by Michela Tomlinson

As a young lady, fresh out of school, thrown into the “adult world” – I found myself stuck in a place I’m quite uncertain about. What life skills have I actually learnt in school to prepare me for all the tasks I am about to face? Who am I and what can I contribute to the world? All these questions left me so uncertain and insecure about my future!

Today I find myself thinking about how things have changed so much in the last 5 – 10 years. Covid re-shuffle aside, simple parts of our everyday lives have had to be modified as we move on through a fast-changing world.

Things you would not think twice about previously, are now deal breakers when making a decision.

An example of something simple that many have noticed a change in is our food. We are not getting the same nutrients from the foods we are putting into our bodies as we have in the past. The nutrients that we NEED in order to function properly and perform throughout the day. What do we do about this? We use supplements such as multivitamins or focus on certain food groups and exercise to put back what is lacking.

Much like our food, the schooling system is not giving us enough to be able to function to our full potential in the real world. I felt the impact of this after finishing school. I was not given/exposed to the necessary skills that I need to be able to stay relevant in this fast-changing, machine-driven world. If we do not live in the same world as 20, even 30 years ago, why are we still being taught in the same ways?

So what supplements can we, as the young adults, use in order to fill the gap that our outdated school curriculum has created for us? At school there is so much emphasis placed on being perfect, excelling in academics and sport, and literally being the model student.  But as I quickly realised, the “real world” does not work like that.  In the real world it is inevitable that we will make mistakes and that sometimes we might fail.  What I have learnt is that one should use those mistakes and failures as a lesson for learning. This is ultimately how we grow!

When I first got introduced to the MindCo Unlimited programme, I instantly had an “AHA” moment. I felt like, for a change, I was exposing myself to something that enriches not only my mind but my soul! Unlike in school, each session was engaging – I actually couldn’t wait for the next one! Finally, I could start answering all these questions I was left with.

Much like myself, I know many of my peers find themselves needing guidance moving forward in obtaining and enhancing critical 21st-century skills. This is possible through MindCo as you are placed in non-threatening, situation-simulation exercises, based on innovative game-play.  I had fun, and in each lesson, there was an opportunity to learn more about myself through the reflection part of every module.

The programme is done through short courses, custom made around you or your group, which I found a huge convenience. Some of the benefits I’ve taken out of the programme are:

  •  I’ve developed resilience,
  • I have a better understanding of teamwork and the contributions each team member brings,
  • I’ve learnt to manage risks and change better and have found myself taking more calculated risks now which either have positive or negative outcomes, like any, but I have learned what to take from each experience to improve in the next.
  • Agility, thought-through decisions, not only improved my leadership abilities but have also helped me gain confidence in myself as I am putting myself out there more and reaping the benefits of my actions done through a clearer train of thought.

In the past year, I have grown as a person and businesswoman in ways that I would have never imagined, and even though I will take credit for some of it, I think MindCo played a major part in my growth.

To learn more about how you can benefit from the MindCo programme contact them now:

www.mindco.co.za, +2712 881 8875 or email info@mindco.co.za