REFLECTION ON EFFORTS AND IMPACT

 "Muscles of an Elephant, Results of an Ant": A Reflection on Effort and Impact

There is a popular saying that echoes through academic corridors: “Msuli tembo, matokeo sisimizi” — “Elephant muscles, ant results.” It paints a vivid picture of a student who burns the midnight oil, invests immense effort, and drains mental energy in pursuit of excellence — only to be met with disappointing or average results.

But this phenomenon is not limited to classrooms and lecture halls. It’s a reality that haunts many of our institutions and offices. We often witness an overwhelming busyness — countless activities, full schedules, and expanding teams. Yet, when it's time to measure real impact — market share, sales growth, or institutional value — the results are painfully underwhelming.

This points to a fundamental truth: every action within an organization must contribute directly to the attainment of its core goals. The daily tasks of an individual employee should fuel the objectives of their department. In turn, each department's objectives should harmonize and align with the broader mission of the institution.

When this alignment is missing, when there's a disconnect between what we do and what we aim to achieve, then our efforts — however intense — risk becoming misdirected energy. If we find ourselves overwhelmed by activity yet underwhelmed by results, it’s a clear sign that something must change.

We must evaluate our routines, question our strategies, and ask the hard question: Are our actions driving us toward our desired outcomes? If the answer is no, then it’s time to rethink, refocus, and realign.

Because in the end, success is not defined by how much we do, but by how effectively our actions lead us to where we want to be.