I was reading today, and I started thinking about survival, how people stay afloat, and how many constantly live on the edge of poverty. Poverty, they say, is not really the absence of money. In one way or another, we all have access to money if things are alright. I think this is true for everyone. We all receive money at some point; the difference is simply that we earn it differently, and over time, what truly matters is what we do with it.
Many people struggle to make a living because they can barely survive on what they earn. Rent, food, clothing, and shelter often seem beyond their reach, and they struggle daily just to meet these basic needs.
For some people, it is not that they are lazy; they simply do not understand what it takes to stay afloat, and I believe many of us fall into this category. Many people work hard but not smart. It is not really about the number of hours someone puts into work that matters most, but about knowing how to deploy resources and work effectively with people.
The rich and wealthy, how do they get there? Some people say it is luck, others say it is hard work, while some believe most wealthy people succeed because they have strong connections or come from wealthy backgrounds. But does that mean wealthy people must always come from wealthy families? We have seen people who are wealthy today who did not have strong family backgrounds or networks while growing up.
To become rich, I believe there is a need to study the attributes of wealthy people and understand what they did before they got to the top.
Most rich and wealthy people have certain things in common. They think long-term rather than focusing only on immediate rewards. It is like comparing someone who plants food crops that need to be replanted every year with someone who plants cash crops. The person planting food crops may start making money within a short period, but the person planting cash crops may need to wait much longer before earning anything substantial. However, in the long run, the sacrifice will eventually pay off.
They also think deeply about the future prospects of whatever venture they are getting into. They ask questions like: “What will become of this venture?” “Will it still be relevant in the next decade?” These and many other questions guide their decisions. The truth is that this mindset is not easy to develop, especially for someone coming from a humble background with limited resources.
Another thing I have noticed is that wealthy people value relationships, especially meaningful relationships. However, we can only attract our kind. Most people do not want to associate with someone who has nothing to offer. That is why positioning matters a lot. When we invest in ourselves and offer value that cannot be ignored, building meaningful relationships becomes easier.
Networking is also an important part of the relationships they build. There is a need to connect and associate with people who are ahead of us in life. While doing this, we must be sincere and intentional about it. This is what builds trust and reputation. Reputation is important, and we cannot build it without interacting with people. A good reputation is essential for going far in life, and we must always strive to be truthful in our dealings with others.
There are many attributes of wealthy people that we can discuss, but one I must not overlook is emotional management. We need to learn how to manage our emotions when dealing with people. Emotional intelligence is essential for remaining afloat in life. We should not make decisions simply because our emotions are hurt. Instead, we must be deliberate and thoughtful in our actions.
In all, becoming financially relevant requires discipline, consistency, and a great deal of effort.