Exceptional
/ɪkˈsɛpʃ(ə)n(ə)l,ɛkˈsɛpʃ(ə)n(ə)l/
adjective
adjective: exceptional
“unusually good; outstanding” and/or “unusual; not typical”
At Young and Exceptional, we believe success is relative and significantly based on the level one has achieved on their journey in life. This belief is rooted in an inherent understanding of the basic needs of humanity and admiration that is drawn from those who seek to also achieve one’s progress in life. We also believe in celebrating everyday victories, hence the vision of the Blog.
You achieved Gold Student Status winning the coveted Dux Scholar Award, a whopping 8 distinctions at matric for the class of 2017, yet still managed to lead a team into a stunning top 3 finish in a national competition against over 200 other teams from all across South Africa! This is truly exceptional and many want to know, how does Saihil pull it off?
Q: How old are you?
A: I am 19 years old, as of the 2nd of August 2018.
Q: How did you manage your time between studying for matric exams to achieve distinctions and leading a team in The CFO Junior Case Study Competition?
A: The key to managing one’s time involves a delicate combination between sacrifice and passion. In Matric, you are told to stop extra-curricular activities and focus solely on academics. It is true that academics sets the platform for one’s future, however, the mentality to make that your sole initiative is incorrect. Everyone gets busy; however, it is critical to pursue the initiatives that we enjoy and that will foster growth. I wanted to achieve academically, but at the same time, I saw potential for growth in pursuing the CFO Junior Case Study Competition. So that was phase one, passion, thus, I would not allow Matric to be an excuse for not pursuing alternate goals. Secondly, sacrifice involved working long hours, during the holidays; whilst others were partying, my team and I sat for hours on end to complete the presentation required by the competition. As a leader, it is significant to set the correct example, if I were not willing to work overtime, neither would my team be. There is a time to work and a time to socialise, knowing the difference is imperative. Deadlines were imminent, for both the competition and school, however, we knew what we wanted to achieve and thus, the ability to make time came naturally. It is easier than you think, follow your passions and do not allow yourself to make or accept excuses that hinder your thirst for transformation and success.
Q: In your own words, what did you do right to achieve such high accolades academically?
A: The keys to success are not set in stone. However, general attributes and behaviours contribute to progression. As aforementioned, sacrifice and passion are critical, often, sleeping less for one or two nights and getting the task done is preferred to receiving a bad mark. Over and above that, hard work and persistence ensure that you avoid burning out and can continue the academic marathon. It is also critical to work smart, find easier methods to study and the time at which your body absorbs the most knowledge, for me, that would be the early parts of the morning, around 3am; after discovering these seemingly small things, put them into practice and automatically, your stress levels will decrease. Working smartly, will also build on your entrepreneurial qualities as it will mould your eye for opportunity. What worked best for me, was simply reminding myself of why I set the goals that I did, why I wanted to achieve that level or standard. Despite difficult circumstances, one can find motivation through recalling the reasons for their ambitions. Also, aim for the highest level possible, even those that are seemingly impossible, because if you fall short, you will still be achieving a level of excellence. The final and perhaps most significant key for me, is that of humility, I have always lived by the philosophy of letting others boast for you. Humility, simply allows us to acknowledge room for improvement and that will channel us towards greater success.
Q: You must have a lot of female admirers. How do you stay focused?
A: Female admirers, Haha. Well, firstly, nothing should get between you and your goals, if it does, it becomes an obstacle and our mission is to overcome those obstacles. Emotions can be one of the most dangerous forces on Earth, however, at the same time, finding a compatible partner can be the most relieving. One should not shy away from the idea of a relationship, as your partner could become your main motivational factor when everything seemingly goes wrong. Yet, one should also be cautious; if the negative emotions are overwhelming, it is likely that the relationship is hindering your ambitions, but just like everything in life, do not immediately throw it away, we all go through difficult times, so first attempt to mend it. All that aside, just remember not to get distracted, relationships should not be your ambition, they will come when the time is right, as I believe, it is all Divine timing. When you reach this understanding and perhaps, maturity, that one cannot support another individual without first being independent themselves, you will automatically prioritise your goals.
Q: What other leadership roles have you held apart from team leader of Team Evolution?
A: I have held several leadership positions, these would include prefect, captain of the public speaking and debating teams, leading the first aid team, being a Johannesburg Junior City Councillor, being the chairperson of all the school committees in combination, being a mentor to others and team leader in projects and tasks that I have been faced with. However, I have come to understand two things about leadership and positions. Firstly, they are only facets that allow for one’s own transformation and growth and secondly, positions actually do not mean much, they are often used to inflate the Ego, they are only significant when we understand that the true purpose is for growth and guidance to others, but what really makes you a leader, is your behaviour and actions when no one is watching and when you do not have that title.
Q: What are some of the challenges you faced as a leader and how did you overcome them?
A: As a leader, you bear the responsibility of the performance and the achievements of the team. This is often an overwhelming liability; however, it needs to be viewed as an opportunity, simply because it allows you to show the world who you are and what you stand for. If you live your life attempting to reach the highest standards, that will also be portrayed in your leadership and in the actions of your team. As a leader, you are tasked with uniting various and often conflicting personalities and characters, to attain synergy and achieve the end goal. In a team, not everything flows smoothly, especially when there is conflict and dispute, which often hinders progression. Thus, it is important to remind the team of what we initially desired to achieve, whilst concurrently attempting to satisfy all parties by using the best portions of each idea to formulate an exemplary plan. Hence conflict, can be seen in a positive light, such as brainstorming. If team members have an issue with each other, it is important to sit down and mediate the conversation between them, whilst conveying that the purpose of the meeting is for them to resolve the issue. A leader does have to be stern, but at the same time, the key to leadership lies in charisma. If you can persuade an individual to perform a task by playing on that person’s strengths and passions, your team will be more than willing to put in the hard yards as they will learn to respect you. Respect is earned, never demanded nor commanded.
Q: What are the top 3 qualities you believe have made you who you are today?
A: The first would be humility. I would like to think that I possess certain traits that contribute to humility. Essentially, I am never truly satisfied with my performance. Many people tell me that I have achieved so much, yet I believe that I have achieved so little and that there is still so much to do. This mindset has propelled me forward, it allows me to alter from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. I always aim to achieve more and do more, hence why I tend to always keep myself busy. Success is unquantifiable and thus success waits for no one.
The second quality is interrelated and is that of persistence. Being assiduous is key to achieving anything. It allows you to finish what you started and perform at a level of excellence. Failure occurs frequently, look at some of the greatest entrepreneurs of all time, Warren Buffett, Sir Richard Branson, but to grow and achieve eventual success, we must learn from our failures. To never be satisfied and continue working will hasten your progression.
Finally, and most importantly, my faith in God, or rather God, Himself, is the true key to success. Without Him, I am nothing, thus everything I am able to do is as a result of His Grace. God is where I find my strength, my motivation. Spiritual transformation allows us to see the world in a different light. It allows us to realise that on this journey to success, we must assist our fellow brothers and sisters that are not able to assist themselves. For when we give and serve others, we will be rewarded tenfold. At the same time, hard work is important as God only helps those that help themselves. So, yes, my secret is simple, put all your faith in God, work hard, be humble and all will fall in place.
Q: What’s the one thing you’d advise aspiring young people, to achieve what you have at such a young age?
A: Be yourself. When you are passionate about something, you will take all steps necessary to ensure that you excel, simply because you enjoy what you are doing. Do not allow others to force you to do things that you do not desire. Some things are necessary, such as going to school, but if you can find the positivity in those compulsory activities, you will excel in them too. In difficult times, you can look to friends and family for support, but do not allow them to get between you and your goals. If someone advises you to quit an initiative that you believe will bring you growth, simply thank them but continue to pursue your goals because there is a reason as to why they were set in the first place. Even when you aspire to others in life. For example, you aspire to your role models, Bill Gates or Lionel Messi, do not simply aspire to be like them, aspire to surpass them.
In life, do not aim to be the best, as you will be average when you are amongst the best, rather aim to be the best of the best, and that is how you truly differentiate yourself and that is only possible by embracing who you truly are, doing what you love and doing it to the best of your ability.
You are an image of God, you are a part of God, you are unique and divine, You are You, never forget that, it is your greatest asset.
Q: Where will you be in the next 10 years?
A: In 10 years, I hope to be a successful entrepreneur, in a monetary, growth and spiritual sense, and a Chartered Accountant with a few qualifications after my name. I do not want to speak about it too much, because my actions and achievements at the time will do the talking. Being ambitious is important, but it is also important to keep your goals to yourself as they are there for your own personal transformation. One must not be overly keen to speak about one’s goals, for if you fail, you will have those that will mock you, therefore, speak about your goals, after you achieved them. However, in 10 years, I hope to achieve where I aim to be in 20 years from now. Perhaps this may not make sense right off the bat. However, it is comprised of two concepts, one being that you should never get comfortable and be satisfied with your current performance, that will kill growth; the second being that the only true competition that you have in this lifetime, is yourself. So, yes, the key is to be yourself, but the only way to improve is by looking in the mirror and competing with yourself. Currently, we should desire to be where we want to be in the next 10 years. Therefore, in 10 years’ time, you will aspire to be the individual that you believe you will be in the 10 years following that. Always be hungry for success and you will achieve more than you thought possible, nothing is impossible, it all comes down to mindset. With this mentality, even though you may not be satisfied with your performance, you will be respected by many and respect goes a long way. Put in the effort, because only you can reap the rewards of the fruits of your actions.
I sincerely hope that what I have said has assisted you in some way, I thoroughly enjoy assisting others and seeing them grow. Thank you for your time and I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. Go out there, make a name for yourself and show the world who you truly are. God bless.
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