You certainly would have come across this phrase at one point or the other in your life. Many have criticized this as not being true or as being an exaggeration. My dear friend, the truth is this; you cannot live without money! And the reason is not far fetched;
(1) Money gives us options:These options are what make our life colourful; they literally help us live out our dreams and heart desires. What could you possibly do without money? Have you ever given it a deep thought? Yes, I know many who subscribe to the school of thought that the best things in life are free. Of course, I do subscribe to that also, but what about the necessities of life? Do they come free? When was the last time you had a free meal? When I talk about free, I mean it in all sense of the word. This means, you didn’t have to work for the food, neither did anyone else. The food came as ‘manna’ from heaven as was recorded in the bible. Certainly not, somehow, somewhere, someone did something to get that food which you might regard as free. Even if it came from the government as welfare service, or from a relief program; it still came from the sweat of some people.
While it is true that the best things in life, such as; air, oceans, trees, natural resources, happiness, health, sanity, friends, talents, and family are free, which implies that we don’t need money to attract, acquire or enjoy them, they are provided by nature itself for the benefit of mankind. How about those that are not literally the best things of life but are vital to our existence here on earth? Things such as; food, clothing, shelter, education, security, health care and so on. These are things that are not luxury but necessities, they are what we cannot live without if we as humans must grow and develop mentally, socially and even physically. The funny thing about anything you get for free is this; you are not open to any option whatsoever. You either take it or leave it. Remember the phrase – “a beggar has no choice.”
(2)Money is an Instrument: most people who have a bias for money are no other than those who have a wrong perspective of money. You see, money is neither good nor bad; it’s only an instrument and like every other instrument, the knowledge of good or bad can only be determined from its usage. Money can either be good or bad, it depends on how we use it. Owing to the fact that no one is entirely self sufficient, money was introduced as a store of value and medium of exchange. Money is that which makes it possible for us to exchange what we are freely given by nature for those which are needed for our survival as humans here on earth. Money was created to be used. There is nothing wrong with money; the problem is how people go about getting it and how they handle it. Miles Munroe was right when he said; “when the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable”. If you don’t know why money exists, then abusing it is easily achievable. The only reason why you would consider life without money is because you’ve lost your right to control money. Think about it, money in the hands of good managers are not considered bad. Why? Because It opens up more doors and gives us more rooms to fully maximize our stay here on earth. Money is essential to man as air is natural to life. The lack of it can be very dangerous and the excess of it can lead to danger also. The key is to strike a balance in our usage!
How is Money created?
In your spare time. The truly rich and wealthy made all their fortune from their spare time. You’ll only be as rich as how you spend your spare time. Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook in his spare time while in his dormitory at Harvard University. Bill Gates and his founding partner, Paul Allen, began the Microsoft project in their spare time. Sir Richard Branson of Virgin began creating wealth from his child hood at age 16 when he left high school to publish a student magazine he created in his spare time. Google was a pet project which Larry Page and Sergey Brin started in their spare time. And the master of them all, Warren Buffet began creating wealth in his spare time by selling packs of chewing gum at a tender age of six. From each pack he sold, he made two cents profit. They became the first few snowflakes in a snowball of wealth to come.
Still at age six, Warren Buffet during his spare time at night sold coke from door-to-door. He made a net profit of a nickel from every six bottles he sold. He was also distributing door-to-door newspapers and magazines still at age six. By the time he was fifteen, still a kid but now a young businessman, Warren Buffet had accumulated more than two thousand US dollars throwing papers. No one else in high school was a businessman, not alone has two thousand dollars to their name. Just from throwing newspapers a couple of hours a day during his spare time, young Buffet was earning 175 dollars a month, more money than his school teachers! His passion for making money which occupied most of his spare time is what made Warren Buffet the world’s third richest man alive today.
The simple question of ‘how is wealth created?’ is answered with another question; “how do you use your spare time?” If you’re serious about creating wealth, a good place to start is by answering the above question. Why? Because the answer to the question of how is wealth created? is this; in your spare time. Wealth is created in your spare time. Yes! You read that well. The simplicity of that sentence has a far reaching impact than most of us would like to come to terms with. Being wealthy begins with watching how you spend your spare time. Knowing how to create wealth begins with knowing how to spend your spare time. You cannot be wealthy if you are not spending your spare time on activities that create wealth. The answer to the question of whether you will be wealthy or not; is found in the use of your spare time. How do I mean?
Of all the resources available to mankind, time is the most crucial. Whatever it is we all wish and dream of becoming is first determined by the use of our time. Whether rich or poor, black or white, we’ve all been given equal amount of time daily; 24 hours, no more, no less. The outcome of our lives is dependent on how we use our time. At the core, the primary difference between the rich and the poor; winners and losers; those who succeed and those who fail is how they use their time. Time is mankind’s most valuable resource. The gravity of this last sentence may not be quite clear at a glance, so permit me to go a little bit deeper.
A resource is simply anything that can be converted into the creation of something else other than itself. A resource in essence is an instrument or tool that can be used in the creation of something new. A resource is not useful all by itself or for itself; it must be applied to the creation of something else other than itself. The creation of anything other than itself is the purpose and essence of a resource. A resource therefore exists to be used in the creation of something uniquely new. A resource must never be wasted. Other forms of resource include; money, people, life, knowledge, idea, thoughts etc.
Having this clear understanding of what a resource is form the basis of how we ought to be using our time knowing what a valuable asset it is to our lives. The outcome of a person’s lives can be predicted to an extent by merely observing how they spend their time. Our life is predictable through the use of our time. The rich become rich as a result of how they spend their time. The same is true of the poor. Our future is created today from how we use our time. Time is the currency through which life is spent. Take control of your time and gain full control of your life. Creating wealth begins by having full control over our time. Whoever or whatever controls your time owns your life.
How are you spending your spare time? Sleeping? Watching TV or movies? Discussing sports, guys, babes, fashion or politics? Drinking? Clubbing? Or even Facebooking? There a million and one things to do with your spare time, what you decide to do with yours is entirely your choice. However, you must understand that the choices we make determines the decisions we take which ultimately defines the quality of life we live or would live. The activities you spend your spare time on will reflect and determine the quality of life you live. People can tell what you do when there’s nothing to do by simply looking at the kind of life you lead. If your goal is to be financially free and wealthy, then your spare time must be dedicated to the learning, practice and discipline of creating wealth. Wanting it is never enough; your habits which are expressed in your spare time must reflect what exactly you want.
Wealth creation is a function of habits; those things we do during our spare time. If you can form the habits of the rich, you will ultimately acquire the wealth and fortune of the rich. The rich know how to make use of their spare time for wealth creating activities (habits), while the poor engage themselves in wealth draining activities (habits). Knowing the difference between these two realities is the first step to acquiring great wealth.
What is a spare time?
A spare time is anytime you have all to yourself. In other words, it’s a time you are in control of. A time free of external control or influence; a time you can totally call your own. It’s a time whereby you get to decide what you choose to use the time for. Spare time is anytime spent for yourself. It is your time, use it well. Examples include;
· Sleep time
· Idle time
· Toilet time
· Travelling time (e.g. driving, flying etc.)
· Waiting time (e.g. in a client’s office, before an interview/appointment)
· Laundry time
· Exercise (work-out/gym) time
· Cooking time
· Office time (yes, believe it or not, there are spare times during working hours e.g. break time)
· Etc.
How can you tell it’s a spare time?
Firstly, observe yourself; are you in a conversation? You can’t have a spare time when you are talking or listening to someone else talk. Spare time is when you have the control to keep your mouth and your ears shut. This means that you have to critically examine your conversations and fish out those idle talks which yields no productive result.
Are you all by yourself? This does not necessarily mean being alone (no one physically around). What this means is that you’re mentally alone. People may be all around, but you don’t have an obligation to them; either to speak or listen.
Secondly, observe the situation/environment; is there no better place for you to be at that particular time? Even though you are obligated to be physically present in such a place at that time, must you be mentally present too? Can’t you be physically present but mentally elsewhere; either thinking, reading or daydreaming?
Thirdly, observe your emotions; what is your body or mind telling you? Is your spirit, soul and body fully present and aware? Are you being reminded from within of something else you could be using that time for? Are you feeling uncomfortable or absentminded at that particular time? Are you feeling pressured or restless? These are all indications of boredom signifying that you should find something more exciting and challenging to engage yourself and your time.
Fourthly, observe your schedule; is the activity you’re currently engaged in a priority? A priority is an activity that is both urgent and important. Urgent in the sense that it requires immediate attention, delay could mean disaster. Important in the sense that it constitutes a vital part of a much bigger whole.
The key thing to bear in mind when trying to detect or maximize a spare time is this; always ask yourself how the present activity you’re engaged contributes to the future goal you’re targeting. Remember what has been said about time; a resource used for the creation of something uniquely new. There are countless number of things that would signal to you acting as reminders of how you ought to be spending that time.
The 2 things you must do in your spare time to create wealth
Having discovered how to identify and seize our spare time; how do you know if what you’re spending your spare time doing is productive or not? On what kind of activities do the rich and wealthy spend their spare time? There are basically two broad classifications of activities that constitute wealth creating activities and they are;
· Preparation
· Execution
Preparation: this constitutes all the required activities that equip and empower you for the goal, dream or vision you’ve predetermined for yourself. As the great inventor and businessman Henry Ford once said; “before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.” They are the behind the scene habits that constitute external success or victory. As a matter of principle, preparation is the most vital of the two classes of wealth creating activities. As former coach Bobby Knight once put it; “the will to succeed is important. But I will tell you what’s more important; it is the will to prepare!” After all is said and done, fortune will only favor those who are fully prepared to seize opportunities when nature makes them available. The first use of your spare time is in preparing to become the qualified person for the goal, vision or dream you seek. You the dreamer must first and foremost grow and develop yourself to match the size of the dream you seek.
What then are some of the habits that constitute preparation? They are basically three and come in this order; Learning, Thinking and Planning (LTP).
Learning: our ability to do is constantly limited by what we know. Therefore, in order to be able to do more, we must perpetually expand our knowledge through learning. Knowledge is therefore the power to do. Without knowledge our ability to do is limited. So the first kind of habit to develop in order to equip and empower yourself for where you want to go and who you want to be is learning. Learning is the willingness to acquire the knowledge, attitude and skills required for the dream, vision or goal you seek. Learning is perpetual; we are never through with learning. It’s a lifelong habit!
How do you learn? Learning basically comes from two sources;
a. Studying: this describes knowledge or skills obtained mentally. It could be done through one; personal reading of books and two; being taught by someone else.
b. Observing: this involves knowledge or skills acquired socially. They are obtained from the environment in which you find yourself and the experience, either yours or that of others. The environment comprises learning from your immediate surroundings and they constitute both positive and negative experiences and events. That means you should be learning from your mistakes, successes, failures, victories and loses as well as that of others.
What should you be learning? They are basically three dimensions of learning;
1. The why: is the purpose for the kind of dream, vision or goal you seek. Do you have a reason for wanting what you so desperately seek? Do you know why you want to achieve that goal, dream or vision so badly? Why is it so important for you to be wealthy for example? Do you know why creating wealth is so important? Why do you want to build a wealth generating system and make so much money without ever having to work? What is the purpose of wealth to you? Why do you need so much money? The why is the first kind of knowledge you should seek, because it brings into perspective all other things which you still have to learn. Without a healthy reason for chasing a dream, vision or goal, we end up becoming victims and prisoners of our own dreams, visions or goals. We compromise on the right principles, standards and values that naturally would have preserved whatever it is we so desperately seek. The ‘why’ serves as a fuel (motivation) to propel you towards learning other things you need to know in order to have the dream you seek. The ‘why’ ignites your passion to endure the whole preparation process. It constantly keeps your dreams, visions or goals in check making sure your actions, attitudes and thoughts are all in line with what you desire. If the ‘why’ isn’t big enough, the ‘what’ (dream) will appear too difficult for you to achieve and the ‘how’ (process) will appear too difficult for you to endure. Your reason (the why) must be big enough to give you the required energy to embark and stick to the process (the how) in order to fulfill your dream, vision or goal (the what).
2. The what: is the vivid knowledge of what you seek. The ‘what’ is the clear picture of the desirable future you so desperately seek. Do you know what exactly it is? It answers the question; “what exactly do I want?” “How well do I know this dream, vision or goal?” “How will I know when it is eventually achieved?” “How am I so sure this is what I really want?” Knowing the ‘what’ helps to clarify your focus. It puts your dream, vision or goal into the right perspective. That is; the way it ought to be not the way you perceive it to be. Many of us want and pursue dreams, goals or visions we don’t even fully understand, how then do we intend to achieve them? For example, most people don’t understand what it means to be wealthy yet they hunger and thirst after money. Without a clear understanding of the goal or vision you seek, there’s every possibility that you won’t recognize it when it comes or worse still settling for something lesser than what you originally set out to accomplish. If you’re going to spend your life pursuing a goal, dream or vision, wouldn’t it be wise to first spend ample time learning about the goal, dream or vision? Pursuing a goal, dream or vision you don’t fully understand, is like chasing thin air; you would only be busy doing nothing. So learn about that particular dream, goal or vision you seek. What would it look like when it’s finally achieved? What are the obvious characteristics of the dream, vision or goal? What will be the signs of the dream, vision or goal once achieved? In this case, what does it mean to be wealthy? What are some of the challenges of being wealthy? What will you do with so much money when it eventually comes?
3. The how: is learning about the requirements or ingredients needed to make your dream, vision or goal a reality. The ‘how’ is the price tag of the ‘what’ and a test of the ‘why’. The ‘how’ is having an understanding of the essential skills and knowledge commensurate to the dream, vision or goal you seek. The ‘how’ involves learning what it takes to make your dream, vision or goal happen. Without the ‘how’ what you seek will only remain an imagination. Dreams, visions or goals don’t just COME through, they are WORKED through. You must be prepared to learn all that it takes to do the work of making your dream, vision or goal a reality. The truly successful KNOW what it takes and DO what it takes, no wonder they are the only ones that HAVE what it takes to make their dreams, visions or goals a reality. While the unsuccessful ones still dream, they LEARN, DO and ultimately HAVE and LIVE the dreams the unsuccessful are still busy imagining. Show me the size of your dream, vision or goal and I will tell you to go begin developing your muscles. The ‘how’ is often three times bigger than the size of your dream, vision or goal. So the next time you lay on your bed dreaming and imagining what your life would look like once your dream, vision or goal becomes a reality, check your muscles to be sure they are three times bigger than what you seek. You want to be sure you have developed enough mental, emotional, spiritual and physical muscles needed to deliver the dream, vision or goal you seek. For it takes consistent hard work and perseverance to make dreams, visions or goals a reality. Many are ill-prepared for the dream, vision or goal they seek. How prepared are you? In this case, do you know what it takes to build a system that generates so much wealth with or without your physical input? In other words, do you know how to create enduring wealth?
Thinking: this is the second habit of preparation. After learning comes thinking; the digestion and internalization of knowledge or skill acquired. In my opinion, this is about the most dreaded habit of many. What many refer to as thinking is simply worrying. Success in the pursuit of a dream, vision or goal will only happen once we are all able to tell the difference between thinking and worrying. The successful think while the unsuccessful worry. Thinking is that rare ability of coming up with unique and useful solutions or ideas to challenging situations or problems by using our mind to creatively ANALYZE, ORGANIZE and INTERPRET information received from our five senses. Thinking is the art of making sense of reality; how we interpret the information received from our five senses. Thinking is how we form our perception (understanding, opinion, belief, and mindset) of reality. It is how we interpret the world around us (reality) and come up with our own definition or meaning to things. That means, how we analyze, organize and interpret (think about) the information supplied by our senses from the world around us (reality) forms the basis of our perception (understanding, opinion, belief, and mindset) about things (issues, problems, events, experiences, circumstances, environments etc.). And that is why it is such a very delicate matter. Thinking has the power to change our perception (understanding, opinion, belief, and mindset) of the world around us (reality). And once it begins to change our perception (understanding, opinion, belief, and mindset) of the world around us (reality) our life begins to change either positively or negatively depending on the kind of information we received from our five senses. That is thinking can totally alter how we analyze, organize and interpret what we see, feel, hear, taste and smell.
Worrying on the other hand is not trying to make sense of reality. It’s more of trying to deny reality by focusing more on the issue, problem, situation, experience etc. rather than trying to understand it so as to gain the power to overcome it. Worrying is not analyzing, organizing and interpreting the information we receive from our five senses, it’s complaining, labeling and ignoring the information we receive from our five senses. Instead of trying to analyze the situation or problem (this is the first step of thinking), worrying focuses on complaining about the situation or problem. Instead of trying to organize the facts obtained from analyzing the situation or problem (this is the second step of thinking), worrying focuses on labeling; attributing blames and assigning names to the situation or problem. Instead of trying to draw up solutions or ideas by interpreting the organized facts obtained from analyzing the situation or problem (this is the third step of thinking), worrying simply ignores all the information presented by the problem or situation hoping that the problem or situation will take care of itself somehow.
The goal or objective of thinking is to gain adequate knowledge or insight of the problem or situation so as to be able to uncover a suitable idea or solution to overcome the problem. It’s like looking at the problem or situation through a microscope; you want to see the patterns, the cause and effects of the problem or situation by dissecting and magnifying it. Thinking helps us discover solutions by understanding the problem or situation. Until the problem or situation is fully understood through deep thinking, the suitable idea or solution required to overcome the problem or situation will keep eluding us. The goal or objective of worrying is to SAY everything humanly possible to make the problem or situation go away except to DO the right thing which is; spending time to analyze, organize and interpret all the information you are getting from the problem or situation. Problems don’t go away by simply talking, they go away by taking actions. After ‘the saying’, ‘the doing’ must follow. This is the essence of thinking; it helps us know WHERE to begin to do. It gives us an idea on how to tackle the problem or situation. Since the role of learning is to equip us with a reason to pursue our dreams, visions, or goals (the why); a vivid understanding of the dreams, visions or goals we seek (the why); and a knowledge of what it takes to make our dreams, visions or goals a reality (the how), the role of thinking is to help us identify with our present problem or situation so as to be able to discover a way out of it (the where) and begin the journey towards the dreams, visions or goals we so desperately seek.
Planning: is the formulation and presentation of knowledge and skills acquired through learning guided by the ideas or solutions generated through thinking into a strategic series or course of action. Planning is the intelligent organization of our knowledge, skills, experiences, ideas and solutions into a set of strategic actions. By strategic, I mean each action carefully developed and executed as a vital part of a much bigger whole. That is every action in the plan builds on previous actions and sets the tone for future actions. The outcome of your preparation stage is a finished and detailed plan that will be used as a guide in your execution stage. In this case, you want to have a laid out series of strategic actions that will deliver your dream, vision or goal of a financially free future. Your plan should include the following;
1. Timeline: how long will it take you to go from here to where you want to be? In other words, what is the expiration date for your dream, vision or goal? For example, what date do you plan on retiring from active duty?
2. Deliverables: how will you know you are gradually approaching the accomplishment of the dream, vision or goal you seek? Dreams, visions or goals don’t happen as a whole, they materialize in tiny little parts that when put together makes the complete whole. Deliverables are the tiny little parts of your dream, vision or goal and you’ve got to have a list of what they are. For example, how many businesses must you build to be financially free for the rest of your life? How much in residual income (income earned without working) do you want to generate monthly or yearly for you to be wealthy?
3. Tactics: how do you want to play to win? What are going to be your tools for delivering your dream, vision or goal? In this case, how do you want to create your wealth? What wealth creating instruments or tools do you want to adopt? There are several ways of creating wealth such as profits from businesses, capital gains and dividends from investments, cash flows from real estates, royalties from intellectual properties, etc.