Hi Friends,
With my last post titled, “The 3 Secrets of Financial Freedom”, I feel inclined to direct our attention to some practical ways we can start earning an income right away.
There are two ways I know to earn an income – either you look for a job or you create one.
1. Look For An Employment
To get employed, you will need the fight qualification for the prospective job.
What is your qualification? Do you have an academic certification like high school certificate, diploma, HND, BSc, post-graduate degree and professional certification in the various professions? Or technical training on whatever field you have chosen? Then you have what it takes to get employed.
The next step for you to get a job is to go look for one. Now, this is where it becomes tricky. Most of us falter when it comes to scouting for a job.
May be now I need to open your eyes to some things you may be overlooking as you try to get your dream job.
i. Decide on the type of job you are looking for – most people think they don’t have a choice just because there is scarcity of job opening but they do. The more focused your search is, the more likely you are to find the right one for you.
ii. Do consistent search – I’ve noticed that most people looking for a job do haphazard search. Get a list of website addresses and newspapers that publish job vacancies and be sure to visit and read such sites and papers consistently, not just when someone tells you to go look at so-and-so place. Of course, what you are looking for has to be in line with your decided job-type.
As you search through websites, you will notice there are some with mostly stale vacancies. You should do away with such sites. They are time wasters.
iii. Know what employers want – whenever you see a job vacancy that relates to you, look at the qualification they are looking for. Some are just your basic certificates; others want more, like professional certification. Do you have such?
Take a look at The Guardian on Tuesday. Check out the page titled “Appointments” where new appointments and promotions are discussed. Here, you will see how these people build up their qualifications to get to the post they are. This is also important for those in an employment, hoping to move up the ladder.
iv. A little more training will do – now I know most job seekers will not want to hear this, but it’s true. If you have been very attentive when reading through job vacancies, you would have noticed that most of them are asking for an extra. And this extra doesn’t have to take you back to the university.
If you want a job as an air hostess, go for an air hostess training. If you want to be a Client Service Executive, go for Client Service Training. If you want a job in banking, marketing, telecom, etc, all you’ll need to do is go for an extra training in the field and that may be all you need to get an edge.
v. Build an irresistible CV – your CV is like a marketing tool and what you are marketing is you. I heard from a Human Resources professional recently that most job applicants get turned down because of the low quality of their CV.
One thing I know is that your CV has to be clear, easy to read and understand. You may want to seek the help of an experienced person or even consult professional CV writers.
vi. Now, don’t wait. Begin to drop your CV at the door of every prospective employer. It will amaze you that most of them actually keep these unsolicited job applications in their database for use at vacancy periods.
I have not said that you are going to get that dream job as soon as you take the steps I have discussed above, but I know for sure, it improves your chances of getting one! I have seen them worked many times, believe me.
Now, what do you do when you can’t seem to get a job on time? Create one.
2. Create A Job
It’s a pity most of us focus too much on looking for a job that we don’t recognise that we already have the tools to create a job for ourselves and even for others, no matter what we read in school.
To create a job, all you need is a competence and some marketing. Let’s see them.
i. Competence: you must have a creativity that relates or may not relate with what you read in school – that you can turn into an income-generating venture. Almost everyone I’ve met has more than one, so I’m guessing you are like them.
Look at this list: cooking, baking, writing, drawing, painting, computer knowledge, marketing skill, public speaking, counselling, home decoration, balloon decoration, hair styling, driving, internet knowledge, singing, musical instrument, music, camera handling, make people laugh with jokes, etc.
Do you have any of them or more? Good news! You can make money from them. You can turn most of the things you do as hubby into business.
Sometimes, it may stem from your parent’s vocation. I know a guy whose father was a licensed clearing agent at the sea ports. As soon as he finished his NYSC, he got hold of his deceased father’s license and went straight into business.
I know a lady who is good at home decoration. She didn’t need a dime of capital. As soon as she gets a contract, she gets an advance payment to execute the job and gets the balance as soon as she finished the job. She just finished her degree exams in Industrial Relations at the Lagos State University.
ii. Marketing: So, how do you start off? Do you remember the adage about charity? Where do they say it starts from? Oh, so now you get it. Start by telling people around you what you do and you’ll be surprised how well this can help you start off, marketing-wise.
Do you have a family, friends, former classmates, church members? Then, you already have people you can tell (market) about what you do. This part about creating a business is so extensively expounded in David Ray’s Make Money from Your Hidden Talents.
You can think about printing two hundred business cards or registering a business name later.
To start earning money immediately, do these two things. I’m sure you’ll have something to tell me about the result. Are you smiling already?! ;-).
You shall succeed!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Sunday, December 2, 2007
THE THREE SECRETS TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM
I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t desire financial freedom. Most everyone want to have enough money so they can afford not just their basic needs but some of those pleasures they own only in their dreams.
Well, how come only a few of us ever attain financial freedom while the rest mass of us are left to live from hand to mouth – hand to mouth is even too good for some others.
There are secrets to it! And everyone that has access to these secrets can attain financial freedom and make those their pleasure dreams come true. What are your financial dreams? Send your kids through school, buy a house for your family, rent an apartment in a cool neighbourhood, start a business, pay off a debt, become a millionaire, etc? Well, you can achieve all of these and much more if you’ll pay attention to these secrets and develop the self-discipline that they demand.
Secret #1: Make Money
Isn’t this plain simple? To have financial freedom, you need to have access to money and the easiest and quickest way to that is to do a job and start earning an income.
Now you may be saying, “but where are the jobs?” Yep! I know your dream job may be scarce but I believe there are enough jobs for everyone and probably still remain.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is not the job you do that makes you rich but what you do with the income from that job.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So what training do you have that you can use to start earning an income? University degree? What about teaching in one of those private schools or get a job in other industries apart from banking, oil, telecom etc? Do you have a specialised skill like writing, bead making, decoration, hairstyling, singing, painting, marketing, etc? Don’t you think you can turn it into a moneymaking venture?
Start earning money today, even if it means you become a commercial bus driver. Start earning money today even if it means you have to learn a new skill. Start earning money today no matter what. Remember, we are not talking about short-term pride here but long-term one - how to build a solid financial future.
Secret #2: Save Money
It’s funny how people do one thing and expect a different result. If you earn money and eat-up the whole of that money each time you collect it, how then were you wondering why you couldn’t meet up your expenses and you were always broke?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You will never have financial freedom, never be rich if you do not save a part of your income.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the idea. Your income is like a fruit, an orange fruit may be. In this income fruit is your seed to financial greatness. No matter how much you enjoy the orange, you do not eat the seed with the fruit or you may be hurting yourself – hurting your ability to enjoy your favourite orange in the future. So, this is what you do – you separate the seed and keep it while you enjoy your orange juice.
Some people think it’s hard to save but supposing your company runs into troubled waters and your salary is slashed from N20,000 to N18,000. Do you think you are going to die? No! You adjust somehow. The same is true of savings.
In my next post, I’ll be showing you some creative ways to start a savings program. Hope you’ll come around then.
Secret #3: Invest Money
I’m sure by now, you are saying, “Remi, what do I do with the money I’ve saved?” Bravo, if you had this question in mind. You are right on track.
So, what do you do with your saved money? Invest it – that’s what you do. That’s what the less than 20% of the population who ever had financial freedom do.
You see, at the first stage, you work for money. Even when it may not be your dream job, you work at it because you want to be able to earn an income.
Then you do some sacrificing by not eating-up all your income. You deny yourself; you postpone gratification so you can save.
And here we are at the third stage. Here, you let your money work for you. Your money is now your employee. It works for you and brings in more money.
This is what personal finance books like Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad; George S. Clason’s The Richest Man in Babylon and Sam Adeyemi’s The Parable of the Dollar teach. And they are quite right.
What’s your financial dream again? Don’t you think it’s a savings then an investment away? All you need do now is know how much you are targeting, how soon you want it and the amount you will need to be saving periodically. Then choose an investment and wait for it.
These secrets are more powerful than you imagine. I have imbibed them and they have severally worked for me. I challenge you to put these secrets to use and see what positive effect they have on you. I can’t wait to read about your success.
You shall succeed!
Well, how come only a few of us ever attain financial freedom while the rest mass of us are left to live from hand to mouth – hand to mouth is even too good for some others.
There are secrets to it! And everyone that has access to these secrets can attain financial freedom and make those their pleasure dreams come true. What are your financial dreams? Send your kids through school, buy a house for your family, rent an apartment in a cool neighbourhood, start a business, pay off a debt, become a millionaire, etc? Well, you can achieve all of these and much more if you’ll pay attention to these secrets and develop the self-discipline that they demand.
Secret #1: Make Money
Isn’t this plain simple? To have financial freedom, you need to have access to money and the easiest and quickest way to that is to do a job and start earning an income.
Now you may be saying, “but where are the jobs?” Yep! I know your dream job may be scarce but I believe there are enough jobs for everyone and probably still remain.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It is not the job you do that makes you rich but what you do with the income from that job.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So what training do you have that you can use to start earning an income? University degree? What about teaching in one of those private schools or get a job in other industries apart from banking, oil, telecom etc? Do you have a specialised skill like writing, bead making, decoration, hairstyling, singing, painting, marketing, etc? Don’t you think you can turn it into a moneymaking venture?
Start earning money today, even if it means you become a commercial bus driver. Start earning money today even if it means you have to learn a new skill. Start earning money today no matter what. Remember, we are not talking about short-term pride here but long-term one - how to build a solid financial future.
Secret #2: Save Money
It’s funny how people do one thing and expect a different result. If you earn money and eat-up the whole of that money each time you collect it, how then were you wondering why you couldn’t meet up your expenses and you were always broke?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You will never have financial freedom, never be rich if you do not save a part of your income.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the idea. Your income is like a fruit, an orange fruit may be. In this income fruit is your seed to financial greatness. No matter how much you enjoy the orange, you do not eat the seed with the fruit or you may be hurting yourself – hurting your ability to enjoy your favourite orange in the future. So, this is what you do – you separate the seed and keep it while you enjoy your orange juice.
Some people think it’s hard to save but supposing your company runs into troubled waters and your salary is slashed from N20,000 to N18,000. Do you think you are going to die? No! You adjust somehow. The same is true of savings.
In my next post, I’ll be showing you some creative ways to start a savings program. Hope you’ll come around then.
Secret #3: Invest Money
I’m sure by now, you are saying, “Remi, what do I do with the money I’ve saved?” Bravo, if you had this question in mind. You are right on track.
So, what do you do with your saved money? Invest it – that’s what you do. That’s what the less than 20% of the population who ever had financial freedom do.
You see, at the first stage, you work for money. Even when it may not be your dream job, you work at it because you want to be able to earn an income.
Then you do some sacrificing by not eating-up all your income. You deny yourself; you postpone gratification so you can save.
And here we are at the third stage. Here, you let your money work for you. Your money is now your employee. It works for you and brings in more money.
This is what personal finance books like Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad; George S. Clason’s The Richest Man in Babylon and Sam Adeyemi’s The Parable of the Dollar teach. And they are quite right.
What’s your financial dream again? Don’t you think it’s a savings then an investment away? All you need do now is know how much you are targeting, how soon you want it and the amount you will need to be saving periodically. Then choose an investment and wait for it.
These secrets are more powerful than you imagine. I have imbibed them and they have severally worked for me. I challenge you to put these secrets to use and see what positive effect they have on you. I can’t wait to read about your success.
You shall succeed!
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