I have always known that passion is an important part of being an entrepreneur. I have known that failure is a temporary thing and not a permanence, even though it feels that way at times. It’s easy to say, it’s much harder to go through. I was asked to write a snippet of what I'd want to pass on if I were to give my last lecture...enjoy!
There are few things in this life that require more attention than one’s family. I beg and plead for the sakes of our communities and the generations that follow you that you find out how to balance life and work. It is true that we must absolutely have money to fulfill our lives. Money is not an evil, it is a tool that perpetuates a quality of life. Wealth itself does not make someone happy; however, lack of wealth can cause unhappiness. Even then, one can be happy without wealth as long as their basic needs are met. Take time to learn about money and why it is important for your survival. Don’t put accumulation of wealth over the importance of your family. If you were to do this, at the end of your life, you could be extremely wealthy, but have no one to share it with. At that point, what was it worth? Make a balance.
Push through the hard times. Some of the most successful people that are household names got there because they pushed through the times that were most difficult in their lives. When we are challenged with an obstacle in life, it is crucial that we don’t give up on our most important goals. We may have to change the path on which we’re travelling, but the destination should be the same-to live with God again with our families. This also means that when fears come our way, we need to face them. We must see a fear as an unattended problem. This means we have to address the fear. Determine what the outcomes would be if each of our fears took place. You’re likely to find that facing the fears that haunt you will dispel them and leave a wide open road ahead. Then, when all is going crazy about you and you have your head on straight, and you’re working like a mad man, non-stop, don’t forget to take a break. Sharpen your saw, as Stephen Covey suggests. Keep your mind sharp by taking a break from any obstacle that comes your way and you’re likely to find a solution when you least expect it.
Set guidelines for your life. You will not be the master of your life until it is over, so just keep being the best you can be. Don’t let yourself fall into traps of unethical behavior, or even the appearance of it. Your financial freedom is worth the effort, but keep your integrity, for without integrity, again, no one will be there to celebrate with you when your funds have been counted.
In the end, your wealth will not go with you after you die. It will rot or burn a hole in someone else’s pocket, so cherish the moments you have with your family…
Photo by Harman Sandhu on Unsplash