Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
One of the greatest fears we have as men and women is the fear of not being able to provide for our families. In today's world, one of the toughest things to be is a "Salary Earner" and that is because the only means of survival is that paycheck at the end of the month. With COVID19, we have seen how there have been news on many WhatsApp groups that some companies or institutions were going to pay salaries for certain months, such news can be devastating especially if it is the only means of survival.
I know how it has been written that you can never grow wealth only on Salary, I totally agree but I also know it is the starting point for very many people.
Even the ones who start SMEs or business ventures on the side, somehow they need employees, whom they will need to pay a salary, but yeah Salary Alone Isn't Enough, It's only too bad that the employer will be the one benefiting from the employee, so the onus is on the employee to know when and how to use their time as an employee effectively.
Many men and women towards the end of the month wait for that beep on their phone, if the money delays, that is the cause for stress because the demands that also keep coming in all need money to facilitate the processes. It is dangerous not to receive money you expect. At one point wifey is saying, "We need this", the children are saying they need to go swimming, etc. and all those queries need money to facilitate the process.
It isn't so long when yours truly had an experience of no salary for about 3 months. It was an interesting experience because hey! I did learn a ton of lessons. The experience I had was like that of someone who is so used to getting something and then all of a sudden it is no more. It's like knowing in Uganda we shall always have food then suddenly famine befalls us for way longer than expected. It is like a child waiting for their favorite dish but they have to go along with baked beans or porridge without sugar.
These are the four things I learned.
1. A day will come when the Salary Job will be no more, it could be at retirement time or during the process of my lifetime
With this in mind, you always have to work planning your exit or knowing that the system will kick you out when you reach a certain age. When you still have the opportunity to make the money and you are still young, this is when you can afford to venture into something, you shouldn't have to be afraid to make mistakes because in any case how will you learn. By the time you retire, you shouldn't be asking yourself what you should do with the money you will have got, you will be probably boosting what you already have. You just can't do certain mistakes when you are of age. So do something now. If it's putting up those rental units, this is the time, not when you are retired or about to retire.
2. If the job is no more, can I live and sustain the kind of lifestyle I desire
We always have a certain lifestyle we live in. When the job is no more, can you still live the way you have been living? If you don't have other income streams bringing the same amount of money or more, you won't be able to sustain, you will only have to cut or scale down your life.
3. The bills will keep coming and they need to get cleared
I realized that I had to pay bills, yes salary wasn't coming but the bills were, so this forced me to think and do something that could enable me to get money. I started a business of selling trays of eggs to people within my circle and I also signed up for Uber, so I became an uber driver.
4. Can I do other things to make money aside from what I have been used too (This calls for having a Skill)
For some people when money isn't coming as expected. They will resort to quick loans with the hope that when we get paid, "we shall pay the money". This way of thinking isn't sustainable because you jump from one problem to another and debt can become a trap you don't want to get hooked too. As I wrote above, I started a small business of selling trays of eggs and it was good and profitable. Uber brought in much-needed money which enabled me to pay rent, take care of my wife and two children, and a maid at that time.
You might be having skills that have been dormant, is it creating websites, baking, teaching, etc. This could probably be the time to harness your skills and keep nurturing it by learning whatever it takes to improve.
The last thing I want to say is that Salary is good but it can also enslave. Our minds can be glued to that as the only source yet we have been gifted with talents, opportunities but we somehow don't explore them for one or two reasons. As you work and get that beep at the end of the month, ask yourself how you can earn the same and much more even while still working. Receiving a salary isn't paying yourself, you have to use that same money to pay yourself too before the bills get paid.
#Transform #Impact #Empower
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