Shortcuts in Life Are So Good

 

We've all heard the adage "shortcuts are dangerous" and that has been the food for thought and main advice by counselors, elders and speakers globally.

Well, I've been doing some thinking and lately, that leads me to the conclusion that Shortcuts are actually good; without them, we won't have success stories.

What exactly is a shortcut?

According to www.merriamwebster.com , a shortcut is a route more direct than the one ordinarily taken or a method or means of doing something more directly and quickly than and often not so thoroughly as by ordinary procedure. In other words, a shortcut can be an alternative route that is shorter than the one usually taken.

"they were taking a shortcut to town"

A shortcut is an accelerated way of doing or achieving something.

In this writeup, you will find out that the age long advice given us by our leaders, elders and influencers that Shortcuts are dangerous is not entirely true. 

When God created the Earth as we know it, he didn't create any Shortcuts, but he indeed planted the knowledge of shortcuts in humans; God made humans the Master of Shortcuts.

Inventing fire was one profound way humans created a shortcut so they could enjoy warmth during cold seasons, enjoy meat and other foods. As a matter of fact, everything humans have invented, hitherto, is a shortcut to make life easier,  fast and better.

As a Digital marketing consultant, and IT savvy person, using Shortcuts on a PC or laptop is common; we use Shortcuts to make our work easier and faster. ‘Control A’ on a keyboard is to highlight a word or group of words; ‘Control X’ is to cut a word or a sentence; without these Shortcuts, it would take you a few more minutes to complete an online task. If time is money and of the essence, then Shortcuts too are inevitable; we have to use shortcuts to complete difficult tasks fast, and that doesn't make us lazy, weak or less intelligent.

When playing video games such as Mortal Kombat and FIFA, the creator of the system has hidden all the best kicks in Shortcuts; as a player, you have to know these hidden shortcuts to enable get an advantage over your opponent. The best video game players in the world are masters of the shortcuts. 

Keep reading...I'm leading you to a point.

The difference between developing nations and developed nations is that one uses shortcuts and the other doesn't. 

Switzerland, Germany,  Sweden, Israel,  USA, UK and South Korea top the list of countries with the most inventions. What are inventions for if not shortcuts to make life easier, faster and better. 

If it wasn't for vehicles, commuting to work and other places of interest would have been very difficult. If it wasn't for the Internet, you won't be reading this article this way. Someone dared to use the shortcut.

Mauritius,  South Africa, Tunisia and Morocco are Africa's most innovative countries; it's no surprise that they're also on the top list of the most successful.

My point really is that from research, people who are successful,  use the shortcut to make their lives easier.

Most people in Africa who work hard and go by the systematic approach are poor; only the few who work smart are rich.

And they tell us, go to school,  learn hard, pass your exams, get a government job and guarantee your life. We all know this process does not guarantee anything because of how imperfect the system is. Most rich people in Ghana are the ones who didn't go through a thorough educational system; they used a shortcut at a point and that changed their lives for good. 

Using the shortcut is for people who think smart. Anyone telling you Shortcuts are dangerous has only shortlisted few vices such as prostitution,  robbery, 419, thievery, etc. to mean the ShortCuts; if you think deeply, you will realise that the successful are no different. I don't mean the successful are robbers, thieves or prostitutes; what I mean is that they all think smart, they look for ways to solve problems in the shortest and fastest way possible to make life easier, faster and better. 

Using the shortcut is like thinking smart instead of thinking long and hard. When you use the shortcut, all you think about is how to reach your goal using a different means other than what everyone else is using. 

Don't work hard…work smart

Don't use the long way…use the shortcut

If you want to reach your destination faster...use the shortcut

Many years ago, my Junior high teacher, Mr. J B Darkwah  taught me this poem, "The Road Not Taken" 

He said,

" And I shall say this with a sigh

somewhere ages and ages past

Two roads diverged in the woods

And I, I took the one less traveled by

And that has made all the difference "

How would we have crossed highways safely, if we didn't have foot bridges and overpasses as shortcuts; how would we have traveled on seas and rivers if we didn't have ships and boats as shortcuts to travel in? 

Life is easier with shortcuts.

The next time you hear the advise, "shortcuts are dangerous" reply in the contrary, "shortcuts are good; the best way to live a faster, easier and better life "

Shortcut means taking Opportunity as it comes

Shortcut means Risk taking

Shortcut means taking advantage of situations

Shortcut means thinking smart or outside the box

Shortcut also means daring to do the things most people won't do

By Victor Wellrich

+233 246 770 686

#victorwellrich #opportunity #growthhacking #shortcut