Ilze Alberts: Tackling inequality from another angle

When Alec and team attended the World Economic Forum earlier this year, they bore witness to some incredible speakers, and even more incredible movements and ideas. Ideas that shake the foundations of ideals and behaviours that we all apply, in business and in our home lives as standard, until they are questioned. One of these destabilisers was a discussion Alec had with former Deputy Pres, UN bosslady and seriously cool gogo Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka regarding all types of inequality. And destabilise it did – at least for Ilze Alberts, who shares below some of the ideas that such inspiration managed to evoke for her. – Cait Hogg

By Ilze Alberts*

As I listened to Alec Hogg’s interview with Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka during the 2015 World Economic Forum in Davos on inequality, my mind naturally started to drift toward solutions for the problem. As a woman myself, I understand the perception of inequality and the charges males and females have about it. Education is for sure a definite step forward, but I want to add 3 important steps to changing your mindset, lopsided perceptions and how to take action to bring about more balance. Every person’s small steps will build toward a wave of change.

Step 1: Own your uniqueness

People, male and female, have uniqueness with their own gifts and talents to bring to the world. Whether you see your world in the micro or macro, you have an impact to make, and it starts with awareness of what the special gift is that you want to bring to the world to make it a better place. It is futile to think it’s too small, too insignificant to make a difference. It starts first in your inner circle of influence, whether it’s your spouse, your children, your siblings, your friends. Through the ripple effect of your influence on your inner circle, it spreads out to have an impact on the macro world; a global influence. Every small contribution escalates the movement forward and creates a global shift in awareness. Influence your inner circle’s perception to change from feeling trapped and disempowered to feeling their smallest contribution has an impact on how change is taking place. I have influenced my daughter to believe she has a unique way to serve the world and whatever it is, it is influential and much needed.

Step 2: Educate yourself on many different levels

Education is far more than just going to school and getting your Matric. Education is freely available for the one who is hungry to learn and improve their own life. Choose a role model and learn by watching and emulating what you see. Learn through critical listening, and not believing everything you hear, but knowing you are a genius. If you apply your wisdom, your self-confidence and self-esteem will increase. Educate yourself mentally by the desire to learn in whatever form is available; educate yourself emotionally by embracing your different feelings, emotions and knowing yourself. Educate yourself vocationally by discovering what it is you love doing as a service, whether it is looking after your kids or building a global business. Educate yourself financially by learning the rule of saving. Educate yourself in relationships by learning to love people for who they are. Educate yourself socially by appreciating friendships and nurturing your friendships. Educate yourself physically by learning how to improve your health and vitality.

Step 3: Power talk

The way you talk to yourself and the way you talk to others reveal so much about how you perceive yourself. If you feel like the victim, you inner and outer talk will reflect it. You are in control of what comes out of your mouth, and it is a choice. As long as you perceive that you are trapped by inequality, you will stay imprisoned by inequality. Once you shift your thinking to believing that you are of importance, you have an impact to make, however small or big, you are responsible for creating a change in critical mass through your contribution, no matter again how small or big and your talk will start to reveal it. As long as the mass singsong of inequality remains, we stay trapped. As we start to powerfully talk about changing it from the micro to the macro, movement starts. Dreams and idealisms are fantasies without action. Ask yourself today: what small or big contribution can I make to start in my circle of influence to bring more equality?

One step at a time, everyone focusing on bringing a shift (not lethargically waiting for government to bring about change) to create a wave of change. What will the world look like in 5 years time if we all do this?

*Ilze Alberts is a Wealth Psychologist, Master Cerfied Demarni Method® Facilitator, Author and international speaker. www.ilzealberts.co.za