.

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   Stop making excuses. In any situation, there are always some factors we can't control. Irresponsible people tend to shift the blame onto those factors, and vocalize them as excuses. Anytime you make an excuse, it's like saying "I am not responsible for this because..." and what you're really saying is "I am not responsible." Pay attention to how you think and talk: do you find yourself making excuses? Excuses come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common is "I would/would've, avoid that t

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   Start small. As with most other tasks, acting responsibly works best when you can get a bit of momentum going. If you feel crushed under a backlog of responsibilities, start with a few small or fast tasks. Being able to cross them off your list will make you feel as though a weight has been lifted, making you more enthusiastic about moving on to bigger responsibilities. Before you know it, being responsible will make you feel good and add value to your day.h

   Don't forget anything. There’s a difference between starting a load of laundry before tackling that homework assignment and cleaning the entire house so that you end up “having to” put a project off for another day.

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   Learn from your mistakes. Making the most of a mistake is a double-whammy of responsibility: not only does this transform time that was otherwise wasted into a valuable, course-altering experience, but it keeps you from wasting future time by ensuring that you don’t repeat yourself

    View yourself as a creator When you see something that needs doing or needs to change, don't wait for somebody else to do it; be the one to make a positive difference. Taking charge will make you feel powerful, which will spill into and improve many other aspects of your life.

The 6th Africa Investor Summit May 2013

Africa’s investors Challenged to invest in infrastructure to drive growth and prosperity agendaCape Town, 7May, 2013: Ahead of the World Economic Forum billed to run from 8 – 10 May, 2013, in Cape Town, South Africa, African Investors have been challenged to convert continental constraints into opportunities for growth and prosperity. In a keynote address to open the 6th Africa Investor CEO Summit and Awards,the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, called on private investors to increase their investment in infrastructural development. The lack of infrastructure is a constraint against growth. Investing to fill this infrastructural gap will unleash the potentials for future growth on the continent.

The Chairperson noted that while 65% of Africa’s infrastructural funding comes from public investments by governments, only a quarter (25%) comes from private investor, according to World Bank statistics. Investment from non-EOCD countries, including China, amounts to 6%, while that of multi-lateral development assistance remains at 4%. In a vivid comparison to illustrate the level of deficit, the Chairperson drew the investors’ attention to the fact that Africa’s total electricity generation equals that of Spain, even though we have twenty times the population.

“Large-scale scale investment in energy, including hydro, coal, geothermo and solar power over the next decade will therefore be critical to Africa’s transformation, both in the economic and social spheres.” She said.Extending appreciation to Dr. Dlamini Zuma for what he described as an informative and inspirational keynote address, and a visionary leadership in promoting African private sector participation in infrastructure development,” Hubert Danso, CEO and Vice Chairman of Africa, welcomed the collaborative partnership of the African Union. He noted that with the leadership of Dr. Dlamini Zuma, as AUC Chairperson, Africa can increase its intra-Africa investment to 40%, from the current 5%, which is extremely low, especially when compared to the intra-regional average of 12-15%.

The 6th Africa Investor Summit was organized with the aim of bringing infrastructure project developers together, and to facilitate increased private capital and private investment flows into infrastructure projects in Africa.The Commissioners for Infrastructure and Energy; Trade and Industry and other officials were also in attendance at the Africa Investor summit. They are expected to also attend the upcoming World Economic Forum.

Why materialistic?.

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     Are today’s youth really more materialistic and less motivated than past generations, or do adults tend to perceive moral weakness in the next generation?San Diego State University psychology professor has set out to answer that question.

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                            In a study published today by Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Twenge shows that there is in fact a growing gap for today's young adults between materialism and the desire to work hard. “Compared to previous generations, recent high school graduates are more likely to want lots of money and nice things, but less likely to say they’re willing to work hard to earn them,” said Twenge, author of the book “Generation Me. “That type of 'fantasy gap' is consistent with other studies showing a generational increase in narcissism and entitlement,” Twenge said.

Twenge drew from a nationally representative survey of 355,000 high school seniors conducted from 1976 to 2007. The survey examines the materialistic values of three generations with questions focused on the perceived importance of having a lot of money and material goods, as well as the willingness to work hard.

The fantasy gap                                                                                                                         

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Compared to Baby Boomers graduating from high school in the 1970's, recent high school students are more materialistic — 62 percent of students surveyed in 2005-07 think it’s important to have a lot of money, while just 48 percent had the same belief in 1976-78.Sixty-nine percent of recent high school graduates thought it was important to own a home, compared to just 55 percent in 1976-78. Materialism peaked in the 80's and 90's with Generation X and has continued to stay high.As for work ethic, 39 percent of students surveyed in 2005-07 admitted they didn't want to work hard, compared to only 25 percent in 1976-78.The researchers also found that adolescents’ materialism was highest when advertising spending made up a greater percentage of the economy.

“This suggests that advertising may play a crucial role in the development of youth materialism,” said Twenge. “It also might explain the gap between materialism and the work ethic, as advertising rarely shows the work necessary to earn the money necessary to pay for the advertised products                     

 Why it matters                                                                                                                           

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Understanding generational trends in materialism among youth is important because placing a strong priority on money and possessions is associated with a variety of problems, including depression and anxiety, according to earlier research performed by Kasser. “This study shows how the social environment shapes adolescents attitudes,” said Twenge.  “When family life and economic conditions are unstable, youth may turn to material things for comfort. And when our society funds large amounts of advertising, youth are more likely to believe that 'the good life' is 'the goods life'

A purpose.

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“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bounds. Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”  do work you love in your life says Mugisha