Attitude Towards Money And The Value Of Work Part 2

I remember asking my father. Daddy, “Give me some money”, his response “Money isn’t just picked like leaves from trees” 

There are a few insights I have picked up as I steadily run this marathon. Dave Ramsey teaches and says Personal finance is 80% behavior and 20% head knowledge. Our lives strongly dictate how we use money. Benjamin Franklin said, “If you want to think of being wealthy, think of saving as well”. He also said, “Beware of little expenses, a small lick can sink a great ship” Are you the type that is controlled by money, are you the type who gets money and yields to its instruction there and then, and are you the type who doesn’t understand that there are laws that govern money. Listen while we continue to explore a few things.

Money isn’t grown on trees

Money isn’t grown on trees, it is worked for, money doesn’t come by claiming, it comes by working for it, even the money that is given to you by someone is money that was worked for, it is God who touches the hearts of men to give out of their possessions. When one starts working, you end up understanding that money doesn’t come as easy as we think, I understand when we ask our parents for money and they say, they don’t have it, it was until I started making my own and seen days where it wasn’t actually there. I remember asking my mother to pay for my driving school, I told her, “mum I need to learn how to drive and to have a passport” her response, “let us get a passport first then you can learn to drive later”.

I wanted everything at a go but wanted to learn to drive first because she had a car and I wanted to learn how to drive. We pushed for the passport and got it and then the demand for the driving school kept coming in but there were no results. At the time I was interning and I had already learnt a saving culture and I was putting my little allowances from the internship to use. I decided to pay for myself, I realized that some things won’t be done for me, so I needed to work for them. My driving skill has become handy over the years and it has taught me that some things come when we have actionable plans in place. Putting little finances a side after doing my research made it possible for me to achieve this.

God owns it all

All silver and gold belongs to God, he created money so it shouldn’t be made a god because it is part of God’s creation. It is a good servant but a poor master. Never let money master you, you must master it by understanding the laws that govern money. It is written that the earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof, whatever God has created is his, every innovation, and every idea cannot be without the supernatural wisdom of God. When you look at what is within your stewardship, know very well that God has given you to take care and have dominion over those things, what you possess that God has given is his. Our work place, our positions of leadership are all the architect of God. Even queen Sheba told Solomon that the throne he was sitting on is God’s throne.

Money isn’t bad, it is our love for money that is bad

Money is so important we need it but it shouldn’t be loved. The love of money is the root of all evil. So money isn’t bad, what is bad is when you love it more than God, when you trust it more than God, when you say you can’t live with it – Money has never given man breath, it is God who has breathed in us the breath of life. Money is only a medium of exchange – we use money to get goods, pay for services, pay our taxes, support the needy etc. When greed comes in know that the force or spirit of mammon has taken over you. You cannot serve both God and money, where your heart is where your treasure is. Money should be the byproduct of our work and the services we give, it shouldn’t be our goal in life.

What makes us rich and wealthy is our values and the work we put in

There are so many people who are rich but have reduced their riches to how fat their bank account is. We must be rich in a wholesome way and that includes our values system – the things we stand for. Some of the poorest people on earth are those who have a lot of money, whenever they talk, money seems to be the only thing they live for, others are just surviving, living from pay check to pay check, others their lives are taken up by their possessions yet God says that the life of a man doesn’t consist in his possessions. We are as poor as our next door neighbor if they can’t feed, we are as poor as our very own people (parent, sister, brother etc) whom we can’t help, we are as poor as our community if we are the only ones doing well and they aren’t – it is a process for everyone but we can lift each other by sharing ideas not necessarily money, money should come when it’s needed not wanted. 

The true religion is when we care for the widows, the sick, the poor, the needy, the oppressed, those facing injustice, these issues are the weightier matters that we as individuals, family members, and community leaders should embody so that the needs of those around can be met and that they can be lifted up so that with hope, they can life others too.

I have seen great development from community groups where people do cash rounds to enable each one develop, as institutions and families and organizations these approaches need to be embraced more, when one person develops, they could develop others, gone should be the days where we only look at one person to meet the need of everyone, everyone should take responsibility in building up one another. The greatest financial security should come from our families, social networks etc but the family should be core.

Build Intellectual, social and skills capital

Some of the richest men in the bible like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob were not just men who had a heritage or that their lives were already predetermined, these men worked, then men used their faith, they did not only profess or believe in the promise of God, their belief made them work, they did not sit back doing nothing. A man like Jacob came with nothing but left with something, he did not have money at the start but he offered his skills as a service and left a loaded man, some people here will say that all we need is capital, I guess I will say first start with intellectual capital, skills capital and then go to money.

To be continued to part 3

Attitude Towards Money And The Value Of Work Part 1

I grew up in a modest and humble home. My parents were civil servants at the time and they did whatever it took to make sure we had a reasonable lifestyle. I was told that my mother run a kiosk and sold charcoal.

When I was of understanding age, my mother reared chicken for sale and my siblings and I helped in slaughtering and cleaning these chicken early morning as they needed to be transported to the restaurants/hotels my mother was supplying. We benefited from the gizzards and liver and that was our payment.

In my primary, my mother also run a saloon. I believe all these extra jobs or work she was doing was to create passive income or increase their meager earnings to better the situation at home and also help educate us. I strongly see the work ethic and their attitude towards money was important, if they did not increase their income, we would go hungry and we also wouldn’t be educated. If money isn’t increased it diminishes. The parable of the talents shows us how we need to be faithful with our income/talents/gifts etc and how we need to increase it, the one with one talent did not invest it, he just buried it in the ground and he was called a wicked servant.

While in my S.6 vacation, I badly needed money and decided to do a few data entry jobs but these did not last. My friends and I at the time decided to be part of a building project and we were paid as porters. The needs in our life at the time pushed us to come out of watching films the whole day and put in a few hours to do some work because, at that age, money stopped flowing in every day as our parents started looking at us as young men who were becoming adults and needed to start managing their own lives. If you needed airtime to talk to your girlfriend, you had to find a way of working for it and not stealing. I have learned over time that work is valuable and whoever doesn’t work actually goes hungry.

I was talking to a young a man at a construction site and I asked him why he had to work, he said, “I came to Kampala without my mum or dad, I am here alone, If I don’t work, I won’t eat, I also have to save some money and send it to my mum so that I can prepare for my return, I have a cow and chicken that she is keeping for me, I might look foolish doing this work but I know what I am doing”. I was so pleased with his attitude, such people can develop others with such an attitude.

Our motive for making money should be with a clear purpose, my love for money made me do a few crazy things, I loved playing a game called pool, it is a very addictive game, I found myself finishing the little money I would ask for in playing a game that only brought self-gratification after winning, If I lost it made me appeal and that was more money spent. It also brought me to a point in my life where I started selling empty soda bottles or beer bottles to make money to go and spend. This worsened with time as I liked nightclubbing (this was something I did quietly), I would concoct all kinds of stories or sell more bottles just to look for money to go have the pleasure which would only last for a night and The next day I would be back to zero. 

A few times I dipped my hands in my mother’s bag (I know she will read this but am now a good boy/man helping others) to pick a few shillings to enrich my lifestyle. It is written in Proverbs 21:20 NLT “The wise have wealth and luxury but fools spend whatever they get”. I was a big fool just as the proverbs can tell. When you don’t have a spending plan, the money will be wasted and you end up having a lot of regrets coupled with anxiety, depression, etc. Don’t waste your life with things that won’t add value to you, they are a waste of time, money, and other resources.

When we study the nations that have developed, we realize strongly that their work ethic has been an important factor, the work ethic of individuals, family heads, and community leaders. No nation, society, community can develop when it’s people are lazy. The responsibility of having children and fending for them is one of the toughest jobs ever. But it is one of the ways of developing and building people up and in turn, nations are built.

Psalm 19:7 NLT the instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul, the decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. May God's word transform you as you get renewed in your mind.

If the word of God is true, then we must understand a few things about money and the value of work, work is talked about in the bible, the first Job Adam had was to till the garden.

The bible says that “Now no shrub of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted” because there were two things that could not allow plants or shrubs to grow. 

1. No rain 

2. No Man to attend to (cultivate) it.

This is the account of Genesis 2:15

It is written “Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it."

This helps us understand that Work is profitable

Proverbs 14:23– “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”

When we read the story of creation, it gives us a picture of how valuable man is to the things that God has created. He gave man dominion over all his creation.

We are created to work, there should be no place for laziness. When we diligently work, we reap the rewards as well. It is also written in Proverbs 12:11– “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.”

Dave Ramsey says that the only way to beat being broke is by going to WORK, work isn't necessarily only a JOB, we have been blessed with so much potential and we only need to come out and do something. It is also written in Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." So work is for this earth where we are in, it won’t happen in the grave, we can only transform our families and nation when we still have breath that God has given us. I reiterate what the above scripture says, “WHATEVER YOUR HAND FINDS TO DO” just do it, have you found what to do, look deep within, look around, provide services, solve problems, etc Proverbs 13:11 NIV “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow” in gathering (we are working and it’s an opportunity to make money the right way)

The bible teaches me that God will bless the works of our hands. It doesn’t say that he will bless the complaints and excuses of our mouths.

“Hard work is always profitable in some way, it builds your character, your bank account, and your reputation. But when you’re one of those people who always make plans but never actually do anything about them, you will never succeed”

– Jason Cabler

So let’s not ignore work, we are God's workmanship created to do good works. You reap what you sow, if it is laziness, then there will be no fruit. Hard work beats talent if talent doesn’t work hard enough.

To be continued… to part 2

I Was An Intern But I Was Loaning Money To Salary Earners

While growing up, money seemed to be one of the scarcest commodities.  Because of scarcity, people have had to become innovative and creative to be able to come out of the trap of poverty. When a young man starts thinking of money, in one way or another it is pointing to the fact that this medium of exchange is important and that he needs it to do a few things. From the clothes we put on, to the water we drink and the bills we pay, it all has something to do with money.

While growing up, I was good at making “WIRE CARS”, these are cars made out of wires. One day a primary school friend of mine wanted one of my cars so badly, and because I envisioned some nice doughnuts I loved to eat, I told my friend, he could buy it at 500 Ugx (current dollar rate it’s $ 0.14). That was a turning point in my life, I learnt how to offer a service or create a product that would have value for money. The only problem was that I saw an opportunity to have money to consume.

While having a chat with a young man I highly respect, I picked a few lines from our chat that informs this article am writing. Jonan Kwandwanaho is a man on a mission, a Christian with a golden heart and with an eye for business.

Paraphrased Narration from Jonan. He told me Arthur, “I was interning in a place for 6 months and I realized how broke people were towards the end of the month (this is a case of having more month at the end of the money), one day this guy approaches me and asks for 100,000 ugx ($ 28.5) "I am broke", he said. Can you help me with 100 k, I have no fuel and my car is even parked at home. he said that their salary had been delayed and that it would be paid in three days’ time. In my wisdom I told him, I can get you the money but you can add some little on top of it at just 15% interest.” To that guy it was a heavy bail out and three days wasn't far, a problem was solved and money was made by Jonan, How smart!

He said that, “I made my money while on campus from selling gadgets like Sub-woofers and other electronic accessories”. It was from this money that I was able to lend to a salary earner and that’s how I started a small money lending business.

There are so many people out there who are waiting on money to fall from heaven. They claim it and call it and indeed it comes but from Jonan’s story we can see that money is actually found in opportunities but when such opportunities come, we need to know how to offer services or provide a solution to a need. Many enterprises have been born out of struggles or challenges that have been presented by Society. God provides and he does it in many ways and one of them through tending to our fields, preparing the grounds for the planting season and harvesting to provide food for all.

Jonan did get a job at the same place he was interning, from his first client who told others that he could sort them out when they were financially challenged, he quickly became a referral for financial help which came at an interest, he started making money by loaning it out. But while working, God put it upon his heart to start a small SACCO within his working team and he realized that as much as he would make money, it was better off helping people realize that they could work together and empower one another instead of him just enriching himself. They formed the SACCO and started putting money together, colleagues started borrowing money from their group and people started getting financially empowered and so did they start developing.

Arthur, he said “I heard you talk about Uber and how you did that work, you inspired me and woke me up, As I speak with you today, I am already doing this business and everyday my head is thinking of how I can do things that will enable me do the work of God at the highest level”. My story on Uber came about as a result of my work place being closed indefinitely (however, it opened after two months), Instead of sitting back doing nothing and whining about how there isn’t money, I decided to use our family car to register and transport people around, the money took care of many things in the home. My wife said, “I have realized in this period of no job that you can take care of us.” The word job and work are synonymous, it’s just that some just don’t have degrees or certificates. Money can be made the right way, it doesn’t have to be stolen. 

Proverbs 13:11 NIV “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow” so don’t despise that job or work or side hustle you do, it’s an opportunity to build yourself and others up.   

This is a story that should inspire all of us, sometimes we wait to make big money so that we can start influencing yet all it takes for us is to start where we are with what we have, the ideas God gives us can enable us not only transform our lives but also the lives of others.

You Don’t Have a Disadvantaged Brain

Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash

You might have a had a disadvantaged background but you don’t have a disadvantaged brain” – Vusi Thembekwayo

I happened to watch a video and the man Vusi was talking and he made the above statement, that statement triggered something in my mind. I looked back at the times I have blamed my background or some of the hard circumstances my family went through for not pushing myself in life. I have many times said that if I had parents like this or that then maybe I would not be where I am, I could be in a better place or have a better job or just have better connections.

They gave us an Education

When I look back, I now appreciate that we all have to value work, we need to work hard and use what God has blessed us with. Many times I tell people that my dad did not leave us with acres of land or property except the house that he and mum built which we are really grateful for. He passed away in 2001 while we were still young in our education and if it wasn’t for the grace of God and resilience of my mother and the prayers and support of friends and relatives, I don’t think we would be where we are. She did whatever she could to educate us.

Our parents give their all to educate us and sometimes the sacrifices are so painful. I have seen with my own eyes what my parents had to do. I no longer dwell on what my background was, whether I wasn’t given all the other things I wanted. Indeed I agree with Vusi, that no one has a disadvantaged brain. I now realize, the greatest gift my parents gave me was an EDUCATION. My task is to put what I have been educated with to work.

Excuses

I shouldn’t have an excuse as much as there are many things to hang excuses on like the economic times, the high rate of unemployment, failure to be connected, jobs aren’t paying well especially for different levels of education. Some people sit back waiting to be told what to do, education comes in both the formal and informal way but many people suspend their brains and hold on to the confession that the government will do everything for them. 

We have to put our brains to work, we need to build intellectual capital and use it in every field and every opportunity. Some people have shunned work, they have refused to get their hands dirty because they say that their degree can’t allow them to get into the trenches, that it can’t allow them to roll up their sleeves and do things that can bring food to their table, that it can’t allow them to open up shops for wholesale and retail trading, that there is no market for this and that, that the piece of land is too far, that there is no development here, that my innovation can’t do much etc.

My Few Experiences

After university, I happened to intern with a big organization for 6 months and I really am grateful for the experience I had. I expected to be taken on and that did not happen as expected. I was given a stipend (allowance) but that stopped the moment my contract wasn’t renewed.

I worked in a store (warehouse) sorting books every day for about a month, I was paid $ 1.4 or 5000 ugx per day, this experience humbled me, instead of sitting home watching series after series, I then decided I needed to get myself busy. Doing that job was a temporary vehicle for me but I learned vital character traits and the value of working hard. Money isn’t just given, it is earned. My father used to tell me that money is not plucked from trees. When I used to ask them for money, I used to think that money was ever there until I started making my own.

I ended up volunteering with an organization that taught me vital skills that I use today until I got another opportunity to intern again for one year and a half. My boss at the time told me these words, “Arthur you can’t keep interning, If you want to grow, you need to leave this place.” I started applying for other jobs and indeed doors opened. When my boss spoke, that is when my brain opened because I was getting comfortable with the weekly allowance and travel allowances. I remember saving up most of the monies and up to now, I regret my first mistake of using my hard-earned savings to buy a car, there could have been a better investment to do, however, today – the lessons learned are a vital part of my everyday life.

Don’t Shun Work, Study and Read 

I just want to encourage anyone reading this article, not to shun work but to use their brains to learn as much and apply the knowledge to do things that can lift them and others up, studying is not only done in the university, the greatest investment anyone can give themselves is to invest in their minds, read about what you are passionate about, search knowledge of different topics. I love this statement said by one of my friends Benjamin Tumukunde, “I want to be well studied and well-read”.

We need to learn and stop blaming our background as much as it has played a part. Use what God has given you, Jacob worked for Laban for 14 years, I know that he went to his place with nothing but he left a loaded man. God has given us brains and our minds need constant renewing through learning and exposure.

When Ben Carson talked about his story, this is what he said, “I would like people to recognize in looking at my story that the person who has the most to do with what happens to you is you. It’s not the environment, it’s not the other people who were there trying to help you or trying to stop you. It’s what you decide to do and how much effort you put behind it.”

#Transform #Impact #Empower

The Book That Has Shaped Me In The Simplest Way Possible

Looking for a book on financial matters, I personally recommend Make Sense Of Your Money By James Abola and Phillip Karugaba

This book has been a cornerstone to some of the things I have seen greatly happen in my life, it woke me up from slumber, In addition to having read the richest man in Babylon, there is one thing that I needed to do and that was and continues to be #ImplementThePrinciples

The book only goes for 20,000 Ugx, you can contact James Abola directly or go to Aristoc book store. Those who would want to get it on amazon, see this link https://www.amazon.com/Make-Sense-Your-Money-o…/…/B00JGJKVZ0

In one of the reviews on line, this is what Joseph Ronald Kasozi said, "This is a such a good read on making your money grow and work for you and even keep it ! .
The authors have given practical money tools for winning in life . Lets hope they can write more books along this line ."

He has also written one on Money and Marriage, I am yet to get this one as well, as families we need to win in this area of finances to enable us build a support cast and give back to the work of God in many ways starting with the family itself and the nation at large. With time I will share some of the testimonies as regards the truths written in there. Just go grab your own copy, let it be one of those books on your shelf or right besides your bed.

#Impact #Empower #Transform

Never Ever Quit - The Impossible Can Be Done

JUST DON'T QUIT

Have you ever felt like quitting, it happens to all of us but there are moments when instead of quitting, you just keep moving forward. God has built us in a way that we can have endurance, perseverance, grit etc, In-fact it is written that we shall reap in due season if we faint not. So don't give up the habit of doing good - it will reward you, your family, community, church and the nation at large. 

I find the message in this video very empowering. #JustDontQuit It can apply to any area of your life, pick out the principles and use them for everyday life.

After celebrating 55 years of Independence in my country Uganda which took place on the 09/10/2017, I pray for the day when you (my fellow Ugandans and readers from other parts of the world) and I will celebrate financial independence as well. 

I strongly believe that when we begin to take charge of our lives and lead ourselves with the truths that we have got to know, then nothing is impossible. The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, and most importantly the steps ordered by God himself. Let the testimony and lives of others who have beaten many odds inspire you to do the same.

God has given us the tools to win in this area and other areas in life. Have the will and predetermination that you can break free of debt or come out of any fold. Our minds are the first ground we need to till, if we can soak our minds with truth, then freedom is sure.

#Impact #Empower #Transform

A Few Reflections When Faced With A Financial Crisis

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the different resources that are being shared on this platform. You know it's not how much knowledge we have but how we use the knowledge - it's application is what brings transformation.

At the beginning of this year, I happened to be a witness to some truths about life. Where I do work, we hadn't been paid for some time and some allowances had also delayed for a long time and mind you, people had got loans best on the allowances that were to be paid and also the institution was closed indefinitely.

Despite people having salary loans, they also had loans from loan sharks and from colleagues within. The debt level increases because of multiple borrowing and also borrowing to service another debt.

When we were paid eventually some people were still indebted because of multiple borrowing since whoever was owed wanted to be paid there and then.

There a few lessons I learnt from this period in time.

1. Financial literacy is important

I have been reading up on articles from the likes of James Abola, First of all his book MAKE SENSE OF YOUR MONEY is one we must all have, you can get it from bookstores around or contact him by visiting this site for more. I have learnt about saving, budgeting, investing etc. Empowerment comes from what has been revealed, it's like searching for truth and you find it, it releases you there and then. 

I read his articles from prosper magazine, that's in the daily monitor. In that period, instead of waiting for salary or allowances, I resolved to do something instead of just sitting home doing nothing. I did some transport business and also continued (trading) selling yellow york eggs - you know this is passive income and it comes in handy. Some people sit back saying i have no work or nothing to do which basically means they have suspended their brains. We all have brains that need to be put to work.

2. Have an Emergency Fund 

I learnt the value of having an emergency fund. Of-course my wife and I already had one and it reminded me of what I have always heard, that it should be able to take you from 3-6 months of expenditure. It is good to be visionary, people who talk and write about these principles have so many reasons why, experience is the best teacher. Cutting out many luxurious things and having a mind of an entrepreneur is very important. Dave Ramsey teaches and says that you should build an emergency fund of $1000 which amounts to about 3 million Uganda Shillings plus depending on the dollar rate. By the way if you put your mind to it, its possible and it can bail you out in many tough moments.

3.Multiple Sources of Income

I learnt the importance of having multiple sources of income, because depending on one stream is total DISASTER as an individual, I explored SHARES even more. I bought my first shares many years ago in stanbic and recently i was called to see if i was getting my dividends, this encouraged me. I decided to buy in Umeme as well and this is in a way to widen my net. I am still thinking of more avenues, they are so many, I just need to understand what I am to invest in.

4. Work your way out of RENT

I also realized that many of the colleagues at the institution were renting just like me and the "CRYS" of the Land Lord knocking on their doors was the cry of the day, this taught me to start thinking of working on our goal of housing with my wife, we now have two young boys and things like shelter are a necessity, whatever it takes you have to provide it. 

Because of  many good practices, the Land Lord did not disturb us because my wife and I work together on our finances and this really is a STRENGTH because when one is down, the other lifts you up, and when we are all UP, it gives us the opportunity to do more. In the long run, we would love to become Land Lords and be on the receiving side. As I write this, we have made great strides on our shelter, and with time I will be sharing more about this.

5. One reading, One Seminar isn't enough, we need constant learning

I also got to realize that financial literacy is something people to need to hear more and more so that it can improve their lives, some people turn a deaf ear but you know its a choice at the end of the day if you want to see things change. My wife Martha and I are a big testimony of the things we learnt and put to practice and let me say this, these principles work, you just have to tell yourself, am going to do this, it will discipline you but you will learn and help others as well.

6. keep the right company

Always keep the right company, you will get good advise, wisdom to conquer many problems, if you are around negative energy, you end up complaining and doing nothing.

#Impact #Empower #Transform