Doubt Is Expensive: A Lesson from My Sister Matanda

April 23, 2025

Robert Kiyosaki once said, “It is doubt and cynicism that keep most people playing safe, poor. Cynics criticize & winners analyze. Finding what people miss is key to any success.” This quote resonates deeply with me as an L2 Support Engineer at NetOne Zambia, where I have learned that hesitation can hold us back from growth. Recently, a moment with my younger sister, Matanda, brought this lesson to life. Named after my grandfather’s mother, Matanda’s carefree spirit reminded me of the power of belief over doubt. In this post, I reflect on how her innocence, captured in a simple photograph, ties into my journey of overcoming doubt in both life and career.

A Moment of Joy with Matanda

In April 2025, My Father captured a photo of Matanda in Chingola. My sister Matanda, named after my grandfather’s mother, was there, radiating joy in her pink skirt and black top. The photo below captures her standing confidently on the tiled veranda, with chairs, a potted plant, and a “Love” sign in the background, a scene of simple happiness. At that moment, Matanda was not weighed down by doubt or fear; she was just being herself, free and unapologetic. Her innocence struck me as a powerful contrast to the cynicism Kiyosaki warns against.

The Cost of Doubt in My Career

As an L2 Support Engineer, I have faced moments where doubt could have derailed my progress. Early in my career at NetOne, I hesitated to take on a challenging access control project, fearing I was not ready to lead. I remember the handover day at IHS Zambia HQ in April 2025, where I stood proudly with Mukuka after installing the system, but that success only came after I pushed past my initial doubts. Kiyosaki’s words, “Cynics criticize & winners analyze,” remind me how I had to analyze the project’s requirements, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and configure employee cards, rather than let fear of failure stop me.

Learning from Matanda’s Fearlessness

Watching Matanda that morning, I realized how doubt often creeps into our lives as we grow older. She did not question whether she belonged on that veranda or worry about what others might think of her outfit. She simply existed in the moment, embodying a fearlessness we often lose as adults. This ties back to Kiyosaki’s idea of “finding what people miss.” In my work, I have learned to look beyond the obvious, whether it is spotting a network issue others overlooked or proposing a solution during a power supply crisis. Matanda’s carefree spirit inspires me to approach challenges with the same openness, free from the cynicism that holds so many back.

Applying the Lesson at NetOne

At NetOne, I now strive to replace doubt with curiosity and analysis. When faced with a complex IT issue, like the theme compatibility problem I encountered in March 2025, I could have let cynicism convince me it was too hard to solve. Instead, I analyzed the root cause, researched solutions, and implemented a fix, much like how I approached the “Eat Cookie” activity at NIPA in 2021, where small wins built my confidence. Matanda’s example, paired with Kiyosaki’s wisdom, pushes me to keep learning, to keep analyzing, and to never let doubt dictate my decisions.

Final Thoughts

Doubt is indeed expensive, it costs us opportunities, growth, and joy. My sister Matanda, with her unfiltered happiness on that Chingola veranda, reminded me of the freedom that comes from believing in ourselves. As I continue my journey at NetOne, I carry Kiyosaki’s advice to analyze rather than criticize, and Matanda’s fearless spirit as a daily inspiration. Let us not let doubt keep us playing safe. Instead, let us find what others miss and turn it into our success. #DoubtIsExpensive #OvercomeCynicism #FamilyInspiration #CareerLessons #NetOneZambia