No, I don't know what to write about. I have been trying to write about something since last week, it's not working. I have read lots of articles here looking for a trigger, but it's not forthcoming.
If I lie down, my brain starts talking as though she's writing but the moment I pick my phone, it quiets down.
My body prefers to eat, exercise, read stuff, watch movies, play games, chit-chat, sleep, but doesn't want to write.
I had planned to write a thank you article for a lady I just met a few days ago. And that is because her post had helped me consider how I spent my money, and how I would not spend it.
Before now, I have always known I wanted to be someone who invests in another person's idea no matter how lousy it sounds. I wanted to be able to help push an idea from cradle to completion. The fact that funds are not readily available to small businesses and startups made me want to do this.
I have watched how young people and older folks struggle to get fundings for their businesses, and even though they go through the bank, there are always obstacles that prevent them from accessing the much-desired funds.
At this point, their idea is to nib at the bud even before it has the privilege of seeing daylight. Then, one day, I read about Warren Buffett, no I didn't read about him, a friend told me about him. He said this man doesn't have a business to his name, all he does is invest in small businesses and helped them grow into large ones, thereby, making his gains from the shares he holds in the company.
When I first heard, I didn't know if all of the information was correct, all I knew was that I wanted that life too. I wanted to have lots of funds to be able to invest in viable business ideas.I also knew that I didn't want to work hard for too long. I wanted to be able to return home, raise my children, and support my husband with love, and care.
Although at the back of my mind I still want to have businesses in my name, I am very sure I'll start investing in other people's own first, until, I am ready to venture into mine.
I had no idea how I was going to have the money to do all the things I wanted to do. I just knew I will find out.
In the course of looking for answers, I have read different books, signed up for courses, both paid and unpaid ones. I have been closer to living these dreams daily, and I am not willing to stop
A lot of things have happened, I have learned that one can make money by selling. And by selling, it has to be something of value. People pay for value.
I have also understood the importance of being authority in whatever you are doing. This is because people buy from those that they trust... No one wants to be a victim of circumstances when it comes to money. The most important thing of all is that I learned I need to be able to sell myself... I guess this part still boils down to being an authority.
I am still looking for more answers, in the cause of finding them, I have also known that companies strive in repeat businesses. Once your clients trust you and keep coming back, probably, bring their friends along, then you are in business.
Another thing I found is the whole thing that goes into branding and why Apple seems to be doing very well. It boils down to being able to create a cult... a following... a crowd that trusts you and can vouch for you anywhere and at any time.
All Apple fans have one thing in common... They believe the product they are using is superior, and it doesn't matter if the world says otherwise.
This is solely because Apple had been able to build a cult... They started with "Why" instead of "how". Those who stick to them know why they do... and it's mostly because Apple believes in challenging the status quo, and in thinking differently.
The way they do this is by creating beautiful products that are simple and user-friendly. This speaks a lot to the crowd out there .. so Apple won themselves fans. So I learned early on that people do not pay for what you do, but, why do you do it.
Since, I want to be an investor so badly, I still have to learn about finances, investments, economic, etc. I did not want to wait until tomorrow so I started early, and I keep going. Compounding is the fundamental criteria, even though, it's small numbers, they will turn into large ones depending on the number of years.
You and I must start pursuing our financial freedom by learning the ropes of finances. We need to understand how to spot a good investment portfolio, we ain't going to do that by just folding our hands. We need to have our skin in the game. As young people, we need to learn to delay a bit of those gratification and look towards the future with bright hopes and determination.
Our Eureka moment will come, but will only surface if we are digging, looking for answers. Money grows with time, investments help it grow because 10% of a certain amount of money put into work will generate lots more in say, 10,20,30, years, etc.
The mistake we will make as youths is if we do not start early, even when the signs are right before us. We should be able to envision the kind of life we will want to have in our 50's and 60's and start working towards it. We does not need to have lots of money to get started, any amount is fine.
Start looking into your investments portfolio today, and your future self will thank you for it
Lead image source.
I have been investing in the stock market for 30+ years, and I can say only one thing about it. It makes money. Granted, you can't make money without having a full knowledge of how it all works, how to hedge and strategize and know all the ins and outs to reduce risk and mitigate it, and expand your gains. But it is worth the time to dig deeper.
The best way to get to financial freedom is pretty simple, really. Live frugally. Spend wisely. Save and invest as much as you can. KNOW and LEARN about how to invest (just blindly diving in will lose money instead of make money). Pay yourself first.
These are the basics. If you do these things, you can have whatever you want.