You are welcome once again to this blog where all we desire is for you,to make a difference. Every year,more and more people venture into the labour market to form the active and productive section of our society. A lot of people live from hand to mouth.Some others run after exorbitant luxury while some have enormous responsibilities to carry. Which ever category you may fall into,Its one thing to work to earn a living,its another to know how best to spend wisely what is earned. Here is what you need to know as a smart earner
1.Investing is a personal race:
You won’t see investing 101 being offered as a course in school.
But in university of life, it’s five (5) credit unit.
Pass it.. achieve it
Fail it and watch your dreams die right in front of your eyes.
And the worst part is...
There is no globally accepted resource or authority on it,
that you can readily look up to and study with a step by step guide.
Or has the Nigerian factor in consideration.
You either get a mentor or piece through every bit of the puzzle..
After tears and years of bitter regret, burnt fingers and betrayals to forge your experiences along with those of others.
By the time you finally get the answers..
If you are not so fortunate, you would be at the twilight of both your career and life.
Your family cannot help you
Your spouse cannot help you
Your connections cannot either....
You just have to embark on the journey personally.
2. Carry your people along:
It is bad enough, making this journey on your own, but believe me...
It’s worse if your spouse and or family are not behind you.
Picture being in a foreign country during winter, with no friends and no winter jacket.
How would you cope?
Now imagine the warmth you’ll feel, when given a fur jacket and invited for a friendly cup of hot tea.
That’s what a support system does.
Hence!!
It’s essential and recommended both of you have same outlook and mindset
at least when it comes to investing.
Grow together in the journey, and jointly experience the highs and lows side by side.
Else.
You would be misunderstood and your efforts sabotaged.. knowingly and unknowingly.
Because they would think you don’t care, you are strange or your methods are inefficient.
Another added benefit of carrying your people along is that there would be closer bonding.
As it has been observed that spouses who work together on their dreams, appreciate each other.
This is due to the fact that they both know how much and where exactly, the shoe pinches.
3. You can decide the length of the journey:
Retire after thirty-five (35) years of meritorius service – that’s if you are not retrenched before then..
Or In ten years or less via strategic partnerships and investing.
The choice is yours..
But either way, working smart and thinking hard is required.
which route do you want to take?
4. Invest to improve your economy:
According to the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
“The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”
Now, paraphrase it.
The security and welfare of my family,spouse, kids e.t.c write their names shall be my primary purpose
Lets break it down
1. Security
2. Welfare
Security:
The security of Nigerians, is paramount to the federal government which is why,
there is a standby armed force, combat ready to repel any foreign aggresion against her citizens
- notwithstanding her current challenges.
Welfare:
The welfare of Nigerians is critical and very dear to the government,
which is why they prepare yearly budgets and even borrow if need be, to spend and stimulate the economy..
So the average man can eke out a living and be able to meet up with responsibilities.
Back to you..
You are the government of your family or people depending on you.
When you invest in a house, you have given them a roof over their head.
When you invest in their education, you have laid a solid structure for their future.
When you give them the benefit of your experience with regards to investing....
You have given them the keys to everlasting wealth.
5. Don’t keep one source:
This is in line with diversification.
Here, our goal is to ensure that no one source can make or break you..
such that it’s either feast or famine.
Taking the step a bit further...
No one country can or should decide your fate.
There are so many what ifs.....
The motto is “hope for the best but plan for the worst and pray it never happens”
Never in the period of history until now, has there been such bountiful opportunities of being a foreign investor.
That you could be in Nigeria and be a landlord in either US or UK
receiving your rent in dollars or pounds depending on your preference..
With or without leaving the shores of Nigeria.
Is that not exciting? You could even be a shareholder in their blue chip companies, if you so desire..
Yes!!
Bountless opportunities exist for those who are willing to dare....
6.A tree can make a forest:
It’s not seen anywhere...
You cannot plant Yam and harvest Cassava.
You cannot give what you don’t have.
Hence
You cannot pass on this knowledge of investing you had acquired over the years,
if you didn’t do the time.
As parents or intending.....
You serve as a research centre for your kids.
But if you didn’t study, what would you pass on?
The foundation of what your kid would be tomorrow, is laid in the home.
Warren Buffett did not become an investor by accident. His dad was a stockbroker. Same with most people.
Although the environment coupled with other agents of socialization(Church, Mosque, School, Peer groups)
has their role to play in influencing....
The family takes the cake.
And it all begins with one man/woman’s decision to make a stand for his/her family.
To make a stand for his/her generation.
That from me henceforth, it would no longer be business as usual.
The question is....
Are you willing to be that person?
